5
ThenJerusalem1was going out to him, and allJudea and all2the districtaround the Jordan;
6
and they were being 3baptized by him in the JordanRiver, as they confessed their sins.
7
But when he sawmany of the 4Pharisees and 5Sadduceescoming for baptism, he said to them, "You 6brood of vipers, whowarned you to flee from 7the wrath to come?
8
"8Thereforebearfruit9in keeping with repentance;
9
and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, '10We haveAbraham for our father '; for I say to you that from thesestonesGod is able to raise up children to Abraham.
10
"The 11axe is alreadylaid at the root of the trees; therefore12everytree that does not beargoodfruit is cutdown and thrown into the fire.
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"As for me, 13I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is comingafter me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; 14He will baptize you with the HolySpirit and fire.
12
"His 15winnowingfork is in His hand, and He will thoroughlyclear His threshingfloor; and He will 16gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the 17chaff with 18unquenchablefire."
The Baptism of Jesus
1319ThenJesusarrived20from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.
14
But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I haveneed to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?"
15
But Jesusansweringsaid to him, "Permit it at thistime; for in thisway it is fitting for us 21to fulfillallrighteousness."Then he permitted Him.