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But when he sawmany of the 1Pharisees and 2Sadduceescoming for baptism, he said to them, "You 3brood of vipers, whowarned you to flee from 4the wrath to come?
8
"5Thereforebearfruit6in keeping with repentance;
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and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, '7We haveAbraham for our father '; for I say to you that from thesestonesGod is able to raise up children to Abraham.
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"The 8axe is alreadylaid at the root of the trees; therefore9everytree that does not beargoodfruit is cutdown and thrown into the fire.
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"As for me, 10I 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; 11He will baptize you with the HolySpirit and fire.
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"His 12winnowingfork is in His hand, and He will thoroughlyclear His threshingfloor; and He will 13gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the 14chaff with 15unquenchablefire."
The Baptism of Jesus
1316ThenJesusarrived17from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.
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But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I haveneed to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?"
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But Jesusansweringsaid to him, "Permit it at thistime; for in thisway it is fitting for us 18to fulfillallrighteousness."Then he permitted Him.
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After being baptized, Jesuscame up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and 19he saw the Spirit of Goddescending as a dove and lighting on Him,
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and behold, a voice out of the heavenssaid, "20This is My belovedSon, in whom I amwell-pleased."