The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
15 The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder, "Could this John be the Messiah?"
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The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.
16 But John intervened: "I'm baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.
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John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 He's going to clean house - make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned."
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His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
18 There was a lot more of this - words that gave strength to the people, words that put heart in them. The Message!
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And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.
19 But Herod, the ruler, stung by John's rebuke in the matter of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,
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But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done,
20 capped his long string of evil deeds with this outrage: He put John in jail.
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Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
21 After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As he was praying, the sky opened up
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When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
22 and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life." Son of Adam, Son of God
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and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
23 When Jesus entered public life he was about thirty years old, the son (in public perception) of Joseph, who was - son of Heli,
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Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.