Study Desk

Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, 'PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan;

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

"Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance;

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham.

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

"And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

"As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

"His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?"

But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

But Jesus, answering, said to him, "Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him,

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

and behold, a voice from the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.