Matthew 3

4 Now Johanan himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. 6 They were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Separators* and Zadokians* coming for his immersion, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to run away from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance! 9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.

10 “Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed immerse you in water for repentance, but He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will immerse you in holy spirit†. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing floor. He will gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

13 Then Joshua came from Galilee to the Jordan to Johanan, to be immersed by him. 14 But Johanan tried to stop Him, saying, “I need to be immersed by You, and You come to me?”

15 But Joshua, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 Joshua, when He was immersed, went up directly from the water. And look, the sky was opened to Him, and He saw the spirit of God coming down like a dove and coming on Him. 17 And look, a voice out of the sky said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am very pleased!”