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3:1  In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
3:2  and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’
3:3  This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’
3:4  John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt round his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
3:5  People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
3:6  Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the River Jordan.
3:7  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising, he said to them: ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
3:8  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
3:9  And do not think you can say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
3:10  The axe has been laid to the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
3:11  ‘I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
3:12  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’
3:13  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.
3:14  But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’
3:15  Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then John consented.
3:16  As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
3:17  And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’