Chapter 3

  Now in those days comes John the baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,  

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  and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.  

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  For this is he who has been spoken of through Esaias the prophet, saying, Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of [the] Lord, make straight his paths.  

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  And John himself had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and wild honey.  

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

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  and were baptised by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.  

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  But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath?  

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  Produce therefore fruit worthy of repentance.  

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

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  And already the axe is applied to the root of the trees; every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.  

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  I indeed baptise you with water to repentance, but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not fit to bear; he shall baptise you with [the] Holy Spirit and fire;  

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  whose winnowing fan [is] in his hand, and he shall thoroughly purge his threshing-floor, and shall gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.  

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  Then comes Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised of him;  

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  but John urgently forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptised of thee; and comest thou to me?  

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  But Jesus answering said to him, Suffer [it] now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffers him.  

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  And Jesus, having been baptised, went up straightway from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him:  

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  and behold, a voice out of the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight.  

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