When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in
Egypt. The angel said, Arise and take the young child and His mother
and go into the land of Israel. They are now dead who sought the young
child's life. Joseph took the young child and His mother and started
toward Israel. Along the way Joseph heard that Archelaus reigned in
Judaea in the place of his father, Herod. Joseph was afraid to go
there. Despite being warned by God in a dream, he turned toward
Galilee. He came to dwell in a city called Nazareth that it might be
fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets: He shall be called a
Nazarene.
3. In those days John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of
Judaea. His message was, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
John is the one that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah: The voice of
one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make His
paths straight.
The same John wore camel's hair and a leathern girdle around his loins.
His food was locusts and wild honey. He went out to Jerusalem. all
Judaea, and all the region round Jordan. Many people were baptized by
him and confessed their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his
baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to
flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruits fit for repentance. Do
not say, We have Abraham for our father, because I say to you, God is
able to raise up children to Abraham with these stones. The axe is now
laid to the root of the trees. Every tree which does not bring forth
good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.
I baptize you with water for repentance but He who comes after me is
mightier than I. His shoes I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and with the fire whose fan is in His hand. He
will throughly purge His floor and gather His wheat into the garner. He
will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
When Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized by him, John
forbad Him. He said, Why come to me? I should be baptized by thee.
Jesus answered, For now, suffer it to be so because it becomes us to
fulfill all righteousness.
When Jesus was baptized He came up out of the water and the heavens
opened to Him. John saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and light
upon Him. A voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am
well pleased.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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