This is not only a rejection of Matthew's statement, but a repudiation of the first chapter of Luke, one of the most important chapters of the New Testament; for it is utterly impossible for reason to harmonize these alleged revelations concerning the miraculous conceptions and divine missions of John and Jesus to their parents and the fact that John remained for thirty years in absolute ignorance of Jesus' existence. 82 What did John say regarding Jesus? "He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear" (Matthew iii, 11). "There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose" (Mark i, 7). 83 What other testimony did he bear concerning Jesus? "And of his fulness have all we received" (John i, 16). This was uttered prior to the beginning of Jesus' ministry, and before he had been baptized with the Holy Ghost. At this time "his fulness" had not been received, and the words are an anachronism. 84 At Jesus' baptism there came a voice from heaven. To whom were its words addressed? Matthew: To those who stood by. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (iii, 17). Luke: To Jesus himself. "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased" (iii, 22). 85 John heard this voice from heaven; did he believe it? Matthew: He evidently did not; for he afterwards sent two of his disciples to ascertain if Jesus were the Christ. "Now when John had heard in prison the words of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come or do we look for another?" (xi, 2, 3). 86 Do all the Evangelists record Jesus' baptism by John? They do not. According to the Synoptics, John's baptism of Jesus was the initial act in his ministry, and one of the most important events in his career. But of this baptism the author of the Fourth Gospel knows nothing. In regard to this omission the author of "Supernatural Religion" says: "According to the Synoptics, Jesus is baptized by John, and as he goes out of the water the Holy Ghost descends upon him like a dove. The Fourth Gospel knows nothing of the baptism, and makes John the Baptist narrate vaguely that he saw the Holy Ghost descend like a dove and rest upon Jesus, as a sign previously indicated to him by God by which to recognize the Lamb of God" (p. 681). 87 With what did John say Jesus would baptize? Mark and John: "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost" (Mark i, 8; John i, 33). Matthew and Luke: "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire" (Matt. iii, 11; Luke iii, 16). 88 How many were baptized by John? Matthew and Mark: "Jerusalem and all Judea" (Matt. iii, 5; Mark i, 5). John, if the account in Josephus is to be credited, made some converts; but all the inhabitants of Judea were not baptized by him.