John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3This 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.’ ”3:3 Isaiah 40:3
4John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And 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. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11“I baptize you with3:11 Or in water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with3:11 Or in the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His 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.”
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, 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. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
開路先鋒
1那時，施洗者約翰來到猶太的曠野傳道，說： 2「悔改吧，因為天國臨近了！」 3以賽亞先知曾說：「有人在曠野大聲呼喊，『預備主的道，修直祂的路。』」3·3 以賽亞書40·3。他指的就是約翰。
4約翰身穿駱駝毛的衣服，腰束皮帶，吃的是蝗蟲和野蜜。 5那時，耶路撒冷、猶太各地和約旦河一帶的人都來到約翰那裡， 6承認他們的罪，在約旦河裡接受他的洗禮。
7約翰看見很多法利賽人和撒都該人也來受洗，就對他們說：「你們這些毒蛇的後代！誰指示你們逃避那將臨的烈怒呢？ 8你們要結出與悔改相稱的果子。 9不要心裡說，『我們是亞伯拉罕的子孫。』我告訴你們，上帝可以從這些石頭中興起亞伯拉罕的子孫。 10現在斧頭已經放在樹根上了，凡不結好果子的樹都要被砍下，扔進火裡。 11我用水給你們施洗，叫你們悔改。但在我之後，有一位比我更有能力的要來，我連給祂提鞋都不配。祂要用聖靈和火給你們施洗。 12祂手裡拿著簸箕，要揚淨祂的麥場，把麥子收進倉庫，用不滅的火把糠秕燒盡。」
耶穌受洗
13後來，耶穌從加利利來到約旦河受約翰的洗禮。 14約翰想要攔住祂，就說：「我需要受你的洗，你反倒來找我嗎？」
15耶穌答道：「你暫且這樣做吧！我們理當這樣履行一切的義。」於是約翰答應了。
16耶穌受了洗，剛從水裡上來，天就開了。祂看見上帝的靈像鴿子一樣降在祂身上， 17又有聲音從天上傳來：「這是我的愛子，我喜悅祂。」
