^aEn aquellos días llegó* Juan el Bautista predicando en el desierto de Judea^b, diciendo: 2 Arrepentíos^a, porque el reino de los cielos^b se ha acercado. 3 Porque este es aquel a quien se refirió el¹ profeta Isaías, diciendo:VOZ DEL QUE CLAMA EN EL DESIERTO:«PREPARAD EL CAMINO DEL SEÑOR,HACED DERECHAS SUS SENDAS^a». 4 Y él, Juan, tenía un¹ vestido de pelo de camello y un cinto de cuero a la cintura^a; y su comida era de langostas^2b y miel silvestre. 5 Acudía entonces a él Jerusalén, toda Judea y toda la región alrededor del Jordán^a; 6 y confesando sus pecados, eran bautizados^a por él en el río Jordán. 7 Pero cuando vio que muchos de los fariseos^a y saduceos^b venían para el bautismo, les dijo: ¡Camada de víboras^c! ¿Quién os enseñó a huir de la ira que vendrá^d? 8 Por tanto, dad frutos dignos de arrepentimiento^a; 9 y no presumáis que podéis deciros a vosotros mismos: «Tenemos a Abraham por padre^a», porque os digo que Dios puede levantar hijos a Abraham de estas piedras. 10 Y el hacha ya está puesta a la raíz de los árboles; por tanto, todo árbol que no da buen fruto es cortado y echado al fuego^a. 11 Yo a la verdad os bautizo con¹ agua para arrepentimiento^a, pero el que viene detrás de mí es más poderoso que yo, a quien no soy digno de quitarle las sandalias; Él os bautizará^b con² el Espíritu Santo y con fuego. 12 El bieldo está en su mano^a y limpiará completamente su era; y recogerá su trigo en el granero^b, pero quemará la paja en fuego inextinguible^c.

13 ^aEntonces Jesús llegó* de Galilea^b al Jordán, a donde estaba Juan, para ser bautizado por él. 14 Pero Juan trató de impedírselo, diciendo: Yo necesito ser bautizado por ti, ¿y tú vienes a mí? 15 Y respondiendo Jesús, le dijo: Permítelo ahora; porque es conveniente que cumplamos así toda justicia^a. Entonces Juan se lo permitió*. 16 Después de ser bautizado, Jesús salió del agua inmediatamente; y he aquí, los cielos se abrieron, y él¹ vio al Espíritu de Dios que descendía como una paloma y venía sobre Él^a. 17 Y he aquí, se oyó una voz de los cielos que decía: Este es mi Hijo amado¹ en quien me he complacido^a.

^aIn those days ¹John the Baptist appeared, ^bpreaching in the ^cWilderness of Judea along the western side of the Dead Sea and saying, 2 “^1aRepent change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life, for ^bthe kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 This is ^athe one who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said,“^bTHE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS,‘^cPREPARE THE ROAD FOR THE LORD,¹MAKE HIS HIGHWAYS STRAIGHT (level, direct) !’” Is 40:3 4 Now this same John had ^aclothing made of camel’s hair and a wide leather ¹band around his waist; and his food was ^blocusts and wild honey. Lev 11:22; 2+@Kin 1:8; Zech 13:4 5 At that time Jerusalem ^awas going out to him, and all Judea and all ^bthe district around the Jordan; 6 and they were ^abeing baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the ^1aPharisees and ^2bSadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You ^cbrood of vipers, who warned you to flee from ^dthe divine wrath and judgment to come? 8 So ^aproduce fruit that is ^bconsistent with repentance demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin; 9 and do not presume to say to yourselves as a defense, ‘^aWe have Abraham for our father so our inheritance assures us of salvation’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham. Luke 3:8 10 And already the ^aaxe of God’s judgment is ¹swinging toward the root of the trees; therefore ^bevery tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “^aAs for me, I baptize you ¹with water because of your repentance that is, because you are willing to change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life, but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier more powerful, more noble than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove even as His slave; ^bHe will baptize you who truly repent with the Holy Spirit and you who remain unrepentant with ²fire (judgment) . Luke 3:16 12 His ^1awinnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out His threshing floor; and He will ^bgather His wheat (believers) into His barn (kingdom) , but He will burn up the ^cchaff (the unrepentant) with ^dunquenchable fire.”

13 ^aThen Jesus came ^bfrom Galilee to John at the Jordan River, to be baptized by him. Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21, 22; John 1:32 14 But John tried to prevent Him vigorously protesting, saying, “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us ^1ato fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted it and baptized Him. 16 After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and ^ahe (John) saw the ¹Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus) , John 1:32 17 and behold, a ¹voice from heaven said, “^aThis is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased and delighted!” Ps 2:7; Is 42:1