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In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,  

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“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

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This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ”  

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Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.  

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Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan,  

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and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  

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But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  

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Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  

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Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.  

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Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  

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“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  

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His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”  

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Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.  

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John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  

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But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.”  Then he consented. 

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And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.  

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