| In those days John the Baptist came and preached in the wilderness of Jewry, saying: Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This is he of whom it is spoken by the Prophet Esai, which saith: The voice of a crier in wilderness, prepare the Lords way, and make his paths straight. This John had his garment of camels hair, and a girdle of a skin about his loins. His meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Jewry, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptised of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
When he saw many of the Pharisees and of the Saduces come to his baptism, he said unto them: O' generation of vipers, who hath taught you to flee from the vengeance to come? Bring forth therefore the fruits belonging to repentance. And see that ye once think not to say in yourselves, we have Abraham to our father. For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Even now is the axe put unto the root of the trees: so that every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire.
I baptise you in water in token of repentance: but he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptise you with the holy ghost and with fire: which hath also his fan in his hand, and will purge his flour, and gather the wheat into his garner, and will burn the chaff with unquencheable fire.
Then came Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptised of him. But John forbade him, saying: I ought to be baptised of thee: and comest thou to me? Jesus answered and said to him. Let it be so now. For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he *suffered him. And Jesus as soon as he was baptised, came straight out of the water. And lo heaven was open over him: and John saw the spirit of God descend like a dove, and light upon him. And lo there came a voice from heaven saying: This is that my beloved son in whom is my delight. |
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