1 At that time appeared John
the Baptist, preaching in the
wilderness of Judea,
2 and saying,
“Repent ye: for the
kingdom of the Messiah
draws nigh.”
3 for it is of
John the prophet note Esaias
spoke, when he said, “The
voice of one crying in the
wilderness, Prepare ye the
way of the Lord, make his
paths clear.”
4 now John
wore a coat made of camels
hair, with a leathern
girdle about his waist; and
his food was locusts and
wild hony.
5 Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
of all Judea, and
the whole country about Jordan,
came to him:
6 and having
confess'd their sins, they
were baptized by him in Jordan.
7 but when he saw many
of the Pharisees and Sadduces
come to his baptism, he said
to them, “Ye brood of vipers,
who has warned you
to fly from the wrath to
come?
8 Let your actions
then show your repentance:
9 and don't pretend to say
within your selves, We
have Abraham for our
father: for I tell you, that
God is able out of these
stones to raise up children
unto Abraham:
10 the ax is
-- --
already laid to the root of
the trees: every tree then
which does not produce
good fruit, will be hewn
down, and cast into the
fire.
11 I indeed baptize you
with water to lead you to
repentance; but he that
cometh after me, is my superiour,
whose shoes I am
not worthy to carry: he
shall baptize you with the
effusion of the holy Ghost,
in the appearance of fire:
12 and with the fan in his
hand, he will throughly
cleanse his floor, and gather
the wheat into his
grainery, but the chaff will
he burn with unquenchable
fire.”
13 Then went Jesus from Galilee
to Jordan to be baptized
by John.
14 but John opposed
him, I have need, said he,
to be baptized by you, and do
you come to me?
15 and Jesus
answer'd, Let it be so for the
present, for it becometh us to
do whatever is right. then
John consented.
16 and when
Jesus was baptized, he came
out of the water: and immediately
the heavens seem'd
to be parted asunder before
him, and he saw the Spirit
17 of God descending like a
dove, and lighting upon him:
at the same time a voice
was heard from heaven,
-- --
saying, “This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am
well pleased.”
Mace [1729], THE NEW TESTAMENT IN Greek and English. Containing the ORIGINAL TEXT Corrected from the Authority of the most Authentic Manuscripts: AND A NEW VERSION Form'd agreeably to the Illustrations of the most Learned Commentators and Critics: WITH NOTES and VARIOUS READINGS, AND A Copious Alphabetical Index (Printed for J. ROBERTS [etc.], LONDON) [word count] [B11200].