The Mission of John the Baptist
(Isaiah 40:1–5; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20; John 1:19–28)

1In those dayes, came Iohn the Baptist, preachyng in the wyldernesse of Iurie, and saying. 2Repent, for the kingdome of heauen is at hande.

3For this is he, of whom it is spoken by the prophete Esayas, saying. The voyce of one crying in the wyldernesse: prepare ye the way of the Lorde, make his pathes strayght.

4This Iohn had his rayment of Camels heere, and a girdle of a skynne about his loynes, his meate was locustes, and wylde hony. 5Then went out to hym Hierusalem, and all Iurie, and all the region rounde about Iordane, 6And were baptized of hym in Iordane, confessyng their sinnes.

7But when he sawe many of the Pharisees, and Saducees come to his baptisme, he sayde vnto them. O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the anger to come? 8Bryng foorth therefore fruites meete for repentaunce. 9And be not of suche mynde, that ye woulde say within your selues, we haue Abraham to our father. For I say vnto you, that God is able, of these stones to rayse vp chyldren vnto Abraham. 10Euen now is the axe also put vnto the roote of the trees: therefore, euery tree which bryngeth not foorth good fruite, is hewen downe, and cast into the fire.

11I baptize you in water vnto repentaunce: But he that shall come after me, is mightier then I, whose shoes I am not worthy to beare, he shall baptize you with the holy ghost, and with fire. 12Whose fanne is in his hande, and he wyll purge his floore, and gather his wheate into his garner: but wyl burne vp the chaffe with vnquencheable fire.

The Baptism of Jesus
(Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22; John 1:29–34)

13Then commeth Iesus from Galilee to Iordane, vnto Iohn, to be baptized of hym. 14But Iohn forbad hym, saying. I haue nede to be baptized of thee, and commest thou to me? 15Iesus aunsweryng, sayde vnto hym: Suffer it to be so nowe. For thus it becommeth vs, to fulfyll all righteousnes. Then he suffred hym. 16And Iesus, when he was baptized, came strayghtwaye out of the water, and loe the heauens was open vnto hym, and (Iohn) sawe the spirite of God descendyng lyke a doue, and lyghtyng vpon hym. 17And loe, there (came) a voyce from the heauens, saying: This is my beloued sonne, in whom I am well pleased.