- 1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
- 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- 3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
- 4And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
- 5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
- 6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
- 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
- 8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
- 9And think not to say within 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.
- 10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
- 11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
- 12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
- 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
- 14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
- 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [ it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
- 16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
- 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
KING JAMES VERSION
MATTHEW 3
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
Matthew 3 — John calls Israel to repent, and Jesus is baptized as the Spirit descends like a dove.
About this illustration
The gathered people, contrasting trees, baptism, dove, and opened sky unite the chapter’s movement. The dove and light follow the text without portraying the Father in bodily form.
Scripture basis: Matthew 3:1–17King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Late second or early third century AD
The P64, P67, and P4 Gospel Codex Fragments
Papyrus fragments now divided among Oxford, Montserrat, and Paris preserve Matthew and Luke in closely related hands, while their proposed origin in one multi-Gospel codex remains debated.
Matthew 3:9–15 · Matthew 5:20–28 · Matthew 26:7–33
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArchitecture
Early to mid-5th century AD
Neonian Baptistery of Ravenna
Ravenna's fifth-century cathedral baptistery preserves its octagonal shell, marble, stucco, font elements, and a dome program centered on Christ's baptism, the apostles, and the heavenly city, making initiation theology visible in an exceptionally complete late-antique interior.
Matthew 3:13–17 · Romans 6:3–4
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArchaeological site
Roman and Byzantine periods, chiefly 4th–7th centuries AD
Al-Maghtas Baptismal Archaeological Complex
Churches, pools, channels, caves, pilgrim facilities, and monastic remains at Al-Maghtas establish a major late-antique landscape of baptismal remembrance east of the Jordan while stopping short of archaeological proof for the exact spot of Jesus' baptism.
John 1:28–34 · Matthew 3:13–17
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
3rd Century
Papyrus P70: Matthew 11:26–27 in a Greek Witness
P70 joins three third- or early-fourth-century papyrus fragments in Oxford and Florence that preserve portions of Matthew 2–3, 11–12, and 24.
Matthew 2:13–16 · Matthew 2:22–23 · Matthew 3:1
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
3rd century
Papyrus P101: Matthew 3:10–12, 3:16–4:3
Papyrus P101, published as P.Oxy. LXIV 4401, is a third-century Greek codex fragment from Oxyrhynchus preserving portions of John the Baptist's warning, Jesus' baptism, and the opening of the temptation narrative in Matthew.
Matthew 3:10–12 · Matthew 3:16–17 · Matthew 4:1–3
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
6th Century
Papyrus P96: Greek-Coptic Matthew 3
Papyrus P96, Vienna Pap. K. 7244, is a sixth-century Greek-Coptic diglot fragment preserving Matthew 3:10–12 in Coptic and 3:13–15 in Greek on complementary damaged portions.
Matthew 3:10–15
View all 9 archaeology resources
- Qumran Settlement Archaeology
- Arian Baptistery of Ravenna
- P.Oxy. III 405: Irenaeus Quoting Matthew in an Early Codex
Prophecy Events
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
28
Isaiah 40:3–5 · Malachi 3:1 · Malachi 4:5–6A Forerunner Prepares the Way
Isaiah and Malachi announce a messenger who prepares the Lord’s way. The Gospels identify John the Baptist with that messenger, while Josephus independently describes John’s public teaching, baptism, following, imprisonment, and death under Herod Antipas.
Prophetic signJohn the BaptistJesus ChristIsaiahMalachi
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
Psalms 2:1–12God's Anointed Son and King
Psalm 2 depicts the nations opposing the Lord and his anointed king, whom God calls his Son.
KingdomanointedSonnationskingdom
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