Jesus Is Baptized by John^(A)

²¹ When all the people were being baptized by John, Jesus also was baptized. [^LAnd] While Jesus was praying, heaven opened ²² and the Holy Spirit came down on him in ·the form of [^Lbodily appearance like] a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “You are my ·Son, whom I love [dearly beloved Son; Gen. 22:2; Ps. 2:7], ·and I am very pleased with you [in whom I take great delight [Is. 42:1].”

Jesus Is Baptized by John^(A)

¹³ ·At that time [Then] Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River ·and wanted John to baptize him [^Lto be baptized by John]. ¹⁴ But John tried to ·stop [deter; dissuade; prevent] him, saying, “·Why do [Do] you come to me to be baptized? I need to be baptized by you!”

¹⁵ Jesus answered, “Let it ·be this way for [happen] now. ·We should do all things that are God’s will [or In this way we will do what God requires; ^LFor thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness].” So John ·agreed to baptize Jesus [gave in; consented; allowed it].

¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then ·heaven [the sky/heavens] opened, and he saw God’s Spirit ·coming down [descending and lighting/settling] on him like a dove [^Ceither in the form of a dove, or in bird-like descent]. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my ·Son, whom I love [dearly beloved Son; Ps. 2:7; Gen. 22:2], and I am ·very [well] pleased with him [Is. 42:1].”

Jesus Is Baptized and Tested^(A)

⁹ ·At that time [In those days] Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. ¹⁰ Immediately, as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw ·heaven [the sky] ·open [split open]. The ·Holy Spirit [^LSpirit] ·came down [descended] on him like a dove [^Ceither in the form of a dove, or in bird-like descent], ¹¹ and a voice came from heaven: “You are my ·Son, whom I love [dearly beloved Son; Ps. 2:7; Gen. 22:2], ·and I am very pleased with you [in whom I take great delight; Is. 42:1].”

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, “Look, the Lamb of God [^Clambs were used for sacrifice; Gen. 22:8], who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is the One I was talking about [1:15] when I said, ‘A man will come after me, but he is greater than I am, because he ·was living [existed] before me.’ ³¹ Even I did not ·know [recognize] who he was, although I came baptizing with water so that ·the people of Israel would know who he is [he might be revealed to Israel].”

Then John ·said [testified; bore witness], “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven in the form of a dove and ·rest [remain] on him. Until then I did not know ·who the Christ was [or he was the one; ^Lhim]. But the God who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and ·rest [remain] on a man; he is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I have seen this happen, and I ·tell you the truth [testify; bear witness]: This man is the Son of God.”^[a]