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15 (A)Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. 16 [a]John answered them all, saying,(B) “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan[b] is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”(C) 18 Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:16 He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire: in contrast to John’s baptism with water, Jesus is said to baptize with the holy Spirit and with fire. From the point of view of the early Christian community, the Spirit and fire must have been understood in the light of the fire symbolism of the pouring out of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4); but as part of John’s preaching, the Spirit and fire should be related to their purifying and refining characteristics (Ez 36:25–27; Mal 3:2–3). See note on Mt 3:11.
  2. 3:17 Winnowing fan: see note on Mt 3:12.

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John(A) might possibly be the Messiah.(B) 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[a] water.(C) But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.(D) 17 His winnowing fork(E) is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”(F) 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:16 Or in
  2. Luke 3:16 Or in