Now Jesus was born in Bethlehem [a small town] in Judea during the time when Herod [the Great] was king [of Judea]. About that time some astrologer/sages from the east [i.e., Persia] came to Jerusalem, saying,
Matthew 3:5 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) [People from] Jerusalem and all over Judea and the region around the Jordan River all went out [to the desert] to [hear] him, More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan, Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the country round about the Jordan went out to him; American Standard Version (1901) Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about the Jordan; Common English Bible People from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, and all around the Jordan River came to him. Catholic Public Domain Version Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and the entire region around the Jordan went out to him. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan: |
Now Jesus was born in Bethlehem [a small town] in Judea during the time when Herod [the Great] was king [of Judea]. About that time some astrologer/sages from the east [i.e., Persia] came to Jerusalem, saying,
Large crowds followed Him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond [i.e., the east side of] the Jordan River.
And people from throughout all the regions of Judea and all of Jerusalem went out to John [in the desert]. And he immersed them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.
The Law of Moses and the prophets prophesied [See Matt. 11:13] until [the time of] John [the Immerser]. From that time onward the good news of the [coming] kingdom of God is [being] preached, and everyone is [attempting to] enter it forcibly [i.e., before its appointed time. See Acts 1:6-7].
He went into the whole region around the Jordan River proclaiming that those immersed on the basis of their repentance [i.e., determining to change their hearts and lives] would receive the forgiveness of sins [from God].
He said to the crowds of people that went out [to the desert] to be immersed by him, “You children of snakes, who warned you to run away from the coming wrath [of God]?
John [the Immerser] was also immersing people in Aenon, near Salem [Note: These locations are thought to have been in northeastern Judea, near the Jordan River], because there was a lot of water there; so people were coming to be immersed.
John was the lamp that was burning and glowing and you people were willing to enjoy the light that he projected for awhile.