Matthew 3:16

¹⁴ But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

¹⁵ “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.

¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.
KJV: And 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:
WEB: Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
ASV: And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him;
DARBY: And Jesus, having been baptised, went up straightway from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him:
BLB: And having been baptized, Jesus immediately went up from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon Him.

ÅB: Da Jesus var døpt, steg han opp av vannet, og himmelen åpnet seg for ham, og han så Guds Ånd komme ned som en due og komme over ham.
OTB: Så snart Jesus var blitt døpt, steg han opp av vannet. I det øyeblikket ble himlene åpnet, og han så Guds Ånd komme ned som en due og bli over ham.
B1930: Men da Jesus var døpt, steg han straks op av vannet, og se, himmelen åpnet sig for ham, og han så Guds Ånd fare ned som en due og komme over ham.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
Read in context
Luke 3:21–22
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened,
Read in context
Mark 1:10
As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
Read in context
John 1:31–34
I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
Read in context
Isaiah 42:1
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
Read in context
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
Read in context
Acts 7:56
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Read in context
Ezekiel 1:1
In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the River Kebar, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.
Read in context