Matthew 3:16

¹⁴ But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

¹⁵ And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

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:

¹⁷ And lo a voice from heaven, saying, 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
And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
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Luke 3:21–22
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
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Mark 1:10
And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
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John 1:31–34
And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
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Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
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Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
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Acts 7:56
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
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Ezekiel 1:1
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
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