Baptism in early Christianity River Jordan. He baptized Jews for repentance in the River Jordan. At the start of his ministry, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Critical scholars broadly agree that the baptism of Jesus is one of the most authentic, or historically likely, events in the life of the historical Jesus. Christian baptism has its origin in the baptism of Jesus, in both a direct and historical sense. Many of the earliest followers of Jesus were people who, like him, were baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist. The Gospel of John states that Jesus at an early stage led
Messengers from John the Baptist Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." The "best manuscript authorities" state that John sent word δια των μαθητων αυτου, "dia tōn mathētōn autou", i.e. by means of his disciples, but δύο τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, "duo tōn mathētōn autou", meaning two of his disciples, appears in the Textus Receptus. Biblical commentator Marvin Vincent argues that "the correct reading is διά". Following this episode, Jesus begins to speak to the crowds about John the Baptist, according to the reports of and . Messengers from John the Baptist The messengers who came from John the Baptist