John the Baptist Begins His Ministry

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.[fn] 2 Just as it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

• “Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face,
  • who will prepare your way,
• 3 the voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
  • ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
  • make straight his paths!’ ”[fn]

4 John was there baptizing in the wilderness, proclaiming[fn] a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the Judean region and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem went out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 And John was dressed in camel’s hair and a belt made of leather around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, saying, “One who is more powerful than I is coming after me, of whom I am not worthy to bend down and[fn] untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”