The Mission of John the Baptist

(Isaiah 40:1–5, Matthew 3:1–12, Mark 1:1–8, John 1:19–28)

In [the] fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, [while] Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch vvv vvv of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during [the] high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,[fn] [the] word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

3 

He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for [the] forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in [the] book of [the] words of Isaiah [the] prophet:

“[A] voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for [the] Lord,

make straight paths for Him.

5 

Every valley shall be filled in,

and every mountain and hill made low.

The crooked [ways] shall be made straight,

and the rough ways smooth.

6 

And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’ ”[fn]

7 

Then [John] said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him,“You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And {do} not begin to say to yourselves,‘We have Abraham [as our] father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The axe vvv vvv vvv lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree vvv that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into [the] fire.”

10 

The crowds asked him“What then should we do?”

11 

[John] replied“Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”

12 

Even tax collectors came to be baptized.[fn]“Teacher,” they asked“what should we do?”

13 

“Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered

14 

Then [some] soldiers asked him,“And what vvv should we do?”

“Do not take money by force or false accusation,[fn]” he said Be content with your wages.”

15 

The people were waiting expectantly and {were} all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ. 16 John answered all of them“I baptize you with water,[fn] but [One] more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.[fn] He will baptize you with [the] Holy Spirit and with fire.[fn] 17 [His] winnowing fork [is] in His hand, and He will clear[fn] His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

18 

vvv [With these and] many other exhortations, [John] proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all [the] evils [he] had done, 20 [Herod] added this to them all He locked John {up} in prison.

21