³ He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.^(A)

⁷ John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!^(A) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{(B) 8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’^(C) For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”^(D)

¹⁰ “What should we do then?”^(E) the crowd asked.

¹¹ John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”^(F)

¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized.^(G) “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

¹³ “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,”^(H) he told them.

¹⁴ Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely^(I)—be content with your pay.”

¹³ “Woe to you,^(A) Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth^(B) and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah;^(A) and now something greater than Jonah is here.

²⁷ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, ²⁸ for I have five brothers. Let him warn them,^(A) so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

²⁹ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses^(B) and the Prophets;^(C) let them listen to them.’

³⁰ “‘No, father Abraham,’^(D) he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

³ So watch yourselves.

“If your brother or sister^[a] sins against you, rebuke them;^(A) and if they repent, forgive them.^{(B) 4} Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”^(C)

⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name^(A) to all nations,^(B) beginning at Jerusalem.^(C)

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,^(A) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.^(B) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^(C)

¹⁷ “Now, fellow Israelites,^(A) I know that you acted in ignorance,^(B) as did your leaders.^{(C) 18} But this is how God fulfilled^(D) what he had foretold^(E) through all the prophets,^(F) saying that his Messiah would suffer.^{(G) 19} Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,^(H) that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Messiah,^(I) who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. ²¹ Heaven must receive him^(J) until the time comes for God to restore everything,^(K) as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.^{(L) 22} For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.^{(M) 23} Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’^[a](N)