¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord,^(A) in the spirit and power of Elijah,^(B) to turn the hearts of the parents to their children^(C) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”^(D)

⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.^(A)

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

¹³ “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,”^(B) 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^(C)—be content with your pay.”

¹⁵ The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John^(D) might possibly be the Messiah.^{(E) 16} John answered them all, “I baptize you with^[a] water.^(F) But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.^(G)

John Testifies About Jesus

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,^(A) who takes away the sin of the world!^(B)

³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”^[a](A)

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus^(B)

³⁵ The next day John^(C) was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”^(D)

³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.