⁸⁰ And the child grew and became strong in spirit^[a];^(A) and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.^(A)

⁴ And so John the Baptist^(B) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance^(C) for the forgiveness of sins.^(D)

⁵² And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.^(A)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)

3 In those days John the Baptist^(B) came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

¹⁹ The Lord was with^(A) Samuel as he grew^(B) up, and he let none^(C) of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. ²⁰ And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba^(D) recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.^(E)

²⁴ The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson.^(A) He grew^(B) and the Lord blessed him,^{(C) 25} and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir^(D) him while he was in Mahaneh Dan,^(E) between Zorah and Eshtaol.

³¹ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,^(A) and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit^(B) even before he is born.^(C)