² Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness.

⁶ Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest.

²⁴ Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.

⁸⁰ John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.

Jonah Runs from the Lord

1 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai:

²³ John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:

³ At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest,

⁴⁹ Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time,^[a] said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! ⁵⁰ You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”

⁵¹ He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation.

⁷ As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?