⁴ John came baptizing^[b](D) in the wilderness^(E) and proclaiming a baptism of repentance^(F) for the forgiveness^(G) of sins.^{(H) 5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem^(I) were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan^(J) River, confessing^(K) their sins.^{(L) 6} John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts^(M) and wild honey.^(N)

⁷ He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful^(O) than I am is coming after me.^(P) I am not worthy^(Q) to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals.^{(R) 8} I baptize you with^[c] water,^(S) but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”^(T)

² during the high priesthood of Annas^(A) and Caiaphas,^(B) God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.^{(C) 3} He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan,^(D) proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,^{(E) 4} as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:

⁷ He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers!^(G) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{(H) 8} Therefore produce fruit^(I) consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’^(J) for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”^(K)

¹⁰ “What then should we do?” ^(L) the crowds were asking him.

¹¹ He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.”^(M)

¹² Tax collectors^(N) also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” ^(O)

¹³ He told them, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.”

¹⁴ Some soldiers also questioned him, “What should we do?”

He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

¹⁵ Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.^{(P) 16} John answered them all,^(Q) “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with^[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing shovel^(R) is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn,^(S) but the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”^(T)

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John.^{(A) 7} He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.^{[a] 8} He was not the light, but he came to testify^(B) about the light.

John the Baptist’s Testimony

¹⁹ This was John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem^(A) sent priests^(B) and Levites^(C) to ask him, “Who are you?”

²⁰ He didn’t deny it but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”^(D)

²¹ “What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?” ^(E)

“I am not,” he said.

“Are you the Prophet?” ^(F)

“No,” he answered.

²² “Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?”

²³ He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord^[a](G)—just as Isaiah^(H) the prophet said.”

²⁴ Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.^{(I) 25} So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”

²⁶ “I baptize with^[b] water,”^(J) John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know him. ²⁷ He is the one coming after me,^[c](K) whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.” ²⁸ All this happened in Bethany^[d] across the Jordan,^(L) where John was baptizing.