^4 (A)John appeared, baptizing in ^(B)the wilderness and proclaiming ^(C)a baptism of ^(D)repentance ^(E)for the forgiveness of sins.

³ And he said, ^(A)“Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into ^(B)John's baptism.” ⁴ And Paul said, ^(C)“John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people ^(D)to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

²⁴ Before his coming, ^(A)John had proclaimed ^(B)a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ And as John was finishing his course, ^(C)he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

²³ John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized

⁶ and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, ^(A)confessing their sins.

² during ^(A)the high priesthood of Annas and ^(B)Caiaphas, ^(C)the word of God came to ^(D)John the son of Zechariah in ^(E)the wilderness. ³ And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming ^(F)a baptism of repentance ^(G)for the forgiveness of sins.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 ^(A)In those days ^(B)John the Baptist came preaching in ^(C)the wilderness of Judea, ^2 (D)“Repent, for ^(E)the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”^[a]

¹⁶ And now why do you wait? ^(A)Rise and be baptized and ^(B)wash away your sins, ^(C)calling on his name.’