Font Size
Matthew 3:1
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Matthew 3:1
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,
Read full chapter
Matthew 3:1
New International Version
Matthew 3:1
New International Version
John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)
3 In those days John the Baptist(B) came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
Isaiah 40:3-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Isaiah 40:3-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.(A)
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.(B)
5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out!”
And I said,[a] “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass;
their constancy is like the flower of the field.(C)
Footnotes
- 40.6 Q ms Gk Vg: MT and he said
Isaiah 40:3-6
New International Version
Isaiah 40:3-6
New International Version
3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way(A) for the Lord[a];
make straight(B) in the desert
a highway for our God.[b](C)
4 Every valley shall be raised up,(D)
every mountain and hill(E) made low;
the rough ground shall become level,(F)
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory(G) of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.(H)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”(I)
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,(J)
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 40:3 Or A voice of one calling in the wilderness: / “Prepare the way for the Lord
- Isaiah 40:3 Hebrew; Septuagint make straight the paths of our God
Matthew 11:11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Matthew 11:11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Read full chapter
Matthew 11:11
New International Version
Matthew 11:11
New International Version
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Acts 13:24-25
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Acts 13:24-25
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
24 before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.(A) 25 And as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of the sandals[a] on his feet.’(B)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 13.25 Gk untie the sandals
Acts 13:24-25
New International Version
Acts 13:24-25
New International Version
24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.(A) 25 As John was completing his work,(B) he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for.(C) But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’(D)
John 1:6-8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
John 1:6-8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
Read full chapter
John 1:6-8
New International Version
John 1:6-8
New International Version
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.(A) 7 He came as a witness to testify(B) concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.(C) 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
Luke 1:76
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Luke 1:76
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,(A)
Luke 1:76
New International Version
Luke 1:76
New International Version
Luke 1:13-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Luke 1:13-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.(A) 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,(B) 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.(C) 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.(D) 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”(E)
Read full chapter
Luke 1:13-17
New International Version
Luke 1:13-17
New International Version
13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid,(A) Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.(B) 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,(C) 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,(D) and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit(E) even before he is born.(F) 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,(G) in the spirit and power of Elijah,(H) to turn the hearts of the parents to their children(I) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”(J)
Matthew 16:14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Matthew 16:14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist but others Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”(A)
Read full chapter
Matthew 16:14
New International Version
Matthew 16:14
New International Version
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;(A) others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”(B)
Acts 19:3-4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Acts 19:3-4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 Then he said, “Into what, then, were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.”(A) 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.”(B)
Read full chapter
Acts 19:3-4
New International Version
Acts 19:3-4
New International Version
3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism(A) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”(B)
Acts 1:22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Acts 1:22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.”(A)
Read full chapter
Acts 1:22
New International Version
Acts 1:22
New International Version
22 beginning from John’s baptism(A) to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness(B) with us of his resurrection.”
Luke 7:24
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Luke 7:24
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus[a] began to speak to the crowds about John:[b] “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?
Read full chapter
Luke 7:24
New International Version
Luke 7:24
New International Version
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
Luke 3:1-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Luke 3:1-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,(A) 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.(B) 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.(C)
5 Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”(D)
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(E) 8 Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.(F) 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”(G)
10 And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?”(H) 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.”(I) 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”(J) 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”(K) 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”(L)
15 As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,[a](M) 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.(N) 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”(O)
18 So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done,(P) 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison.
Read full chapter
Luke 3:1-20
New International Version
Luke 3:1-20
New International Version
John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)(B)
3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate(C) was governor of Judea, Herod(D) tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,(E) the word of God came to John(F) son of Zechariah(G) in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.(H) 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”[a](I)
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!(J) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(K) 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’(L) For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”(M)
10 “What should we do then?”(N) the crowd asked.
11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”(O)
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized.(P) “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,”(Q) 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(R)—be content with your pay.”
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John(S) might possibly be the Messiah.(T) 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[b] water.(U) 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[c] the Holy Spirit and fire.(V) 17 His winnowing fork(W) is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”(X) 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.
19 But when John rebuked Herod(Y) the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.(Z)
Mark 6:16-29
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Mark 6:16-29
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”(A)
17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod[a] had married her. 18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”(B) 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed,[b] and yet he liked to listen to him.(C) 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee.(D) 22 When his daughter Herodias[c] came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” 23 And he swore[d] to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”(E) 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” 25 Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 The king was deeply grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s[e] head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Read full chapter
Mark 6:16-29
New International Version
Mark 6:16-29
New International Version
16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison.(A) He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”(B) 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man.(C) When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled[a]; yet he liked to listen to him.
21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet(D) for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.(E) 22 When the daughter of[b] Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”(F)
24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”
“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.