Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”

John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

The Baptism of Jesus

One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened,

When they heard this, all the people—even the tax collectors—agreed that God’s way was right, for they had been baptized by John.

“Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”