The Preaching of John the Baptist. ^2 (A)As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:^[a](B)

⁴ John [the] Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. ⁶ John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist.^[b] He fed on locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. ^8 [c](D)I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit.”

² during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,^[a] the word of God came to John^(A) the son of Zechariah in the desert. ^3 [b]He went throughout [the] whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,^{(B) 4 [c]}as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:^(C)

⁷ He said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{(F) 8} Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.^{(G) 9} Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”^(H)

¹⁰ And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” ¹¹ He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” ¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”^{(I) 13} He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” ¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”

^15 (J)Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. ^16 [d]John answered them all, saying,^(K) “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fan^[e] is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”^(L)