John the Baptist Prepares the Way

¹The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

²It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
"I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way"—
³"a voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.' " ⁴And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

 

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