Luke 3:2-16

2in the high priesthood of 1Annas and 2Caiaphas, 3the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. 3And he came into all 4the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance 5for the forgiveness of sins; 4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “6The voice of one calling 7out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!58Every ravine will be filled, And every mountain and hill will be lowered; The crooked will become straight, And the rough roads smooth;69And all 10flesh will 11see the salvation of God!’”

7So he was saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “12You 13offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Therefore produce fruits that are consistent with repentance, and 14do not start saying 15to yourselves, ‘16We have Abraham as our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children for Abraham. 9But indeed the axe is already being laid at the root of the trees; so 17every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “18Then what are we to do?” 11And he would answer and say to them, “The one who has two 19tunics is to 20share with the one who has none; and the one who has food is to do likewise.” 12Now even 21tax collectors came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what are we to do?” 13And he said to them, “22Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14And soldiers also were questioning him, saying, “What are we to do, we as well?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone, nor 2324harass anyone, and 25be content with your wages.”

15Now while the people were in a state of expectation and they all were thinking carefully in their hearts about John, 26whether he himself perhaps was the 27Christ, 1628John responded to them all, saying, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but He is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the straps of His sandals; He will baptize you 29with the Holy Spirit and fire.