Luke 3:2-18

2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

3He went into all the region around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

4As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

5Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be brought low, and the crooked will be made straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth,

6and all humanity will see the salvation of God.’”

7So John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

8Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and don’t begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones!

9Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10So the crowds were asking him, “What then should we do?”

11John answered them, “The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.”

12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

13He told them, “Collect no more than you are required to.”

14Then some soldiers also asked him, “And as for us – what should we do?” He told them, “Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay.”

15While the people were filled with anticipation and they all wondered whether perhaps John could be the Christ,

16John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is coming – I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

17His winnowing fork is in his hand to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.”

18And in this way, with many other exhortations, John proclaimed good news to the people.