8
Bear fruits
1in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves,
2'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from
3these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
9
Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.
4Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
10
And the crowds asked him,
5"What then shall we do?"
11
And he answered them,
6"Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise."
12
7Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher,
8what shall we do?"
13
And he said to them,
9"Collect no more than you are authorized to do."
14
Soldiers also asked him, "And we,
10what shall we do?" And he said to them,
11"Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your
12wages."
15
As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John,
13whether he might be
14the Christ,
16
15John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but
16he who is mightier than I is coming,
17the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you
18with the Holy Spirit and with
19fire.
17
His
20winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to
21gather the wheat into his barn,
22but the chaff he will burn with
23unquenchable fire."
18
So
24with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.