2
When Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of the Lord came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the waste land.
3
And he came into all the country round about Jordan, preaching baptism as a sign of forgiveness of sin for those whose hearts were changed.
4
As it says in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the waste land, Make ready the way of the Lord, make his roads straight.
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Every valley will be lifted up, and all the mountains and hills made low, and the twisted will be made straight, and the rough ways smooth;
6
And all flesh will see the salvation of God.
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So he said to the people who went out to him for baptism: You offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in flight from the wrath to come?
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Make clear by your acts that your hearts have been changed; and do not say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children of Abraham.
9
And even now the axe is put to the root of the trees; and every tree which does not have good fruit will be cut down and put into the fire.
10
And the people put questions to him, saying, What have we to do?
11
And he made answer and said to them, He who has two coats, let him give to him who has not even one; and he who has food, let him do the same.
12
Then tax-farmers came to him for baptism and said to him, Master, what have we to do?