15
The people were in a state of great expectancy, and everyone was wondering whether perhaps Yochanan himself might be the Messiah;
16
so Yochanan answered them all, "I am immersing you in water, but he who is coming is more powerful than I -- I'm not worthy to untie his sandals! He will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh and in fire.
17
He has with him his winnowing fork to clear out his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the straw with unquenchable fire!"
18
And with many other warnings besides these he announced the Good News to the people.
19
But Yochanan also denounced Herod the regional governor for taking as his own wife Herodias, the wife of his brother, and for all the other wicked things Herod had done;
20
whereupon Herod added this to the rest: he locked up Yochanan in prison.