Luke 3:2-16

Noyes^{(i) 2} when Annas and Caiaphas were highpriests, the word of God came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the wilderness. ³ And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; ⁴ as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths! ⁵ Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth; ⁶ and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." ⁷ He said therefore to the multitudes that came forth to be baptized by him, Brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance; and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ⁹ And already also is the axe lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that beareth not good fruit is to be cut down, and cast into the fire. ¹⁰ And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do? ¹¹ He answered and said to them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise. ¹² And there came also publicans to be baptized, and said to him, Teacher, what must we do? ¹³ And he said to them, Exact no more than hath been ordered you. ¹⁴ And soldiers also asked him, saying, And what must we do? And he said to them, Do violence to no one, accuse no one falsely, and be content with your wages. ¹⁵ And while the people were in expectation, and all were considering in their hearts concerning John, whether he were the Christ, ¹⁶ John answered and said to them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to loose; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.