1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way,

3 the voice of one shouting in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make his paths straight.’”

4 In the wilderness John the baptizer began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 People from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem were going out to him, and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 6 John wore a garment made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “One more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthy to bend down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® copyright © 1996, 2019, used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.