Activity of John and Its Relation to Jesus

8. Statement of the Work of John

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilot being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high-priesthood Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness of Judea. And he came into all the region round about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins.

It is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Make ye ready the way of the Lord,
Make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
And every mountain and hill shall be brought low,
And the crooked shall become straight,
And the rough ways smooth,
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Now John himself had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Then went unto him all they of Jerusalem, and all the country of Judea, and all the region round about Jordan; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And even now is the axe also laid unto the root of the trees; every tree therefore that bringeth forth not good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

And all the people when they heard, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him.

And the multitudes asked John, saying, What then must we do? And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.

And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you.

And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither exact anything wrongfully, and be content with your wages.

And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; John answered, saying unto them all,

I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with fire: whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up in unquenchable fire.

With many other exhortations therefore preached John good tidings unto the people; but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodius his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

9. Baptism of Jesus by John

Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized of John in the Jordan, that, Jesus having also been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Spirit of God descended, as a dove, upon him.

And a voice came out of heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; this day have I begotten thee.

10. Withdrawal of Jesus to the Wilderness

And Jesus, full of the Spirit of God, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness during forty days, being tempted of the devil.

And he led Jesus up, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: if thou wilt worship before me, it shall all be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

And he led Jesus to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: for it is written,

He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to guard thee:
And on their hands they shall bear thee up,
Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.

And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

And the devil said unto Jesus, if thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread. And Jesus answered unto him, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone.