1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus, the Christ, Son of God,
2 as it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.
4 John baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea and those of Jerusalem and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he ate locusts and wild honey 7 and preached, saying, There comes one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.