[1:1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
[1:2] As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,
[1:3] the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
[1:4] John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
[1:5] And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
[1:6] Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.
[1:7] And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
[1:8] I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”