A. The Preaching Of John. Ch. 3:1-20

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch
of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of
Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the
high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto
John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into
all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of
repentance unto 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,
Make ye ready the way of the Lord,
Make his paths straight.
5 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;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7 He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized
of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the
wrath to come? 8 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. 9 And even now the
axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire. 10 And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we
do? 11 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. 12 And there came also publicans to be baptized,
and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do? 13 And he said
unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And
soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he
said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse
_any one_ wrongfully; and be content with your wages.

15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in
their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; 16
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: h