1. It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar. These men were under Caesar: Pontius Pilate was the ruler of Judea. Herod was the ruler of Galilee. Philip, Herod’s brother, was the ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis. And Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene.
2. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time, a command from God came to John son of Zechariah. John was living in the desert.
3. He went all over the area around the Jordan River and preached to the people. He preached a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of their sins.
4. As it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet:“This is a voice of a manwho calls out in the desert:‘Prepare the way for the Lord.Make the road straight for him.
5. Every valley should be filled in.Every mountain and hill should be made flat.Roads with turns should be made straight,and rough roads should be made smooth.
6. And all people will know about the salvation of God!’” Isaiah 40:3-5
7. Crowds of people came to be baptized by John. He said to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who warned you to run away from God’s anger that is coming?