1. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Caesar Tiberius, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip was tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Traconitis, and Lysanias was the tetrarch of Abilene.
2. Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
3. He came into the region surrounding the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
4. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord;make His paths straight.
5. Every valley shall be filledand every mountain and hill shall be brought low;and the crooked shall be made straightand the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6. and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”
7. Then he said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You children of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8. Therefore bear fruit worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
9. Even now the axe is put to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10. The people asked him, “What then must we do?”
11. John answered, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none. And he who has food, let him do likewise.”
12. Then tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”
13. He said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed you.”