[2] Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. [3] And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; [4] As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. [5] Every valley filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; [6] And all flesh the salvation of God. [7] Then he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned 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 That God is able of stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [9] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [10] And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? [11] He answereth and unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. [12] Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? [13] And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed [14] And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what do? And he said them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content wages. [15] And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, he the Christ, [16] John answered, saying I indeed baptize with water; but one mightier than cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire: [17] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. [18] And other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. [19] But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, [20] Added yet above all, that he shut up John in prison.