Study Desk

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, ^(a)the Son of God.

^(b)As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "^(c) Behold , I send My messenger ^[a] ahead of You , Who will prepare Your way ;

^(d) The voice of one crying in the wilderness , ‘ Make ready the way of the Lord , Make His paths straight .'"

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness ^[b](e)preaching a baptism of repentance for the ^(f)forgiveness of sins.

And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

John was clothed with camel's hair and wore ^(g)a leather belt around his waist, and ^[c]his diet was locusts and wild honey.

And he was ^[d]preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.

I baptized you ^[e]with water; but He will baptize you ^[f]with the Holy Spirit."