1 It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Emperor Tiberius; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip was ruler of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias was ruler of Abilene,
2 and Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests. At that time the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
3 So John went throughout the whole territory of the Jordan River, preaching, “Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins.”
4 As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah:“Someone is shouting in the desert:‘Get the road ready for the Lord;make a straight path for him to travel!
5 Every valley must be filled up,every hill and mountain leveled off.The winding roads must be made straight,and the rough paths made smooth.