2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
3 He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:Prepare the way for the Lord;make His paths straight!
5 Every valley will be filled,and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight,the rough ways smooth,
6 and everyone will see the salvation of God.
7 He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!