1 It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar. These men were under Caesar: Pontius Pilate was the ruler of Judea. Herod was the ruler of Galilee. Philip, Herod’s brother, was the ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis. And Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene.
2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time, a command from God came to John son of Zechariah. John was living in the desert.
3 He went all over the area around the Jordan River and preached to the people. He preached a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of their sins.
4 As it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet:“This is a voice of a manwho calls out in the desert:‘Prepare the way for the Lord.Make the road straight for him.
5 Every valley should be filled in.Every mountain and hill should be made flat.Roads with turns should be made straight,and rough roads should be made smooth.
6 And all people will know about the salvation of God!’” Isaiah 40:3-5
7 Crowds of people came to be baptized by John. He said to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who warned you to run away from God’s anger that is coming?