On the Acts of the Apostles (Epic) 19

Luke 3:1-3. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina, under the chief priests Annas and Caiaphas, the word of the Lord came unto John the son of Zacharias in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins, saying: — Matthew 3:1-3; Mark 1:3-5. Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying — Luke 3:4-6: A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Isa. 40:3-5). — John 1:5-18. He came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light. That was the true light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name:

Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John beareth witness of him, and crieth out, saying: This was he of whom I spoke: He that shall come after me is preferred before me, because he was before me. And of his fulness we all have received, and grace for grace; for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. — Matthew 3:4-10; Mark 1:6; Luke 3:7-9.

Now John himself had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the country about the Jordan; and they were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance. And think not to say within yourselves: We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.

Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire. — Luke 3:10-15. And the multitudes asked him, saying: What then shall we do? And he answering said to them: He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do in like manner. And the publicans also came to be baptized, and they said to him: Master, what shall we do? But he said to them: Do nothing more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers also asked him, saying: And what shall we do? And he said to them: Do violence to no man, neither calumniate any man, and be content with your pay.

And as the people were of opinion, and all were thinking in their hearts of John, that perhaps he might be the Christ, — John 1:19-25. the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to him, to ask him: Who art thou? And he confessed, and did not deny; and he confessed: I am not the Christ. And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered: No. They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said: I am the voice of one crying in the desert: Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 40:3). And they that were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said to him:

Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet? John answered them, saying — Matthew 3:11-12; Mark 1:7-8; Luke 3:16-18; John 1:26-27: I indeed baptize you in water unto penance; but he that shall come after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. But there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not. He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire; whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. And many other things exhorting, did he preach to the people. — John 1:28. These things were done in Bethania beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.