John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)

3 In those days John the Baptist^(B) came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven^(C) has come near.” ³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

⁴ And so John the Baptist^(A) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance^(B) for the forgiveness of sins.^(C)

² during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,^(A) the word of God came to John^(B) son of Zechariah^(C) in the wilderness.

³ He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.^(A)

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John.^{(A) 7} He came as a witness to testify^(B) concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.^{(C) 8} He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.