The Preaching Of Iohn The Baptist
1. NOW in the fifteenth year of the reign (of Tiberius Caesar) Pontius Pilate (being governor of Judea) and Herod (being tetrarch of Galilee) Caiaphas (being the high priest) and Annas (chief of the Sanhedrim) the Word (of God) came unto Iohn (the son of Zacharias) in the wilderness.
2. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism (of penitence) for the remission of sins. As it is written in the prophets,
Behold I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee; the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way (of the Holy One) make straight the paths (of the Anointed).
3. 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 shall be made smooth. And all flesh shall see the salvation (of God).[1]
4. And the same Iohn had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a girdle of the same about his loins, and his meat was the fruit of the locust tree and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized (of him) in the Jordan confessing their sins.
5. And he said to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him,
O generation (of disobedient ones) who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy (of penitence[2]) and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father.
6. For I say unto you, that God is able (of these stones) to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
7. And the wealthier people asked him, saying,
What shall we do then?
He answereth and saith unto them,
He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food let him do likewise.
8. Then came also certain taxgatherers to be baptised and said unto him,
Master, what shall we do?
And he said unto them,
Exact no more than that which is appointed you, and be merciful after your power.
9. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying,
And what shall we do?
And he said unto them,
Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with sufficient wages.
10. And to all he spake, saying,
Keep yourselves from blood and things strangled and from dead bodies (of birds and beasts) and from all deeds of cruelty, and from all that is gotten of wrong; Think ye the blood (of beasts and birds) will wash away sin! I tell you Nay, Speak the Truth. Be just, Be merciful to one another and to all creatures that live, and walk humbly with your God.
11. And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of Iohn, whether he were the Christ or not, Iohn answered; saying unto them all,
I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose.
12. He shall also baptize you with water and with fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.[3]
And many other things in his exortation preached he unto the people.
LECTION 7. 4.-The fruit of the Carob tree ("S. Iohn's Bread") ; not the insect of that name, as is supposed by the people in general.
LECTION 7. 10,-As noticed before, the Essenes did not frequent the blood sacrifices of the Temple. Iohn and Iesus acted accordingly.
Read: Isaiah 40:3, 4
Definition: the state of being penitent; regret for one's wrongdoing or sinning; contrition;
Definition: to mock, tease, or jest in a good-natured way; banter; read: Psalm 1:4; 35:5; Isaiah 5:23,24; 17:12,13; 29:4-6; 33:10-12; 41:14-16; 23:26-30; Dainel 2:34,35; Hosea 13:2,3; Zephaniah 2:1-3