He came and appeared, and went through all the country round about Jordan and in the wilderness of Judea, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, and saying, Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

And behold, the beginning of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as it is written in the prophets; Behold, I send My angel before Thee, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee (Mal. 3:1). For he is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke, as it is written in the book of the words of this prophet: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight; let every valley be filled, and every mountain and hill be made low, the crookedness straightened, and the rough paths made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Isaiah 40:3-5).

John wore a robe of camel's hair and a leather belt on his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Then the people of Jerusalem, and all the country of Judah, and all the region round about the Jordan, went out to him, and were baptized by him, all in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

16. The Holy Forerunner gives instructions.

Mf. 3, 7-10;

Mk. 1-16;

Lux. 3, 7-14.

Seeing many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, Saint John said to them: "Offspring of vipers! Who inspired you to flee from the wrath to come? Produce therefore worthy fruits of repentance, and do not think to say in yourselves, 'Our father is Abraham,' for I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham out of these stones. Already the axe lies at the root of the trees: every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. And the people asked him, What shall we do? He answered and said to them, "He who has two garments, let him give to the poor, and he who has food, do likewise."

The publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher! What should we do? He answered them, "Do not demand anything more than what is determined for you."

The soldiers also asked him: "What shall we do?" And he said to them, Do not offend anyone, do not slander anyone, and be content with your salary.

17. St. John foretells of Christ the Lord.

Mf. 3, 11-12;

Mk. 1, 7;