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;

Lux. 3, 15-18.

And when the people were waiting, and all were thinking in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ, John answered everyone: "I baptize you with water for repentance, but there comes after me the One who is stronger than me, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry, from whom I am not worthy to bend down and untie the strap of His shoes; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire; His spade[4] is in his hand, and he will cleanse his threshing floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, and the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

John preached many other gospels to the people, instructing them.

18. The Baptism of the Lord.

Mf. 3, 13-17;

Mk. 1, 9-11;

Lux. 3, 21-23.