NARRATOR: John the Baptist was preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins in the region of the Jordan River. Crowds of people came to him.
CROWDS: What should we do?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: Let anyone with two coats give to someone who has none. Anyone who has food should do the same.
NARRATOR: Tax collectors came to be baptized.
TAX COLLECTORS: Teacher, what should we do?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: Don’t take more taxes than people owe.
SOLDIERS: What about us?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: Do not bully anyone. Denounce no one falsely. Be content with your pay.
NARRATOR: The people were full of anticipation, wondering in their hearts whether John might be the messiah.
JOHN THE BAPTIST: I am baptizing you in water, but there is one to come who is mightier than I. I am not worthy to loosen his sandal strap. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear the threshing floor and gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn in unquenchable fire.
NARRATOR: Using exhortations such as this, he preached the good news to the people.
Luke 3.10-18