No Shades of Gray

^[1] In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar-when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene- ^[2] during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. ^[3] He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ^[4] As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. ^[5] Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. ^[6] And all mankind will see God’s salvation.'” ^[7] John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ^[8] Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ^[9] The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” ^[10] “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. ^[11] John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” ^[12] Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” ^[13] “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. ^[14] Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely-be content with your pay.” ^[15] The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. ^[16] John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ^[17] His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” ^[18] And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. ^[19] But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, ^[20] Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.