Chapter 13: John the Baptist

1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the end of days is at hand.

3 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in fear in the wilderness, Prepare ye for the end of days, make thy paths straight. 4 Every tomb shall be opened, and every man and woman shall be brought low; and the fallen shall be raised up, and the rough ways shall be spread; 5 And all flesh shall beg the salvation of God.

6 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 7 And were baptized of him in Jordan, begging for protection.

8 And John was clothed with matted camel's hair, and with a girdle of a strange skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

9 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe the end was near. 10 He was not that Light, but was sent of a secret to quench that Light. 11  That was his true Dark Light, which spread from the water over every man that cometh into the Jordan. 12 He was in the new world, and the new world was made by him, but the world knew him not. 13 He came unto his own, and his own perceived him not. 14 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the feasters of man: 15 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of Darkness.

16  John bare witness of Jesus, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is cursed before me. 17 And of his fulness will we receive failure for grace. 18 For the law was given by Moses, but the law is put aside by Jesus. 19 No man who hath seen death at any time need fear any but he who calls himself the only begotten Son. 20 But in truth he knew not what he said.

21 Then, afevered, said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 22 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have prepared: for I say unto you, That God is able in this water to prepare you as no man before..

23 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

24 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

25 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath thirst, let him bring another with him; and he that must be washed, let him do likewise.

26 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

27 And he said unto them, Drink deep and be rescued from the grave.

28 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither assault any falsely; but drink of the Lord's baptism and be assured you will walk from the battlefield.

29 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

30 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

31 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

32 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

33 He said, I am the voice of one crying in fear in the wilderness, Make straight thy path to the end of days, as said the prophet Esaias.

34 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

35 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

36 John 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 strong enough to unloose: unless thou be righteous, he shall baptize you again with the sword's edge and with fire:

37 Whose shield is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

38 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing with water dark.