⁴ And so John the Baptist^(A) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance^(B) for the forgiveness of sins.^(C)

⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

⁸ I baptize you with^[a] water, but he will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit.”^(A)

²⁹ (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.^(A)

³⁰ But the Pharisees and the experts in the law^(A) rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)