⁴ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness (desert), preaching a baptism [^[a]obligating] repentance (^[b]a change of one’s mind for the better, heartily amending one’s ways, with abhorrence of his past sins) in order ^[c]to obtain forgiveness of and release from sins.

⁵ And there kept going out to him [continuously] all the country of Judea and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, ^[d]as they were confessing their sins.

⁶ And John wore clothing woven of camel’s hair and had a leather girdle around his loins and ate locusts and wild honey.