John the Baptist

1In those days a man named John the Baptist came. He preached in the wilderness of Judea. That means he told people God's message in a dry, empty land.

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

Note"Baptist" was not his last name. It means "the one who dips people in water." In the King James, "Judaea" is spelled the old way. It is the same place as Judea.

2He said, "Turn away from the wrong things you do. God's kingdom is almost here."

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

NoteGod's kingdom means God ruling as king. The people had waited a long time for that. "Repent ye" just means "all of you turn around and change."

3Long ago, Isaiah spoke about John. Isaiah was a prophet, someone who told people what God said. He said, "A voice is calling out in the wilderness. Get the road ready for the Lord. Make his paths straight."

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Note"Esaias" is the King James spelling of the name Isaiah. Long ago, workers fixed the roads before a king traveled. They filled holes and made the path smooth. John was getting people ready like that.

4John's clothes were made from camel hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

NoteThe King James uses old words here. "Raiment" means clothes. A "leathern girdle" is a leather belt. "Meat" just meant food, any kind of food. Locusts are big grasshoppers, and people really did cook and eat them. Camel hair cloth was rough and scratchy, not soft or fancy.

5People came out to him from Jerusalem, from all of Judea, and from all the land near the Jordan River.

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

NoteThe Jordan is the main river of that land. Judea is the part of the country around Jerusalem. People walked a long way to hear John.

6John baptized them in the Jordan River. That means he dipped them under the water. As he did, they told God the wrong things they had done.

And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

NoteGoing under the water showed they were sorry. It was like washing off the wrong things inside. "Confessing their sins" means saying out loud what they did wrong.

7Many Pharisees and Sadducees came to where John was baptizing. John said to them, "You are a nest of snakes! Who told you to run from the anger that is coming?"

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

NoteThe Pharisees tried to keep every rule of God's law. The Sadducees were rich leaders who worked at the temple. A viper is a snake with a poison bite. Calling someone a nest of snakes was not kind. It meant they looked safe but were not. The Pharisees and Sadducees were two groups of Jewish leaders.

8"So live in a way that shows you really have turned from your sins."

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Note"Fruit" here means the good things a person does. A healthy tree grows good fruit. A changed life shows good deeds. In the King James, "meet" means "fitting" or "the right kind."

9"Do not say to yourselves, 'Abraham is our father.' I tell you, God can make children for Abraham out of these stones."

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

NoteAbraham lived long, long before this. The Jewish people were all his family. Many thought that being his family kept them safe with God.

10"The axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree that does not grow good fruit gets cut down. Then it is thrown into the fire."

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

NoteFarmers cut down trees that never grew any fruit. Then they burned the wood. John used that picture as a warning.

11"I baptize you with water to show you have turned from your sins. But someone is coming after me who is stronger than I am. I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

NoteCarrying someone's sandals was a servant's job. It was one of the smallest jobs of all. John said he was not even good enough for that. In the King James, "Holy Ghost" means the Holy Spirit. Long ago, "ghost" simply meant spirit.

12"His winnowing fork is in his hand. He will clean off his threshing floor completely. He will gather his wheat into the barn. But he will burn up the chaff in a fire that never goes out."

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

NoteFarmers cut wheat and piled it on a threshing floor. That was a flat, hard patch of ground outside. They tossed the grain into the air with a big wooden fork. The wind blew the light husks away. Those husks are called chaff. The heavy good grain fell back down. In the King James, "fan" means that fork, not a fan for cooling. "Garner" means barn, and "throughly" means thoroughly, or all the way.

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River. He came to John so John would baptize him.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

NoteGalilee was the part of the country up north. Jesus grew up there. Walking from Galilee to the Jordan took several days.

14But John tried to stop him. John said, "I am the one who needs you to baptize me. So why are you coming to me?"

But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

NoteIn the King James, "forbad" means he tried to stop him. John was not angry. He felt too small for the job.

15Jesus answered him, "Let it be this way for now. This is how we do everything that is right." So John let him do it.

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

NoteIn the King James, "Suffer it to be so" means "let it happen." Here "suffer" means allow, not hurt. "Righteousness" means doing what is right. "Then he suffered him" means then John let him.

16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Right then the heavens opened. He saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

NoteA dove is a gentle bird, a lot like a pigeon. In the King James, "lo" means "look!" "Straightway" means right away.

17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son. I love him, and I am very pleased with him."

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Note"Beloved" means dearly loved. "I am well pleased" means "I am very happy with him."

14Then the followers of John came to Jesus. They asked, "We and the Pharisees often go without food. Why do your followers not do that?"

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

NoteThis is John the Baptist, a preacher who told people about Jesus. To fast means to go without food for a while. People did it while they prayed, to show they were serious.

15Jesus answered, "Guests at a wedding are not sad while the groom is with them. But a day is coming when the groom will be taken away. Then they will go without food.

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

NoteA wedding back then lasted many days. It was a big happy party. Nobody would go hungry or feel sad at a wedding.

16No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old coat. The new piece pulls away from the old cloth. Then the hole is even worse.

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

NoteNew cloth shrinks the first time it gets wet. Old cloth has already shrunk as far as it will go. So the new patch pulls and rips the hole wider.

17People do not pour new wine into old skin bags. The old bags would burst. The wine would spill out, and the bags would be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new bags. Then both are kept safe."

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

NoteWine was kept in bags made from animal skin. New wine bubbles and swells as it sits. A new bag can stretch, but an old bag is stiff. It splits open instead.

2John the Baptist was locked up in prison. There he heard about the things Jesus was doing. So John sent two of his own followers to Jesus.

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

NoteJohn the Baptist was Jesus' cousin. He told people to get ready for God's special king. A ruler named Herod did not like what John said. So he put John in prison.

3They asked Jesus, "Are you the one who was coming? Or should we wait for someone else?"

And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

NoteGod's people had waited many years for a special king. God had promised to send him. That is the person they are asking about.

4Jesus answered them, "Go back to John. Tell him what you hear and see."

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

5"Blind people can see. People who could not walk now walk. People with a bad skin sickness are made well and clean. Deaf people can hear. Dead people are raised to life. And poor people hear the good news."

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

NoteThis skin sickness was called leprosy. People who had it had to live away from everyone. Being made clean meant they could come home again.

6"Blessed is everyone who does not turn away from me."

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

NoteBlessed means truly happy, because good has come to you.

7John's followers left. Then Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. He asked, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A tall plant bending in the wind?"

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

NoteThe desert here is a wild, empty place with no towns. The tall plant is a reed. Reeds grow by the water. They bend whichever way the wind blows.

8"So what did you go out to see? A man in soft, fine clothes? Look, people who wear fine clothes live in kings' houses."

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

NoteSoft, fine clothes cost a lot of money back then. Only rich people and kings could wear them.

9"Then what did you go out to see? A prophet, someone who tells people what God says? Yes, and John is even more than a prophet."

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

10"John is the one God's book wrote about long ago. It says, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will get the road ready for you.'"

For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

NoteGod's book here means the writings of the prophets. These words were written long before John was born. A messenger is someone sent ahead to carry news. In those days, workers fixed the road before a king came to visit.

11"I am telling you the truth. Of all people ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptist. But the smallest person in God's kingdom is greater than he is."

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

NoteGod's kingdom means all the people God rules as king.

12"From the days of John until now, people have attacked God's kingdom. Violent people grab it by force."

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

NoteThis verse is hard to understand. Even people who study the Bible are not sure what it means.

13"All the prophets and the law of God told what was coming. They did this until John came."

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

NoteThe law means the rules God gave to Moses long, long ago.

14"If you are willing to believe it, John is the Elijah who was coming."

And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

NoteElijah was a prophet who lived long before John was born. People believed Elijah would come back first. Then God's promised king would come.

15"If you have ears, then listen."

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

NoteThis was a common saying. It means listen carefully and think about it.

16"What are the people of today like? They are like children sitting in the market. They call out to the other children."

But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

NoteThe market was an open place in the middle of town. People sold food and other things there. Children played there too.

17"They say, 'We played happy music, but you did not dance. We sang a sad song, but you did not cry.'"

And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

NoteAt weddings, people played happy flute music and danced. When someone died, people sang sad songs and cried out loud. The children were playing a game about both.

18"John came, and he did not eat or drink like other people. And they say, 'An evil spirit is in him!'"

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

NoteJohn ate very little and drank no wine. Going without food showed he was serious about God. Saying an evil spirit was in him meant they thought he was crazy.

19"The Son of Man came eating and drinking. That is Jesus' own name for himself. And they say, 'Look, he eats too much and drinks too much wine. He is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her children."

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

NoteTax collectors took money from people for the rulers. Many of them cheated and kept extra for themselves. Most people hated them. The last line is a saying. It means you can tell what is wise by what it does. 'Her children' here means what comes from wisdom. The oldest copies say 'by what she does.'

1Around that time, Herod heard people talking about Jesus. Herod was a ruler over part of the land.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

NoteHerod ruled one part of the country for the Romans. The Romans were in charge of the whole land then. Herod was not king of everything.

2He said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist. He has come back to life. That is why he can do such powerful things."

And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

NoteJohn the Baptist was a preacher who spoke for God. He told people to get ready for Jesus. He dipped people in a river to show they were sorry.

3Earlier, Herod had arrested John. He tied him up and put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias, who had been the wife of his brother Philip.

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

NoteHerodias had been married to Herod's brother Philip. Then she left him and married Herod. Many people said this was wrong.

4John kept telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to have her as your wife."

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

NoteGod's rules said a man must not take his brother's wife. John said this out loud, right to the ruler's face.

5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people. They believed John was a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

NoteA prophet was someone who told people messages from God. People listened to prophets carefully. Hurting one would make the crowd very angry.

6On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests. Herod was very pleased with her.

But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

NoteRich people threw big parties on their birthdays. Dancing was part of the entertainment for the guests.

7So he made a strong promise. He said he would give her anything she asked for.

Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

NoteAn oath was a very strong promise. You said God's name when you made one. People believed you could never take it back.

8Her mother had already told her what to say. She said, "Bring me John the Baptist's head here on a plate."

And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.

NoteThe old word here is "charger." It means a big flat dish for serving food at a meal.

9The king was sad. But he had made his promise in front of his dinner guests. So he gave the order.

And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

NoteThe guests were lying on couches around a low table. That is how people ate at fancy dinners then. Everyone had heard Herod make his promise.

10He sent men to the prison, and they cut off John's head.

And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

11His head was carried in on a plate and given to the girl. She took it to her mother.

And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

NoteThe old word for her is "damsel." It simply means a young girl.

12John's followers came and took his body away and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

NoteJohn had his own group of followers before he was arrested. They learned from him and helped him with his work.

10His followers asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Scribes were teachers who studied and copied God's laws.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

NoteScribes copied the Bible by hand, one letter at a time. There were no printing machines then. They also taught people the laws. Many people believed Elijah would come back before God sent his special king.

11Jesus answered, "It is true. Elijah does come first, and he puts everything right again."

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

12"But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People did not know who he was. They did to him whatever they wanted. They will hurt the Son of Man in the same way."

But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

13Then his followers understood. Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.

Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

NoteJohn the Baptist told people to get ready, because Jesus was coming. A king put John in prison, and John was killed there.

23Jesus went into the temple and started teaching. The chief priests and the leaders of the people came to him. They asked, "What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you this right?"

And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

NoteElders were older men who helped lead the people. They made important decisions, and people respected them.

24Jesus answered, "I will ask you one question too. If you answer me, I will tell you what right I have."

And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25"John baptized people. Did that come from God in heaven, or from people?" They talked it over. They said, "If we say it came from heaven, he will ask why we did not believe John."

The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

NoteJohn dipped people down into the river water. It showed they were sorry and wanted to start fresh. This dipping is called baptizing.

26"But if we say it came from people, we are afraid of the crowd. Everyone believes John was a prophet."

But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

27So they said to Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus said, "Then I will not tell you what right I have to do these things."

And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

28"What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first son and said, 'Son, go work in my grape field today.'"

But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

NoteA grape field is called a vineyard. Grapes grew on long vines and were a big crop. Working there was hot, hard work all day.

29"The son said, 'I will not.' But later he changed his mind and went."

He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30"The father went to the second son and said the same thing. That son said, 'Yes, sir, I will go.' But he did not go."

And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

31"Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?" They said, "The first one." Jesus said, "I am telling you the truth. Tax collectors and prostitutes are going into God's kingdom ahead of you."

Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

NoteTax collectors gathered money from people for the rulers. They often kept extra for themselves, so people hated them. Prostitutes were women who sold their bodies for money. Most people thought both groups were the very worst kind of people.

32"John came to you living the right way. You did not believe him. But tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him. You saw that happen. Still you did not change your mind and believe him."

For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

1This is the start of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Note"Christ" is not a last name. It means "the one God chose." The good news is the story of what Jesus did.

2Long ago a prophet wrote this down. God said, "I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will get your road ready."

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

NoteA prophet was someone who told people what God said. Long ago, workers fixed and smoothed the roads before a king came. The messenger is doing that kind of job.

3The prophet also wrote, "Someone is calling out in the wilderness, the empty land where almost nobody lives. He says, 'Get the road ready for the Lord. Make his paths straight.'"

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

NoteThe wilderness was dry, rocky land far from towns. Almost nobody lived there.

4John came to that empty land. He baptized people in water. He told them to turn away from doing wrong so their sins would be forgiven.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

NoteTo baptize someone means to dip them under water. It showed they were sorry and wanted a fresh start. John did this in the river.

5People came out to him from Jerusalem and from all over the land of Judea. They told about the wrong things they had done. John baptized them in the Jordan River.

And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

NoteThe Jordan was the main river in that land. Judea was the part of the country around Jerusalem.

6John wore clothes made from camel hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and honey from wild bees.

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

NoteLocusts are big bugs, a lot like grasshoppers. People there cooked them and ate them. Camel hair made rough, scratchy cloth. John dressed the way old prophets used to dress.

7John told the people, "Someone stronger than me is coming after me. I am not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals."

And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

NoteUntying a guest's dusty sandals was the job of the lowest servant. John says he is not even good enough for that job.

8"I baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

NoteThe Holy Spirit is God's own Spirit. The King James calls him "the Holy Ghost." Ghost was just an old word for spirit.

9Around that time Jesus came from Nazareth, a town in Galilee. John baptized him in the Jordan River.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

NoteGalilee was the northern part of the country. Nazareth was a small town there, and nobody thought much of it.

10As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens open. God's Spirit came down on him like a dove.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

NoteA dove is a soft gray bird, like a gentle pigeon. Mark says the Spirit came down the quiet way a bird lands.

11A voice came from heaven. It said, "You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you."

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.