the voice of one who cries in the desert, 'Make the way ready for the Lord, level the paths for him' —
(This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah: The voice of one who cries in the desert, 'Make the way ready for the Lord, level the paths for him.')
(John testified to him with the cry, 'This was he of whom I said, my successor has taken precedence of me, for he preceded me.')
In those days John the Baptist came on the scene, preaching in the desert of Judaea,
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert;