"And you, child,will be calledthe prophetof the Most High;For you will goon BEFORETHE LORDTO PREPAREHIS WAYS;
But of Zionit shall be said,"Thisoneand that onewere bornin her"; And the MostHighHimselfwill establishher.
"Behold,I am going to sendMy messenger,and he will clearthe waybeforeMe. And the Lord,whomyou seek,will suddenlycometo His temple;and the messengerof the covenant,in whomyou delight,behold,He is coming,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
"Behold,I am going to sendyou Elijahthe prophetbeforethe comingof the greatand terribledayof the LORD.
Although Herod wantedto put him to death,he fearedthe crowd,becausethey regardedJohnas a prophet.
"But ifwe say,'From men,'we fearthe people;for they allregardJohnas a prophet."
"As for me, I baptizeyou with waterfor repentance,but He who is comingafterme is mightierthan I, and I amnot fitto removeHis sandals;He will baptizeyou with the HolySpiritand fire.
For thisis the one referredto by Isaiahthe prophetwhen he said,"THE VOICEOF ONE CRYINGIN THE WILDERNESS,MAKE READYTHE WAYOF THE LORD,MAKEHIS PATHSSTRAIGHT!'"
"But shall we say,'From men?"--they were afraidof the people,for everyoneconsideredJohnto have beena realprophet.
"He will be greatand will be calledthe Sonof the Most High;and the LordGodwill giveHim the throneof His fatherDavid;
The angelansweredand saidto her, "The HolySpiritwill comeupon you, and the powerof the Most Highwill overshadowyou; and for that reasonthe holyChildshall be calledthe Sonof God.
"But loveyour enemies,and do good,and lend,expectingnothingin return;and your rewardwill be great,and you will be sonsof the Most High;for He Himselfis kindto ungratefuland evil[men].
He said,"I am A VOICEOF ONE CRYINGIN THE WILDERNESS,'MAKE STRAIGHTTHE WAYOF THE LORD,'as Isaiahthe prophetsaid."
"[It is] He who comesafterme, the thongof whosesandalI amnot worthyto untie."
"You yourselvesare my witnessesthat I said,I amnot the Christ,'but, 'I have beensentaheadof Him.'
Following afterPauland us, she kept cryingout, saying,"Thesemenare bond-servantsof the Most HighGod,whoare proclaimingto you the wayof salvation."
