John was a witness for him. He cried out and said, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who came before me, because he was there before me.’ ”
He has already picked up his pitchfork so he can toss the straw away from his threshing floor. He’s going to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the husks with fire that can’t be put out.”
But John criticized Herod, the ruler of Galilee, because he had married Herodias, who had been his own brother’s wife. John also spoke strongly to Herod about many other wrong things that he’d done.
If it’s encouraging others, then encourage them. If it’s giving, then give generously. If it’s being a leader, then do it diligently. If it’s showing mercy, then do it cheerfully.