John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)

3 In those days John the Baptist^(B) came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven^(C) has come near.” ³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

⁴ John’s^(E) clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.^(F) His food was locusts^(G) and wild honey.

⁵ “See, I will send the prophet Elijah^(A) to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.^{(B) 6} He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children,^(C) and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike^(D) the land with total destruction.”^(E)

¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord,^(A) in the spirit and power of Elijah,^(B) to turn the hearts of the parents to their children^(C) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”^(D)

⁸ They replied, “He had a garment of hair^[a](A) and had a leather belt around his waist.”

The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.”

⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,^(A) and he ate locusts^(B) and wild honey.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone^(A) what you have seen, until the Son of Man^(B) has been raised from the dead.”^(C)

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.^{(D) 12} But I tell you, Elijah has already come,^(E) and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished.^(F) In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer^(G) at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.^(H)