Mat 3:1-3, Mar 1:2-5, Luk 3:2-6, Joh 1:23 | ESV | STEP | In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea ,

Matthew 3:1-3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 ^aIn those days ^bJohn the Baptist came preaching in ^cthe wilderness of Judea, 2 ^d“Repent, for ^ethe kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

^f“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
^g‘Prepare ^{▼▼Or crying: Prepare in the wilderness} the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”

Mark 1:2-5

2 ⁱAs it is written in Isaiah the prophet, ^{▼▼Some manuscripts in the prophets}

^k“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 ^lthe voice of one crying in the wilderness:
^m‘Prepare ^{▼▼Or crying: Prepare in the wilderness} the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4 ^oJohn appeared, baptizing in ^pthe wilderness and proclaiming ^qa baptism of ^rrepentance ^sfor the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, ^tconfessing their sins.

Luke 3:2-6

2 during ^uthe high priesthood of Annas and ^vCaiaphas, ^wthe word of God came to ^xJohn the son of Zechariah in ^ythe wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming ^za baptism of repentance ^aafor the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in ^abthe book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

^ac“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
^ad‘Prepare the way of the Lord, ^{▼▼Or crying, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord}
make his paths straight.
5 ^afEvery valley shall be filled,
^agand every mountain and hill shall be made low,
^ahand the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
6 ^aiand all flesh shall see ^ajthe salvation of God.’”

John 1:23

23 He said, “I am ^akthe voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight ^{▼▼Or crying out, ‘In the wilderness make straight} the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”