The “forerunner of our Lord.” We have but fragmentary and imperfect accounts of him in the Gospels. He was of priestly descent. His father, Zacharias, was a priest of the course of Abia (1 Chr. 24:10), and his mother, Elisabeth, was of the daughters of Aaron (Luke 1:5). The mission of John was the subject of prophecy (Matt. 3:3; Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1). His birth, which took place six months before that of Jesus, was foretold by an angel. Zacharias, deprived of the power of speech as a token of God’s truth and a reproof of his own incredulity with reference to the birth of his son, had the power of speech restored to him on the occasion of his circumcision (Luke 1:64). After this no more is recorded of him for thirty years than what is mentioned in Luke 1:80. John was a Nazarite from his birth (Luke 1:15; Num. 6:1-12). He spent his early years in the mountainous tract of Judah lying between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea (Matt. 3:1-12).
At length he came forth into public life, and great multitudes from “every quarter” were attracted to him. The sum of his preaching was the necessity of repentance. He denounced the Sadducees and Pharisees as a “generation of vipers,” and warned them of the folly of trusting to external privileges (Luke 3:8). “As a preacher, John was eminently practical and discriminating. Self-love and covetousness were the prevalent sins of the people at large. On them, therefore, he enjoined charity and consideration for others. The publicans he cautioned against extortion, the soldiers against crime and plunder.” His doctrine and manner of life roused the entire south of Palestine, and the people from all parts flocked to the place where he was, on the banks of the Jordan. There he baptized thousands unto repentance.
The fame of John reached the ears of Jesus in Nazareth (Matt. 3:5), and he came from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized of John, on the special ground that it became him to “fulfil all righteousness” (3:15). John’s special office ceased with the baptism of Jesus, who must now “increase” as the King come to his kingdom. He continued, however, for a while to bear testimony to the Messiahship of Jesus. He pointed him out to his disciples, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God.” His public ministry was suddenly (after about six months probably) brought to a close by his being cast into prison by Herod, whom he had reproved for the sin of having taken to himself the wife of his brother Philip (Luke 3:19). He was shut up in the castle of Machaerus (q.v.), a fortress on the southern extremity of Peraea, 9 miles east of the Dead Sea, and here he was beheaded. His disciples, having consigned the headless body to the grave, went and told Jesus all that had occurred (Matt. 14:3-12). John’s death occurred apparently just before the third Passover of our Lord’s ministry. Our Lord himself testified regarding him that he was a “burning and a shining light” (John 5:35).
- Matt.3: In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
- Matt.3: And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
- Matt.3: Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
- Matt.3: But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
- Matt.4: Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
- Matt.9: Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
- Matt.11: Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
- Matt.11: Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
- Matt.11: And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
- Matt.11: Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
- Matt.11: And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
- Matt.11: For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
- Matt.11: For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
- Matt.14: And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
- Matt.14: For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
- Matt.14: For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
- Matt.14: And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.
- Matt.14: And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
- Matt.16: And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
- Matt.17: Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
- Matt.21: The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
- Matt.21: But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
- Matt.21: For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
- Mark.1: John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
- Mark.1: And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
- Mark.1: And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
- Mark.1: Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
- Mark.2: And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
- Mark.6: And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
- Mark.6: But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
- Mark.6: For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.
- Mark.6: For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
- Mark.6: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
- Mark.6: And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
- Mark.6: And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
- Mark.8: And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
- Mark.11: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
- Mark.11: But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
- Luke.1: But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
- Luke.1: And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
- Luke.1: And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
- Luke.3: Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
- Luke.3: And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
- Luke.3: John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
- Luke.3: Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
- Luke.5: And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
- Luke.7: And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
- Luke.7: And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
- Luke.7: When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
- Luke.7: Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
- Luke.7: And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
- Luke.7: For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
- Luke.7: And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
- Luke.7: For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
- Luke.9: Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;
- Luke.9: And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
- Luke.9: They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
- Luke.11: And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
- Luke.16: The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
- Luke.20: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
- Luke.20: But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
- John.1: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
- John.1: John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
- John.1: And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
- John.1: John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
- John.1: These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
- John.1: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
- John.1: And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
- John.1: Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
- John.1: One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
- John.3: And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
- John.3: For John was not yet cast into prison.
- John.3: Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
- John.3: And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
- John.3: John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
- John.4: When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
- John.5: Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
- John.5: But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
- John.10: And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
- John.10: And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
- Acts.1: For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
- Acts.1: Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
- Acts.10: That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
- Acts.11: Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
- Acts.13: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
- Acts.13: And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
- Acts.18: This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
- Acts.19: And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
- Acts.19: Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.