Mateus 3

1 Some time later John the Baptist appeared on the scene, proclaiming in the Judean desert, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has arrived!"*3:2. "Has arrived." The verb used here is in the perfect (i.e. past) tense, indicating the event has already happened. The word itself means "to approach," or in older language, "draw near." However, if something "has approached" then it "has arrived." Also in 4:17, 10:7. 3 He was the one Isaiah spoke about when he said, "A voice is heard crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord. Make the paths straight for him.’"*3:3. See Isaiah 40:3.

4 John had clothes made of camel hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts*3:4. Probably locust beans. and wild honey. 5 People came to him from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and the entire Jordan region, 6 and were baptized in the Jordan River, publicly admitting their sins.