John

Male

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 Chronicles 24:10 ), and his mother, Elisabeth, was of the daughters of Aaron ( Luke 1:5 ). The mission of John was the subject of prophecy ( Matthew 3:3 ; Isaiah 40:3 ; Malachi 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 ; Numbers 6:1-12 ). He spent his early years in the mountainous tract of Judah lying between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea ( Matthew 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 ( Matthew 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 ( Matthew 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 ).</p></p></p>

Family

Parents: Zacharias Elisabeth

Named in 89 verses

Matthew 3:1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
Matthew 3:4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
Matthew 3:14 But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee.
Matthew 9:14 Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”
Matthew 11:2 Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
Matthew 11:4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
Matthew 11:7 As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
Matthew 11:11 Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of H
Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
Matthew 14:2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.”
Matthew 14:3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
Matthew 14:4 For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Matthew 14:8 She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.”
Matthew 14:10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
Matthew 16:14 They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Matthew 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.
Matthew 21:25 The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then di
Matthew 21:26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”
Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn
Mark 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.
Mark 1:6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
Mark 1:9 In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Mark 1:14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom,
Mark 2:18 John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your discipl
Mark 6:14 King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, “John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”
Mark 6:16 But Herod, when he heard this, said, “This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead.”
Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her.
Mark 6:18 For John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Mark 6:20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
Mark 6:24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”
Mark 6:25 She came in immediately with haste to the king and requested, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.”
Mark 8:28 They told him, “John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others, one of the prophets.”
Mark 11:30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me.”
Mark 11:32 If we should say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.
Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his n
Luke 1:60 His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”
Luke 1:63 He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” They all marveled.
Luke 3:2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
Luke 3:15 As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ,
Luke 3:16 John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will bap
Luke 3:20 added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.
Luke 5:33 They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?”
Luke 7:18 The disciples of John told him about all these things.
Luke 7:19 John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?”
Luke 7:20 When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’”
Luke 7:22 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the
Luke 7:24 When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
Luke 7:28 “For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than h
Luke 7:29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.
Luke 7:33 For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’
Luke 9:7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,
Luke 9:9 Herod said, “I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him.
Luke 9:19 They answered, “‘John the Baptizer,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets has risen again.”
Luke 11:1 When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”
Luke 16:16 “The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
Luke 20:4 the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?”
Luke 20:6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
John 1:6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John 1:15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”
John 1:19 This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
John 1:26 John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.
John 1:28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John 1:29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:32 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.
John 1:35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,
John 1:40 One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
John 3:23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came and were baptized;
John 3:24 for John was not yet thrown into prison.
John 3:25 Therefore a dispute arose on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.
John 3:26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he baptizes, and everyone is coming to him
John 3:27 John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
John 4:1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
John 5:33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
John 5:36 But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, t
John 10:40 He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and he stayed there.
John 10:41 Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.”
Acts 1:5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:22 beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
Acts 10:37 you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Acts 11:16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’
Acts 13:24 before his coming, when John had first preached the baptism of repentance to Israel.
Acts 13:25 As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not wort
Acts 18:25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew o
Acts 19:3 He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”
Acts 19:4 Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in