Jesus replies that he must "be in his father's house" (). The Synoptic accounts of Jesus' baptism are all preceded by information about John the Baptist. They show John preaching penance and repentance for the remission of sins and encouraging the giving of alms to the poor () as he baptizes people in the area of the Jordan River around Perea and foretells () the arrival of someone "more powerful" than he. Later, Jesus identifies John as "the Elijah who was to come" (, ), the prophet who was expected to arrive before the "great and terrible day of the Lord"
Messengers from John the Baptist Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." The "best manuscript authorities" state that John sent word δια των μαθητων αυτου, "dia tōn mathētōn autou", i.e. by means of his disciples, but δύο τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, "duo tōn mathētōn autou", meaning two of his disciples, appears in the Textus Receptus. Biblical commentator Marvin Vincent argues that "the correct reading is διά". Following this episode, Jesus begins to speak to the crowds about John the Baptist, according to the reports of and . Messengers from John the Baptist The messengers who came from John the Baptist