10 “What then should we do?”g the crowds were asking him.

11 He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.”h

12 Tax collectorsi also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”j

13 He told them, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.”

14 Some soldiers also questioned him, “What should we do?”

He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

15 Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.k 16 John answered them all,l “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you withC the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing shovelm is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn,n but the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”o 18 Then, along with many other exhortations, he proclaimed good news to the people.