in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.

 John was one of the world's supremely effective preachers. Once Chalmers was congratulated on a sermon. "Yes," he said, "but what did it do?" It is clear that John preached for action and produced it. He did not deal in theological subtleties but in life. 