John the Baptist

John was active around the Jordan River in the early first century AD, possibly connected to the Essenes, a semi-ascetic sect that practiced ritual baptism and awaited a messiah. He made baptism the central act of his pre-messianic movement and drew followers who later became some of Jesus's earliest disciples. According to the Gospels, John and Jesus were relatives, and John is portrayed as the forerunner who anticipated someone greater than himself — Jesus later called him "Elijah who is to come." Around AD 30, John publicly rebuked Herod Antipas for divorcing his wife and unlawfully marryin…