John was born into a priestly family which, according to tradition, lived in Ein Kerem, a small village nestled in the rugged hills just west of Jerusalem. He began preaching "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar, A.D. 27–28 (Lk 3:1–3). John's activity was concentrated in the Jordan Valley, from the south at Bethabara (Bethany beyond the Jordan), just a day's walk from Jerusalem, to Aenon near Salim, east of Samaria. His bold message has been likened to those of both Elijah and the Essenes, and was part of the spiritual fervor that gripped Judea in his day.
John eventually ran afoul of the authorities. He was arrested and beheaded by Herod Antipas for criticizing Antipas's marriage to his brother Philip's wife.
