1And it came to pass when Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.2Now when John heard in prison the works of the Christ, he sent through his disciples.3And he said to him, "Are you the one who is coming, or shall we look for another?"4And Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and announce to John what you hear and see."5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk; the leprous are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised, and the poor have good news preached to them.6And blessed is the one who is not caused to stumble because of me.7As these went away, Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?"8But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who wear soft garments are in the houses of kings.9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.10This is he about whom it is written, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you."11Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens suffers violence, and violent men seize it.13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.14And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.15He who has ears, let him hear.16To what then shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another.17They say, "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn."18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He has a demon."19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.