As an example look what happens when you put all togther the story of John's (Baptist) testimony. Some may not be get anything out of this but I see the crowd in a different light now. John is yelling at the Pharisees. Now the crowd sees how he is getting the message across and they start asking for more. I don't know why I see that more clearly now. It's the same story but it seems it is more complete now. I took out verse numbers and stuff. Now it reads like a short story.
The Testimony of John
This is the testimony of John. John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Now John himself was clothed with a garment of camels hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.
The Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? The people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ. And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ. They asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not. Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No. Then they said to him, Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself? He said, I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, and said to him, Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? So, John began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him. As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but among you stands One whom you do not know. He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
And the crowds were questioning him, saying, Then what shall we do? And he would answer and say to them, The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise. And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, Teacher, what shall we do? And he said to them, Collect no more than what you have been ordered to. Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, And what about us, what shall we do? And he said to them, Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.
So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people. These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
