{Fruit worthy of repentance} (Karpon axion t(8873) metanoias).
John demands proof from these men of the new life before he
administers baptism to them. "The fruit is not the change of
heart, but the acts which result from it" (McNeile). It was a
bold deed for John thus to challenge as unworthy the very ones
who posed as lights and leaders of the Jewish people. "Any one
can do (poi(8873)ate, vide  Ge 1:11 ) acts externally good but only
a good man can grow a crop of right acts and habits" (Bruce).