Britannica Sources used in this answer

When did St. John the Baptist become prominent as a prophet?

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Geertgen tot Sint Jans: John the Baptist in the Wilderness — St. John the Baptist *John the Baptist in the Wilderness*, oil on panel by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, 15th century; in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.

St. John the Baptist attained prominence as a prophet in 27/28 or 28/29 CE.1

Rather than serving as a priest, he emerged from a period of desert solitude to preach in the region of the lower Jordan River valley. During this time, he became known for his message regarding the imminence of God’s Final Judgment, calling upon all ranks of Jewish society to repent and undergo baptism as preparation.21