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In act 1 scene 1, the witches only express their intention to meet Macbeth on a heath before the sunset once the 'hurly burly' of war in Duncan's Scotland is over. However, the concluding couplet chanted by the three witches in chorus does seem to relate to the story of Macbeth: ' Fair is foul and foul is fair/Hover through the fog and filthy air'. Macbeth, Duncan's trusted general, shows his exemplary courage in the battle to annihilate the rebel, Macdonwald, and to defeat the invading Norwegian king assisted by the traitor, Cawdor. Macbeth is thus so fair as a saviour of Scotland, and again, he is ambitious and carries the seed of evil deep within him.

In reply to #1: the purpose of the witches was to create a twist in the story, they were simply there to fortell/forshadow Macbeth's and Banquo's future. They did not tell Macbeth how he was to be "Thane of Cowder"/ king. He, Macbeth decided on his own what actions he could take to get that title. It is simply his own evil ambition. Not the witches' words to kill Duncan and perform all the evil deeds he commited. Although, there would be no story line if the witches were not involved and the prophecy were not told.