1. Ke kaloku ngomnyaka weshumi elinantlanu elawula uTibheriyo *Khesare, inguPontiyo Pilato irhuluneli kwelakwaJuda, inguHerode olawula kwelaseGalili, umntakwabo uFilipu elawula kwelaseJitureya nelaseTrakoniti, inguLisaniyo olawula kwelaseAbhilene,
2. ngemihla yababingeleli abakhulu ooAnas noKayafa, lafika ilizwi likaThixo kuYohane, unyana kaZakariya, entlango.
3. Yena ke wayewujikeleza wonke ummandla weJordan, eshumayela esithi abantu mabaguquke, babhaptizwe, aze uThixo abaxolele izono zabo;
4. njengoko kubhaliweyo kwincwadi *yomshumayeli uIsaya kusithiwa:“Kuvakala ilizwi lodandulukayo entlango, lisithi:“ ‘Yilungiseleleni indlela iNkosi,niyihlahlele umgaqo wayo.
5. Mayiditywe yonke imifula,zidilizwe zonke iinduli neentaba.Mazenziwe zithi tye iindawo ezigoso,ziletyelwe ezinamatye.
6. Bonke abantu baya kulubona usindiso oluvela kuThixo.’ ”
7. Ke kaloku izihlwele zaziphuma ziye kubhaptizwa nguYohane. Wayesithi kuzo: “Nzalandini yamarhamba, ngubani lo unilumkisileyo ukuba niyibaleke ingqumbo ezayo?
8. Ke ngoko yenzani izinto ezibonakalisa inguquko. Ze ningafane nithi: ‘Siyinzala ka-Abraham.’ Ndiyanixelela mna, uThixo unako ngawo la matye ukumvelisela abantwana uAbraham.
9. Kanti ke lona izembe selikulungele ukuyinqumla ezingcanjini imithi. Ngoko ke wonke umthi ongavelisi siqhamo sihle uyagawulwa utshiswe.”
10. Izihlwele zazimbuza zisithi: “Masithini ke ngoko?”
11. Waphendula wathi kuzo: “Lowo uneengubo ezimbini makanike ongenáyo. Nalowo unokutya makenjenjalo.”
12. Abaqokeleli-rhafu beza kubhaptizwa, bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, masithini na?”