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?”
13. Wathi kubo: “Ningabizi ngaphezu kwenikumiselweyo.”
14. Namajoni ayebuza kuye esithi: “Masithini thina?”Wathi kuwo: “Ningaphangi mntu ngogonyamelo okanye ngobuxoki. Yanelani yimivuzo yenu.”
15. Ke kaloku lavuseleleka ithemba ebantwini, becamanga bonke ezintliziyweni zabo ngaye uYohane, ukuba akangebi nguye na uKrestu.
16. UYohane ke wabaphendula esithi: “Mna okunene ndinibhaptiza ngamanzi, kodwa uyeza onamandla kunam. Andikufanelanga ukukhulula nemitya le yezihlangu zakhe. Yena uya kunibhaptiza ngoMoya oyiNgcwele nangomlilo.
17. Ingobozi isesandleni sakhe. Uya kukwela kuthi tu okusesandêni, ayigalele kuvimba ingqolowa. Ke wona umququ uya kuwutshisa ngomlilo ongacimiyo.”
18. UYohane wayeyala ekhuthaza nangezinye izinto ezininzi, eshumayela iindaba ezimnandi ebantwini.
19. UHerode, umlawuli waseGalili, wakhalinyelwa nguYohane ngenxa yokungena uHerodiya, umka-mninawe wakhe, nangazo zonke ezinye izinto ezimbi awayezenzile.
20. Suka ke yena uHerode wavalela uYohane lowo entolongweni.
21. Ke ekubhaptizweni kwento eninzi yabantu, noYesu ebhaptiziwe, kwathi ethandaza, lavuleka izulu,