1. Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nanhlanu wokubusa kukaTiberiyu Kesari, uPontiyu Pilatu engumbusi waseJudiya, uHerode engumtetrarki* waseGalile, uFiliphu umfowabo engumtetrarki wezwe lase-Itureya nelaseTrakhoniti, uLisaniya engumtetrarki wase-Abilene,
2. u-Anase engumpristi omkhulu noKayafase, kwafika izwi likaNkulunkulu kuJohane indodana kaZakariya ehlane.
3. Weza ezweni lonke laseJordani eshumayela umbhapathizo wokuphenduka, kube ngukuthethelelwa kwezono,
4. njengokuba kulotshiwe encwadini yamazwi ka-Isaya umprofethi ukuthi:“Izwi lomemezayo ehlane, lithi:‘Lungisani indlela yeNkosi,nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde.
5. Izigodi zonke ziyakugqitshwa,zonke izintaba namagquma kuyakwehliswa;kuqonde izinsongansonga,nemigoxigoxi ibe yizindlela ezilelezekile;
6. inyama yonke izakubona insindiso kaNkulunkulu.’ ”
7. Ngakho-ke wathi ezixukwini ezaziphumela ukubhapathizwa nguye: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ubani onibonise ukubalekela intukuthelo ezayo na?
8. Ngakho vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka, ningaqali ukuthi phakathi kini: ‘Sinobaba u-Abrahama;’ ngokuba ngithi kini: UNkulunkulu unamandla okumvusela u-Abrahama abantwana kulawa matshe.