14. Yayisikuzwa inkosi uHerode, ngokuba lalidumile igama lakhe. Kwathiwa uJohane uMbhapathizi uvukile kwabafileyo; kungalokho lawa mandla asebenza kuye.
15. Kodwa abanye bathi: “Ngu-Eliya;” abanye bathi: “Ngumprofethi njengomunye wabaprofethi.”
16. Kepha uHerode ekuzwile wathi: “UJohane engamnquma ikhanda nguye ovukile.”
17. Ngokuba yena uHerode wayethumele wambamba uJohane, wambopha etilongweni ngenxa kaHerodiya umkaFiliphu umfowabo, ngokuba wayeganwe nguye.
18. Ngokuba uJohane wayethe kuHerode: “Awuvunyelwe ukuthatha umkamfowenu.”
19. Njalo uHerodiya wambambela amagqubu, wafuna ukumbulala; kepha kabanga namandla,
20. ngokuba uHerode wayemesaba uJohane emazi ukuthi uyindoda elungileyo engcwele, wamlonda; nalapho emuzwa, wayesambatheka kaningi, nokho kwabamnandi kuye ukumuzwa.
21. Kwathi sekufikile usuku oluhle, lapho uHerode ngosuku lokuzalwa kwakhe ezenzela idili izikhulu zakhe, nezinduna zempi, nabanumzane baseGalile,