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?