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,