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,
22 wehlela phezu kwakhe uMoya oyiNgcwele enembonakalo yehobe. Kwavakala nezwi livela ezulwini, lisithi: “UnguNyana wam endimthandayo wena; ndikholisiwe nguwe!”