1Ngomnyaka wetshumi lanhlanu wokubusa kukaThibheriyasi Khesari ngesikhathi uPhontiyasi Philathu engumbusi eJudiya, uHerodi engumbusi eGalile, umfowabo uFiliphu engumbusi wase-Ithuriya leThrakhonithi, njalo loLisaniya engumbusi wase-Abhilene
2ngesikhathi leso u-Anasi loKhayifasi bengabaphristi abakhulu, kwafika ilizwi likaNkulunkulu kuJohane indodana kaZakhariya esenkangala.
3Wawuhamba wonke umango waseJodani, etshumayela ubhaphathizo lokuphenduka ukuze izono zithethelelwe.
4Njengoba kulotshiwe encwadini yamazwi ka-Isaya umphrofethi:
5Zonke izigodi zizagcwaliswa,
6Abantu bonke bazayibona insindiso kaNkulunkulu.’3.6 U-Isaya 40.3-5”
7UJohane wathi emaxukwini abantu ababuya ukuzobhaphathizwa nguye, “Lina nzalo yezinyoka! Lilimukiswe ngubani ukuthi libalekele ulaka oluzayo na?
8Thelani izithelo ezihambelana lokuphenduka. Njalo lingaqali ukuzitshela ukuthi, ‘Silo-Abhrahama ongubaba wethu.’ Ngoba ngilitshela ukuthi kuwonala amatshe uNkulunkulu angamenzela u-Abhrahama abantwana.
9Ihloka selivele selisezimpandeni zezihlahla, njalo zonke izihlahla ezingatheli izithelo ezilungileyo zizaganyulwa, ziphoselwe emlilweni.”
10Abantu bambuza bathi, “Pho kumele senzeni?”
11UJohane waphendula wathi, “Leyondoda elamajazi amabili kayimuphe ongelalo elinye lalowo olokudla kenze njalo.”
12Labathelisi labo beza ukuzabhaphathizwa. Babuza bathi, “Mfundisi, kumele senzeni?”
13Wabatshela wathi, “Lingathelisi ledlulise okufunekayo.”
14Abanye abebutho bambuza bathi, “Thina-ke senzeni?”
15Abantu babehlezi belindele njalo bonke babezibuza ezinhliziyweni zabo ingabe uJohane wayenguye yini uKhristu.
16UJohane wabaphendula bonke wathi, “Mina ngilibhaphathiza ngamanzi. Kodwa yena olamandla kulami uyeza, akungilingananga ukuthukulula imichilo yamanyathela akhe. Uzalibhaphathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele langomlilo.
17Isitsha sakhe sokwela sisesandleni sakhe ukuba athanyele isiza sakhe njalo abuthele amabele akhe esiphaleni, kodwa uzatshisa amakhoba ngomlilo ongacitshekiyo.”
18Waphinda walaya abantu ngamanye amazwi amanengi njalo watshumayela kubo ivangeli.
19Kodwa kwathi uJohane esekhuze uHerodi umbusi ngenxa kaHerodiyasi, umkamfowabo, langezinye izinto ezimbi ayezenzile,
20uHerodi wakuhlanganisa lokhu konke: Wamvalela uJohane entolongweni.
21Kwathi bonke abantu bebhaphathizwa, loJesu laye wabhaphathizwa. Wathi ekhuleka izulu lavuleka
22uMoya oNgcwele wehlela kuye elesimo sejuba. Kweza ilizwi livela ezulwini lathi: “Wena uyiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyathokoza kakhulu ngawe.”
23UJesu wayeseleminyaka engaba ngamatshumi amathathu eqalisa umsebenzi wakhe wokutshumayela. Kwakukhunjulwa ukuthi uyindodana kaJosefa,
24indodana kaMathathi,
25indodana kaMathathiyasi, indodana ka-Amosi,
26indodana kaMahathi,
27indodana kaJohanani, indodana kaResa,
28indodana kaMeliki,
29indodana kaJoshuwa, indodana ka-Eliyezeri,
30indodana kaSimiyoni,
31indodana kaMeleya, indodana kaMena,
32indodana kaJese,
33indodana ka-Aminadabi, indodana kaRamu,
34indodana kaJakhobe,
35indodana kaSerugi, indodana kaRewu,
36indodana kaKhayinani,
37indodana kaMethusela, indodana ka-Enoki,
38indodana ka-Enoshi,