14 Ngesikhatheso uHerode, umbusi wesifunda, wezwa ngezinto uJesu azenzako+ 2 wathi eensebenzini zakhe: “Lo nguJwanisi uMbhabhadisi. Uvusiwe kwabafileko, kungakho anamandla wokwenza iimangaliswezi.”+ 3 UHerode* bekabophe uJwanisi amvalele ngejele ngebanga lakaHerodiya, umkaFlebhe umfowabo.+ 4 Ngombana uJwanisi bekasolo athi kuye: “Akukavumeleki ukuthi abe mkakho.”+ 5 Nokho, ngitjho nanyana bekafuna ukumbulala, bekasaba abantu, ngombana bebamthatha njengomphorofidi.+

7 UHerode* umbusi* wesifunda wezwa ngakho koke ebekwenzeka, warareka khulu ngombana abanye bebathi uJwanisi uvusiwe kwabafileko+ 8 kodwana abanye bebathi kubonakale u-Eliya, godu abanye bathi kuvuke omunye wabaphorofidi bekadeni.+ 9 UHerode wathi: “UJwanisi ngamqunta ihloko.+ Alo-ke, ngubani lo engizwa bakhuluma ngaye?” Ngalokho walinga ukumbona.+