15. Ofileyo wavuka, waqala ukukhuluma; yamnika unina.
16. Bafikelwa ngukwesaba bonke, bamdumisa uNkulunkulu, bathi: “Kuvele umprofethi omkhulu phakathi kwethu,” nokuthi: “UNkulunkulu ubahambele abantu bakhe.”
17. Kwaphumela leli zwi ngaye kulo lonke iJudiya nakulo lonke langakhona.
18. Abafundi bakaJohane bambikela ngazo zonke lezo zinto.
19. UJohane wayesebiza ababili kubafundi bakhe, wabathumela eNkosini, wathi: “Wena unguye ozayo, noma sobheka omunye na?”
20. Amadoda esefikile kuyo athi: “UJohane uMbhapathizi usithumele kuwe, ethi: ‘Wena unguye ozayo, noma sobheka omunye na?’ ”
21. Ngalowo mzuzu yayiphulukisa abaningi ezifweni nasebuhlungwini nakomoya ababi; nezimpumputhe eziningi yazipha ukubona.
22. Yaphendula, yathi kuwo: “Hambani nimlandise uJohane lokho enikubonile nenikuzwile ukuthi: Izimpumputhe ziyabona, izinyonga ziyahamba, abanochoko bayahlanjululwa, izithulu ziyezwa, abafileyo bayavuswa, abampofu bayashunyayezwa ivangeli;
23. ubusisiwe ongayikukhubeka ngami.”
24. Sezimukile izithunywa zikaJohane, yaqala ukukhuluma ezixukwini ngoJohane, ithi: “Naphuma naya ehlane ukuyobonani na? Umhlanga ontengantengiswa ngumoya na?
25. Kanti naphuma ukuyobonani na? Umuntu owembethe izingubo ezinothonotho na? Bhekani, abembethe okukhazimulayo, betamasa, basezindlini zamakhosi.
26. Kodwa naphuma ukuyobonani na? Umprofethi na? Yebo, ngithi kini: Odlula umprofethi.
27. Nguye okulotshwe ngaye ukuthi:“ ‘Bheka, ngiyathuma isithunywa sami phambi kobuso bakhoesiyakulungisa indlela yakho phambi kwakho.’