Isahluko 3
1 Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nanhlanu wokubusa kukaTiberiyu Kesari, uPontiyu Pilatu engumbusi waseJudiya, uHerode engumtetrarki waseGalile, uFiliphu umfowabo engumtetrarki wezwe lase-Itureya nelaseTrakhoniti, uLisaniya engumtetrarki wase-Abilene,
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u-Anase engumpristi omkhulu noKayafase, kwafika izwi likaNkulunkulu kuJohane indodana kaZakariya ehlane.
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Weza ezweni lonke laseJordani eshumayela umbhapathizo wokuphenduka, kube ngukuthethelelwa kwezono,
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njengokuba kulotshiwe encwadini yamazwi ka-Isaya umprofethi ukuthi: “Izwi lomemezayo ehlane, lithi: ‘Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde.
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Izigodi zonke ziyakugqitshwa, zonke izintaba namagquma kuyakwehliswa; kuqonde izinsongansonga, nemigoxigoxi ibe yizindlela ezilelezekile;
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inyama yonke izakubona insindiso kaNkulunkulu.’ ”
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Ngakho-ke wathi ezixukwini ezaziphumela ukubhapathizwa nguye: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ubani onibonise ukubalekela intukuthelo ezayo na?
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Ngakho vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka, ningaqali ukuthi phakathi kini: ‘Sinobaba u-Abrahama;’ ngokuba ngithi kini: UNkulunkulu unamandla okumvusela u-Abrahama abantwana kulawa matshe.
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Namanje izembe selibekiwe empandeni yemithi; ngakho yonke imithi engatheli isithelo esihle iyanqunywa, iphonswe emlilweni.”
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Izixuku zambuza zathi: “Pho, sizakwenzani na?”
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Waphendula, wathi kubo: “Onezingubo ezimbili akamuphe ongenayo; naye onokudla enze njalo.”
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Kwafika nabathelisi ukuba babhapathizwe, bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, sizakwenzani na?”
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Wathi kubo: “Ningabizi lutho ngaphezu kwenikumiselweyo.”
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Namabutho ambuza athi: “Thina-ke, sizakwenzani na?” Wathi kuwo: “Ningamuki muntu lutho ngendluzula, ningamxabheleli; yaneliswani yizinkokhelo zenu.”
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Abantu besabhekile, bezindla bonke ezinhliziyweni zabo ngoJohane ukuthi ingabe unguKristu yini,
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uJohane waphendula, wathi kubo bonke: “Mina kambe nginibhapathiza ngamanzi, kepha uyeza onamandla kunami engingafanele ukuthukulula umchilo wezicathulo zakhe; yena uzakunibhapathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele nangomlilo;
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oqoma lakhe lokwela lisesandleni sakhe ukushanelisisa isibuya sakhe nokubuthela ukolweni enqolobaneni yakhe; kepha amakhoba uzakuwashisa ngomlilo ongacimekiyo.”
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Nangokunye okuningi washumayela ivangeli kubantu, ebayala.
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Kepha uHerode umtetrarki, esolwa nguye ngenxa kaHerodiya umkamfowabo nangenxa yakho konke okubi abekwenzile uHerode,
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wenezela nalokhu kokunye konke, wamvalela uJohane etilongweni.
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Kwathi bebhapathiziwe abantu bonke, naye uJesu esebhapathiziwe, ekhuleka, izulu lavuleka,
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uMoya oNgcwele enesimo somzimba njengejuba wehlela phezu kwakhe; kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: “Wena uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo; ngithokozile ngawe.”
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Yena uJesu, ukuqala kwakhe, wayeneminyaka engaba ngamashumi amathathu, eyindodana, njengokushiwoyo, kaJosefa ka-Eli
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kaMathati kaLevi kaMeliki kaJanayi kaJosefa
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kaMatathiya ka-Amose kaNahume ka-Eseli kaNagayi
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kaMati, kaMatathiya kaSemeyini kaJosefa kaJuda
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kaJohanani kaResa kaZorobabeli kaSalatiyeli kaNeri
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kaMeliki ka-Adi kaKosamu ka-Elimadamu ka-Eri
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kaJose ka-Eliyezeri kaJorimi kaMathati kaLevi
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kaSimeyoni kaJuda kaJosefa kaJonamu ka-Eliyakimi
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kaMeleya kaMena kaMathata kaNathamu kaDavide
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kaJesayi ka-Obede kaBowasi kaSala kaNasoni
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ka-Aminadaba ka-Adameyini ka-Arani ka-Esiromu kaFaresi kaJuda
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kaJakobe ka-Isaka ka-Abrabama kaThara kaNahori
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kaSeruki kaRagawu kaFaleki ka-Ebere kaSala
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kaKayinamu ka-Arfakisadi kaSemi kaNowa kaLameka
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kaMathusala ka-Enoke kaJarethi kaMaleleyeli kaKayinani
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ka-Enose kaSeti ka-Adamu kaNkulunkulu.