14 Ngalesosikhathi uHerodi umbusi wesabelo* wezwa umbiko omayelana loJesu,+ 2 wasesithi ezincekwini zakhe: “NguJohane uMbhabhathizi. Uvusiwe kwabafileyo, yikho elamandla okwenza izimangaliso lezi.”+ 3 UHerodi* wayebophe uJohane ngamaketane wamfaka ejele ngenxa kaHerodiya, umkamfowabo uFiliphu.+ 4 Phela uJohane wayehlala esithi kuye: “Akukho emthethweni ukuthi umthathe.”+ 5 Lanxa uHerodi wayefuna ukumbulala, wayesesaba abantu ngoba babesithi uJohane ngumphrofethi.+

7 UHerodi* umbusi wesabelo* wathi esizwa konke okwakusenzakala, wethuka kakhulu ngoba abanye babesithi uJohane wayesevusiwe kwabafileyo.+ 8 Kodwa abanye babesithi ngu-Elija, abanye bona besithi kuvuke omunye wabaphrofethi bakudala.+ 9 UHerodi wathi: “UJohane ngamquma ikhanda.+ Manje ngubani lo engizwa kuthiwa wenza izinto zonke lezi?” Ngakho wayesemdinga efuna ukumbona.+