IZENZO ZABAPOSTOLI

1 Theyofilusi, embikweni wokuthoma, ngatlola ngazo zoke izinto uJesu athoma ukuzenza nokuzifundisa+ 2 bekwaba lilanga akhutjhulwa ngalo,+ ngemva kokuthi anikele abapostoli abakhethileko+ iinqophiso ngommoya ocwengileko. 3 Ngemva kokutlhaga bekube sekufeni, waziveza kibo aphila ngobufakazi obunengi obanelisako.+ Wabonakala kibo amalanga ama-40, akhuluma ngomBuso kaZimu.+ 4 Wathi asahlangene nabo, wabayala wathi: “Ningakhambi eJerusalema,+ kodwana hlalani nilindele lokho uBaba akuthembisileko,+ lokho enakuzwa ngami; 5 ngombana uJwanisi wabhabhadisa ngamanzi, kodwana nina nizokubhajadiswa ngommoya ocwengileko+ emalangeni ambalwa kusukela nje.”

6 Kwathi sebahlangene, bambuza bathi: “Kosi, ubuyisela umbuso ku-Israyeli gadesi na?”+ 7 Wathi kibo: “Akusingokwenu ukwazi iinkhathi namkha amalanga uBaba awabeke ngaphasi kwelawulo lakhe.+ 8 Kodwana nizokufumana amandla lokha ummoya ocwengileko nawufika kini,+ nizokuba bofakazi+ bami eJerusalema,+ kiyo yoke iJudiya neSamariya,+ neendaweni ezikude khulu zephasi.”*+ 9 Ngemva kokutjho lokho, basaqalile, wakhutjhulwa begodu ilifu lamgubuzesa azange basambona.+ 10 Kwathi basaqale emkayini njengombana akhamba, kwavela amadoda amabili ambethe izambatho ezimhlophe+ ajama eqadi kwabo 11 athi: “Madoda weGalile, nijameleni lapho niqale emkayini? UJesu lo okhutjhulwe asuka kini waya emkayini, uzokuza ngendlela efana nenimbone akhamba ngayo aya emkayini.”

12 Nje-ke babuyela eJerusalema+ basuka entabeni ekuthiwa yiNtaba yama-Oliva, eseduze neJerusalema, ngebanga elingaba likhambo lelanga lesabatha kwaphela. 13 Nabafikako, batjhinga ngekumbeni ephezulu lapho ebebahlala khona. BekunguPitrosi, uJwanisi, uJakopo no-Andrisi, uFlebhe noTomasi, uBhartholomewu noMatewu, uJakopo indodana ka-Alfiyosi, uSimoni otjhisekako, noJudasi indodana kaJakopo.+ 14 Boke bathandaza ngokubuyelelweko banomnqopho munye, bakunye nabanye abafazi,+ nabafowabo+ bakaJesu nonina uMariya.

15 Ngelinye lamalanga lawo uPitrosi wasikima wajama phakathi kwabafowethu (abantu ebebabuthene lapho bebangaba li-120) wathi: 16 “Madoda, bafowethu, bekutlhogeka bona kuzaliseke lokho ummoya ocwengileko owakuphorofida ngoDavida malungana noJudasi,+ owaba mnqophisi walabo ababopha uJesu.+ 17 Ngombana bekabalwa nathi+ bewafumana nesabelo emsebenzini lo. 18 (Yena umuntu lo, wathenga isimu ngembadelo yokungalungi,+ wawa ngehloko qangi, umzimbakhe wathuthumba wavuleka, loke ingaphakathi lakhe laphareka phasi.+ 19 Indaba le yaziwa ngizo zoke izakhamuzi zeJerusalema, kangangobana isimu leyo yabizwa ngelimi labo ngokuthi yi-Akeldama, okutjho ukuthi, “Isimu Yeengazi.”) 20 Ngombana kutloliwe encwadini yamaRhubo ukuthi, ‘Indawo yakhe yokuhlala ayibe lirubhi, kungabi namuntu ohlala kiyo’+ nokuthi, ‘Isikhundla sakhe sobutlhogomeli asithathwe ngomunye.’+ 21 Ngalokho-ke kuyatlhogeka bona emadodeni ebekakhamba nathi phakathi naso soke isikhathi iKosi uJesu yenza umsebenzayo* hlangana nathi, 22 kusukela ekubhajadisweni kwayo nguJwanisi+ bekwaba lilanga eyakhutjhulelwa ngalo ezulwini isuka kithi,+ omunye wamadoda la kufuze abe ngufakazi kunye nathi wokuvuswa kwayo.”+

23 Nje-ke bahlongoza amabili, uJosefa okuthiwa nguBharisabhasi, obekabizwa nangokuthi nguJustusi, noMatiyasi. 24 Bathandaza bathi: “Wena, Jehova,* owazi iinhliziyo zabo boke,+ tjengisa ukuthi ukhethe bani emadodeni amabili la 25 bona athathe umsebenzi lo nobupostoli, uJudasi aphambuka kibo waziyela endawenakhe.”+ 26 Nje-ke benza ifumbe,+ yadla uMatiyasi, ngokunjalo wabalwa nabapostoli abali-11.

2 Ngelanga lePentekoste,+ bebahlangene boke endaweni yinye. 2 Kungakalindeleki kwezwakala itjhada livela ezulwini, linjengelomoya obetha ngamandla, lazala indlu yoke ebebahlezi ngakiyo.+ 3 Kwabonakala amalimu anjengomlilo, asabalaliswa, ngalinye lahlala phezu komunye nomunye wabo, 4 boke bazala ummoya ocwengileko+ bathoma ukukhuluma ngamalimi ahlukahlukeneko, njengombana ummoya bewubenza bakghone ukukhuluma.+

5 Ngesikhatheso amaJuda asaba uZimu avela kizo zoke iintjhaba zephasi bewahlala eJerusalema.+ 6 Nakuzwakala itjhadelo, isiqubuthu sabuthana begodu sarareka ngombana ngamunye wabo esiqubuthwini wabezwa bakhuluma ngelimi lakhe. 7 Kwamambala barareka khulu bathi: “Qalani, boke abakhulumakwaba maGalile,+ kghani akusinjalo? 8 Alo kuza njani bona ngamunye wethu ezwe ngelimi lakhe lendabuko?* 9 AmaPhathiya, amaMede,+ ama-Elamu,+ izakhamuzi zeMesopotamiya, zeJudiya neKaphadosiya, zePontusi nezesifundeni se-Asiya,+ 10 zeFrigiya nePhamfiliya, zeGibhide nezesifundeni seLibhiya eduze neSirene, neemvakatjhi ezivela eRoma, kokubili amaJuda nabatjhugulukele ekolweni yobuJuda,*+ 11 amaKrete, nama-Arabhu, sibezwa bakhuluma ngezinto ezibabazekako zakaZimu ngamalimethu.” 12 Boke barareka bathi komunye nomunye: “Kutjho ukuthini lokhu?” 13 Kodwana abanye bahlekisa ngabo bathi: “Badakwe liwayini elimnandi.”

14 UPitrosi wasikima nabali-11+ wakhuluma nabo ngelizwi elikhulu wathi: “Madoda weJudiya nani noke bahlali beJerusalema, yazini lokhu begodu lalelisisani amezwami. 15 Eqinisweni abantwaba abakadakwa njengombana nina nicabanga ngombana yisimbi yethoba ekuseni.* 16 Kodwana lokhu ngilokho okwatjhiwo ngoJuweli umphorofidi nakathi: 17 ‘UZimu uthi, “Emihleni yokuphela, ngizokuthululela ummoyami phezu kwayo yoke inyama, amadodanenu namadodakazenu azokuphorofida namasokana ahlangana nani azokubona imibono namadoda amadala ahlangana nani azokubhudanga amabhudango,+ 18 emihleni leyo ngizokuthululela ummoyami ngitjho neengqileni neengqilakazini zami begodu zizokuphorofida.+ 19 Ngizokwenza iimangaliso ezulwini neembonakaliso ephasini, iingazi nomlilo namafu wentuthu. 20 Ilanga lizokuba mnyama nenyezi ibe ziingazi ngaphambi kobana kufike ilanga elikhulu neliphazimulako lakaJehova. 21 Woke umuntu obiza igama lakaJehova uzokusindiswa.”’+

22 “Madoda wakwa-Israyeli, yizwani amezwi la: UJesu weNazaretha bekamumuntu uZimu anibonise yena tjhatjhalazi ngemisebenzi yamandla neemangaliso ngeembonakaliso uZimu azenza ngaye phakathi kwenu,+ njengombana nani nazi. 23 Umuntu lo, wanikelwa ngokwentando nangokwazi kwakaZimu+ kusesengaphambili, nambethela esigodweni ngesandla sabanganamthetho, nambulala.+ 24 Kodwana uZimu wamvusa+ ngokumtjhaphulula ekufeni,* ngombana bekungeze kwakghoneka bona abanjwe ngikho.+ 25 Ngombana uDavida wathi ngaye: ‘Ngibeka uJehova* qobe phambi kwami ngombana usesandleni sami sokudla bona ngingasikinywa. 26 Ngalokho ihliziywami yeqayeqa nelimi lami lathaba khulu. Yeke mina ngizokuhlala ethembeni; 27 ngombana angekhe ungitjhiye eThuneni,* namkha uvumele othembekileko wakho abone ukonakala.+ 28 Wenze iindlela zami zaziwa; uzongenza ngithabe khulu phambi kobuso bakho.’+

29 “Madoda, bafowethu, kuvumelekile ukukhuluma ngokutjhaphulukileko nani ngokhokhwethu uDavida, ukuthi wahlongakala begodu wabulungwa,+ ithuna lakhe lisesekhona lapha nanamhlanjesi. 30 Ngombana bekamphorofidi begodu azi ukuthi uZimu ufunge kuye bona omunye weenzukulwana zakhe,* uzokuhlala esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi,+ 31 wabona kusesengaphambili begodu wakhuluma ngokuvuswa kwakaKrestu, ukuthi akhenge atjhiywe eThuneni* namkha inyamakhe ibone ukonakala.*+ 32 UZimu wamvusa uJesu lo begodu soke sibofakazi balokho.+ 33 Nje-ke ngebanga lokuthi wakhutjhulelwa esandleni sokudla sakaZimu,+ wamukela ummoya ocwengileko awuthenjiswe nguBaba,+ uthulule lokhu enikubonako nenikuzwako. 34 Ngombana uDavida akhenge akhuphukele ezulwini, kodwana wathi, ‘UJehova* wathi eKosinami: “Hlala ngesidleni sami 35 bekube kulapho ngibeka amanabakho bona abe ngaphasi kweenyawo zakho.”’+ 36 Yeke, yoke indlu ka-Israyeli kufuze yazi ukuthi ngokuqinisekileko uZimu umenze waba kokubili yiKosi+ noKrestu, uJesu lo enambulalela esigodweni.”+

37 Nabezwa lokhu, kwaba ngasuthi bahlatjwe ehliziyweni, bathi kuPitrosi nakibo boke abapostoli: “Madoda, bafowethu, kufuze senzeni?” 38 UPitrosi wathi kibo: “Tjhugulukani,+ ngamunye wenu abhajadiswe+ egameni lakaJesu Krestu bona nilitjalelwe izono zenu,+ nizokufumana isipho sesihle sommoya ocwengileko. 39 Ngombana isithembiswesi+ ngesenu nabantwabenu, nalabo abakude, boke uJehova* uZimethu ababizela kuye.”+ 40 Ngamezwi amanengi wanikela ubufakazi wasolo abakhuthaza, athi: “Sindiswani esizukulwaneni esitjhigamilekwesi.”+ 41 Yeke labo abamukela ilizwi lakhe ngethabo babhajadiswa+ begodu ngelangelo kwangezelelwa abantu abangaba zii-3 000.+ 42 Baragela phambili bazinikela efundisweni yabapostoli, ekuhlanganeni ndawonye,* ekudleni,+ nemithandazweni.+

43 Eqinisweni boke bafikelwa kusaba, abapostoli+ bathoma ukwenza iimangaliso neembonakaliso ezinengi. 44 Boke ababa makholwa bebabuthene ndawonye begodu bahlanganyela zoke izinto, 45 bebathengisa ipahlabo+ nezindlu zabo, baphana ngemali abayifumeneko, ngokwalokho ngamunye akutlhogako.+ 46 Qobe langa bebahlala basethempelini ngomnqopho munye, badlela emizini ehlukahlukeneko bahlanganyela ukudla kwabo ngethabo elikhulu nangehliziyo ethembekileko, 47 badumisa uZimu bafumana umusa kibo boke abantu. Qobe langa uJehova* bekasolo abalethela abantu abangeziweko bona bahlanganyele nabo, labo babantu uZimu ebekabasindisa.+

3 Nje-ke uPitrosi noJwanisi bebakhuphukela ethempelini ngesikhathi sokuthandaza, pheze ngesimbi yesithathu ntambama,* 2 begodu bekunabantu ebebaguge indoda ethileko eyabelethwa isirhole. Qobe langa bebayibeka ethempelini eduze nesango elibizwa ngokuthi liSango eLihle, bona ibawe izipho kilabo abangena ngethempelini. 3 Nayibona uPitrosi noJwanisi bazokungena ngethempelini, yababawa izipho. 4 Kodwana uPitrosi noJwanisi, bayiqala ngokunqophileko, bathi: “Siqala.” 5 Yabaqala, ilindele ukufumana okuthileko kibo. 6 UPitrosi wathi: “Isiliva negolide anginalo kodwana enginakho ngilokho engizokupha khona. Egameni lakaJesu Krestu umNazaretha, sikima ukhambe!”+ 7 Wayibamba ngesandla sangesidleni, wayisikimisa.+ Khonokho iinyawo neengogoriyana zayo zaqina;+ 8 yeqayeqa ngeenyawo zayo,+ yathoma ukukhamba, yaya nabo ethempelini, ikhamba begodu yeqayeqa idumisa uZimu. 9 Abantu boke bayibona ikhamba, idumisa uZimu. 10 Bakhumbula ukuthi yindoda leya egade ithanda ukuhlala ilindele izipho eSangweni eLihle lethempeli,+ barareka khulu begodu bathaba ngalokho okwenzeke kiyo.

11 Indoda le nayisabambelele kuPitrosi noJwanisi, abantu boke bagijimela kibo endaweni ebizwa ngokuthi maThuri kaSolomoni,+ barareke kwamambala. 12 UPitrosi nakabona lokhu, wathi ebantwini: “Bantu bakwa-Israyeli, kubayini nirarwe ngilokhu, kubayini nisirhudulele amehlo ngasuthi simenze wakhamba ngamandlethu namkha ngokuzinikela kwethu kuZimu? 13 UZimu ka-Abrahama, u-Isaka noJakopo,+ uZimu wabokhokho bethu, uphazimulise iNcekwakhe,+ uJesu,+ loyo enamthengisa+ benamlandula phambi kwakaPilatu, ngitjho nalokha aqunte ukumtjhaphulula. 14 Kwamambala, nilandule ocwengileko nolungileko, nabawa ukunikelwa indoda ebeyimbulali,+ 15 nabulala uMjameli omKhulu wokuphila.+ Kodwana uZimu wamvusa kwabafileko, ngilokho esikufakazelako.+ 16 Ngegama lakhe, nangokukholelwa kwethu egameni lakhe, indoda eniyibonako neniyaziko le yenziwe yaqina. Ukukholwa kwayo kuyenze yaphila kuhle phambi kwenu noke. 17 Nje-ke bafowethu, ngiyazi ukuthi nenze lokhu ngokungazi,+ njengombana kwenze nababusi benu.+ 18 Kodwana ngendlela le uZimu uzalise izinto azibikezela ngaphambili ngemilomo yabo boke abaphorofidi, ukuthi uKrestu wakhe uzokutlhaga.+

19 “Tjhugulukani,+ nibuye+ bona izono zenu zisulwe,+ khona kuzakuthi iinkhathi zokuvuseleleka zivele kuJehova* ngokwakhe 20 begodu yena anithumele uKrestu anikhethele yena, uJesu. 21 Izulu kufuze limamukele bekube sikhathi sokubuyiselwa kwazo zoke izinto uZimu azikhuluma ngomlomo wabaphorofidi bakhe abacwengileko bekadeni. 22 Eqinisweni, uMosi wathi: ‘UJehova* uZimu uzonivusela umphorofidi onjengami+ hlangana nabafowenu. Kufuze nilalele koke anitjela khona.+ 23 Kwamambala nanyana ngubani ongalaleli umPhorofidi loyo, uzokutjhatjalaliswa ngokupheleleko phakathi kwabantu.’+ 24 Boke abaphorofidi kusukela kuSamyela nalabo abamlandeleko, njengombana babanengi abakhulumileko, nabo bafakaze ngokukhanyako ngamalanga la.+ 25 Nimadodana wabaphorofidi newesivumelwano uZimu asenza nabokhokho benu,+ nakathi ku-Abrahama: ‘Ngesizukulwana sakho yoke imindeni yephasi izokubusiswa.’+ 26 Ngemva kokuvusa iNcekwakhe, uZimu wathoma ngokuyithumela kini+ bona inibusise ngokwenza ngamunye wenu asuke ezenzweni ezimbi.”

4 Ababilaba nabasakhuluma nabantu, abaphristi, isikhulu sabonogada bethempeli, nabaSadusi+ beza kibo. 2 Bebasilingekile ngombana abapostoli bebafundisa abantu, bafakaza tjhatjhalazi ngokuvuswa kwakaJesu kwabafileko.*+ 3 Ngalokho bababamba, babavalela+ bekwaba ngakusasa ngombana besekuhlwile. 4 Nanyana kunjalo, inengi lalabo abalalela ikulumo leyo lakholwa begodu inani lamadoda laba pheze zii-5 000.+

5 Ngelanga elilandelako ababusi babo, abadala, nabatloli babuthana ndawonye eJerusalema, 6 bano-Anasi+ umphristi omkhulu, uKhayafasi,+ uJwanisi, u-Alekzandra nabo boke ebebaziinhlobo zomphristi omkhulu. 7 Bajamisa uPitrosi noJwanisi phakathi kwabo, bababuza bathi: “Lokhu nikwenze ngamaphi amandla namkha ngegama lakabani?” 8 UPitrosi azele ummoya ocwengileko,+ wathi kibo:

“Babusi babantu nabadala, 9 nangabe namhlanje siphenywa ngesenzo esihle esisenze endodeni erholopheleko+ begodu nifuna ukwazi ukuthi ngubani owenze indoda leyo yaphola, 10 akwaziwe kini noke nakibo boke abantu bakwa-Israyeli ukuthi egameni lakaJesu Krestu weNazaretha,+ loyo enambulalela esigodweni+ kodwana uZimu wamvusa kwabafileko,+ kungaye indoda le ijame lapha phambi kwenu iphilile. 11 Lo ‘lilitje nina bakhi enaliphatha njengelinganamsebenzi libe lilitje eliqakatheke ukuwadlula woke.’*+ 12 Ukungezelela kilokho, ayikho isindiso kunanyana ngubani omunye ngombana alikho elinye igama+ ngaphasi kwezulu elinikelweko hlangana nabantu ekufuze sisindiswe ngalo.”+

13 Nje-ke nababona uPitrosi noJwanisi bakhuluma ngokutjhaphulukileko,* babona nokuthi bebangakafundi* begodu bababantu abajayelekileko,+ barareka khulu. Balemuka ukuthi bebanoJesu.+ 14 Njengombana baqale indoda elatjhiweko ijame nabo,+ babhalelwa kuphendula.+ 15 Ngalokho babayala bona baphumele ngaphandle kwewolo leSanhedrini, bathoma ukurerisana, 16 bathi: “Kufuze senzeni ngabantwaba na?+ Ngombana kuhlekuhle, kwenzeke isibonakaliso esikhulu ngabo esisepepeneneni kibo boke abahlali beJerusalema+ begodu angekhe sikuphike lokho. 17 Bona lokhu kungarhatjheki ukuya phambili ebantwini, akhe sibathusele, sibatjele nokuthi bangasakhuluma namuntu ngesisekelo segameli.”+

18 Ngalokho bababiza, babakhalima bona bangakhulumi litho namkha bafundise ngesisekelo segama lakaJesu. 19 Kodwana uPitrosi noJwanisi baphendula bathi kibo: “Ukuthi kulungile emehlweni kaZimu bona silalele nina kunoZimu, yahlulelani ngokwenu. 20 Kodwana thina, angekhe silise ukukhuluma ngezinto esizibonileko nesizizwileko.”+ 21 Nje-ke, ngemva kokubathusela godu, babatjhaphulula ngebanga lokuthi akhenge bafumane isisekelo sokubajezisa, nangebanga labantu boke+ ngombana bebadumisa uZimu ngalokho okwenzekileko. 22 Ngombana indoda okwenzeke kiyo ikarisomraro* yokulapha le beyineminyaka engaphezu kwama-40 ubudala.

23 Ngemva kokutjhatjhululwa, batjhinga kwabanye abafundi, bababikela lokho abaphristi abakhulu nabadala ababatjele khona. 24 Nabezwa lokhu, baphakamisa amezwabo kuZimu ngokuvumelana bathi:

“Kosi ePhakemeko, nguwe owenze izulu nephasi nelwandle nakho koke okukizo,+ 25 begodu owathi ngommoya ocwengileko ngomlomo kakhokho wethu uDavida,+ incekwakho: ‘Kubayini iintjhaba zitshwenyekile nabantu bazindla ngezinto ezingekho na? 26 Amakhosi wephasi alungele ukulwa nababusi babuthene ndawonye njengalabo abaphikisana noJehova nozesiwekwakhe.’*+ 27 Ngombana eqinisweni uHerode noPontiyasi Pilatu+ nabantu beentjhaba nabantu bakwa-Israyeli bebabuthene ndawonye edorobheneli ngokujamelene nencekwakho ecwengileko uJesu, loyo omzesileko,+ 28 ukwenza lokho isandla neseluleko sakho esakubikezela kusesengaphambili bona kuzokwenzeka.+ 29 Nje-ke, Jehova, sibawa utjheje ukuthusela kwabo, usize neenceku zakho bona ziragele phambili zikhuluma ilizwi lakho ngesikhulu isibindi, 30 kukulapho uthabulula isandla sakho bona ulaphe begodu kwenzeke iimbonakaliso neemangaliso+ ngegama lencekwakho ecwengileko uJesu.”+

31 Ngemva kokuthandaza ngetjiseko, indawo ebebabuthene kiyo yasikinyeka, boke bazala ummoya ocwengileko,+ bakhuluma ilizwi lakaZimu ngesibindi.+

32 Ukungezelela kilokho, isiqubuthu salabo abakholwako besinehliziyo yinye nomphefumulo* munye begodu akakho ngitjho namunye wabo obekathi izinto anazo ngezakhe, kodwana bebahlanganyela zoke izinto.+ 33 Ngamandla amakhulu abapostoli baragela phambili bafakaza ngokuphathelene nokuvuswa kweKosi uJesu,+ uZimu wababonisa boke umusakhe omkhulu ngesilinganiso esikhulu. 34 Eqinisweni, akakho ebekatlhoga phakathi kwabo+ ngombana boke ebebanamasimu namkha izindlu bebazithengisa, balethe imali yalokho okuthengisiweko, 35 bayibeke eenyaweni zabapostoli.+ Ngemva kwalokho kwabelwe omunye nomunye ngokwalokho akutlhogako.+ 36 Nje-ke uJosefa, loyo abapostoli ebebambiza nangokuthi nguBharinabhasi+ (okutjho ukuthi nakutjhugululiweko, “iNdodana yeNduduzo”), umLevi, obelethelwe eSayipurasi, 37 bekanesiqetjhana sendawo wasithengisa, waletha imali ayifumeneko wayibeka eenyaweni zabapostoli.+

5 Indoda ethileko ekuthiwa ngu-Ananiyasi nomkayo uSafira, bathengisa isiqetjhana sendawo. 2 Kodwana yafihla enye yemali abasithengise ngayo, nomkayo akwazi lokho, yaletha ingcenye yayo kwaphela yayibeka eenyaweni zabapostoli.+ 3 Kodwana uPitrosi wathi: “Ananiyasi, kubayini uSathana akuphe isibindi sokukhohlisa+ ummoya ocwengileko+ begodu ufihle enye yemali yesimu? 4 Ngesikhathi ungakayithengisi, beyingasingeyakho na? Ngemva kokuyithengisa, imalakhona azange ibe selawulweni lakho na? Kubayini ucabange intwenje ngehliziywenakho? Awukakhohlisi abantu kodwana ukhohlise uZimu.” 5 Nakezwa lokho, u-Ananiyasi wawa wahlongakala. Boke abezwa ngendaba le bafikelwa kukwesaba okukhulu. 6 Amasokana asikima amphuthela ngamatjhila, amthwala, amkhuphela ngaphandle ambulunga.

7 Ngemva kwesikhathi esingaba ma-iri amathathu, kwangena umkakhe angazi ukuthi kwenzekeni. 8 UPitrosi wathi kuye: “Khungitjele, nina nobabili nithengise isimenu ngemali engaka na?” Wathi: “Iye, ngemali leyo.” 9 Yeke uPitrosi wathi: “Kubayini nina nobabili nivumelene ngokulinga ummoya kaJehova? Qala! Iinyawo zalabo ababulunge indodakho zisemnyango, nawe bazokuthwala bakukhuphele ngaphandle.” 10 Khonokho wawela eenyaweni zakhe wahlongakala. Amasokana nakangenako, amfumana ahlongakele, amthwala aphumela naye ngaphandle, ambulunga eqadi kwendodakhe. 11 Nje-ke ibandla loke nabo boke abezwa izintwezi bafikelwa kukwesaba okukhulu.

12 Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngezandla zabapostoli bekusolo kwenzeka iimbonakaliso neemangaliso ezinengi hlangana nabantu;+ boke bebahlangana ndawonye emaThurini kaSolomoni.+ 13 Kwamambala, akekho namunye kilaba abanye obekanesibindi sokuzihlanganisa nabo; nanyana kunjalo, abantu bebabakhuluma kuhle khulu. 14 Ngaphezu kwalokho, ebebakholwa eKosini bebasolo bangezelelwa, iye isibalo esikhulu samadoda nabafazi.+ 15 Bebakhuphela ngitjho nabantu abagulako eendleleni ezikulu, babalalise emikghadini nemimadeni, bona uPitrosi nakadlulako isithunzi sakhe sifike phezu kwabanye babo.+ 16 Godu, iinqubuthu zabantu abavela emadorobheni abhode iJerusalema bezisolo ziza, zithwele abantu abagulako nabahlunguphazwa mimoya emimbi, boke balatjhwa.

17 Kodwana umphristi ophakemeko wasikima, nabo boke abanaye, egade kungebesiqhema sabaSadusi, bebabulawa mumona. 18 Babamba* abapostoli babadlhunya ngejele lomphakathi.+ 19 Kodwana phakathi kobusuku, ingilozi kaJehova yavula iminyango yejele,+ yabakhupha, yathi: 20 “Khambani niye ethempelini, niragele phambili nikhuluma nabantu ngawo woke amezwi wokuphilokhu.” 21 Ngemva kokuzwa lokhu, bangena ngethempelini nakusako bathoma ukufundisa.

Umphristi ophakemeko nalabo abanaye nabafikako, babiza iSanhedrini nawo woke umkhandlu wabadala wabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, bathumela umlayezo ejele bona kulethwe abapostoli phambi kwabo. 22 Kodwana abonogada nabafika lapho, azange babafumane ngejele. Yeke babuyela emva bayokubika, 23 bathi: “Sifumene ijele livalwe ngqi belalodlhelwa, nabonogada bajame emnyango kodwana nasilivulako, azange sifumane muntu ngaphakathi.” 24 Isikhulu sabonogada bethempeli nabaphristi abakhulu barareka nabezwa lokho, bazibuza ukuthi kazi indaba le izokuphelelaphi. 25 Kodwana kwafika umuntu othileko wababikela wathi: “Amadoda lawa eniwadlhunye ngejele asethempelini, ajamile afundisa abantu.” 26 Isikhulu sabonogada saphuma nabonogada sayobathatha kodwana azange babathathe ngenturhu ngombana bebasaba ukukghadlhwa babantu ngamatje.+

27 Babaletha babajamisa phambi kweSanhedrini. Umphristi ophakemeko wababuza 28 wathi: “Sinitjele indlebe ukuzwa bona ningasafundisa ngesisekelo segameli+ kodwana senizalise iJerusalema ngefundiso yenu, nizimisele nokuletha iingazi zomuntu lo phezu kwethu.”+ 29 UPitrosi nabanye abapostoli baphendula bathi: “Kufuze silalele uZimu njengombusi kunabantu.+ 30 UZimu wabokhokho bethu wamvusa uJesu, loyo enambulalako, namphanyeka esigodweni.*+ 31 UZimu umkhuphulele esandleni sakhe sokudla+ njengoMjameli omKhulu+ noMsindisi,+ bona anikele u-Israyeli ukutjhuguluka nokulitjalelwa kwezono.+ 32 Sibofakazi beendabezi,+ ngokunjalo nommoya ocwengileko,+ lowo uZimu awunikele labo abamlalela njengombusi.”

33 Nabezwa lokhu, basilingeka* bafuna ukubabulala. 34 Kodwana umFarisi ekuthiwa nguGamaliyeli+ wasikima hlangana neSanhedrini; bekamfundisi womThetho ohlonitjhwa babantu boke begodu wanikela umyalo wokuthi abantwaba bakhutjhelwe ngaphandle isikhatjhana. 35 Nje-ke wathi kibo: “Madoda wakwa-Israyeli, yelelani lokho enihlose ukukwenza ebantwinaba. 36 Ngokwesibonelo, mhlapha nje kwavela uTheyudasi, athi yena umumuntu oqakathekileko begodu abantu abanengi abangaba ma-400, baba malunga wehlanganwakhe. Kodwana wabulawa begodu boke ebebamlandela baphadlhalala azange babe lilitho. 37 Ngemva kwakhe, kwavela uJudasi weGalile ngesikhathi sokubalwa kwabantu, wazidosela abalandeli. Naye umuntu loyo wafa begodu boke ebebamlandela baphadlhalala. 38 Nje-ke ngaphasi kobujamo esikibo, ngithi kini, ningacabheli eendabeni zabantwaba kodwana baliseni. Ngombana nangabe amano namkha umsebenzi lo uvela ebantwini, uzokuketulwa; 39 kodwana nangabe uvela kuZimu, angekhe nikghone ukuwuketula;+ ningazifumana senilwa noZimu ngokwakhe.”+ 40 Basilalela iseluleko sakhe, babiza abapostoli, babaritha+ begodu babayala bona balise ukukhuluma ngesisekelo segama lakaJesu, babalisa bakhamba.

41 Baphuma eSanhedrini, bathabile+ ngombana babalwa njengabafanelwe ukuhlaziswa ngebanga legama lakhe. 42 Qobe langa ethempelini nendlini ngendlu+ baragela phambili bangaliseleli, bafundisa begodu batjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi ezimalungana noKrestu, uJesu.+

6 Emihleni leyo ngesikhathi abafundi nabathoma ukwanda, amaJuda akhuluma isiGirigi athoma ukunghonghoyila ngamaJuda akhuluma isiHebheru ngombana abahlolokazi bawo bebangatjhejwa ekwabiweni kokudla kwaqobe langa.+ 2 Nje-ke abali-12 babizela isiqubuthu sabafundi ndawonye, bathi kiso: “Akukalungi* ngathi ukutjhiya ilizwi lakaZimu bona siyokwaba ukudla ematafuleni.+ 3 Ngalokho bafowethu, zikhetheleni amadoda alikhomba akhulunyelwa kuhle+ hlangana nani, azele ummoya nokuhlakanipha,+ bona siwabeke phezu komsebenzi otlhogekako lo;+ 4 kodwana thina sizozinikela emthandazweni nemsebenzini welizwi.” 5 Amezwi lawo asithabisa soke isiqubuthu begodu sakhetha uStefani, indoda ezele ukukholwa nommoya ocwengileko, sakhetha noFlebhe,+ uProkhorasi, uNikanori, uThimoni, uPharimenasi, noNikholawu, umphroselithe* we-Anthiyokiya. 6 Sabaletha ebapostolini; abapostoli bathandaza, ngemva kwalokho bababeka izandla.+

7 Nje-ke, ilizwi lakaZimu laragela phambili lirhatjheka,+ nenani labafundi belisolo landa khulu+ eJerusalema; begodu isiqubuthu esikhulu sabaphristi saba makholwa.+

8 UStefani, azele umusa kaZimu namandla, bekenza iimangaliso neembonakaliso ezikulu hlangana nabantu. 9 Kodwana kweza amanye amadoda avela esiqhemeni esibizwa ngokuthi yiSinagogi labaTjhaphulukileko, akunye namanye amaSirene nama-Alekzandriya, akhamba namanye avela eSilisiya ne-Asiya, azokuphikisana noStefani. 10 Kodwana azange akghone ukujamelana nokuhlakanipha nommoya ebekakhuluma ngawo.+ 11 Ngemva kwalokho ahlohlozela amadoda athileko ngerhorhomejeni bona athi: “Simuzwe ahlambalaza uMosi noZimu.” 12 Aphehla abantu, abadala, nabatloli, beza kuye kungakalindeleki, bamthatha ngekani batjhinga naye eSanhedrini. 13 Baletha abofakazi bamala, bathi: “Indoda le isolo ikhuluma izinto ezimbi ngendawo ecwengileko le nangomThetho. 14 Ngokwesibonelo, simuzwe athi uJesu weNazaretha lo uzokugiriza indawo le begodu atjhugulule amasiko uMosi awadlulisele kithi.”

15 Njengombana boke ebebahlezi eSanhedrini bamrhudulele amehlo, babona ukuthi ubuso bakhe bebunjengobuso bengilozi.

7 Kodwana umphristi ophakemeko wathi: “Zinjalo na izintwezi?” 2 UStefani waphendula wathi: “Madoda, bafowethu nabobaba, lalelani. UZimu wephazimulo wabonakala kukhokho wethu u-Abrahama nakaseMesopotamiya, ngaphambi kobana ayokuhlala eHarana,+ 3 wathi kuye: ‘Phuma enarheni yekhenu neenhlobeni zakho, uye enarheni engizakutjengisa yona.’+ 4 Yeke waphuma enarheni yamaKhaledi wayokuhlala eHarana. Ngemva kokuhlongakala kwakayise,+ uZimu wamfudusela enarheni esenihlala kiyo le.+ 5 Kodwana akhenge amnikele ilifa kiyo, akhenge amnikele ngitjho nelingene bona abeke inyawo* lakhe kiyo; wamthembisa ukumnikela yona bona ibe ngeyakhe, ngemva kwakhe ayinikele iinzukulwana zakhe,*+ nanyana bekangakabi nomntwana. 6 UZimu wamtjela ukuthi iinzukulwana zakho zizokuba babantu abavela kwenye inarha begodu abantu balapho bazozigqilaza, bazitlhagise iminyaka ema-400.+ 7 UZimu wathi, ‘Isitjhaba iinzukulwana zakho ezizokuba ziingqila zaso ngizosahlulela+ begodu ngemva kwalokhu zizokuphuma zingilotjhe endaweni le.’+

8 “Wamnikela nesivumelwano sokusoka,+ waba nguyise ka-Isaka,+ wamsoka ngelanga lobunane,+ u-Isaka waba nguyise kaJakopo,* uJakopo waba nguyise weenhloko zemindeni ezili-12. 9 Iinhloko zemindenezo zamonakalela uJosefa,+ zamthengisa eGibhide.+ Kodwana uZimu bekanaye,+ 10 wamsindisa kikho koke ukutshwenyeka kwakhe, wamnikela umusa nokuhlakanipha phambi kwakaFaro ikosi yeGibhide. UFaro wambeka bona abuse iGibhide nomzakhe woke.+ 11 Kodwana kwaba nendlala eGibhide neKanana, isizi elikhulu, abokhokho bethu bebangakghoni ukufumana ukudla.+ 12 Kodwana uJakopo wezwa ukuthi kunokudla eGibhide, wathumela abokhokho bethu kokuthoma.+ 13 Nasele babuyela ihlandla lesibili, uJosefa wazazisa kubafowabo begodu umndeni kaJosefa waziwa nguFaro.+ 14 Yeke uJosefa wathumela umlayezo wokobana kubizwe uyise uJakopo nazo zoke iinhlobo zakhe ezisendaweni leyo,+ bekubabantu abama-75 sebaboke.+ 15 UJakopo wehlela eGibhide,+ wafela khona,+ nabokhokho bethu bafela khona.+ 16 Bathwalwa basiwa eTjhekemu, balaliswa ethuneni u-Abrahama alithenga ngemali yesiliva emadodaneni kaHamori eTjhekemu.+

17 “Njengombana bekutjhidela isikhathi sokobana kuzaliseke isithembiso uZimu asibikezela ku-Abrahama, abantu bakwa-Israyeli banda ngokubuyelelweko eGibhide, 18 bekwaba kulapho kuvela enye ikosi eGibhide ebeyingamazi uJosefa.+ 19 Yona yasebenzisa ubuqili esitjhabeni sekhethu begodu yakatelela abobaba ukuthi balahle amasanabo ukuze angaphili.+ 20 Emihleni leyo kwabelethwa uMosi begodu bekamuhle emehlweni kaZimu. Watlhogonyelwa* emzini kayise+ iinyanga ezintathu. 21 Kodwana kuthe lokha nakalahlwako,*+ indodakazi kaFaro yamthatha yamkhulisa njengendodanayo.+ 22 Nje-ke uMosi wafundiswa koke ukuhlakanipha kweGibhide. Eqinisweni bekanamandla emezwinakhe nezenzweni.+

23 “Kuthe nasekaneminyaka ema-40, waqunta* ukuyokuvakatjhela* abafowabo, abantwana bakwa-Israyeli.+ 24 Lokha nakabona omunye wabo aphathwa kumbi, wamvikela begodu wambuyiselela ngokubulala umGibhide obekamphatha kumbi. 25 Bekacabanga bona abafowabo bazokuzwisisa ukuthi uZimu uyabasindisa ngesandla sakhe, kodwana akhenge bazwisise. 26 Ngelanga elilandelako wavela kibo njengombana balwa, walinga ukubalamula ngokuthula, athi: ‘Madoda, nibantwana bomuntu. Kubayini niphathana kumbi?’ 27 Kodwana lo obekaphatha umakhelwanakhe kumbi wamsunduzela eqadi, wathi: ‘Ngubani okubeke bona ube mbusi nomahluleli phezu kwethu? 28 Kghani ufuna ukungibulala njengombana ubulele umGibhide izolo?’ 29 Nakezwa lokhu, uMosi wabaleka wayokuhlala njengomuntu ovela kwenye inarha enarheni yakwaMidiyani, lapho aba khona nguyise wamadodana amabili.+

30 “Ngemva kweminyaka ema-40, kweza ingilozi kuye emmangweni weNtaba yeSinayi elangabini lomuthi wameva ovuthako.+ 31 UMosi nakayibonako, warareka. Kodwana njengombana atjhidela bona ahlolisise, kwezwakala ilizwi lakaJehova* lithi: 32 ‘NginguZimu wabokhokho bakho, uZimu ka-Abrahama, ka-Isaka nokaJakopo.’+ UMosi wathoma ukuhlengezela begodu akhenge asafuna ukuyokuhlolisisa ukuya phambili. 33 UJehova* wathi kuye: ‘Hlubula amapatlagwanakho ngombana indawo ojame kiyo le icwengile. 34 Kwamambala ngikubonile ukugandeleleka kwabantu bami abaseGibhide, ngikuzwile nokububula kwabo,+ nje-ke ngehlile bona ngizobasindisa. Yewize ngizokuthuma eGibhide.’ 35 Yena uMosi loyo abamlandulako, bathi: ‘Ngubani okubeke bona ube mbusi nomahluleli?’+ Nguye uZimu amthume+ njengombusi nomtjhaphululi ngengilozi eyabonakala kuye emthini wameva. 36 Indoda le yabakhupha,+ yenza iimangaliso neembonakaliso+ eGibhide neLwandle eliBomvu+ nemmangweni iminyaka ema-40.+

37 “Lo nguMosi owathi ebantwaneni bakwa-Israyeli: ‘UZimu uzonivusela umphorofidi onjengami hlangana nabafowenu.’+ 38 Lo nguye obekahlangana nebandla emmangweni, nengilozi+ eyakhuluma naye+ eNtabeni yeSinayi begodu nguye owakhuluma nabokhokho bethu, wafumana imiyalo ecwengileko nephilako bona asinikele yona.+ 39 Abokhokho bethu akhenge bamlalele, bamsunduzela eqadi+ begodu eenhliziyweni zabo bafuna ukubuyela eGibhide,+ 40 bathi ku-Aroni: ‘Senzela abozimu bona basikhambele phambili. Ngombana asazi bona kwenzekeni ngoMosi lo owasikhupha eGibhide.’+ 41 Emihleni leyo benza ikonyana baletha nemihlatjelo esithombeni bazithabisa ngemisebenzi yezandla zabo.+ 42 Ngalokho uZimu wabafulathela wabanikela bona balotjhe ibutho lezulwini,+ njengombana kutloliwe encwadini yabaPhorofidi ukuthi: ‘Beningayenzeli mina iminikelo nemihlatjelo enayenza emmangweni iminyaka ema-40, kghani akusinjalo ndlu ka-Israyeli? 43 Kodwana naphakamisa itende kaMoloki+ nekwekwezi kasingazimu uRefani, iinthombe enazenzako bona nizilotjhe. Ngalokho ngizonithumela ekuthunjweni ngale kweBhabhiloni.’+

44 “Abokhokho bethu bebanetende lobufakazi emmangweni, njengombana uZimu anikela imiyalo lokha nakakhuluma noMosi bona alenze ngokuvumelana nendlela alibone ngayo.+ 45 Abokhokho bethu balamukela balingenisa banoJotjhuwa enarheni yeentjhaba,+ lezo uZimu aziqotha phambi kwabokhokho bethu.+ Lahlala khona bekwaba semihleni kaDavida. 46 Wafumana umusa kuZimu, wabawa nelungelo lokulungiselela uZimu kaJakopo indawo yokuhlala.+ 47 Kodwana kwaba nguSolomoni owamakhela indlu.+ 48 Nanyana kunjalo, oPhezukoke akahlali ngeendlini ezenziwe ngezandla,+ njengombana kwatjho umphorofidi wathi: 49 ‘UJehova* uthi izulu lisihlalo sami sobukhosi,+ nephasi lisinabelo seenyawo zami.+ Alo-ke yindlu bani enizangakhela yona? Namkha iphi indawami yokuphumula? 50 Sisandla sami esenze koke lokhu, kghani akusinjalo?’+

51 “Madoda anekani nangakasoki eenhliziyweni neendlebeni, nihlala niphikisa ummoya ocwengileko; njengombana kwenza abokhokho benu, nani nenza njalo.+ 52 Ngimuphi umphorofidi abokhokho benu abangakhenge bamhlunguphaze?+ Bababulala labo ababikezela ukuza kolungileko,+ loyo nina esenibe bathengisi nababulali bakhe,+ 53 nina enamukela umThetho owadluliselwa kini ngeengilozi+ kodwana akhenge niwulalele.”

54 Nabezwa izintwezi, bahlabeka* eenhliziyweni zabo bathoma ukumququdela amazinyo. 55 Kodwana azele ummoya ocwengileko, waqala ezulwini wabona iphazimulo kaZimu nekaJesu ajame ngesandleni sokudla sakaZimu,+ 56 wathi: “Qalani! Ngibona izulu livulekile neNdodana yomuntu+ ijame ngesandleni sokudla sakaZimu.”+ 57 Khonokho barhuwelela khulu, bavala iindlebe zabo ngezandla, bagijimela kuye boke kanyekanye. 58 Bamlahlela ngaphandle kwedorobho, ngemva kwalokho bamkghadlha ngamatje.+ Abofakazi+ babeka izambatho zabo zangaphandle eenyaweni zesokana ekuthiwa nguSawula.+ 59 Njengombana bamkghadlha ngamatje, uStefani wenza nasi isibawo: “Kosi Jesu, yamukela ummoyami.” 60 Nje-ke waguqa ngamadolo, warhuwelela ngelizwi elinamandla wathi: “Jehova,* ungabajezisi ngesonwesi.”+ Ngemva kokutjho lokho, wahlongakala.*

8 USawula bekavumelana nokubulawa kwakhe.+

Mhlokho ibandla ebeliseJerusalema lathoma ukuhlunguphazwa kabuhlungu; yeke boke ngaphandle kwabapostoli barhatjhekela kizo zoke iimfunda zeJudiya neSamariya.+ 2 Kodwana amadoda asaba uZimu athwala uStefani ayombulunga, amlilela khulu. 3 USawula wathoma ukuhlunguphaza ibandla kabuhlungu. Bekasahlela izindlu ngokulandelana, arhudulele ngaphandle amadoda nabafazi abadlhunye ngejele.+

4 Kodwana labo abarhatjhekako bakhamba iindawo ngeendawo enarheni batjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi zelizwi.+ 5 Nje-ke uFlebhe wehlela edorobheni leSamariya+ wathoma ukutjhumayela ngoKrestu kibo. 6 Iinqubuthu zoke bezikutjheja lokho uFlebhe akutjhoko njengombana zilalela begodu zibona neembonakaliso ebekazenza. 7 Ngombana abanengi bebanemimoya emimbi begodu beyirhuwelela ngelizwi elikhulu bese iyaphuma.+ Nabanengi abafe amahlangothi nabaziinrhole balatjhwa. 8 Ngalokho kwaba nethabo elikhulu edorobhenelo.

9 Edorobhenelo bekunendoda ekuthiwa nguSimoni, ngaphambi kokuthi kwenzeke izintwezi beyimumenzi wemilingo, irara isitjhaba seSamariya, ithi yona imumuntu omkhulu. 10 Boke, kusukela komncani kuya komkhulu, bebayilalelisisa bathi: “Indoda le imaMandla kaZimu, abizwa ngokuthi maKhulu.” 11 Ngalokho bebayilalelisisa ngombana beyibarare isikhathi eside ngemilingwayo. 12 Kodwana kuthe nabakholwa uFlebhe, obekatjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi zomBuso kaZimu+ nangegama lakaJesu Krestu, babhajadiswa,+ kokubili amadoda nabafazi. 13 Naye uSimoni waba likholwa begodu ngemva kokubhajadiswa wahlala noFlebhe;+ warareka nakabona iimbonakaliso nemisebenzi emikhulu yamandla ebeyenzeka.

14 Kwathi abapostoli eJerusalema nabezwa ukuthi abantu beSamariya bamukele ilizwi lakaZimu,+ bathuma uPitrosi noJwanisi kibo; 15 behlela kibo babathandazela bona bafumane ummoya ocwengileko.+ 16 Ngombana bewungakehleli ngitjho nakoyedwa wabo, kodwana bebabhajadiswe egameni leKosi uJesu kwaphela.+ 17 Nje-ke bababeka izandla,+ bathoma ukufumana ummoya ocwengileko.

18 USimoni nakabona ukuthi ummoya ocwengileko bewufumaneka ngokubekwa izandla bapostoli, wabathembisa imali, 19 wathi: “Ngiphani amandla la nami, bona nanyana ngubani engimbeka izandla afumane ummoya ocwengileko.” 20 Kodwana uPitrosi wathi kuye: “Kwanga isiliva lakho lingatjhabalala nawe ngombana ucabange bona ungathenga isipho sakaZimu sesihle ngemali.+ 21 Awunangcenye begodu awunasabelo endabeni le ngombana ihliziywakho ayikathembeki phambi kwakaZimu. 22 Nje-ke tjhuguluka ebumbini bakhobu, urabhele uJehova* bona nakungakghoneka, ulitjalelwe ngokuba neenhloso ezimbi ehliziywenakho; 23 ngombana ngiyabona ukuthi uyitjhefu ebabako nesigqila sokungalungi.” 24 USimoni waphendula wathi: “Ngibawelani kuJehova* bona zoke izinto enizitjhwileko zingenzeki kimi.”

25 Nje-ke, ngemva kokuthi banikele ubufakazi obupheleleko begodu bakhulume ilizwi lakaJehova,* babuyela emva eJerusalema, bakhamba bamemezela iindaba ezimnandi eendaweni ezinengi zamaSamariya.+

26 Kodwana ingilozi+ kaJehova* yakhuluma noFlebhe, yathi: “Sikima utjhinge esewula endleleni eyehla ukusuka eJerusalema ukufika eGaza.” (Indlela le beyisebhudwini.) 27 Wasikima watjhinga khona, wabona isikhulu sesigodlweni seTopiya, indoda ebeyimlawuli ngaphasi kwakaKhandakhe, indlovukazi yamaTopiya begodu isikhulwesi besiphathiswe woke umnothwayo. Besiye eJerusalema siyokulotjha uZimu,+ 28 kodwana besesibuyela emva sihlezi ekaranenaso, sifunda ngokuzwakalako umtlolo womphorofidi u-Isaya. 29 Nje-ke ummoya wathi kuFlebhe: “Tjhidela ekaraneni le.” 30 UFlebhe wagijima eqadi kwayo begodu wasizwa sifunda ngokuzwakalako umtlolo womphorofidi u-Isaya, wathi kiso: “Uyakuzwisisa lokho okufundako na?” 31 Sathi: “Ngingakuzwisisa njani kunganamuntu onginqophisako?” Nje-ke sancenga uFlebhe bona akhwele ahlale naso. 32 Nasi indinyana yomTlolo ebeyifundwa sikhulu: “Wasiwa ekuhlatjweni njengemvu, nanjengemvana ethulileko phambi komrhunayo, akawuvuli umlomakhe.+ 33 Ngesikhathi sokuhlaziswa kwakhe, wahlulelwa ngokungakafaneli.+ Ngubani ozokutjho imininingwana yesizukulwana sakhe? Ngombana ukuphila kwakhe kuzokususwa ephasini.”+

34 Isikhulu sathi kuFlebhe: “Ngibawa ungitjele, umphorofidi lo ukhuluma ngobani? Ukhuluma ngaye namkha ngomunye umuntu?” 35 UFlebhe wathoma ngawo umtlolo lo, wasitjela iindaba ezimnandi ngoJesu. 36 Njengombana bakhamba endleleni, bafika endaweni enamanzi, isikhulu sathi: “Qala! Naka amanzi; khuyini engivimbela bona ngibhajadiswe?” 37 *—— 38 Sayala bona ikarana ijame, uFlebhe nesikhulu behlela emanzini, wasibhabhadisa. 39 Nabaphuma ngemanzini, msinyana ummoya kaJehova* wanqophisa uFlebhe bona akhambe, isikhulu azange sisambona, kodwana sakhamba sithabile. 40 UFlebhe wazifumana ase-Atjhidodi, wakhambakhamba esifundeneso, waragela phambili amemezela iindaba ezimnandi kiwo woke amadorobho bewayokufika eKhesariya.+

9 USawula bekasolo aragela phambili athusela abafundi beKosi+ begodu anesifiso esikhulu sokubabulala, watjhinga kumphristi ophakemeko 2 wambawa iincwadi eziya emasinagogeni weDamaseku, bona nakafumana nanyana ngubani weNdlela Le,*+ abuye naye eJerusalema abotjhiwe, kokubili amadoda nabafazi.

3 Kuthe nakasatjhinga khona, atjhidela hlanu kweDamaseku, khonokho kwabonakala umkhanyo uvela ezulwini wapanyaza kuye,+ 4 wawela phasi, wezwa nelizwi lithi kuye: “Sawula, Sawula, kubayini ungihlunguphaza?” 5 Wathi: “Kosi ungubani?” Lathi: “NginguJesu,+ loyo omhlunguphazako.+ 6 Sikima ungene ngedorobheni, uzokutjelwa okufuze ukwenze.” 7 Amadoda ebekakhamba nawo ajama abhalelwa kukhuluma, bekalizwa itjhada lelizwi kodwana angamboni umuntu okhulumako.+ 8 USawula wasikima, angaboni litho nanyana amehlwakhe bekavulekile. Ngalokho bakhamba naye bambambe ngesandla bamusa eDamaseku. 9 Akhenge abone litho+ amalanga amathathu begodu akhenge adle namkha asele.

10 EDamaseku bekunomfundi ekuthiwa ngu-Ananiyasi,+ iKosi yathi kuye ngombono: “Ananiyasi!” Wathi: “Ngilapha Kosi.” 11 IKosi yathi kuye: “Sikima, utjhinge endleleni ebizwa ngokuthi yiNqophile, ufune indoda ebizwa ngokuthi nguSawula, weTarsusi,+ emzini kaJudasi. Ngombana qala, uyathandaza, 12 begodu embonweni ubone indoda ekuthiwa ngu-Ananiyasi iza, imbeka izandla khona azakubona godu.”+ 13 Kodwana u-Ananiyasi wathi: “Kosi, ngizwe abanengi bakhuluma ngendoda leyo, batjho zoke izinto ezimbi ezenze kwabacwengileko bakho eJerusalema. 14 Lapha inelungelo elifumene ebaphristini abakhulu lokubopha boke ababiza igama lakho.”+ 15 Kodwana iKosi yathi kuye: “Khamba! Ngombana indoda leyo isisitja esikhethiweko kimi+ bona iphathe igama lami eentjhabeni+ nemakhosini+ nebantwaneni bakwa-Israyeli. 16 Ngizoyitjengisa ngokukhanyako ukuthi zingakhi izinto ekufuze ihlunguphazwe ngazo ngebanga legama lami.”+

17 U-Ananiyasi wakhamba, wangena emzini loyo, wabeka izandla zakhe kuye wathi: “Sawula mfowethu, iKosi uJesu ebonakale kuwe endleleni ebewuza ngayo, ingithumile bona ubone godu uzaliswe nangommoya ocwengileko.”+ 18 Khonokho, kwakhithika obekubonakala ngasuthi ziimpepha emehlwenakhe, wabona godu. Ngemva kwalokho wasikima, wabhajadiswa, 19 wadla, waba namandla.

Wahlala amalangana nabafundi eDamaseku,+ 20 msinyana wathoma ukutjhumayela ngoJesu ngemasinagogeni, ukuthi uyiNdodana kaZimu. 21 Kodwana boke ebebamlalele barareka, bathi: “Indoda le akusiyo leya eyasahlela boke ababiza igameli+ eJerusalema? Kghani ayikezi lapha ngomnqopho wokubabopha, itjhinge nabo ebaphristini abakhulu na?”+ 22 Kodwana uSawula bekasolo afumana amandla angeziweko, arara amaJuda ebekahlala eDamaseku, njengombana anikela ubufakazi obuzwakalako ukuthi uJesu unguKrestu.+

23 Ngemva kwamalanga amanengi, amaJuda aluka amano wokumbulala.+ 24 Nanyana kunjalo, uSawula wazi ngamano wawo. AmaJuda gade aqale amasango ngelihlo elibukhali ubusuku nemini bona ambulale. 25 Nje-ke abafundi bakhe bamthatha ngobusuku bamehlisa ngomantji+ ngetjhuba elivuleke ebodeni.

26 Nakafika eJerusalema,+ walinga ukuzihlanganisa nabafundi kodwana boke bebamsaba ngombana bebangakholwa ukuthi sekamfundi. 27 Nje-ke uBharinabhasi+ weza azomsiza, wamusa ebapostolini, wabatjela ngokuzeleko indlela uSawula abone ngayo iKosi endleleni,+ nokuthi ikhulume naye, nendlela akhulume ngesibindi ngayo ngegama lakaJesu+ eDamaseku. 28 Wahlala nabo, akhambakhamba ngokutjhaphulukileko* eJerusalema, akhuluma ngegama leKosi ngesibindi. 29 Bekakhuluma, aphikisana namaJuda akhuluma isiGirigi kodwana wona enza amaqhinga wokumbulala.+ 30 Abafowethu nabezwa ngalokhu, bamletha eKhesariya bamthumela eTarsusi.+

31 Ngemva kwalokho ibandla leJudiya yoke, leGalile neSamariya+ langena esikhathini sokuthula, lakhiwa; njengombana belikhamba ekusabeni uJehova* nenduduzweni yommoya ocwengileko,+ belisolo landa ngokubuyelelweko.

32 Njengombana uPitrosi bekakhambakhamba esifundeneso soke, wafika nakwabacwengileko abahlala eLida.+ 33 Lapho wafumana indoda okuthiwa ngu-Ayeniya, ebeyilele embhedenayo iminyaka ebunane ngombana beyife ihlangothi. 34 UPitrosi wathi kiyo: “Ayeniya, uJesu Krestu uyakulapha.+ Vuka wendlule.”+ Wasikima khonokho. 35 Boke abahlala eLida neMmangweni oThabaleleko weTjharoni nabambonako, batjhugulukela eKosini.

36 EJopha bekunomfundi obizwa ngokuthi nguThabitha, nakutjhugululwako kutjho ukuthi, “Dorkasi.”* Bekenza izenzo ezinengi ezihle begodu asiza abadududu. 37 Kodwana emihleni leyo wagula, wabe wahlongakala. Yeke bamhlambisa, bamlalisa ekumbeni ephezulu. 38 Njengombana iLida beyiseduze neJopha, abafundi nabezwa ukuthi uPitrosi usedorobheni, bathumela amadoda amabili kuye bona amncenge athi: “Sibawa uze kithi ngokurhabako.” 39 Khonokho uPitrosi wasikima, wakhamba nabo. Nakafikako, bamusa ekumbeni ephezulu; boke abahlolokazi beza kuye, balila, bamtjengisa zoke izambatho ezenziwe nguDorkasi nakasese nabo. 40 Nje-ke uPitrosi wabakhuphela ngaphandle boke,+ waguqa, wathandaza. Ngemva kwalokho wajika waqala isidumbu, wathi: “Thabitha, vuka!” Wavula amehlo, uthe nakabona uPitrosi, wavuka wahlala.+ 41 UPitrosi wambamba ngesandla, wamsiza bona asikime, wabiza abacwengileko nabahlolokazi, wabatjengisa ukuthi uThabitha sekayaphila.+ 42 Lokhu kwaziwa kiyo yoke iJopha begodu abanengi bakholwa eKosini.+ 43 Wahlala amalangana eJopha nomtjhuki weenkhumba okuthiwa nguSimoni.+

10 EKhesariya bekunendoda ekuthiwa nguKorneliyasi, isikhulu samabutho wesiqhema samasotja wamaTariyana. 2 Bekalotjha uZimu begodu yena nomndenakhe bebasaba uZimu, bekapha abadududu, athandaza qobe kuZimu. 3 Pheze ngesimbi yesithathu+ ntambama,* embonweni wabona ingilozi kaZimu iza kuye ithi: “Korneliyasi!” 4 UKorneliyasi wayiqala, athukiwe, wayibuza wathi: “Khuyini Kosi?” Yathi kuye: “Imithandazwakho nokupha kwakho abadududu kukhuphukele kuZimu njengesikhumbuzo.+ 5 Nje-ke thumela amadoda eJopha ayokubiza uSimoni okuthiwa nguPitrosi. 6 Indoda le isivakatjhi kwaSimoni umtjhuki weenkhumba onendlu eduze nelwandle.” 7 Kuthe ingilozi leya egade ikhuluma naye seyikhambile, wabiza iinsebenzi zakhe ezimbili nesotja elisaba uZimu hlangana nabo boke abaziinsebenzi zakhe, 8 wabatjela koke okwenzekileko, wabathumela eJopha.

9 Ngelanga elilandelako nabasaragela phambili nekhambo labo batjhidela ngedorobheni, uPitrosi wakhuphukela ngaphezu kwephahla lendlu ngesimbi yetjhumi nambili ngamadina* bona ayokuthandaza. 10 Walamba khulu wafuna ukudla. Kuthe nabasenza ukudla, wabona umbono+ 11 wabona izulu livuleka begodu kwaba nento ethileko* enjengetjhila elikhulu lelineni yehliselwa ephasini ngamakhona amane; 12 kiyo bekunayo yoke imihlobo yeenlwana ezineenyawo ezine, iinlwana ezirhurhubako zephasi neenyoni. 13 Ilizwi lathi kuye: “Pitrosi sikima, hlaba udle!” 14 Kodwana uPitrosi wathi: “Awa Kosi, akhenge khengidle nanyana yini esilapheleko nengakahlwengeki.”+ 15 Godu ilizwi lakhuluma naye kwesibili lathi: “Lisa ukubiza izinto uZimu azihlwengisileko ngokuthi zisilaphele.” 16 Lokhu kwenzeka ihlandla lesithathu begodu into leyo yakhutjhulelwa ezulwini msinyana.

17 UPitrosi asararwe kukuthi utjho ukuthini umbono awubonileko, amadoda ebekathunywe nguKorneliyasi abuza ajame esangweni+ ukuthi ikuphi indlu kaSimoni. 18 Arhuwelela abuza ukuthi uSimoni obizwa ngokuthi nguPitrosi uvakatjhe lapho na. 19 UPitrosi asacabangisisa ngombono, ummoya+ wathi: “Qala! Amadoda amathathu ayakufuna. 20 Yeke sikima, wehlele phasi, ukhambe nawo, ungazazi nakanye ngombana ngiwathumile.” 21 UPitrosi wehlela kiwo wathi: “Ngimi enimfunako. Ningifunelani?” 22 Athi: “UKorneliyasi,+ isikhulu sebutho, indoda elungileko nesaba uZimu ekhulunywa kuhle sitjhaba soke samaJuda, ufumene iinqophiso ezivela kuZimu ngengilozi ecwengileko ukuthi ubizelwe emzinakhe bona ezwe ukuthi uzomtjelani.” 23 Yeke wawangenisa wahlala nawo.

Ngelanga elilandelako wavuka wakhamba nawo, nabanye abafowethu beJopha bakhamba naye. 24 Ngelanga elilandelako wafika eKhesariya. UKorneliyasi bekabalindile, abize neenhlobo zakhe nabangani bakhe abaseduze. 25 Kuthe uPitrosi nakangenako, uKorneliyasi wamhlangabeza, wawela eenyaweni zakhe, wakhothama phambi kwakhe. 26 Kodwana uPitrosi wamsikimisa, wathi: “Sikima; nami ngimumuntu ofana nawe.”+ 27 Njengombana asakhuluma naye, wangena ngaphakathi wafumana abantu abanengi babuthene lapho. 28 Wathi kibo: “Nazi kuhle ukuthi akusisemthethweni ngomJuda bona azihlanganise namkha atjhidele komunye umuntu wesinye isitjhaba+ kodwana uZimu ungitjengise bona akukafuzi ngibize umuntu ngokuthi usilaphele namkha akakahlwengeki.+ 29 Nje-ke ngizile, akhenge ngale nangibizwako. Ngibawa ningitjele ukuthi ningibizeleni.”

30 UKorneliyasi wathi: “Emalangeni amane adlulileko kusukela nge-ireli, bengithandaza emzinami ngesimbi yesithathu ntambama;* kwajama phambi kwami indoda eyembethe izambatho eziphazimulako 31 yathi: ‘Korneliyasi, umthandazwakho uzwakele nokupha kwakho abadududu uZimu uyakukhumbula. 32 Nje-ke, thumela abantu abathileko eJopha bona babize uSimoni obizwa ngokuthi nguPitrosi. Indoda le isivakatjhi emzini kaSimoni, umtjhuki weenkhumba, eduze nelwandle.’+ 33 Ngabathumela bona bayokubiza begodu wenze kuhle ngokuza. Nje-ke soke sikhona phambi kwakaZimu bona sizwe zoke izinto uJehova akuyale bona uzitjho.”

34 Nakezwa lokho uPitrosi wathoma ukukhuluma, wathi: “Nje ngiyazwisisa kwamambala bona uZimu akakhethi+ 35 kodwana kizo zoke iintjhaba umuntu omesabako begodu enze okulungileko uyamukeleka kuye.+ 36 Wathumela ilizwi ebantwaneni bakwa-Israyeli bona amemezele kibo iindaba ezimnandi zokuthula+ ngoJesu Krestu, yena uyiKosi yabo boke.+ 37 Niyayazi indaba ebekukhulunywa ngayo kiyo yoke iJudiya, kusukela eGalile+ ngemva kwebhabhadiso ebelitjhunyayelwa nguJwanisi: 38 malungana noJesu weNazaretha, indlela uZimu amzesa ngayo ngommoya ocwengileko+ namandla, wakhamba inarha yoke enza okuhle, alapha boke ebebagandelelwe nguDeveli+ ngombana uZimu bekanaye.+ 39 Sibofakazi bazo zoke izinto azenzileko kokubili enarheni yamaJuda neJerusalema kodwana bambulala ngokumphanyeka esigodweni.* 40 UZimu wamvusa ngelanga lesithathu,+ wamvumela bona abonakale 41 ingasi ebantwini boke kodwana kibofakazi abakhethwe nguZimu kusesengaphambili, kithi esadla besasela naye ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe kwabafileko.+ 42 Wasiyala nokobana sitjhumayele ebantwini, sinikele ubufakazi obupheleleko+ bokuthi nguye okhethwe nguZimu bona abe ngumahluleli wabaphilako nowabafileko.+ 43 Boke abaphorofidi bafakaze ngaye,+ ukuthi woke umuntu okholwa kuye ulitjalelwa izono ngegama lakhe.”+

44 Kuthe uPitrosi nakasakhuluma ngeendabezi, ummoya ocwengileko wehlela phezu kwabo boke abezwa ilizwi.+ 45 Amakholwa asokiweko eze noPitrosi arareka, ngombana isipho sesihle sommoya ocwengileko besithululelwa nebantwini beentjhaba. 46 Ngombana abezwa bakhuluma amanye amalimi baphazimulisa noZimu.+ Yeke uPitrosi wathi: 47 “Ukhona na ongavimbela laba bona babhajadiswe+ ngamanzi njengombana bamukele ummoya ocwengileko njengathi?” 48 Ngalokho wayala bona babhajadiswe egameni lakaJesu Krestu.+ Bambawa bona ahlale nabo amalangana.

11 Nje-ke abapostoli nabafowethu ebebaseJudiya bezwa ukuthi nabantu beentjhaba bamukele ilizwi lakaZimu. 2 Ngalokho kwathi uPitrosi nakafika eJerusalema, labo abasekela ukusoka+ bathoma ukumsola,* 3 bathi kuye: “Ungene ngendlini yabantu abangakasoki wadla nabo.” 4 UPitrosi wathoma ukubahlathululela ngokuzeleko, wathi:

5 “Bengisedorobheni leJopha ngithandaza, ngabona umbono, kiwo ngabona into ethileko enjengetjhila elikhulu lelineni yehliselwa phasi ngamakhona wayo amane isuka ezulwini, yehlela poro kimi.+ 6 Ngithe nangiqalisisa kuhle kiyo, ngabona iinlwana zephasi ezineenyawo ezine, iimbandana, iinlwana ezirhurhubako neenyoni. 7 Ngezwa nelizwi lithi kimi: ‘Pitrosi sikima, hlaba udle!’ 8 Kodwana ngathi: ‘Awa Kosi, akhenge khekungene nanyana yini engakahlwengeki namkha esilapheleko ngemlonyenami.’ 9 Kwesibili, ilizwi elivela ezulwini lathi: ‘Lisa ukubiza izinto uZimu azihlwengisileko ngokuthi zisilaphele.’ 10 Lokho kwenzeka kwesithathu begodu koke kwakhutjhulelwa ezulwini godu. 11 Ngaso isikhatheso, bekujame amadoda amathathu ngendlini ebesihlezi kiyo, athunyelwe kimi avela eKhesariya.+ 12 Ummoya wathi ngikhambe nawo, ngingazazi nakancani. Abafowethu abasithandathwaba bakhamba nami, sangena emzini womuntu loyo.

13 “Wasibikela ngendlela abona ngayo ingilozi ijame ngendlinakhe ithi: ‘Thumela amadoda eJopha ayokubiza uSimoni obizwa ngokuthi nguPitrosi,+ 14 uzonitjela indlela wena nomndenakho woke eningasindiswa ngayo.’ 15 Kodwana nangithoma ukukhuluma, ummoya ocwengileko wehlela kibo njengombana wenza kithi ekuthomeni.+ 16 Nakwenzeka lokho ngakhumbula amezwi weKosi, bona beyijayele ukuthi: ‘UJwanisi wabhabhadisa ngamanzi+ kodwana nina nizokubhajadiswa ngommoya ocwengileko.’+ 17 Nje-ke, nangabe uZimu ubaphe isipho sesihle esifana naleso asinikele thina abakholwe eKosini uJesu Krestu, bengingubani mina bona ngingavimba uZimu?”*+

18 Nabezwa izintwezi, balisa ukuphikisa,* badumisa uZimu bathi: “UZimu unikele nabantu beentjhaba ithuba lokutjhuguluka bona bafumane ukuphila.”+

19 Boke labo abarhatjheka+ ngebanga lokutlhagiswa okwavela ngemva kwalokho okwenzeka kuStefani, bakhamba bebafika eFunisiya, eSayipurasi, ne-Anthiyokiya kodwana bakhuluma ilizwi emaJudeni kwaphela.+ 20 Amanye amadoda hlangana nabo avela eSayipurasi neSirene eza e-Anthiyokiya athoma ukukhuluma nabantu abakhuluma isiGirigi, amemezela iindaba ezimnandi zeKosi uJesu. 21 Ngaphezu kwalokho, isandla sakaJehova besinabo begodu inani elikhulu labantu laba makholwa, latjhugulukela eKosini.+

22 Umbiko omalungana nabo wafika eendlebeni zebandla eJerusalema, bathumela uBharinabhasi+ bona ayokufika ne-Anthiyokiya. 23 Nakafikako wabona umusa omkhulu kaZimu, wathaba begodu wabakhuthaza boke bona bahlale eKosini ngokuzimisela+ 24 ngombana bekamumuntu olungileko begodu azele ummoya ocwengileko nokukholwa. Isiqubuthu esikhulu sangezelelwa eKosini.+ 25 Nje-ke watjhinga eTarsusi ayokufunisisa uSawula.+ 26 Ngemva kokumfumana, weza naye e-Anthiyokiya. Umnyaka woke bahlanganyela nabo ebandleni begodu bafundisa isiqubuthu esikhulu. Kwathoma e-Anthiyokiya bona ngokwesinqophiso sakaZimu abafundi babizwe ngokuthi maKrestu.+

27 Emihleni leyo kwasuka abaphorofidi+ eJerusalema behlela e-Anthiyokiya. 28 Omunye wabo ekuthiwa ngu-Agabhusi+ wasikima wabikezela ngommoya ukuthi kuza indlala ekulu ephasini loke,+ leyo eqinisweni eyaba khona ngesikhathi sakaKlawudiyusi. 29 Nje-ke abafundi baqunta ukuthumela izinto+ kubafowabo abahlala eJudiya, ngamunye ngokwamandlakhe;+ 30 bakuthumela kubadala, bakuphathisa uBharinabhasi noSawula.+

12 Ngesikhatheso ikosi uHerode yathoma ukutlhorisa abanye ebandleni.+ 2 Yabulala uJakopo umfowabo kaJwanisi+ ngesabula.+ 3 Nayibona ukuthi lokhu kuyawathabisa amaJuda, yakhamba yayokubopha noPitrosi. (Lokhu kwenzeka hlangana namalanga woBurotho obunganaSibiliso.)+ 4 Yambamba, yamdlhunya ngejele,+ yamnikela ngaphasi kweenqhema ezine zamasotja bona zimgade ngokudlhegana, isiqhema ngasinye sinamasotja amane. Beyinqophe ukumkhuphela ngaphandle* phambi kwabantu ngemva kwePhasika. 5 Nje-ke uPitrosi bekasolo angejele kodwana ibandla belimthandazela+ ubusuku nemini kuZimu.

6 Kuthe uHerode nasele azomkhuphela ngaphandle, ngobusukobo uPitrosi bekalele abotjhwe ngeenketani ezimbili hlangana namasotja amabili, kunabonogada phambi komnyango basolo bagade ijele. 7 Kodwana qala! Ingilozi kaJehova beyijame lapho,+ kwaba nomkhanyo ngejele. Yathinta uPitrosi ngehlangothini, yamvusa yathi: “Sikima msinya!” Iinketani zatjhaphuluka ezandleni zakhe zawela phasi.+ 8 Ingilozi yathi kuye: “Mbatha,* ufake namapatlagwanakho.” Wenza njalo. Emaswapheleni yathi kuye: “Mbatha isambatho sakho sangaphandle, ungilandele.” 9 Waphumela ngaphandle, wayilandela kodwana bekangazi ukuthi lokho okwenzeka ngengilozi kwenzeka kwamambala. Eqinisweni, bekacabanga ukuthi ubona umbono. 10 Badlula abonogada bokuthoma nabesibili, bafika esangweni lesimbi eliya ngedorobheni, lazivulekela phambi kwabo. Ngemva kwalokho baphuma, bakhamba boke isikhatjhana endleleni, msinyana ingilozi yamtjhiya lapho. 11 Alemuka okwenzekileko, uPitrosi wathi: “Nje sengazi kuhle ukuthi uJehova uthumele ingilozakhe, yangitjhaphulula esandleni sakaHerode nakikho koke amaJuda ebekalindele ukuthi kuzokwenzeka.”+

12 Ngemva kokulemuka lokhu, watjhinga endlini kaMariya unina kaJwanisi obekabizwa ngokuthi nguMarkosi,+ lapho bekubuthene khona abafundi abanengi, bathandaza. 13 Wakokoda emnyango, kweza isisebenzi somntazana ekuthiwa nguRoda sizokuqala ukuthi ngubani. 14 Nasizwa iphimbo lakaPitrosi, sathaba khulu kangangokuthi akhenge sivule nomnyango kodwana sagijimela ngaphakathi, sayokubika ukuthi uPitrosi ujame emnyango. 15 Bathi kiso: “Uyarhapha.” Kodwana saragela phambili ngokuthi kunjalo. Nje-ke bathi: “Yingilozakhe.” 16 UPitrosi wasolo ajame lapho, akokoda. Nabavula umnyango, bambona, barareka. 17 Wabatjengisa ngesandla sakhe bona bathule, wabatjela ngokuzeleko indlela uJehova amtjhaphulule ngayo ejele, wathi: “Bikelani uJakopo+ nabafowethu ngalokhu.” Waphumela ngaphandle, watjhinga kwenye indawo.

18 Kuthe nakusako, kwaba nesiphithiphithi esikhulu emasotjeni ngokuthi kwenzekeni ngoPitrosi. 19 UHerode wamfunisisa, azange amfumane, ngalokho waphenya abonogada, wayala nokobana bayokujeziswa;+ wasuka eJudiya wehlela eKhesariya, wahlala isikhatjhana lapho.

20 UHerode bekasilingwe babantu* beTirosi neSidoni. Nje-ke ngemva kokuncenga uBhulastusi indoda ebeyiphethe umuzi wekosi, beza kuye ngomnqopho ofanako, babawa ukuthula ekosini ngombana inarhabo beyifumana ukudla endaweni yekosi. 21 Ngelanga elibekiweko, uHerode wambatha isambatho sobukhosi, wahlala esihlalweni sokwahlulela, wethula ikulumo ebantwini. 22 Yeke abantu ebebabuthene lapho barhuwelela bathi: “Lilizwi lakazimu, ingasi lomuntu!” 23 Khonokho ingilozi kaJehova yamdula phasi ngombana akhenge adumise uZimu begodu wadliwa ziimbungu, wafa.

24 Ilizwi lakaJehova laragela phambili likhula begodu lirhatjheka.+

25 Ngemva kobana uBharinabhasi+ noSawula baqede umsebenzabo wokusiza abafowethu eJerusalema,+ babuya begodu bathatha uJwanisi,+ loyo obekabizwa nangokuthi nguMarkosi.

13 Nje-ke e-Anthiyokiya bekunabaphorofidi nabafundisi ebandleni lakhona:+ UBharinabhasi, uSimiyoni obekabizwa ngokuthi nguNigeri, uLukiyasi weSirene, uManayeni owafunda noHerode umbusi wesifunda noSawula. 2 Kuthe basasebenzela uJehova bazile nokudla, ummoya ocwengileko wathi: “Ngibekelani eqadi uBharinabhasi noSawula+ bona benze umsebenzi engibabizele ukuthi bawenze.”+ 3 Ngemva kokuzila ukudla nokuthandaza, bababeka izandla bathi bakhambe.

4 Amadoda athunywe mmoya ocwengileko la, ehlela eSelukiya, nawasuka lapho akhamba ngesikepe aya eSayipurasi. 5 Nawafika eSalamisi, athoma ukumemezela ilizwi lakaZimu emasinagogeni wamaJuda. BewanoJwanisi, amsizawo.+

6 Kuthe nasele bakhambe isihlengele soke bebafika ePhafosi, bahlangana nomJuda okuthiwa nguBhari-Jesu, obekangusomlingo nomphorofidi wamala. 7 Bekanondunakulu wesifunda uSerigiyusi Polosi, indoda ehlakaniphileko. Afuna ukuzwa ilizwi lakaZimu, undunakulu wesifunda wabiza uBharinabhasi noSawula. 8 Kodwana u-Elimasi usomlingo (leyo yindlela igama lakhe elitjhugululwa ngayo) wathoma ukubaphikisa, alinga ukuphambukisa undunakulu wesifunda ekukholweni. 9 Nje-ke uSawula godu obizwa ngokuthi nguPowula wazala ummoya ocwengileko, wamqala emehlweni 10 wathi: “Muntu ozele yoke imihlobo yokukhwabanisa nayo yoke imihlobo yobumbi, wena ndodana kaDeveli,+ naba lakho koke ukulunga, awuzukulisa na ukuhlanakela iindlela zakaJehova ezilungileko? 11 Qala! Isandla sakaJehova siphezu kwakho, uzokuphophala, ungasabona ukukhanya kwelanga isikhathi esithileko.” Khonokho wafikelwa yikungu nobumnyama, wazombazomba alinga ukufumana umuntu ongamdosa ngesandla. 12 Undunakulu wesifunda nakabona okwenzekileko, wakholwa ngombana bekakarwe yifundiso kaJehova.

13 UPowula nalabo ebekakhamba nabo bakhamba ngesikepe basuka ePhafosi bafika ePherge ePhamfiliya. Kodwana uJwanisi+ wabatjhiya lapho wabuyela eJerusalema.+ 14 Basuka ePherge beza e-Anthiyokiya ePhisidiya. Baya esinagogeni+ ngelanga leSabatha, bafika bahlala phasi. 15 Ngemva kokuthi kufundwe umThetho+ nabaPhorofidi tjhatjhalazi, abaphathi besinagogo bathumela ilizwi kibo, bathi: “Madoda bafowethu, nangabe kukhona ilizwi lesikhuthazo enifuna ukulitjho ebantwini, likhulumeni.” 16 Yeke uPowula wasikima, waphakamisa isandla ababawa bona bathule, wathi:

“Madoda, ma-Israyeli nani abanye enisaba uZimu, lalelani. 17 UZimu wabantu bakwa-Israyelaba wakhetha abokhokho bethu, wabenza baba namandla ngitjho nanyana bebahlala enarheni ekungasingeyabo eGibhide, wabakhupha kiyo ngomkhono onamandla.+ 18 Wababekezelela emmangweni+ iminyaka engaba ma-40. 19 Ngemva kokutjhabalalisa iintjhaba ezilikhomba enarheni yeKanana, wababela inarha leyo bona ibe lilifa labo.+ 20 Koke lokhu kwenzeka hlangana neminyaka engaba ma-450.

“Ngemva kwalokho wabanikela abahluleli bekwaba sikhathi sakaSamyela umphorofidi.+ 21 Kodwana bafuna ngekani ikosi,+ uZimu wabanikela uSawula indodana kaKhitjhi wekoro kaBhenjamini,+ bona ababuse iminyaka ema-40. 22 Ngemva kokumsusa, wabeka uDavida bona abe yikosi,+ loyo afakaza ngaye wathi: ‘Ngifumene uDavida indodana kaJese+ indoda ethandwa yihliziywami;+ uzokwenza koke engifisa bona akwenze.’ 23 Ngokwesithembiso sakhe, ngabantwana* bendoda le, uZimu ulethele u-Israyeli umsindisi, uJesu.+ 24 Ngaphambi kokufika kwakhe, uJwanisi watjhumayela tjhatjhalazi kibo boke abantu bakwa-Israyeli bona babhajadiswe njengetshwayo lokutjhuguluka.+ 25 Kodwana njengombana uJwanisi aqedelela umsebenzakhe, wathi: ‘Nicabanga ukuthi ngingubani? Angisinguye. Kodwana qalani! Ukhona oza ngemva kwami engingafaneleki nokutjhaphulula amapatlagwanakhe.’+

26 “Madoda, bafowethu, nina nzukulwana zomndeni ka-Abrahama nalabo abahlangana nani abasaba uZimu, ilizwi lesindiso le lithunyelwe kithi.+ 27 Ngombana izakhamuzi zeJerusalema nababusi bazo akhenge bamazi kodwana ngokwahlulela kwabo, bazalisa izinto ezakhulunywa baPhorofidi+ njengombana zifundwa ngokuzwakalako qobe ngesabatha. 28 Ngitjho nanyana bangakhenge bafumane ibanga lokobana abulawe,+ bakatelela uPilatu bona ambulale.+ 29 Kuthe nasele benze zoke izinto ezitlolwe ngaye, bamehlisa esigodweni* bamlalisa ethuneni.+ 30 Kodwana uZimu wamvusa kwabafileko,+ 31 wabonakala amalanga amanengi kilabo ebebakhamba naye ukusuka eGalile bakhuphukele eJerusalema. Nje laba sebabofakazi bakhe ebantwini.+

32 “Nje-ke simemezela kini iindaba ezimnandi ezimalungana nesithembiso esenziwa kibokhokho. 33 Isithembisweso uZimu usizalise ngokupheleleko kithi esibantwana babo ngokuvusa uJesu+ njengombana kutlolwe erhubweni lesibili ukuthi: ‘Uyindodanami; namhlanjesi ngibe nguyihlo.’+ 34 Iqiniso lokobana uZimu wamvusa kwabafileko bona angabuyeli ekonakaleni, ulibeke nganasi indlela: ‘Ngokuthembeka+ ngizonithanda ngethando lamambala* engalithembisa uDavida.’ 35 Godu kwelinye irhubo kuthiwa: ‘Angekhe uvumele othembekilekwakho abone ukonakala.’+ 36 Ngakwelinye ihlangothi uDavida wenza intando kaZimu esizukulwaneni sakhe, walala ekufeni, wabulungwa nabokhokho bakhe begodu wabona ukonakala.+ 37 Kuthi ngakwelinye ihlangothi, loyo uZimu amvusa akhenge abone ukonakala.+

38 “Yeke akwazeke kini bafowethu ukuthi ngaye ukulitjalelwa kwezono kuyamenyezelwa kini,+ 39 nokuthi kizo zoke izinto ebekungathiwa ninomlandu kizo ngokomThetho kaMosi,+ ngaye woke okholwako kuthiwa akanamlandu.+ 40 Nje-ke yelelani bona lokho okwatjhiwo baPhorofidi kungenzeki kini: 41 ‘Qalani nina banyefuli, nirareke begodu nitjhabalale ngombana ngenza umsebenzi emihlenenu, umsebenzi engeze nawukholwa ngitjho nanyana omunye anihlathululela wona ngokunabileko.’”+

42 Nabaphumako, abantu babancenga ukuthi bakhulume nabo ngeendabezi ngeSabatha elilandelako. 43 Ngemva kobana umhlangano wesinagogeni uphelile, amaJuda amanengi namaphroselite* alotjha uZimu alandela uPowula noBharinabhasi, nabakhuluma nabo, babakhuthaza bona bahlale emuseni omkhulu kaZimu.+

44 NgeSabatha elilandelako, pheze idorobho loke labuthana ndawonye bona lizokuzwa ilizwi lakaJehova. 45 AmaJuda nawabona isiqubuthu, aba nomona athoma ukuhlambalaza uZimu ngokuphikisa izinto ebezikhulunywa nguPowula.+ 46 Nje-ke ngesibindi uPowula noBharinabhasi bathi kiwo: “Bekutlhogeka ukuthi ilizwi lakaZimu likhulunywe kini qangi.+ Kodwana njengombana ningalamukeli, ningaziqali njengabantu abafanelekela ukufumana ukuphila okungapheliko, qalani siya ebantwini beentjhaba.+ 47 Ngombana uJehova usiyale nganaka amezwi: ‘Nginibeke bona nibe kukhanya eentjhabeni, bona nibe yisindiso bekube semaphethelweni wephasi.’”+

48 Abantu beentjhaba nabezwa ngalokhu, bathoma ukuthaba nokuphazimulisa ilizwi lakaJehova begodu boke abazimisele ukufumana ukuphila okungapheliko baba makholwa. 49 Ngaphezu kwalokho, ilizwi lakaJehova belirhatjhwa kiyo yoke inarha leyo. 50 Kodwana amaJuda ahlohlozela abafazi abadumileko abasaba uZimu namadoda adumileko edorobheni, baphehla bona kuhlunguphazwe+ uPowula noBharinabhasi babalahlela ngaphandle kwemikhawulwabo. 51 UPowula noBharinabhasi bathintitha ithuli eenyaweni zabo, okulitshwayo lokubayelelisa, ngemva kwalokho baya e-Ikhoniyo.+ 52 Abafundi baragela phambili bathaba+ begodu bafumana ummoya ocwengileko.

14 Nje-ke e-Ikhoniyo uPowula noBharinabhasi bangena esinagogeni lamaJuda bakhuluma kuhle khulu kangangobana isiqubuthu esikhulu samaJuda namaGirigi saba makholwa. 2 Kodwana amaJuda angakhenge akholwe, aphehla umguruguru begodu ahlohlozela abantu beentjhaba bona bahloye abafowethu.+ 3 Yeke bathatha isikhathi eside bakhuluma ngesibindi ngebanga lamandla abawanikelwe nguJehova,* owafakazela ilizwi lomusakhe omkhulu ngokuvumela bona kwenzeke ngabo iimbonakaliso neemangaliso.+ 4 Nanyana kunjalo, isiqubuthu sedorobhelo besihlukene phakathi; abanye basekela amaJuda, abanye basekela abapostoli. 5 Abantu beentjhaba namaJuda nababusi babo balinga ukubaphatha makghwakghwa nokubakghadlha ngamatje+ 6 kodwana batjelwa ngakho, babalekela emadorobheni weLikhawoniya, eListra, eDerbe neendaweni eziseduze.+ 7 Lapho baragela phambili bamemezela iindaba ezimnandi.

8 Nje-ke eListra bekunendoda ehlezi phasi irholophele iinyawo. Yabelethwa irholophele begodu azange kheyikghone ukukhamba. 9 Indoda le beyilalele uPowula njengombana akhuluma. UPowula wayiqalisisa wabona ukuthi iyakholwa ukuthi ingaphola,+ 10 watjho ngelizwi elikhulu wathi: “Sikima ujame ngeenyawo zakho.” Indoda le yeqa yathoma ukukhamba.+ 11 Iinqubuthu nazibona lokho uPowula akwenzileko, zarhuwelela ngelimi lesiLikhawoniya zathi: “Abozimu babe njengabantu behlela kithi!”+ 12 Bathoma ukubiza uBharinabhasi ngokuthi nguZewusi kodwana uPowula ngoHerimesi njengombana bekunguye odosa phambili ekukhulumeni. 13 Umphristi kaZewusi ithempeli lakhe ebelisesangweni ledorobho, waletha emasangweni iinkunzi nemigejiso yentanyeni eyenziwe ngamathuthumbo begodu wafuna ukwenza imihlatjelo nesiqubuthu.

14 Kodwana abapostoli, uPowula noBharinabhasi nabezwa ngalokho, badabula izambatho zabo bagijimela esiqubuthwini barhuwelela bathi: 15 “Madoda, nikwenzelani lokhu? Nathi sibabantu ababogaboga njengani.+ Simemezela iindaba ezimnandi kini, bona nitjhuguluke ezintweni ezililizezi niye kuZimu ophilako, owenze izulu nephasi nelwandle nakho koke okukilo.+ 16 Eenzukulwaneni ezidlulileko wavumela zoke iintjhaba bona zirage eendleleni zazo+ 17 kodwana akhenge aliselele bona kungabi nobufakazi+ bokuthi unjani ngezinto ezihle azenzako, aninikela izulu elivela ezulwini neenkhathi zenala yesivuno,+ ananelisa ngokudla begodu anenze nithabe.”+ 18 Ngitjho sebakutjhwile lokho, kwaba budisi khulu ukuvimba isiqubuthu bona singabenzeli imihlatjelo.

19 Kodwana kwafika amaJuda avela e-Anthiyokiya ne-Ikhoniyo ahlohlozela isiqubuthu,+ sakghadlha uPowula ngamatje, samrhurhubisela ngaphandle kwedorobho, sicabanga ukuthi ufile.+ 20 Kwathi abafundi nabambungelelako, wavuka wangena ngedorobheni. Ngakusasa kwakhona wakhamba noBharinabhasi batjhinga eDerbe.+ 21 Bamemezela iindaba ezimnandi edorobhenelo benza nabafundi abanengi, ngemva kwalokho babuyela eListra, e-Ikhoniyo ne-Anthiyokiya. 22 Lapho baqinisa abafundi,+ babakhuthaza bona bahlale ekukholweni bathi: “Kufuze singene emBusweni kaZimu ngamatshwenyeko amanengi.”+ 23 Ngaphezu kwalokho, babeka abadala ebandleni ngalinye,+ bathandaza begodu bazila ukudla,+ babanikela kuJehova* abakholwe kuye.

24 Yeke badlula ePhisidiya bafika ePhamfiliya,+ 25 ngemva kokumemezela ilizwi ePherge, behlela e-Athaliya. 26 Ukusuka lapho bakhamba ngesikepe batjhinga e-Anthiyokiya, lapho uZimu abatjengisa khona umusakhe omkhulu ngebanga lomsebenzi ebesebawuqedile.+

27 Kuthe sebafikile begodu bahlanganise ibandla ndawonye, bakhuluma ngezinto ezinengi uZimu azenze ngabo nokuthi uvulele iintjhaba umnyango wokukholwa.+ 28 Nje-ke bahlala isikhathi eside nabafundi.

15 Nje-ke kwehla amadoda athileko avela eJudiya, athoma ukufundisa abafowethu athi: “Ngaphandle kokuthi nisokwe ngokwesiko lakaMosi,+ angekhe nasindiswa.” 2 Kodwana ngemva kokungavumelani nokuphikisana okukhulu phakathi kwabo noPowula noBharinabhasi, kwahlelwa bona uPowula, uBharinabhasi nabanye babo bakhuphukele ebapostolini nabadala eJerusalema+ malungana nendaba le.*

3 Ngemva kokuphekelelwa libandla ibangana, amadoda la aragela phambili adlula eFunisiya neSamariya, akhuluma ngokuzeleko ngokutjhuguluka kwabantu beentjhaba begodu enza abafowethu bathaba khulu. 4 Nawafika eJerusalema, amukelwa kuhle libandla, bapostoli nabadala begodu akhuluma ngezinto ezinengi uZimu azenze ngawo. 5 Kodwana abanye besiqhema sabaFarisi ebesele bamakholwa basikima eenhlalweni zabo, bathi: “Kuyatlhogeka ukubasoka nokubayala bona baphethe umThetho kaMosi.”+

6 Nje-ke abapostoli nabadala babuthana ndawonye bona bayiqalisise indaba le. 7 Ngemva kokuphikisana okukhulu, uPitrosi wasikima, wathi kibo: “Madoda, bafowethu, nazi kuhle ukuthi kusukela emihleni yokuthoma, uZimu wakhetha mina hlangana nani bona ngomlomami abantu beentjhaba kufuze bezwe ilizwi leendaba ezimnandi begodu bakholwe.+ 8 UZimu owazi ihliziyo,+ wafakaza ngokubanikela ummoya ocwengileko+ njengombana enza nakithi. 9 Akhenge enze kube nomehluko nomncani phakathi kwethu nabo+ kodwana wahlambulula iinhliziyo zabo ngokukholwa.+ 10 Yeke kubayini nilinga uZimu ngokubeka eentanyeni zabafundi ijogi,+ thina nabokhokho bethu esabhalelwa kulithwala?+ 11 Ngokuphambeneko nalokho, siyakholwa ukuthi sisindiswa ngomusa omkhulu weKosi uJesu+ njengombana nakibo kunjalo.”+

12 Khonokho isiqhema soke sathula, sathoma ukulalela uBharinabhasi noPowula njengombana bakhuluma ngeembonakaliso neemangaliso ezinengi uZimu azenze ngabo hlangana nabantu bakwezinye iintjhaba. 13 Nabaqeda ukukhuluma, uJakopo wathi: “Madoda, bafowethu, ngilalelani. 14 Njengombana sizwile, uSimiyoni+ usicocele ngokunabileko ngendlela uZimu akhumbule ngayo abantu bezinye iintjhaba nokuthi uthome ukukhetha kibo abantu begama lakhe.+ 15 Lokho kuvumelana namezwi wabaPhorofidi njengombana kutloliwe kwathiwa: 16 ‘Ngemva kwezintwezi ngizokubuya, ngivuse godu indlu* kaDavida esele iwile; ngizowakha kabutjha amarubhi wayo, ngiyivuselele, 17 bona abantu abasalako bafune uJehova ngeenhliziyo zabo zoke kunye nabantu bazo zoke iintjhaba, abantu ababizwa ngegama lami, kutjho uJehova owenza izintwezi,+ 18 owaziwa kusukela ekadeni.’+ 19 Ngalokho-ke, isiqunto sami* kukuthi singabatshwenyi abantu bakwezinye iintjhaba abatjhugulukela kuZimu+ 20 kodwana sibatlolele bona batjhide ezintweni ezisilaphazwe ngeenthombe,+ ekuziphatheni kumbi ngokomseme,*+ eenlwaneni ezikghanyiweko* neengazini.+ 21 Kusukela eenkhathini zakade, edorobheni elinye nelinye bekunabatjhumayela ngalokho okufumaneka eencwadini zakaMosi ngombana qobe ngesabatha+ emasinagogeni bebafunda ngokuzwakalako okuseencwadinezi.”

22 Nje-ke abapostoli, abadala nalo loke ibandla baqunta ukuthumela e-Anthiyokiya amadoda akhethiweko hlangana nabo, akhamba noPowula noBharinabhasi; bathumela uJudasi obekabizwa ngokuthi nguBharisabhasi noSilasi,+ ebebamadoda adosa phambili phakathi kwabafowethu. 23 Batlola lokhu bakuthumela ngabo bathi:

“Ivela kubafowenu, abapostoli nabadala, kini bafowethu abase-Anthiyokiya,+ eSiriya neSilisiya abavela kwezinye iintjhaba: Lotjhani! 24 Njengombana sizwile ukuthi kuphume abanye hlangana nathi begodu banibangela imiraro ngalokho abakukhulumileko,+ balinga ukunonakalisa ngitjho nanyana singakhenge sibanikele iinqophiso, 25 sifikelele isiqunto ngokuvumelana bona sikhethe amadoda esingawathumela kini akhambisana noBharinabhasi noPowula abathandekako, 26 amadoda anikele ngokuphila kwawo ngebanga legama leKosethu uJesu Krestu.+ 27 Ngalokho sithumela uJudasi noSilasi, bona nabo babike izinto ezifanako ngomlomo.+ 28 Ngombana ummoya ocwengileko+ nathi ngokwethu sikubone kungcono ukungangezeleli kini omunye umthwalo ngaphandle kwezintwezi ezitlhogekako: 29 Bona nitjhide ezintweni ezihlatjelwe iinthombe,+ eengazini,+ eenlwaneni ezikghanyiweko*+ nekuziphatheni kumbi ngokomseme.*+ Nanitjhida ezintwenezi, nizokuphumelela. Nibe nepilo ehle!”

30 Nje-ke amadoda la akhamba, ehlela e-Anthiyokiya, abuthelela soke isiqhema ndawonye, asinikela incwadi le. 31 Ngemva kokuyifunda, sathatjiswa sikhuthazweso. 32 UJudasi noSilasi njengombana nabo bebabaphorofidi, bakhuthaza abafowethu ngeenkulumo ezinengi begodu babaqinisa.+ 33 Ngemva kokuhlala isikhatjhana lapho, abafowethu bababuyisela ngokuthula kilabo ebebabathumele. 34 *—— 35 Kodwana uPowula noBharinabhasi bahlala e-Anthiyokiya, bafundisa begodu bamemezela iindaba ezimnandi zelizwi lakaJehova, bakunye nabanye abanengi.

36 Ngemva kwamalangana, uPowula wathi kuBharinabhasi: “Akhe sibuyele siyokuvakatjhela abafowethu kiwo woke amadorobho esitjhumayele kiwo ilizwi lakaJehova, siyokubona ukuthi baraga njani.”+ 37 UBharinabhasi bekazimisele bona bakhambe noJwanisi, obekabizwa ngokuthi nguMarkosi.+ 38 Kodwana uPowula bekangavumelani nendaba yokuthi bakhambe naye ngombana wabatjhiya ePhamfiliya, akhenge akhambe nabo emsebenzini.+ 39 Ngalokhu kwaba nokuphikisana okukhulu, kangangokuthi bahlukana phakathi; uBharinabhasi+ wakhamba noMarkosi, bakhamba ngesikepe baya eSayipurasi. 40 UPowula wakhetha uSilasi begodu wakhamba ngemva kobana abafowethu bathandaze kuJehova bona afumane umusa omkhulu.+ 41 Wadlula eSiriya neSilisiya, aqinisa amabandla.

16 UPowula wafika eDerbe neListra.+ Lapho bekunomfundi othileko ekuthiwa nguThimothi,+ indodana yomfazi okholwako omJuda kodwana uyise bekamGirigi, 2 abafowethu beListra nebe-Ikhoniyo bebamkhuluma kuhle. 3 UPowula wafisa ukukhamba noThimothi, yeke wamthatha wayomsoka ngebanga lamaJuda weendawenezo+ ngombana woke bewazi ukuthi uyise mGirigi. 4 Njengombana bakhamba emadorobheni, bebatjela abantu abalapho ngeenqunto ezithethwe bapostoli nabadala abaseJerusalema bona bazilalele.+ 5 Nje-ke amabandla aragela phambili aqiniswa ekukholweni begodu anda ngesibalo qobe langa.

6 Badlula eFrigiya neGalatiya+ ngombana ummoya ocwengileko wabalela bona bakhulume ilizwi esifundeni se-Asiya. 7 Godu nabafika eMisiya, balinga ukuya eBhithiniya+ kodwana ummoya kaJesu akhenge ubavumele. 8 Ngalokho badlula eMisiya behlela eTrowasi. 9 Phakathi nobusuku uPowula waba nombono, wabona indoda yeMasedoniya ijamile imncenga ithi: “Yamelani ngeMasedoniya nisisize.” 10 Msinyana ngemva kobana abone umbono, salinga ukuya eMasedoniya, sifikelela isiphetho sokobana uZimu usithuma bona siyokumemezela iindaba ezimnandi kibo.

11 Nje-ke sasuka eTrowasi ngesikepe, akhenge sijame besafika eSamothirake kodwana ngelanga elilandelako saya eNeyapoli; 12 sasuka lapho saya eFilipi,+ ikholoni yeRoma, okulidorobho eliqakathekileko lesifunda seMasedoniya. Sahlala edorobheneli amalangana. 13 Ngelanga leSabatha saphumela ngaphandle kwesango saya eqadi komlambo, lapho besicabanga ukuthi kunendawo yokuthandaza, sahlala phasi sathoma ukukhuluma nabafazi egade babuthene lapho. 14 Umfazi othileko obizwa ngokuthi nguLidiya, umthengisi wamatjhila asipiridzana* ovela eThiyathira,+ olotjha uZimu, bekalalele, uJehova wavula ihliziywakhe bona alalelisise izinto uPowula ebekazitjho. 15 Nje-ke kuthe bona yena nomndenakhe babhajadiswe,+ wasincenga wathi: “Nangabe ningiqala njengomuntu othembekileko kuJehova, yizani nizokuhlala emzinami.” Wasirabhela bona siye kwakhe.

16 Ngelinye ilanga sisaya endaweni yokuthandaza, sahlangabezwa sisebenzi somntazana esinommoya omumbi, idimoni lokuthukula.+ Besenzela abaphathi baso inzuzo enengi ngokubikezela ngekusasa. 17 Umntazana lo bekasolo alandela uPowula nathi, arhuwelela athi: “Amadoda la aziinceku zakaZimu oPhezukoke+ begodu amemezela kini indlela yokusindiswa.” 18 Wasolo enza lokhu amalanga amanengi. Ekugcineni uPowula wasilingeka waphendukela kuye wathi emmoyeni loyo: “Ngegama lakaJesu Krestu ngikuyala bona uphume kuye.” Waphuma khonokho.+

19 Abaphathi bakhe nababona ukuthi ithemba labo lokufumana inzuzo liphelile,+ babamba uPowula noSilasi babarhudulela etatawini lokuthengisela babasa ebabusini.+ 20 Babasa kibomarhastrada, bathi: “Amadoda la abanga umguruguru omkhulu edorobheni lethu.+ MaJuda 21 begodu amemezela amasiko angasisemthethweni bona siwamukele namkha siwenze, ngombana thina simaRoma.” 22 Isiqubuthu sabavukela bona sibasahlele, abomarhastrada badabula izambatho zabo, ngemva kwalokho bakhupha umyalo wokobana babetjhwe ngeentonga.+ 23 Ngemva kokubabetha kabuhlungu, babafaka ngejele, bayala unogada wejele ukuthi ababeke ilihlo elibukhali.+ 24 Ngebanga lokuthi ufumene umyalo loyo, unogada wabavalela ngejele elingaphakathi wababopha neenyawo ngestokisini.*

25 Kodwana phakathi nobusuku uPowula noSilasi bebathandaza begodu badumisa uZimu ngengoma,+ iimbotjhwa zibalalele. 26 Khonokho kwaba nokusikinyeka kwephasi, kangangobana neensekelo zejele zasikinyeka. Iminyango yoke yavuleka, koke egade babotjhwe ngakho kwatjhaphuluka.+ 27 Unogada wejele nakavukako abona ukuthi iminyango yejele ivulekile, wakhupha isabulakhe afuna ukuzibulala, azitjela bona iimbotjhwa zibalekile.+ 28 Kodwana uPowula warhuwelela wathi: “Ungazilimazi ngombana soke sikhona!” 29 Yeke wabawa iimbani wagijimela ngaphakathi, ahlengezela, waguqa phambi kwakaPowula noSilasi. 30 Waphumela nabo ngaphandle wathi: “Bobaba, kufuze ngenzeni bona ngisindiswe?” 31 Bathi kuye: “Kholwa eKosini uJesu, uzokusindiswa, wena nomndenakho.”+ 32 Nje-ke bakhuluma ilizwi lakaJehova* kuye nakibo boke abasemzinakhe. 33 Ngobusukobo wabathatha wayobahlambisa amanceba. Ngemva kwalokho yena nomndenakhe woke babhajadiswa ngaphandle kokuriyada.+ 34 Wakhamba nabo emzinakhe begodu wabenzela ukudla, wathaba khulu nomndenakhe ngombana besekakholwa kuZimu.

35 Nakusako, abomarhastrada bathumela abonogada bona bathi: “Tjhaphulula amadoda lawo.” 36 Unogada wejele wabikela uPowula amezwabo wathi: “Abomarhastrada bathumele amadoda bona nobabili nitjhatjhululwe. Nje-ke phumani, nikhambe ngokuthula.” 37 UPowula wathi kiwo: “Basibethe phambi kwabantu singakafunyanwa simlandu, nanyana simaRoma,+ basidlhunya ngejele. Alo nje bafuna ukusikhupha ngemsitheleni? Awa! Akuze bona bazosikhupha.” 38 Abonogada babikela abomarhastrada amezwi la. Bathukwa khulu nabezwa ukuthi amadoda la maRoma.+ 39 Yeke beza babancenga, ngemva kokubakhupha, bababawa ukuthi bakhambe edorobhenelo. 40 Kodwana baphuma ejele baya emzini kaLidiya; nababona abafowethu, babakhuthaza+ bese bakhamba.

17 Nje-ke badlula e-Amfipolisi ne-Apoloniya bafika eThesalonika,+ lapho bekunesinagogo lamaJuda khona. 2 Yeke uPowula wangena kilo njengombana bekajayele ukwenza njalo,+ wacocisana nabo ngemiTlolo amasabatha amathathu,+ 3 ahlathulula begodu afakazela ngeenkhombo ukuthi bekutlhogeka bona uKrestu atlhage,+ avuke nakwabafileko,+ athi: “Lo nguye uKrestu, uJesu engimmemezela kini.” 4 Ngebanga lalokho, abanye babo baba makholwa, bazihlanganisa noPowula noSilasi.+ Isiqubuthu esikhulu samaGirigi esilotjha uZimu naso senza njalo, kunye nabafazi abanengi abadumileko.

5 Kodwana amaJuda aba nomona,+ enza isiqhema ngokubuthelela amadoda akhohlakeleko athileko amavila azulazula etatawini lokuthengisela, athoma ukuvusa umguruguru edorobhenelo. Asahlela indlu kaJasoni, afuna ukuthi uPowula noSilasi bakhutjhelwe ngaphandle esiqubuthwini. 6 Azange abafumane, yeke adosela uJasoni nabanye abafowethu ebabusini bedorobho, arhuwelela athi: “Amadoda la abange umguruguru ephasini loke sewakhona nalapha+ 7 begodu uJasoni uwamukele bona abe ziimvakatjhi zakhe. Woke amadoda la aphikisana nemiyalo kaKhesari, athi kunenye ikosi, uJesu.”+ 8 Nabezwa lokho, isiqubuthu nababusi bedorobho barareka; 9 bahlawulisa uJasoni nabanye, ngemva kwalokho babalisa bakhamba.

10 Msinyana bona kurhwaqele, abafowethu bathumela uPowula noSilasi eBheriya. Nabafikako, bangena esinagogeni lamaJuda. 11 Abantu beBheriya bebanomkhumbulo omuhle kunebeThesalonika ngombana bamukela ilizwi ngokuzimisela, bahlolisisa imiTlolo qobe langa ukubona ukuthi zinjalo na izintwezi. 12 Nje-ke, abanengi babo baba makholwa, kunye nabafazi abanengi abamaGirigi abadumileko namanye amadoda. 13 Lokha amaJuda weThesalonika nawezwa bona uPowula umemezela ilizwi lakaZimu neBheriya, eza azokuphehla inturhu esiqubuthwini.+ 14 Msinyana abafowethu bakhambisa uPowula waya ngelwandle+ kodwana uSilasi noThimothi basala lapho. 15 Labo ebebakhamba noPowula bamphekelela bebayomfikisa e-Athene, babuyela emva nasebafumene iinqophiso zokuthi uSilasi noThimothi+ kufuze beze kuPowula msinyana.

16 Njengombana uPowula bekasabalindile e-Athene, wasilingeka emmoyenakhe nakabona ukuthi idorobheli lizele iinthombe. 17 Wathoma ukukhulumisana namaJuda nabanye abantu abalotjha uZimu esinagogeni, qobe langa bekakhuluma nalabo ebekwenzeka babe setatawini lokuthengisela. 18 Kodwana ezinye izazi zefilosofi zama-Ephikuru nezamaSitoyika zathoma ukuphikisana naye, abanye bona bebathi: “Sithini isiqedamlozesi?” Abanye bathi: “Ngathi simemezela abozimu bakwezinye iinarha.” Batjho lokho ngombana bekamemezela iindaba ezimnandi ngoJesu nangokuvuka kwabafileko.+ 19 Nje-ke bamthatha bamusa e-Areyophagusi, bathi: “Akhusitjele ukuthi ithini ifundiso etja le okhuluma ngayo? 20 Ngombana ezinye zezinto ozikhulumako azihlali kuhle eendlebeni zethu, sifuna ukwazi ukuthi zitjho ukuthini.” 21 Kuhlekuhle, woke ama-Athene nabanye abavela kwezinye iindawo abahlala lapho bebasebenzisa isikhathi sabo sokuzigedla bangenzi litho ngaphandle kokukhuluma namkha ukulalela okuthileko okutjha. 22 Nje-ke uPowula wajama phakathi kwe-Areyophagusi+ wathi:

“Madoda we-Athene, ngiyabona ukuthi kizo zoke izinto, nibonakala nisaba abozimu* ukudlula boke abanye abantu.+ 23 Ngokwesibonelo, lokha nangidlulako begodu ngiqalisisa izinto enizilotjhako, ngafumana ne-aldara ebekutlolwe kilo ukuthi, ‘KuZimu Ongaziwako.’ Lokho enikulotjhako nanyana ningakwazi, ngilokho engikumemezela kini. 24 UZimu owenza iphasi nakho koke okukilo, loyo oyiKosi yezulu nephasi,+ akahlali emathempelini enziwe ngezandla;+ 25 namkha alindele bona abantu bamsize kwanga utlhoga okuthileko+ ngombana yena unikela boke abantu ukuphila nokuphefumula+ nazo zoke izinto. 26 Ngomuntu munye+ wenza iintjhaba ezinengi zabantu bona zihlale ephasini loke+ begodu wabeka isikhathi sezinto ezinengi, waziquntela nemikhawulo lapha zizakuhlala khona,+ 27 bona zifune uZimu, zimphumbuthe bezimfumane,+ ngitjho nanyana angasikude komunye nomunye wethu. 28 Ngombana ngaye siyaphila, siyasikinyeka begodu sikhona, ngitjho njengombana nezinye iimbongi zenu zithe, ‘Ngombana nathi sibantwana bakhe.’

29 “Nje-ke, njengombana soke sibantwana bakaZimu,+ akukafuzi sicabange ukuthi uZimu unjengegolide namkha isiliva namkha ilitje, nofana okuthileko okwenziwe ngobukghwari begodu kwatlanywa babantu.+ 30 Kuliqiniso, uZimu uzeqisele amehlo iinkhathi ezinjalo zokungazi+ kodwana nje utjela abantu kuphi nakuphi ukuthi kufuze batjhuguluke. 31 Ngombana ubeke ilanga lapho anqophe ukwahlulela+ loke iphasi ngokulunga ngomuntu amkhethileko, wanikela nesiqinisekiso kibo boke abantu ngokumvusa kwabafileko.”+

32 Nje-ke kuthe nabezwa ngokuvuswa kwabafileko, abanye bathoma ukumnyefula,+ abanye bona bathi: “Sizokuzwa okungeziweko kuwe malungana nendaba le ngesinye isikhathi.” 33 Ngalokho uPowula wasuka kibo 34 kodwana amadoda athileko azihlanganisa naye begodu aba makholwa. Hlangana nawo bekunoDiyonisiyosi, obekangumahluleli wekhotho ye-Areyophagusi, nomfazi obizwa ngokuthi nguDamarisi nabanye ngaphandle kwabo.

18 Ngemva kwalokhu wasuka e-Athene, wafika eKorinte. 2 Wafumana umJuda igama lakhe lingu-Akhwila,+ obelethwa ePontusi, ogade aqeda ukubuya eTariyana nomkakhe uPeresila ngombana uKlawudiyusi walayela woke amaJuda bona akhambe eRoma. Yeke waya kibo 3 ngebanga lokuthi bekenza umsebenzi ofana nowabo, wahlala emzinabo,+ wasebenza nabo ngombana umsebenzabo bekukukwenza amatende. 4 Bekathula ikulumo* esinagogeni+ qobe ngesabatha,+ anikele ubufakazi obukholwekako kumaJuda namaGirigi.

5 Lokha uSilasi+ noThimothi+ nabehla bavela eMasedoniya, uPowula wanikela ngaso soke isikhathi sakhe atjhumayela, afakaza emaJudeni bona kwamambala uJesu nguKrestu.+ 6 Kodwana ngemva kokusolo bamphikisa begodu bakhuluma kumbi, wathintitha izambatho zakhe,+ wathi kibo: “Iingazi zenu azibe seenhloko zenu.+ Ngimsulwa.+ Ukusukela nje ngizokuya ebantwini beentjhaba.”+ 7 Nje-ke wasuka lapho* watjhinga endlini yendoda ebizwa ngokuthi nguTitiyusi Justusi, beyilotjha uZimu, indlwayo beyihlangene nesinagogo. 8 UKrisposi+ umphathi wesinagogo wakholwa eKosini, yena nabo boke bomndenakhe. Nabanengi beKorinte abezwako bathoma ukukholwa, babhajadiswa. 9 Ngaphezu kwalokho, iKosi yathi kuPowula ngombono ebusuku: “Ungasabi kodwana ragela phambili nokukhuluma 10 ngombana nginawe,+ akunamuntu ozokusahlela bona akulimaze ngombana nginabantu abanengi edorobheneli.” 11 Ngalokho wahlala lapho umnyaka neenyanga ezisithandathu, afundisa ilizwi lakaZimu hlangana nabo.

12 Ngesikhathi uGaliyo angundunakulu wesifunda se-Akhaya, amaJuda ahlangana asahlela uPowula, aya naye esihlalweni sokwahlulela, 13 athi: “Umuntu lo ufundisa abantu bona balotjhe uZimu ngendlela ephikisana nomthetho.” 14 UPowula asathi uyakhuluma, uGaliyo wathi emaJudeni: “MaJuda, ngathana kwamambala bekunobumbi namkha ubulelesi obukhulu, bengizokuba nebanga lokunilalela ngesineke. 15 Kodwana nangabe niphikisana ngekulumo, ngamezwi nangomthethwenu,+ nina ngokwenu kufuze nizibonele. Angifuni ukuba ngumahluleli wezintwezi.” 16 Ngalokho wawaqotha esihlalweni sokwahlulela. 17 Nje-ke woke abamba uSosithenesi,+ umphathi wesinagogo, ambetha phambi kwesihlalo sokwahlulela. Kodwana uGaliyo akhenge azibandakanye nakancani ezintwenezi.

18 Nanyana kunjalo, ngemva kokuhlala amalanga amanengi, uPowula walayelisa abafowethu wakhamba ngesikepe waya eSiriya, akhamba noPeresila no-Akhwila. Waphungula iinhluthu zakhe eKhenkreya+ ngombana bekenze isifungo. 19 Nje-ke bafika e-Efesu, yena wabatjhiya lapho wangena esinagogeni wakhulumisana namaJuda.+ 20 Nanyana bebasolo bambawa bona ahlale isikhathi eside, akhenge avume 21 walayelisa, wathi kibo: “Ngizokubuya kini godu nangabe uJehova uyathanda.” Wakhamba ngesikepe elwandle asuka e-Efesu 22 wehlela eKhesariya. Wakhuphuka wayokulotjhisa ibandla,* ngemva kwalokho wehlela e-Anthiyokiya.+

23 Ngemva kokuhlala isikhatjhana lapho, wasuka wakhamba iindawo ngeendawo zenarha yeGalatiya neFrigiya,+ aqinisa boke abafundi.+

24 Nje-ke umJuda othileko igama lakhe lingu-Apholo,+ owabelethelwa e-Alekzandriya, wafika e-Efesu; bekayindoda esikhulumi esihle, ayazi kuhle imiTlolo. 25 Indoda le beyifundiswe ngendlela kaJehova, ikhuthele khulu ngebanga lommoya ocwengileko, beyikhuluma ifundisa ngokunembileko izinto ezimalungana noJesu kodwana beyijayelene kwaphela nebhabhadiso lakaJwanisi. 26 Yathoma ukukhuluma ngesibindi ngesinagogeni, kwathi uPeresila no-Akhwila+ nabayizwako, bayithatha bazibandakanya nayo, bayihlathululela indlela kaZimu ngokunembe khudlwana. 27 Ukungezelela kilokho, ngebanga lokuthi beyifuna ukuyamela nge-Akhaya, abafowethu batlolela abafundi balapho, babakhuthaza bona bayamukele ngomusa. Nje-ke kuthe nayifika lapho, yabasiza khulu labo ebesebamakholwa ngomusa omkhulu kaZimu 28 ngombana tjhatjhalazi nangokuzimisela okukhulu yafakazela ngokunembileko ukuthi amaJuda ayatjhapha, yatjengisa ngokusuka emiTlolweni ukuthi uJesu nguKrestu.+

19 Kuthe lokha u-Apholo+ aseKorinte, uPowula wadlula eemfundeni eziphakathi kwenarha leyo wehlela e-Efesu.+ Lapho wafumana abanye abafundi 2 wathi kibo: “Nawufumana ummoya ocwengileko lokha naniba makholwa na?”+ Bathi kuye: “Akhenge khesizwe nokobana kunommoya ocwengileko.” 3 Yeke wathi: “Alo-ke nabhajadiswa ngaliphi ibhabhadiso?” Bathi: “Ngebhabhadiso lakaJwanisi.”+ 4 UPowula wathi: “UJwanisi wabhabhadisa ngebhabhadiso elilitshwayo lokutjhuguluka,+ atjela abantu ukuthi bakholwe kiloyo oza ngemva kwakhe,+ okunguJesu.” 5 Nabezwa lokhu, babhajadiswa egameni leKosi uJesu. 6 UPowula nakababeka izandla, ummoya ocwengileko wehlela phezu kwabo+ bathoma ukukhuluma ngamanye amalimi begodu baphorofida.+ 7 Baboke bebamadoda angaba li-12.

8 Wangena esinagogeni+ wakhuluma ngesibindi iinyanga ezintathu, athula iinkulumo, akhuluma nangendlela ekholwekako ngomBuso kaZimu.+ 9 Kodwana kwathi abanye nabala ngekani ukukholwa, bakhuluma kumbi ngeNdlela+ phambi kwesiqubuthu, wasuka kibo+ wathatha nabafundi, wethula iinkulumo qobe langa ewolweni lesikolo sakaTiranusi. 10 Lokhu kwaraga iminyaka emibili, ukwenzela bona boke abahlala esifundeni se-Asiya bezwe ilizwi leKosi, kokubili amaJuda namaGirigi.

11 UZimu wasolo enza imisebenzi yamandla engakajayeleki ngezandla zakaPowula+ 12 kangangobana ngitjho amatjhila nezambatho ezithinte umzimbakhe bezisiwa ebantwini abagulako+ baphole, nemimoya emimbi iphume.+ 13 Kodwana amanye amaJuda ebekakhambakhamba lapho aqotha amadimoni nawo alinga ukusebenzisa igama leKosi uJesu kilabo ebebanemimoya emimbi; athi: “Ngegama lakaJesu uPowula atjhumayela ngaye ngikuyala bona uphume.”+ 14 Bekunamadodana alikhomba womphristi omkhulu omJuda igama lakhe linguSikeva ebekenza lokhu. 15 Kodwana ummoya omumbi wawaphendula wathi kiwo: “Ngiyamazi uJesu+ begodu ngimjayele noPowula,+ nina nibobani?” 16 Indoda enommoya omumbi leyo yabeqela, yawahlula ngokulandelana kwawo, yathumba, kangangobana aphuma endlini leyo angakambathi begodu alimele. 17 Woke amaJuda namaGirigi ahlala e-Efesu ezwa ngalokho; afikelwa kukwesaba, igama leKosi uJesu laragela phambi liphazinyuliswa. 18 Abantu abanengi ababa makholwa bebeza bavume izono, babike nezenzo zabo tjhatjhalazi. 19 Abanengi balabo ebebenza imilingo baletha iincwadi zabo bazitjhisa phambi kwawo woke umuntu.+ Babala intengo yazo, kwafumaniseka ukuthi ilingana neenhlavu zesiliva ezizii-50 000. 20 Ilizwi lakaJehova* laragela phambili likhula begodu lithumba ngendlela enamandla.+

21 Ngemva kobana lokhu kwenzekile, uPowula waqunta ukuthi ngemva kokuya eMasedoniya+ ne-Akhaya, uzokuya eJerusalema.+ Wathi: “Nangifika lapho, kufuze ngiyokubona neRoma.”+ 22 Yeke wathumela abasizi bakhe ababili uThimothi+ no-Erasitusi+ eMasedoniya kodwana yena wahlala isikhatjhana esifundeni se-Asiya.

23 Ngesikhatheso kwavuka isiphithiphithi esikhulu+ malungana neNdlela.+ 24 Ngombana indoda ethileko igama layo linguDemetriyusi umenzi wezinto zesiliva, obekenza amathempedlana ka-Aritemisi ngesiliva, bekalethela iinsebenzi zobukghwari inzuzo enengi.+ 25 Wababizela ndawonye kunye nalabo ebebasebenza ngezinto ezinjalo wathi: “Madoda, nazi kuhle ukuthi umnothwethu uvela erhwebeneli. 26 Nje-ke niyazibonela begodu niyazizwela, ingasi e-Efesu+ kwaphela kodwana pheze kiso soke isifunda se-Asiya, ukuthi uPowula lo wenze isiqubuthu esikhulu sakholwa wasiphambukisela komunye umbono, wathi abozimu abenziwe ngezandla abasibozimu bamambala.+ 27 Ngaphezu kwalokho, ingozi ekhona akusikukobana irhwebo lethweli lizokunyefulwa kwaphela kodwana nokuthi ithempeli lakazimukazi omkhulu u-Aritemisi lizokuqalwa njengelingatjho litho, uzimukazi olotjhwa kiso soke isifunda se-Asiya nephasini loke uzokulahlekelwa sithunzi sakhe.” 28 Abantwaba nabezwa lokhu basilingeka khulu, barhuwelela bathi: “Mkhulu u-Aritemisi wama-Efesu!”

29 Idorobho lahlangahlangana, boke bagijimela ethiyetha,* barhudula labo ebebakhamba noPowula uGayusi no-Aristakusi+ beMasedoniya. 30 UPowula bekazimisele ukungena phakathi ebantwini kodwana abafundi akhenge bamvumele. 31 Ngitjho nabanye abahleli beminyanya nemidlalo ebebamthanda bamthumela umlayezo bamrabhela bona angalibhadi ethiyetha. 32 Eqinisweni abanye bebarhuwelela lokhu, abanye barhuwelela okhunye ngombana umhlangano bewunesiphithiphithi begodu abanengi babo bebangazi nokuthi bahlanganeleni. 33 Yeke bakhupha u-Alekzandra esiqubuthwini, amaJuda amsunduzela phambili, u-Alekzandra watjengisa ngesandla sakhe ukuthi ufuna ukuzikhulumela ebantwini. 34 Kodwana nabalemuka ukuthi mJuda, boke bathoma ukurhuwelela kanye kanye pheze ama-iri amabili bathi: “Mkhulu u-Aritemisi wama-Efesu!”

35 Emaswapheleni umphathi wedorobho nasele athulise isiqubuthu wathi: “Bantu be-Efesu, ngubani ebantwini ongaziko ukuthi idorobho le-Efesu limtlhogomeli wethempeli laka-Aritemisi omkhulu nowesithombe esiwe sivela ezulwini? 36 Njengombana izintwezi zingeze zaphikwa, kufuze nehlise ummoya ningenzi izinto ngokurhaba. 37 Ngombana nilethe amadoda la lapha begodu awasibadlelezeli bethempeli namkha abahlambalazi bakazimukazi wethu. 38 Yeke nangabe uDemetriyusi+ neensebenzi zobukghwari ezikunye naye bafuna ukumangalela othileko, amalanga wekhotho nabondunakulu besifunda bakhona; abamangalelane khonapho. 39 Kodwana nanifuna okungaphezu kwalokho, kufuze kuquntwe emhlanganweni ojayelekileko. 40 Sisengozini yokupharwa ngomlandu wokuvukela umbuso ngendaba yanamhlanjesi le njengombana lingekho ibanga esingalibeka lesiqubuthu esihlangahlangenekwesi.” 41 Ngemva kokutjho lokhu, waqeda umhlangano.

20 Kwathi isiphithiphithi nasiphelako, uPowula wathumela bona kuyokubizwa abafundi, wabakhuthaza begodu wabalayelisa, ngemva kwalokho wathoma ikhambo lakhe lokuya eMasedoniya. 2 Ngemva kokudlula eemfundenezo, akhuthaza abakizo ngamezwi amanengi, wafika eGirisi. 3 Wahlala iinyanga ezintathu lapho kodwana ngombana amaJuda+ aluka amano wokumbulala nakasathi uyokukhamba ngesikepe atjhinge eSiriya, waqunta ukubuya ngendlela yeMasedoniya. 4 Bekaphekelelwa nguSopatrosi indodana kaPhuru weBheriya, u-Aristakusi+ noSekhundusi beThesalonika, uGayusi weDerbe, uThimothi+ nabavela esifundeni se-Asiya uThikhikhusi+ noTrofimusi.+ 5 Amadoda la akhamba ngaphambi kwethu asilinda eTrowasi 6 kodwana sakhamba ngesikepe elwandle sisuka eFilipi ngemva kwamalanga woBurotho obunganaSibiliso,+ safika kiwo eTrowasi hlangana namalanga amahlanu, sahlala lapho amalanga alikhomba.

7 Ngelanga lokuthoma leveke nasihlangene ndawonye bona sidle, uPowula wathoma ukukhuluma nabo njengombana bekazokukhamba ngakusasa kwakhona. Wayilula ikulumwakhe bekwaba phakathi kobusuku. 8 Bekuneembani ezinengi ekumbeni engaphezulu ebesihlangene kiyo. 9 Isokana ekuthiwa ngu-Eyutikhusi belihlezi ngefesidereni, labanjwa buthongo obukhulu njengombana uPowula araga nokukhuluma, ubuthongo balihlula, lawela phasi lisuka esitezi sesithathu, ladojwa selihlongakele. 10 Kodwana uPowula wehlela phasi, waziphosa phezu kwalo walisingatha,+ wathi: “Lisani ukubanga isiphithiphithi, ngombana liyaphila.”+ 11 Yeke wakhuphukela phezulu wahlephula uburotho wadla. Waragela phambili akhuluma isikhathi eside bekwaba ngamasa, ngemva kwalokho wakhamba. 12 Nje-ke bathatha umsana lo aphila begodu baduduzeka khulu.

13 Sakhamba ngesikepe saya e-Asosi, lapho besinqophe ukuthatha uPowula khona ngombana bekasinikele iinqophiso zokuthi senze njalo, yena bekafuna ukuya lapho ngeenyawo. 14 Yeke wathi nakahlangana nathi e-Asosi, samkhweza satjhinga eMithileni. 15 Ngelanga elilandelako sakhamba ngesikepe sisuka lapho, safika malungana neKhiyosi kodwana ngelanga elilandela lelo, sajama kancani eSamosi, kwathi ngelanga elilandelako safika eMiletusi. 16 UPowula bekaqunte ukukhamba ngesikepe adlule e-Efesu+ bona angahlali esifundeni se-Asiya ngombana bekarhabele ukufika eJerusalema+ ngelanga lomNyanya wePentekoste nakangakghona.

17 Kodwana nakaseMiletusi wathumela ilizwi e-Efesu bona kubizwe abadala bebandla lakhona. 18 Nabafikako, wathi kibo: “Nazi kuhle ukuthi ngaziphatha njani hlangana nani kusukela ngelanga engafika ngalo esifundeni se-Asiya,+ 19 ngisigqila seKosi ngakho koke ukuzithoba+ nangeenyembezi neenlingo ezangehlela ngebanga lamariyadlhana enziwa maJuda 20 begodu azange ngizaze ukunitjela nanyana yini yezinto eziyinzuzo kini namkha ekunifundiseni tjhatjhalazi+ nendlini ngendlu.+ 21 Kodwana nganikela ubufakazi obupheleleko kokubili emaJudeni nemaGirigini ukuthi kufuze atjhuguluke,+ alotjhe uZimu, akholwe eKosinethu uJesu.+ 22 Nje-ke qalani, ngokukatelelwa mmoya ngiya eJerusalema nanyana ngingazi ukuthi kuzokwenzekani kimi lapho, 23 ngaphandle kokuthi idorobho nedorobho engiya kilo ummoya ocwengileko ulokhu ufakaza kimi, uthi ngilindelwe matshwenyeko nokuvalelwa ejele.+ 24 Nanyana kunjalo, angiqali ukuphila kwami njengokuqakathekileko kimi,* kwaphela nangingaqeda indimami+ nomsebenzi engiwufumene eKosini uJesu, wokunikela ubufakazi obupheleleko ngeendaba ezimnandi zomusa omkhulu kaZimu.

25 “Nje-ke qalani, ngiyazi ukuthi akekho namunye wenu kilabo engitjhumayele umBuso kibo ozokubona ubuso bami godu. 26 Kungebangelo nginibiza bona nizokufakaza namhlanjesi ukuthi ngimsulwa eengazini zabo boke abantu+ 27 ngombana azange ngizaze ukunitjela woke umnqopho kaZimu.*+ 28 Zitjhejeni+ nina nawo woke umhlambi ummoya ocwengileko onibeke hlangana nawo bona nibe batlhogomeli,+ neluse ibandla lakaZimu+ alithenge ngeengazi zeNdodanakhe.+ 29 Ngiyazi ukuthi ngemva kokukhamba kwami kuzokungena iimpisi ezigandelelako hlangana nani+ begodu angekhe ziwuphathe ngomusa umhlambi 30 nokuthi khona hlangana nani kuzakuvela amadoda azokukhuluma izinto ezihlanekelweko bona azidosele abafundi ukuthi bawalandele.+

31 “Hlalani niphapheme, nikhumbule bona iminyaka emithathu yoke,+ ubusuku nemini azange ngilise ukukhuthaza omunye nomunye wenu ngeenyembezi. 32 Nginitjhiya ezandleni zakaZimu nelizwini lomusakhe omkhulu, ilizwi elinganakha begodu liniphe ilifa hlangana nabo boke abacwengisiweko.+ 33 Azange ngifise isiliva namkha igolide namkha isambatho somuntu.+ 34 Nani ngokwenu niyazi ukuthi ngezandlezi ngasebenzela koke engikutlhogako+ nalokho okutlhogwa bakhambisani bami. 35 Nginitjengisile ezintweni zoke bona ngokusebenza budisi ngendlela le,+ kufuze nisize ababogabogako nikhumbule namezwi weKosi uJesu, lokha nayithi: ‘Ukupha+ kuthabisa khulu ukudlula ukwamukela.’”

36 Ngemva kokutjho koke lokhu, waguqa nabo boke wathandaza. 37 Kwaba nesililo esikhulu hlangana nabo boke, basingatha uPowula* begodu bammanga ngethando* 38 ngombana abazwisa ubuhlungu khulu amezwi awatjhwileko wokuthi angekhe basabubona ubuso bakhe.+ Ngemva kwalokho bamphekelela esikepeni.

21 Ngemva kobana sihlukene nabo, satjhinga elwandle sakhamba ngomkhumbi ngokunqophileko safika eKhose, ngelanga elilandelako saya eRodosi, ukusuka lapho saya ePatara. 2 Safumana umkhumbi oya eFunisiya, sawukhwela sakhamba. 3 Sabona isihlengele seSayipurasi ngehlangothini langesinceleni, sadlula saya eSiriya, sahlika eTirosi, lapho umkhumbi bewuzokuhlisa khona umthwalwawo. 4 Safuna abafundi besabafumana, sahlala lapho amalanga alikhomba. Kodwana ngebanga lalokho okwambulwa mmoya ocwengileko, bancenga uPowula bona angalibeki inyawo lakhe eJerusalema.+ 5 Nje-ke nasele isikhathi sethu siphelile lapho sasuka, saraga nekhambo lethu kodwana boke kuhlanganise abafazi nabantwana, basiphekelela besaphuma ngedorobheni. Saguqa magega nelwandle, sathandaza 6 begodu salayelisana. Ngemva kwalokho sakhwela ngemkhunjini, bona babuyela emakhaya.

7 Ngalokho saliqeda ikhambo lethu elisuka eTirosi, safika ePitolemayisi, salotjhisa abafowethu begodu sahlala ilanga linye nabo. 8 Ngelanga elilandelako sakhamba, safika eKhesariya, sangena ngendlini kaFlebhe umvangeli, obekangomunye wamadoda alikhomba,+ sahlala naye. 9 Indoda le beyinamadodakazi amane angakendi* ebewabaphorofidi.+ 10 Ngemva kokuhlala lapho amalanga amanengi, umphorofidi igama lakhe lingu-Agabhusi+ wehla avela eJudiya. 11 Weza kithi, wathatha ibhande lakaPowula, wazibopha ngalo iinyawo nezandla, wathi: “Ngilokhu okutjhiwo mmoya ocwengileko, ‘Umnikazi webhandeli uzokubotjhwa bunjesi maJuda eJerusalema+ begodu bazomnikela ezandleni zabantu beentjhaba.’”+ 12 Nasizwa lokhu, thina nalabo ebebalapho samncenga bona angakhuphukeli eJerusalema. 13 Ngemva kwalokho uPowula wathi: “Nenzani nilila kangaka nidanisa ihliziywami na? Qinisekani ngalokhu, ngikulungele ingasi ukubotjhwa kwaphela kodwana nokufa eJerusalema ngebanga legama leKosi uJesu.”+ 14 Sathi nasibona ukuthi akafuni ukuzwa, sahlamba izandla, sathi: “Intando kaJehova ayenzeke.”

15 Ngemva kwamalanga la sabhincela ikhambo, sangena indlela eya eJerusalema. 16 Abanye babafundi beKhesariya bakhamba nathi, basisa kuMnasoni weSayipurasi, omunye wabafundi bokuthoma ebesizokwamukelwa emzinakhe. 17 Nasifika eJerusalema, abafowethu basamukela ngethabo. 18 Ngelanga elilandelako uPowula waya nathi kuJakopo+ begodu boke abadala bebakhona. 19 Wabalotjhisa, wabanikela imininingwana ezeleko yezinto uZimu azenze ngomsebenzakhe hlangana neentjhaba.

20 Nabezwa lokhu badumisa uZimu bathi kuPowula: “Uyabona mfowethu ukuthi kuneenkulungwana ezinengi kangangani zamakholwa hlangana namaJuda begodu zoke ziyawulalela umThetho.+ 21 Kodwana zizwe amahlebezi ngawe ukuthi bewufundisa woke amaJuda hlangana neentjhaba bona alise* umthetho kaMosi, uwatjela bona angasoki abantwababo namkha alandele isiko elijayelekileko.+ 22 Nje-ke, kufuze kwenziweni ngalokhu? Nanyana kunjani zizokuzwa bonyana ufikile. 23 Yenza lokhu esikutjela khona: Sinamadoda amane enze isifungo. 24 Khamba namadoda la uzihlambulule ngokwesiko wena nawo ubhadalele neendleko zawo bona agude iinhloko zawo. Ngemva kwalokho boke bazokwazi ukuthi akusiliqiniso lokho abakutjelwe ngawe kodwana ukhamba ngokuhlelekileko nokuthi ulalela umThetho.+ 25 Malungana namakholwa avela kwezinye iintjhaba, siwathumele isiqunto sethu ngomtlolo bona atjhide ezintweni ezihlatjelwe iinthombe,+ eengazini,+ eenlwaneni ezikghanyiweko*+ nekuziphatheni kumbi ngokomseme.”*+

26 Yeke uPowula wakhamba namadoda lawo ngakusasa bayokwenza isiko lokuhlanjululwa,+ wangena ngethempelini bona atjho ukuthi azokuphela nini amalanga wokuhlanjululwa ngokwesiko nokuthi kufuze kwenziwe umnikelo womunye nomunye wabo.

27 Nje-ke nasele kuzokuphela amalanga alikhomba, amaJuda we-Asiya nawambona ngethempelini ahlohlozela isiqubuthu soke, ambamba 28 arhuwelela athi: “Madoda wakwa-Israyeli, sizani! Indoda le ngile efundisa woke umuntu yoke indawo okuphambene nabantu bekhethu nomThethwethu nendawo le. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ilethe amaGirigi ethempelini begodu isilaphaze indawo ecwengileko.”+ 29 Ngombana ngaphambilini babona uTrofimusi+ we-Efesu anaye ngedorobheni, bacabanga ukuthi uPowula umngenise ngethempelini. 30 Idorobho loke lahlangahlangana, abantu boke beza bagijima, babamba uPowula, bamdosela ngaphandle kwethempeli, khonokho iminyango yavaleka. 31 Nabasalinga ukumbulala, kwafika ilizwi enduneni yebutho bona iJerusalema loke lihlangahlangene; 32 khonokho yathatha amasotja nabaphathi bamabutho, bagijimela kibo. Kuthe nawabona induna yamabutho namasotja, alisa ukubetha uPowula.

33 Nje-ke induna yamabutho yatjhidela, yamthatha yamvalela, yalayela nokobana abotjhwe ngeenketani ezimbili;+ ngemva kwalokho yabuza ukuthi ungubani nokuthi wenzeni. 34 Kodwana abanye esiqubuthwini bathoma ukurhuwelela batjho okhunye, nabanye barhuwelela batjho okhunye. Yeke ingakghoni ukuzwa okungikho ngebanga lehlangahlangano, yalayela bona alethwe ekampeni yamasotja. 35 Kodwana nakafika eentepisini, kwatlhogeka bona agugwe masotja ngebanga lomguruguru wesiqubuthu 36 ngombana isiqubuthu sabantu besisolo silandela, sirhuwelela sithi: “Mbulaleni!”

37 Kuthe nasele bazomngenisa ngekampeni yamasotja, uPowula wathi enduneni yamabutho: “Ngivumelekile ukutjho okuthileko kuwe na?” Yathi: “Uyasazi isiGirigi? 38 AwusimGibhide loya esikhathini esidlulileko owahlohlozela ukuvukela umbuso, warhola amadoda ahlomileko azii-4 000 waya nawo emmangweni?” 39 UPowula wathi: “Eqinisweni ngimJuda+ weTarsusi+ eSilisiya, isakhamuzi sedorobho elidumileko. Yeke ngibawa ungivumele ngikhulume nabantwaba.” 40 Ngemva kokuthi imnikele imvumo, uPowula ajame eentepisini wathulisa abantu ngesandla sakhe. Kuthe itjhada elikhulu nalithulako, wakhuluma nabo ngesiHebheru,+ wathi:

22 “Madoda, bafowethu, bobaba, lalelani njengombana nginihlathululela okwenzekileko.”+ 2 Nabezwa ukuthi ukhuluma nabo ngesiHebheru, bathula ukudlula ekuthomeni, wathi: 3 “NgimJuda,+ ngabelethelwa eTarsusi yeSilisiya,+ ngafunda edorobheneli eenyaweni zakaGamaliyeli,+ ngafundiswa bona ngiwulalele ngokupheleleko umThetho wabokhokho+ begodu ngatjhisakalela uZimu njengombana nani noke ninjalo namhlanjesi.+ 4 Ngahlunguphaza abalandela iNdlela le ngababangela bona bafe, ngibopha begodu ngidlhunya amadoda nabafazi emajele+ 5 njengombana umphristi ophakemeko nayo yoke ihlangano yabadala bangakufakazela. Ngafumana kibo neencwadi eziya kubafowethu beDamaseku begodu bengisendleleni yokuthatha labo egade balapho ngibase eJerusalema babotjhiwe bona bajeziswe.

6 “Kodwana njengombana ngiraga nekhambo ngitjhidela eDamaseku, pheze emini ekulu, kungakalindeleki kwameruza umkhanyo omkhulu uvela ezulwini wangibhoda,+ 7 ngawela phasi, ngezwa ilizwi lithi kimi: ‘Sawula, Sawula ungihlunguphazelani?’ 8 Ngaphendula ngathi: ‘Ungubani Kosi?’ Yathi kimi: ‘NginguJesu weNazaretha, loyo omhlunguphazako.’ 9 Amadoda ebekanami awubona umkhanyo kodwana akhenge alizwe ilizwi laloyo ebekakhuluma nami. 10 Khonokho ngathi: ‘Kufuze ngenzeni Kosi?’ IKosi yathi kimi: ‘Sikima uye eDamaseku, lapho uzokutjelwa koke okufuze ukwenze.’+ 11 Kodwana njengombana bengingaboni litho ngebanga lomkhanyo omkhulu, ngafika eDamaseku ngibanjwe ngesandla ngilabo ebebanami.

12 “Ngemva kwalokho indoda ekuthiwa ngu-Ananiyasi, indoda ezinikeleko ngokuya ngomThetho nekhulunywa kuhle maJuda woke ahlala lapho, 13 yeza kimi. Yajama hlanu kwami yathi: ‘Sawula, mfowethu, bona godu!’ Khonokho ngavuleka amehlo ngayibona.+ 14 Yathi: ‘UZimu wabokhokho bethu ukukhethile bona wazi intandwakhe nokobana ubone olungileko+ begodu uzwe ilizwi lomlomakhe 15 ngombana uzokuba ngufakazakhe ebantwini boke ngebanga lezinto ozibonileko nozizwileko.+ 16 Alo-ke uriyadelani? Sikima, ubhajadiswe, uhlanze izono zakho+ ngokubiza igama lakhe.’+

17 “Kodwana kuthe sele ngibuyele eJerusalema,+ ngithandaza ngethempelini, ngabona umbono, 18 ngabona iKosi ithi kimi: ‘Rhaba uphume msinyana eJerusalema ngombana angekhe babamukele ubufakazi bakho obumalungana nami.’+ 19 Ngathi kiyo: ‘Kosi, bona ngokwabo bazi kuhle ukuthi bengibopha begodu ngibetha labo abakholwa kuwe+ esinagogeni elinye nelinye; 20 nalokha iingazi zakaStefani ufakazakho ziphalaka, bengijame lapho ngivumelana nakho begodu ngigade izambatho zalabo ebebambulala.’+ 21 Nanyana kunjalo yathi kimi: ‘Khamba, ngombana ngizokuthumela eentjhabeni ezikude khulu.’”+

22 Bamlalela bewatjho ilizwelo. Nje-ke barhuwelela bathi: “Umuntu onje akasuswe ephasini ngombana akakafanelwa kuphila!” 23 Njengombana bebarhuwelela, baphosa izambatho zabo yoke indawo, baphosa nethuli emmoyeni,+ 24 induna yamabutho yayala ukuthi uPowula alethwe ekampeni yamasotja begodu aphenyisiswe ngokubethwa bona izokwazi kuhle ukuthi kubayini bebarhuwelela ngokujamelene noPowula ngalendlela. 25 Kwathi sele bambhambalalisile bona bamrithe, uPowula wathi kumphathi wamabutho obekajame lapho: “Kuyavumelana nomthetho na ukubetha isakhamuzi seRoma singakalahlwa licala?”+ 26 Umphathi wamabutho nakezwa lokho, wakhamba wayokubikela induna yamabutho, wathi: “Unqophe ukwenzani? Phela indoda le sisakhamuzi seRoma.” 27 Yeke induna yamabutho yatjhinga kuye yathi: “Akhungitjele, usisakhamuzi seRoma na?” Wathi: “Iye.” 28 Induna yamabutho yathi: “Ngawathenga ngemali enengi khulu amalungelo wokuba sisakhamuzi.” UPowula wathi: “Mina-ke ngabelethelwa kiwo.”+

29 Khonokho, amadoda ebekazomphenyisisa ngokumhlunguphaza atjhida kuye, induna yamabutho yasaba nayilemuka ukuthi usisakhamuzi seRoma begodu beyimbophe ngamaketani.+

30 Nje-ke ngelanga elilandelako njengombana bekafuna ukwazi ukuthi kuhlekuhle kubayini amaJuda ammangalela, wamtjhaphulula wayala bona kuhlangane abaphristi abakhulu neSanhedrini yoke. Wehlisa uPowula wamjamisa phakathi kwabo.+

23 UPowula aqale iSanhedrini ngokunqophileko wathi: “Madoda, bafowethu, ngiziphethe ngonembeza ohlanzeke ngokupheleleko+ phambi kwakaZimu bekube kunamhlanjesi.” 2 Nakezwa lokho umphristi ophakemeko u-Ananiyasi wayala labo abajame eqadi kwakhe bona bambethe emlonyeni. 3 UPowula wathi kuye: “UZimu uzokubetha wena boda elipendwe laba mhlophe. Uhlezi lapho bona ungahlulele ngokuya ngokomThetho na, khisibe wena uphula umThetho ngokuyala bona ngibetjhwe?” 4 Labo abajame lapho bathi: “Uthuka umphristi ophakemeko kaZimu?” 5 UPowula wathi: “Bafowethu, bengingazi ukuthi mphristi ophakemeko. Ngombana kutloliwe ukuthi, ‘Ungakhulumi kumbi ngombusi wabantu bakho.’”+

6 Nje-ke uPowula azi ukuthi abanye baSadusi nokuthi abanye baFarisi, warhuwelela eSanhedrini wathi: “Madoda, bafowethu ngimFarisi+ indodana yabaFarisi. Ngahlulelwa ngebanga lokuthi nginethemba lokobanyana abafileko bazokuvuka.” 7 Ngokutjho kwakhe lokhu, kwaba nokungavumelani hlangana kwabaFarisi nabaSadusi, umhlangano wahlukana phakathi. 8 Ngombana abaSadusi bathi abafileko angekhe bavuswe, akunangilozi namkha iimbunjwa zommoya kodwana abaFarisi bona bayakuvuma* koke.+ 9 Kwaba netjhada elikhulu, abanye abatloli abangehlangothini labaFarisi basikima bathoma ukuphikisa khulu, bathi: “Asifumani mlandu emuntwini lo kodwana nangabe ummoya namkha ingilozi ikhulume naye—.”+ 10 Kwathi ukuphikisana nakuba kukhulu, induna yamabutho yasaba ukuthi uPowula uzokubulawa, wayala amasotja bona ehle ayomdzwebula phakathi kwabo amlethe ekampeni yamasotja.

11 Ngobusuku obulandelako iKosi yajama eqadi kwakhe yathi: “Yiba nesibindi!+ Njengombana bewunikela ubufakazi obupheleleko ngami eJerusalema, kufanele ufakaze neRoma.”+

12 Kwathi nakusako, amaJuda aluka amano begodu azibopha nangesifungo, athi angekhe adle namkha asele angakambulali uPowula. 13 Bekumadoda angaphezu kwama-40 aluka amano la begodu azibopha ngesifungo. 14 Amadoda la atjhinga ebaphristini abakhulu nabadala athi: “Sizibophe ngesifungo bona singadli litho besibulale uPowula. 15 Nje-ke nina noke neSanhedrini kufuze nitjele induna yamabutho ukuthi imehlisele kini kube ngasuthi nifuna ukuhlolisisa icala lakhe kuhle. Kodwana kuzakuthi ngaphambi kokuthi atjhidele, sizabe sesikulungele ukuqeda ngaye.”

16 Kodwana umtjhana kaPowula wezwa ngeriyadlhanelo, wangena ngekampeni yamasotja wabikela uPowula ngalo. 17 Yeke uPowula wabiza omunye wabaphathi bamabutho wathi kuye: “Thatha isokaneli utjhinge nalo enduneni yamabutho, kunento elifuna ukuyitjela yona.” 18 Walithatha watjhinga nalo enduneni yamabutho wathi: “Isibotjhwa esinguPowula singibizile sangibawa bona ngilethe isokaneli kuwe ngombana kunento elifuna ukukutjela yona.” 19 Induna yamabutho yalibamba ngesandla yalidosela ngeqadi yalibuza yathi: “Ufuna ukungitjelani?” 20 Lathi: “AmaJuda avumelene ngokuthi akubawe bona wehlisele uPowula eSanhedrini kusasa, kube ngasuthi anqophe ukufumana imininingwana engeziweko ngecala lakhe.+ 21 Kodwana ungawavumeli ngombana kunamadoda angaphezu kwama-40 hlangana nawo abhacileko alindele ukumsahlela, azibophe ngesifungo athi angekhe adle namkha asele angakambulali;+ nje alindile, alinde isithembiso esivela kuwe.” 22 Induna yamabutho yalidosa ngendlebe yathi: “Ungathomi utjele muntu ukuthi ungibikele indaba le.” Ngemva kwalokho yalilisa lakhamba.

23 Yeke yabiza abaphathi bamabutho ababili yathi kibo: “Lungisani amasotja ama-200 bona amatjhe atjhinge eKhesariya nge-iri lethoba ebusuku,* godu namasotja akhamba ngeenjomani ezima-70 kunye namasotja aphatha isabula ama-200. 24 Ninikele noPowula iinjomani bona akhambe ngazo, afike aphephile kuFeliksi umbusi.” 25 Yatlola nencwadi ethi:

26 “Ivela kuKlawudiyusi Lisiya iya kuMhlonitjhwa, uMbusi uFeliksi: Lotjhani! 27 Indoda le yabanjwa maJuda begodu besele azoyibulala, ngafika msinyana namasotjami sayihlenga+ ngombana ngizwe ukuthi isisakhamuzi seRoma.+ 28 Ngayehlisela ngeSanhedrini yawo+ ngombana ngifuna ukwazi ukuthi ayimangalela ngani. 29 Ngafumana ukuthi imangalelwa ngemibuzo ephathelene nomThethwawo+ kodwana ayikho nayinye into emangalelwa ngayo eyenza ifanelwe kukufa namkha kuvalelwa ngejele. 30 Ngebanga lokuthi ngitjelwe+ ngeriyadlhana lokubulala indoda le, ngiyithumela kuwe msinyana begodu ngiyala abamangaleli bayo bona bazokukhuluma phambi kwakho ngokujamelene nayo.”

31 Nje-ke amasotja la athatha uPowula+ ngokuvumelana neenqophiso azifumeneko afika naye e-Antipatrisi ebusuku. 32 Ngelanga elilandelako avumela amasotja akhamba ngeenjomani bona arage naye kodwana wona abuyela ekampeni yamasotja. 33 Amasotja akhamba ngeenjomani angena eKhesariya anikela umbusi incwadi begodu aletha uPowula kuye. 34 Wayifunda wabuza nokuthi uvela kisiphi isifunda, wafumana ukuthi uvela eSilisiya.+ 35 Wathi: “Ngizokulalela kuhle nakufika abamangaleli bakho.”+ Wayala bona ahlale agadiwe ngesigodlweni sakaHerode.

24 Ngemva kwamalanga amahlanu umphristi ophakemeko u-Ananiyasi+ weza wehla nabanye abadala nomjameli wekhotho igama lakhe kunguTertulusi, babeka indababo malungana nokumangalela kwabo uPowula embusini.+ 2 Nakabizwako, uTertulusi wammangalela, wathi:

“Siyakuthokoza ngombana siphila ngokuthula ngebanga lokuthi ubusa ngokuhlakanipha begodu nesitjhaba sithuthuke khulu, 3 ngaso soke isikhathi nakizo zoke iindawo sikwamukele lokhu, ngokuthokoza okukhulu Mhlonitjhwa Feliksi. 4 Kodwana bona ngingakuriyadisi khulu, ngomusakho ngibawa usilalele kafitjhazana. 5 Umuntu lo simfumene alitshwenyo,*+ aphehla ukuvukela umbuso+ phakathi kwawo woke amaJuda ephasini loke begodu udosa phambili isiqhema samaNazaretha.+ 6 Ulinge nokuhlambalaza ithempeli, ngalokho sambamba.+ 7 *—— 8 Nawe nawumhlolisisako uzozifumana zoke izintwezi esimmangalela ngazo.”

9 AmaJuda nawo ahlanganyela ekusahlelenokhu, athi izintwezi ziliqiniso. 10 Umbusi wakhomba uPowula ngehloko bona akhulume, waphendula wathi:

“Njengombana ngazi kuhle ukuthi ube mumahluleli wesitjhabesi iminyaka eminengi, ngikulungele ukukhuluma bona ngizivikele.+ 11 Njengombana nawe ungakuqinisekisa lokhu, akukadluli amalanga ali-12 ngikhuphukele eJerusalema+ ngiyokulotjha uZimu; 12 akhenge bangifumane ngiphikisana nomuntu ngethempelini namkha ngiphehla inturhu hlangana nesiqubuthu emasinagogeni namkha kilo loke idorobho. 13 Angekhe bakulethela nobufakazi bezinto abangimangalela ngazo njenganje. 14 Kodwana ngiyavuma kuwe ukuthi ngokuvumelana nendlela abayibiza ngokuthi siqhema, ngenzela uZimu wabokhokho bami+ umsebenzi ocwengileko njengombana ngikholwa zoke izinto ezitlolwe emThethweni nezitlolwe baPhorofidi.+ 15 Nginethemba kuZimu, okulithemba nabantwaba abanalo lokuthi kuzokuvuswa abafileko,+ abalungileko nabangakalungi.+ 16 Ngebanga lalokhu ngihlala ngilwela ukuba nonembeza ohlwengileko* phambi kwakaZimu nabantu.+ 17 Nje-ke ngemva kweminyaka eminengi, ngafika ngizokuletha izipho zomusa+ esitjhabeni sekhethu nokuthi ngenze iminikelo. 18 Nangisatjheja indaba le, bangifumene ngihlambulukile ngokwesiko ngethempelini+ kodwana ngingasisesiqubuthwini namkha ngibanga ihlangahlangano. Bekunamanye amaJuda avela esifundeni se-Asiya 19 ebekufuze abe khona phambi kwakho bona angimangalele nangabe kwamambala kunento angisola ngayo.+ 20 Namkha vumela amadoda alapha bona atjho ukuthi ngibuphi ubumbi abufumeneko njengombana bengijame phambi kweSanhedrini, 21 ngaphandle kwento yinye le engiyirhuwelele ngesikhathi ngijame hlangana nawo: ‘Ngahlulelwa+ ngebanga lokuthi ngikholelwa bona abafileko bazokuvuswa!’”

22 Nanyana kunjalo, uFeliksi azi kuhle ngamaqiniso amalungana neNdlela le,+ wabakhambisa wathi: “ULisiya induna yamabutho nakezako, ngizokwenza isiqunto malungana nendabakho le.” 23 Wanikela umphathi wamabutho imiyalo yokobana umuntu lo ahlale avalelwe kodwana anikelwe itjhaphuluko ethileko nokuthi abantu bakhe bavunyelwe ukumtjheja ngezinto azitlhogako.

24 Ngemva kwamalanga athileko uFeliksi weza noDrusila umkakhe, obekamJuda, wathumela bona kubizwe uPowula, wamlalela nakakhuluma ngokukholelwa kuKrestu Jesu.+ 25 Kodwana uPowula nakasakhuluma ngokulunga, ukuzibamba nangesahlulelo esizako+ uFeliksi wathukwa, wathi: “Khamba okwanje kodwana nangifumana ithuba ngizokuthi ubizwe godu.” 26 Ngesikhathi esifanako bekanethemba lokuthi uPowula uzomnikela imali. Ngebanga lalokho, wathumela bona abizwe kanengi begodu wakhuluma naye. 27 Nasele kuphele iminyaka emibili, uFeliksi walandelwa nguPorkiyusi Festusi ngebanga lokuthi uFeliksi bekafuna ukuthandwa maJuda,+ walisa uPowula avalelwe.

25 Kuthe bona uFestusi+ afike esifundeneso begodu alawula, ngemva kwamalanga amathathu wakhuphukela eJerusalema asuka eKhesariya. 2 Abaphristi abakhulu namadoda adumileko wamaJuda amnikela imininingwana esola uPowula.+ Nje-ke bathoma ukurabhela uFestusi 3 bona abenzele umusa athumele ilizwi lokuthi uPowula alethwe eJerusalema. Kodwana bebahlele ukusahlela uPowula bambulale ngokubhaca bamlinde endleleni.+ 4 UFestusi wathi uPowula kufuze ahlale eKhesariya nokuthi naye uzokubuyela khona msinyana. 5 Wathi: “Abarholi benu abehle nami bazommangalela, nangabe eqinisweni kukhona okumbi akwenzileko.”+

6 Kuthe sekahlezi nabo amalanga angadluli abunane namkha alitjhumi, wehlela eKhesariya, ngelanga elilandelako wahlala esihlalweni sokwahlulela wayala bona kungeniswe uPowula. 7 Nakangenako, amaJuda ehle avela eJerusalema ajama ambungelela, ambeka imilandu eminengi emimbi ebewangakghoni nokuyifakazela.+

8 Kodwana uPowula nakazivikelako wathi: “Angikenzi isono+ malungana nomThetho wamaJuda namkha malungana nethempeli namkha kuKhesari.” 9 UFestusi afuna ukuthandwa maJuda,+ wathi kuPowula: “Kghani ufisa ukukhuphukela eJerusalema bona wahlulelwe lapho phambi kwami malungana nezintwezi?” 10 UPowula wathi: “Ngijame phambi kwesihlalo sokwahlulela sakaKhesari, lapho kufuze ngahlulelwe khona. Angikenzi litho elimbi emaJudeni njengombana nawe ukubona kuhle lokho. 11 Nangabe kwamambala ngimumenzi wokumbi begodu ngenze into eyenza ngifanelwe kukufa,+ angibawi bona ngingafi kodwana nangabe akunabufakazi bezinto abantwaba abangimangalela ngazo, akunamuntu onelungelo lokungisa kibo bona abathabise. Ngidlulisela icala kuKhesari!”+ 12 Nje-ke uFestusi ngemva kokukhuluma nehlangano yabeluleki, waphendula wathi: “Udlulisele icala kuKhesari, uzakuya kuKhesari.”

13 Ngemva kobana kudlule amalangana, ikosi u-Agripa noBherinike bafika eKhesariya bazokuhlonipha uFestusi. 14 Njengombana besele banamalangana balapho, uFestusi watjela ikosi ngendaba kaPowula, wathi:

“Kunendoda ethileko esibotjhwa eyatjhiywa nguFeliksi, 15 lokha nangiseJerusalema abaphristi abakhulu nabadala bamaJuda baletha imininingwana ngayo,+ babawa bona ithweswe umlandu. 16 Kodwana ngathi kibo akusiyikambiso yamaRoma ukunikela umuntu ukuze uthabise abanye ngaphambi kobana omangalelwako ahlangane ubuso nobuso nabamangaleli bakhe afumane nethuba lokukhuluma azivikele malungana namangalelwa ngakho.+ 17 Nabafika lapha akhenge ngiriyade kodwana ngelanga elilandelako ngahlala esihlalweni sokwahlulela ngayala bona indoda le ingeniswe. 18 Abamangalelabo nabasikimako, akhenge bamangalele ngananyana yini embi ebengiyilindele malungana naye.+ 19 Abakubekako bekumane kukuphikisana okuthileko ngekolwabo+ namalungana nendoda igama layo kunguJesu, owafa kodwana uPowula asolo athi uyaphila.+ 20 Ngingazi ukuthi ngizoyirarulula njani indaba le, ngambuza ukuthi angathanda na ukuya eJerusalema ayokwahlulelwa lapho malungana neendabezi.+ 21 Kodwana uPowula wabawa ukuhlala ejele alindele isiqunto sakaNdabezitha,+ yeke ngayala bona ahlale lapho bekube kulapho ngimthumela kuKhesari.”

22 U-Agripa wathi kuFestusi: “Ngingakuthabela ukuzizwela indoda leyo.”+ Wathi, “Kusasa uzoyizwa.” 23 Ngelanga elilandelako u-Agripa noBherinike beza ngokubukisa okukhulu bangena ngekhotho kunye neenduna zamabutho namadoda aveleleko edorobheni, uFestusi wanikela umyalo, uPowula wangeniswa. 24 UFestusi wathi: “Kosi Agripa nani noke enikhona la, nasi indoda le soke isitjhaba samaJuda esingibawe eJerusalema nalapha, sirhuwelela bona ayikafanelwa kuphila.+ 25 Kodwana ngabona ukuthi ayikenzi litho eliyenza ifanelwe kukufa.+ Nje-ke indoda le nayidlulisela icala kuNdabezitha, ngaqunta ukuyithumela khona. 26 Kodwana anginalitho engingalitlolela iKosami ngayo. Yeke ngiyilethe phambi kwenu noke, khulukhulu phambi kwakho Kosi Agripa bona ngemva kobana kwenziwe ukuhlolisisa kokwahlulela, ngingaba nokuthileko engingakutlola. 27 Ngombana ngibona kungazwisiseki ukuthi ngithumele isibotjhwa kodwana ngingatjengisi nokuthi simangalelwa ngani.”

26 U-Agripa+ wathi kuPowula: “Uvunyelwe ukuthi ungazikhulumela.” Nje-ke uPowula wathabulula isandla sakhe wathoma ukuzivikela wathi:

2 “Kosi Agripa, malungana nazo zoke izinto amaJuda+ angimangalela ngazo, ngiyathaba ukuthi ngizozivikela phambi kwakho namhlanjesi, 3 khulukhulu ngombana usisazi sawo woke amasiko neempikiswano zamaJuda. Yeke, ngiyakurabhela bona ungilalele ngesineke.

4 “Ipilo ebengiyiphila kusukela ebutjheni hlangana nabantu bekhethu* neJerusalema yaziwa kuhle ngiwo woke amaJuda+ 5 ebewajayelene nami phambilini, angafakaza nawathandako bengimFarisi,+ okusiqhema sekolwethu esikakarela emthethweni ukuzidlula zoke.+ 6 Kodwana ngethemba lesithembiso esenziwa nguZimu kibokhokho bethu,+ ngijame lapha bona ngigwetjwe 7 lesi sithembiso esifanako iintjhaba zekhethu ezili-12 ezinethemba lokusibona sizaliseka ngokumenzela umsebenzi ocwengileko ngekuthalo ubusuku nemini. Kosi, amaJuda+ angimangalela malungana nethembeli.

8 “Kubayini nicabanga* bona akukholweki ukuthi uZimu uyabavusa abafileko? 9 Nakungimi-ke bengiqiniseka ukuthi kufuze ngenze izenzo ezinengi zokuphikisa igama lakaJesu umNazaretha. 10 Ngilokho engakwenza eJerusalema, ngavalela abanengi babacwengileko emajele+ ngombana ngafumana imvumo ebaphristini abakhulu,+ nakufanele bagwetjelwe ukufa bengivowuda ngisekele lokho. 11 Ngokubajezisa kanengi emasinagogeni woke, ngalinga ukubakatelela bona baphike ikolwabo; godu njengombana bengibathukuthelele khulu, ngatjhinga nemadorobheni angaphandle ngiyobahlunguphaza.

12 “Ngithe ngisenza lokho njengombana ngitjhinga eDamaseku ngemvumo nangokuyalwa engikufumene ebaphristini abakhulu, 13 Kosi, emini ekulu endleleni ngabona ukukhanya okudlula ukukhanya kwelanga kumeruza kuvela ezulwini kungibhodile, kubhode nalabo engikhamba nabo.+ 14 Soke sawela phasi, ngemva kwalokho ngezwa ilizwi ngesiHebheru lithi: ‘Sawula, Sawula, ungihlunguphazelani na? Ukusolo urarha itlobo yesitlhorhorojakomo kwenza kube budisi kuwe.’ 15 Kodwana ngathi: ‘Ungubani Kosi?’ IKosi yathi: ‘NginguJesu, omhlunguphazako. 16 Kodwana sikima ujame ngeenyawo zakho. Nanti ibanga elenza ngibonakale kuwe, kukobana ngikukhethe ube sisebenzi nofakazi wezinto ozibonileko nezinto engizokwenza uzibone malungana nami.+ 17 Ngizokuhlangula ebantwinaba neentjhabeni engikuthumela kizo+ 18 bona uvule amehlwabo,+ ubakhuphe ebumnyameni+ baye ekukhanyeni,+ ubakhuphe emandleni kaSathana+ baye kuZimu, khona bazakufumana ukulitjalelwa kwezono+ nelifa lalabo abacwengiswe ngokukholwa kwabo kimi.’

19 “Nje-ke, Kosi Agripa, ngawulalela umbono wezulwini lowo, 20 ngasa umlayezo kokuthoma kilabo abaseDamaseku+ bese ngatjhinga kilabo abaseJerusalema+ nenarheni yeJudiya yoke, ukuthi kufuze batjhuguluke begodu balotjhe uZimu ngokwenza imisebenzi efanele ukutjhuguluka.+ 21 Kungakho amaJuda angibamba ngethempelini alinga ukungibulala.+ 22 Kodwana ngesizo elivela kuZimu ngisaraga bekube namhlanjesi ngifakaza kwabancani nabakhulu, ngingakhulumi okhunye ngaphandle kwalokho abaPhorofidi noMosi abathi kuzokwenzeka,+ 23 ukuthi uKrestu uzokutlhaga+ nokuthi njengombana angowokuthoma ukuvuswa kwabafileko,+ bekazokumemezela ukukhanya ebantwinaba nakwezinye iintjhaba.”+

24 Njengombana uPowula atjho izintwezi azivikela, uFestusi warhuwelela ngelizwi elikhulu wathi: “Uyahlanya Powula! Ukufunda khulu kuyakuhlanyisa!” 25 Kodwana uPowula wathi: “Angihlanyi Mhlonitjhwa Festusi kodwana ngikhuluma amezwi weqiniso nanengqondo. 26 Eqinisweni, ikosi engikhuluma nayo ngokutjhaphulukileko izazi kuhle izintwezi, ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi ayikho nayinye yazo engayaziko ngombana akukho nakunye okwenzeke erhorhomejeni.+ 27 Kosi Agripa, uyabakholwa abaPhorofidi na? Ngiyazi ukuthi uyabakholwa.” 28 Kodwana u-Agripa wathi kuPowula: “Ngesikhatjhana esincani ungangenza ngikholwe, ngibe mKrestu.” 29 UPowula waphendula wathi: “Ngifisa kuZimu ukuthi nanyana kungaba sikhatjhana namkha sikhathi eside, kungabi nguwe kwaphela ongilalelako namhlanjesi kodwana nabo boke abantwaba nibe babantu abanjengami, ningabotjhwa ngamaketani wejele la.”

30 Nje-ke ikosi yasikima nombusi kunye noBherinike nabo boke abantu ebebahlezi nabo. 31 Kodwana njengombana bakhamba, bathoma ukuthi komunye nomunye: “Indoda le ayenzi litho eyenza ifanelwe kukufa namkha kuvalelwa ngejele.”+ 32 U-Agripa wathi kuFestusi: “Indoda le ngathana yatjhatjhululwa ukube akhenge idlulisele icala kuKhesari.”+

27 Njengombana besiquntelwe ukuthi sikhambe ngomkhumbi siye eTariyana,+ basa uPowula nezinye iimbotjhwa emphathini wamabutho igama lakhe kunguJuliyasi wesiqhema saka-Arhostosi. 2 Sakhwela umkhumbi ovela e-Adramitheno ebewuzokuya emadoyelweni weenkepe amagega nelwandle esifundeni se-Asiya, sakhamba, besino-Aristakusi+ umMasedoniya weThesalonika. 3 Ngelanga elilandelako safika eSidoni, uJuliyasi waphatha uPowula ngomusa, wamvumela nokuthi akhambe ayokubona abangani bakhe bona bamtlhogomele.

4 Sathatha ikhambo lelwandle, ukusuka lapho sakhamba ngomkhumbi sivikelwe eSayipurasi ngombana ummoya bewuphikisana nathi. 5 Ngemva kwalokho sakhamba ngomkhumbi ngelwandle magega neSilisiya nePhamfiliya, sajama edoyelweni leenkepe eMira eLisiya. 6 Lapho umphathi wamabutho wafumana umkhumbi ovela e-Alekzandriya otjhinga eTariyana, wasikhweza ngakiwo. 7 Nje-ke ngemva kokukhamba ngomkhumbi kabuthaka amalanga amanengi, safika budisi eKinidosi. Ngombana umoya akhenge usivumele bona siragele phambili, sathaya ngaphasi kwesivikelo seKrete malungana neSalimoni. 8 Sakhamba budisi ngomkhumbi magega neligu, safika endaweni ebizwa ngokuthi maTheku Amahle, ebeyihlanu kwedorobho leLaseya.

9 Besele kudlule isikhathi eside begodu ngesikhathesi bekuyingozi ukukhamba ngomkhumbi ngombana nokuzila ukudla kweLanga lokuLitjalelwa kweZono+ besekudlulile, yeke uPowula wenza isiphakamiso 10 wathi kibo: “Madoda, ngiyabona ukuthi ikhambweli lizokubanga umonakalo nokulahlekelwa okukhulu ingasi kwepahla nomkhumbi kwaphela kodwana nokuphila kwethu.” 11 Nanyana kunjalo, umphathi wamabutho walalela umtjhayeli womkhumbi nomnikazi womkhumbi kunalokho okutjhiwo nguPowula. 12 Njengombana ithekwelo belingasisebujamweni obufanele ubusika, inengi lathi kungcono sikhambe, kusukwe lapho ukuze babone ukuthi kungakghoneka na ukufika eFinikisi kuhlalwe ubusika khona, okulitheku leKrete elivulekele ngetlhagwini pumalanga nangesewula pumalanga.

13 Kuthe umoya wesewula nawubetha kabuthaka, bazitjela ukuthi bangafika lapho banqophe ukuya khona, baphakamisa i-ankera* bathoma ukukhamba magega neKrete hlanu kweligu. 14 Nanyana kunjalo, ngemva kwesikhatjhana, kwavunguza umoya onamandla obizwa ngokuthi yi-Ewurakiloni.* 15 Njengombana umkhumbi bewubanjwe mumoya omkhulu begodu ungakghoni ukuya phambili uhlule umoya, saziliselela bona silawulwe mumoya. 16 Nje-ke safika ebujamweni lapho isihlengele esithileko esibizwa ngokuthi yiKhawuda sisivikela khona emoyeni, nanyana kunjalo sapheze sabhalelwa kulawula isiketjana ebesingemva komkhumbi. 17 Kodwana ngemva kokusikhweza, basibophelela emkhunjini, godu basaba ukuthi bazokubhajwa eSiritisi,* behlisa iinlawulamkhumbi, baziliselela bona balawulwe mumoya. 18 Ngebanga lokuthi besiphetjhulwa kabuhlungu siwuruwuru esinamandla, ngelanga elilandelako bathoma ukuphungula eminye yemithwalo bona benze umkhumbi ube lula. 19 Ngelanga lesithathu, balahla izinto ezisetjenziswa ngemkhunjini.

20 Kuthe nakungaveli ilanga namkha iinkwekwezi amalanga amanengi begodu sibethwa siwuruwuru esikhulu, loke ithemba lethu lokuthi singasinda lafadalala. 21 Ngemva kokuthi bakhambe isikhathi eside bangakadli uPowula wajama phakathi kwabo wathi: “Madoda, ngathana nalalela iseluleko sami nangasuki eKrete, bengekhe niqalane nemiphumela le yokonakalelwa nokulahlekelwa.+ 22 Nanyana kunjalo, nginikhuthaza bona nibe nesibindi ngombana akakho namunye wenu ozokufa, mkhumbi kwaphela ozokutjhabalala. 23 Ebusukwinobu ingilozi+ kaZimu engimlotjhako nengimenzela umsebenzi ocwengileko ijame hlanu kwami 24 yathi: ‘Ungasabi Powula. Kufuze ujame phambi kwakaKhesari,+ uZimu ukunikele boke labo abakhamba nawe.’ 25 Yibani nesibindi madoda ngombana ngiyamkholwa uZimu ukuthi kuzokwenzeka njengombana ngitjeliwe. 26 Kodwana kufuze siphukelwe mkhumbi esihlengeleni esithileko.”+

27 Nje-ke njengombana kufika ubusuku be-14 siselwandle begodu sisolo siphetjhulwa magagasi weLwandle le-Adriya, phakathi nobusuku iinsebenzi zemkhunjini zathoma ukusola ukuthi ngathi sitjhidela enarheni ethileko. 28 Zalinganisa ukutjhinga kwelwandle, zalifumana limamitha angaba ma-36, zaragela phambili ibangana, godu zalinganisa ukutjhinga zalifumana limamitha angaba ma-27. 29 Zasaba ukuthi umkhumbi ungahle ubhajwe emadwaleni, zaphosela ngaphandle ama-ankera amane angemva komkhumbi, zakhanuka kwanga kungasa. 30 Kodwana zalinga ukweqa ngemkhunjini, yeke zehlisela isiketjana ngelwandle zenza ngasuthi zifuna ukwehlisa ama-ankera angaphambili, 31 uPowula wathi kumphathi wamabutho nemasotjeni: “Ngaphandle kokuthi amadoda la ahlale ngemkhunjini, angekhe nisindiswe.”+ 32 Nje-ke amasotja aqunta iintambo zesiketjana asilisa sawa.

33 Nasele kuzokusa uPowula wabakhuthaza boke bona badle okuthileko, wathi: “Namhlanjesi lilanga le-14 nilinde ngabomvu begodu anikadli litho. 34 Nje-ke nginikhuthaza bona nidle okuthileko; lokhu kuzokusiza nina ngombana akunasihluthu sananyana ngimuphi wenu esizokutjhabalala.” 35 Ngemva kokutjho lokhu wathatha uburotho, wathokoza uZimu phambi kwabo boke wabuhlephula, wadla. 36 Nje-ke boke baba nesibindi, badla. 37 Sisoke besibabantu abama-276* ngemkhunjini. 38 Ngemva kokudla basutha, benza umkhumbi waba bulula ngokulahlela ikoroyi ngelwandle.+

39 Nakuphuma ilanga akhenge bayazi indawo leyo+ kodwana babona itheku elineligu bazimisela ukusa umkhumbi lapho nakukghonekako. 40 Yeke basika ama-ankera bawalisa awela ngelwandle, kwathi khonokho batjhaphulula neentambo ebezibambe amaphini wokunqophisa umkhumbi, ngemva kokukhuphula iseyila encani engaphambili bayiqalisa emoyeni, baya eligwini. 41 Kuthe nabatjhayisa indunduma yehlabathi emahlangothi woke welwandle, umkhumbi wabhajwa begodu ipumulwawo yabambeka yabhalelwa nakutjhida kodwana umsilawo waphulwa magagasi waba ziinquqwana.+ 42 Ngalokhu amasotja aqunta ukubulala iimbotjhwa bona kungabi namuntu ozokududa abaleke. 43 Kodwana umphathi wamabutho bekafuna ukusindisa uPowula begodu wawavimba bona angarageli phambili nalokho ebewakuhlelile. Wayala kokuthoma labo abakghona ukududa beqele ngelwandle badudele ngenarheni 44 nokuthi boke abanye bazakulandela, abanye bazakuthaya ngamapulanka bese abanye ngeenquqwana zomkhumbi. Ngalokho boke bafika baphephile ngenarheni.+

28 Ngemva kobana sisindile, sezwa bona isihlengelesi sibizwa ngokuthi yiMalta.+ 2 Abantu bakhona abakhuluma elinye ilimi baba nomusa* khulu kithi. Babasa umlilo basamukela soke ngomusa ngombana izulu belina begodu kumakhaza. 3 UPowula wabuthelela iinkuni wazibeka phezu komlilo kodwana kwaphuma inyoka enetjhefu ngebanga lomtjhiso yazitantela esandleni sakhe. 4 Abantu abakhuluma elinye ilimi nababona inyoka enetjhefu ilengelele esandleni sakhe, bathoma ukuthi komunye nomunye: “Kwamambala indoda le imbulali, nanyana isindile elwandle, uBulungiswa* akhenge buyivumele irage nokuphila.” 5 Wathintithela inyoka leyo emlilweni, nanyana beyimlumile akhenge imlimaze. 6 Kodwana bebalindele ukumbona avuvuka namkha afe khonokho. Ngemva kokulinda isikhathi eside babona ukuthi akunalitho elimbi elenzekako kuye, batjhugulula imikhumbulwabo bathoma ukuthi unguzimu.

7 Nje-ke eduze nendawo leyo bekunamasimu wombusi wesihlengeleso, igama lakhe kunguPhubhliyusi, wasamukela begodu wasitlhogomela ngomusa sahlala lapho amalanga amathathu. 8 Uyise kaPhubhliyusi bekagula alele aphethwe mgomani nendeni ebovu, uPowula waya kuye wathandaza, wambeka izandla, wamlapha.+ 9 Ngemva kobana kwenzeke lokhu, boke abantu besihlengelenesi ebebagula nabo beza kuye balatjhwa.+ 10 Basithokoza nangezipho ezinengi, nasele sizokuthaya, basipha nanyana yini ebesiyitlhoga.

11 Ngemva kweenyanga ezintathu sakhamba ngomkhumbi onetshwayo elithi “Amadodana kaZewusi.” Umkhumbi loyo bewuvela e-Alekzandriya begodu bewuhlezi ubusika boke esihlengeleneso. 12 Safika edoyelweni leenkepe eSirakusa, sahlala lapho amalanga amathathu 13 sakhamba besayokufika eRegiyoni. Ngemva kwelanga linye kwavunguza umoya uvela esewula, safika ePhothiyoli ngelanga lesibili. 14 Safumana abafowethu basincenga bona sihlale nabo amalanga alikhomba, ngemva kwalokho saya tjhuba langeRoma. 15 Abafowethu balapho nabezwa ngathi, beza bazosihlangabeza eTatawini lokuthengisela laka-Apiyusi neendaweni zokudlela nokuphumula ezibizwa ngokuthi ziziNdlu Ezintathu. UPowula nakababonako wathokoza uZimu begodu waba nesibindi.+ 16 Ekugcineni nasingena eRoma, uPowula wavunyelwa ukuhlala yedwa nesotja elimgadileko.

17 Ngemva kwamalanga amathathu wabizela ndawonye ababusi bamaJuda. Kuthe nasele babuthene, wathi kibo: “Madoda, bafowethu, nanyana ngingakenzi litho elimbi ebantwini nemasikweni wabokhokho bethu,+ ngabotjhwa eJerusalema nganikelwa ezandleni zamaRoma.+ 18 Ngemva kokuphenyisisa,+ bafuna ukungitjhaphulula ngombana bewangekho amabanga wokungibulala.+ 19 Kodwana kuthe lokha amaJuda nawakuphikisako lokho, ngakateleleka bona ngidlulisele icala kuKhesari+ kodwana ingasi ngombana bengifuna ukumangalela isitjhaba sekhethu. 20 Yeke kungebangeli ngibawe ukunibona nokukhuluma nani, ngibotjhwe ngeketani le+ ngebanga lethemba laka-Israyeli.” 21 Bathi kuye: “Asikafumani iincwadi ezikhuluma ngawe ezivela eJudiya namkha omunye wabafowethu ovela lapho azosibikela namkha akhulume nanyana yini embi ngawe. 22 Kodwana sibona kufaneleka ukuzwa kuwe bona ucabangani ngombana malungana nesiqhemesi,+ siyazi ukuthi sikhulunywa kumbi kiyo yoke indawo.”+

23 Nje-ke bahlela ilanga bona bahlangane naye begodu beza babanengi khulu endaweni ahlala kiyo. Kusukela ekuseni bekube sebusuku wabahlathululela indaba le anikela ubufakazi obupheleleko malungana nomBuso kaZimu, wabenza bakholwa kuJesu+ asebenzisa umThetho kaMosi+ nabaPhorofidi.+ 24 Abanye bathoma ukuzikholwa izinto azitjhoko; abanye bebangazikholwa. 25 Ngombana bebaphikisana bodwa, bathoma ukukhamba, uPowula wathi:

“Ummoya ocwengileko wakhuluma kufanele ngomphorofidi u-Isaya kibokhokho benu, 26 uthi, ‘Khamba uye ebantwinaba uthi: “Kwamambala nizokuzwa kodwana angekhe nizwisise, nizokuqala kodwana angekhe nibone.+ 27 Ngombana iinhliziyo zabantwaba ziqinile begodu bazwile ngeendlebe zabo kodwana akhenge basabele, bavale amehlwabo bona bangaboni, bangezwa litho ngeendlebe zabo, bangazwisisi ngeenhliziyo zabo begodu batjhuguluke ngibalaphe.”’+ 28 Nje-ke akwazeke kini ukuthi isindiso evela kuZimu le seyithunyelwe eentjhabeni;+ kwamambala zizoyilalela.”+ 29 *——

30 Wahlala endlini ayiqatjhileko+ iminyaka emibili yoke begodu bekabamukela ngomusa boke ebebeza kuye, 31 atjhumayela kibo ngomBuso kaZimu, abafundisa ngeKosi uJesu Krestu ngesibindi esikhulu,*+ ngaphandle kokuthikanyezwa.