IZenzo Zabapostile

1 Ingxelo yokuqala, Tiyofilo,+ ndayibhala ngazo zonke izinto awaqala ngazo uYesu ukuzenza nokuzifundisa,+ 2 kwada kwayimini awathatyathelwa ngayo phezulu,+ emva kokuba wayebanike umyalelo ngomoya oyingcwele abapostile awabanyulayo.+ 3 Kanjalo wazibonakalisa ephila kubo ngobungqina obuninzi obucacileyo emva kokuba wayebandezelekile,+ ebonwa ngabo zonke ezo ntsuku zingamashumi amane yaye exela izinto ezingobukumkani bukaThixo.+ 4 Ngoxa wayehlanganisene nabo wabanika le miyalelo: “Ningemki eYerusalem,+ kodwa hlalani nilindele oko kuthenjiswe+ nguBawo, oko neva ngako kum; 5 ngenxa yokuba uYohane, eneneni, wabhaptiza ngamanzi, kodwa nina niya kubhaptizelwa kumoya oyingcwele+ kungekabi ziintsuku ezininzi emva koku.”

6 Xa babedibene, bambuza bathi: “Nkosi, ububuyisela ngeli xesha na ubukumkani+ kuSirayeli?” 7 Wathi kubo: “Asikokwenu ukwazi amaxesha okanye amathuba+ uBawo awabeke ngegunya lakhe;+ 8 kodwa niya kwamkela amandla+ xa umoya oyingcwele ufika kuni, yaye niya kuba ngamangqina+ am eYerusalem+ nakulo lonke elakwaYuda naseSamariya+ kude kuse nakwezona nxalenye zikude zomhlaba.”+ 9 Yaye emva kokuba wazitshoyo ezi zinto, ngoxa babekhangele, waphakanyiswa+ laza ilifu lamfukula ababi sambona.+ 10 Kwaye njengoko babondele esibhakabhakeni ngoxa wayesimka,+ khangela! amadoda amabini enezambatho ezimhlophe+ ema ecaleni kwabo, 11 aza athi: “Madoda aseGalili, nimeleni na nikhangele esibhakabhakeni? UYesu lo unyuselwe esibhakabhakeni uya kuza ngolu hlobo+ nimbone esiya ngalo esibhakabhakeni.”

12 Bandula ke babuyela+ eYerusalem bevela entabeni ebizwa ngokuba yiNtaba yemiNquma, ekufuphi neYerusalem, kumgama ongangohambo lomhla wesabatha.+ 13 Bakungena, banyukela kwigumbi eliphezulu,+ apho babehlala khona, uPetros kwakunye noYohane noYakobi noAndreya, uFilipu noTomas, uBhartolomeyu noMateyu, uYakobi unyana ka-Alfeyu noSimon lowo unenzondelelo, noYudas unyana kaYakobi.+ 14 Bonke aba babezingisa ngamxhelo mnye emthandazweni,+ ndawonye nabafazi abathile+ noMariya unina kaYesu kunye nabantakwabo.+

15 Ebudeni bezo ntsuku uPetros wesuka wema phakathi kwabazalwana (isihlwele sabantu xa sisonke sasimalunga nekhulu elinamashumi amabini) waza wathi: 16 “Madoda, bazalwana, kwakuyimfuneko ukuba sizaliseke isibhalo,+ eso umoya oyingcwele+ wasithetha kwangaphambili ngomlomo kaDavide malunga noYudas,+ owakhokela abo babamba uYesu,+ 17 ngenxa yokuba wayebalelwe phakathi kwethu+ yaye wasizuza isabelo sobu bulungiseleli.+ 18 (Lo mntu, ke ngoko, wathenga+ intsimi ngomvuzo wentswela-bulungisa,+ yaye wakhahleleka phantsi ngentloko+ wagqabhuka ngesandi esikhulu ngaphakathi aza onke amathumbu akhe aphalala. 19 Kanjalo oku kwaziwa ngabo bonke abemi baseYerusalem, kangangokuba loo ntsimi yabizwa ngolwimi lwabo ngokuba yiAkeldama, oko kukuthi, iNtsimi yeGazi.) 20 Kuba kubhaliwe kwincwadi yeeNdumiso kwathiwa, ‘Indawo yakhe yokuhlala mayiphanziswe, yaye makungabikho mhlali kuyo,’+ nokuthi, ‘Isigxina sakhe sobuveleli masithatyathwe ngomnye.’+ 21 Kuyimfuneko ke ngoko ukuba kumadoda ebekade ekunye nathi ngalo lonke ixesha ebingena iphuma iNkosi uYesu phakathi kwethu,+ 22 ukususela ekubhaptizweni kwayo nguYohane+ de kwaba yimini yokunyuselwa kwayo phezulu,+ enye kuwo loo madoda ifanele ibe lingqina kunye nathi lovuko lwayo.”+

23 Ngoko bamisa amabini, uYosefu obizwa ngokuba nguBharsabhas, owayenefani enguYusto, noMatiya. 24 Yaye bathandaza baza bathi: “Owu Yehova, wena uzaziyo iintliziyo zabo bonke,+ yalatha ukuba yiyiphi kula madoda mabini oyinyulileyo, 25 ukuba ithabathe indawo yobu bulungiseleli nobupostile,+ awaphambuka kubo uYudas ukuba aye kweyakhe indawo.” 26 Ngoko benza amaqashiso+ ngabo, laza iqashiso lawela kuMatiya; wabalelwa kubapostile abalishumi elinanye.+

2 Ke kaloku ngoxa umhla womthendeleko wePentekoste+ wawuqhubeka babekunye bonke kwindawo enye, 2 yaye ngequbuliso kwabakho ingxolo evela ezulwini enjengaleyo kanye yempepho ebhudla ngamandla, yaza yayizalisa indlu iphela ababehleli kuyo.+ 3 Yaye kwabonakala kubo iilwimi ezingathi zezomlilo+ kwaye zabèka, lwaza lwaolo lwahlala kuye ngamnye wabo, 4 baza bonke bazaliswa ngumoya oyingcwele,+ baqala ukuthetha ngeelwimi ezahlukileyo,+ kanye njengoko umoya wawubanika ukuba bathethe amazwi.

5 Ngokunjalo, kwakuhlala apho eYerusalem amaYuda,+ abantu aboyik’ uThixo,+ bevela kuzo zonke iintlanga zabo baphantsi kwezulu. 6 Kwathi kwakubakho esi sandi, yabuthelana inkitha, yadubadubeka, ngenxa yokuba ngamnye wabeva bethetha ngolwimi lwakhe. 7 Eneneni, yakhwankqiswa yaye yamangaliswa yathi: “Khanibone, bonke aba bathethayo ngamaGalili,+ akunjalo? 8 Ukanti kwenzeka njani ukuba sive, ngamnye wethu, ulwimi lwakhe esazalelwa kulo? 9 AmaParti namaMedi+ namaElam,+ nabemi baseMesopotamiya, nabelakwaYuda+ naseKapadokiya,+ abasePonto+ nakuso isithili saseAsiya,+ 10 nabaseFrigiya+ nasePamfiliya,+ abaseYiputa nakwimimandla yaseLibhiya, engaseKirene, nabaphambukeli abavela eRoma, amaYuda nabangeni ebuYudeni,+ 11 amaKrete+ nama-Arabhiya,+ sibeva bezithetha ngeelwimi zethu izinto zobungangamela zikaThixo.” 12 Ewe, bonke babekhwankqisiwe yaye bedidekile, besithi omnye komnye: “Ifuna ukuba yintoni na le nto?” 13 Noko ke, abanye bahlekisa ngabo bathi: “Bazele yiwayini enencasa.”+

14 Kodwa uPetros wema kunye nabalishumi elinanye+ yaye waliphakamisa ilizwi lakhe waza wathetha la mazwi kubo: “Madoda elakwaYuda nani nonke bemi baseYerusalem,+ makwazeke oku kuni kwaye wabekeleni indlebe amazwi am. 15 Aba bantu, enyanisweni, abanxilanga,+ njengoko niba kunjalo, kuba lilixa lesithathu lemini. 16 Ngokwahlukileyo koko, oku koko kwakutshiwo ngomprofeti uYoweli, 17 ‘“Yaye ngemihla yokugqibela,” utsho uThixo, “ndiya kuthululela inxalenye yomoya wam+ phezu kwalo lonke uhlobo lwenyama, ibe baya kuprofeta oonyana benu neentombi zenu kwaye abafana benu baya kubona imibono namadoda enu amadala aya kuphupha amaphupha;+ 18 yaye kwanaphezu kwamakhoboka am naphezu kwamakhobokakazi am ndiza kuthulula inxalenye yomoya wam ngaloo mihla, ibe aya kuprofeta.+ 19 Ndiza kwenza imihlola ezulwini phezulu nemiqondiso emhlabeni phantsi, igazi nomlilo nenkungu yomsi;+ 20 ilanga+ liya kujikwa libe bubumnyama nenyanga ibe ligazi ngaphambi kokuba imini enkulu neyimbalasane kaYehova ifike.+ 21 Yaye wonk’ ubani obiza egameni likaYehova uya kusindiswa.”’+

22 “Madoda akwaSirayeli, waveni la mazwi: UYesu umNazarete,+ indoda ekwaboniswa ngayo esidlangalaleni nguThixo kuni ngemisebenzi yamandla+ nemihlola nemiqondiso uThixo awayenzayo ngayo phakathi kwenu,+ kanye njengoko nani nisazi, 23 lo mntu, njengalowo wanikelwayo ngokwecebo elamiselwayo nokwazi kwangaphambili kukaThixo,+ nambethelela esibondeni ngesandla sabantu abachas’ umthetho naza nambulala.+ 24 Kodwa uThixo wamvusa+ ngokukhulula inimba yokufa,+ ngenxa yokuba kwakungenakwenzeka ngaye ukuqhubeka ebanjwe nkqi kuko.+ 25 Kuba uDavide uthi ngaye, ‘Ndandinaye rhoqo uYehova phambi kwamehlo am; ngenxa yokuba ungasekunene kwam ukuze ndingaze ndigungqiswe.+ 26 Ngenxa yoku intliziyo yam yachwayita nolwimi lwam lwaphuphuma yimihlali. Ngaphezu koko, kwanenyama yam iya kuhlala ethembeni;+ 27 ngenxa yokuba akuyi kuwushiya umphefumlo wam eHadesi, ungayi kumvumela nalowo unyanisekileyo wakho ukuba abone ukonakala.+ 28 Undazisile iindlela zobomi, uya kundizalisa ngokuchwayita ngobuso bakho.’+

29 “Madoda, bazalwana, kuvumelekile ukuthetha ngokukhululekileyo kuni ngentloko-ntsapho uDavide, ukuba wasweleka+ waza wangcwatywa yaye ingcwaba lakhe liphakathi kwethu ukusa kulo mhla. 30 Ngoko ke, ngenxa yokuba wayengumprofeti yaye esazi ukuba uThixo wayemfungele ngesifungo ukuba wayeya kuhlalisa etroneni yakhe+ lowo wayevela kwisiqhamo sesinqe sakhe, 31 wabona kwangaphambili waza wathetha ngovuko lukaKRISTU, okokuba engazange ashiywe eHadesi nenyama yakhe ingazange ibone konakala.+ 32 Lo Yesu uThixo wamvusa, sibakala eso esingamangqina aso thina sonke.+ 33 Ngoko ke ngenxa yokuba waphakanyiselwa ngasekunene kukaThixo+ waza wamkela kuYise+ umoya oyingcwele owawuthenjisiwe, uthulule oku nikubonayo nenikuvayo. 34 Okunene uDavide akenyukelanga emazulwini,+ kodwa yena ngokwakhe uthi, ‘UYehova wathi eNkosini yam: “Hlala ngasekunene kwam,+ 35 ndide ndizibeke iintshaba zakho njengesihlalo seenyawo zakho.”’+ 36 Ngoko ke yonke indlu kaSirayeli mayazi ngokuqinisekileyo ukuba uThixo umenze iNkosi+ wamenza noKristu, lo Yesu nambethelelayo nina.”+

37 Ke kaloku bakukuva oku kwathi xhokro entliziyweni,+ yaye bathi kuPetros nabanye abapostile: “Madoda, bazalwana, senze ntoni na?”+ 38 UPetros wathi kubo: “Guqukani,+ yaye ngamnye wenu makabhaptizwe+ egameni+ likaYesu Kristu ukuze kuxolelwe+ izono zenu, kwaye niya kwamkela isipho sesisa+ somoya oyingcwele. 39 Kuba esi sithembiso+ senzelwa nina nabantwana benu nabo bonke abo bakude,+ bonke abo uYehova uThixo wethu asenokubabizela kuye.”+ 40 Yaye wanikela ubungqina obucokisekileyo nangamanye amazwi amaninzi waza wababongoza, esithi: “Sindiswani kwesi sizukulwana sigwenxa.”+ 41 Ngoko ke abo balamkela ngokusuk’ entliziyweni ilizwi lakhe babhaptizwa,+ yaye ngaloo mini kongezelelwa imiphefumlo emalunga namawaka amathathu.+ 42 Kwaye baqhubeka bezinikela emfundisweni yabapostile nasekwabelaneni,+ ngokutya+ nasemithandazweni.+

43 Eneneni, yonke imiphefumlo yafikelwa luloyiko, yaye kwenzeka imihlola nemiqondiso emininzi ngabapostile.+ 44 Bonke ababengamakholwa babendawonye, benezinto zonke ngokufanayo,+ 45 yaye bathengisa ngezinto abanazo+ nempahla baza babela bonke ingeniso yabo, kanye ngokokuswela kwakhe nabani na.+ 46 Imihla ngemihla babesiya rhoqo etempileni ngamxhelo mnye,+ betyela emakhayeni abo, bephuphuma yimihlali+ nokunyaniseka kwentliziyo, 47 bemdumisa uThixo kwaye bekholeka ebantwini bonke.+ Kwangaxeshanye uYehova waqhubeka ehlomela+ kubo mihla le abo basindiswayo.+

3 Ke kaloku uPetros noYohane babenyuka besiya etempileni ngelixa lomthandazo, ilixa lesithoba,+ 2 yaye kwakuthwelwe indoda ethile eyayisisiqhwala ukususela esibelekweni+ sikanina, eyayibekwa mihla le kufuphi nomnyango wetempile owawubizwa ngokuthi Omhle,+ ukuze icele izipho zenceba kwabo babengena etempileni.+ 3 Yathi yakubona uPetros noYohane beza kungena etempileni yacela izipho zenceba.+ 4 Kodwa uPetros noYohane, bayondela+ baza bathi: “Khangela apha kuthi.” 5 Ngoko yamilisela ingqalelo yayo kubo, ilindele ukufumana okuthile kubo. 6 Noko ke, uPetros wathi: “Isilivere negolide andinayo, kodwa oko ndinako ndikunika kona:+ Egameni likaYesu Kristu umNazarete,+ hamba!”+ 7 Ngako oko wayibamba ngesandla sasekunene+ waza wayiphakamisa. Ngephanyazo iintende zeenyawo zayo namathambo amaqatha ayo aqiniswa;+ 8 yaye, ixhuma,+ yema, yaqalisa ukuhamba, yaza yangena kunye nabo etempileni,+ ihamba ixhumaxhuma, idumisa uThixo. 9 Bonke abantu+ bayibona ihamba idumisa uThixo. 10 Ngaphezu koko, bayiqonda, ukuba yila ndoda ibidla ngokuhlalela izipho zenceba ngakwiSango Elihle+ letempile, baza bakhwankqiswa, bathabatheka ngokugqithiseleyo+ koko kwakwenzekile kuyo.

11 Ngoko, njengoko lo mntu wayebambelele kuPetros noYohane, bonke abantu babalekela kubo evarandeni ekuthiwa yekaSolomon,+ bethe thwanga kukumangaliseka. 12 Akukubona oku uPetros, wathi ebantwini: “Madoda akwaSirayeli, kutheni namangaliswa koku, okanye kutheni nondela kuthi ngokungathi simenze wahamba ngawethu amandla okanye ngozinikelo lobuthixo?+ 13 UTHIXO ka-Abraham nokaIsake nokaYakobi,+ uTHIXO wookhokho bethu, umzukisile+ uMkhonzi wakhe,+ uYesu, lowo nina namnikelayo+ naza namkhanyela phambi kobuso bukaPilato, xa wayegqibe kwelokuba amkhulule.+ 14 Ewe, namkhanyela lowo ungcwele nolilungisa,+ yaye nacelela indoda, umbulali,+ ukuba inikelwe kuni ngesisa, 15 ke yena uMmeli Oyintloko wobomi nambulala.+ Kodwa uThixo wamvusa kwabafileyo, sibakala eso thina esingamangqina aso.+ 16 Ngenxa yoko igama lakhe, ngokholo lwethu egameni lakhe, lenze lo mntu nimbonayo nenimaziyo womelela, kwaye ukholo olungaye lunike lo mntu oku kuphila kupheleleyo emehlweni enu nonke. 17 Yaye ngoku, bazalwana, ndiyazi ukuba nenza ngokungazi,+ kanye njengoko nabalawuli benu+ benjenjalo. 18 Kodwa ngale ndlela uThixo uzizalisekisile izinto awazazisa kwangaphambili ngomlomo wabo bonke abaprofeti, ezo uKristu wakhe wayeya kubandezeleka ngazo.+

19 “Guqukani,+ ke ngoko, nijike+ khon’ ukuze zicinywe izono zenu,+ ukuze amaxesha okuhlaziya+ eze evela kuYehova ngenkqu 20 nokuze athumele uKRISTU omiselwe ngenxa yenu, uYesu, 21 lowo izulu, eneneni, limele limgcine kulo+ de kube ngamaxesha okubuyiselwa+ kwezinto zonke awathetha ngazo uThixo ngomlomo wabaprofeti+ bakhe abangcwele bexesha lakudala. 22 Enyanisweni, uMoses wathi, ‘UYehova uThixo uya kunivelisela phakathi kwabazalwana benu umprofeti onjengam.+ Nimele nimphulaphule ngokuvumelana nezinto zonke azithethayo kuni.+ 23 Eneneni, nawuphi na umphefumlo ongamphulaphuliyo loo mProfeti uya kutshatyalaliswa ngokupheleleyo phakathi kwabantu.’+ 24 Yaye bonke abaprofeti, enyanisweni, ukususela kuSamuweli nabo balandelelanayo, bonke abo baye bathetha, baye bayivakalisa ngokucacileyo le mihla.+ 25 Nina ningoonyana+ babaprofeti nabomnqophiso uThixo awanqophisana ngawo nookhokho benu, esithi kuAbraham, ‘Ziya kusikelelwa ngembewu yakho zonke iintsapho zomhlaba.’+ 26 UThixo, emva kokuvusa uMkhonzi wakhe, wamthumela kuni kuqala+ ukuze anisikelele ngokuthi akhwebule ngamnye kwizenzo zenu zokungendawo.”

4 Ke kaloku ngoxa aba babini babethetha nabantu, kwafika ababingeleli abaziintloko nomphathi wetempile+ nabaSadusi,+ 2 becaphukile ngenxa yokuba babefundisa abantu yaye bevakalisa ngokucacileyo uvuko kwabafileyo ngoYesu;+ 3 yaye bababamba babafaka eluvalelweni kwada kwayimini elandelayo,+ kuba kwakusele kuhlwile. 4 Noko ke, abaninzi kwabo babephulaphule intetho bakholwa,+ yaye inani lamadoda laba malunga namawaka amahlanu.+

5 Ngemini elandelayo eYerusalem bahlanganiselwa ndawonye abalawuli babo namadoda amakhulu nababhali+ 6 (kwanoAnas+ umbingeleli oyintloko noKayafa+ noYohane noAleksandire nabo bonke abo babezizalamane zombingeleli oyintloko), 7 babamisa phakathi kwabo baza bababuza oku: “Nikwenza ngamandla mani na okanye ngegama likabani na oku?”+ 8 Wandula ke uPetros, ezaliswe ngumoya oyingcwele,+ wathi kubo:

“Balawuli babantu namadoda amakhulu, 9 ukuba ngalo mhla siyancinwa, ngokwenza okulungileyo kumntu ogulayo,+ mayela nalowo lo mntu aphiliswe ngaye, 10 makwazeke kuni nonke nakubo bonke abantu bakwaSirayeli, ukuba egameni likaYesu Kristu umNazarete,+ enambethelelayo+ kodwa uThixo wamvusa kwabafileyo,+ kungaye lo athe lo mntu wema apha phambi kwenu ephilile. 11 Yena ‘ulilitye elaphathwa nini bakhi njengelingabalulekanga eliye laba yintloko yembombo.’+ 12 Ngapha koko, akukho lusindiso kuye nabani na ongomnye, kuba alikho elinye igama+ phantsi kwezulu elinikelweyo phakathi kwabantu esimele ukusindiswa ngalo.”+

13 Ke kaloku bakubona ukuthetha ngokuphandle kukaPetros noYohane, baza baqonda ukuba babengabantu abangenamfundo nabaqhelekileyo,+ bamangaliswa. Baqonda ukuba babefudula bekunye noYesu;+ 14 yaye njengoko babekhangele kuloo mntu wayephilisiwe emi nabo,+ abazange babe nanto yakuyitsho ukubaphikisa.+ 15 Ngoko babayalela ukuba baphumele ngaphandle kweholo yeSanhedrin, baza babhunga, 16 besithi: “Siya kwenza ntoni na ngaba bantu?+ Ngenxa yokuba, enyanisweni, kwenzeke umqondiso ophawulekayo ngabo, lowo ubonakala kubo bonke abemi baseYerusalem;+ yaye asinakuwukhanyela. 17 Noko ke, ukuze ungasasazeki ngokubanzi ngokubhekele phaya phakathi kwabantu, masibaxelele ngezisongelo ukuba bangathethi kwakhona ngeli gama kuye nawuphi na umntu konke konke.”+

18 Ngako oko bababiza baza babayala ukuba, bangathethi nawaphi na amazwi okanye bafundise naphi na ngesizinzi segama likaYesu. 19 Kodwa ekuphenduleni uPetros noYohane bathi kubo: “Enoba kububulungisa kusini na emehlweni kaThixo ukuphulaphula nina kunoThixo, zigwebeleni ngokwenu. 20 Kodwa thina, asinakuyeka ukuthetha ngezinto esizibonileyo nesizivileyo.”+ 21 Ngoko, bakuba bebasongele ngokubhekele phaya, babakhulula, ekubeni bengazange bafumane nasiphi na isizathu abanokubohlwayela sona nangenxa yabantu,+ kuba bonke babemzukisa uThixo ngenxa yoko kwakwenzekile; 22 kuba umntu owawenzeke kuye lo mqondiso wokuphilisa wayeneminyaka engaphezu kwamashumi amane ubudala.

23 Emva kokukhululwa baya kubantu+ bakowabo baza bazixela ezo zinto babezitshilo kubo ababingeleli abaziintloko namadoda amakhulu. 24 Bakukuva oku baphakamisa amazwi abo kuThixo+ ngamxhelo mnye, bathi:

“Nkosi enguMongami,+ unguLowo walenzayo izulu nomhlaba nolwandle nazo zonke izinto ezikuzo,+ 25 nalowo ngomoya oyingcwele wathi ngomlomo wokhokho wethu uDavide,+ umkhonzi wakho, ‘Kwakutheni ukuze iintlanga zenze uqhushululu nezizwana zicamngce izinto ezilambathayo?+ 26 Ookumkani bomhlaba besuka bema nabalawuli babuthana ndawonye njengamntu mnye nxamnye noYehova nomthanjiswa wakhe.’+ 27 Kananjalo, uHerode noPontiyo Pilato+ kunye nabantu beentlanga kunye nezizwana zakwaSirayeli ngokwenene babehlanganisene ndawonye kwesi sixeko nxamnye nomkhonzi wakho ongcwele+ uYesu, lowo wamthambisayo,+ 28 ukuze benze ezo zinto isandla necebo lakho sazimisela kwangaphambili ukuba zibekho.+ 29 Yaye ngoku, Yehova, khawunikele ingqalelo kwizisongelo zabo,+ uze uwanike amakhoboka akho ukuba ahlale elithetha ilizwi lakho ngenkalipho yonke,+ 30 ngoxa usolula isandla sakho ukuba kuphiliswe nangoxa imiqondiso nemihlola+ isenzeka ngegama+ lomkhonzi wakho ongcwele+ uYesu.”

31 Bakuba benze isikhungo, indawo leyo babehlanganisene ndawonye kuyo yagungqiswa;+ yaye bonke bazaliswa ngumoya oyingcwele+ kwaye babelithetha ngenkalipho+ ilizwi likaThixo.

32 Ngaphezu koko, inkitha yabo babekholiwe yayintliziyo-nye, imphefumlo-mnye,+ yaye kwakungekho namnye owayengathi yeyakhe nayiphi na kwizinto awayenazo; kodwa babenazo zonke izinto ngokufanayo.+ 33 Kanjalo, ngamandla amakhulu abapostile baqhubeka benikela ubungqina ngovuko lweNkosi uYesu;+ yaye ububele obungasifanelanga babukubo bonke ngomlinganiselo omkhulu. 34 Enyanisweni, kwakungekho namnye owayeswele phakathi kwabo;+ kuba bonke ababenamasimi okanye izindlu babethengisa ngazo baze bazise amaxabiso ezinto ezithengisiweyo 35 yaye babewabeka ezinyaweni zabapostile.+ Kwakusabelwa+ ngamnye, kanye ngokokuswela kwakhe. 36 Ngoko uYosefu, owanikwa ifani enguBharnabhas+ ngabapostile, ethetha, xa iguqulelwe, uNyana weNtuthuzelo, umLevi, inzalelwane yaseSipro, 37 enesiqwenga somhlaba, wasithengisa yaye wayizisa imali waza wayibeka ezinyaweni zabapostile.+

5 Noko ke, indoda ethile, uAnaniyas ngegama, ndawonye noSafira umfazi wayo, yathengisa loo nto babenayo 2 yaza yankonya ngokufihlakeleyo inxalenye yexabiso, nomfazi wayo esazi ngako oko, yazisa nje inxalenye yaza yayibeka ezinyaweni zabapostile.+ 3 Kodwa uPetros wathi: “Ananiyas, kutheni uSathana+ ekukhaliphisile nje ukuba uxokise+ umoya oyingcwele+ nokuba unkonye ngokufihlakeleyo inxalenye yexabiso lentsimi? 4 Lo gama nje ibihleli kuwe ibingahlalanga iyeyakho na, nasemva kokuba ithengisiwe ayiqhubekanga iselulawulweni lwakho na? Bekutheni ukuze ube nenjongo yesenzo esinjengesi entliziyweni yakho? Uxokise,+ kungekhona abantu, kodwa uThixo.”+ 5 Ekuveni la mazwi uAnaniyas wawa phantsi wabhubha.+ Yaye bonke abo bakuvayo oku bafikelwa luloyiko olukhulu.+ 6 Kodwa amadodana asukuma, amsongela ngamalaphu,+ aza amthwalela ngaphandle amngcwaba.

7 Ke kaloku emva kwesithuba esimalunga neeyure ezintathu kwangena umfazi wakhe, engakwazi oko kwakwenzekile. 8 UPetros wathi kuye: “Ndixelele, nina nobabini niyithengise ngokungaka na intsimi?” Wathi: “Ewe, ngokungaka.” 9 Ngoko uPetros wathi kuye: “Bekutheni ukuze nivumelane nina nobabini ngokuvavanya+ umoya kaYehova? Khangela! Iinyawo zabo bangcwabe indoda yakho zisemnyango, yaye baya kukuthwalela ngaphandle.” 10 Ngequbuliso wawa phantsi ezinyaweni zakhe wabhubha.+ Xa abafana bangenayo bamfumana efile, yaye bamthwalela ngaphandle baza bamngcwaba ecaleni kwendoda yakhe. 11 Ngenxa yoko ibandla liphela nabo bonke abo babesiva ngezi zinto bafikelwa luloyiko olukhulu.

12 Ngaphezu koko, ngezandla zabapostile kwaqhubeka kusibakho imihlola nemiqondiso phakathi kwabantu;+ yaye bonke babemxhelo mnye kwivaranda kaSolomon.+ 13 Enyanisweni, akukho namnye kwabanye owayenesibindi sokuzibandakanya nabo;+ noko ke, abantu babebabonga.+ 14 Ngokungakumbi kunoko, amakholwa eNkosini ongezeleleka, inkitha yamadoda neyabafazi;+ 15 kangangokuba bazisa abagulayo kwanakwiindlela eziphangaleleyo baza bababeka apho kwiimandlalo ezincinane nasezinkukweni, ukuze, njengoko uPetros wayeye adlule apho, ubuncinane isithunzi sakhe sibe nokuwela phezu kwabanye babo.+ 16 Kanjalo, inkitha evela kwizixeko ezijikeleze iYerusalem yabuthelana apho, ithwele abantu abagulayo nabo babekhathazwa ngoomoya abangahlambulukanga, yaye babephiliswa bonke.

17 Kodwa umbingeleli omkhulu nabo bonke abo babekunye naye, ihlelo elalikho ngoko labaSadusi, basukuma baza bazaliswa likhwele,+ 18 yaye bababamba abapostile baza babafaka kwindawo yovalelo kawonke-wonke.+ 19 Kodwa ebudeni bobusuku ingelosi kaYehova+ yazivula iingcango zentolongo,+ yabakhupha yaza yathi: 20 “Hambani niye kuma etempileni, nize niqhubeke nithetha ebantwini onke amazwi angobu bomi.”+ 21 Emva kokuva oku, kwakuthi qheke ukusa bangena etempileni baza baqalisa ukufundisa.

Ke kaloku xa umbingeleli omkhulu nabo babekunye naye bafikayo, babizela ndawonye iSanhedrin nayo yonke indibano yamadoda amakhulu oonyana bakaSirayeli,+ yaye bathumela entolongweni ukuba baziswe. 22 Kodwa akufika apho amagosa akabafumananga entolongweni. Ngoko abuya aza anikela ingxelo, 23 esithi: “Intolongo siyifumene itshixiwe ngalo lonke unqabiseko nabalindi bemi eminyango, kodwa sakuvula asifumananga bani ngaphakathi.” 24 Ngoko, umphathi wetempile nababingeleli abaziintloko xa beva la mazwi, basuka baxakwa zezi zinto mayela noko kwakuya kuba kuko oku.+ 25 Kodwa kwafika umntu othile waza wabaxelela esithi: “Khangelani! amadoda eniwafake entolongweni asetempileni, emile yaye afundisa abantu.”+ 26 Ngoko umphathi namagosa akhe baya baza babazisa, kodwa ngaphandle kogonyamelo, njengoko babesoyika+ ukuxulutywa ngabantu.

27 Babazisa baza babamisa kwiholo yeSanhedrin. Yaye umbingeleli omkhulu wababuza 28 waza wathi: “Saniyalela ngokucacileyo+ ukuba ningafundisi ngeli gama, ukanti, khangelani! niyizalisile iYerusalem ngemfundiso yenu,+ yaye nizimisele ukuzisa igazi+ lalo mntu phezu kwethu.” 29 Ekuphenduleni uPetros nabanye abapostile bathi: “Simele sithobele uThixo njengomlawuli kunabantu.+ 30 UTHIXO wookhokho bethu wamvusa+ uYesu, enambulalayo nina, namxhoma esibondeni.+ 31 UThixo wamphakamisela ngasekunene+ kwakhe njengoMmeli Oyintloko+ noMsindisi,+ ukuze anike uSirayeli inguquko+ noxolelo lwezono.+ 32 Yaye singamangqina ale mibandela,+ kunjalo nangomoya oyingcwele,+ lowo uThixo awunike abo bamthobelayo njengomlawuli.”

33 Bakukuva oku, baziva bexheleke ngokunzulu yaye babefuna ukubabulala.+ 34 Kodwa kwasukuma umntu othile kwiSanhedrin, umFarisi ogama linguGamaliyeli,+ umfundisi woMthetho owayehlonitshwa ngabantu bonke, waza wanikela umyalelo wokuba aba bantu bakhutshelwe ngaphandle okwethutyana.+ 35 Yaye wathi kubo: “Madoda akwaSirayeli,+ kulumkeleni oko nizimisele ukukwenza ngaba bantu. 36 Ngokomzekelo, ngaphambi kwale mihla kwasukuma uThuda, esithi naye unguthile,+ yaye inani lamadoda, amalunga namakhulu amane, lathelela iqela lakhe.+ Kodwa wabulawa, yaye bonke abo babemthobela basasazeka baza ababa nto yanto. 37 Emva kwakhe kwasuka uYudas umGalili ngemihla yobhaliso,+ watsala abantu emva kwakhe. Ukanti loo mntu watshabalala, baza bonke abo babemthobela bachithachitheka ngokubanzi. 38 Ngoko ke, nakule meko, ndithi kuni, Musani ukugxuphuleka kwaba bantu, kodwa bayekeni; (ngenxa yokuba, ukuba eli cebo okanye lo msebenzi ngowabantu, uya kubhukuqwa;+ 39 kodwa ukuba ngokaThixo,+ aniyi kukwazi ukubabhukuqa;)+ kungenjalo, nisenokufunyanwa okunene ningabo balwa nxamnye noThixo.”+ 40 Ngako oku banikela ingqalelo kuye, yaye bababiza abapostile, babakatsa,+ babayalela ukuba bayeke ukuthetha ngegama likaYesu,+ baza babandulula.

41 Bona, ke ngoko, bemka phambi kweSanhedrin, benemihlali+ ngenxa yokuba babebalelwe ekuthini bafanelwe kukuhlaziswa ngenxa yegama lakhe.+ 42 Yaye imihla yonke etempileni nakwizindlu ngezindlu+ baqhubeka ngaphandle kokuyekelela befundisa+ kwaye bevakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoKRISTU, uYesu.+

6 Ke kaloku ngale mihla, bakwanda abafundi, kwavela ukumbombozela kuwo amaYuda athetha isiGrike+ nxamnye namaYuda athetha isiHebhere, ngenxa yokuba abahlolokazi bawo babengananzwa kulwabiwo lwamihla le.+ 2 Ngoko abalishumi elinesibini bayibizela kubo inkitha yabafundi baza bathi: “Akukholekanga ngathi ukuba sishiye ilizwi likaThixo ukuze sabe ukutya ezitafileni.+ 3 Ngoko, bazalwana, zifuneleni+ amadoda avunyiweyo asixhenxe phakathi kwenu, azele ngumoya nobulumko,+ ukuze siwamisele phezu kwalo mcimbi uyimfuneko; 4 kodwa thina siya kuzinikela emthandazweni nakubulungiseleli belizwi.”+ 5 Yaye le nto yathethwayo yakholeka kwinkitha iphela, yaza yakhetha uStefano, indoda ezele lukholo nomoya oyingcwele,+ noFilipu+ noProkhoro noNikanore noTimon noParmena noNikolawo, umngeni ebuYudeni wakwa-Antiyokwe; 6 bababeka phambi kwabapostile, baza, emva kokuba bethandazile, bababeka izandla.+

7 Ngenxa yoko ilizwi likaThixo laqhubeka likhula,+ nenani labafundi landa kakhulu eYerusalem;+ yaye isihlwele esikhulu sababingeleli+ saluthobela+ ukholo.

8 Ke kaloku uStefano, ezele lubabalo namandla, wayesenza imihlola nemiqondiso+ emikhulu phakathi kwabantu. 9 Kodwa kwesuka bantu bathile kwabo kwakusithiwa ngabeNdlu Yesikhungu yabaKhululwa, nabamaKirene nabama-Aleksandriya+ nabo baseKilikiya+ naseAsiya, baphikisana noStefano; 10 ukanti abazange babe nakumelana nobulumko+ nomoya awayethetha ngawo.+ 11 Bandula ke ngokufihlakeleyo baqhubela amadoda athile ukuba athi:+ “Simve ethetha amazwi onyeliso+ nxamnye noMoses noThixo.” 12 Yaye baxhokonxa abantu namadoda amakhulu nababhali, baza bamfikela ngequbuliso, bamthabatha ngokumnyanzela bamsa kwiSanhedrin.+ 13 Yaye bazisa ngaphambili amangqina obuxoki,+ awathi: “Lo mntu akayeki ukuthetha izinto ezinxamnye nale ndawo ingcwele nezinxamnye noMthetho.+ 14 Ngokomzekelo, simve esithi lo Yesu umNazarete uya kuyidiliza le ndawo aze awatshintshe namasiko awawanikela kuthi uMoses.”

15 Njengoko bonke abo babehleli kwiSanhedrin babondele kuye,+ babona ukuba ubuso bakhe babunjengobuso bengelosi.+

7 Kodwa umbingeleli omkhulu wathi: “Zinjalo na ezi zinto?” 2 Wathi: “Madoda, bazalwana noobawo, yivani. UTHIXO wozuko+ wabonakala kukhokho wethu uAbraham ngoxa wayeseMesopotamiya, ngaphambi kokuba ahlale kwaHaran,+ 3 yaye wathi kuye, ‘Phuma kulo ilizwe lakowenu nakwizalamane zakho uze kwilizwe endiya kukubonisa lona.’+ 4 Ngoko waphuma kwilizwe lamaKhaledi waza wahlala kwaHaran. Yaye ukusuka apho, emva kokufa kukayise,+ uThixo wambangela ukuba indawo yakhe yokuhlala ayitshintshele kweli lizwe nihlala kulo ngoku.+ 5 Ukanti akamnikanga nayiphi na into njengelifa kulo, hayi, nendawana le engangonyawo;+ kodwa wathembisa ukumnika lona libe lelakhe,+ aze emva kwakhe alinike imbewu yakhe,+ ngoxa wayengekabi namntwana.+ 6 Ngaphezu koko, uThixo wathetha ngokusingisele koku, okokuba imbewu yakhe yayiya kuba ngabaphambukeli+ kwilizwe lasemzini+ yaye abantu babeya kuyikhobokisa baze bayixhwalekise kangangeminyaka engamakhulu amane.+ 7 ‘Yaye olo hlanga iya kuba ngamakhoboka alo ndiya kulugweba,’+ watsho uThixo, ‘kwaye emva kwezi zinto iya kuphuma inikele inkonzo engcwele kum kule ndawo.’+

8 “Wakwamnika nomnqophiso wolwaluko;+ yaye ngaloo ndlela wazala uIsake+ waza wamalusa ngosuku lwesibhozo,+ noIsake waba ngokaYakobi, noYakobi waba ngoweentloko-ntsapho ezilishumi elinesibini.+ 9 Yaye iintloko-ntsapho zamkhweletela+ uYosefu zaza zamthengisa eYiputa.+ Kodwa uThixo wayenaye,+ 10 wamhlangula kuzo zonke iimbandezelo zakhe waza wamnika ubabalo nobulumko emehlweni kaFaro ukumkani waseYiputa. Kwaye wammisa ukuba alawule iYiputa nendlu yakhe iphela.+ 11 Kodwa iYiputa neKanan iphela zafikelwa yindlala, imbandezelo enkulu; yaye ookhokho bethu babengafumani nasiphi na isixhaso.+ 12 Kodwa uYakobi weva ukuba kukho izinto ezityiwayo eYiputa+ yaye wathumela ookhokho bethu isihlandlo sokuqala.+ 13 Ebudeni besihlandlo sesibini uYosefu wenziwa waziwa ngabantakwabo;+ yaye umnombo wentsapho yakuloYosefu wabonakaliswa kuFaro.+ 14 Ngoko uYosefu wathumela waza wabiza uYakobi uyise nazo zonke izalamane zakhe kuloo ndawo,+ inani lemiphefumlo engamashumi asixhenxe anesihlanu.+ 15 UYakobi wehla waya eYiputa.+ Yaye wasweleka;+ ngokunjalo nookhokho bethu,+ 16 kwaye bafuduselwa kwaShekem+ baza babekwa kwingcwaba+ uAbraham awayelithenge ngexabiso lemali yesilivere koonyana bakaHamore kwaShekem.+

17 “Kanye njengoko lalisondela ixesha lokuzaliseka kwesithembiso uThixo awayesivakalise ekuhleni kuAbraham, abantu bakhula baza banda eYiputa,+ 18 kwada kwavela omnye ukumkani eYiputa, owayengazi ngoYosefu.+ 19 Yena wasebenzisa ubuqotha-qikili ngokunxamnye nesizwe sethu+ waza wanyanzelisa kakubi oobawo ukuba bazilahle iintsana zabo, ukuze zingagcinwa ziphila.+ 20 Ngalo lona elo xesha kwazalwa uMoses,+ yaye wayemhle ngokobuthixo.+ Kwaye wancanciswa iinyanga zantathu kwikhaya likayise. 21 Kodwa wathi akulahlwa, intombi kaFaro yamchola yaza yamkhulisa njengonyana wayo.+ 22 Ngenxa yoko uMoses wafundiswa bonke ubulumko+ bamaYiputa. Enyanisweni, wayenamandla ngamazwi+ nezenzo zakhe.

23 “Ke kaloku kwakuzaliseka ixesha lonyaka wakhe wamashumi amane, kwafika entliziyweni yakhe ukuya kuvelela abazalwana bakhe, oonyana bakaSirayeli.+ 24 Yaye akubona uthile ephathwa ngokungekho sikweni, wamkhusela waza waphumeza impindezelo ngenxa yalowo wayephathwa kakubi ngokumxabela umYiputa.+ 25 Wayeba yena abazalwana bakhe babeya kucacelwa kukuba uThixo wayebanika usindiso ngesandla sakhe,+ kodwa bona abacacelwanga koko. 26 Yaye ngemini elandelayo wabonakala kubo njengoko babesilwa, waza walinga ukubamanyanisa kwakhona ngoxolo,+ esithi, ‘Madoda, ningabazalwana. Kutheni niphathana ngokungekho sikweni nje?’+ 27 Kodwa lowo wayephatha ummelwane wakhe ngokungekho sikweni wamtyhalela kude, esithi, ‘Umiselwe ngubani na ukuba ube ngumlawuli nomgwebi phezu kwethu?+ 28 Akufuni kundibulala nam ngendlela efanayo nobulele ngayo umYiputa izolo, andibi kunjalo?’+ 29 Wasaba uMoses ngale ntetho waza waba ngumphambukeli kwilizwe lakwaMidiyan,+ apho wazala oonyana ababini.+

30 “Yaye kwakuzaliseka iminyaka engamashumi amane, kwabonakala kuye kwintlango yeNtaba yeSinayi ingelosi kwidangatye lomlilo kwityholo elinameva.+ 31 Ke kaloku xa uMoses wabona oko wamangaliswa ngulo mbono.+ Kodwa njengoko wayesondela esiza kuhlola, kwafika ilizwi likaYehova, lisithi, 32 ‘NdinguTHIXO wookhokho bakho, uTHIXO ka-Abraham nokaIsake nokaYakobi.’+ Engcangcazela, uMoses akazange abe nabuganga bokuhlola ngokubhekele phaya. 33 UYehova wathi kuye, ‘Khulula iimbadada ezinyaweni zakho, kuba le ndawo umi kuyo ngumhlaba ongcwele.+ 34 Ngokuqinisekileyo ndikubonile ukuphathwa kakubi kwabantu bam abaseYiputa,+ kwaye ndikuvile ukugcuma+ kwabo ndaza ndehla ukuze ndibahlangule.+ Yiza ke, ndikuthume eYiputa.’+ 35 Lo Moses, abamkhanyelayo, besithi, ‘Umiselwe ngubani na ukuba ube ngumlawuli nomgwebi?’+ yena uThixo wamthuma+ kokubini njengomlawuli nomhlanguli ngesandla sengelosi eyabonakala kuye kwityholo elinameva. 36 Yena wabakhokelela ngaphandle+ emva kokwenza imihlola nemiqondiso eYiputa+ nakuLwandle Olubomvu+ nasentlango kangangeminyaka engamashumi amane.+

37 “Lo ngulo Moses wathi koonyana bakaSirayeli, ‘UThixo uya kunivelisela phakathi kwabazalwana benu umprofeti onjengam.’+ 38 Nguye lowo+ waba phakathi kwebandla+ entlango kunye nengelosi+ eyathetha kuye eNtabeni yeSinayi kunye nookhokho bethu, yaye wamkela izibhengezo ezingcwele+ eziphilayo ukuze azinike nina. 39 Ookhokho bethu bala ukumthobela, kodwa bamtyhalela bucala+ baza ezintliziyweni zabo babuyela eYiputa,+ 40 besithi kuAron, ‘Senzele oothixo bokuhamba phambi kwethu. Kuba lo Moses, wasikhuphayo ezweni laseYiputa, asazi ukuba kwenzeke ntoni kuye.’+ 41 Ngoko benza ithole ngaloo mihla+ yaye banyusa umbingelelo kwisithixo baza baziyolisa ngemisebenzi yezandla zabo.+ 42 Ngoko uThixo wajika waza wabayekela+ ukuba banikele inkonzo engcwele kumkhosi wezulu, kanye njengoko kubhaliwe encwadini yabaprofeti kwathiwa,+ ‘Naningawanikeli kum amaxhoba nemibingelelo entlango kangangeminyaka engamashumi amane, andibi kunjalo, ndlu kaSirayeli?+ 43 Kodwa nathabatha intente kaMolokhi+ nenkwenkwezi+ kathixo uRefan, imifanekiso enayenzayo ukuze niyinqule. Ngenxa yoko ndiza kunigxothela+ ngaphaya kweBhabhiloni.’

44 “Ookhokho bethu babenayo intente yobungqina entlango, kanye njengoko wabanika imiyalelo xa wayethetha kuMoses ukuba ayenze ngokomfanekiselo awayewubonile.+ 45 Yaye nookhokho bethu abalandelayo bayizisa noYoshuwa+ kwilizwe elalileleentlanga,+ ezo uThixo wazityhalela ngaphandle zemka phambi kookhokho bethu.+ Yahlala apha kwada kwayimihla kaDavide. 46 Wakholeka+ emehlweni kaThixo waza wacela ilungelo lokulungiselela+ uTHIXO kaYakobi indawo yokuhlala. 47 USolomon wamakhela indlu.+ 48 Noko ke, Oyena Uphakamileyo akahlali kwizindlu ezenziwe ngezandla;+ kanye njengoko umprofeti esitsho, 49 ‘Izulu liyitrone yam,+ nomhlaba usisihlalo seenyawo zam.+ Luhlobo luni na lwendlu eniya kundakhela yona? utsho uYehova. Okanye yiyiphi na indawo yokuphumla kwam?+ 50 Isandla sam sazenza zonke ezi zinto, akunjalo?’+

51 “Bantundini baneenkani nabangalukileyo ngeentliziyo+ neendlebe, nisoloko niwuxhathisa umoya oyingcwele; kanye njengoko ookhokho benu benjenjalo, nani nenjenjalo.+ 52 Nguwuphi na kubaprofeti abangazange bamtshutshise ookhokho benu?+ Ewe, bababulala+ abo benza isaziso kwangaphambili ngokuza kwaLowo ulilungisa,+ eniye nangabangcatshi nababulali bakhe ngoku,+ 53 nina enamkela uMthetho njengoko wawudluliselwa ziingelosi+ kodwa anawugcina.”

54 Ngoko, ekuveni ezi zinto baziva bexhelekile ezintliziyweni+ zabo baza bamtshixizela+ amazinyo. 55 Kodwa, ezele ngumoya oyingcwele, wondela ezulwini waza walubona uzuko lukaThixo noYesu emi ngasekunene kukaThixo,+ 56 yaye wathi: “Khangelani! Ndiwabona amazulu evulekile+ noNyana womntu+ emi ngasekunene kukaThixo.”+ 57 Ngako oko badanduluka ngelizwi eliphezulu, babeka izandla zabo ezindlebeni zabo+ baza bagxalathelana kuye ngamxhelo mnye. 58 Yaye emva kokumphosela ngaphandle kwesixeko+ bamgibisela ngamatye.+ Kwaye amangqina+ abeka izambatho zawo zangaphezulu ezinyaweni zomfana obizwa ngokuba nguSawule.+ 59 Yaye baqhubeka bemgibisela ngamatye uStefano njengoko wayebongoza esithi: “Nkosi Yesu, wamkele umoya wam.”+ 60 Wandula ke, eguqa ngamadolo, wadanduluka ngelizwi elinamandla wathi: “Yehova, musa ukusibalela kubo esi sono.”+ Yaye emva kokutsho oku walala ekufeni.

8 USawule wayekholiswa kukubulawa kwakhe.+

Ngaloo mhla kwavela intshutshiso+ enkulu nxamnye nebandla elaliseYerusalem; bonke ngaphandle kwabapostile bachithachitheka+ kuyo yonke imimandla yelakwaYuda neSamariya. 2 Kodwa amadoda awoyik’ uThixo amthwala uStefano aya kumngcwaba,+ aza amenzela isijwili esikhulu.+ 3 USawule, ngoko, waqhubana ngokuneengcwangu nebandla. Wayengenela izindlu ngezindlu, erhuqela phandle amadoda nabafazi, abanikele entolongweni.+

4 Noko ke, abo babechithachithekile balityhutyha ilizwe bevakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo zelizwi.+ 5 UFilipu, yena, wehla waya kwisixeko saseSamariya+ waza waqalisa ukushumayela ngoKRISTU kubo. 6 Ngamxhelo mnye izihlwele zazinikela ingqalelo kwizinto abezitsho uFilipu ngoxa zaziphulaphule yaye zikhangele kwimiqondiso awayeyenza. 7 Kuba kwakukho abaninzi ababenoomoya abangahlambulukanga,+ yaye bona babedanduluka ngelizwi elikhulu baze baphume. Ngaphezu koko, abaninzi ababefe umzimba+ neziqhwala baphiliswa. 8 Ngoko kwabakho uvuyo olukhulu kweso sixeko.+

9 Ke kaloku kweso sixeko kwakukho ndoda ithile igama linguSimon, leyo, phambi koku, yayiqhelisela ubugcisa bomlingo+ yaye ilutsho luthi manga uhlanga lwaseSamariya, isithi yona ngokwayo yayinguthile omkhulu.+ 10 Yaye bonke, ukususela koyena mncinane kuse koyena mkhulu, babenikela ingqalelo kuyo baze bathi: “Lo mntu ungaMandla kaThixo, anokubizwa ngokuthi Makhulu.” 11 Ngoko babeye banikele ingqalelo kuye ngenxa yokuba wayebatsho bathi manga kangangethuba elide ngobugcisa bakhe bomlingo. 12 Kodwa xa bamkholelwayo uFilipu, owayevakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo zobukumkani bukaThixo+ nezegama likaYesu Kristu, babhaptizwa, amadoda nabafazi.+ 13 NoSimon ngokwakhe waba likholwa, yaye, emva kokubhaptizwa, wayesiba kunye noFilipu rhoqo;+ kwaye wayethe manga kukubona imiqondiso nemisebenzi yamandla emikhulu isenzeka.

14 Bathi bakuva abapostile eYerusalem ukuba iSamariya yayilamkele ilizwi likaThixo,+ bathumela uPetros noYohane kubo; 15 yaye bona behla baza babathandazela ukuba bafumane umoya oyingcwele.+ 16 Kuba wawungekaweli namnye kubo, kodwa babebhaptizwe nje kuphela egameni leNkosi uYesu.+ 17 Ngoko bababeka izandla,+ baza bamkela umoya oyingcwele.

18 Ke kaloku xa uSimon wabona ukuba ngokubekwa kwezandla zabapostile umoya wawunikelwa, wathembisa ukubanika imali,+ 19 esithi: “Nam ndinikeni eli gunya, ukuze nabani na endimbeka izandla amkele umoya oyingcwele.” 20 Kodwa uPetros wathi kuye: “Ngamana isilivere yakho ingabhanga kunye nawe, ngenxa yokuba ubucinga ukufumana isipho sesisa sikaThixo ngemali.+ 21 Akunanxalenye ungenalo naqashiso kulo mbandela, kuba intliziyo yakho ayithanga tye emehlweni kaThixo.+ 22 Guquka, ke ngoko, kobu bubi bakho, uze ukhunge kuYehova+ ukuze, ukuba kunokwenzeka, ulixolelwe eli cebo lentliziyo yakho; 23 kuba ndiyabona ukuba uyinyongo enetyhefu+ nomxokelelwane wentswela-bulungisa.”+ 24 Ekuphenduleni uSimon wathi: “Nina, ndenzeleni isikhungo kuYehova ukuze ndingafikelwa nanye yezo zinto niye nazitsho.”+

25 Ngoko ke, xa babenikele ubungqina ngokucokisekileyo yaye belithethile ilizwi likaYehova, babuyela eYerusalem, bahamba bezivakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo kwiidolophana ezininzi zamaSamariya.+

26 Noko ke, ingelosi kaYehova+ yathetha kuFilipu, isithi: “Suka uhambe uye emzantsi kwindlela ehla ivela eYerusalem isiya eGaza.” (Le yindlela eyinkqantosi.) 27 Ngako oko wesuka wahamba, yaye, khangela! ithenwa+ elingumTiyopiya,+ indoda esemagunyeni phantsi kukaKandase ukumkanikazi wamaTiyopiya, neyayiphathiswe bonke ubuncwane bakhe. Laliye eYerusalem ukuya kunqula,+ 28 kodwa lalibuya yaye lalihleli enqwelweni yalo lifunda ngokuvakalayo umprofeti uIsaya.+ 29 Ngoko umoya wathi+ kuFilipu: “Yiya uze uzibandakanye kule nqwelo.” 30 UFilipu wabaleka ecaleni waza waliva lifunda ngokuvakalayo uIsaya umprofeti, yaye wathi: “Uyakwazi na okunene oku ukufundayo?” 31 Lathi: “Ngokwenene, ndingakwenza njani oko, ngaphandle kokuba ndikhokelwe nguthile?” Yaye lambongoza uFilipu ukuba akhwele aze ahlale phantsi kunye nalo. 32 Ke kaloku isicatshulwa seSibhalo elalisifunda ngokuvakalayo yayisesi: “Njengemvu wasiwa ekuxhelweni, nanjengemvana engenalizwi phambi komchebi wayo, wenjenjalo ukungawuvuli umlomo wakhe.+ 33 Ebudeni bokuthotywa kwakhe umgwebo wasuswa kuye.+ Ngubani na oya kuxela iinkcukacha zesizukulwana sakhe? Ngenxa yokuba ubomi bakhe bususiwe emhlabeni.”+

34 Ekuphenduleni ithenwa lathi kuFilipu: “Ndiyakubongoza, Umprofeti ukutsho malunga nabani na oku? Malunga naye okanye malunga namntu wumbi?” 35 UFilipu wawuvula umlomo wakhe+ yaye, eqala ngesi Sibhalo,+ wazivakalisa kulo iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoYesu. 36 Ke kaloku njengoko babehamba endleleni, bafika manzini athile amaninzi, laza ithenwa lathi: “Khangela! Amanzi amaninzi; yintoni na endithintelayo ukuba ndibhaptizwe?”+ 37 —— 38 Ngako oko layalela ukuba inqwelo ime, baza bobabini behla bangena emanzini, bobabini uFilipu nethenwa; walibhaptiza. 39 Xa benyukayo bephuma emanzini, ngokukhawuleza umoya kaYehova wamqhubela ukuba emke uFilipu,+ yaye ithenwa alizange libe sambona kwakhona, kuba lahamba linemihlali. 40 Kodwa kwafumaniseka ukuba uFilipu useAshdode, yaye wawutyhutyha loo mmandla, waqhubeka ezivakalisa+ iindaba ezilungileyo kuzo zonke izixeko de wafika eKesareya.+

9 Kodwa uSawule, esabafuthela ngesisongelo nokubulala+ abafundi+ beNkosi, waya kumbingeleli omkhulu 2 waza wacela kuye iincwadi zokuya kwizindlu zesikhungu eDamasko, ukuze abazise bebotshiwe eYerusalem nabaphi na abafumeneyo abangabale Ndlela,+ kokubini amadoda nabafazi.

3 Ke kaloku njengoko wayehamba wasondela eDamasko, xa ngequbuliso wabanekelwa kukukhanya okuvela ezulwini,+ 4 yaye wawela emhlabeni waza weva ilizwi lisithi kuye: “Sawule, Sawule, kutheni unditshutshisa nje?”+ 5 Wathi: “Ungubani na, Nkosi?” Wathi: “NdinguYesu, lo umtshutshisayo.+ 6 Noko ke, phakama+ uze ungene esixekweni, yaye uya kukuxelelwa oko umele ukwenze.” 7 Ke kaloku amadoda awayeseluhambeni kunye naye+ ayemile engathethi,+ esiva, eneneni, sona isandi selizwi,+ kodwa engaboni mntu. 8 Kodwa uSawule wavuka emhlabeni, yaye nakuba amehlo akhe ayevulekile wayengaboni nto.+ Ngoko bamrhola ngesandla baza bamkhaphela eDamasko. 9 Kangangemihla emithathu akazange abone nantoni na,+ yaye wayengadli engaseli.

10 EDamasko kwakukho umfundi othile ogama linguAnaniyas,+ yaye iNkosi yathi kuye embonweni: “Ananiyas!” Wathi: “Ndilapha, Nkosi.” 11 Yathi iNkosi kuye: “Phakama, uye kwisitrato esibizwa ngokuba seSithe Tye, ufune endlwini kaYudas umntu ogama linguSawule, waseTarso.+ Kuba, khangela! uyathandaza, 12 yaye embonweni ubone umntu ogama linguAnaniyas engena waza wambeka izandla ukuze abuye abone.”+ 13 Kodwa uAnaniyas waphendula wathi: “Nkosi, ndivile kwabaninzi ngale ndoda, ukuba zininzi kwazo izinto ezimbi ezenzileyo kwabo bangcwele bakho eYerusalem. 14 Yaye nalapha inegunya elivela kubabingeleli abaziintloko lokubafaka imixokelelwane bonke abo babiza egameni lakho.”+ 15 Kodwa iNkosi yathi kuye: “Yiya, ngenxa yokuba lo mntu usisitya esinyuliweyo+ kum sokuthwala igama lam ezintlangeni+ nakookumkani+ noonyana bakaSirayeli. 16 Kuba ndiya kumbonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba zininzi kwazo izinto amele abandezeleke zizo ngenxa yegama lam.”+

17 Ngoko uAnaniyas wemka waza wangena endlwini, wambeka izandla wathi: “Sawule, mzalwana, iNkosi, uYesu obonakele kuwe endleleni obusiza ngayo, indithumile, ukuze ubuye ubone uze uzaliswe ngumoya oyingcwele.”+ 18 Yaye ngoko nangoko kwawa emehlweni akhe oko kwakukhangeleka njengamaxolo, wabuya wabona; kwaye wasukuma waza wabhaptizwa, 19 yaye wathabatha ukutya waza wazuza amandla.+

Waba kunye nabafundi kangangemihla ethile eDamasko,+ 20 yaye ngoko nangoko kwizindlu zesikhungu waqalisa ukushumayela ngoYesu,+ okokuba Lo unguNyana kaThixo. 21 Kodwa bonke abo babemva basuka bakhwankqiswa yaye babeye bathi: “Asinguye na lo mntu owababhuqayo+ abo eYerusalem babiza kweli gama, nowayeze apha ngenxa yale njongo kanye, ukuze abase bebotshiwe kubabingeleli abaziintloko?”+ 22 Kodwa uSawule wahlala ezuza amandla ngokungakumbi yaye wayewaqungaqunga amaYuda awayehlala eDamasko njengoko wayengqina ngokusengqiqweni ukuba lo nguKRISTU.+

23 Ke ekuhambeni kwethuba, amaYuda aceba ukumbulala.+ 24 Noko ke, iyelenqe lawo nxamnye naye laziwa nguSawule. Kodwa imini nobusuku ayemlinda emasangweni ukuze ambulale.+ 25 Ngoko abafundi bakhe bamthabatha baza bamthoba ngobusuku ngembobo eseludongeni, bemhlisa ngengobozi.+

26 Ekufikeni eYerusalem+ wenza imigudu yokuzibandakanya nabafundi; kodwa bonke babemoyika, ngenxa yokuba babengakholelwa ukuba ungumfundi. 27 Ngoko uBharnabhas weza kumnceda+ waza wamsa kubapostile, yaye wabaxelela ngokweenkcukacha indlela awayibona ngayo iNkosi+ endleleni nokuba yayithethile kuye,+ nendlela awayethethe ngayo ngokukhaliphileyo eDamasko+ egameni likaYesu. 28 Yaye waqhubeka kunye nabo, engena ephuma eYerusalem, ethetha ngokukhaliphileyo egameni leNkosi;+ 29 ethetha kwaye ephikisana namaYuda athetha isiGrike. Kodwa wona enza amalinge okumbulala.+ 30 Xa abazalwana bakufumanisayo oku, bamhlisela eKesareya baza bamthumela eTarso.+

31 Ngoko, eneneni, ibandla+ kulo lonke elakwaYuda naseGalili naseSamariya laba noxolo, lisakheka; yaye njengoko lalihamba ekoyikeni uYehova+ nakwintuthuzelo yomoya oyingcwele+ laqhubeka lisanda.

32 Ke kaloku njengoko uPetros wayetyhutyha zonke iinxalenye wehlela nakwabo bangcwele ababehlala eLida.+ 33 Apho wafumana umntu othile ogama linguAyineya, owayelele tywa kukhuko lwakhe kangangeminyaka esibhozo, njengoko wayefe umzimba. 34 Waza uPetros wathi kuye:+ “Ayineya, uYesu Kristu uyakuphilisa.+ Vuka wandlule umandlalo wakho.” Yaye wavuka ngoko nangoko. 35 Kwaye bonke abo babengabemi baseLida nakwithafa laseSharon+ bambona, baza baphethukela eNkosini.+

36 Kodwa eYopa+ kwakukho umfundi othile ogama linguTabhitha, elo, xa liguqulelwe, lithetha ukuthi Dorkas. Wayephuphuma zizenzo ezilungileyo+ nezipho zenceba awayezinikela. 37 Kodwa ngaloo mihla kwenzeka ukuba agule aze afe. Ngoko bamhlamba umzimba baza bambeka kwigumbi eliphezulu. 38 Ke kaloku njengoko iLida yayikufuphi neYopa,+ xa abafundi beva ukuba uPetros wayekwesi sixeko bathumela kuye amadoda amabini ukuya kumbongoza athi: “Nceda ungathingazi ukuza kuthi.” 39 Ngako oko uPetros wesuka waza wahamba kunye nawo. Yaye xa wafikayo, bamkhokelela kwigumbi eliphezulu; baza bonke abahlolokazi beza kuye belila kwaye bembonisa izambatho zangaphantsi nezangaphezulu+ ezo uDorkas wayefudula ezenza ngoxa wayenabo.+ 40 Kodwa uPetros wakhuphela phandle+ wonke ubani, waguqa ngamadolo, wathandaza, waza waphethukela kwisidumbu wathi: “Tabhitha, vuka!” Wavula amehlo akhe waza, njengoko wayebona uPetros, wahlala nkqo.+ 41 Emnika isandla sakhe, wamphakamisa,+ yaye wabiza abo bangcwele nabahlolokazi waza wamzisa ephila.+ 42 Oku kwaziwa kuyo yonke iYopa, baza abaninzi baba ngamakholwa eNkosini.+ 43 Kangangemihla eliqela wahlala eYopa+ kunye noSimon othile, umsuki.+

10 Ke kaloku eKesareya kwakukho umntu othile ogama linguKorneli, igosa lomkhosi+ webutho laseItali,+ njengoko wawubizwa njalo, 2 umntu ozinikeleyo+ nowoyika+ uThixo ndawonye nayo yonke indlu yakhe, enikela izipho ezininzi zenceba ebantwini,+ kwaye eqhubeka ekhunga kuThixo.+ 3 Kwathi malunga nelixa lesithoba+ lemini wabona ngokucacileyo embonweni+ kufika ingelosi+ kaThixo yaza yathi kuye: “Korneli!” 4 Wayondela waza, esothuka, wathi: “Yintoni na, Nkosi?” Yathi kuye: “Imithandazo yakho+ nezipho zenceba zinyuke njengesikhumbuzo phambi koThixo.+ 5 Ngoko ke thuma amadoda aye eYopa uze ubize uSimon othile onefani enguPetros. 6 Yena ulundwendwe kwaSimon othile, umsuki, onendlu ngaselwandle.”+ 7 Kamsinya nje yakumka ingelosi eyayithetha kuye, wabiza ezibini kwizicaka zakhe zendlu nejoni elizinikeleyo phakathi kwabo babesoloko bekunye naye,+ 8 yaye wabalisa yonk’ into kubo waza wabathumela eYopa.+

9 Ngemini elandelayo njengoko babeqhubeka nohambo lwabo yaye besondela esixekweni, uPetros wenyuka waya phezu kwendlu+ malunga nelixa lesithandathu ukuya kuthandaza.+ 10 Kodwa walamba kakhulu waza wafuna ukudla. Ngoxa babelungiselela, wazungubala+ 11 waza wabona izulu livulekile+ yaye kusihla uhlobo oluthile lwesitya njengeshiti lelinen elikhulu lithotyelwa emhlabeni ngamasondo alo omane; 12 yaye kuso kwakukho zonke iintlobo zezidalwa ezizitho zine nezinto ezirhubuluzayo zomhlaba neentaka zezulu.+ 13 Yaye kwafika ilizwi kuye lisithi: “Vuka, Petros, xhela udle!”+ 14 Kodwa uPetros wathi: “Nakanye, Nkosi, ngenxa yokuba andizange ndiyidle nantoni na eyinqambi nengahlambulukanga.”+ 15 Laza ilizwi lathetha naye kwakhona, isihlandlo sesibini lisithi: “Musa ukuzibiza ngokuba ziyinqambi+ izinto uThixo aye wazihlambulula.” 16 Oku kwenzeka isihlandlo sesithathu, saza ngoko nangoko isitya sathatyathelwa phezulu ezulwini.+

17 Ke kaloku ngoxa uPetros wayedideke kakhulu ngaphakathi mayela noko usenokuba uthetha kona umbono awayewubonile, khangela! amadoda awayethunyelwe nguKorneli ayebuzise ngendlu kaSimon aza ema apho esangweni.+ 18 Yaye amemeza aza abuza enoba uSimon owayenefani enguPetros wayelundwendwe apho kusini na. 19 Njengoko uPetros wayecinga engqondweni yakhe ngalo mbono, umoya+ wathi: “Khangela! Amadoda amathathu afuna wena. 20 Noko ke, suka uhle, uhambe nawo, ungathandabuzi konke konke, ngokuba athunywe ndim.”+ 21 Ngoko uPetros wehla waya kuloo madoda waza wathi: “Khangelani! Ndim lo nimfunayo. Nikho ngabuni apha?” 22 Athi: “UKorneli, igosa lomkhosi, indoda elilungisa nemoyikayo uThixo+ nekunikelwe ingxelo entle ngayo+ luhlanga luphela lwamaYuda, wanikwa uyalelo lobuthixo yingelosi engcwele ukuba athumele ukuba uze endlwini yakhe nokuze eve izinto oya kuzithetha.” 23 Ngoko ke wawamemela ngaphakathi waza wawenzela ububele.

Ngemini elandelayo wavuka waza wemka nawo, yaye abathile kubazalwana baseYopa bahamba naye. 24 Ngemini esemva koko wangena eKesareya. Kambe ke, uKorneli wayebalindele yaye wayebizele ndawonye izalamane nabahlobo bakhe abasondeleyo. 25 Njengoko uPetros wayengena, uKorneli wamhlangabeza, wawa phantsi ezinyaweni zakhe waza waqubuda kuye. 26 Kodwa uPetros wamphakamisa, esithi: “Sukuma; nam ngokwam ndingumntu.”+ 27 Yaye njengoko wayencokola naye wangena waza wafika abantu abaninzi bedibene, 28 wathi kubo: “Niyazi kakuhle indlela ekungekho mthethweni ngayo ngomYuda ukuba azibandakanye okanye asondele kumntu wesinye isizwe;+ ukanti mna uThixo undibonise ukuba ndifanele ndingabizi mntu ngokuthi uyinqambi okanye akahlambulukanga.+ 29 Ngenxa yoko ndizile, ngokwenene ngaphandle kokwala, ndakubizwa. Ngoko ke ndibuza isizathu sokuba nindibize.”

30 Ngako oko uKorneli wathi: “Khangela! kwiintsuku ezine ezidluleyo xa ndibala ukususela kweli lixa bendithandaza endlwini yam ngelixa lesithoba,+ kwesuka kwema phambi kwam indoda enesambatho esiqaqambileyo+ 31 yaza yathi, ‘Korneli, umthandazo wakho uviwe ngokukholekileyo nezipho zakho zenceba zikhunjulwe phambi koThixo.+ 32 Thumela, ke ngoko, eYopa uze ubize uSimon, onefani enguPetros.+ Ulundwendwe endlwini kaSimon, umsuki, ngaselwandle.’+ 33 Ngoko ke ndithumele kwaoko kuwe, yaye wenze kakuhle ngokuza apha. Ngoko ngeli xesha sikho sonke phambi koThixo ukuze sive zonke izinto oyalelwe nguYehova ukuba uzithethe.”+

34 Ngako oko uPetros wawuvula umlomo wakhe waza wathi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo ndiyaqonda ukuba uThixo akakhethi buso,+ 35 kodwa kwiintlanga zonke umntu omoyikayo aze asebenze ubulungisa wamkelekile kuye.+ 36 Wathumela ilizwi+ koonyana bakaSirayeli ukuvakalisa kubo iindaba ezilungileyo zoxolo+ ngoYesu Kristu: Yena uyiNkosi yabo bonke abanye.+ 37 Niyawazi umxholo ekwakuthethwa ngawo kulo lonke elakwaYuda, ukuqalela eGalili emva kobhaptizo uYohane awayelushumayela,+ 38 ongulo, uYesu owayevela eNazarete, indlela uThixo awamthambisa ngayo ngomoya oyingcwele+ namandla, yaye walityhutyha ilizwe esenza okulungileyo kwaye ephilisa bonke abo bacinezelwe nguMtyholi;+ ngenxa yokuba uThixo wayenaye.+ 39 Yaye singamangqina azo zonke izinto awazenzayo kwilizwe lamaYuda naseYerusalem; kodwa bambulala ngokumxhoma esibondeni.+ 40 UThixo wamvusa ngomhla wesithathu waza wamenza abonakale,+ 41 kungekhona kubo bonke abantu, kodwa kumangqina awamiselwa kwangaphambili nguThixo,+ kuthi, thina badla baza basela kunye naye+ emva kokuvuka kwakhe kwabafileyo. 42 Kanjalo, wasiyalela ukuba sishumayele+ ebantwini nokuba sinikele ubungqina obucokisekileyo bokuba nguye Lowo umiswe nguThixo ukuba abe ngumgwebi wabaphilayo nabafileyo.+ 43 Kuye bonke abaprofeti banikela ubungqina,+ bokuba wonk’ ubani okholwayo kuye ufumana uxolelo lwezono ngegama lakhe.”+

44 Ngoxa uPetros wayesathetha ngale mibandela umoya oyingcwele wawela phezu kwabo bonke abo babeliva ilizwi.+ 45 Yaye abo bathembekileyo ababeze noPetros ababengabalukileyo bathi manga, ngenxa yokuba isipho sesisa somoya oyingcwele sasithululwa kwanaphezu kwabantu beentlanga.+ 46 Kuba babeva bethetha ngeelwimi yaye bemenza mkhulu uThixo.+ Wandula ke uPetros wasabela ngokuthi: 47 “Ukho na onokuwathintela amanzi ukuze aba bangabhaptizwa+ abo bamkele umoya oyingcwele kwananjengoko senjenjalo nathi?” 48 Ngako oko wabayalela ukuba babhaptizwe egameni likaYesu Kristu.+ Ngoko bamcela ukuba ahlale kangangeentsuku ezithile.

11 Ke kaloku abapostile nabazalwana ababekwelakwaYuda beva ukuba nabantu beentlanga+ babelamkele ilizwi likaThixo. 2 Ngoko xa uPetros wenyukela eYerusalem, abaxhasi bolwaluko+ basukuzana naye, 3 besithi wayengene endlwini yamadoda angalukileyo waza wadla nawo. 4 Ngako oko uPetros waqhubeka ecacisa iinkcukacha kubo, esithi:

5 “Ndandikwisixeko saseYopa ndithandaza, ndaza ndazungubala, ndabona umbono, uhlobo oluthile lwesitya sisihla njengeshiti lelinen elikhulu lithotywa ezulwini ngamasondo alo amane, yaye leza lada lafikelela kum. 6 Ndilondele, ndaqwalasela ndaza ndabona izidalwa ezizitho zine zomhlaba namarhamncwa nezinto ezirhubuluzayo neentaka zezulu.+ 7 Kanjalo ndeva ilizwi lisithi kum, ‘Vuka, Petros, xhela udle!’+ 8 Kodwa ndathi, ‘Nakanye, Nkosi, ngenxa yokuba into eyinqambi okanye engahlambulukanga ayizange ingene emlonyeni wam.’+ 9 Isihlandlo sesibini ilizwi elivela ezulwini laphendula lathi, ‘Musa ukuzibiza ngokuba ziyinqambi izinto azihlambululeyo uThixo.’+ 10 Oku kwenzeka okwesihlandlo sesithathu, yaye yonk’ into yenyuselwa ezulwini kwakhona.+ 11 Kanjalo, khangela! ngephanyazo kwakumi amadoda amathathu kwindlu esasikuyo, wona ethunyelwe kum evela eKesareya.+ 12 Ngoko umoya+ wandixelela ukuba ndihambe nawo, ndingathandabuzi konke konke. Kodwa aba bazalwana bathandathu nabo bahamba kunye nam, yaye sangena endlwini yaloo ndoda.+

13 “Yasixelela indlela eyabona ngayo ingelosi isima endlwini yayo isithi, ‘Thumela abantu eYopa uze uthumele kuSimon onefani enguPetros ukuba eze,+ 14 yaye uya kuthetha kuwe izinto eniya kusindiswa ngazo wena nayo yonke indlu yakho.’+ 15 Kodwa ndakuqalisa ukuthetha, umoya oyingcwele wawela phezu kwabo kanye njengoko wawenjenjalo naphezu kwethu ekuqaleni.+ 16 Ngako oko ndakhumbula ilizwi leNkosi, indlela eyayifudula isitsho ngayo ukuthi, ‘UYohane wabhaptiza ngamanzi,+ kodwa nina niya kubhaptizelwa kumoya oyingcwele.’+ 17 Ukuba, ke ngoko, uThixo ubanike bona isipho sesisa esifanayo njengoko wayenjenjalo nangathi bakholiweyo kwiNkosi uYesu Kristu,+ bendingubani na mna ukuba ndikwazi ukuthintela uThixo?”+

18 Ke kaloku bakuva ezi zinto, bayekelela,+ bamzukisa uThixo,+ besithi: “Ke, ngoko, uThixo ubanike inguquko ngenjongo yobomi kwanabantu beentlanga.”+

19 Ngenxa yoko abo babechithachithwe+ yimbandezelo eyavela ngenxa kaStefano batyhutyha baya kufikelela kwelaseFenike+ naseSipro+ nakwa-Antiyokwe, kodwa bengalithethi kuye nabani na ilizwi ngaphandle kwakumaYuda kuphela.+ 20 Noko ke, kubo kwakukho namadoda athile aseSipro naseKirene aweza kwa-Antiyokwe aza athetha nabantu abathetha isiGrike,+ evakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo zeNkosi uYesu.+ 21 Ngapha koko, isandla sikaYehova+ sasikunye nawo, yaye inani elikhulu elaba ngamakholwa laphethukela eNkosini.+

22 Ingxelo engabo yafikelela ezindlebeni zebandla elaliseYerusalem, yaye bathumela uBharnabhas+ ukuya kufikelela kwa-Antiyokwe. 23 Xa wafikayo waza wabubona ububele obungasifanelanga+ bukaThixo, waba nemihlali+ waza wabakhuthaza bonke ukuba baqhubeke eNkosini ngokusuk’ entliziyweni;+ 24 kuba wayeyindoda elungileyo yaye ezele ngumoya oyingcwele nokholo. Kongezelelwa isihlwele esikhulu eNkosini.+ 25 Ngoko waya eTarso+ esiya kufuna ngokucokisekileyo uSawule+ 26 yaye, emva kokuba emfumene, wamzisa kwa-Antiyokwe. Kangangonyaka uphela bahlanganisana ndawonye nabo ebandleni baza bafundisa isihlwele esikhulu, yaye kwaqala kwa-Antiyokwe ukuba abafundi ngolwalathiso lobuthixo babizwe ngokuba ngamaKristu.+

27 Ke kaloku ngezi ntsuku kwehla abaprofeti+ bevela eYerusalem beza kwa-Antiyokwe. 28 Omnye wabo ogama linguAgabho+ wesuka wabonisa ngomoya ukuba kwakusele kuza kubakho indlala enkulu kumhlaba omiweyo uphela;+ leyo yabakho ngexesha likaKlawudiyo. 29 Ngoko abo babengabafundi bazimisela, ngamnye kubo kangangoko wayenako,+ ukuthumela ulungiselelo lwamancedo+ kubazalwana ababehlala kwelakwaYuda; 30 yaye oku bakwenza, bethumela kumadoda amakhulu ngesandla sikaBharnabhas noSawule.+

12 Malunga nelo xesha uHerode ukumkani wasa izandla zakhe ukuba abaphathe kakubi+ abathile kwabo basebandleni. 2 Wambulala uYakobi umntakwabo Yohane+ ngekrele.+ 3 Njengoko wabona ukuba kwakukholekile kumaYuda,+ waqhubeka wabamba noPetros. (Ngokunjalo, leyo yayiyimihla yamaqebengwana angenagwele.)+ 4 Yaye embambile, wamfaka entolongweni,+ emnikela kumaqela amane atshintshisanayo ngalinye linamajoni amane ukuba amlinde, njengoko wayezimisele ukumvelisa ebantwini emva kwepasika.+ 5 Ngenxa yoko uPetros wayegcinwa entolongweni; kodwa ibandla laqhubeka limthandazela+ kakhulu kuThixo.

6 Ke kaloku xa uHerode wayesele eza kumvelisa, ngobo busuku uPetros wayelele ebotshwe ngemixokelelwane emibini phakathi kwamajoni amabini, yaye abalindi phambi komnyango babegcine intolongo. 7 Kodwa, khangela! ingelosi kaYehova yema+ khona apho, kwaza ukukhanya kwakhanya esiseleni sentolongo. Imbetha ecaleni uPetros, yamvusa,+ isithi: “Vuka ngokukhawuleza!” Yaza imixokelelwane yakhe yawa+ ezandleni zakhe. 8 Ingelosi+ yathi kuye: “Bhinqa uze ubophe iimbadada zakho.” Wenjenjalo. Ekugqibeleni yathi kuye: “Faka isambatho+ sakho sangaphezulu uze undilandele.” 9 Yaye waphuma waza wayilandela, kodwa wayengazi ukuba oko kwakusenzeka ngengelosi kwakuyinene. Enyanisweni, wayeba ubona umbono.+ 10 Bedlula kumlindi wokuqala nowesibini bafika esangweni lentsimbi elikhokelela esixekweni, yaye lazivulekela.+ Kwaye emva kokuba bephumile bahamba isitrato sasinye, yaza ngoko nangoko ingelosi yemka kuye. 11 Yaye uPetros, eqabuka, wathi: “Ngoku okunene ndiyazi ukuba uYehova uthumele ingelosi+ yakhe waza wandihlangula+ esandleni sikaHerode nakuko konke oko ebekulindele amaYuda.”

12 Yaye emva kokukuqwalasela oku, waya endlwini kaMariya unina kaYohane owayenefani enguMarko,+ apho abaliqela babehlanganisene khona bethandaza. 13 Akunkqonkqoza elucangweni lwesango, isicakazana esigama linguRoda seza kusabela, 14 yaye, sakuliqonda ilizwi likaPetros, ngenxa yovuyo asizange silivule isango, kodwa sabalekela ngaphakathi saza saxela ukuba uPetros umi phambi kwesango. 15 Bathi kuso: “Ushiywa ziingqondo.” Kodwa sema ngelithi kunjalo. Bathi: “Yingelosi yakhe.”+ 16 Kodwa uPetros waqhubeka enkqonkqoza. Bakuvula, bambona baza bakhwankqiswa. 17 Kodwa wawangawangisa+ ngesandla sakhe ukuba bathi cwaka waza wabaxelela ngokweenkcukacha indlela uYehova amkhuphe ngayo entolongweni, yaye wathi: “Zixeleni ezi zinto kuYakobi+ nakubazalwana.” Ngako oko waphuma waza wahambela kwenye indawo.

18 Ngoko, kwakuba semini,+ kwabakho isiphithiphithi esikhulu phakathi kwamajoni mayela noko ngokwenene kwakwenzekile ngoPetros. 19 UHerode+ wamfuna ngenkuthalo yaye, akungamfumani, wabancina abalindi waza wayalela ukuba baqhutywe baye kohlwaywa;+ yaye wehla kwelakwaYuda waya eKesareya waza wachitha ixesha elithile apho.

20 Ke kaloku yena wayelwile nabantu baseTire nabaseSidon. Ngoko ngamxhelo mnye beza kuye yaye, emva kokweyisela uBlasto, owayephethe igumbi lokulala likakumkani, bazicelela uxolo, ngenxa yokuba ilizwe labo lalibonelelwa ngokutya+ lelo likakumkani. 21 Kodwa ngemini emisiweyo uHerode wazambesa ngesambatho sasebukhosini, wahlala phantsi kwisihlalo sokugweba waza wanikela intetho yesidlangalala. 22 Abantu ababehlanganisene bakhwaza besithi: “Lilizwi lothixo elo, yaye asilamntu!”+ 23 Ngephanyazo ingelosi kaYehova yamxabela,+ ngenxa yokuba engamnikanga uzuko uThixo;+ yaye wadliwa ziimpethu waza wabhubha.

24 Kodwa ilizwi+ likaYehova laqhubeka likhula yaye lisasazeka.+

25 Bona ke uBharnabhas+ noSawule, emva kokuba beluphumeze ngokupheleleyo ulungiselelo lwamancedo+ eYerusalem, babuya baza bathabatha noYohane,+ lowo wayenefani enguMarko.

13 Ke kaloku kwa-Antiyokwe kwakukho abaprofeti+ nabafundisi kwibandla lasekuhlaleni, uBharnabhas kwakunye noSimiyon owayebizwa ngokuba nguNigere, noLukiyo+ waseKirene, noManayen owafundiswa noHerode umlawuli wesithili, noSawule. 2 Njengoko babelungiselela esidlangalaleni+ kuYehova yaye bezila ukutya, umoya oyingcwele wathi: “Kubo bonke abantu ndibekeleni uBharnabhas noSawule+ bucala ngenxa yomsebenzi endibabizele wona.” 3 Bandula ke bazila ukutya, bathandaza, bababeka izandla,+ baza babandulula.

4 Ngako oko la madoda, ethunyelwe ngumoya oyingcwele, ehla aya eSelukiya, yaye ukusuka apho anduluka ngesikhephe aya eSipro. 5 Athi akuba seSalami aqalisa ukuvakalisa ilizwi likaThixo kwizindlu zesikhungu zamaYuda. Ayenaye kwanoYohane+ enjengomlindi.

6 Akuba esityhutyhile isiqithi siphela de aya kufikelela ePafo, aqubisana nendoda ethile, umkhafuli, umprofeti+ wobuxoki, umYuda ogama linguBhar-Yesu, 7 yaye wayekunye nebamba uSergiyo Pawulos, indoda enengqiqo. Ebizele kuye uBharnabhas noSawule, lo mntu wayekufuna ngokunyamekileyo ukuva ilizwi likaThixo. 8 Kodwa uElimas umkhafuli (leyo, enyanisweni, yindlela igama lakhe eliguqulelwa ngayo) wabachasa,+ efuna ukulishenxisa ibamba elukholweni. 9 USawule, okwanguPawulos, ezaliswe ngumoya oyingcwele, wakhangela kuye ngenyameko 10 waza wathi: “Owu mntundini uzele lulo lonke uhlobo lwenkqatho nalo lonke uhlobo lobutshijolo, nyanandini kaMtyholi,+ lutshabandini lwayo yonk’ into ebubulungisa, akuyi kuyeka na ukuzigqwetha iindlela ezilungileyo zikaYehova? 11 Kaloku, ngoko, khangela! isandla sikaYehova siphezu kwakho, yaye uya kuba yimfama, ungakuboni ukukhanya kwelanga kangangesihlandlo sexesha.” Ngephanyazo wawelwa yinkungu eshinyeneyo nobumnyama, yaye wajikeleza efuna abantu bokumrhola ngesandla.+ 12 Ngoko ibamba,+ lakukubona oko kwakwenzekile, laba likholwa, njengoko lalithe khamnqa yimfundiso kaYehova.

13 Abantu, ndawonye noPawulos, bahamba ke ngolwandle besuka ePafo baza bafika ePerga esePamfiliya.+ Kodwa uYohane+ wemka kubo waza wabuyela+ eYerusalem. 14 Noko ke, bona bahamba besuka ePerga baya kwa-Antiyokwe yasePisidiya yaye, bengena kwindlu yesikhungu+ ngomhla wesabatha, bathabatha isihlalo. 15 Emva kofundo lwasesidlangalaleni loMthetho+ nolwabaProfeti amagosa ongamelayo+ kwindlu yesikhungu athumela kubo, esithi: “Madoda, bazalwana, ukuba kukho naliphi na ilizwi eninalo lokukhuthaza abantu, lixeleni.” 16 Ngoko uPawulos wasukuma, yaye ewangawangisa+ ngesandla sakhe, wathi:

“Madoda, maSirayeli nani nimoyikayo uThixo, yivani.+ 17 UTHIXO wesi sizwana uSirayeli wanyula ookhokho bethu, yaye wabaphakamisa abantu ebudeni bokuhlala kwabo njengabaphambukeli kwilizwe laseYiputa waza wabakhupha kulo ngengalo ephakamileyo.+ 18 Yaye kangangethuba elimalunga neminyaka engamashumi amane+ wazinyamezela izenzo zabo entlango. 19 Emva kokutshabalalisa iintlanga ezisixhenxe kwilizwe lakwaKanan, wababela ilizwe lazo ngeqashiso:+ 20 konke oko ebudeni beminyaka emalunga namakhulu amane anamashumi amahlanu.

“Yaye emva kwezi zinto wabanika abagwebi kwada kwakuSamuweli umprofeti.+ 21 Kodwa ukususela ngoko bafuna ukumkani,+ waza uThixo wabanika uSawule unyana kaKishe, indoda yesizwe sakwaBhenjamin,+ kangangeminyaka engamashumi amane. 22 Yaye emva kokumshenxisa,+ wabavelisela uDavide njengokumkani,+ lowo wanikela ubungqina ngaye wathi, ‘Ndifumene uDavide unyana kaYese,+ indoda evunyiweyo yintliziyo yam,+ oya kwenza zonke izinto endizinqwenelayo.’+ 23 Kwinzala+ yalo mntu ngokuvumelana nesithembiso sakhe uThixo uzisele uSirayeli umsindisi,+ uYesu, 24 emva kokuba uYohane,+ ngaphambi kokungena kwaLowo,+ washumayela esidlangalaleni kubo bonke abantu bakwaSirayeli ubhaptizo olufuzisela inguquko. 25 Kodwa njengoko uYohane wayezalisekisa ikhondo lakhe, wayeye athi, ‘Niba ndingubani na? Andinguye. Kodwa, khangelani! ukho ozayo emva kwam endingakufanelekelanga ukukhulula iimbadada zeenyawo zakhe.’+

26 “Madoda, bazalwana, nina bonyana bomnombo wakwa-Abraham nabanye phakathi kwenu abamoyikayo uThixo, ilizwi lolu sindiso lithunyelwe kuthi.+ 27 Kuba abemi baseYerusalem nabalawuli babo abamazanga Yena,+ kodwa, xa bebesebenza njengabagwebi, bazizalisekisa izinto ezavakaliswa ngabaProfeti,+ zinto ezo ezifundwa ngokuvakalayo iiSabatha zonke, 28 yaye, nangona bengafumananga sizathu sokuba afe,+ bafuna kuPilato ukuba makabulawe.+ 29 Bakuba, ke, bezifezile zonke izinto ezazibhaliwe ngaye,+ bamthula esibondeni+ baza bambeka engcwabeni lenkumbulo.+ 30 Kodwa uThixo wamvusa kwabafileyo;+ 31 yaye kangangeentsuku ezininzi wabonakala kwabo babenyuke kunye naye ukusuka eGalili ukuya eYerusalem, ngoku abangamangqina akhe ebantwini.+

32 “Yaye ngoko sivakalisa kuni iindaba ezilungileyo ngesithembiso esenziwa kookhokho,+ 33 eso uThixo asizalisekise ngokupheleleyo kuthi bantwana babo ngokuthi avuse uYesu;+ kwananjengoko kubhaliwe kwindumiso yesibini kwathiwa, ‘Ungunyana wam, ndiye ndaba nguYihlo ngalo mhla.’+ 34 Yaye ngokuphathelele ukumvusa kwakhe kwabafileyo, angabi sabuyela ekonakaleni, wathi, ‘Ndiza kuninika ububele bothando obuthembekileyo bukaDavide.’+ 35 Uthi kwenye indumiso, ‘Akuyi kumvumela lowo unyanisekileyo wakho ukuba abone ukonakala.’+ 36 Kuba uDavide,+ kwelinye icala, wenza ukuthanda kukaThixo okucacileyo kwisizukulwana sakhe waza walala ekufeni yaye wabekwa kunye nookhokho bakhe, wakubona ukonakala.+ 37 Kwelinye icala, lowo uThixo wamvusayo akazange abone konakala.+

38 “Makwazeke ke ngoko kuni, bazalwana, ukuba ngaye Lowo kuvakaliswa kuni uxolelo lwezono;+ 39 nokuba kuzo zonke izinto enaningenakuvakaliswa ningenatyala kuzo ngomthetho kaMoses,+ wonk’ ubani okholwayo uvakaliswa engenatyala ngaye Lowo.+ 40 Ngoko ke lumkani ukuba oko kutshiwo kubaProfeti kunganifikeli, 41 ‘Bonani, nina bagculeli, nize nimangaliswe, yaye yithini shwaka, ngenxa yokuba ndisebenza umsebenzi ngemihla yenu, umsebenzi eningasayi kuze niwukholelwe kwanokuba nabani na anganibalisela wona ngokweenkcukacha.’”+

42 Ke kaloku ekuphumeni kwabo, abantu babongoza ngale mibandela ukuba ithethwe kubo ngesabatha elandelayo.+ 43 Ngoko emva kokuchithakala kwendibano yendlu yesikhungu, abaninzi bamaYuda nabangeni ebuYudeni ababenqula uThixo balandela uPawulos noBharnabhas,+ abathi ekuthetheni kubo baqalisa ukubabongoza+ ukuba baqhubeke kububele obungasifanelanga bukaThixo.+

44 Ngesabatha elandelayo phantse sonke isixeko sahlanganisana ndawonye ukuze sive ilizwi likaYehova.+ 45 Xa amaYuda abona izihlwele, azaliswa likhwele+ aza aziphikisa ngokunyelisa izinto ezazithethwa nguPawulos.+ 46 Yaye ngoko, bethetha ngenkalipho, uPawulos noBharnabhas bathi: “Kwakuyimfuneko ngelizwi likaThixo ukuba lithethwe kuni kuqala.+ Ekubeni nina nilityhalela kude+ kuni yaye ningazigwebi ningababufanelekeleyo ubomi obungunaphakade, khangelani! siphethukela ezintlangeni.+ 47 Enyanisweni, uYehova ubeke umyalelo phezu kwethu wathi, ‘Ndikumisele njengokhanyiselo lweentlanga,+ ukuze wena ube lusindiso ukusa eziphelweni zomhlaba.’”+

48 Bathi abeentlanga bakukuva oku, baba nemihlali, balizukisa ilizwi likaYehova,+ yaye bonke abo babenotyekelo olufanelekileyo ngobomi obungunaphakade baba ngamakholwa.+ 49 Ngapha koko, ilizwi likaYehova laqhubeka lithwalelwa kulo lonke ilizwe.+ 50 Kodwa amaYuda+ axhokonxa abafazi abadumileyo ababenqula uThixo namadoda aziintloko esixeko, yaye avusa intshutshiso+ nxamnye noPawulos noBharnabhas aza abaphosela ngaphandle kwemida yawo. 51 Bawavuthululela uthuli lweenyawo zabo+ baza baya eIkoniyo. 52 Yaye abafundi baqhubeka bezaliswa luvuyo+ nomoya oyingcwele.

14 Ke kaloku eIkoniyo+ bangena kunye kwindlu yesikhungu+ yamaYuda baza bathetha ngokokude inkitha enkulu yamaYuda neyamaGrike+ ibe ngamakholwa. 2 Kodwa amaYuda angakholwanga axhokonxa+ abantu beentlanga, abafaka umoya ombi ngakubazalwana.+ 3 Bachitha ixesha elide bethetha ngenkalipho ngegunya likaYehova, owanikela ubungqina kwilizwi lobubele bakhe obungasifanelanga ngokunikela imiqondiso nemihlola ukuba yenzeke ngezandla zabo.+ 4 Noko ke, inkitha yesixeko yahlukana, yaye bambi babengakumaYuda kodwa abanye bengakubapostile. 5 Ke kaloku xa kwabakho ilinge logonyamelo kubo abantu beentlanga namaYuda nabalawuli bawo, ukuba babaphathe ngokusa baze babagibisele ngamatye,+ 6 bona, bakwaziswa ngako, basabela+ kwizixeko zaseLikawoniya, iListra neDerbhe nelizwe elijikelezileyo; 7 yaye apho baqhubeka bezivakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo.+

8 Ke kaloku eListra kwakuhleli indoda ethile eyayilimele ezinyaweni, isisiqhwala ukususela esibelekweni sikanina,+ yaye yayingazange ihambe konke konke. 9 Lo mntu wayephulaphule uPawulos ethetha, owathi yena, ekhangele ngenyameko kuye yaye ebona ukuba wayenokholo+ olungamenza aphile, 10 wathi ngelizwi elikhulu: “Yima nkqo ngeenyawo zakho.” Yaye waxhuma waza waqalisa ukuhamba.+ 11 Zaza izihlwele, zibona oko uPawulos wayekwenzile, zaphakamisa amazwi azo, zisithi ngolwimi lwaseLikawoniya: “Oothixo+ baye baba njengabantu yaye bahlile beza kuthi!” 12 Yaye zabiza uBharnabhas ngokuba nguZeyus, kodwa uPawulos zisithi nguHermes, ekubeni wayengulowo ukhokelayo ekuthetheni. 13 Umbingeleli kaZeyus, otempile yakhe yayiphambi kwesixeko, wazisa iinkunzi zeenkomo nezidanga zeentyatyambo emasangweni yaye wayenqwenela ukunikela imibingelelo+ kunye nezihlwele.

14 Noko ke, xa abapostile uBharnabhas noPawulos bevayo ngoko, bakrazula izambatho zabo zangaphezulu baza baxhumela kuso isihlwele, bedanduluka 15 besithi: “Madoda, kutheni nisenza ezi zinto nje? Nathi singabantu+ abanobulwelwe+ obufanayo njengoko ninjalo nani, yaye sivakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo kuni, ukuba nani nijike kwezi zinto zililize+ niye kuThixo ophilayo,+ owenza izulu+ nomhlaba nolwandle nezinto zonke ezikuzo. 16 Kwizizukulwana ezidluleyo wazivumela zonke iintlanga ukuba zihambe ngeendlela zazo,+ 17 nangona, eneneni, engazange azishiye yena ngokwakhe ngaphandle kobungqina ngokuba wenza okulungileyo,+ eninika iimvula+ ezivela ezulwini namaxesha emveliso, ezizalisa iintliziyo zenu ngokutya nangokuchwayita.”+ 18 Naxa babezitshilo ezi zinto kwaba ngenkankulu ukuzithintela izihlwele ekubingeleleni kubo.

19 Kodwa amaYuda afika evela kwa-Antiyokwe naseIkoniyo aza azeyisela izihlwele,+ yaye zamxuluba uPawulos zaza zamrhuqela ngaphandle kwesixeko, zicinga ukuba ufile.+ 20 Noko ke, xa abafundi bamngqongayo, wavuka waza wangena esixekweni. Yaye ngemini elandelayo wemka noBharnabhas baya eDerbhe.+ 21 Emva kokuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo kweso sixeko nokwenza abafundi abaliqela,+ babuyela eListra naseIkoniyo nakwa-Antiyokwe, 22 besomeleza imiphefumlo yabafundi,+ bebakhuthaza ukuhlala elukholweni, besithi: “Simele singene ebukumkanini bukaThixo ngokuphumela kwiimbandezelo ezininzi.”+ 23 Ngaphezu koko, babamisela amadoda amakhulu+ kwibandla ngalinye baza, ngokuthandaza nokuzila ukutya,+ bawanikela kuYehova+ awayengamakholwa kuye.

24 Yaye bayityhutyha iPisidiya baza baya ePamfiliya,+ 25 kwaye, emva kokulithetha ilizwi ePerga, behla baya eAtaliya. 26 Ukusuka apho banduluka ngesikhephe besiya kwa-Antiyokwe,+ apho babenikelwe kububele obungasifanelanga bukaThixo ngomsebenzi ababewenze ngokupheleleyo.+

27 Bakuba befikile yaye belihlanganisele ndawonye ibandla, baqala ukubalisa+ izinto ezininzi uThixo awayezenzile ngabo, nokuba wayezivulele iintlanga umnyango wokholo.+ 28 Ngoko bachitha ixesha elininzi bekunye nabafundi.

15 Yaye kwehla abantu abathile bevela kwelakwaYuda+ baza bafundisa abazalwana besithi: “Ngaphandle kokuba naluke+ ngokwesiko likaMoses,+ aninakusindiswa.” 2 Kodwa xa kwabakho ingxwabangxwaba enkulu nokuphikisana kukaPawulos noBharnabhas kunye nabo, balungiselela ukuba uPawulos noBharnabhas nabanye abathile kubo benyuke baye kubapostile namadoda amakhulu eYerusalem+ ngokubhekisele kule mpikiswano.

3 Ngako oko, emva kokuba bekhatshwe ngokuyinxenye libandla,+ aba bantu baqhubeka nendlela yabo betyhutyha iFenike neSamariya, bebalisa ngokweenkcukacha inguquko yabantu beentlanga,+ yaye babebangela uvuyo olukhulu kubo bonke abazalwana.+ 4 Ekufikeni eYerusalem bamkelwa ngobubele+ libandla nabapostile namadoda amakhulu, yaye bazibalisa izinto ezininzi awayezenzile uThixo ngabo.+ 5 Kanti, bambi kwabo behlelo labaFarisi ababekholiwe baphakama kwizihlalo zabo baza bathi: “Kuyimfuneko ukuba baluswe+ baze bayalelwe ukuba bagcine umthetho kaMoses.”+

6 Yaye abapostile namadoda amakhulu bahlanganisana ndawonye ukuba babonisane ngalo mcimbi.+ 7 Ke kaloku xa kwabakho ukuphikisana okukhulu,+ uPetros wasukuma waza wathi kubo: “Madoda, bazalwana, niyazi kakuhle ukuba ukususela kwimihla yangaphambili uThixo wanyula phakathi kwenu ukuba abantu beentlanga balive ngomlomo wam ilizwi leendaba ezilungileyo baze bakholwe;+ 8 yaye uThixo, oyaziyo intliziyo,+ wanikela ubungqina ngokubanika umoya oyingcwele,+ kanye njengoko wenjenjalo nakuthi. 9 Kwaye akazange enze lucalucalulo konke konke phakathi kwethu nabo,+ kodwa wazisulungekisa iintliziyo zabo ngokholo.+ 10 Ngoko, kutheni nimvavanya nje uThixo ngokubeka entanyeni yabafundi idyokhwe+ leyo thina nookhokho bethu singakwazanga ukuyithwala?+ 11 Ngokwahlukileyo koko, sikholosa ngokusindiswa ngobubele obungasifanelanga+ beNkosi uYesu ngendlela efanayo neyabo bantu.”+

12 Ngako oko inkitha iphela yathi cwaka, yaphulaphula kuBharnabhas noPawulos bebalisa imiqondiso nemihlola emininzi uThixo awayeyenza ngabo phakathi kweentlanga.+ 13 Emva kokuba beyekile ukuthetha, uYakobi waphendula, esithi: “Madoda, bazalwana, ndiveni.+ 14 USimiyon+ ubalise ngokucokisekileyo indlela uThixo okwesihlandlo sokuqala awayiphethulela ngayo ingqalelo yakhe ezintlangeni ukuba kuzo athabathe isizwana segama lakhe.+ 15 Yaye amazwi abaProfeti ayavumelana noku, kanye njengoko kubhaliwe kwathiwa, 16 ‘Emva kwezi zinto ndiya kubuya ndize ndiwakhe umnquba kaDavide owe phantsi; yaye ndiya kubuya ndiwakhe amanxuwa awo ndize ndiwumise kwakhona,+ 17 ukuze abo baseleyo ebantwini bamfune ngenyameko uYehova, ndawonye nabantu beentlanga zonke, abantu ababizwa ngegama lam, utsho uYehova, ozenzayo ezi zinto,+ 18 ezaziwayo kwakudala.’+ 19 Ngoko ke isigqibo sam sikukuba bangakhathazwa abo ezintlangeni baphethukela kuThixo,+ 20 kodwa babhalelwe ukuba bakhwebuke kwizinto ezingcoliswe zizithixo+ nakuhenyuzo+ nakwinto ekrwitshiweyo+ nasegazini.+ 21 Kuba ukususela kumaxesha amandulo kwizixeko ngezixeko uMoses ebenabo abo bamshumayelayo, ngenxa yokuba ufundwa ngokuvakalayo kwizindlu zesikhungu zonke iisabatha.”+

22 Ngoko kwakholeka kubapostile namadoda amakhulu ndawonye nebandla liphela ukuthumela amadoda anyuliweyo phakathi kwabo ukuya kwa-Antiyokwe kunye noPawulos noBharnabhas, angala, uYudas owayebizwa ngokuba nguBharsabhas+ noSilas, amadoda akhokelayo phakathi kwabazalwana; 23 yaye ngesandla sabo babhala oku:

“Abapostile namadoda amakhulu, bazalwana, kwabo bazalwana bakwa-Antiyokwe+ naseSiriya+ naseKilikiya abavela ezintlangeni: Siyabulisa! 24 Ekubeni sivile ukuba abathile phakathi kwethu banibangele inkathazo ngeentetho,+ bezama ukubhukuqa imiphefumlo yenu, nangona singazange sibanike nayiphi na imiyalelo,+ 25 sifikelele kwisivumelwano ngamxhelo mnye+ yaye kukholekile kuthi ukunyula amadoda okuwathuma kuni ndawonye nabo baziintandane kuthi, uBharnabhas noPawulos,+ 26 abantu abayinikeleyo imiphefumlo yabo ngenxa yegama leNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu.+ 27 Ngoko ke sithumela uYudas noSilas,+ ukuze nabo baxele izinto ezifanayo ngelizwi.+ 28 Kuba kukholekile kumoya oyingcwele+ nakuthi ngokwethu ukungongezeleli uxanduva+ olubhekele phaya kuni, ngaphandle kwezi zinto ziyimfuneko, 29 ukuba nikhwebuke kwizinto ezibingelelwe kwizithixo+ nasegazini+ nakwizinto ezikrwitshiweyo+ nakuhenyuzo.+ Ukuba niyazikhwebula kwezi zinto,+ niya kuphumelela. Mpilo-ntle!”

30 Ngako oko, bakuba bendululwe abantu, behla baya kwa-Antiyokwe, yaye bayihlanganisela ndawonye inkitha baza bayinika incwadi.+ 31 Emva kokuyifunda, baba nemihlali ngenxa yokhuthazo olo.+ 32 Yaye uYudas noSilas, ekubeni nabo babekwangabaprofeti,+ babakhuthaza abazalwana ngokuthetha okuninzi baza babomeleza.+ 33 Ngoko, emva kwexesha elithile, bandululwa ngoxolo+ ngabazalwana besiya kwabo babebathumile. 34 —— 35 Noko ke, uPawulos noBharnabhas, benabanye abaninzi, baqhubeka bechitha ixesha kwa-Antiyokwe+ befundisa yaye bevakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo zelizwi likaYehova.+

36 Ke kaloku emva kwemihla ethile uPawulos wathi kuBharnabhas: “Masibuyele size sityelele abazalwana kuzo zonke izixeko esavakalisa kuzo ilizwi likaYehova ukuze sibone ukuba banjani na.”+ 37 UBharnabhas wayezimisele ukuba kuthatyathwe kwanoYohane, owayebizwa ngokuba nguMarko.+ 38 Kodwa uPawulos akazange acinge ukuba kufanelekile ukuhamba naye, ekubeni wayebashiyile ePamfiliya+ akahamba nabo ukuya emsebenzini. 39 Ngako oku kwabakho ukudubuleka kabukhali komsindo, kangangokuba bahlukana; waza uBharnabhas+ wathabatha uMarko wanduluka ngesikhephe esiya eSipro.+ 40 UPawulos wakhetha uSilas+ waza wemka emva kokuba wayenikelwe kububele obungasifanelanga bukaYehova ngabazalwana.+ 41 Kodwa wayityhutyha iSiriya neKilikiya, esomeleza amabandla.+

16 Ngoko wafika eDerbhe naseListra.+ Yaye, khangela! kwakukho mfundi uthile apho ugama linguTimoti,+ unyana womfazi ongumYuda okholwayo kodwa oyise ungumGrike, 2 yaye kwakunikelwa ingxelo entle ngaye ngabazalwana eListra naseIkoniyo. 3 UPawulos wafuna ukuhamba naye, waza wamthabatha wamalusa+ ngenxa yamaYuda awayekwezo ndawo, kuba onke ayesazi ukuba uyise ngumGrike. 4 Ke kaloku njengoko babehamba betyhutyha izixeko babeye banikele kwabo balapho imimiselo ukuba bayigcine leyo kwakugqitywe kuyo ngabapostile namadoda amakhulu awayeseYerusalem.+ 5 Ngoko ke, eneneni, amabandla aqhubeka eqiniswa elukholweni+ yaye esanda ngenani imihla ngemihla.

6 Ngaphezu koko, badlula eFrigiya nakwilizwe laseGalati,+ ngenxa yokuba balelwa ngumoya oyingcwele ukulithetha ilizwi kuso isithili saseAsiya. 7 Ngokubhekele phaya, xa befika eMisiya benza imigudu yokuya eBhithiniya,+ kodwa umoya kaYesu awubavumelanga. 8 Ngoko badlula eMisiya baza behla baya eTrowa.+ 9 Yaye ebudeni bobusuku kwabonakala umbono+ kuPawulos: kwakumi indoda ethile yaseMakedoni, imbongoza isithi: “Welela ngapha eMakedoni uze usincede.” 10 Ke kaloku kamsinya nje akuba ebone lo mbono, safuna ukuya eMakedoni,+ sizenzela isigqibo sokuba uThixo wayesibizele ukuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo kubo.

11 Ngoko ke sahamba ngolwandle sisuka eTrowa saza seza ngqo eSamotraki, kodwa ngemini elandelayo saya eNeyapoli, 12 yaye ukusuka apho saya eFilipi,+ ithanga, esisixeko esiyintloko kwisithili saseMakedoni.+ Saqhubeka kwesi sixeko, sichitha imihla ethile. 13 Yaye ngomhla wesabatha saya ngaphandle kwesango ngasemlanjeni, apho sasicinga ukuba kwakukho indawo yokuthandaza; yaye sahlala phantsi saza saqalisa ukuthetha kubafazi ababehlanganisene apho. 14 Yaye umfazi othile ogama linguLidiya, umthengisi wezimfusa, wesixeko saseTiyatira+ nongumnquli kaThixo, wayephulaphule, kwaye uYehova wayivula yabanzi intliziyo+ yakhe ukuze anikele ingqalelo kwizinto ezazithethwa nguPawulos. 15 Ke kaloku xa yena nendlu yakhe babhaptizwayo,+ wathi ngelibongozayo: “Ukuba nindigwebe ndingothembekileyo kuYehova, ngenani endlwini yam nize nihlale.”+ Yaye wasicenga ukuba siye.+

16 Yaye njengoko sasisiya kwindawo yokuthandaza, sahlangatyezwa sisicakazana esithile esinomoya,+ idemon yokuvumisa.+ Sasifudula sizinika iinkosi zaso inzuzo eninzi+ ngokuqhelisela ubugcisa bokuxela izinto kwangaphambili. 17 Le ntombazana yasilandela thina noPawulos, idanduluka+ isithi: “Aba bantu bangamakhoboka oThixo ongOyena Uphakamileyo, abavakalisa kuni indlela yosindiso.” 18 Yakwenza oku kangangemihla emininzi. Ekugqibeleni uPawulos wadinwa koku+ waza wajika wathi kuloo moya: “Ndiyakuyalela egameni likaYesu Kristu ukuba uphume kuye.”+ Kwaye waphuma kanye ngelo lixa.+

19 Ngoko, zakubona iinkosi zayo ukuba limkile ithemba lazo lenzuzo,+ zambamba uPawulos noSilas zaza zabarhuqela kwindawo yemarike kubalawuli,+ 20 yaye, zabakhokelela koomantyi basekuhlaleni, zathi: “Aba bantu basiphazamisa+ ngokukhulu isixeko sethu, bengamaYuda nje bona, 21 yaye bavakalisa amasiko+ ekungekho mthethweni ngathi ukuba siwamkele okanye siwaqhelisele, ekubeni singamaRoma.” 22 Saza isihlwele sisonke savukelana nabo; yaye oomantyi basekuhlaleni, emva kokukrazula izambatho zabo zangaphezulu, banikela umyalelo wokubabetha ngeentonga.+ 23 Emva kokuba bebabethe izithonga ezininzi,+ babaphosa entolongweni, beyalela umgcini-ntolongo ukuba abagcine ngokunqabisekileyo.+ 24 Ngenxa yokuba efumene umyalelo onjalo, wabaphosa kwintolongo engaphakathi+ waza waziqinisa iinyawo zabo ezitokisini.+

25 Kodwa malunga naphakathi kobusuku+ uPawulos noSilas babethandaza, bedumisa uThixo ngengoma;+ yaye amabanjwa ayebeva. 26 Ngequbuliso kwabakho inyikima enkulu yomhlaba, kangangokuba iziseko zentolongo zagungqiswa. Ngaphezu koko, zonke iingcango zavuleka ngephanyazo, yaye imixokelelwane yabo bonke yakhululeka.+ 27 Umgcini-ntolongo, evuka ebuthongweni aze abone iingcango zentolongo zivulekile, wathi rhuthu ikrele lakhe yaye wayesele eza kuzibulala,+ ecinga ukuba amabanjwa abalekile.+ 28 Kodwa uPawulos wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu, esithi: “Musa ukuzenzakalisa,+ kuba sonke silapha!” 29 Ngoko wacela ukuba kuziwe nesibane waza waxhumela ngaphakathi yaye, engcangcazela, wawa phantsi+ phambi kukaPawulos noSilas. 30 Yaye wabazisa ngaphandle waza wathi: “Bahlekazi, ndimele ndenze ntoni na+ ukuze ndisindiswe?” 31 Bathi: “Kholwa kwiNkosi uYesu yaye uya kusindiswa,+ wena nendlu yakho.”+ 32 Balithetha ilizwi likaYehova kuye ndawonye nabo bonke abo babesendlwini yakhe.+ 33 Wabathabatha ngelo lixa lobusuku waza wayihlamba imivilambo yabo; yaye, bonke, yena nendlu yakhe babhaptizwa+ ngaphandle kokulibazisa. 34 Wabazisa endlwini yakhe waza walungisa itafile phambi kwabo, waphuphuma yimihlali kunye nayo yonke indlu yakhe ekubeni wayekholwa kuThixo.

35 Kwathi kwakuba semini, oomantyi basekuhlaleni+ bathumela amadindala ukuya kuthi: “Khulula loo madoda.” 36 Ngoko umgcini-ntolongo wawaxela amazwi abo kuPawulos esithi: “Oomantyi basekuhlaleni bathumele abantu ukuba nina nobabini nikhululwe. Ngoko ke, phumani nize nihambe ngoxolo.” 37 Kodwa uPawulos wathi kubo: “Basikatse esidlangalaleni singagwetyelwanga sohlwayo, singabantu abangamaRoma,+ baza basifaka entolongweni; yaye ngoku basikhupha ngokufihlakeleyo na? Hayi khona! mabeze kusikhupha ngokwabo.” 38 Amadindala awaxela la mazwi koomantyi basekuhlaleni. Bona bafikelwa luloyiko bakuva ukuba la madoda ayengamaRoma.+ 39 Ngoko beza bababongoza baza, emva kokubakhupha, babacela ukuba bemke kweso sixeko. 40 Kodwa baphuma entolongweni baza baya kwikhaya likaLidiya, yaye bakubona abazalwana babakhuthaza+ baza bemka.

17 Ke kaloku bahamba betyhutyha iAmfipoli neApoloniya baza baya eTesalonika,+ apho kwakukho indlu yesikhungu yamaYuda. 2 Ngoko ngokwesiko likaPawulos+ wangena ngaphakathi kuwo, yaye kangangeesabatha ezintathu waqiqa nawo ngeZibhalo,+ 3 ecacisa yaye engqina ngeembekiselo ukuba kwakuyimfuneko ngoKRISTU ukubandezeleka+ nokuvuka kwabafileyo,+ kwaye esithi: “Nguye lowo uKRISTU,+ lo Yesu ndimvakalisa kuni.” 4 Ngokomphumo bambi babo baba ngamakholwa+ baza bazinxulumanisa noPawulos noSilas,+ yenjenjalo nenkitha enkulu yamaGrike awayenqula uThixo nabafazi abaziintloko abaninzi.

5 Kodwa amaYuda, aba nekhwele,+ athabathela kuwo amadoda athile angendawo kulawo angoongqikana kwindawo yemarike yaye ayila ihlokondiba aza aqala ukwenza isixeko sibe sisaqunge.+ Kwaye ayihlasela indlu kaYason+ efuna ukubazisa kulo igquba. 6 Athi akungabafumani arhuqela uYason nabazalwana abathile kubalawuli besixeko, edanduluka esithi: “Aba bantu bawubhukuqileyo+ umhlaba omiweyo bakho nalapha, 7 yaye uYason ubamkele ngomoya wokubuk’ iindwendwe. Kwaye bonke aba bantu benza ngokuchasene nemimiselo+ kaKesare, besithi kukho omnye ukumkani,+ uYesu.” 8 Eneneni saphazamiseka isihlwele nabalawuli besixeko bakuva ezi zinto; 9 yaye kuqala emva kokuthabatha isibambiso esilingeneyo kuYason nakwabanye babandulula.

10 Ngoko nangoko ngobusuku+ abazalwana babathumela uPawulos noSilas eBhereya, yaye bakufika, baya kwindlu yesikhungu yamaYuda. 11 Aba ke bona babechubekile kunabo baseTesalonika, kuba balamkela ilizwi ngeyona ntumekelelo inkulu yengqondo, bezincina ngenyameko+ iZibhalo+ mihla le mayela nokuba zinjalo kusini na ezo zinto.+ 12 Ngoko ke abaninzi babo baba ngamakholwa, yaye benjenjalo nabafazi+ bamaGrike abadumileyo abaninzi namadoda. 13 Kodwa xa amaYuda avela eTesalonika aqondayo ukuba ilizwi likaThixo lalivakaliswa nguPawulos naseBhereya, eza nalapho ukuze azivuselele+ aze aziphazamise+ iindimbane. 14 Bandula ke abazalwana ngoko nangoko bathumela uPawulos ukuba ahambe de afikelele elwandle;+ kodwa uSilas noTimoti basala ngemva apho. 15 Noko ke, abo babekhaphe uPawulos bamzisa eAthene baza, emva kokufumana umyalelo wokuba uSilas noTimoti+ beze kuye ngokukhawuleza kangangoko kunokwenzeka, bemka.

16 Ke kaloku ngoxa uPawulos wayebalinde eAthene, wacatshukiswa+ kukubona ukuba isixeko sasizaliswe zizithixo. 17 Ngenxa yoko waqiqa kwindlu yesikhungu kunye namaYuda+ nabanye abantu ababenqula uThixo nakwindawo yemarike+ yonke imihla kunye nabo kwakusenzeka ukuba babekho. 18 Kodwa abathile kwizithandi-zobulumko+ ezamaEpikure nezamaStoyike babambana naye ngencoko, yaye bambi babeye bathi: “Yintoni na elingathanda ukuyixela eli pholopholo?”+ Abanye bathi: “Ubonakala engumvakalisi wezithixo zasemzini.” Oku kwakungenxa yokuba wayevakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoYesu novuko.+ 19 Ngoko bambamba baza bamsa eAreyopago, besithi: “Ungasazisa na le mfundiso+ intsha uyithethayo? 20 Kuba wazisa izinto ezithile ezingaqhelekanga ezindlebeni zethu. Ngoko ke sinqwenela ukwazi intsingiselo yezi zinto.”+ 21 Enyanisweni, onke ama-Athene nabasemzini abaphambukele apho babechitha ixesha labo lokuphola bengenzi nto ngaphandle kokuxela okuthile okanye ukuphulaphula okuthile okutsha. 22 Wema ke uPawulos phakathi kweAreyopago+ waza wathi:

“Madoda aseAthene, ndiyabona ukuba ezintweni zonke nibonakala ngathi nizinikele ngakumbi ekoyikeni izithixo+ kunokuba abanye benjalo. 23 Ngokomzekelo, ngoxa bendidlula ndaza ndaqwalasela ngenyameko izinto zenu ezihlonelwayo ndifumene nesibingelelo ekubhalwe kuso kwathiwa ‘Kongaziwayo uThixo.’ Ngoko ke oko ninikela kuko uzinikelo lobuthixo ngokungazi, ndivakalisa kona kuni. 24 UTHIXO owenza ihlabathi nazo zonke izinto ezikulo, ekubeni Yena, eyiNkosi yezulu nomhlaba,+ akahlali zitempileni zenziwe ngazandla,+ 25 enganyanyekelwa nazizandla zabantu ngokungathi ebeswele nantoni na,+ ngenxa yokuba yena ubanika bonke abantu ubomi+ nempefumlo+ nezinto zonke. 26 Yaye wazenza ngokuphuma kumntu+ omnye zonke iintlanga zabantu,+ ukuba zihlale phezu komhlaba uphela,+ waza wamisa amaxesha amisiweyo+ nemida emiselweyo yokuhlala kwabantu,+ 27 ukuze bona bafune uThixo,+ ukuba bangamphuthaphutha baze ngokwenene bamfumane,+ nangona, enyanisweni, engekude kuye ngamnye wethu. 28 Kuba ngaye sinobomi siyashukuma yaye sikho,+ kwananjengoko nabathile kwiimbongi+ eziphakathi kwenu betshilo ukuthi, ‘Kuba nathi siyinzala yakhe.’

29 “Ekubeni, ke ngoko, siyinzala kaThixo,+ sifanele singacingi ukuba Lowo Ungokobuthixo+ unjengegolide okanye isilivere okanye ilitye, njengento eqingqwe ngobugcisa nokuyila komntu.+ 30 Enyanisweni, uThixo uye akawananza amaxesha okungazi okunjalo,+ kanti ngoku uxelela uluntu ukuba lufanele lonke kuyo yonk’ indawo luguquke.+ 31 Ngenxa yokuba umise imini anenjongo ngayo yokuba agwebe+ umhlaba omiweyo ngobulungisa ngendoda ayimiseleyo, yaye ubanike isiqinisekiso bonke abantu ngokuba eye wayivusa+ kwabafileyo.”

32 Ngoko, bakuva ngovuko lwabafileyo, bambi baqalisa ukwenza intlekisa,+ ngoxa abanye bathi: “Siza kukuva ngale nto nangelinye ixesha.” 33 Ngaloo ndlela uPawulos waphuma phakathi kwabo, 34 kodwa amadoda athile azinikela aba ngamakholwa, ekwakukho phakathi kwawo noDiyonisiyo, umgwebi wenkundla yaseAreyopago,+ nomfazi ogama linguDamari, nabanye kunye nabo.

18 Emva kwezi zinto wemka eAthene waza waya eKorinte. 2 Yaye wafumana umYuda othile ogama linguAkwila,+ inzalelwane yasePonto owayesandul’ ukufika evela eItali,+ noPrisila umfazi wakhe, ngenxa yokuba uKlawudiyo+ wayeyalele ukuba onke amaYuda emke eRoma. Ngoko waya kubo 3 yaye ngenxa yokuba babesenza umsebenzi ofanayo wahlala kwikhaya labo, wasebenza nabo,+ kuba umsebenzi wabo yayikukwenza iintente. 4 Noko ke, wayenikela intetho kwindlu yesikhungu+ iisabatha zonke, eseyisela amaYuda namaGrike.

5 Ke kaloku bakuhla uSilas+ noTimoti+ bevela eMakedoni, uPawulos waxineka lilizwi, enikela ubungqina kumaYuda bokungqina ukuba uYesu unguKRISTU.+ 6 Kodwa emva kokuqhubeka echasa yaye etshabhisa,+ wavuthulula izambatho+ zakhe waza wathi kuwo: “Igazi lenu+ malibe phezu kweentloko zenu. Mna ndimsulwa.+ Ukususela ngoku ndiza kuya kubantu beentlanga.”+ 7 Ngako oko wesuka apho waya kwindlu yomntu ogama linguTitiyo Yusto, umnquli kaThixo, ondlu yakhe yayayamane nendlu yesikhungu. 8 Kodwa uKrispo+ igosa elongamelayo kwindlu yesikhungu waba likholwa eNkosini, ngokunjalo nabo bonke abendlu yakhe. Kwaye abaninzi eKorinte abevayo bakholwa baza babhaptizwa. 9 Ngaphezu koko, ngobusuku iNkosi yathi kuPawulos+ ngombono: “Musa ukuba noloyiko, kodwa qhubeka uthetha uze ungathi cwaka, 10 ngenxa yokuba ndinawe+ yaye akukho mntu uya kukuhlasela aze akwenze okubi; kuba ndinabantu abaninzi kwesi sixeko.” 11 Ngoko wahlala apho unyaka neenyanga ezintandathu, efundisa phakathi kwabo ilizwi likaThixo.

12 Ke kaloku ngoxa uGaliyo wayelibamba+ laseAkhaya, amaYuda amvukela ngamxhelo mnye uPawulos aza amsa kwisihlalo sokugweba,+ 13 esithi: “Lo mntu weyisela+ abantu ukuba bamnqule uThixo ngendlela enxamnye nomthetho.” 14 Wathi ke xa uPawulos aza kuvula umlomo, uGaliyo wathi kumaYuda: “Ukuba, eneneni, ibibububi obuthile okanye isenzo esingendawo sobutshijolo, maYuda, bendiya kuba nesizathu sokuninyamezela ngomonde. 15 Kodwa ukuba ziimbambano ezingentetho namagama+ nomthetho+ phakathi kwenu, nimele nizibonele ngokwenu. Andinqweneli ukuba ngumgwebi wezi zinto.” 16 Ngako oko wawagxotha esihlalweni sokugweba. 17 Ngoko onke ambamba uSosithene+ igosa elongamelayo kwindlu yesikhungu aza ambetha phambi kwesihlalo sokugweba. Kodwa uGaliyo wayengazixhalabisi konke konke ngezi zinto.

18 Noko ke, emva kokuhlala iintsuku eziliqela, uPawulos wacela indlela kubazalwana waza wanduluka ngesikhephe esiya eSiriya, enoPrisila noAkwila, ezichebile zaba mfutshane+ iinwele zentloko yakhe eKenkreya,+ kuba wayenze isifungo. 19 Ngoko bafika e-Efese, waza wabashiya apho; kodwa yena wangena kwindlu yesikhungu+ waza waqiqa namaYuda. 20 Nangona ayemcela ukuba ahlale ixesha elidana, wayengavumi 21 kodwa wacela indlela+ waza wathi kuwo: “Ndiza kubuyela kuni kwakhona, ukuba uYehova uyathanda.”+ Wahamba ngolwandle esuka e-Efese, 22 wehla waya eKesareya. Wenyuka waya kubulisa ibandla, waza wehla waya kwa-Antiyokwe.

23 Emva kwexesha elithile elapho wemka waya kwiindawo ngeendawo etyhutyha ilizwe laseGalati+ naseFrigiya,+ ebomeleza+ bonke abafundi.

24 Ke kaloku umYuda othile ogama linguApolo,+ inzalelwane yaseAleksandriya, indoda eliciko, wafika e-Efese; yaye wayezazi kakuhle iZibhalo.+ 25 Yena wayeyalelwe ngomlomo indlela kaYehova yaye, njengoko wayevutha ngumoya,+ wayehamba ethetha kwaye efundisa ngokuchanileyo izinto ezingoYesu, kodwa eqhelene nobhaptizo lukaYohane+ kuphela. 26 Yaye wathetha ngokukhaliphileyo kwindlu yesikhungu. Xa uPrisila noAkwila+ bamvayo, bamthabathela kubo baza bacokisa ukumcacisela ngokuchane ngakumbi indlela kaThixo. 27 Ngokubhekele phaya, ngenxa yokuba wayenqwenela ukuya ngaphesheya eAkhaya, abazalwana babhalela abafundi, bebabongoza ukuba bamamkele ngobubele. Ngoko akufika apho, wabanceda+ kakhulu abo babekholiwe ngenxa yobubele obungasifanelanga [bukaThixo];+ 28 kuba ngokucokiseke kakhulu wawangqina esidlangalaleni amaYuda ukuba aphosisile, ngoxa wayebonakalisa ngeZibhalo+ ukuba uYesu unguKRISTU.+

19 Ke kaloku kwathi, ngoxa uApolo+ wayeseKorinte, uPawulos wazityhutyha iinxalenye eziphakathi elizweni waza wehlela e-Efese,+ yaye wafumana abafundi abathile; 2 wathi kubo: “Nawamkela na umoya oyingcwele+ ekukholweni kwenu?” Bathi kuye: “Kaloku, asizange sive enoba kukho umoya oyingcwele kusini na.”+ 3 Waza wathi: “Ngoko, nabhaptizelwa enini na?” Bathi: “Kubhaptizo lukaYohane.”+ 4 UPawulos wathi: “UYohane wabhaptiza ngobhaptizo olufuzisela inguquko,+ exelela abantu ukuba bakholwe kulowo uzayo emva kwakhe,+ oko kukuthi, kuYesu.” 5 Bakukuva oku, babhaptizwa egameni leNkosi uYesu.+ 6 Yaye xa uPawulos wababeka izandla,+ kwafika umoya oyingcwele phezu kwabo, baza baqalisa ukuthetha ngeelwimi nokuprofeta.+ 7 Xa bebonke, babengamaadoda amalunga neshumi elinesibini.

8 Engena kwindlu yesikhungu,+ wathetha ngenkalipho kangangeenyanga ezintathu, enikela iintetho, ebeyisela kubukumkani+ bukaThixo. 9 Kodwa xa abathile baqhubeka bezenza lukhuni yaye bengakholwa,+ bethetha kakubi ngayo iNdlela+ phambi kwenkitha, wemka kubo+ waza wabahlula abafundi kubo,+ mihla le enikela iintetho kwiholo yesikolo sikaTirano. 10 Oku kwenzeka kangangeminyaka emibini,+ kangangokuba bonke abo babengabemi besithili saseAsiya+ baliva ilizwi leNkosi, kokubini amaYuda namaGrike.

11 Yaye uThixo wenza imisebenzi yamandla engaqhelekanga ngezandla zikaPawulos,+ 12 kangangokuba kwanamalaphu neefaskoti ezisuka emzimbeni wakhe zazisiwa kubantu abagulayo,+ baze baphiliswe kwizifo zabo, baphume noomoya abangendawo.+ 13 Kodwa amaYuda athile awayeyabula yaye ekhupha iidemon+ alinga nokubiza igama leNkosi uYesu+ kwabo babenoomoya abangendawo, esithi: “Ndikuyala+ ngokunzulu ngoYesu lowo uPawulos amshumayelayo.” 14 Ke kaloku kwakukho oonyana abasixhenxe bakaSkeva othile, umbingeleli oyintloko wamaYuda, besenza oku. 15 Kodwa ekuphenduleni umoya ongendawo wathi kubo: “Ndiyamazi uYesu+ yaye ndiqhelene noPawulos;+ kodwa nina ningoobani na?” 16 Ngako oko umntu owawukuye umoya ongendawo wabaxhumela,+ wabongamela omnye emva komnye, waza waboyisa, kangangokuba basaba kuloo ndlu bezé yaye bengxwelerhekile. 17 Oku kwaziwa ngabo bonke, ngamaYuda nangamaGrike awayehlala e-Efese; yaye bangenwa luloyiko+ bonke, laza igama leNkosi uYesu laqhubeka lisenziwa likhulu.+ 18 Yaye abaninzi kwabo baba ngamakholwa babesiza baze baluvume+ kwaye baluxele ekuhleni uqheliselo lwabo. 19 Eneneni, abaliqela noko kwabo babeqhelisela ubugcisa bomlingo+ bazizisa ndawonye iincwadi zabo baza bazitshisa phambi kwakhe wonk’ ubani. Yaye bawabala ndawonye amaxabiso azo, bazifumana zixabisa amaqhosha esilivere angamashumi amahlanu amawaka. 20 Ngaloo ndlela ilizwi likaYehova lahlala likhula yaye lisoyisa ngendlela enamandla.+

21 Ke kaloku zakugqitywa ezi zinto, uPawulos waba nenjongo kuwo umoya wakhe yokuba, emva kokutyhutyha elaseMakedoni+ nelaseAkhaya, wayeya kuhamba aye eYerusalem,+ esithi: “Emva kokuba ndifike apho ndimele ndibone kwaneRoma.”+ 22 Ngoko wathumela eMakedoni ababini kwabo babemlungiselela, uTimoti+ noErasto,+ kodwa yena walibala kangangexesha elithile kwisithili saseAsiya.

23 Ngalo lona elo xesha kwavela ukuphazamiseka+ okukhulu ngokuphathelele iNdlela.+ 24 Kuba umntu othile ogama linguDemetriyo, umkhandi wesilivere, ngokwenza iitempilana zesilivere zika-Artemis wayezinika inzuzo enkulu iingcibi;+ 25 yaye wazihlanganisa zona nabo babesebenza ezintweni ezinjalo+ waza wathi: “Madoda, nazi kakuhle ukuba ukuphumelela kwethu kukweli shishini.+ 26 Kanjalo, niyabona yaye niyeva ukuba akukho se-Efese+ kuphela kodwa phantse kuzo zonke izithili zaseAsiya, lo Pawulos weyisela isihlwele esikhulu waza wasiphethulela kolunye uluvo, esithi abo benziwe ngezandla+ asingabo oothixo. 27 Ngaphezu koko, kukho ingozi kungekuphela nje yokuba lo msebenzi wethu uya kuba negama elibi kodwa kwaneyokuba itempile yothixokazi omkhulu uArtemis+ iya kubalelwa ekuthini yinto engento yaye kwanobungangamela bakhe obo bunqulwa sisithili siphela saseAsiya nomhlaba omiweyo sele buza kutshitshiswa.” 28 Bakukuva oku abantu, bazala ngumsindo baza badanduluka, besithi: “Mkhulu uArtemis wamaEfese!”

29 Ngoko isixeko sazaliswa sisiphithiphithi, yaye ngamxhelo mnye bagxalathelana ukungena kwindawo yokubonela, ngokunyanzela bethabatha kunye nabo uGayo noAristarko,+ abangabaseMakedoni, abalingane abahambahambayo bakaPawulos. 30 UPawulos wayekuthanda ukungena ngaphakathi ebantwini, kodwa abafundi babengamvumeli. 31 Kwanabathile kubaphathiswa bemithendeleko nemidlalo, ababenobuhlobo kuye, bathumela kuye baza bambongoza ukuba angazibeki esichengeni kwindawo yokubonela. 32 Bambi babedanduluka bethetha le, abanye bethetha leya;+ kuba kwakusisiphithiphithi nje endibanweni, yaye uninzi lwabo lwalungasazi isizathu sokubuthelana kwabo. 33 Ngoko bebonke bazisa uAleksandire bemkhupha esihlweleni, amaYuda emtyhalela phambili; yaye uAleksandire wawangawangisa ngesandla sakhe, efuna ukuzithethelela ebantwini. 34 Kodwa xa baqondayo ukuba wayengumYuda, kwavela udanduluko olunye kubo bonke njengoko babekhwaza kangangeeyure ezimalunga nezimbini besithi: “Mkhulu+ uArtemis wamaEfese!”

35 Ekugqibeleni, akuba unongxelo wesixeko esizolisile+ isihlwele, wathi: “Madoda ase-Efese, ngubani na ngokwenene okhoyo eluntwini ongaziyo ukuba isixeko samaEfese ngumgcini-tempile ka-Artemis omkhulu nowomfanekiso owawa uvela ezulwini? 36 Ngoko ke ekubeni ezi zinto zingenakuphikwa, kufanelekile ngani ukuba nihlale nizolile nize ningenzi ngobutyhuthu-tyhuthu.+ 37 Kuba nizise la madoda angengabo nabaphangi betempile nabanyelisi bothixokazi wethu. 38 Ngoko ke ukuba uDemetriyo+ neengcibi ezikunye naye banesimangalo ngakuthile, zikho iimini zamatyala+ yaye akho namabamba;+ mabamangalelane. 39 Ukuba, ngoko, nifuna nantoni na engaphaya koko, imele igqitywe kwindibano yesiqhelo. 40 Kuba ngokwenene sisengozini yokumangalelwa ngesiphendu sanamhlanje, ekubeni kungekho nasinye isizathu sokuba kubekho eli hlokondiba lingalungelelananga.” 41 Yaye akuba ezitshilo ezi zinto,+ wayindulula indibano.+

20 Ke kaloku emva kokudamba kwesaqunge eso, uPawulos wathumela ukuba beze abafundi, yaye akuba ebakhuthazile wacela indlela,+ wanduluka waya eMakedoni.+ 2 Emva kokutyhutyha ezo nxalenye nokukhuthaza abo babelapho ngamazwi amaninzi,+ weza eGrisi. 3 Yaye xa wayechithe iinyanga ezintathu apho, ngenxa yokuba kwakuyilwa iyelenqe+ ngokunxamnye naye ngamaYuda njengoko wayesele eza kunduluka ngesikhephe esiya eSiriya, wagqiba kwelokuba abuye adlule eMakedoni. 4 Wayephelekwa nguSopatro+ unyana kaPayiro waseBhereya, uAristarko+ noSekundo abangabaseTesalonika, noGayo waseDerbhe, noTimoti,+ yaye abesithili saseAsiya yayinguTikiko+ noTrofimo.+ 5 Aba bahamba, basilinda eTrowa;+ 6 kodwa sahamba ngolwandle sisuka eFilipi emva kwemihla yamaqebengwana angenagwele,+ saza saya kubo eTrowa+ kwiintsuku ezintlanu; yaye apho sachitha iintsuku ezisixhenxe.

7 Ngosuku lokuqala+ lweveki, xa sasihlanganisene ndawonye ukuze sifumane isidlo, uPawulos wathetha kubo, njengoko wayeza kumka ngemini elandelayo; yaye wayolula intetho yakhe de kwasezinzulwini zobusuku. 8 Ngoko kwakukho izibane eziliqela kwigumbi eliphezulu+ apho sasihlanganisene khona. 9 Ehleli efestileni, umfana othile ogama linguYutiko wafikelwa bubuthongo obunzulu ngoxa uPawulos wayeqhubeka ethetha, yaye, elele yoyi, wawa ukusuka kumgangatho wesithathu waza wacholwa efile. 10 Kodwa uPawulos wehla, waziphosa kuye+ waza wamwola, wathi: “Musani ukuvusa ingxokozelo, kuba umphefumlo wakhe ukuye.”+ 11 Wenyuka ke wayokudla, wancokola kangangethuba elide, de kwathi qheke ukusa, waza ke wemka. 12 Ngoko bemka nayo inkwenkwe iphila yaye bathuthuzeleka ngaphaya komlinganiselo.

13 Ke kaloku sahamba phambili ukuya esikhepheni saza sanduluka sisiya eAsos, apho sasizimisele ukukhwelisa khona uPawulos, kuba, emva kokunikela uyalelo ngokusingisele koku, yena ngokwakhe wayezimisele ukuhamba ngeenyawo. 14 Ngoko akusifumana eAsos, samkhwelisa saza saya eMitilene; 15 yaye, sinduluka ngesikhephe ukusuka apho ngemini elandelayo, safika malunga neKhiyo, kodwa ngemini elandelayo sagaleleka eSamos, kwaye ngemini elandelayo safika eMileto. 16 Kuba uPawulos wayegqibe kwelokuba kudlulwe e-Efese,+ ukuze angachithi naliphi na ixesha kwisithili saseAsiya; kuba wayengxamele ukufika eYerusalem+ ngomhla womthendeleko wePentekoste ukuba wayenako.

17 Noko ke, eseMileto wathumela e-Efese ukuba kubizwe amadoda amakhulu+ ebandla. 18 Akufika wathi kuwo: “Niyazi kakuhle ukuba ukususela kwimini yokuqala endangena ngayo kwisithili saseAsiya+ ndaba kunye nani ixesha liphela,+ 19 ndilikhoboka+ leNkosi ngokona kuthobeka kwengqondo+ kukhulu neenyembezi nezilingo ezandihlelayo ngamayelenqe+ amaYuda; 20 ngoxa ndingazange ndinifihlele nto, ndanixelela zonke izinto eziyingenelo, ndanifundisa+ esidlangalaleni nakwizindlu+ ngezindlu. 21 Kodwa ndanikela ubungqina+ ngokucokisekileyo kumaYuda nakumaGrike ngenguquko+ kuThixo nokholo kwiNkosi yethu uYesu. 22 Yaye ngoku, khangelani! ndibotshiwe emoyeni,+ ndiyahamba ndiya eYerusalem, nangona ndingazazi izinto eziya kwenzeka kum apho, 23 ngaphandle kokuba kwizixeko ngezixeko umoya oyingcwele+ ngokuphindaphindiweyo unikela ubungqina kum njengoko usithi ndilindwe yimixokelelwane neembandezelo.+ 24 Noko ke, andiwugqali njengothandekayo+ kum umphefumlo wam, ukuba nje kuphela ndinokuligqiba ikhondo lam+ nobulungiseleli+ endabamkelayo+ beNkosi uYesu, ukunikela ubungqina obucokisekileyo kwiindaba ezilungileyo zobubele obungasifanelanga bukaThixo.+

25 “Yaye ngoku, khangelani! ndiyazi ukuba nina nonke ndahambayo phakathi kwenu ndishumayela ubukumkani anisayi kuba sabubona ubuso bam. 26 Ngenxa yoko ndinibizela ukungqina kanye ngalo mhla ukuba ndimsulwa egazini+ labantu bonke, 27 kuba andinifihlelanga nto, ndinixelele lonke icebo+ likaThixo. 28 Zilumkeleni+ nina+ nawo wonke umhlambi,+ ekuthe phakathi kwawo umoya oyingcwele wanimisela nangabaveleli,+ ukuba nilaluse ibandla likaThixo,+ elo walithenga ngegazi+ lowakhe uNyana. 29 Ndiyazi ukuba emva kokumka kwam kuya kungena iingcuka ezicinezelayo+ phakathi kwenu yaye aziyi kuwuphatha ngemfesane umhlambi, 30 kwaye phakathi kwenu kuya kusuka amadoda aze athethe izinto ezijijekileyo+ ukuze abatsale abafundi emva kwawo.+

31 “Ngoko ke hlalani niphaphile, nize nikhumbule ukuba kangangeminyaka emithathu,+ ubusuku nemini, andizange ndiyeke ukululeka+ ngabanye ndineenyembezi. 32 Yaye ngoku ndininikela kuThixo+ nakwilizwi lobubele obungasifanelanga bakhe, lizwi elo linokunakha+ lize lininike ilifa phakathi kwabo bonke abo bangcwalisiweyo.+ 33 Akukho mntu ndikhanuke silivere okanye golide okanye sivatho sakhe.+ 34 Nani ngokwenu niyazi ukuba ezi zandla ziye zazinyamekela iimfuno zam+ nezabo babekunye nam. 35 Ndinibonisile ezintweni zonke ukuba nimele nisebenze+ ukuze nincede abo babuthathaka,+ yaye nimele niwakhumbule amazwi eNkosi uYesu, xa yona ngokwayo yathi, ‘Kunoyolo ngakumbi ukupha+ kunokwamkela.’”

36 Waza akuba ezitshilo ezi zinto, waguqa+ phantsi kunye nabo bonke waza wathandaza. 37 Eneneni, balila kakhulu bonke, yaye bawela entanyeni kaPawulos+ baza bamanga,+ 38 ngenxa yokuba babenziwe buhlungu ngokukodwa lilizwi awayelithethile lokuthi babengasayi kububona ubuso bakhe.+ Ngoko bamkhapha+ esiya esikhepheni.

21 Ke kaloku sakuba sahlukene nabo saza sahamba ngolwandle, sahamba ngqo saya eKosi, kodwa ngemini elandelayo saya eRodo, ukusuka apho saya ePatara. 2 Yaye xa sasisifumene isikhephe esasiwelela eFenike, sakhwela saza sanduluka. 3 Emva kokubona isiqithi saseSipro+ sasishiya ngasemva kwicala elingasekhohlo saza saqhubeka sisiya eSiriya,+ yaye safika emhlabeni waseTire, kuba isikhephe sasiza kuwuthula apho umthwalo waso.+ 4 Sabafuna sabafumana abafundi saza sahlala apho iintsuku zasixhenxe. Kodwa ngomoya+ bamxelela ngokuphindaphindiweyo uPawulos ukuba angalubeki unyawo eYerusalem. 5 Ngoko sakuzigqiba iintsuku ezo, sanduluka semka; kodwa bonke, kunye nabafazi nabantwana, basikhapha ukuya kufikelela ngaphandle kwesixeko. Yaye saguqa+ phantsi elunxwemeni sathandaza 6 saza sacela indlela,+ sanyukela esikhepheni kodwa bona babuyela kumakhaya abo.

7 Sandula ke salugqiba uhambo ngolwandle ukusuka eTire saza safika eTolemayi, yaye sababulisa abazalwana sahlala kunye nabo usuku lwalunye. 8 Ngemini elandelayo sanduluka saza safika eKesareya,+ sangena endlwini kaFilipu umvangeli, owayengomnye wabantu abasixhenxe,+ sahlala naye. 9 Lo mntu wayeneentombi ezine, zinyulu, ziprofeta.+ 10 Kodwa ngoxa sasihleli iintsuku eziliqela, kwehla umprofeti othile ogama linguAgabho+ evela kwelakwaYuda, 11 yaye weza kuthi waza wathabatha umbhinqo kaPawulos, wabopha iinyawo nezandla zakhe, wathi: “Ngaloo ndlela umoya oyingcwele uthi, ‘Indoda ongowayo lo mbhinqo amaYuda aya kuyibopha+ ngolu hlobo eYerusalem aze ayinikele+ ezandleni zabantu beentlanga.’” 12 Ke kaloku sakukuva oku, thina nabo baloo ndawo sambongoza ukuba angenyuki aye+ eYerusalem. 13 Wandula ke uPawulos waphendula wathi: “Kutheni nilila+ nje, nindenza buthathaka entliziyweni?+ Hlalani niqinisekile ukuba, ndilungele kungekuphela nje ukubotshwa, kodwa kwanokufa+ eYerusalem ngenxa yegama leNkosi uYesu.” 14 Akunganqandeki, sayekelela sathi: “Makwenzeke ukuthanda+ kukaYehova.”

15 Ke kaloku emva kwezi ntsuku salungiselela uhambo saza sanyuka saya eYerusalem.+ 16 Kodwa kwanabathile kubafundi abavela eKesareya+ bahamba nathi, ukuze basise kuloo mntu sasiza kundwendwela ekhayeni lakhe, uMnason othile waseSipro, omnye wabafundi bangaphambili. 17 Sakufika eYerusalem,+ abazalwana basamkela ngochulumanco.+ 18 Kodwa ngemini elandelayo uPawulos wangena nathi kuYakobi;+ yaye ayekho onke amadoda amakhulu. 19 Wababulisa waza wanikela ngokweenkcukacha ingxelo+ yezinto uThixo azenzileyo phakathi kweentlanga ngobulungiseleli bakhe.+

20 Emva kokuva oku bamzukisa uThixo, baza bathi kuye: “Uyabona, mzalwana, ukuba kukho amawaka amaninzi kangakanani na amakholwa phakathi kwamaYuda; yaye onke anenzondelelo ngoMthetho.+ 21 Kodwa eve amarhe ngawe okuba ubufundisa onke amaYuda aphakathi kweentlanga ukuwexuka kuMoses,+ uwaxelela ukuba angabalusi+ abantwana bawo nokuba angahambi ngawo amasiko. 22 Kuthiweni na ke? Nakanjani na aza kuva ukuba ufikile. 23 Ngoko ke yenza oku sikuxelela kona: Sinamadoda amane anesibhambathiso kuwo. 24 Bathabathe aba bantu,+ uzihlambulule ngokusesikweni kunye nabo uze uzinyamekele iindleko zabo,+ ukuze zichetywe iintloko zabo.+ Yaye ngoko wonk’ ubani uya kwazi ukuba akukho nto kula marhe awaxelelweyo ngawe, kodwa ukuba uhamba ngokulungeleleneyo, nawe ngokwakho uwugcina uMthetho.+ 25 Wona ke amakholwa aphakathi kweentlanga, siwathumelele, sawanika isigqibo sethu sokuba afanele azigcine koko kubingelelwe kwizithixo+ nasegazini+ nakwinto ekrwitshiweyo+ nakuhenyuzo.”+

26 Wandula ke uPawulos wawathabatha loo madoda ngemini elandelayo, wazihlambulula ngokusesikweni kunye nawo+ waza wangena etempileni, ukuya kwazisa ngemihla emayizaliseke+ yokuhlanjululwa ngokusesikweni, de kube kunikelwe umnikelo+ wakhe ngamnye kubo.+

27 Ke kaloku ngasekupheleni kweentsuku ezisixhenxe,+ amaYuda avela eAsiya akumbona etempileni avusa isiphithiphithi kuso sonke isihlwele,+ yaye amsa izandla, 28 edanduluka esithi: “Madoda akwaSirayeli, ncedani! Nanku lo mntu ufundisa wonk’ ubani kuyo yonk’ indawo nxamnye nabantu+ noMthetho nale ndawo yaye, ngokungakumbi, ude wazisa namaGrike etempileni ibe uyenze inqambi le ndawo ingcwele.”+ 29 Kuba ngaphambili babebone uTrofimo+ umEfese esesixekweni kunye naye, kodwa babecinga ukuba uPawulos wayemzise etempileni. 30 Yaye kwabakho isaqunge+ esixekweni siphela, kwaye babaleka bonke abantu; bambamba uPawulos baza bamrhuqela ngaphandle kwetempile.+ Zaza ngoko nangoko iingcango zavalwa. 31 Ngoxa babefuna ukumbulala, kwafika ingxelo kumphathi webutho yokuba kwakusisiphithiphithi+ nje kuyo yonke iYerusalem; 32 yaye kwaoko wathabatha amajoni namagosa omkhosi waza wehla ebaleka ukuya kubo.+ Bakubona umphathi-mkhosi+ namajoni, bayeka ukumbetha uPawulos.

33 Ngoko umphathi-mkhosi wasondela waza wambamba, wanikela umyalelo wokuba abotshwe ngemixokelelwane emibini;+ yaye wabuza ukuba ungubani na nokuthi wenze ntoni na. 34 Kodwa bambi esihlweleni bakhwaza bethetha le, abanye leya.+ Ngoko, engakuqondi ngokuqinisekileyo okwenzekileyo ngenxa yoqhushululu, wayalela ukuba asiwe kwindawo yokuhlala amajoni.+ 35 Kodwa akufika kwizinyuko, kwanyanzeleka ukuba athwalwe ngamajoni ngenxa yogonyamelo lwesihlwele; 36 kuba inkitha yabantu yalandela, idanduluka isithi: “Msuseni!”+

37 Yaye njengoko wayesele eza kukhokelelwa kwindawo yokuhlala amajoni, uPawulos wathi kumphathi-mkhosi: “Ndivumelekile na ukutsho okuthile kuwe?” Wathi: “Kanti uyasazi na isiGrike? 38 Akunguye na ngokwenene laa mYiputa wathi ngaphambi kwale mihla waxhokonxa isiphendu+ waza wakhokelela ngaphandle amadoda ezinkempe angamawaka amane uwasa entlango?” 39 Wandula ke uPawulos wathi: “Mna, enyanisweni, ndingumYuda,+ waseTarso+ eKilikiya, ummi wesixeko esaziwayo. Ngoko ndiyakubongoza, ndivumele ndithethe kubo abantu.” 40 Emva kokuba emnike imvume, uPawulos, emi kwizinyuko, wawangawangisa+ ngesandla sakhe kubo abantu. Kwakuthi cwaka kakhulu, wathetha nabo ngolwimi lwesiHebhere,+ esithi:

22 “Madoda, bazalwana+ noobawo, kuveni ukuzithethelela kwam+ kuni ngoku.” 2 (Ngoko, xa bevayo ukuba wayethetha nabo ngolwimi lwesiHebhere,+ bahlala bethe cwaka ngokungakumbi, yaye wathi:) 3 “NdingumYuda,+ owazalelwa eTarso yaseKilikiya,+ kodwa ndafundiswa kwesi sixeko ezinyaweni zikaGamaliyeli,+ ndayalelwa ngokobungqongqo+ boMthetho wamanyange, ndinenzondelelo+ ngoThixo kanye njengoko nonke nina ninjalo ngalo mhla. 4 Yaye ndayitshutshisa le Ndlela kwasa ekufeni,+ ndibopha yaye ndinikela ezintolongweni+ amadoda nabafazi, 5 njengoko umbingeleli omkhulu nayo yonke indibano yamadoda amakhulu+ inokunikela ubungqina ngam. Kubo ndafumana neencwadi+ eziya kubazalwana baseDamasko, yaye ndandisendleleni ukuze ndibazise eYerusalem bebotshiwe kwanabo babelapho ukuze bohlwaywe.

6 “Kodwa njengoko ndandihamba yaye ndisondela eDamasko, malunga nasemini emaqanda, ngequbuliso ndabanekelwa macala onke kukukhanya okuphuma ezulwini,+ 7 yaye ndawela emhlabeni ndaza ndeva ilizwi elithi kum, ‘Sawule, Sawule, kutheni unditshutshisa nje?’+ 8 Ndaphendula ndathi, ‘Ungubani na, Nkosi?’ Yathi kum, ‘NdinguYesu umNazarete, lo umtshutshisayo.’+ 9 Ke kaloku abantu ababenam+ bakubona, eneneni, ukukhanya kodwa abalivanga ilizwi lalowo ebethetha kum.+ 10 Ngako oko ndathi, ‘Ndenze ntoni na,+ Nkosi?’ INkosi yathi kum, ‘Phakama uye eDamasko, yaye apho uya kuxelelwa ngayo yonk’ into ekumiselwe ukuba uyenze.’+ 11 Kodwa njengoko ndandingenakubona nantoni na ngenxa yobuqaqawuli boko kukhanya, ndafika eDamasko, ndirholwa ngesandla ngabo babekunye nam.+

12 “Ke kaloku uAnaniyas, indoda ethile emoyikayo uThixo ngokoMthetho, ekunikelwe ingxelo entle ngayo+ ngawo onke amaYuda ahlala apho, 13 weza kum kwaye, emi ngakum, wathi kum, ‘Sawule, mzalwana, phinda ubone!’+ Yaye ndakhangela kuye kanye ngelo lixa. 14 Wathi, ‘UTHIXO wookhokho+ bethu ukunyulile+ ukuba ukwazi ukuthanda kwakhe nokuba ubone+ Lowo ulilungisa+ nokuba ulive ilizwi lomlomo wakhe,+ 15 ngenxa yokuba uza kuba lingqina lakhe ebantwini bonke lezinto ozibonileyo nozivileyo.+ 16 Yaye ngoku kutheni ulibazisa nje? Suka ume, ubhaptizwe+ uze uhlambe+ izono zakho ngokubiza egameni lakhe.’+

17 “Kodwa ndabuyela eYerusalem+ yaye ndathi ndithandaza etempileni, ndazungubala+ 18 ndaza ndambona esithi kum, ‘Khawuleza uphume eYerusalem ngenxa yokuba abayi kuvumelana+ nobungqina bakho ngokuphathelele mna.’ 19 Yaye ndathi, ‘Nkosi, bona ngokwabo bazi kakuhle ukuba ndandifudula ndibavalela entolongweni+ ndize ndibakatse kwizindlu zesikhungu abo bakholwayo kuwe;+ 20 yaye ekuphalazweni kwegazi likaStefano+ ingqina lakho, nam ngokwam ndandimi khona apho ndikholiswa+ yaye ndigcine izambatho zangaphezulu zabo babembulala.’ 21 Ukanti wathi kum, ‘Hamba, ngenxa yokuba ndiya kukuthumela ezintlangeni ezikude.’”+

22 Ke kaloku bahlala bemphulaphule kwada kwesa kweli lizwi, yaye baphakamisa amazwi abo, besithi: “Msuseni emhlabeni umntu onje, kuba wayengakufanelanga ukuphila!”+ 23 Yaye ngenxa yokuba babedanduluka kwaye belahla izambatho zabo zangaphezulu, bephosa nothuli emoyeni,+ 24 umphathi-mkhosi wayalela ukuba aziswe kwindawo yokuhlala amajoni waza wathi ufanele ancinwe ngokutyakatywa, ukuze asazi ngokupheleleyo isizathu sokukhwaza+ kwabo ngokunxamnye naye ngale ndlela. 25 Kodwa xa bamolulayo ukuze bamtywatyushe, uPawulos wathi kwigosa lomkhosi elalimi apho: “Kusemthethweni na ngani ukutyakatya umntu ongumRoma+ nongagwetyelwanga sohlwayo?” 26 Ngoko, lakukuva oku igosa lomkhosi, laya kumphathi-mkhosi laza lanikela ingxelo, lisithi: “Yintoni na le uzimisele ukuyenza? Kaloku, lo mntu ngumRoma.” 27 Ngoko umphathi-mkhosi wasondela waza wathi kuye: “Ndixelele, UngumRoma na wena?”+ Wathi: “Ewe.” 28 Umphathi-mkhosi wasabela ngokuthi: “Ndawathenga la malungelo okuba ngummi ngesixa esikhulu semali.” UPawulos wathi: “Kodwa mna ndazalelwa nokuzalelwa+ kuwo.”

29 Ke ngoko, abantu ababesele beza kumncina ngokumthuthumbisa bemka kuye ngoko nangoko; yaye umphathi-mkhosi woyika akuqinisekisa ukuba wayengumRoma+ ngenxa yokuba wayembophile.

30 Ngoko, ngemini elandelayo, njengoko wayenqwenela ukwazi ngokuqinisekileyo ukuba kutheni wayemangalelwa ngamaYuda, wamkhulula waza wayalela umbingeleli oyintloko nayo yonke iSanhedrin ukuba idibane. Yaye wamhlisa uPawulos waza wammisa phakathi kwabo.+

23 Ekhangele ngenyameko kwiSanhedrin uPawulos wathi: “Madoda, bazalwana, ndiziphathe ngesazela+ esihlambuluke ngokugqibeleleyo phambi koThixo kwada kwasa kule mini.” 2 Ngako oko umbingeleli omkhulu uAnaniyas wayalela abo babemi ngakuye ukuba bambethe+ emlonyeni. 3 Ngoko uPawulos wathi kuye: “UThixo uza kukubetha, ludongandini luqatywe mhlophe.+ Ngaba wena kwangaxeshanye uhlalele ukundigweba ngokuvumelana noMthetho+ uze, unxaxha kuwo uMthetho,+ uyalele ukuba ndibethwe?” 4 Abo babemi khona apho bathi: “Uyamtshabhisa na umbingeleli omkhulu kaThixo?” 5 Waza uPawulos wathi: “Bazalwana, bendingazi ukuba ngumbingeleli omkhulu. Kuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa, ‘Uze ungathethi kakubi ngomlawuli wabantu bakowenu.’”+

6 Ke kaloku xa uPawulos waphawula ukuba enye inxalenye yayiyeyabaSadusi+ kodwa enye iyeyabaFarisi, wadanduluka kwiSanhedrin esithi: “Madoda, bazalwana, ndingumFarisi,+ unyana womFarisi. Ngenxa yethemba lovuko+ lwabafileyo ndiyagwetywa.”+ 7 Ngenxa yokuba watsho oku, kwavela ingxwabangxwaba+ phakathi kwabaFarisi nabaSadusi, yaye inkitha yahlukana. 8 Kuba abaSadusi+ bathi akukho luvuko+ nangelosi namoya, kodwa abaFarisi bazivakalisa esidlangalaleni zonke. 9 Ngoko bamemeza kakhulu,+ yaye bambi kubabhali beqela labaFarisi basukuzana ngobundlobongela, besithi: “Asifumani nto imbi kulo mntu;+ kodwa ukuba umoya okanye ingelosi ithethile kuye,+—.” 10 Ke kaloku yakukhula ingxwabangxwaba, umphathi-mkhosi woyikela ukuba uPawulos angaqwengwa ngabo, yaye wayalela ukuba umkhosi wamajoni+ uhle, umxhwile phakathi kwabo uze umzise kwindawo yokuhlala amajoni.+

11 Kodwa ngobusuku obulandelayo iNkosi yema ngakuye+ yaza yathi: “Yomelela kakhulu!+ Kuba njengoko ubunikela ubungqina obucokisekileyo+ ngezinto ezingam eYerusalem, ngoko ukwamele unikele ubungqina naseRoma.”+

12 Ke kaloku kwathi kwakuba semini, amaYuda ayila iyelenqe+ aza azibopha ngesiqalekiso,+ esithi akayi kudla, akayi kusela ade ambulale uPawulos.+ 13 Kwakukho abantu abangaphezu kwamashumi amane abayila eli yelenqe lifungelweyo; 14 yaye baya kubabingeleli abaziintloko+ namadoda amakhulu baza bathi: “Sizibophe ngokunzulu ngesiqalekiso sokungathabathi nentwana yokutya side simbulale uPawulos. 15 Ke ngoko, nina neSanhedrin yenzani kucace kumphathi-mkhosi ukuba ufanele amhlisele kuni, nenze ngathi nisazimisele ukumncina ngakumbi ngemibandela embandakanyayo.+ Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba asondele siya kube sesilungele ukumbulala.”+

16 Noko ke, unyana wodade boPawulos weva ngokulalela kwabo,+ yaye weza waza wangena kwindawo yokuhlala amajoni, wakuxela oku kuPawulos. 17 Ngoko uPawulos wabizela kuye elinye lamagosa omkhosi waza wathi: “Khokela lo mfana umse kumphathi-mkhosi, kuba kukho okuthile afuna ukumxelela kona.” 18 Ngoko yena wamthabatha waza wamsa kumphathi-mkhosi waza wathi: “Ibanjwa uPawulos lindibizele kulo laza landicela ukuba ndizise lo mfana kuwe, njengoko kukho okuthile afuna ukukuxelela kona.” 19 Umphathi-mkhosi wamthabatha+ ngesandla yaye wemka waza wambuza ngasese esithi: “Yintoni na le ufuna ukundixelela yona?” 20 Wathi: “AmaYuda avumelene ukuba akucele ngomso uhlisele uPawulos kwiSanhedrin ngokungathi azimisele ukumncina ngakumbi.+ 21 Uze ungawavumeli akweyisele, kuba kuwo apho amadoda angaphezu kwamashumi amane amlalele,+ kwaye azibophe ngesiqalekiso sokungadli nokungaseli ade abe ambulele;+ yaye ngoku selelungile, alindele isithembiso sakho.” 22 Ngoko ke umphathi-mkhosi wamndulula umfana emva kokuba emyalele ukuthi: “Musa ukudiza nakubani na ukuba uzenze zacaca ezi zinto kum.”

23 Yaye wabiza abathile ababini kumagosa omkhosi waza wathi: “Lungisani amajoni angamakhulu amabini ukuba amatshe kwangoku aye eKesareya, kwanabakhweli-mahashe abangamashumi asixhenxe nababinzi abangamakhulu amabini, ngelixa lesithathu lobusuku. 24 Kanjalo, lungiselelani amaqegu ukuze bamkhwelise uPawulos baze bamdlulisele ngokukhuselekileyo kuFeliks irhuluneli.” 25 Yaye wabhala incwadi ngolu hlobo:

26 “UKlawudiyo Lisiya kobalaseleyo, iRhuluneli uFeliks:+ Ndiyabulisa! 27 Le ndoda yabanjwa ngamaYuda yaye yayisele iza kubulawa ngawo, kodwa ngequbuliso ndeza ndinomkhosi wamajoni ndaza ndayihlangula,+ ndakuqonda ukuba ingumRoma.+ 28 Yaye ndinqwenela ukuqinisekisa isizathu sokuyimangalela kwawo, ndayihlisela kwiSanhedrin yawo.+ 29 Ndafumanisa ukuba imangalelwa ngemibandela yoMthetho wawo,+ kodwa ingamangalelwa nangenye into efanela ukufa okanye imixokelelwane.+ 30 Kodwa ngenxa yokuba iyelenqe+ eliza kwenziwa nxamnye nale ndoda liye latyhilwa kum, ndiyithumela kwaoko kuwe, yaye ndiyalela abamangaleli ukuba bathethe nxamnye nayo phambi kwakho.”+

31 Ngoko ke la majoni+ amthabatha uPawulos ngokwemiyalelo yawo aza amzisa ngobusuku kwa-Antipatris. 32 Ngemini elandelayo avumela abakhweli-mahashe ukuba bahambe naye, aza wona abuyela kwindawo yokuhlala amajoni. 33 Abo bakhweli-mahashe bangena eKesareya,+ bayinika irhuluneli incwadi baza noPawulos bamnikela kuyo. 34 Ngoko yayifunda yaza yabuza ukuba ngowaliphi na iphondo, yaye yafumanisa+ ukuba wayengowaseKilikiya.+ 35 “Ndiya kukuva ngokucokisekileyo,” yatsho, “xa abamangaleli bakho nabo befikile.”+ Yaza yayalela ukuba agcinwe ngumlindi kwibhotwe lakomkhulu likaHerode.

24 Kwiintsuku ezintlanu kamva umbingeleli omkhulu uAnaniyas+ wehla ekunye namadoda amakhulu athile nesithethi sasesidlangalaleni, uTertulo othile, yaye banikela inkcazelo+ kwirhuluneli+ nxamnye noPawulos. 2 Xa wabizwayo, uTertulo wammangalela, esithi:

“Njengokuba sinandipha uxolo olukhulu+ yaye kusenzeka iinguqulelo kolu hlanga ngenxa yakho, 3 ngoko ngamaxesha onke kwanakuzo zonke iindawo siyakwamkela oko, Feliks Obalaseleyo,+ ngowona mkhulu umbulelo. 4 Kodwa ukuze ndingabi sakubambezela ngakumbi, ndiyakubongoza ukuba usiphulaphule kancinane ngobubele bakho. 5 Kuba sifumene le ndoda ingumfo olizothe,+ ixhokonxa iziphendu+ phakathi kwawo onke amaYuda kuwo wonke umhlaba omiweyo yaye iyinkokeli eyintloko yehlelo lamaNazarete,+ 6 kwaye yalinga nokuhlambela itempile+ saza sayibamba. 7 —— 8 Wena ngokwakho ngokuyincina unokufumanisa kuyo ngazo zonke ezi zinto siyimangalela ngazo.”

9 Ngako oko namaYuda athelela kuhlaselo, emi ngelithi ezi zinto zinjalo. 10 Ke kaloku waphendula uPawulos, yakunqwala kuye irhuluneli ukuba athethe, wathi:

“Ndazi kakuhle ukuba olu hlanga belunawe njengomgwebi kangangeminyaka emininzi, yaye ke ngoko ndikulungele ukuzithethelela+ ngezinto ezingam, 11 njengoko ukwimeko yokufumanisa ukuba akuntsuku zingaphezu kweshumi elinesibini ukususela ekubeni ndenyukayo ndaya kunqula+ eYerusalem; 12 yaye abandifumananga tempileni+ ndixoxisana naye nabani na okanye ndibangela ihlokondiba+ ukuba ligxalathelane ndawonye, nokuba kukwizindlu zesikhungu okanye kuso sonke isixeko. 13 Bengenako nokuzingqina+ kuwe izinto abandimangalela ngazo kanye ngoku. 14 Kodwa ndiyakuvuma oku kuwe, ukuba ndinikela inkonzo engcwele kuTHIXO wookhokho bakowethu+ ngokulandela indlela abayibiza ngokuba ‘lihlelo,’ njengoko ndizikholelwa zonke izinto ezibekwe eMthethweni+ nezibhalwe kubaProfeti; 15 yaye ndinethemba+ kuThixo, themba elo abanalo naba bantu ngokwabo, lokuba kuza kubakho uvuko+ lwamalungisa+ nabangengomalungisa.+ 16 Kule nkalo, eneneni, ndiyaziqhelisa ngokuqhubekayo ukuba ndikuphaphele+ ukungamoni uThixo nabantu. 17 Ngoko emva kweminyaka eliqela noko ndafika ndizise izipho zenceba kuhlanga lwakowethu, neminikelo.+ 18 Kanye ngelo thuba bandifumana ndihlambulukile ngokusesikweni etempileni,+ kungekho sihlwele okanye uqhushululu. Kodwa kwakukho amaYuda athile avela kwisithili saseAsiya, 19 abefanelwe kukubakho apha phambi kwakho nokundimangalela ukuba ebenayo nantoni na nxamnye nam.+ 20 Okanye, aba bantu balapha mabatsho ngokwabo ukuba bububi buni na ababufumanayo njengoko ndandimi phambi kweSanhedrin, 21 ngaphandle kwangokuphathelele eli lizwi linye ndadanduluka ngalo ndimi phakathi kwabo lokuthi, ‘Ngenxa yovuko lwabafileyo ndiyagwetywa namhlanje phambi kwenu!’”+

22 Noko ke, uFeliks,+ eyazi ngokuchanileyo imibandela ngokuphathelele le Ndlela,+ wawamisa la madoda waza wathi: “Xa sukuba ethe wehla uLisiya+ umphathi-mkhosi, ndiya kugqiba ngale mibandela nibandakanyeke kuyo.” 23 Waza wayalela igosa lomkhosi ukuba loo mntu agcinwe yaye kubekho ukunyenyisa okuthile eluvalelweni, nokuba angaleli nabani na kubantu bakhe ukuba bamnyamekele.+

24 Imihla ethile kamva wafika uFeliks+ kunye noDrusila umfazi wakhe, owayengumYudakazi,+ yaye wathumelela ukuba eze uPawulos waza wamphulaphula ngokukholwa kuKristu Yesu.+ 25 Kodwa njengoko wayethetha ngobulungisa+ nokuzeyisa+ nomgwebo+ oza kuza, uFeliks wothuka waza waphendula wathi: “Okwangoku hamba, kodwa xa ndifumana ixesha elifanelekileyo ndiya kuthumelela uze kwakhona.” 26 Kwangaxeshanye, ngoko, wayethembe ukuba wonikwa imali+ nguPawulos. Ngenxa yoko wathumelela ukuba eze ngokufuthi ngakumbi yaye wayencokola naye.+ 27 Kodwa, kwakudlula iminyaka emibini, uFeliks walandelwa nguPorkiyo Festo; yaye ngenxa yokuba uFeliks wayefuna ukukholeka+ kumaYuda, wamshiya uPawulos ebotshiwe.

25 Ngoko ke uFesto, emva kokungena+ eburhulumenteni belo phondo, imihla emithathu kamva wenyuka waya eYerusalem evela eKesareya;+ 2 yaye ababingeleli abaziintloko namadoda aziintloko amaYuda amnika inkcazelo+ ngokunxamnye noPawulos. Ngoko baqalisa ukumbongoza, 3 bezicelela njengesibabalo nxamnye naloo mntu ukuba amthumele eze eYerusalem, njengoko babemlalele+ ukuze bambulale endleleni. 4 Noko ke, uFesto waphendula wathi uPawulos makagcinwe eKesareya nokuthi naye ngokwakhe wayesele eza kumka kamsinya aye apho. 5 “Ngoko ke abo basemagunyeni phakathi kwenu,” watsho, “mabehle kunye nam baze bayimangalele,+ ukuba kukho nantoni na ephume endleleni ngale ndoda.”

6 Akuba echithe malunga nemihla esibhozo okanye elishumi phakathi kwabo, wehla waya eKesareya, yaye ngemini elandelayo wahlala phantsi kwisihlalo sokugweba+ waza wayalela ukuba kuziswe uPawulos. 7 Akufika, amaYuda awayehle evela eYerusalem ema exhontelene malunga naye, embeka izimangalo+ ezininzi nezinzulu ezo angazange akwazi ukubonisa bungqina bazo.

8 Kodwa uPawulos wazithethelela wathi: “Nxamnye noMthetho wamaYuda nanxamnye netempile+ nanxamnye noKesare andenzanga nasiphi na isono.”+ 9 UFesto, enqwenela ukuzuza ukukholeka+ kumaYuda, wamphendula uPawulos wathi: “Unqwenela ukunyuka na uye eYerusalem uze ugwetywe apho phambi kwam ngokuphathelele ezi zinto?”+ 10 Kodwa uPawulos wathi: “Ndimi phambi kwesihlalo sokugweba sikaKesare,+ apho ndifanele ukugwetywa khona. Andenzanga bubi kumaYuda,+ njengoko nawe ukwazi kakuhle oko. 11 Ukuba ngokwenene ndingumenzi-bubi+ yaye ndenze nantoni na efanele ukufa,+ andizilanduleli ekufeni; kodwa ukuba akukho nanye yezo zinto bandimangalela ngazo aba bantu, akukho mntu unokundinikela kubo njengesibabalo. Ndibhenela kuKesare!”+ 12 Ngoko uFesto, emva kokuthetha nendibano yabacebi, waphendula wathi: “Ubhenele kuKesare; uya kuya kuKesare.”

13 Ke kaloku kwakudlula imihla ethile, uAgripa ukumkani noBhernike bafika eKesareya bekutyelelo lwembeko kuFesto. 14 Ngoko, njengoko babechitha iqela leentsuku apho, uFesto wayandlala phambi kokumkani imibandela ephathelele uPawulos, esithi:

“Kukho indoda ethile eshiywe ilibanjwa nguFeliks, 15 yaye xa bendiseYerusalem ababingeleli abaziintloko namadoda amakhulu amaYuda bazisa inkcazelo+ engayo, becela umgwebo wesohlwayo ngokunxamnye nayo. 16 Kodwa ndabaphendula ngelithi asiyonkqubo yamaRoma ukunikela njengesibabalo nawuphi na umntu ngaphambi kokuba umntu omangalelweyo ahlangane ubuso ngobuso nabamangaleli+ bakhe aze afumane ithuba lokuzithethelela ngokuphathelele isimangalo eso. 17 Ngoko ke bakuqukana ndawonye apha, andizange ndilibazise, kodwa ngemini elandelayo ndahlala phantsi kwisihlalo sokugweba ndaza ndayalela ukuba iziswe loo ndoda. 18 Bakuma, abamangali abavelisanga simangalo+ sezinto ezingendawo ebendiba bommangalela ngazo. 19 Basuka nje baphikisana nayo ngokuphathelele unqulo+ lwabo lwesithixo nangokuphathelele uYesu othile owayefile kodwa lowo uPawulos ami ngelithi uyaphila.+ 20 Ngoko, ekubeni ndididekile mayela nale mpikiswano engale mibandela, ndambuza ukuba ebengathanda kusini na ukuya eYerusalem aze agwetywe apho ngokuphathelele le mibandela.+ 21 Kodwa akuba uPawulos ebhenele+ ukuba agcinelwe isigqibo saLowo uyiNgangamsha, ndayalela ukuba agcinwe ndide ndimthumele ngasentla kuKesare.”

22 Ngoko uAgripa wathi kuFesto: “Nam ndingathanda ukumva lo mntu.”+ “Ngomso,” watsho, “uza kumva.” 23 Ngoko ke, ngemini elandelayo, uAgripa noBhernike beza bebonakala benobuyokoyoko+ obuninzi baza bangena kwigumbi labaphulaphuli ndawonye nabaphathi-mikhosi kwakunye namadoda anobuhandiba esixekweni, yaye akuba uFesto enikele umyalelo, bamzisa uPawulos. 24 Waza uFesto wathi: “Kumkani Agripa nani nonke madoda akhoyo kunye nathi, lo mntu nimbona apha ukhalazelwe yiyo yonke inkitha yamaYuda eYerusalem nalapha, ikhwaza isithi akasafanele kuphila.+ 25 Kodwa ndaqonda ukuba akenzanga nto ifanele ukufa.+ Ngoko xa lo mntu ngokwakhe wabhenela+ kuLowo uyiNgangamsha, ndagqiba kwelokuba ndimthumele. 26 Kodwa ngokuphathelele yena andinanto iqinisekileyo endingayibhalela yona iNkosi yam. Ngoko ke ndimzise phambi kwenu, yaye ngokukodwa phambi kwakho, Kumkani Agripa, ukuze, emva kokuvavanywa kwetyala,+ ndibe nento endingayibhalayo. 27 Kuba kubonakala kungekho ngqiqweni kum ukuthumela ibanjwa ndize ndingazibonisi izimangalo ezinxamnye nalo.”

26 UAgripa+ wathi kuPawulos: “Uvunyelwe ukuba uzithethelele.” Wandula ke uPawulos wolula isandla sakhe+ waza wazithethelela esithi:+

2 “Ngokuphathelele zonke izinto endimangalelwa+ ngazo ngamaYuda, Kumkani Agripa, ndizibalela ekuthini ndinoyolo ekubeni ndiza kuzithethelela phambi kwakho ngalo mhla, 3 ngokukodwa njengoko uyingcali kuwo onke amasiko+ kwakunye neembambano eziphakathi kwamaYuda. Ngoko ke ndiyakubongoza ukuba undive ngomonde.

4 “Eneneni, mayela nohlobo lobomi+ endandibuphila ukususela ebutsheni phakathi kohlanga lwakowethu naseYerusalem ukususela ekuqaleni, onke amaYuda 5 awayeqhelene nam ngaphambili kwasekuqaleni ayazi, ukuba phofu ayakunqwenela ukunikela ubungqina, ukuba ndandikwelona hlelo+ lingqongqo lonqulo lwabaFarisi.+ 6 Ukanti ngoku ngenxa yethemba+ lesithembiso+ esenziwa nguThixo kookhokho bethu ndibizelwe ekugwetyweni; 7 kanti izizwe ezilishumi elinambini zakowethu zithembe ukufikelela kwinzaliseko yesi sithembiso ngokunikela kakhulu kuye inkonzo engcwele ubusuku nemini.+ Ndimangalelwa ngokuphathelele eli themba ngamaYuda,+ kumkani.

8 “Kutheni ningakholelwa nje ukuba uThixo uyabavusa abafileyo?+ 9 Mna, ngokwenene ndandicinga ukuba kufanelekile ukwenza izinto ezininzi ezichasene negama likaYesu umNazarete; 10 ezo, enyanisweni, ndazenzayo eYerusalem, yaye abaninzi kwabo bangcwele ndabatshixela ezintolongweni,+ njengoko ndandifumene igunya kubabingeleli abaziintloko;+ yaye xa beza kubulawa, ndandivota ngokunxamnye nabo. 11 Ndandibohlwaya izihlandlo ezininzi kuzo zonke izindlu zesikhungu+ ndizama ukubanyanzela ukuba balukhanyele ukholo; yaye ekubeni ndandinengcwangu ngakubo, ndandide ndiye kubatshutshisa kwanakwizixeko ezingaphandle.

12 “Kwathi kusenjalo, njengoko ndandihamba ndisiya eDamasko+ ndinegunya nomiselo oluvela kubabingeleli abaziintloko, 13 ndabona emini emaqanda endleleni, kumkani, ukukhanya okungaphaya kokuqaqamba kwelanga kuvela ezulwini kubengezela ngeenxa zonke kum nakwabo babehamba nam.+ 14 Sithe sakuwa sonke emhlabeni ndeva ilizwi lisithi kum ngolwimi lwesiHebhere, ‘Sawule, Sawule, unditshutshiselani na? Wenzakala ukhaba iimviko nje.’+ 15 Ndathi ke mna, ‘Ungubani na, Nkosi?’ Yathi iNkosi, ‘NdinguYesu, lo umtshutshisayo.+ 16 Noko ke, phakama ume ngeenyawo.+ Ndibonakele kuwe ngenxa yoku, ukuze ndikunyule njengomlindi nengqina+ lezinto ozibonileyo nezinto endiya kukubonisa zona ngam; 17 ngoxa ndikuhlangula kwesi sizwana nakwiintlanga, endikuthuma kuzo,+ 18 ukuvula amehlo abo,+ ukubaphethula ebumnyameni,+ baye ekukhanyeni+ nakwigunya likaSathana,+ baye kuThixo, ukuze bamkele uxolelo lwezono+ nelifa+ phakathi kwabo bangcwaliswa+ ngokholo lwabo kum.’

19 “Ngoko ke, Kumkani Agripa, andibanga ngongawuthobeliyo umbono wasezulwini,+ 20 kodwa kokubini kwabo baseDamasko+ kuqala nakwabo baseYerusalem,+ nakulo lonke ilizwe lakwaYuda, nakuzo iintlanga+ ndasa isigidimi sokuba bafanele baguquke baze baphethukele kuThixo ngokwenza imisebenzi efanele inguquko.+ 21 Ngenxa yezi zinto amaYuda andibamba etempileni aza alinga ukundibulala.+ 22 Noko ke, ngenxa yokuba ndizuze uncedo+ oluvela kuThixo ndiyaqhubeka ukusa kule mini ndinikela ubungqina kwabancinane nabakhulu, kodwa ndingathethi nto ngaphandle kwezinto abazixelayo abaProfeti+ kwakunye noMoses+ ukuba zaziza kwenzeka, 23 zokuba uKRISTU wayeza kubandezeleka+ yaye, njengowokuqala ukuvuswa+ kwabafileyo, wayeza kuvakalisa ukukhanya+ kwesi sizwana nakwiintlanga.”+

24 Ke kaloku njengoko wayezitsho ezi zinto ezithethelela, uFesto wathi ngelizwi elikhulu: “Uyaphambana,+ Pawulos! Ukufunda kakhulu kuyakuphambanisa!” 25 Kodwa uPawulos wathi: “Andiphambani, Festo Obalaseleyo, kodwa ndithetha amazwi enyaniso nawengqondo ephilileyo. 26 Ngenene, ukumkani endithetha kuye ngenkululeko yokuthetha wazi kakuhle ngezi zinto; kuba ndeyisekile ukuba akukho nanye kwezi zinto engaphawulekiyo kuye, kuba le nto ibingenzelwanga emfihlekweni.+ 27 Uyakholelwa na, Kumkani Agripa, kubaProfeti? Ndiyazi ukuba uyakholelwa.”+ 28 Kodwa uAgripa wathi kuPawulos: “Ngexesha elifutshane ubuya kundeyisela ekubeni ndibe ngumKristu.” 29 Ngako oko uPawulos wathi: “Ngumnqweno wam kuThixo ukuba enoba kungexesha elifutshane okanye ngexesha elide, ingabi nguwe kuphela kodwa kwanabo bonke abo bandivayo namhlanje, babe njengoko ndinjalo nam, ngaphandle nje kwale mixokelelwane.”

30 Yaye ukumkani wasukuma yaza yenjenjalo nerhuluneli noBhernike nabantu ababehleli kunye nabo. 31 Kodwa njengoko babesimka baqalisa ukuthetha omnye komnye, besithi: “Lo mntu akenzanga nto ifanele ukufa+ okanye imixokelelwane.” 32 Ngaphezu koko, uAgripa wathi kuFesto: “Lo mntu ngekhululiwe ukuba ebengabhenelanga+ kuKesare.”

27 Ke kaloku njengoko kwakugqitywe kwelokuba sinduluke ngesikhephe siye eItali,+ baqala ukunikela uPawulos namanye amabanjwa athile kwigosa lomkhosi eligama linguYuliyo webutho lika-Agasto. 2 Sakhwela esikhepheni saseAdramitiyami esasisele siza kuhamba ukuya kwiindawo ezingakunxweme lwesithili saseAsiya, sanduluka, kukho kunye nathi uAristarko+ waseMakedoni owayevela eTesalonika. 3 Ngemini elandelayo safika emhlabeni eSidon, yaye uYuliyo wamphatha uPawulos ngobuntu+ waza wamvumela ukuba aye kubahlobo bakhe aze anyanyekelwe ngabo.+

4 Kwaye sahamba ngolwandle ukusuka apho sabetha ngaphantsi kwekhusi laseSipro, ngenxa yokuba umoya wawukhangelene nathi; 5 yaye satyhutyha isithabazi solwandle olungaseKilikiya nasePamfiliya saza samisa kwizibuko eliseMira eLikiya. 6 Kodwa apho igosa lomkhosi lafumana isikhephe saseAleksandriya+ esasisiya eItali laza lasikhwelisa kuso. 7 Emva kokucotha iintsuku eziliqela nokufika nzima eKinido, ngenxa yokuba umoya wawungasivumeli siqhubeke, sabetha ngaphantsi kwekhusi laseKrete eSalmone, 8 saza sigudle unxweme ngobunzima saya kwindawo ethile ebizwa ngokuthi amaChweba Amahle, ekwakukho kufuphi nayo isixeko saseLaseya.

9 Njengoko kwakudlule ixesha elide yaye kungoku nje kwakuyingozi ukuhamba ngamanzi ngenxa yokuba kwanokuzila ukutya [komhla wocamagushelo]+ kwakusele kudlulile, uPawulos wancomela, 10 esithi kubo: “Madoda, ndiyaqonda ukuba olu hambo ngamanzi luza kuba nomonakalo nelahleko enkulu kungekhona kumthwalo nakwisikhephe nje kuphela kodwa kwanakwimiphefumlo yethu.”+ 11 Noko ke, igosa lomkhosi laqhubeka linikela ingqalelo kumqhubi nomnini-nqanawa kunakwizinto ezazithethwa nguPawulos. 12 Ke kaloku njengoko izibuko lalingakulungele ukuba kuchithelwe ubusika kulo, uninzi lwacebisa ukuba kundulukwe apho, ukuze lubone ukuba lwalunako kusini na ngandlel’ ithile ukufika eFinikisi kuchithwe ubusika apho, elizibuko laseKrete elivulekele ngasemntla-mpuma nangasemzantsi-mpuma.

13 Ngaphezu koko, xa umoya wasezantsi wawuvuthuza kancinane, bacinga ukuba babeyifikelele injongo yabo, yaye bayiphakamisa iankile baza bagudla unxweme ngaphakathi kwelaseKrete. 14 Noko ke, emva kwethutyana kwagaleleka isivuthuvuthu somoya+ obizwa ngokuthi yiYurokhwilo. 15 Njengoko isikhephe sathiwa hlasi ngamandla saza asakwazi ukuhlala sijongene ngqo nomoya, sanikezela saza saqhutywa nguwo. 16 Ke kaloku sabalekela ngaphantsi kwekhusi lesiqithana esithile esibizwa ngokuthi yiKawuda, ukanti kwaba ngenkankulu ukuba sikwazi ukusilawula isikhitshane+ ngasemva. 17 Kodwa emva kokusiphakamisela ngaphakathi basibophelela isikhephe; yaye besoyika ukuxinga emhlabeni eSirtis, bahlisa igiyeri baza baqhutywa ngumoya benjalo. 18 Kanti ngenxa yokuba sasiphoswa ngapha nangapha ngamandla sisivuthuvuthu, ngemini elandelayo bayenza khaphukhaphu+ inqanawa; 19 yaye ngemini yesithathu bayilahla ngezandla zabo impahla yesikhephe.

20 Kwathi kwakungabonakali langa nazinkwenkwezi kangangeentsuku ezininzi, kukho nesivuthuvuthu esikhulu,+ lanqamka lonke ithemba lokusindiswa kwethu. 21 Kwakuba kuzilwe ukutya ixesha elide, wandula ke uPawulos wema phakathi kwabo+ waza wathi: “Madoda, ngokuqinisekileyo benifanele ukuba nilithabathile icebiso lam yaye ngeningahambanga ngolwandle ukusuka eKrete nize nigaxeleke kulo monakalo nale lahleko.+ 22 Ukanti, ngoku ndinicebisa ukuba nichwayite, kuba akukho mphemfulo wenu uya kulahleka, sisikhephe kuphela esiya kwenjenjalo. 23 Kuba ngobu busuku bekumi kufuphi nam ingelosi+ kaTHIXO endingowakhe nendinikela kuye inkonzo engcwele,+ 24 isithi, ‘Musa ukoyika, Pawulos. Umelwe kukuma phambi koKesare,+ yaye, khangela! uThixo ukunike ngesisa bonke abo bahamba nawe ngamanzi.’ 25 Ngoko ke chwayitani, madoda; kuba ndiyakholwa kuThixo+ ukuba kuya kuba njengoko kanye ndixelelwe. 26 Noko ke, simele siphoseke elunxwemeni kwisiqithi esithile.”+

27 Yathi yakuba bubusuku beshumi elinesine siphoseka ngapha nangapha kulwandle lwaseAdriya, ezinzulwini zobusuku oomatiloshe barhanela ukuba babesondela emhlabeni othile. 28 Yaye balinganisa ubunzulu baza babufumanisa buziifatom ezingamashumi amabini; ngoko baqhubeka umgama omfutshane baza kwakhona balinganisa ubunzulu baza babufumanisa buziifatom ezilishumi elinesihlanu. 29 Kwaye ngenxa yokoyika ukuba sisengaphoseka ndaweni ithile elulwalweni, baphosela phandle iiankile ezine zangasemva baza banqwenela ukuba kuse. 30 Kodwa xa oomatiloshe bafuna ukubaleka esikhepheni baza bahlisela isikhitshane elwandle besenza ngathi bazimisele ukuthoba iiankile ngaphambili, 31 uPawulos wathi kwigosa lomkhosi namajoni: “Ngaphandle kokuba aba bantu bahlale esikhepheni, aninakusindiswa.”+ 32 Ngoko amajoni azinqumla iintsontelo zesikhitshana+ aza asiyeka sawa.

33 Ke kaloku malunga nokusondela kwemini uPawulos wakhuthaza bonke ukuba batye, esithi: “Namhlanje lusuku lweshumi elinesine nilindile ningasafaki nento le etyiwayo emlonyeni. 34 Ngoko ke ndiyanikhuthaza ukuba nitye, kuba oku kuya kuba kokokhuseleko lwenu; kuba akuyi kutshabalala nonwele+ olu lwentloko yenu.” 35 Emva kokutsho oku, naye wathabatha isonka, wambulela+ uThixo phambi kwabo bonke, wasiqhekeza waza watya. 36 Ngoko bonke bachwayita baza batya. 37 Ke kaloku, xa sisonke, thina miphefumlo eyayisesikhepheni sasingamakhulu amabini anamashumi asixhenxe anesithandathu. 38 Bakwanela kukutya, baqala ukusenza khaphukhaphu+ isikhephe ngokuyiphosela ngaphandle elwandle ingqolowa.

39 Kwakuba semini, abaliqondanga elo lizwe kodwa babona itheku elithile linonxweme, yaye babezimisele ukusiqhubela kulo isikhephe,+ ukuba babenako. 40 Ngoko, benqumla iiankile, baziyeka zawela elwandle, kwangaxeshanye bekhulula izibophelelo zamaphini okubhexa baza, emva kokuphakamisela ngasemoyeni iseyile engaphambili, basingisa elunxwemeni. 41 Bangqubeka kwinduli yentlabathi eyayibethwa lulwandle kwicala ngalinye, yaxinga emhlabeni inqanawa yaye umphambili waxinga yaza yahlala ingakwazi ukuhamba, kodwa wona umva waqhekeka ngamandla waba ziingceba.+ 42 Ngako oko amajoni azimisela ukuwabulala amabanjwa, ukuze kungabikho nalinye elinokudada limke lize libaleke. 43 Kodwa igosa lomkhosi lalifuna ukumsindisa uPawulos laza lawathintela kwinjongo yawo. Yaye layalela abo bakwaziyo ukudada ukuba baziphose elwandle baze baye kufika emhlabeni kuqala, 44 baze abaseleyo balandele ngamaplanga nangezinto ezithile zesikhephe. Ngaloo ndlela bafika bonke ngokukhuselekileyo emhlabeni.+

28 Sakuba sisindile, saqonda ukuba eso siqithi sasibizwa ngokuba yiMalta.+ 2 Kwaye abantu abantetho yasemzini basibonisa ubuntu+ obungaqhelekanga, baphemba umlilo baza basamkela sonke kuba imvula yayisina yaye kubanda.+ 3 Kodwa uPawulos waqokelela inyanda yezinti waza wayibeka emlilweni, kwaphuma irhamba ngenxa yobushushu laza lanamathela esandleni sakhe. 4 Xa abantu abantetho yasemzini babona esi sidalwa sinobuhlungu sijinga esandleni sakhe, bathi omnye komnye: “Ngokuqinisekileyo lo mntu ngumbulali, yaye nangona esindile elwandle, okusesikweni kwempindezelo akumvumeli ukuba aqhubeke ephila.” 5 Noko ke, wasivuthululela emlilweni eso sidalwa sinobuhlungu waza akenzakala.+ 6 Kodwa babelindele ukuba wayeza kudumba ngenxa yokukrala okanye athi qithi ngequbuliso afe. Emva kokulinda ithuba elide baza abambona esenzakala, bayitshintsha ingqondo yabo baza bathi unguthixo.+

7 Ke kaloku elumelwaneni lwaloo ndawo indoda eyintloko yesiqithi, egama linguPubliyo, yayinemihlaba; yaye yasamkela ngomoya wokubuk’ iindwendwe yaza yasenzela ububele iintsuku ezintathu. 8 Uyise kaPubliyo wayelele phantsi ebandezelekile ngumkhuhlane nasisisu segazi, yaye uPawulos waya kuye, wathandaza, wambeka izandla+ waza wamphilisa.+ 9 Emva kokuba oku kwenzekile, kwanabanye abantu besiqithi ababenezifo beza kuye ukuze baphiliswe.+ 10 Nabo basenzela imbeko ngokusinika izipho ezininzi yaye, ekundulukeni kwethu, basiphathisa izinto ezininzi esizisweleyo.

11 Kwiinyanga ezintathu kamva sanduluka ngesikhephe saseAleksandriya+ esasichithe ubusika esiqithini nesasinembasa ethi “Oonyana bakaZeyus.” 12 Yaye simise kwizibuko laseSirakuse sahlala iintsuku ezintathu, 13 ndawo leyo sathi sisuka kuyo sajikeleza saza safika eRegiyo. Yaye usuku olunye kamva kwavuka umoya wasezantsi saza safika ePuteyoli ngomhla wesibini. 14 Apho safumana abazalwana yaye sabongozwa ukuba sihlale kunye nabo iintsuku ezisixhenxe; ibe ngale ndlela seza ngaseRoma. 15 Yaye xa aba bazalwana beva iindaba ezingathi, beza kusihlangabeza de bafikelela kwiNdawo yeMarike ka-Apiyo naseTavene-Ntathu yaye, akubabona, uPawulos wambulela uThixo waza womelela.+ 16 Ekugqibeleni, sangena eRoma, waza uPawulos wavunyelwa+ ukuba azihlalele yedwa nejoni elimlindileyo.

17 Noko ke, iintsuku ezintathu kamva wabizela ndawonye abo babengamadoda aziintloko amaYuda. Xa babehlanganisene, wathi kubo: “Madoda, bazalwana, nangona ndandingenzanga nto yahlukileyo ebantwini okanye kumasiko ookhokho bethu,+ ndesuka eYerusalem ndanikelwa njengebanjwa ezandleni zamaRoma.+ 18 Yaye wona, emva kokuba endincinile,+ ayenqwenela ukundikhulula,+ njengoko kwakungekho sizathu sokuba ndife.+ 19 Xa amaYuda aqhubeka ethetha ngokunxamnye noko, ndanyanzeleka ukuba ndibhenele+ kuKesare, kodwa kungekhona ngokungathi ndandinayo nantoni na endilumangalela ngayo uhlanga lwakowethu. 20 Ngokwenene ngenxa yoku ndibongoze ukuba ndinibone ndize ndithethe kuni, kuba ngenxa yethemba+ likaSirayeli ndibotshwe ngalo mxokelelwane.”+ 21 Bathi kuye: “Asamkelanga zincwadi zivela kwelakwaYuda ngokuphathelele wena, kungekho nabani na kubazalwana ofikileyo waxela okanye wathetha nantoni na embi ngawe. 22 Kodwa ke singathanda ukuziva izimvo zakho, kuba eneneni, siyazi ukuba eli hlelo+ lichasiwe+ kuyo yonk’ indawo.”

23 Babekelana usuku kunye naye, yaye beza kuye bebaninzi kakhulu kwindawo awayehlala kuyo. Kwaye wabacacisela lo mbandela ngokunikela ubungqina obucokisekileyo ngokuphathelele ubukumkani bukaThixo+ nangokusebenzisa ukweyisela kubo ngokuphathelele uYesu esusela kokubini emthethweni kaMoses+ nakubaProfeti,+ ukususela kusasa kwada kwahlwa. 24 Yaye bambi bazikholelwa+ izinto awayezitsho; abanye babengakholwa.+ 25 Ngoko, ngenxa yokuba babengavumelani, bemka, ngoxa uPawulos wayegqabaza esithi:

“Umoya oyingcwele watyapha ukuthetha ngoIsaya umprofeti kookhokho benu, 26 usithi, ‘Hamba uye kwesi sizwana uze uthi: “Ukuva, niya kuva kodwa ningaqondi; yaye, ukukhangela, niya kukhangela kodwa ningaboni.+ 27 Kuba intliziyo yesi sizwana iye yalukhuni, sivile ngeendlebe zaso, asasabela, sawavala amehlo aso; ukuze singaze sibone ngamehlo aso kwaye singeva ngeendlebe zaso yaye singaqondi ngeentliziyo zaso size sibuye, ndisiphilise.”’+ 28 Ngoko ke makwazeke kuni ukuba, usindiso lukaThixo luthunyelwe kuzo iintlanga;+ ngokuqinisekileyo ziya kuluva.”+ 29 ——

30 Ngoko wahlala kangangeminyaka emibini iphela kwindlu yakhe ayiqeshileyo,+ yaye wayebamkela ngobubele bonke ababesiza kuye, 31 eshumayela kubo ubukumkani bukaThixo yaye efundisa ngezinto eziphathelele iNkosi uYesu Kristu ngeyona nkululeko yokuthetha+ inkulu, ngaphandle kwesithintelo.