To The Word – Day 57

₁Akazange athembeke amaSirayeli kumyalelo *kaNdikhoyo wokuba angathathi nto kufuneka itshatyalalisiwe eJeriko. Umfo owawudelayo loo myalelo nguAkana, unyana kaKarmi, umzukulwana kaZabhedi wakwaZera wesizwe sakwaJuda. Loo nto yawuvuthisa umsindo kaNdikhoyo ngakumaSirayeli.

₂UYoshuwa wathumela amadoda asuka eJeriko esiya eAyi, idolophu eyayingasempumalanga yeBhetele, imelene neBhetaven, ukuba aye kuhlola elo lizwe. Aya ke, ayihlola iAyi, ₃abuya athi kuYoshuwa: “Akukho mfuneko yakusa wonke umkhosi eAyi. Makuye nokuba ngamawaka amabini okanye amathathu amadoda. Noko abantu baseAyi bambalwa.”

₄Hayi ke, kwaphuma amawaka amathathu ukuya kuhlasela iAyi, kodwa asuka aswantsuliswa. ₅Amadoda aseAyi awajika emasangweni edolophu loo madoda, awaleqa ewahlisa induli ukuya kutsho ezixhotyeni, abulala amashumi amathathu anantandathu. AmaSirayeli atyhafa, ankwantya kukoyika.

₆UYoshuwa kunye namadoda amakhulu bazikrazula izambatho zabo, bazikhahlela phantsi ngaphambi kwetyesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo, bahlala benjenjalo kwada kwahlwa. Babezigalele nangothuli entloko, bebonakalisa intlungu ababenayo.

₇UYoshuwa wakhala wathi: “Ndikhoyo, Mhlekazi, wawusiwezela ntoni ke kambe eJordan? Wawufuna ukuza kusitshabalalisa ngala ma-Amori? Akwaba sasisuke sahlala ngaphesheya kweJordan kwaba kanye! ₈Ndikhoyo, ndiza kuthini ngoku esuke aswantsuliswa nje amaSirayeli ziintshaba zawo? ₉Akuyiva le nto amaKanana kunye nabemi beli lizwe, baza kuza bonke, basicime igama. Ke wena, uza kuthini ngegama lakho elidume kangaka?”

₁₀Wathi kuYoshuwa uNdikhoyo: “Yoshuwa, vuka; uqubudele ntoni kuloo ndawo? ₁₁AmaSirayeli enze isono! Awaphule umnqophiso wam, awugqitha umyalelo ebendiwanike wona, athatha ezinye izinto kwebekufuneka zitshatyalaliswe mpela. Azibile, aza axoka nokuxoka, azifihla phakathi kwezinto zawo. ₁₂Yiyo ke loo nto engenakumelana notshaba nje amaSirayeli. Ebaleka nje kungenxa yokuba nawo emelwe kukutshabalala! Andikubuya ndibe phakathi kwenu nide nibe nizitshabalalisile izinto ebekufuneka zitshatyalaliswe.

₁₃“Phakama ke, ubahlambulule abantu. Yithi kubo mabazihlambulule ngenxa yokuya kwenzeka ngomso, kuba mna Ndikhoyo, Thixo wamaSirayeli, ndithi kubo: ‘Phakathi kwenu kukho oko bekumelwe kukunikelwa kum ngokutshatyalaliswa. Anisoze nibe nakumelana notshaba de nahlukane nezo zinto.’

₁₄“Baxelele ke ukuba ngomso kusasa baza kubizwa ngokwezizwe zabo. Eso sizwe salathiweyo nguNdikhoyo kufuneka size ngaphambili ngokwezindlu zaso, ize indlu eyalathiweyo ize ngaphambili ngokomzi, kuze kumzi owalathiweyo kuphume indoda nganye. ₁₅Loo ndoda ke yalathiweyo kwaza kwafunyanwa kuyo ezo zinto kufuneka zitshatyalalisiwe, yotshiswa kunye nako konke okukokwayo. Kaloku iwaphule umnqophiso kaNdikhoyo, yenza ubuyatha kwaSirayeli.”

₁₆Kwangentsasa ngengomso uYoshuwa wawabiza amaSirayeli, izizwe ngezizwe. Isizwe sakwaJuda salathwa nguNdikhoyo. ₁₇Seza ngaphambili isizwe sakwaJuda ngokwezindlu zaso, kwaza kwalathwa indlu kaZera. Kuloo ndlu kaZera kwathiwa imizi yayo mayize ngaphambili, ₁₈kwaza kwalathwa umzi kaZabhedi. Eza ngaphambili amadoda aloo mzi, kwaza kwalathwa uAkana unyana kaKarmi umzukulwana kaZabhedi wakwaZera wesizwe sakwaJuda. ₁₉Wathi kuye uYoshuwa: “Mfo wam, mzukise uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, uzityande igila kuye, uyivume into oyenzileyo, ungandifihleli.”

₂₀Wathi uAkana: “Kuyinene ukuba ndimonile uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli. Yiyo ke le into endayenzayo: ₂₁phakathi kwamaxhoba ndabona umnweba omhle owenziwe eBhabheli, nesiliva ebunzima buziikhilogram ezimbini, kunye necwecwe legolide elibunzima bungaphezu kwesiqingatha sekhilogram. Ndazinqwenela, ndazithatha ke. Naziya zombelwe phaya endlwini yam, isiliva yona ingaphantsi.”

₂₂UYoshuwa wathi makuye amadoda apho. Akhawuleza ke, aza azifumana zombelwe apho ngenene ezo zinto, isiliva ingaphantsi yona.

₂₃Bazithatha bazisa kuYoshuwa nakumaSirayeli ephela, baza bazandlala phambi koNdikhoyo. ₂₄UYoshuwa, ekunye namaSirayeli, bamthatha uAkana, kunye naloo siliva, naloo golide, naloo mnweba, nditsho nkqu noonyana neentombi zakhe, imfuyo yakhe, nentente yakhe, konke okwakhe, babasa kwintili yeAkore. ₂₅Wathi uYoshuwa: “Kutheni usifake enkathazweni nje? Nawe ke ngoku uNdikhoyo uza kukuhlisela inkathazo.” Umntu wonke wamxuluba ngamatye uAkana. Nosapho lwakhe nalo baluxuluba ngamatye, balutshisa kunye nako konke okwakhe. ₂₆Bafumba amatye phezu kwakhe – aselapho unanamhla. Yathiywa njalo ke loo ndawo, kwathiwa yintili yeAkore.

Yathomalala ke nengqumbo kaNdikhoyo.

₁Ke kaloku wathi *uNdikhoyo kuYoshuwa: “Uze ungoyiki, ungankwantyi. Thatha wonke umkhosi wakho, uhlasele iAyi. Ukumkani waseAyi, kunye nabantu bakhe, nesixeko sakhe, kunye nalo mhlaba wakhe, ndimnikele ezandleni zakho. ₂Nalapha eAyi uze wenze laa nto wawuyenze eJeriko nakukumkani wakhona. Kodwa ngoku amaxhoba eenkomo kunye nezinye izinto nize nizithathele zona. Nize nizilungiselele ukuyiqubula loo dolophu, nibe nabalaleli ngapha kwayo.”

₃UYoshuwa waxhabashela ukuya eAyi kunye nomkhosi wakhe. Wakhetha amawaka amashumi mathathu awona angamakhalipha kumadoda omkhosi, wawakhupha ngobusuku ₄nalo myalelo: “Phulaphulani! Zimelani ngapha kwesixeko, ningabi kude, nihlale nichophe phezu kwezikrweqe. ₅Mna kunye namadoda ahamba nam sosivelela ngaphambili isixeko. Xa amadoda aseAyi asihlangabezayo thina siya kujika sibaleke njengokwesihlandlo sokuqala. ₆Wona ke osisukela de athi qelele esixekweni, eba siyabaleka njengakuqala. Besasisukela njalo ke ₇nina niya kuphuma kuloo ndawo benizimele kuyo, nihlasele isixeko, nisithimbe. UNdikhoyo uThixo wenu wosinikela ezandleni zenu. ₈Nakuba nisithimbile eso sixeko, ze nisintumeke umlilo ngokomyalelo kaNdikhoyo. Ze nenjenjalo; ndiyaniyalela!” ₉Wawandulula ke loo madoda uYoshuwa, ahamba aya kulinda ezimele ngasentshonalanga yeAyi, phakathi kweAyi neBhetele. Yena uYoshuwa wasala apho babekhulule khona ngobo busuku.

₁₀Wavuka ekuseni uYoshuwa, wahlanganisa elakhe iqela lomkhosi. Wenjenjeya ewukhokelela eAyi kunye neenkokheli zawo. ₁₁Lo mkhosi wahamba ujonge ngqo eAyi, wafika wagxumeka iintente zawo emantla esixeko, ahlulwe naso yintili. ₁₂Ngelo xesha uYoshuwa wayeselethathe amawaka amahlanu amadoda, wawafihla ngakwintshonalanga yesixeko, phakathi kweAyi neBhetele.

₁₃Amiswa ngeendawo zawo ke loo madoda, elungele idabi, iintente zawo zimi ngasemantla esixeko, amanye amadoda ezifihlile ngasentshonalanga. Ngobo busuku uYoshuwa wangena kuloo ntili.

₁₄Akabanga saphozisa maseko ukumkani waseAyi akuwubona ekuseni umkhosi kaYoshuwa. Wesuka kwangoko, wawuhlangabeza kunye namadoda akhe kuloo ntili ikhangelene nentlango, engaqondi phofu ukuba kukho amadoda alaleleyo ngaphaya kwesixeko. ₁₅UYoshuwa namadoda omkhosi wakhe yena wanga uyabaleka, wabheka ngasentlango. ₁₆Kwahlatywa umkhosi, aphuma onke amadoda aseAyi, awusukela umkhosi kaYoshuwa. Lo gama asukelayo wawuya usithi tyishi umgama ophakathi kwawo nesixeko. ₁₇Akwasala nanye indoda eBhetele naseAyi engawasukelanga amaSirayeli, yaza iAyi yasala ingenabani wakuyikhusela.

₁₈UNdikhoyo wathi kuYoshuwa: “Khomba eAyi ngomkhonto wakho, kuba ndiyinikezela kuwe loo dolophu.” Wenjenjalo uYoshuwa. ₁₉Uthe nje akusiphakamisa isandla, laa mkhosi wakhe wawuzimela wesuka iindulumbane wangena esixekweni, wasintumeka umlilo. ₂₀Athe akubheka amadoda aseAyi abona kufunquza intshinyela yomsi ngasesibhakabhakeni. Akazange abe nakubalekela ndawo, kuba amaSirayeli awayezenza ngathi ayabaleka ajika angena kuwo. ₂₁Kaloku wathi uYoshuwa neqela lakhe bakuqonda ukuba isixeko sithinjiwe liqela elalizimele, yaye sasisele silidangatye ngumlilo, bajika bawahlasela amadoda aseAyi. ₂₂AmaSirayeli awayethimbe isixeko afika aza kunceda edabini. Aba ke amadoda aseAyi angqingwe macal' onke ngamaSirayeli, abulawa onke. Akubangakho mntu usindayo, kungazange kuphuncule bani, ₂₃ngaphandle kokumkani waseAyi yedwa. Kanti ke naye wabanjwa wasiwa kuYoshuwa.

₂₄AmaSirayeli, akuba ewabulele onke loo madoda ayeleqwe ngawo emasimini nasentlango, abuyela kwaseAyi, afika abulala yonke into engumntu apho. ₂₅Ngaloo mini kwabulawa yonke into engumntu eAyi, kwafa ishumi elinambini lamawaka lamadoda nabafazi. ₂₆UYoshuwa wayesoloko umkhonto wakhe ewukhombe eAyi, akasithoba kwada kwaba kufe umntu wonke apho.

₂₇AmaSirayeli azithathela imfuyo kwanamanye amaxhoba njengoko uNdikhoyo wawayalelayo ngomlomo kaYoshuwa. ₂₈UYoshuwa wayintumeka umlilo iAyi, yasala ingamabhodlo. Iseyiloo nto unanamhla oku. ₂₉Ukumkani waseAyi yena waxhonywa emthini, wayekwa apho kwada kwarhatyela. Kwathi ngorhatya wathi uYoshuwa isidumbu sikakumkani masithulwe siye kulahlwa emasangweni esixeko. Kwafunjwa phezu kwaso ingqumba yamatye asekho apho unanamhla.

₃₀Emva koko ke uYoshuwa wenzela *uNdikhoyo, uThixo kaSirayeli, iqonga lamadini phezu kwentaba iEbhali, ₃₁elenze njengoko uMosis, isicaka sikaNdikhoyo, wayeyalele. Walenza ngamatye angaqingqwanga, ngokomyalelo osencwadini yomthetho kaMosis. Kwelo qonga kwakusenziwa amadini atshiswayo kunye nawobudlelane. ₃₂UYoshuwa wawakhuphela umthetho kaMosis, ewukrola ematyeni, amaSirayeli ejongile. ₃₃AmaSirayeli onke, amadoda amakhulu, amagosa, nabalamli, kwakunye nabangeneleli, bema bephahle ityesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo, bejongene nababingeleli bomlibo ka-Aron ababeyithwele. Elinye iqela lalimi ngakwintaba iGerezim, elinye limi ngakwintaba iEbhali. Kaloku uMosis, isicaka sikaNdikhoyo, wayethe maze benjenje lakufika ithuba lokubhengeza amathamsanqa uNdikhoyo awanika abantu bakhe amaSirayeli.

₃₄Kwesi sithuba ke uYoshuwa wabafundela umthetho uphela, nditsho iintsikelelo neziqalekiso njengoko zibhaliwe encwadini yomthetho. ₃₅UYoshuwa ke wayifundela elo bandla liphela imiyalelo kaMosis, engashiyanga nesuntswana eli. Ayekho namakhosikazi, nabantwana, kwakunye nabangeneleli abemi phakathi kwamaSirayeli.

₁Imbali yokutshatshela kwamaSirayeli yaya kuvakala nakwiikumkani ezazimi ngasentshonalanga kweJordan: kweleentaba, emazantsi eentaba, nasemantla konxweme lolwandle, ukuya kutsho eLebhanon. Ezo ke yayiziikumkani ezazilawula amaHeti, ama-Amori, amaKanana, amaPerezi, amaHivi, namaJebhusi. ₂Zonke zabuthelana ngamxhelo mnye ukuze zilwe noYoshuwa namaSirayeli.

₃Abantu baseGibheyon, ababengamaHivi, bayiva imbali yezigigaba zikaYoshuwa eJeriko naseAyi, ₄baza bagqiba ekubeni mabenze iqhinga. Bathume izigidimi zilayishe ukutya ezimbongolweni ngeengxowa ezigugileyo. ₅Zanxiba amadlavu, neembadada ezikrazukileyo, zathatha isonka esomileyo esingundileyo ₆Zenyuka zaya esikhululweni eGiligali, zafika zathi kuYoshuwa namaSirayeli: “Singabantu abavela kwilizwe elikude. Size kucela kuni imvisiswano yokuhlalisana ngoxolo.”

₇AmaSirayeli athi: “Singathini na ukunqophisana nani? Kusenokwenzeka ukuba nisuka kwalapha kufuphi.”

₈Bathi kuYoshuwa: “Thina sizizicaka zakho.”

Wababuza uYoshuwa wathi: “Ningamani, yaye nivela phi?”

₉Bona baphendula bathi: “Mhlekazi, sivela kwelikude; saye sivile ngezigigaba *zikaNdikhoyo uThixo wakho, nangayo yonke into awayenza eJiputa, ₁₀kwakunye nakwenze kwiikumkani ezimbini zama-Amori ngaphesheya kweJordan, kukumkani uSihon waseHeshbhon kunye nokumkani uOgi waseBhashan owayemi eAshtoreti. ₁₁Amadoda amakhulu akuthi, kunye nabemi bonke belakowethu, bathi kuthi: ‘Zenzeleni umphako wendlela, nihambe niye kubo, nithi: “Sizizicaka zenu. Visisanani nathi, sihlalisane ngoxolo.” ’ ₁₂Khangela umphako wethu wesonka. Ukunduluka kwethu ekhaya sisiza apha, esi sonka sasiseshushu. Ngoku sesomile, singunde nokungunda. ₁₃Iimvaba zewayini zazizele, zintsha, ngoku sezikrazukile. Neempahla zethu kunye neembadada zigugile luhambo olude.”

₁₄Amadoda akwaSirayeli angcamla kumphako waloo madoda, kodwa akakhange abhekise kuNdikhoyo. ₁₅NoYoshuwa ke wasivuma isicelo sawo soxolo, wanqophisana nawo ngelithi akayi kubulawa. Zafunga iinkokheli zebandla lamaSirayeli, zathi loo mnqophiso aziyi kuwutyeshela.

₁₆Kwathi kungekadluli neentsuku ezintathu senziwa isivumelwano, eva amaSirayeli ukuba abo bantu yayingabamelwane bawo, behlala kufuphi nawo. ₁₇Anduluka ke amaSirayeli, athi emva kweentsuku ezintathu agaleleka apho kwakuhlala khona loo madoda. Izixeko zawo yayiyiGibheyon, iKefira, iBheroti, kunye neKiriyati-yarim. ₁₈Kambe ke amaSirayeli akazange ababulale aba bantu, kuba kaloku iinkokheli zebandla lawo zazibenzele isifungo ngegama likaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli. Lonke ibandla lakwaSirayeli lazikhalazela iinkokheli, ₁₉zaza iinkokheli zathi: “Kaloku safunga ngegama likaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli kwaba bantu. Ke ngoko asinakubenza nto konke. ₂₀Naku emasikwenze: masingabachukumisi, hleze sihlelwe yingqumbo ngokutyeshela isifungo. ₂₁Masibayeke baphile ngokwesifungo sethu, kodwa ngabo abaza kusikhelela amanzi, basicandele iinkuni.”

₂₂UYoshuwa wathi mabeziswe kuye abantu baseGibheyon, wabhekisa kubo wathi: “Nisikhohlisele ntoni nisithi nivela kude nje, kanti nihlala kufuphi? ₂₃Niqalekisiwe ngenxa yento eniyenzileyo. Niya kuhlala ningamakhoboka, nithuthe amanzi, nicande neenkuni zomzi woThixo wam.”

₂₄Bathi ukuphendula bona: “Mhlekazi, sibangwe kukuva ukuba kuyinyani ukuba uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu wayalela uMosis ukuba wonke lo mhlaba makawunike nina, batshabalalise bonke abemi bawo, ke ngoko sasoyikela nobomi bethu. ₂₅Ngoku ke siphantsi kwegunya lakho; yenza loo nto wena ucinga ukuba ilungile.”

₂₆Nantsi ke into awayenzayo uYoshuwa: wabakhusela, akawavumela ukuba amaSirayeli ababulale, ₂₇kodwa wathi mababe ngamakhoboka okukha amanzi nokucanda iinkuni zamaSirayeli nezeqonga lamadini kaNdikhoyo. Loo msebenzi basawenza unanamhla kuloo ndawo yalathwe nguNdikhoyo.

₁Umbingeleli omkhulu wabhekisa kuStefano wathi: “Khanyela watyholwa!”

₂Waza uStefano wathetha nentlanganiso wenjenje: “Mawethu nani bobawo, khanindiphulaphule. UThixo, eyona ngangalala, wabonakala kukhokho wethu uAbraham ngexesha awayehlala eMesopotami, ngaphambi kokuba aye kuhlala eHaran, ₃wathi kuye: ‘Suka, umke apha, uzishiye izizalwana zakho, kunye nelizwe lakowenu, uye kumhlaba endiya kukubonisa wona.’ ₄Waza ke ngoko wawushiya umhlaba wamaKaledi, waya kuhlala eHaran. Emveni kokufa kukayise, uThixo wathi uAbraham makafudukele kweli lizwe nikulo nani ngoku. ₅Ngelo xesha uThixo akamnikanga nendawana le uAbraham kulo mhlaba, ukuba ayime: hayi, nditsho nomhlathana lo womhlaba! Kodwa kananjalo uThixo wamthembisa uAbraham ukuba uya kumnika loo mhlaba, awume yena nezizukulwana zakhe emva kwakhe. Ukusenza kwakhe uThixo esi sithembiso uAbraham wayengekazali mntwana. ₆UThixo wathetha ngolu hlobo kuye: ‘Isizukulwana sakho siya kufuduka, siye kuhlala elizweni lasemzini, apho siya kuba ngamakhoboka, sibandezeleke iminyaka engamakhulu amane. ₇Kodwa mna ndiya kubagweba abo bantu siphantsi kwabo; kuze kuthi emva kwelo thuba, babuye kwelo lizwe, beze kundikhonza kule ndawo.’ ₈Waza uThixo wamnika ulwaluko uAbraham ukutywina loo mnqophiso. UAbraham ke wamolùsa uIsake ngosuku lwesibhozo ezelwe, waza ngokukwanjalo uIsake wamolùsa uYakobi, noYakobi wenza kwaloo nto kookhokho abalishumi elinambini.

₉“Oobawo bammonela uJosefu, bamthengisa waba likhoboka eJiputa. Kodwa uThixo waba naye, ₁₀wamweza kuzo zonke iinkxwaleko awaba kuzo. Akusiwa phambi kokumkani waseJiputa, uThixo wamenza wathandeka uJosefu, wampha nobulumko. Ukumkani wammisela uJosefu wayirhuluneli yelaseJiputa nekomkhulu lakhe. ₁₁Kwabakho indlala enkulu kulo lonke elaseJiputa nelaseKanana, ababi nakufumana nokutya oku ookhokho, ikati ilele eziko. ₁₂Akuva uYakobi ukuba eJiputa kukho ukudla, wabathumela okokuqala oonyana bakhe; ngookhokho kuthi ke abo. ₁₃Kutyelelo lwabo lwesibini uJosefu wazazisa kubantakwabo, waza wamxelela ukumkani ngamawabo lawo. ₁₄UJosefu wamema uyise uYakobi ukuba aye kuhlala eJiputa nomzi wakhe wonke. Babengamashumi asixhenxe anesihlanu bebonke. ₁₅Wehla ke uYakobi, waya eJiputa, apho yena nookhokho bethu bafela khona. ₁₆Imizimba yabo yasiwa eShekem, apho yangcwatywa kwingcwaba elathengwa nguAbraham koonyana bakaHamori.

₁₇“Ekusondeleni kwexesha lokuba uThixo asizalisekise isithembiso awasenza kuAbraham, abantu bakuthi ababeseJiputa babesebande kakhulu. ₁₈Ekuhambeni kwethuba kwavela kumkani wumbi, owayengamazi uJosefu, wangumlawuli weJiputa. ₁₉Wabenzela ubutshijolo abantu bakowethu, wabakhohlakalela ookhokho bethu, ebanyanzela ukuba babalahle abantwana babo, ukuze babe sesichengeni sokufa. ₂₀Wazalwa ngeli xesha ke uMosis engumntwana omhle kakhulu. Wakhuliselwa ekhayeni lakhe iinyanga ezintathu; ₂₁waza wathi naye akulahlwa, wacholwa yintombi yokumkani waseJiputa, yazikhulisela yena. ₂₂Wabufunda bonke ubulumko bamaJiputa, waza waba yingcaphephe ekuthetheni nasekwenzeni.

₂₃“Akuba neminyaka engamashumi amane uMosis, watyelela amawabo amaSirayeli. ₂₄Wabona uwabo edlakathiswa ngumJiputa, waza wamnceda, waphindezela ngokumbulala umJiputa lowo. ₂₅Wayecinga ukuba amawabo oqonda ukuba uThixo ufuna ukusebenzisa yena ekuwakhululeni, kodwa akazange aqonde. ₂₆Ngenye imini wagagana namaSirayeli amabini esilwa, waza wazama ukuwohlula, esithi kuwo: ‘Khangelani, madoda, niyazalana; kungani ukuba nilwe ke?’ ₂₇Kodwa lo wayevuyelela omnye, watyhalela uMosis bucala, wabuza wathi: ‘Ngubani okwenze induna nomgwebi phezu kwethu? ₂₈Nam ufuna ukundibulala njengalaa mJiputa umbuleleyo izolo?’ ₂₉Akuyiva le ntetho uMosis, wabaleka, waya kuhlala kumhlaba waseMidiyan. Apho wazala oonyana ababini.

₃₀“Emva kwamashumi amane eminyaka, kwabonakala isithunywa seNkosi kuMosis sisemalangatyeni etyholo elivuthayo entlango ngakwintaba yeSinayi. ₃₁Lo mbono wammangalisa uMosis, wasondela etyholweni apho ukuba aliqwalasele. Suka weva ilizwi leNkosi lisithi: ₃₂‘Mna ndinguThixo wookhokho bakho, uThixo ka-Abraham, kaIsake, noYakobi.’ UMosis wankwantya kukoyika, akabi saba nako ukulikhangela. ₃₃INkosi yathi kuye: ‘Khulula iimbadada ezo, kuba indawo le umi kuyo ingcwele. ₃₄Ndiyibonile ingcinezelo nentlupheko yabantu bam eJiputa; ndisivile isikhalo sabo; ke ngoku ndize kubahlangula. Yiza ke, ndikuthume eJiputa.’

₃₅“Lo ngulaa Mosis ambukulayo amaSirayeli esithi: ‘Ngubani okwenze induna nomgwebi phezu kwethu?’ Kanti ke lo Mosis unguyena mntu uThixo amthume ukuba abe ngumlawuli nomsindisi, esebenzisa isithunywa sezulu eso uMosis wasibona etyholweni elivuthayo. ₃₆Wabakhokela ke abantu ukuphuma eJiputa, wenza imiqondiso nemimangaliso, eJiputa nakuLwandle oluBomvu, kananjalo nasentlango, iminyaka emashumi mane. ₃₇Nguloo Mosis wathi kumaSirayeli: ‘UThixo uya kunithumela *umshumayeli ophuma kwalapha kumawenu njengam.’ ₃₈Nguye lowa wayekunye nebandla likaSirayeli entlango. Wayekhona apho nookhokho bethu, ekwakunye nesithunywa sezulu esasithetha naye entabeni yeSinayi. Wamkela kuThixo imiyalelo ephilileyo ukuba ayidlulisele kuthi.

₃₉“Kananjalo ookhokho bethu bala ukumthobela, bambukula, besithi kubhetele baphindele kwaseJiputa. ₄₀Kungoko bathi kuAron: ‘Senzele *oothixo bokusikhokela, kuba asiyazi into emngeneyo laa Mosis wasikhupha eJiputa.’ ₄₁Kungeli thuba ke apho baziqingqela umfanekiso wethole, baza balenzela umbingelelo, benza netheko lokuzivuyisa ngenxa yaloo nto yayenziwe zizandla zabo. ₄₂Ngenxa yaloo nto uThixo wabafulathela, wabayeka ukuba banqule iinkwenkwezi zezulu, njengoko kubhaliweyo encwadini *yabashumayeli kwathiwa:

₄₄“Ookhokho bethu bona babenaso entlango *isibingelelo esingqina ubukho bukaThixo. Sasakhiwe ngokomfanekiselo lowo uThixo wawubonisa uMosis. ₄₅Emva koko ookhokho bethu abasamkelayo isibingelelo kooyise, bahamba naso, kwada kwaza kuthi gaa ngexesha likaYoshuwa, xeshikweni bawuthathayo umhlaba wezizwe abazigxothelwa nguThixo. Sahlala ke isibingelelo eso kwada kwayimihla kaDavide. ₄₆Yena wathandeka kuThixo, waza wacela ukuba uThixo amvumele akhele inzala kaYakobi indlu yokunqula. ₄₇Kodwa yona indlu leyo yakhiwa nguSolomon.

₄₈“Phofu yena uThixo uPhezukonke akahlali zindlwini zakhiwe ngabantu; njengoko atshoyo umshumayeli:

₅₁“Bantundini baneenkani, abantliziyo ziqaqadekileyo, hayi ubuthulu benu emyalelweni kaThixo! Nifuz' ooyihlo! Nani nasoloko nimgiba uMoya oyiNgcwele! ₅₂Nguwuphi umshumayeli abangamtshutshisanga ooyihlo? Bazibulala izigidimi zikaThixo, ezathi kwangaphambili zakuvakalisa ukuza kwalowo uliLungisa. Kungokunje nimngcatshile namgebenga. ₅₃Umthetho kaThixo owaziswa zizithunywa zezulu, wamkelwa nini kanye – kodwa anikawuthobeli unangoku!”

₅₄Athi amalungu *eBhunga akuziva ezi zinto zithethwa nguStefano, acaphuka kangangokuba ade abe ngathi osuka amthi qwenge-qwenge. ₅₅Kodwa uStefano yena ezele nguMoya oyiNgcwele, wakhangela ezulwini, waza wabubona ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo, noYesu emi ewongeni ngakuThixo. ₅₆Waqhuba wathi: “Khawukhangele! Amazulu ndiwabona evulekile, *noNyana woLuntu emile ngasekunene kukaThixo!”

₅₇Kwesi sithuba basuka bazivingca iindlebe zabo, bahlahlamba kwathi nkxwe, baza basuka indulumbane phezu kwakhe. ₅₈Bamkhuphela ngaphandle kwedolophu, bamxuluba ngamatye. Abamangaleli bakaStefano bazigcinisa iimpahla zabo kumfana ogama linguSawule. ₅₉Bemxuluba njalo ngamatye, uStefano yena wakhala eNkosini esithi: “Nkosi Yesu, wamkele umoya wam!” ₆₀Waguqa ngamadolo, wadanduluka wathi: “Nkosi, musa ukubabeka tyala ngesi sono!” Akukhov' ukutsho, wafa ke.

₁Naye uSawule wabuthakazelela obu bugebenga.

Kwangaloo mhla kwaqaleka intshutshiso enkulu ebandleni laseJerusalem. Ngaphandle *kwabathunywa, basarhazeka bonke abakholwayo, kuwo onke amaphondo elakwaJuda naseSamariya. ₂Amadoda athile anenzondelelo amngcwaba uStefano enesingqala esikhulu.

₃Kwangelo lixa uSawule yena wazama ukulitshabalalisa ibandla, engena kwiminyango ngeminyango, ebarhuqa abakholwayo, amadoda kwanabafazi, ebavalela entolongweni.

₄Abakholwayo ababethe saa, bahamba bezishumayela iindaba ezimnandi kulo lonke. ₅UFilipu yena waya kwidolophana yaseSamariya, wamshumayela uKrestu kubantu ababelapho, ₆baza bamphulaphula ngomdla omkhulu bemxhelo mnye. Bathi bemphulaphula, baba beyibona nemiqondiso awayeyenza. ₇Iindimoni zazikhutshwa ebantwini, zisitsho ngesikhalo esikhulu. Abafe umzimba neziqhwala babephiliswa. ₈Ezi zinto zatsho abantu baloo dolophu banovuyo olukhulu.

₉Kuloo dolophu kwakukho indoda egama linguSimon, owayesenethuba elide esenza izimanga phakathi kwamaSamariya ngemilingo yakhe. Wayezenza uthile obalulekileyo. ₁₀Zaye iindidi zonke zabantu kuloo dolophu zimhlonela. Babesithi unamandla obuthixo, bembiza ngokuthi nguMandla-makhulu. ₁₁Babemhlonele kuba wayesebamangalise ixesha elide ngemilingo yakhe. ₁₂Kodwa bathi bakukholwa yintshumayelo kaFilipu yeendaba ezimnandi ezingolawulo lukaThixo oluthwasileyo negama likaYesu Krestu, kwabhaptizwa amadoda kwanamakhosikazi. ₁₃NoSimon wakholwa, waza akuba ebhaptiziwe akahlukana noFilipu, ekhwankqiswa yimimangaliso nemiqondiso awayeyenza uFilipu.

₁₄Bathi bakuva *abathunywa eJerusalem ukuba abantu baseSamariya balamkele ilizwi likaThixo, bathumela uPetros noYohane khona. ₁₅Bakufika khona babathandazela abakholwayo ukuba bamkele uMoya oyiNgcwele, ₁₆kuba wayengekabafikeli uMoya oyiNgcwele; nto nje babebhaptizelwe egameni leNkosi uYesu. ₁₇Aba bantu bamamkela uMoya oyiNgcwele, bakuba ooPetros noYohane bebabeke izandla.

₁₈USimon akubona ukuba bamkele uMoya oyiNgcwele, bakubekwa izandla ngabathunywa, wafuna ukubanika imali ooPetros noYohane, ₁₉esithi: “Nam ndipheni la mandla; khon' ukuze nabani na endimbeke izandla afumane uMoya oyiNgcwele.”

₂₀Waphendula wathi uPetros: “Hamb' uye kufa kunye naloo mali yakho, kuba ucinga ukuba isipho sesisa sikaThixo singathengwa ngemali! ₂₁Akunanxaxheba kulo msebenzi wethu, kuba iingcinga zakho azilunganga phambi koThixo. ₂₂Guquka kule nkohlakalo yakho, uthandaze ukuba uThixo akuxolele ngale nto inje, ₂₃kuba ndiyabona ukuba unekratshi elilizothe, waye ulikhoboka lokungcola.”

₂₄Uthe ke uSimon kooPetros noYohane: “Ndincedeni, zinkosi, nindithandazele eNkosini ukuze zingandihleli zonke ezi zinto nizithethileyo.”

₂₅Emveni kokuba benike ubungqina beluthetha udaba lweNkosi kwabo bantu, uPetros noYohane bagoduka, baya eJerusalem. Endleleni yabo egodukayo bazishumayela iindaba ezimnandi kwiilali ezininzi zaseSamariya.

₂₆Ke kaloku kwathetha isithunywa seNkosi noFilipu, sathi: “Zilungiselele uhle ngendlela esentlango esuka eJerusalem iye eGaza.” _27-28Waxhabasha ke waya uFilipu. Endleleni apho wadibana nendoda elithenwa. Lo mfo wayengunondyebo wokumkanikazi uKhandase waseTopiya. Wayegoduka ngenqwelo, evela kunqula uThixo eJerusalem. Enqwelweni apho wayehamba efunda incwadi *yomshumayeli uIsaya. ₂₉Wathi uMoya oyiNgcwele kuFilipu: “Yiya kulaa nqwelo, uhambe nayo.” ₃₀UFilipu wakhawuleza waya kuyo, waza wamva unondyebo lowo efunda encwadini yomshumayeli uIsaya, wambuza wathi: “Uyayilandela na le nto uyifundayo?”

₃₁Waphendula wathi: “Ndingathini ukuyilandela kungekho bani undichazelayo?” Watsho wacela uFilipu ukuba akhwele enqwelweni ahambe naye. ₃₂Nasi isicatshulwa seziBhalo awayesifunda:

₃₄Unondyebo wabuza kuFilipu wathi: “Khawundixelele, uthetha ngabani apha umshumayeli? Ngaba uthetha yena siqu, okanye uthetha ngomnye umntu?” ₃₅UFilipu wamchazela, eqalela kanye kule ndawo eziBhalweni, wamtyhilela iindaba ezimnandi ezingoYesu. ₃₆Ekuhambeni kwabo bada bafika ndaweni ithile inamanzi, laza lathi ithenwa: “Nanga amanzi, kungani ukuba ndingàbhaptizwa?”

[ ₃₇Waphendula wathi uFilipu: “Ungábhaptizwa ukuba uyakholwa ngentliziyo yakho yonke.” Lathi ke lona: “Ndiyakholwa ukuba uYesu Krestu nguNyana kaThixo.”]

₃₈UmTopiya lowo wathi makumiswe, waza yena noFilipu bangena emanzini, uFilipu wambhaptiza. ₃₉Bakuphuma emanzini apho, uMoya weNkosi wamthatha wemka naye uFilipu. UmTopiya lowo akabanga sambona uFilipu, kodwa wayihamba indlela yakhe leyo ezele luvuyo. ₄₀UFilipu wazifumana eseAshdode, waza wazihamba zonke ezo dolophu eshumayela iindaba ezimnandi, wada waya kufika eKhesariya.

₁Ngalo lonke eli thuba uSawule yena wayefutha izisongelo zokwenzakalisa abalandeli beNkosi. Waya kumbingeleli omkhulu, wacela ukuba amnike iincwadi zeziqinisekiso, ₂ukuze aye *ezindlwini zesikhungo zamaJuda eDamasko, abe nako ukuthi xa ebafumana abalandeli bale Ndlela yeNkosi, abakhonkxe, amadoda kunye nabafazi, eze nabo eJerusalem.

₃Endleleni yakhe eya eDamasko, xa asondelayo apho edolophini, ngequbuliso wabona ukukhanya esibhakabhakeni, okwasuka kwambanekela ngeenxa zonke. ₄Watsho wawa phantsi, waza weva ilizwi limbiza lisithi kuye: “Sawule, Sawule, unditshutshiselani na?”

₅Yena wabuza wathi: “Wena ungubani, Nkosi?”

Ilizwi elo laphendula lathi: “Mna ndinguYesu, lowo umtshutshisayo wena. ₆Phakama, uhambe ungene apha edolophini; uya kuyixelelwa khona into omawuyenze.”

₇Ngeli xesha amadoda awayehamba noSawule ayemile, ethe cwaka, eliva lona ilizwi elo lalithetha, kodwa engaboni mntu. ₈USawule waphakama, wakhangela ngamehlo, kodwa akabi nako ukubona nento le. Ngoko ke abo babehamba naye bamrhola ngesandla, bangena naye eDamasko. ₉Waba ntsuku-ntathu eyimfama, engatyi, engaseli.

₁₀EDamasko apho kwakukho umlandeli kaYesu ogama linguHananiya. INkosi yathetha naye embonweni, yambiza yathi: “Hananiya!”

Yena wasabela wathi: “Ndilapha, Nkosi.”

₁₁Yathi iNkosi kuye: “Khawuleza, uye esitalatweni ekuthiwa sesithe ngqo, uze ufune indlu kaJuda, apho kuyo ukhangele indoda yaseTarso egama linguSawule. Iyathandaza khona, ₁₂futhi embonweni wayo ibone indoda egama linguHananiya, ingena ibeka izandla phezu kwayo, ukuze iphinde ibe nokubona.”

₁₃Waphendula wathi uHananiya: “Nkosi, baninzi abantu abandixeleleyo ngale ndoda, nangezinto ezilumezayo ezenzileyo ebantwini bakho eJerusalem. ₁₄Nangoku ilapha eDamasko nje, inamagunya ewathathe kubabingeleli abaziintloko, ukuze ikhonkxe bonke abakunqulayo.”

₁₅Yaza yathi iNkosi kuye: “Hamba uye kuyo, kuba mna ndiyikhethile ukuba indisebenzele, yazise igama lam kwiintlanga nakookumkani nakulo usapho lukaSirayeli. ₁₆Ndaye mna ngokwam ndiya kuyibonisa ubunzima efanele ukubuva ngenxa yam.”

₁₇Wahamba ke uHananiya, wangena endlwini leyo ebeyixelelwe, wambeka izandla uSawule, esithi: “Sawule, mfondini, iNkosi indithumile, uYesu ngokwakhe, lo umbonileyo endleleni, xa ubusiza apha. Indithumele ukuze wena uphinde ufumane ukubona, uzaliswe nanguMoya oyiNgcwele.” ₁₈Ngoko nangoko kwaba ngathi amehlo kaSawule ongulwe, waza waphinda wanako ukubona. Wathi akuvuka wabhaptizwa. ₁₉Emveni kokuba etyile, wabuya wangumqabaqaba.

USawule wahlala iintsukwana nabalandeli bakaYesu eDamasko. ₂₀Zisukanje waya *ezindlwini zesikhungo zamaJuda, wafika washumayela ngoYesu, esithi unguNyana kaThixo. ₂₁Bonke ababemva, babemangaliswa, bebuza besithi: “Ngaba le ndoda asiyiyo na leya yayibatshutshisa eJerusalem bonke abathetha ngeli gama? Kanene, andithi nangoku ilapha nje, izele ukuze ibambe abantu, ibase kubabingeleli abaziintloko?”

₂₂Kodwa intshumayelo kaSawule yaya ikhula emandleni, neengxoxo zakhe ezibonisa ukuba uYesu *unguKrestu, zabetha asikwa imilomo amaJuda aseDamasko.

₂₃Kwakuba kudlule iintsuku ezininzi amaJuda ahlanganisana, afutha amacebo okumbulala uSawule; ₂₄kodwa eli yelenqe waliva uSawule. Imini nobusuku babemlinda emasangweni edolophu, khon' ukuze bambulale. ₂₅Ngabusuku buthile abalandeli bakaYesu bamthatha uSawule, bamthoba ngengobozi eludongeni.

₂₆USawule waya eJerusalem, wazama ukuzibandakanya nabalandeli bakaYesu. Kodwa bonke babemoyika, bengakholwa ukuba naye ungumlandeli kaYesu. ₂₇Wada wancedwa nguBharnabha owamthathayo, wamsa *kubathunywa, wabachazela indlela awabonana ngayo neNkosi, nento eyathethwayo yiNkosi kuye. Wababalisela nangokulishumayela kukaSawule ngesibindi igama likaYesu eDamasko. ₂₈Waza ke uSawule wahlala apho eJerusalem, ejikeleza elishumayela ngesibindi igama leNkosi. ₂₉Ngokunjalo wathetha, waxoxa nawo namaJuda athetha isiGrike, kodwa asuka afuna ukumbulala. ₃₀Athi amakholwa akuyiqonda le nto, amthatha uSawule, amsa eKhesariya, aza amthumela eTarso.

₃₁Ke kaloku ibandla kulo lonke elakwaJuda naseGalili naseSamariya lazola, kungekho ntshutshiso. Laba nenkqubela, lakhula nangamanani, limhlonela uThixo, likhuthazwa nguMoya oyiNgcwele.

₃₂Njengoko uPetros wayeyihamba yonke loo ngingqi, ngathuba lithile watyelela abantu bakaThixo eLida. ₃₃Apho wahlangana nendoda egama linguEneya. Yayife icala, futhi ineminyaka esibhozo yalalayo. ₃₄Wathi uPetros kuyo: “Eneya, uYesu Krestu uyakuphilisa. Phakama, wendlule umandlalo wakho.” Ngakonje ukuba atsho, wavuka uEneya. ₃₅Bathi bakumbona, bonke abantu ababehlala eLida nakwintili yaseSharon bazinikela eNkosini.

₃₆EJopa kwakukho umlandeli kaYesu ogama linguTabhita, oko kukuthi uBhadikazi. Lonke ixesha lakhe wayelichithela ekwenzeni okulungileyo, enezinwe, ebanceda abahlelelekileyo. ₃₇Ngeli xesha wagula, wasweleka. Bawuhlamba umzimba wakhe, bawubeka egumbini elikumgangatho ophezulu. ₃₈Njengoko iJopa yayingekude eLida, beva abalandeli bakaYesu ukuba uPetros useLida, baza bathumela amadoda amabini nomyalezo wokuba uPetros makancede afike ngokukhawuleza. ₃₉Akalibazisanga uPetros; wahamba nawo kwangoko. Akufika khona, wasiwa egumbini elo liphezulu, waphahlwa libubu labahlolokazi ababelila, bembonisa iingubo kwaneempahla awayezenza uBhadikazi esaphilile.

₄₀UPetros wabakhuphela phandle bonke, waza waguqa wathandaza. Wathi kamva waguqukela kuso isidumbu, wathi: “Tabhita, vuka!” Wajonga, waza akubona uPetros, wavuka. ₄₁Wasondela kuye uPetros, wamncedisa, waphakama. Wawabiza ke uPetros amakholwa kunye nabahlolokazi abo, wamnikela kubo ephilile. ₄₂Ezi ndaba zafikelela kuyo yonke iJopa, baza abantu abaninzi bazinikela eNkosini. ₄₃UPetros waba neentsuku ezininzi ehleli apho eJopa kunye nendoda egama linguSimon, umsuki weemfele.