To The Word – Day 60

₁Umda ongezantsi womhlaba owabelwa inzala kaJosefu wawuqala eJordan kufuphi neJeriko, kwindawo eyayikwicala langasempumalanga yemithombo yaseJeriko, wenjenjeya ubhekisa ngasentlango. Wasuka eJeriko walityhutyha eleentaba ukusa eBhetele. ₂Ukusuka eBhetele (ekwakuthiwa yiLuzi) wadlulela eAtaroti, apho ayemi khona ama-Arki. ₃Wehla wajonga ngasentshona kummandla wamaYafeleti, waya kuma kummandla waseBhete-horon engasezantsi. Wedlula apho ujonge eGezere, waya kuma ngolwandle.

₄Lo mhlaba waba lilifa lenzala kaJosefu, izizwe zakwaEfrayim noManase.

₅Nanku ummandla wezindlu zakwaEfrayim: Umda wabo wawusuka eAtaroti-adare ubheke ngasempumalanga eBhete-horon ekumantla, ₆usuke apho uye kutsho elwandle. Ngasemantla apho yayiyiMikemetati, kuthi ngasempumalanga yalapho ujike umda ujonge iTanati-shilo, udlule apho kwangasempuma yalapho, ujonge eYanowa. ₇Ukusuka apho uyehla ubheke eAtaroti naseNara, ugqithe eJeriko, uye kuma ngeJordan. ₈Apho umda wawucanda ngasentshonalanga ukusuka ngaseTapuwa, ubheke kwintlambo iKana, uye kuma ngolwandle. Nguwo ke lowo umhlaba owaba lilifa lezindlu zesizwe sakwaEfrayim. ₉Iidolophu neelali ezazikwimida yakwaManase zanikwa uEfrayim. ₁₀Abazange bawagxothe amaKanana awayemi eGezere. Ahlala ke namaEfrayim kwada kwakaloku amaKanana, kodwa ênza umsebenzi ngokunyanzelwa.

₁Inxalenye yomhlaba ongasentshonalanga kweJordan wabelwa ezinye izindlu zezindlu eziyinzala yonyana omkhulu kaJosefu uManase *ngamaqashiso. UMakire, uyise kaGiliyadi, wayengunyana omkhulu kaManase, umfo oligorha emfazweni. Yiyo ke loo nto wabelwa iGiliyadi neBhashan, ezingasempumalanga kweJordan. ₂Umhlaba ongasentshonalanga kweJordan wona wabelwa inxalenye yezindlu zesizwe sakwaManase: ooAbhiyezere, Heleki, Aseriyeli, Shekem, Hefere, noShemida. Aba ngokwezindlu zabo yayingabazukulwana abangamadoda bakaManase unyana kaJosefu. ₃UZelofehadi unyana kaHefere, ozalwa nguGiliyadi unyana kaMakire ozalwa nguManase, yena akazanga azale madoda, yaba ziintombi zodwa. Nanga amagama azo: uMala, noNowa, uHogela, noMilika, kunye noTirza. ₄Zaya kuElazare umbingeleli, bekunye noYoshuwa unyana kaNune kwaneenkokheli, zafika zathi: “*UNdikhoyo uyalele uMosis ngelithi nathi aze asabele umhlaba kunye nezizalwana zethu ezingamadoda.” Ke ngoko zawunikwa umhlaba kwanjenge-zizalwana zabo ezingamadoda njengoko uNdikhoyo wayetshilo.

₅Isizwe sakwaManase saba nezabelo ezilishumi nje ukongezelela kwiGiliyadi neBhashan engasempumalanga kweJordan, ₆kungenxa yokuba abazukulwana bakaManase abaziintombi nabangamadoda babelwa umhlaba. Umhlaba waseGiliyadi wona wabelwa enye inxalenye yabazukulwana bakaManase.

₇Ummandla wesizwe sakwaManase wawusuka eAshere use eMikemetati ngasempumalanga yeShekem. Umda wawusihla uye ngasezantsi, uquke bonke abantu base-En-tapuwa. ₈Umhlaba owawungqinge iTapuwa wawungowakwaManase, kodwa sona isixeko saseTapuwa esisemdeni sasisesenzala kaEfrayim. ₉Wawusihla loo mda ubheke ezantsi ngakwintlambo iKana. Izixeko ezingezantsi kwaloo ntlambo yayizezakwaEfrayim, nakuba zazikummandla wakwaManase nje. Umda wakwaManase wawucanda ngakwicala elingasentla kwaloo ntlambo, uye kuma ngolwandle. ₁₀Isizwe sakwaEfrayim sasingasezantsi, esakwaManase sona singasentla, ulwandle lungasentshona. UAshere wayemi ngasentla koManase, uIsakare emi ngasempuma. ₁₁Ngaphakathi kwemida yakwaIsakare nakwa-Ashere iBhete-shan kunye neIbleyam, neelali ezizingqongileyo, yayizezakwaManase, kwakunye neDore engaselwandle, ne-Endore, iTanaki, iMegido, kwaneelali ezizijikelezileyo. ₁₂Isizwe sakwaManase kambe asizanga sibe nako ukubagxotha abemi bezo zixeko, kuba amaKanana ayezimisele ukuhlala khona. ₁₃Naxa amaSirayeli selenamandla, akabanga nako ukuzithimba ezo zixeko zamaKanana, kambe awanyanzela ukuba abe zizicaka.

₁₄Bathi kuYoshuwa abazukulwana bakaJosefu: “Ngani ukuba usinike isiqwenga sibe sinye somhlaba, ukanti sibaninzi kangaka ngenxa yokuthamsanqeliswa kunene *nguNdikhoyo?”

₁₅Wathi uYoshuwa: “Ukuba nibaninzi kangangokuba neleentaba lakwaEfrayim lingananeli, yiyani emahlathini, nifike nigece nizivulele umhlaba kwelamaPerezi namaRafa.”

₁₆Baphendula bathi: “Eliya leentaba aliphangalele kangangokuba lingasanela, kanti ke phaya ezintilini amaKanana aneenqwelo zentsimbi, la ahlala eBhete-shan nalawa ahlala kule ntili yeYizereli xa ewonke.”

₁₇Wathi uYoshuwa kubo: “Ngenene, ndlu kaJosefu, nina zinto zikaEfrayim nani zinto zikaManase, nibaninzi, yaye ninamandla. Niza kusongezwa isabelo senu. ₁₈Eleentaba lelenu, nditsho lilihlathi linjalo. Kufuneka niligece nime kulo lonke. AmaKanana wona kufuneka niwagxothe, nditsho enezo nqwelo zentsimbi, omelele enjalo.”

₁Ibandla lakwaSirayeli lahlangana eShilo, lamisa *isibingelelo *sikaNdikhoyo apho. Naxa umhlaba wawuseluthinjiwe ₂kwakusekho izizwe zamaSirayeli ezisixhenxe ezazingekabelwa ilifa lazo. ₃Wabhekisa kumaSirayeli ke uYoshuwa wenjenje: “Niya kulibazisa kude kube nini ukuya kuthimba umhlaba enawunikwa nguNdikhoyo, uThixo wooyihlo-mkhulu? ₄Ndikhetheleni amadoda abe mathathu kwisizwe ngasinye, ndiwathume aye kulicanda ilizwe, abhale iinkcukacha zalo ngokwelifa lesizwe ngasinye. Kufuneka aphinde eze kum akugqiba. ₅Loo mhlaba ke uya kwabiwa wahlulwe ube ziziqwenga ezisixhenxe. UJuda wohlala ngezantsi kummandla wakhe, noJosefu wohlala kowakhe ummandla ngasentla. ₆Ze nizibhale iinkcukacha zezo ziphaluka zosixhenxe, nize nazo kum nakugqiba. Mna ke ndokwenza amaqashiso, ndiqonde umnqweno kaNdikhoyo uThixo wethu ngani. ₇AbaLevi bona abayi kwabelwa isabelo njengani; kaloku esabo isabelo kukuba ngababingeleli abakhonza uNdikhoyo. Zona ke izizwe zakwaGadi noRubhen nesiqingatha sikaManase sebelabelwe elabo ilifa phaya ngasempumalanga kweJordan, alinikwa nguMosis isicaka sikaNdikhoyo.”

₈Anduluka ke loo madoda, aya kucanda umhlaba, emva kokuba uYoshuwa wayethe: “Ze niwujikeleze niwucande loo mhlaba, nizibhale iinkcukacha zawo, nibuye nize kum. Mna ndoqonda kuNdikhoyo ngokwenza *amaqashiso apha eShilo.” ₉Awujikeleza ke loo mhlaba loo madoda, abhala echaza ukuba awahlule njani waziziqwenga ezisixhenxe, enza noludwe lwezixeko. Babuyela kuYoshuwa esikhululweni eShilo. ₁₀UYoshuwa wenza amaqashiso phambi koNdikhoyo, waza ke wazabela izizwe zakwaSirayeli ebezingekabi namhlaba iziqwenga zomhlaba, ewaba ngokwezindlu zazo.

₁₁Kwaqala kwaphuma iqashiso lommandla wezindlu zesizwe sakwaBhenjamin. Umhlaba wabo wawumi phakathi kwesizwe sakwaJuda nesakwaJosefu.

₁₂Ngasentla umda wabo wawuqala eJordan, unyuke loo mathambeka angasentla kweJeriko, wenjenjeya ukusinga ngasentshona, utyhutyha eleentaba, uye kuma ngentlango iBhete-aven. ₁₃Wawunyuka ithambeka kwicala elingasezantsi eLuzi (yiBhetele ke leyo) uhle ubheke eAtaroti-adare entabeni engezantsi kweBhete-horon emzantsi. ₁₄Lo mda wawujika ujonge emazantsi usuka kwicala elingasentshonalanga yeleentaba, wenjenjeya ukusinga eKiriyati-bhali (iKiriyati-yarim) yesizwe sakwaJuda. Ngumda wangasentshona lo.

₁₅Umda wangasezantsi wawuqala ngasemaphethelweni eKiriyati-yarim ngasentshona, ubheke kumthombo waseNefetowa, ₁₆usuke apho uhle ubheke phantsi kwentaba ejonge kwintili yoonyana bakaHinom engasentla kwentili yamaRafa. Wawusuka apho uhle utyhutyhe loo ntili iHinom kwithambeka emazantsi esixeko samaJebhusi, ubheke ngase-En-rogele. ₁₇Uyajika ujonge emantla e-En-shemeshe, uze ugqithele eGeliloti ngakwinkalo yeAdumim. Ukusuka apho uyehla uye ngakwiLitye likaBhohan (uBhohan wayengunyana kaRubhen), ₁₈uze udlule ngasentla kwengxondorha ephezu kwaloo ntili yeJordan, uhle uye entilini, ₁₉uze udlule ngasentla kwengxingwa eBhete-hogela, uye kuphela ngasentla apho umlambo iJordan ungena khona kuLwandle oluFileyo. Lo ke yayingumda wangasezantsi. ₂₀IJordan yona yayingumda wangasempumalanga. Yiyo ke leyo imida yomhlaba owabelwa izindlu zesizwe sakwaBhenjamin, walilifa lazo.

₂₁Izixeko zezindlu zesizwe sakwaBhenjamin zizo ezi: iJeriko, iBhete-hogela, iEmeki-kezizi, ₂₂iBhete-arabha, iZemarayim, iBhetele, ₂₃iHavim, iPara, iOfra, ₂₄iKefar-amoni, iOfeni, kunye neGebha. Yayilishumi elinambini lezixeko ezingqongwe ziilali. ₂₅Kwakukho neGibheyon, iRama, iBheroti, ₂₆iMizpa, iKefira, iMoza, ₂₇iRekem, i-Irpeli, iTarala, ₂₈iZela, iHayelefe, nesixeko samaJebhusi (oko kukuthi iJerusalem), kwakunye neGibheya, neKiriyati-yarim. Yayilishumi elinesine lezo zixeko ezazingqongwe ziilali.

Nguwo ke lowo umhlaba owabelwa izindlu zesizwe sakwaBhenjamin.

₁UPawulos waya eDerbhe naseListra. Apho kwakukho ikholwa eligama linguTimoti, onina wayekwalikholwa, engumJudakazi, uyise yena engumGrike. ₂Onke amakholwa aseListra naseIkoniyo ayemazi ngesimilo esihle uTimoti. ₃UPawulos wafuna ukuhamba noTimoti, ngoko ke wamolùsa kuqala, kuba onke amaJuda aloo mmandla ayesazi ukuba uyise wayengolukanga. ₄Ekuzityhutyheni kwabo ezo dolophu, amakholwa bawazisa ngesigqibo *sabathunywa nabadala eJerusalem. ₅Aza ke amabandla omelezeka elukholweni, anda nangamanani imihla ngemihla.

₆Xa babekwingingqi yaseFrigi naseGalati, uMoya oyiNgcwele wabalela ukuba balishumayele ilizwi eAsiya. ₇Bakufika emdeni waseMisi, bazama ukungena eBhitini, kodwa nakhona uMoya kaYesu akabavumelanga. ₈Ngoko ke bacanda eMisi, behla baya eTrowa. ₉Xa babelapho ke, ebusuku uPawulos wabona umbono. Indoda yaseMakedoni yayimile imcenga isithi: “Yiza apha eMakedoni, uzokusinceda.” ₁₀Ngokukhawuleza emva kwalo mbono kaPawulos, salungiselela ukuya eMakedoni, kuba saqonda ukuba uThixo usibizela ukuba siye kuzishumayela iindaba ezimnandi kubantu balapho.

₁₁Semka ngesikhephe eTrowa, sahamba ngqo sacanda sijonge eSamotraki, saza ngengomso sangena eNapoli. ₁₂Sakusuka apho, saya kutsho eFilipi, idolophu yokuqala kwisithili saseMakedoni, eyayilithânga laseRoma. Sakhe sahlala iintsukwana apho kuloo dolophu. ₁₃*NgoMhla wokuPhumla saphuma edolophini, saya ngasemlanjeni, apho sasiba koba kukho indawo athandazela kuyo amaJuda. Sahlala phantsi, sancokola namakhosikazi awayebuthe apho. ₁₄Enye yawo eyayisiphulaphule nguLidiya waseTiyatire, owayengumthengisi weempahla ezimsobo zexabiso. Wayeyintokazi eyayimhlonela uThixo, yaza ke iNkosi yayibaza ingqondo ukuba izigqale izinto ezazithethwa nguPawulos. ₁₅Yabhaptizwa kunye nosapho lwayo. Yaza ke yasimema isithi: “Ukuba nithi ndilikholwa ngenene eNkosini, khanizokuhlala kwam.” Yasithundeza ke ukuba siye.

₁₆Ngamhla uthile xa sasisiya kwindawo yokuthandaza, sahlangana nentombi eyayilikhoboka. Yayinamafufunyana. Yayibenzela imali eninzi ke abanikaziyo ngokuchazela abantu izinto eziza kubehlela. ₁₇Yasilandela sinoPawulos, ikhwaza isithi: “La madoda angabakhonzi bakaThixo uPhezukonke. Anishumayeza indlela eningásindiswa ngayo.” ₁₈Yaqhuba iintsuku ezininzi iyenza le nto, yada yamthukuthezela uPawulos, wajika wathi kuloo moya: “Ngengunya legama likaYesu Krestu ndithi: ‘Phuma kule ntombi.’ ” Aphuma kwangoko amafufunyana.

₁₉Bakuphawula abanikaziyo ukuba ayisekho indlela yokwenza imali ngale ntombi, babagxavula ooPawulos noSilas, babarhuqela kwinkundla yamatyala eyayisebaleni lembutho. ₂₀Babamangalela kwabasemagunyeni, besithi: “La madoda angamaJuda, yaye adala isidubedube apha edolophini yethu. ₂₁Afundisa imikhwa enxamnye nomthetho wethu. Thina singamaRoma, asinakuyamkela loo mikhwa.” ₂₂Nesihlwele sangenelela ekubahlaseleni.

Zaza iziphathamandla zathi mazikrazulwe izambatho zikaPawulos noSilas, babethwe nokubethwa. ₂₃Bakuba bebethwe kanobom, bavalelwa entolongweni. Wayalelwa nojela ukuba abatshixele abagcine ngokunqabileyo. ₂₄Ewufumene umyalelo lowo, ujela wabatshixela kwelingaphakathi igumbi, wabakhonkxa iinyawo ngezikhuni.

₂₅Phakathi kobusuku uPawulos noSilas bathandaza bacula bedumisa uThixo, namanye amabanjwa ebeva. ₂₆Ngesaquphe kwabakho inyikima eyashukumisa izisekelo zentolongo. Zatsho zavuleka zonke iingcango, namatyathanga akhululeka kumabanjwa. ₂₇Evukile ujela, wabona iingcango zentolongo zivulekile, wacinga ukuba abalekile amabanjwa onke; waza warhola ikrele lakhe, eza kuzibulala. ₂₈Kuthe kusenjalo wamemeza uPawulos esithi: “Mus' ukuzenzakalisa, kuba sisaphelele!”

₂₉Ujela lowo wathi makuziwe nesibane, waza engcangcazela enjalo wangena wawa ezinyaweni zikaPawulos noSilas. ₃₀Wabakhuphela phandle, wabuza wathi: “Bahlekazi, ndingenza ntoni ukuze ndisinde?”

Bona baphendula bathi: ₃₁“Zinikele eNkosini uYesu; uya kusindiswa wena nosapho lwakho.” ₃₂Bamchazela ke yena nabo bonke ababesendlwini yakhe ngodaba lweNkosi. ₃₃Ngaloo yure kanye yobusuku ujela wabathatha, wahlamba amanxeba abo; waza wabhaptizwa kunye nosapho lwakhe kwangoko. ₃₄Waya nabo endlwini yakhe ooPawulos noSilas, wabapha ukutya. Yena nosapho lwakhe bazaliswa luvuyo ngenxa yokuba bezinikele kuThixo.

₃₅Ngentsasa elandelayo abasemagunyeni bathumela amagosa abo, besithi: “Wakhululeni loo madoda.” ₃₆Ujela ke wamxelela uPawulos ukuba iziphathamandla zithumele umyalelo wokuba yena noSilas bangákhululwa. Ngoko ke bakhululekile bangáhamba ngoxolo.

₃₇Kodwa waphendula uPawulos wathi kumagosa lawo: “Hayi kaloku, sikatswe esidlangalaleni, nakuba singakhange sibekwe tyala, ibe futhi singabemi abangamaRoma! Ngaphezu koko sivalelwe entolongweni. Bangathini ke ngoku ukusikhulula bucala? Hayi bo! Ayinakwenzeka loo nto! Abasemagunyeni mabeze kusikhulula ngokwabo.”

₃₈Amagosa lawo aya kuwaxela la mazwi kwiziphathamandla, ezathi zakuva ukuba uPawulos noSilas ngabemi abangamaRoma, zoyika kakhulu. ₃₉Ngoko ke zaya kubo, zacela uxolo, zabacenga ukuba bahambe, zabakhupha ke bemka. ₄₀UPawulos noSilas bayishiya ke intolongo leyo, baya kwaLidiya. Apho ke bahlangana namakholwa, baza bathi, bakuba bewakhuthazile, bemka.

₁Bahamba ke, badlula eAmfipoli naseApoloniya, bada baya kufika eTesalonika, apho yayikho *indlu yesikhungo yamaJuda. ₂Njengoko ebeqhele ukwenjenjalo, uPawulos waya endlwini yesikhungo leyo. Apho wayexoxa nabantu *ngeziBhalo imiGqibelo emithathu, ₃ezichaza iziBhalo, ecacisa kwangazo ukuba ubemelwe kukuva ubunzima *uKrestu, abuye avuke ekufeni. “Lo Yesu ndimvakalisayo nguKrestu,” wayesitsho uPawulos. ₄Abanye abantu boyisakala, bazimanya noPawulos noSilas. Enjenjalo namaGrike aliqela awayemhlonela uThixo, kwakunye namakhosikazi amaninzi aphambili entlalweni.

₅Kodwa akhathazeka amaJuda, aqokelela amatshijolo ezitalatweni, yaligquba elenza intswahla nesiphithi-phithi edolophini. Lawuhlasela umzi kaJason, liba balapho ooPawulos noSilas, liza kubasa ematyaleni. ₆Kodwa lakungabafumani, larhuqa uJason kunye namanye amakholwa, libasa kubaphathi-dolophu, likhwaza lisithi: “La madoda luqhushululu konke apho ahamba khona; ngoku eze nakule idolophu, ₇yaye uJason uwagcine phaya endlwini yakhe. Ewonke angabaphuli-mthetho *kaKhesare, kuba athi kukho nkosi yimbi inguKrestu Yesu.” ₈Ngaloo mazwi basitsho isihlwele nabaphathi-dolophu bakhathazeka. ₉Abaphathi-dolophu babahlawulisa imali yesibambiso ooJason nabanye abo ngaphambi kokubakhulula bahambe.

₁₀Kuthe nje kusandul' ukuhlwa, amakholwa abathumela eBheriya ooPawulos noSilas. Bafika apho, baya *kwindlu yesikhungo yamaJuda. ₁₁Abantu balapho bona babeneengqondo eziphangaleleyo kunabantu baseTesalonika. Baluphulaphula ngomdla bona udaba, bazifunda mihla le *neziBhalo, befuna ukuqonda ukuba uPawulos unyanisile na. ₁₂Kwaguquka abantu abaninzi, amadoda kunye namakhosikazi amaGrike akumgangatho ophezulu entlalweni. ₁₃Kodwa akuva amaJuda aseTesalonika ukuba uPawulos ulishumayela naseBheriya ilizwi likaThixo, aya apho, afika afaka umoya woqhushululu ebantwini. ₁₄Amakholwa amsa ngaselwandle uPawulos kwangoko. Basala bona ooSilas noTimoti eBheriya. ₁₅La madoda âhamba noPawulos, ada aya kutsho eAtene. Abuyela eBheriya nomyalelo kaPawulos wokuba ooSilas noTimoti mabakhawuleze baye kuye.

₁₆Kwathi xa uPawulos wayesalinde uSilas noTimoti eAtene, wafumana umnqa kukubona indlela ezazizininzi ngayo izithixo kuloo dolophu. ₁₇Waxoxa endlwini yesikhungo namaJuda kunye neentlanga ezazihlonela uThixo. Ngokukwanjalo wayexoxa nabantu ababegqitha-gqitha ebaleni lembutho. ₁₈Nabathile abaziintanda-bulumko zeqela *lamaEpikure *namaStoyike babencokola naye. Bambi babesithi: “Ngaba lifuna ukuthini eli pholopholo?” abanye besithi: “Ngathi ngunozakuzaku *woothixo basemzini.” Babesitsho ke kuba uPawulos wayeshumayela ngoYesu nangovuko lwabafileyo.

₁₉Baza ke bamthatha uPawulos, baya naye entlanganisweni, endaweni ekwakusithiwa yiAriyopago, bathi kuye: “Khawutsho! Sifuna ukuyazi le mfundiso intsha uthetha ngayo. ₂₀Ezinye zezinto esikuva uthetha ngazo ziyasimangalisa, ngoko ke sifuna ukuyazi intsingiselo yazo.” ₂₁Kaloku abantu baseAtene nabatyeleli bakhona kwakungekho nto babeyixabise ngaphezu kokuncokola okanye ukuphulaphula iingcamango ezintsha.

₂₂UPawulos waphakama wema entlanganisweni apho eAriyopago, wathi: “Bantu baseAtene, ndiyaphawula ukuba ningabantu abaluthanda ngokuncamisayo unqulo. ₂₃Kuthe xa bendihamba-hamba ndibuka iindawo zenu zonqulo, ndabona neqonga lamadini elibhaliweyo kwathiwa: ‘Kongaziwayo uThixo.’ Ngoko ke lowo nina nimnqula ningamazi, mna ndivakalisa yena kuni. ₂₄UThixo lo udale ihlabathi nezinto ezikulo, uyiNkosi yezulu nomhlaba. Ngoko ke akahlali zindlwini zenziwe ngabantu, ₂₅engaswele nto ngokokude abantu bazidube ngokumenzela nto. Kuba kaloku nguye ngokwakhe onika ubomi nomphefumlo, nazo zonke iimfuneko zoluntu lonke. ₂₆Zonke iintlanga zabantu wazidala zaphuma mlibeni mnye, wazenza ukuba ziwume wonke umhlaba. Yena ngokwakhe kwangaphambili wazimisela amaxesha obomi, kunye nemida yokuhlala kwazo. ₂₇Oku wakwenza ukuze zihlale zimzingela, hleze zimphuthaphuthe de zimfumane; nangona yena uThixo engekude kuthi sonke, ₂₈kuba kungaye sikho nje, sisuka-suka, siphilile. Kunjengoko zitshoyo ezinye zeembongi zenu ukuthi: ‘Nathi siyinzala yakhe.’ ₂₉Singabantwana bakhe nje ke, masingacingi ukuba imo kaThixo ifana nento eqingqwe ngegolide, ngesiliva, okanye ngelitye, ngobugcisa bomntu. ₃₀UThixo wayewayeke ngabom loo maxesha apho abantu babengazi. Kungokunje uyalela abantu bonke, ezindaweni zonke, ukuba baguquke ezindleleni zabo ezimbi. ₃₁Kaloku uwumisele umhla apho aya kuligweba ihlabathi lonke liphela ngobulungisa, ngeNdoda ayimiseleyo. Le nto uyingqine kubantu bonke ngokuyivusa loo Ndoda ekufeni.”

₃₂Bathi bakumva uPawulos ethetha ngovuko lwabafileyo, bahlekisa ngaye. Bambi bathi: “Sisafuna ukuyiva kwakhona le ntetho yakho.” ₃₃Waza ke uPawulos wemka apho entlanganisweni. ₃₄Kambe abanye bazinikela, baza bamlandela. Phakathi kwabo kwakukho uDiyonisi, ilungu leAriyopago, nomfazi ogama linguDamari, kunye nabanye.

₁Emva koko uPawulos wemka eAtene, wabheka eKorinte. ₂Apho wadibana nomJuda ogama linguAkwila, owazalelwa ePonto, ekunye noPrisila umkakhe. Wayesand' ukufika apho, evela eItali, ekubeni *uKhesare Klawudiyo wawagxothayo amaJuda awayeseRoma. Ebandwendwele uPawulos, ₃wahlala kunye nabo, wasebenza kunye nabo, kuba kaloku wayephila ngokwenza iintente njengabo. ₄Yonke imiGqibelo wayedla ngokubamba iingxoxo *endlwini yesikhungo, ezama ukuwanelisa amaJuda kwanamaGrike.

₅Bakufika ooSilas noTimoti, bevela eMakedoni, uPawulos akabanga senza nto yimbi ingekuko ukushumayela iindaba ezimnandi, ewacacisela amaJuda ukuba uYesu unguye uKrestu. ₆Kuthe akumchasa emngcikiva, wavuthulula iimpahla zakhe, ekhalala, esithi: “Ukuba nithe natshabalala, lityala lenu. Mna andinatyala kuloo nto. Ukususela ngoku ndiya ezintlangeni.” ₇Wabashiya ke waya kuhlala emzini kaTitiyo Yusto intlanga eyayimnqula uThixo. Umzi wakhe wawumelene nendlu yesikhungo. ₈UKrispo, igosa lendlu yesikhungo, wazinikela eNkosini kunye nentsapho yakhe. Kwabhaptizwa nenkitha yabantu eKorinte eyalivayo ilizwi yazinikela eNkosini.

₉Ngabusuku buthile uPawulos waba nombono apho, yathi iNkosi kuye: “Sukoyika, zingisa ukuthetha ungancami, ₁₀kuba mna ndinawe. Akukho mntu uya kukuchukumisa, kuba baninzi abantu bam kule dolophu.” ₁₁UPawulos wahlala apho ke unyaka onesiqingatha, ebafundisa ilizwi likaThixo abantu.

₁₂Kwathi akuba uGaliyo eyirhuluneli emele amaRoma kwisithili saseAkaya, amaJuda adibana ngoPawulos, amthatha amsa enkundleni, afika athi: ₁₃“Le ndoda izama ukuwexula abantu ukuba bakhonze uThixo ngendlela ephambeneyo nomthetho.”

₁₄Kwathi xa aza kuphendula uPawulos, uGaliyo wabhekisa kumaJuda wathi: “Ukuba ngaba lo mbandela ubuyimpazamo ethile, okanye ityala elibi, bendingade ndiyinyamezele le nto, maJuda. ₁₅Kodwa ke ngenxa yokuba lo mbandela uphathelele kumazwi, namagama, nomthetho wenu, ziboneleni nina ukuba ningawulungisa njani na. Mna andinakugweba izinto ezinjalo.” ₁₆Waza ke wabakhupha apho enkundleni. ₁₇Bahlasela uSosteno igosa lendlu yesikhungo, bambethela apho phambi kwenkundla. Kodwa yena uGaliyo zange azikhathaze ngaloo nto.

₁₈UPawulos wahlala apho eKorinte ixesha elide, waza ke wanduluka apho ngesikhephe enoPrisila noAkwila, basinga eSiriya. Wathi xa aseKenkreya wacheba intloko yakhe, kuba wayenze isifungo. ₁₉Bakufika e-Efese, uPawulos wabashiya ooPrisila noAkwila, waya endlwini yesikhungo, waxoxa khona namaJuda. ₂₀Babemcela ukuba ahlale nabo ixesha elide, kodwa akavuma. ₂₁Wasuka wathi xa ahambayo: “Ukuba ngaba kuyintando kaThixo ukuba ndibuye, ndobuya ndibuye.” Waza ke wemka e-Efese.

₂₂Akufika eKhesariya, wadlula waya kubulisa ibandla, waza ke waya eAntiyokwe. ₂₃Emva kwethuba elapho wemka, watyhutyha imimandla yaseGalati neyaseFrigi, ehamba ewomeleza onke amakholwa.

₂₄E-Efese kwafika umJuda, ogama linguApolo, owazalelwa eAlesandriya. Wayeliciko lokuthetha, futhi ezazi ngokucokisekileyo *iziBhalo. ₂₅Wayeqeqeshiwe ngeNdlela yeNkosi, ngokunjalo wayethetha ngokutshiseka ezifundisa iinyaniso ezingoYesu ngentembeko. Nangona kunjalo wayesazi ubhaptizo lukaYohane kuphela. ₂₆Wayethetha ngesibindi *endlwini yesikhungo. Bathi ke bakumva ooPrisila noAkwila, bammemela emzini wabo, bamcacisela kakuhle ngokuzeleyo iNdlela yeNkosi. ₂₇UApolo wagqiba ukuba aye kwelaseAkaya, aza amakholwa ase-Efese amkhuthaza amphathisa neleta emazisayo kumakholwa alapho. Akufika khona waba luncedo olukhulu kwabo babethe ngesisa sikaThixo baguquka, ₂₈kuba ngenxa yobuciko bakhe wayewoyisa amaJuda ezingxoxweni. Kaloku wayecaphula eziBhalweni, ebonisa ukuba uYesu *unguKrestu.