To The Word – Day 61

₁*Iqashiso lesibini laphumela isizwe sakwaSimon ngokwezindlu zaso. Ilifa laso lalikummandla wakwaJuda. ₂Umhlaba wakwaSimon wawuquka iBheshebha, iShebha, iMolada, ₃iHazare-shuwali, iBhala, ne-Ezem, ₄iEltoladi, iBhetuli, iHoma, ₅iZikelagi, iBhete-markabhoti, iHazare-susa, ₆iBhete-lebhawoti, kunye neSharuhen. Yayizizixeko ezilishumi linantathu kunye neelali ezazizingqongile.

₇Kwakukwakho neAyin, iRimon, iEtere, kunye neAshan; izixeko ezine kunye neelali ezizingqongileyo. ₈Zonke iilali ezazingqonge ezo zixeko zazikwalapho kude kuse eBhalati-bhere (ekuthiwa yiRama) kwintlango engasezantsi.

Nguwo ke lowo umhlaba owabelwa izindlu zesizwe sakwaSimon, waba lilifa lazo. ₉Umhlaba wakwaJuda inxalenye yawo yabelwa isizwe sakwaSimon ukuba ibe lilifa laso, kuba wawumkhulu ngaphezu kokuba isizwe sakwaJuda sasiwudinga.

₁₀Ngesihlandlo sesithathu *iqashiso laphumela isizwe sakwaZebhulon ngokwezindlu zaso. Umda welifa lesi sizwe waya kuma ngeSaridi. ₁₁Ukusuka apho umda wacanda ngasentshona waya kutsho eMarala, wegqitha eDabhesheti nakwintlambo iYokeneham. ₁₂Kwicala elingaphaya kweSaridi wenjenjeya ukuya ngasempuma kumda weKiseloti-tabhore, wedlulela eDabherati ukusinga eYafiya. ₁₃Ukusuka apho wakhweza kwicala langasempumalanga, ujonge eGati-hefere nase-Eti-kazin, wajika wajonga ngaseRimon usinga eNeha. ₁₄Umda ngasemantla wajika apho wasinga ngaseHanaton, waya kuma kwintili i-Ifeta-eli. ₁₅Wawuquka ezi zixeko: iKatati, iNalali, iShimron, i-Idala, kunye neBhetelehem. Yaba lishumi linambini lezixeko kunye neelali ezizingqongileyo. ₁₆Ezo zixeko kunye nezo lali zazikumhlaba owabelwa izindlu zesizwe sakwaZebhulon.

₁₇Ngesesine isihlandlo *iqashiso laphumela isizwe sakwaIsakare ngokwezindlu zaso. ₁₈Kummandla waso kwakukho izixeko iYizereli, iKesuloti, iShunem, ₁₉iHafarayim, iShiyon, iAnarati, ₂₀iRabhiti, iKishiyon, iEbheze, ₂₁neRemeti, iEn-ganim, iEn-hada, kunye neBhete-pazeze. ₂₂Lo mda wadibanisa iTabhore, iShazuma, kunye neBhete-shemeshe, uye kuma ngeJordan. Wawunezixeko ezilishumi linantandathu kunye neelali ezizingqongileyo. ₂₃Ezo zixeko kunye nezo lali zazikumhlaba owabelwa izindlu zesizwe sakwaIsakare ukuze ube lilifa lazo.

₂₄Ngesihlandlo sesihlanu *iqashiso laphumela isizwe sakwa-Ashere ngokwezindlu zaso. ₂₅Ummandla wesi sizwe wawuquka izixeko iHelekati, iHali, iBheten, neAkeshafi, ₂₆kwakunye neAlam-meleki, iAmadi, kunye neMishali. Ngasentshonalanga wawudlula eKarmele naseShikore-libhenati. ₂₇Ukujika kwawo ngasempumalanga wawusinga ngaseBhete-dagoni, udlule kwaZebhulon nakwintili i-Ifeta-eli ukubheka ngasentla eBhete-emeki naseNeyeli. Wenjenjeya ukunyuka ucanda ngasekunene kweKabhuli, ₂₈ujonge e-Ebron, eRehobhi, eHamon, naseKana, ukuya kutsho kwiSidon enkulu. ₂₉Wawujika apho ujonge eRama, ude uye kutsho kwisixeko saseTire esinqatyisiweyo, ujike ujonge ngaseHosa, uye kuma ngolwandle. Wawuquka iMahalabhi, iAkezibhi, ₃₀iUma, iAfeki, kunye neRehobhi. Yayingamashumi mabini nambini ezixeko kunye neelali ezizingqongileyo. ₃₁Zazikummandla welifa lesizwe sakwa-Ashere ezi zixeko kunye neelali ezizingqongileyo.

₃₂Ngesesithandathu isihlandlo *iqashiso laphumela isizwe sakwaNafetali ngokwezindlu zaso. ₃₃Umda waso wawusuka eHelefe uye kutsho kum-oki oseZananim, udlulele eAdami-nekebhe naseYabheneli kude kuse eLekum, uye kuma ngeJordan. ₃₄Apho wawufika ujonge ngasentshonalanga uye eAzenoti-tabhore, usuke apho uye eHukoki, ubethe ngakuZebhulon emazantsi, udlule kwa-Ashere ngasentshonalanga, naseJordan kwicala langasempumalanga. ₃₅Izixeko ezazinqatyisiwe yayiyiZidim, iZera, iHamati, iRakati, iKinerete, ₃₆iAdama, iRama, iHazore, ₃₇iKedeshe, iEdreyi, kunye ne-En-hazore, ₃₈iYiron, iMigdali-eli, iHorem, iBhete-anati, kunye neBhete-shemeshe. Yayilishumi linethoba lezixeko kunye neelali ezizingqongileyo. ₃₉Ezo zixeko kunye nezo lali zazikummandla owabelwa izindlu zesizwe sakwaNafetali zaba lilifa lazo.

₄₀Ngesesixhenxe isihlandlo *iqashiso laphumela isizwe sakwaDan ngokwezindlu zaso. ₄₁Ummandla waso wawuquka iZora, iEshtawoli, i-Ire-shemeshe, ₄₂kunye neShalabhim, iAyalon, i-Itela, ₄₃iElon, neTimnata, kunye ne-Ekron, ₄₄uthathe ne-Elteke, iGibheton, iBhalata, ₄₅iYehudi, iBhene-bheraki, iGati-rimon, ₄₆iMeyakon, neRakon, kunye nommandla ojongene neJopa. ₄₇Athi akulahlekelwa ngumhlaba wawo amaDan aya kuhlasela iLeshem. Ayithimba yaba yeyawo akuba ebabulele abemi balapho. Ema apho, alijika negama layo iLeshem, athi ukuyibiza kwayo yiDan, eyithiya ngokhokho wawo uDan. ₄₈Ezi zixeko nezi lali zaba ngumhlaba owaba lilifa lesizwe sakwaDan.

₄₉Athi akugqiba ukuwaba amaSirayeli umhlaba, abela uYoshuwa unyana kaNune elakhe ilifa ₅₀ngokomyalelo *kaNdikhoyo. Amnika iTimnata-sera, isixeko awasicelayo. ITimnata-sera yayikweleentaba kwaEfrayim. Wasivusa eso sixeko uYoshuwa, wahlala apho.

₅₁UElazare umbingeleli, ekunye noYoshuwa unyana kaNune, kwakunye neentloko zezindlu zezizwe zakwaSirayeli, babeyaba le mimandla ngokwenza *amaqashiso phambi koNdikhoyo eShilo ngasekungeneni *kwesibingelelo. Bawaba ke ngolo hlobo loo mhlaba bada bagqiba.

₁*UNdikhoyo wathi kuYoshuwa: ₂“Thetha namaSirayeli, uthi ndithi makalathe izixeko zokuphephela endandixelele uMosis ngazo. ₃Zoba ziindawo ekubalekela kuzo abantu abathe babulala omnye ngengozi okanye ngempazamo. Yoba ziindawo zokuzimela kwimpindezelo yezizalwana zaloo mntu ubuleweyo. ₄Umntu oye kuzimela kwezo zixeko kufuneka anike inkcazelo ngesenzo sakhe enkundleni kumadoda amakhulu esangweni leso sixeko. Ngawo aya kumamkela amnike indawo yokuhlala phakathi kwawo. ₅Xa umphindezeli athe walandela ekhondweni lalowo ubalekele apho, wona akasayi kumnikezela kuye – kaloku wambulala ngengozi umfi, bengazange baxabana ngaphambili. ₆Umbulali angahlala apho kweso sixeko de kufike umhla wokuvavanywa kwetyala ngumzi. Akuba eswelekile umbingeleli omkhulu angabuyela ke kwisixeko sakowabo awayebaleke kuso.”

₇Kwatyunjwa iKedeshe eGalili kweleentaba lakwaNafetali, neShekem kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim, kunye neKiriyati-arba (yiHebron ke leyo) kweleentaba lakwaJuda. ₈Kumphesheya-Jordan ongasempuma yeJeriko kwatyunjwa ezi zixeko: kwisizwe sakwaRubhen yaba yiBhezere ekumathafa asentlango, kwisizwe sakwaGadi yaba yiRamoti eseGiliyadi, yaza kwaManase yaba yiGolan eBhashan. ₉Zizo ke ezo izixeko ekwakunokuphephela kuzo nawuphi na umSirayeli okanye umngeneleli ohlala phakathi kwamaSirayeli. Injongo yazo yayikukuzimelisa umntu obulele omnye ngengozi, ukwenzela ukuba ze kungabikho mntu ubulawayo sisizalwana somfi engekemi enkundleni yamatyala ngaphambi kwebandla.

₁Iintloko zezindlu zakwaLevi zaya kumbingeleli uElazare noYoshuwa unyana kaNune, bekunye neentloko zezindlu zakwaSirayeli. ₂Zaya kubo eShilo kwelamaKanana, zafika zathi: “*UNdikhoyo wayethe kuMosis thina masinikwe izixeko kunye namadlelo azo.” ₃AmaSirayeli ke ngoko, ethobela umyalelo kaNdikhoyo, acaphula kwilifa lawo, abanika ezinye izixeko zawo abaLevi kunye namadlelo azingqongileyo.

₄*Iqashiso lokuqala laphumela imizi yendlu yabaLevi bakwaKohati, babelwa izixeko ezilishumi linantathu, ezazikummandla wakwaJuda, nowakwaSimon, kunye nowakwaBhenjamin. ₅Inxalenye yemizi kaKohati yabelwa ishumi lezixeko ezazikwaEfrayim, kwaDan, nakwisiqingatha sasentshonalanga sakwaManase.

₆Indlu yakwaGershon yabelwa ishumi elinantathu lezixeko kummandla wakwaIsakare, nakwa-Ashere, kwaNafetali, nakwisiqingatha sakwaManase esiseBhashan.

₇Indlu yakwaMerari ngokwemizi yayo yabelwa ishumi elinambini lezixeko kummandla wakwaRubhen nakwaGadi nakwaZebhulon.

₈Njengoko uNdikhoyo wayetshilo kuMosis amaSirayeli ababela abaLevi ezi zixeko namadlelo ngokwenza amaqashiso.

_9-10Nazi ke izixeko ezabelwa abazukulwana baka-Aron, inzala kaLevi, bendlu kaKohati, ezazikummandla kaJuda noSimon: iqashiso laphumela bona kuqala, ₁₁babelwa isixeko sika-Arbha (uArbha wayenguyise ka-Anaki) le kuthiwa yiHebron ngoku. Nantso kweleentaba kwaJuda. Bayinikwa kunye namadlelo ayo, ₁₂kambe zona iilali eziyingqongileyo kunye namasimi zazisezabelwe uKalebhi unyana kaJefune, zaza zaba zezakhe.

₁₃Ukongezelela kwiHebron (eyayisesinye sezixeko zokuphephela) kwahlonyelwa nezi zixeko kubazukulwana bombingeleli uAron: iLibhena, ₁₄iYatire, iEshtemowa, ₁₅iHolon, iDebhiri, ₁₆iAyin, iJuta, kunye neBhete-shemeshe, kwanamadlelo azo. Yayilithoba lezixeko kummandla wakwaJuda nakwaSimon. ₁₇Kummandla wakwaBhenjamin babelwa zazine izixeko: iGibheyon, iGebha, ₁₈iAnatoti, kunye neAlmon, kwanamadlelo azo. ₁₉Zaba lishumi linantathu izixeko ezabelwa ababingeleli abazukulwana baka-Aron, kunye namadlelo azo.

₂₀Eminye imizi yabaLevi endlu yakwaKohati yabelwa izixeko kummandla kaEfrayim. ₂₁Banikwa izixeko ezine: iShekem namadlelo ayo kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim (yenye yezixeko zokuphephela nayo), iGezere, ₂₂iKibhezayim, kunye neBhete-horon, kunye namadlelo azo.

₂₃Kummandla wakwaDan abelwe izixeko ezine: iElteke, iGibheton, ₂₄iAyalon, kunye neGati-rimon, namadlelo azo. ₂₅Kummandla wesiqingatha sikaManase esingasentshonalanga abelwa izixeko ezibini: iTanaki, neGati-rimon, kunye namadlelo azo. ₂₆Indlu yakwaKohati yabelwa ishumi lezixeko zizonke kunye namadlelo azo.

₂₇Abanye abaLevi bendlu kaGershon babelwa izixeko zazibini kummandla wesiqingatha sikaManase esingasempuma: yaba yiGolan eBhashan (esinye sezixeko sokuphephela) kunye neBheshtera namadlelo azo. ₂₈Kummandla wakwaIsakare babelwa izixeko ezine: iKishiyon, iDabherati, ₂₉iYamuti, ne-En-ganim kunye namadlelo azo. ₃₀Kummandla wakwa-Ashere babelwa zazine: iMishali, iAbhedon, ₃₁iHelekati, neRehobhi, namadlelo azo. ₃₂Kummandla wakwaNafetali zaba zithathu: iKedeshe eGalili namadlelo ayo (yayisisixeko sokuphephela), iHamoti-dore, neKartan, namadlelo azo. ₃₃Imizi yendlu yakwaGershon yabelwa ishumi linantathu lezixeko zizonke, namadlelo azo.

₃₄AbaLevi bendlu yakwaMerari, yona eyayingekabonelelwa, babelwa izixeko zazine kwaZebhulon: iYokeneham, iKarta, ₃₅iDimna, neNahali, namadlelo azo. ₃₆KwaRubhen babelwa zazine: iBhezere, iYaza, ₃₇iKedemoti, eMefati, namadlelo azo. ₃₈KwaGadi babelwa zazine: iRamoti-giliyadi namadlelo ayo (esinye sezixeko zokuphephela), iMahanayim, ₃₉iHeshbhon, neYazere, namadlelo azo. ₄₀Indlu kaMerari ke yabelwa ishumi linambini lezixeko zizonke, isabelwa ngokwezindlu zayo ngamaqashiso.

_41-42AbaLevi babelwa izixeko ezingamashumi mane anesibhozo zizonke kummandla wamaSirayeli. Zonke ezo zixeko ngazinye zazinamadlelo azo.

₄₃Wenjenjalo ke *uNdikhoyo ukuzalisekisa isithembiso awasenzayo kookhokho bamaSirayeli sokuba wowanika umhlaba. Ema kuloo mhlaba ke amaSirayeli akuba ewuthimbile. ₄₄Wezisa uxolo kulo lonke elo zwe uNdikhoyo, njengoko wabathembisayo ngesifungo ookhokho babo. Iintshaba zawo zonke zange zibe nakumelana nawo amaSirayeli kuba uNdikhoyo wayezinikela ezandleni zawo iintshaba zawo. ₄₅Wazigcina zonke izithembiso awazenza kumaSirayeli uNdikhoyo; ewe, akukho nalinye ilizwi alithethileyo angalifezekisanga.

₁Ngexesha uApolo wayeseKorinte, uPawulos yena wacanda phakathi kuloo mimandla, waya kufika e-Efese. Apho wafumana iqela labalandeli bakaYohane, ₂wababuza wathi: “Namamkela na uMoya oyiNgcwele ukuzinikela kwenu?”

Baphendula bathi: “Asizange sive nokuva ukuba kukho uMoya oyiNgcwele.”

₃UPawulos wababuza wathi: “Phofu lubhaptizo luni enabhaptizwa ngalo?”

Bona bathi: “Lubhaptizo lukaYohane.”

₄UPawulos wabachazela wathi: “Ubhaptizo lukaYohane lona lwalusalatha inguquko. Yena wayebaxelela abantu ukuba bazinikele kulowo wayesiza emva kwakhe; nguYesu ke lowo.”

₅Bakuyiva le ntetho, babhaptizwa egameni leNkosi uYesu. ₆UPawulos wababeka izandla, batsho bamamkela uMoya oyiNgcwele, baza bathetha iilwimi, belithetha ilizwi likaThixo. ₇Babengamadoda amalunga neshumi elinambini.

₈Ngesithuba seenyanga ezintathu uPawulos wayesiya *endlwini yesikhungo yamaJuda, ethetha, exoxa nabo abantu ngesibindi, ezama ukuboyisela ekulawulweni nguThixo. ₉Kodwa abanye babo baba neenkani, abavuma ukuzinikela, basuka bayingcikiva iNdlela yeNkosi esidlangalaleni. Ngoko ke uPawulos wabashiya, wathatha abalandeli bakaYesu, waza wafundisa imihla ngemihla esikolweni sikaTirano. ₁₀Le nto ke wayiqhuba isithuba seminyaka emibini, bada bonke abantu ababehlala kwelo phondo laseAsiya, amaJuda kwanamaGrike, baliva ilizwi leNkosi.

₁₁Amandla kaThixo âbonakala ngezinto ezingaqhelekanga ezazisenziwa nguPawulos. ₁₂Neetshefu ezi kwaneefaskoti ezichukumise umzimba kaPawulos zazibaphilisa abagulayo, kude kuphume neendimoni. ₁₃AmaJuda athile awayejikeleza ekhupha iindimoni, nawo akhe azama ukusebenzisa igama leNkosi uYesu. Ayesithi kwiindimoni: “Ndikuyala ngegama likaYesu, lo ushunyayelwa nguPawulos.” ₁₄Aba babesenza le nto yayingoonyana abasixhenxe bombingeleli oyintloko womJuda owayenguSkeva igama.

₁₅Kodwa indimoni yathi kubo: “Ndiyamazi uYesu, noPawulos ndiyamazi; nina ke ningoobani?”

₁₆Ke kaloku indoda leyo yayinendimoni yabahlasela yabongamela, ibadlakazelisa kangangokuba baphuma apho kuloo ndlu bagqotsa bengxwelerhekile, neempahla zabo zivukuvuku. ₁₇Onke amaJuda neentlanga ezazihlala apho e-Efese zasiva esi siganeko, zaza zoyika kakhulu; laza igama leNkosi uYesu lanikwa imbeko ladunyiswa. ₁₈Amakholwa amaninzi azinikezela, ezivuma ezixela esidlangalaleni izinto azenzileyo. ₁₉Uninzi lwâbo babesenza imilingo lwaziqokelela lwazitshisela esidlangalaleni iincwadi zalo. Bawabala bawadibanisa amaxabiso ezo ncwadi, bazifumana zikwisithuba samashumi amahlanu amawaka eerandi. ₂₀Ngamandla eNkosi ilizwi leNkosi lanwenwezela, lakhula, laya lisomelela ngokomelela ngale ndlela.

₂₁Emva koko uPawulos wazimisela ukucanda kwelaseMakedoni nelaseAkaya, aze agqithele eJerusalem. “Ndakuba ndiyile khona, kufuneka ndiyibone neRoma,” wakha watsho. ₂₂Ke kaloku wathumela eMakedoni uTimoti noErasto abancedisi bakhe, lo gama athe yena wolula ukuhlala kwiphondo laseAsiya.

₂₃Kungeli xesha ke apho kwavumbuluka udushe e-Efese ngenxa yeNdlela yeNkosi. ₂₄UDemetriyo umfo owayebumba imifanekiso yendlu yesithixokazi *uArtemis ngesiliva, wayewenzela ingeniso enkulu ngolu shishino amagcisa aqeshwe nguye. ₂₅Wenza imbizo ke ekwabakho kuyo abaqeshwa kwakunye nabanye ababesenza umsebenzi okwanjengowakhe, wathi kubo: “Madoda, niyazi ukuba impumelelo yethu ixhomekeke kolu shishino. ₂₆Niyabona nizivela ngokwenu into eyenziwa yile nkewu uPawulos. Uthi *oothixo abenziwe ngabantu àbangabo konke, yaye uphumelele ekuboyiseni abantu abaninzi jikelele kule Efese, phantse wawugqiba ummandla waseAsiya uphela. ₂₇Ilapha ke ingozi, kule ndawo yokuba ushishino olu lwethu lufumane igama elibi. Kanti asikokuphela kwaloo nto, ikwakho nale ndawo yokuba nendlu yesithixokazi uArtemis ayiyi kwazelwa nto, ukanti nesidima sesithixokazi saseAsiya – nditsho esinqulwa lihlabathi liphela – siya kuphanza.”

₂₈Iwaphulaphule la mazwi indimbane leyo, yakhathazeka kakhulu, yadanduluka yathi: “Mkhulu uArtemis wamaEfese!” ₂₉Le ntshukumo yatyhutyha yonke idolophu. Bahlasela uGayo noAristarko baseMakedoni ababehamba kunye noPawulos, babaqweqwedisela kwiqonga lemidlalo. ₃₀UPawulos wafuna ukungena phakathi kwesihlwele eso, ukuze athethe naso, kodwa amakholwa akamvumelanga. ₃₁Abathile kumagosa ephondo laseAsiya, ababenobuhlobo noPawulos, nabo bamthumela umyalezo, bemcebisa ukuba angayi phaya eqongeni lemidlalo. ₃₂Kwangeli xesha ke intlanganiso xa iyonke yayisisiphithi-phithi nje. Kaloku abanye babekhwaza bethetha le, bambi bekhwaza bethetha leya; kuba kaloku uninzi lwaluhamba nje nezihlwele, lungazi nokuba indibano le yeyantoni na. ₃₃Abanye abantu bamchazela ngale nto yenzekayo uAlesandire, kuba amaJuda ayegqatse yena phambili. UAlesandire wawangawangisa ngesandla ukuba kuthi cwaka, efuna ukulamla. ₃₄Kodwa bathi bakumqonda ukuba ungumJuda, batsho ngazwinye, besenza intswahla, bekhwaza, bephinda-phinda besithi: “Mkhulu uArtemis wamaEfese!” Kwada kwaphela iiyure ezimbini besenza loo nto.

₃₅Kwathi ngelikade unobhala wedolophu wada wanako ukusithomalalisa isihlwele. Wathi: “MaEfese, wonke ubani uyazi ukuba le dolophu yase-Efese ngumgcini wendlu yesikhulukazi uArtemis, nowomfanekiso oqingqiweyo owavela ezulwini. ₃₆Akukho bani unako ukuziphikisa ezi zinto. Ngoko ke zolani, ningenzi nto ngokungakhathali. ₃₇La madoda nize nawo apha, nangona angebanga zinto zingcwele zendlu yonqulo okanye anyelise isithixokazi sethu. ₃₈Ukuba uDemetriyo nezicaka zakhe banesityholo ngakubani, ikho imihla eyaziwayo yenkundla, neziphathamandla zikhona; bangamangalelana khona. ₃₉Kodwa ukuba kukho enye into, inokulungiswa yintlanganiso esemthethweni yabemi. ₄₀Kaloku ngenxa yale nto yehle namhlanje, sisengozini yokutyholwa ngokwenza ingxushungxushu. Asinandlela yakuziphendulela ngolu dushe, singenaso nesizathu esibambekayo.” ₄₁Akuba etshilo, wayichitha intlanganiso.

₁Lwakuba ludambile udushe olo, uPawulos wawahlanganisa amakholwa, wawanika amazwi enkuthazo nawokwahlukana. Waza wasuka apho wasinga kwelaseMakedoni. ₂Watyhutyha loo mimandla, ehamba ethetha amazwi enkuthazo ebantwini. Wafika nakwelamaGrike, ₃apho wahlala iinyanga ezintathu. Wathi xa alungiselela ukuya eSiriya, wabhaqa ukuba amaJuda amenzela iyelenqe, waza wabona ukuba makaphindele emva, acande kwelaseMakedoni. ₄Nâba abâmkhapháyo: uSopatro unyana kaPiro waseBheriya, uAristarko noSekundo baseTesalonika, uGayo waseDerbhe noTimoti, kwanoTikiko noTrofimo baseAsiya. ₅Basandulela baya kusilinda eTrowa. ₆Emva kweSidlo seZonka ezingenaGwele sanduluka eFilipi ngesikhephe, saza emva kweentsuku ezintlanu sadibana nabo eTrowa, apho sachitha iveki khona.

₇Ngokuhlwa koMgqibelo sahlanganisana kwisidlo sobudlelwana. UPawulos wathetha nabo abantu, wolula kwada kwaphakathi kobusuku, kuba kaloku wayeza kuhamba ngomhla olandelayo. ₈Intlanganiso leyo yayisegumbini eliphezulu apho kwakukho izibane ezininzi. ₉Umfana ogama linguYutiko wayehleli efestileni, wada wozela walala, kuba uPawulos engayeki ukuthetha. Wothuleka apho kumngangatho wesithathu, waya kuwa emhlabeni, bamchola apho efile. ₁₀UPawulos wehla waya kuye, wafika waziphosa phezu kwakhe, wamgona, wathi: “Sanukothuka, kuba akafanga, uhleli!” ₁₁Waza ke uPawulos wenyuka waya egumbini eliphezulu, wafika wathatha isonka watya. UPawulos wathetha nabo kwada kwaphuma ilanga, waza ke wemka. ₁₂Umfana lowo bagoduka naye ephilile, nabo bethuthuzelekile.

₁₃Thina sahlabela mgama, sihamba ngenqanawa, saya kutsho eAso, apho sasiza kuthatha uPawulos khona, kuba lo yayingumyalelo wakhe, njengoko yena wayehamba emhlabeni. ₁₄Wathi akudibana nathi eAso, sahamba naye saya kufika eMitilene. ₁₅Sasuka apho, saya kudlula malunga neKiyo ngosuku olulandelayo. Kwakhona ngemini elandelayo safika eSamo, saza ngengomso saya kufika eMileto. ₁₆UPawulos wayegqibe ukuba angagqithi e-Efese, ukuze angachithi xesha kwiphondo laseAsiya. Wayengxamele ukuba usuku *lwePentekoste lumfikele eseJerusalem xa kunokwenzeka.

₁₇Sathi xa siseMileto, uPawulos wathumela e-Efese, ukuba abadala bebandla baye kuye. ₁₈Bakufika wathi kubo: “Nina ngokwenu niyayazi kakuhle indlela endahlala nani ngayo, ukusuka kwimini yokuqala endathi ndafika ngayo kweli phondo laseAsiya. ₁₉Njengesicaka seNkosi, umsebenzi wam ndawenza ngentobeko ndisezinyembezini, nakumaxesha anzima ândifikeláyo ngenxa yamayelenqe amaJuda. ₂₀Niyazi ukuba andinifihlelanga nto ebinokuba luncedo kuni, xa bendishumayela ndinifundisa esidlangalaleni nasemakhayeni enu. ₂₁KumaJuda nasezintlangeni ndazingisa ukubalumkisa abantu ukuba baguqukele kuThixo beyivuma iNkosi yethu uYesu. ₂₂Ngoku ke ngokuthundezwa nguMoya oyiNgcwele ndiya eJerusalem, ndingayazi into eya kundihlela khona. ₂₃Ndazi nto-nye, le yokuba kuzo zonke iidolophu uMoya oyiNgcwele undilumkisile ukuba ndilindelwe yintolongo neenkxwaleko. ₂₄Kodwa kum ukuphila akubalulekanga ngaphezu kokuba ndilufeze ubizo lwam, ndiwugqibe umsebenzi endawunikwa yiNkosi wokuvakalisa iindaba ezimnandi zesisa sikaThixo.

₂₅“Ndijikelezile phakathi kwenu, ndivakalisa ngolawulo lukaThixo kuni. Ibe ngoku ndazi kakuhle ukuba akukho bani kuni uya kuphinda andibone. ₂₆Ngokunjalo ndingqina ndiqinisekile ngayo le mini ukuba xa kuthe kwakho umntu olahlekayo apha kuni, ndimsulwa mna, ₂₇kuba andizange ndifihle nto – ndalivakalisa njengoko linjalo icebo likaThixo kuni. ₂₈Zilumkeleni nina ngokwenu, niwulumkele nawo umhlambi athe uMoya oyiNgcwele wanibeka phezu kwawo. Yibani ngabelúsi bebandla likaThixo, athe walizuza ngegazi lowakhe uNyana. ₂₉Kuba ndiyazi ukuba ndakumka, kuya kuvela kwalapha kuni iingcuka eziqwengayo, ezingayi kuba nanceba ngomhlambi lo. ₃₀Kwalapha kuni kuya kubakho amadoda agqwetha inyaniso, enenjongo yokuwalahlekisa amakholwa. ₃₁Lumkani ngoko, nikhumbule ukuba imini nobusuku ndaniluleka nonke ngabanye, ndisezinyembezini, ithuba leminyaka emithathu.

₃₂“Ngoko ke ndiyambongoza uThixo ukuba makanikhusele. Uya kunakha ngodaba lwesisa sakhe, olunamandla okunenza nilixhamle ilifa kunye nabo bonke abantu bakhe. ₃₃Andizange ndinqwenele mali nampahla yamntu. ₃₄Kaloku nazi mhlophe ukuba ndasebenza ngezi zandla zam, ndizixhasa kuzo zonke iintswelo zam kwanezamahlakani am. ₃₅Ndinibonisile ngeendlela zonke ukuba sifanele ukusebenza nzima, ukuze sincede nabo bahluphekileyo, siwakhumbula amazwi eNkosi athi: ‘Kuluyolo ukupha ngaphezu kokuphiwa.’ ”

₃₆Akuwagqiba la mazwi uPawulos, waguqa nabo bonke, wathandaza. ₃₇Bathi besithi ndlela-ntle kuye, baye bengenakuzibamba bengqukruleka. Babemgona ngokwesiko labo. ₃₈Babehlatyaniselwe ngokukodwa ngamazwi awawathetháyo esithi abayi kuphinda bambone. Baza ke bamkhapha, baya naye enqanaweni.

₁Sakwahlukana nabo, sangena enqanaweni, sahamba ngqo sada saya kufika eKos. Ngengomso sagaleleka eRodo, sasuka saya kutsho ePatara. ₂Safumana inqanawa apho eyayisiya eFenike, saza sangena kuyo, sahamba ngayo. ₃Sayithi ntlaa, sayishiya ngasekhohlo iSipro, sijonge eSiriya. Sehla enqanaweni eTire. Kaloku kwakulapho yayiza kothulwa khona umthwalo. ₄Safika kukho amakholwa apho, saya kuhlala nawo iveki yonke. Ngokutyhilelwa nguMoya oyiNgcwele athi uPawulos makangayi eJerusalem. ₅Kodwa lakufika ixesha lokumka, sayihamba indlela yethu. Basikhapha sada sangaphandle kwedolophu, bekunye nabafazi kwanabantwana babo. Saguqa elunxwemeni apho, sathandaza. ₆Sahlukana ke, thina sangena enqanaweni, bona bagoduka.

₇Ukusuka kwethu eTire, sahamba sada saya kufika eTolimayi. Apho sadibana namakholwa, sahlala nawo imini yonke. ₈Kwakusa salishiya elo, saya kungena eKhesariya. Apho safikela emzini womvakalisi weendaba ezimnandi uFilipu, omnye walaa madoda asixhenxe awanyulwa eJerusalem. ₉Wayeneentombi ezine ezingendanga ezaziluvakalisa udaba lweNkosi. ₁₀Kuthe sekuntsuku silapho, kwafika umvakalisi-daba onguAgabho, evela kwaJuda. ₁₁Ufike wathatha ibhanti kaPawulos, wazibopha ngayo iinyawo nezandla, wathi: “Uthi uMoya oyiNgcwele: ‘Umnini wale bhanti uya kubotshwa enjiwenje ngamaJuda eJerusalem, yaye aya kumnikela ezintlangeni.’ ”

₁₂Sakuyiva le nto, samcenga uPawulos, sikunye namakholwa alapho, ukuba angayi eJerusalem. ₁₃Kodwa wathi ukuphendula: “Nenza ntoni, nifuna ukundityhafisa nje ngezi nyembezi zenu? Andilungelanga kubotshwa kuphela eJerusalem; kwanokufa oku ndikulungele ngenxa yeNkosi uYesu.”

₁₄Sancama ke, kuba singabanga nakumoyisa, sathi: “Makwenzeke ukuthanda kweNkosi.”

₁₅Emva kwexesha silapho salungiselela ukuya eJerusalem. ₁₆Abanye babalandeli bakaYesu baseKhesariya bahamba nathi, basisa endlwini yendoda egama linguMnaso, esathi sahlala nayo. Loo ndoda yayingumfo waseSipro, ilikholwa elaguquka kwimihla yangaphambili.

₁₇Ekufikeni kwethu eJerusalem, amakholwa asamkela ngezandla ezishushu. ₁₈Ngengomso sahamba noPawulos, saya kubona uYakobi. Nabo bonke abadala bebandla babekhona. ₁₉Ebabulisile uPawulos, wabanika ingxelo epheleleyo ngezinto zonke uThixo awayezenzile ngaye phakathi kweentlanga. ₂₀Bathi bakuziva, bamdumisa uThixo xa bebonke. Baza bacebisa bathi kuPawulos: “Mfondini, nawe uyazibonela ngokwakho ukuba apha kukho amawaka-waka amaJuda aguqukileyo angamakholwa, kodwa asabambelele *emthethweni kaMosis. ₂₁Evile ke ngawe ukuba wena ufundisa onke amaJuda ahlala kumazwe eentlanga, ukuba awulahle umthetho kaMosis. Futhi kuthiwa wena uthi makangabolùsi abantwana bawo, bangawalandeli namasiko esiJuda. ₂₂Kunjalonje aza kuva ukuba ufikile. Uthi kungenziwa ntoni? ₂₃Phulaphula ke, sikucebise! Apha kukho amadoda amane azibophe ngesifungo. ₂₄Ngoko ke wena zibandakanye nawo, ungene *ekuhlanjululweni, uze uwahlawulele iindleko zawo, abe nako ukuzicheba iintloko zawo. Ngale ndlela ke wonke umntu uya kuqonda ukuba bubuxoki yonke le nto bayivileyo ngawe – ndaweni yaloo nto wena ngokwakho usawugcinile umthetho kaMosis. ₂₅Kodwa zona iintlanga ezingamakholwa sasizibhalele ileta ngokwesigqibo sethu, sibayala ukuba bangakutyi ukutya kwedini, nanyama inegazi, nasilwanyana sikrwitshiweyo, futhi bazikhwebule ekurheletyeni.”

₂₆Ke kaloku uPawulos wahlangana nawo loo madoda, waza ngengomso walenza kunye nawo isiko lokuhlanjululwa. Waza ke waya endlwini kaThixo ukuya kwenza amalungiselelo alo mcimbi, ngokukodwa malunga nomnikelo owawuya kufuneka ekupheleni kwexesha lentlambululo.

₂₇Xa zaziza kuphela iintsuku ezisixhenxe *zentlambululo, amaJuda athile ephondo laseAsiya ambona uPawulos *esendlwini kaThixo. Avusa uqhushululu ebantwini, ambamba uPawulos, ₂₈akhwaza esithi: “MaSirayeli, yizani! Nantsi le ndoda ihamba ithetha kakubi ngamaSirayeli, *ngomthetho kaMosis, nangendlu kaThixo, kumntu wonke. Ngoku ize kungcolisa le ndawo ingcwele ngokungenisa iintlanga kuyo.” ₂₉Babesitsho kuba babekhe bambona kaloku uTrofimo wase-Efese edolophini apho, ekunye noPawulos; ngoku ke babeba uPawulos umzise endlwini kaThixo.

₃₀Yaba ludushe ke kuyo yonke idolophu; basuka indulumbane bonke abantu, bambamba uPawulos, bamqweqwedisela ngaphandle kwendlu kaThixo. Kwangoko bazivala iingcango. ₃₁Babeza kumbulala uPawulos ukuba kwakungafikanga lizwi kwingqwayi-ngqwayi yomkhosi wamaRoma, liyixelela ngodushe oluseJerusalem. ₃₂Kwangoko ingqwayi-ngqwayi yesuka kunye namagosa ayo, neqela lamajoni, yasukela apho kolo dushe. Bakuyibona isiza namajoni, bayeka ukumbetha uPawulos abantu. ₃₃Ingqwayi-ngqwayi yaya kuPawulos, yambamba, yayalela nokuba akhonkxwe ngamatyathanga amabini. Yaza ke yabuza isithi: “Ngubani lo mntu? Wenze ntoni?” ₃₄Loo ndimbane yaphendula, abanye bethetha le, abanye bethetha leya. Kwakuphithizela kangangokuba ingqwayi-ngqwayi ayizange ikuqonde ncam okwakwenzekile, yaza ke yayalela ukuba uPawulos asiwe enqabeni yamajoni. ₃₅Baya kufika naye ezitepsini, kwanyanzeleka ukuba amthwale apho amajoni, ngenxa yesiphithi-phithi sabantu. ₃₆Bonke babemlandela bekhwaza besithi: “Bulala!”

₃₇Xa babeza kungena enqabeni, wathi uPawulos kwingqwayi-ngqwayi yomkhosi: “Ndingákhe ndithethe nawe?”

Ingqwayi-ngqwayi ithe: “Kanti uyasazi isiGrike? ₃₈Kuthe kanti akunguye laa mJiputa wakha wadala uqhushululu apha, wakhokelela endle amawaka amane abarhubuluzi bexhobile?”

₃₉Uphendule wathi uPawulos: “Mna ndingumJuda; ndazalelwa eTarso kwelaseKiliki. Ndingummi wedolophu ebalulekileyo. Ndivumele ndikhe ndibhekise ilizwi kwaba bantu.”

₄₀Yamvumela ingqwayi-ngqwayi, waza ke uPawulos emi ezitepsini wawangawangisa ngesandla ukuba bathi cwaka abantu, wadanduluka ngesiHebhere esithi: