To The Word – Day 62

₁UYoshuwa wabiza isizwe sakwaRubhen nesakwaGadi kunye nesiqingatha sesakwaManase sasempuma, ₂wathi: “Nikufezile konke enakuyalelwa sisicaka *sikaNdikhoyo uMosis, nayithobela yonke imiyalelo yam. ₃Unanamhla aniwashiyanga enyanyeni amawenu, koko ninyamekele ukuthobela umthetho kaNdikhoyo uThixo wenu. ₄Ngoku ke uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uwaphumzile amawenu, njengoko wathembisayo. Ke ngoko godukani niye kumhlaba ongowenu ongakwicala elingasempumalanga yeJordan, lowo nawunikwa nguMosis isicaka sikaNdikhoyo. ₅Kambe maze ninyaniseke ngokupheleleyo ekuwuthobeleni umyalelo nomthetho eniwuwiselwe nguMosis isicaka sikaNdikhoyo, othi: ‘Mthande uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho; mthobele ezintweni zonke, uyigcine imiyalelo yakhe, unamathele kuye, umkhonze ngomxhelo wonke nangomoya wakho wonke.’ ”

₆Emva koko ke uYoshuwa wabasikelela wabandulula bagoduka. ₇Kaloku uMosis wayabele isiqingatha sesizwe sakwaManase umhlaba eBhashan, kanti ke yena uYoshuwa wabela esinye isiqingatha sesizwe sakwaManase umhlaba ongasentshona kweJordan kunye namawabo.

UYoshuwa wabandulula wabasikelela wathi: ₈“Ngoku nigoduka nizizityebi, ninemfuyo eninzi, nesiliva, negolide, ubhedu, nentsimbi, nemfumba yezambatho. Ze niwabele amawenu kumaxhoba eniwafumene ezintshabeni.”

₉AmaRubhen namaGadi nesiqingatha samaManase bagoduka. Amanye amaSirayeli bawashiya apho eShilo kwelamaKanana, basinga kwelakowabo eGiliyadi, ababeyifumene ngokomyalelo kaNdikhoyo kuMosis.

₁₀Zathi zakufika eGeliloti ngaseJordan eKanana izizwe zakwaRubhen nakwaGadi noManase osempuma, zakha into enkulu yeqonga lamadini apho phezu komlambo. ₁₁AmaSirayeli eva kusithiwa: “Khangelani uRubhen noGadi nesiqingatha sikaManase bakhe iqonga lamadini emdeni welaseKanana nganeno apha eGeliloti phezu komlambo iJordan!” ₁₂Yakuvakala loo nto lonke ibandla lakwaSirayeli lahlangana eShilo, lizilungiselela ukuhlasela izizwe ezingaphesheya, empumalanga yeJordan.

₁₃AmaSirayeli athuma umbingeleli uPineyasi unyana kaElazare kwaRubhen nakwaGadi nakwaManase ongaphesheya eGiliyadi. ₁₄UPineyasi wahamba neshumi lamadoda aziinkokheli zezizwe ezilishumi zakwaSirayeli. La madoda ayeziintloko zezindlu. ₁₅Baya kufika eGiliyadi kwaRubhen, kwaGadi, nakwaManase ongasempuma, bafika bathi: ₁₆“Sithetha nje, sithetha egameni lebandla likaNdikhoyo liphela. Niyenzeleni into embi kangaka ngokungathembeki kuThixo kaSirayeli? Yini na ukuba nityeke kuNdikhoyo ngokuzakhela iqonga lamadini, nivukelane naye ngoku? ₁₇Khange bube sisifundo na ubugwenxa obenzeke ePehore Kaloku uNdikhoyo wabetha ibandla xa lilonke ngobhubhani. Ngaba unanamhla anikahlanjululwa na kobo bugwenxa, ₁₈le nto nityekayo ekumlandeleni uNdikhoyo? Xa namhlanje nimvukela uNdikhoyo, ngomso kosa eliqumbele lonke ibandla lakwaSirayeli. ₁₉Xa umhlaba wenu ugqwalisekile, ngani ningaweli iJordan nje, niye apho simiyo *isibingelelo sikaNdikhoyo ezweni lakhe, nize kuma apha phakathi kwethu? Yekani ukumvukela uNdikhoyo nize nathi nisifake kolo vukelo lwenu ngokwenza qonga limbi lingelilo likaNdikhoyo uThixo wethu. ₂₀Ngaba senikulibele ukungathembeki kuka-Akana unyana kaZera, owathatha amaxhoba amakatshatyalaliswe, kwaza ngenxa yeso senzo kohlwaywa lonke ibandla lakwaSirayeli? UAkana akazange afe yedwa ngenxa yesono sakhe.”

₂₁Oonyana bakaRubhen, noonyana bakaGadi, nesiqingatha sikaManase, benjenje ukuphendula iintloko zezizwe zakwaSirayeli: ₂₂“Oyena unguThixo nguNdikhoyo! Ewe, oyena unguThixo nguye uNdikhoyo! Nguye owaziyo ukuba sikwenzeleni na oku, yaye nani sifuna nazi. Ukuba oku sikwenze ngokungathembeki kuNdikhoyo, okanye ngokumvukela, masingasindi ekufeni namhlanje. ₂₃Yaye ukuba ngeli qonga sityekile ekumlandeleni uNdikhoyo ngokwenzela kulo amadini ethu atshiswayo, nawokudla, nawobudlelane, makasuke asigwebe yena ngenkqu. ₂₄Hayi bo! Elaa qonga silenze ngenxa yexhala lokuba kwixesha elizayo abantwana benu basenokuthi kubantwana bethu: ‘Uyintoni kuni kakade uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli? ₂₅Akanto yakwenza nani maRubhen namaGadi; wasahlula nani ngokwenza iJordan umda.’ Loo nto ke ingabangela ukuba abantwana bethu bayeke ukunqula uNdikhoyo. ₂₆Kungoko ke satshoyo ukuthi: ‘Masakhe iqonga, kodwa kungabi ngenjongo yakunikela madini naminikelo kulo.’ ₂₇Hayi, sisitsho nje besisenzela thina nani, nezizukulwana ezizayo, ubungqina bokuba ngenene uNdikhoyo simnqula esibingelelweni sakhe ngamadini atshiswayo, nawobudlelane, nangeminikelo. Besisenzela ukuba abantwana benu bangaze bathi kwabethu: ‘Aninasabelo nina nanto yakwenza kuNdikhoyo.’ ₂₈Thina besiba abantwana bethu babeya kuthi xa ithe yehla into enjalo: ‘Naliya iqonga elifana nqwa neliya likaNdikhoyo lakhiwa ngoobawo. Ewe kambe, asililo lamadini neminikelo, lona lilingqina kumawethu nakumawenu.’ ₂₉Asingeke ke thina sivukele uNdikhoyo okanye sityeke kuye ngokwakha iqonga lamadini neminikelo elilelinye. ElikaNdikhoyo uThixo wethu lona limi esibingelelweni sakhe.”

₃₀OoPineyasi neentloko zakwaSirayeli kunye nezezindlu, banela bakuba beyivile impendulo yamaRubhen namaGadi kunye neyesiqingatha samaManase. ₃₁Umbingeleli uPineyasi, unyana kaElazare, wathi kuwo: “Ngoku siyazi ukuba uNdikhoyo uphakathi kwethu; animvukelanga. Ngoko ke amaSirayeli ephela asindile kumsindo wakhe.”

₃₂UPineyasi ke neentloko zamaSirayeli bemka kwaRubhen nakwaGadi eGiliyadi, babuyela eKanana, baya kwenza ingxelo kumaSirayeli. ₃₃Aneliseka yiloo ngxelo amaSirayeli, atsho abonga uThixo; akabi sathetha ngakuhlasela awutshabalalise umhlaba wamaRubhen namaGadi.

₃₄Baza ke abantu bakwaRubhen nakwaGadi balibiza elo qonga ngokuthi: “Lingqina kuthi sonke ukuba uNdikhoyo unguThixo.” Baza ke bathi ukulibiza liNgqina.

₁Lakuba ligqithile ithuba elide *uNdikhoyo uwaphumzile amaSirayeli ezintshabeni zawo ezaziwangqongile; noYoshuwa ngoku wayeselemdala aluphele. ₂UYoshuwa wawabiza onke amaSirayeli, amadoda amakhulu, iintloko zezindlu, abalamli, kunye nabanye abangamagosa, wathi kubo: “Sendaluphele; ndigugile mna ngoku. ₃Niyibonile yonke into ayenzileyo ngenxa yenu uNdikhoyo kuzo zonke iintlanga zalapha. UNdikhoyo uThixo wenu ubesoloko enilwela kaloku. ₄Khumbulani ukuba isizwe ngasinye kuni ndisabele umhlaba waso kumhlaba weentlanga endizitshabalalisileyo, kwanezo zisaseleyo phakathi kweJordan nolwandle ngasentshonalanga. ₅UNdikhoyo uThixo wenu nguye ngenkqu owozigxotha phambi kwenu; wovulela nina indawo. Ke ngoko lo mhlaba ngowenu njengoko kanye wathembisayo. ₆Ngoko ke yomelelani, ninyamekele nithobele yonke into ebhalwe kwincwadi yomthetho kaMosis, ningashiyi nendawo le. ₇Nize ningazibandakanyi naba bantu basaseleyo apha, ningabizi namagama *oothixo babo, okanye nisebenzise amagama oothixo babo xa nifunga, ningabanquli abo thixo nikhahlele kubo. ₈Ndaweni yaloo nto nina namathelani kuNdikhoyo, nenze njengoko senenzile unanamhla. ₉UNdikhoyo unigxothele izizwe ezikhulu nezinamandla ekungeneni kwenu, akwabikho bani unako ukumelana nani edabini. ₁₀Nditsho nomntu omnye kuni angachitha-chitha iwaka eyedwa, kuba kaloku uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu uyanilwela njengoko wathembisayo. ₁₁Ze nigcise ke ngenxa yobomi benu, uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu nimthande, ₁₂kuba kaloku xa nithe natyeka kuye nazibandakanya nezi ntlanga ziseleyo apha, nendiselana nazo, ₁₃ze nazi kakuhle ukuba uNdikhoyo akakubuy' azigxothe, anivulele indawo. Ndaweni yaloo nto ziya kusuka zibe ngathi zizabatha nezigu zokunigcayisela, zibe ngathi zizabhokhwe zokunitywatyusha, nameva asemehlweni, nide niphele nithi shwaka kulo mhlaba ulungileyo niwunikwe nguNdikhoyo uThixo wenu.

₁₄“Ngoku ke sendiza kufa. Nazi mhlophe ezintliziyweni zenu nasemiphefumlweni yenu ukuba akukho nanye into ayithembisileyo angayenzanga uNdikhoyo; ewe, akukho nanye into ayithethileyo angayiphumelelisanga. ₁₅Kanti kwalo Ndikhoyo unenzela izinto ezintle kangaka uyakwazi ukubuya azise ububi anitshabalalise nithi shwaka kulo mhlaba ulungileyo aninike wona. ₁₆Ewe, xa niwutyeshelayo umnqophiso athe maze niwugcine uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, nisuke nina nikhonze ninqule izithixo, wovutha umsindo wakhe, anitshabalalise ngephanyazo, niphele kuthi tu kulo mhlaba ulungileyo aninike wona.”

₁UYoshuwa wenza imbizo yazo zonke izizwe zakwaSirayeli eShekem. Wabiza onke amadoda amakhulu, iintloko zezindlu, abalamli, kunye nabanye abangamagosa akwaSirayeli, bonke baya kuthi nqwadalala *ngasesibingelelweni *sikaNdikhoyo. ₂Wabhekisa kubo bonke abantu uYoshuwa wenjenje: “Utsho uNdikhoyo, uThixo kaSirayeli, ukuthi: ‘Kudala kanye ooyihlo-mkhulu uTera kunye noonyana bakhe uAbraham noNahore babemi ngaphesheya komlambo iEfrati, benqula *thixo bambi. ₃Uyihlo-mkhulu uAbraham ndamkhupha apho ngaphesheya kwe-Efrati, walityhutyha lonke elaseKanana. Ndampha abantwana abaninzi. Ndamnika uIsake; ₄uIsake yena ndamnika uYakobi noEsawu. UEsawu ndamnika ilizwe leentaba lase-Edom. Yena uYakobi noonyana bakhe behla baya eJiputa. _5-6Ndathuma uMosis noAron, amaJiputa ndawehlisela izibetho. Niyayazi into endawenza yona. Ndaza ke emva koko ndanikhupha eJiputa, naza nina naza kutsho kuLwandle oluBomvu. AmaJiputa akhupha iinqwelo zamahashe nomkhosi okhwele amahashe ukusukela ooyihlo, asinga kuLwandle oluBomvu. ₇Kodwa bathi bakukhala ooyihlo, ndafaka ithunzi lobumnyama phakathi kwamaSirayeli namaJiputa. Ndawagubungela ngamanzi olwandle, eyela amaJiputa – niyayazi loo nto.

“ ‘Nahlala entlango ithuba elide. ₈Ndaza mna ndanizisa kumhlaba wama-Amori awayemi ngasempumalanga yeJordan. Alwa nani, kodwa mna ndawanikela ezandleni zenu. Nawuthatha umhlaba wawo, ndakuba mna ndiwatshabalalisile. ₉Ukumkani uBhalaki wakwaMowabhi, unyana kaZipore, waqubisana namaSirayeli edabini. Wathumelela uBhalam, unyana kaBhehore, ukuba abizwe eze anishwabulele, ₁₀kodwa andizange ndivume ukumphulaphula uBhalam. Ndaweni yaloo nto wamana ukunithamsanqelisa, ndaba ke ndinihlangule kuBhalaki. ₁₁Nawela iJordan, naya eJeriko. Abemi balapho balwa nani, njengoko enjenjalo ama-Amori, namaPerezi, namaKanana, amaHiti, amaGirgashi, amaHivi, namaJebhusi, kodwa ndabanikela ezandleni zenu. ₁₂Ndabathumela ngoonomeva abo balwa nani. Yiyo loo nto eyachitha iikumkani zama-Amori zombini – asilokrele nalutolo lwenu. ₁₃Ndaninika umhlaba eningazanga nawusebenza nezixeko eningazanga nazakha. Ngoku nihlala apho nitye isivuno semidiliya eningayilimanga, neminquma eningazanga nabulaleka yiyo.’

₁₄“UNdikhoyo mhloneleni, nimnqule ngentembeko ninyanisekile. Yahlukanani *nezithixo zookhokho benu ngexesha bengaphesheya kwe-Efrati naseJiputa, nikhonze uNdikhoyo yedwa. ₁₅Ke ukuba kubi emehlweni enu ukumkhonza uNdikhoyo, khethani ngoku, ukuba nokhonza bani na nina, phakathi koothixo baseMesopotami booyihlo noothixo bama-Amori enimi kumhlaba wawo. Kodwa mna kunye nomzi wam, siya kukhonza uNdikhoyo.”

₁₆Aphendula amaSirayeli athi: “Thina asisoze sahlukane noNdikhoyo sikhonze thixo bambi. ₁₇NguNdikhoyo uThixo wethu owasikhulula thina nookhokho eJiputa ebukhobokeni. Siyayazi imiqondiso emikhulu awayenzayo. Wasilondoloza konke apho sihamba khona, wasikhusela xa besicanda phakathi kweentlanga. ₁₈UNdikhoyo wasigxothela zonke iintlanga, nditsho kunye nama-Amori awayemi apha. Ngoko ke nathi sokhonza uNdikhoyo; nguye uThixo wethu.”

₁₉UYoshuwa wathetha namaSirayeli wenjenje: “Aninako ukumkhonza uNdikhoyo. UNdikhoyo nguThixo owahlukileyo; unguThixo onekhwele. Akasayi kukuxolela ukumvukela kwenu nokumona kwenu, ₂₀yaye ukuba niyamfulathela nikhonze izithixo zasemzini, wonijikela anihlisele ububi. Wonitshabalalisa niphele, ngoku kanye ebekade eniphethe kakuhle.”

₂₁Abantu bathi kuYoshuwa: “Hayi bo! Thina siza kukhonza uNdikhoyo.”

₂₂Wathi ke uYoshuwa: “Ningamangqina enu ngokwenu ke ukuba nina nizikhethele ukukhonza uNdikhoyo.”

“Ewe, singamangqina,” batsho abantu.

₂₃“Yahlukanani ke nazo ezo zithixo zasemzini ninazo,” watsho uYoshuwa, “nize ke nizinikele ngomxhelo wonke kuNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli.”

₂₄Bathi abantu kuYoshuwa: “Thina sokhonza uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu, siphulaphule ilizwi lakhe.”

₂₅Ngaloo mini, belapho eShekem, uYoshuwa wabenzela umnqophiso abantu, wabanika imimiselo nemithetho amabayithobele. ₂₆Wayibhala yonke loo nto uYoshuwa encwadini yomthetho kaThixo. Waza emva koko wathatha ilitye elikhulu, walimisa phantsi komthi wom-oki ngakuloo ndawo wayenqulelwa kuyo uNdikhoyo. ₂₇Wathi ebantwini bonke: “Niyabona, eli litye loba lelobungqina, kuba liwevile onke amazwi uNdikhoyo awabhekise kuthi. Lilo ke eloba lingqina xa nimkhanyela uThixo wenu.” ₂₈Emva koko ke wabandulula abantu uYoshuwa, umntu ngamnye wabuyela emhlabeni olilifa lakhe.

₂₉Wabhubha ke emva koko uYoshuwa, unyana kaNune, isicaka *sikaNdikhoyo, eminyaka ilikhulu lineshumi. ₃₀Wafihlelwa eTimnata-sera, emhlabeni olilifa lakhe, kweleentaba kwaEfrayim, kumantla entaba iGahashe.

₃₁AmaSirayeli ahlala ekhonza uNdikhoyo lo gama wayesaphila uYoshuwa. Akungabikho ahlala esenjenjalo nangalo gama ayesekho amadoda amakhulu awayenamava ngeziganeko ezikhulu ezenziwa nguNdikhoyo.

₃₂Amathambo kaJosefu awayeze nawo eJiputa amaSirayeli, awangcwaba kumhlaba owathengwa nguYakobi eShekem koonyana bakaHamore uyise kaShekem ngekhulu leesiliva. Lo mhlaba waba lilifa lenzala kaJosefu.

₃₃Wabhubha noElazare, unyana ka-Aron, waza wangcwatyelwa eGibheya kweleentaba kwaEfrayim, emhlabeni owabelwa uPineyasi unyana wakhe.

₁“Mawethu, nani bobawo, khanindiphulaphule xa ndiziphendulelayo.” ₂Bathi bakumva ukuba uthetha ngesiHebhere, bathi cwaka.

Waza waqhuba wathi uPawulos: ₃“Mna ndingumJuda, ndazalelwa eTarso kwelaseKiliki, kodwa ndakhulela apha eJerusalem, ndingumfundi kaGamaliyeli. Ndafumana ingqeqesho ecokisekileyo kumthetho wookhokho bethu; futhi ndandizinikele kuThixo, ndinjengokuba ninjalo nani namhlanje. ₄Ndandibatshutshis' ukufa abantu abalandela le Ndlela. Ndandiwabamba amadoda kwanabafazi, ndibafake entolongweni. ₅Umbingeleli omkhulu *neBhunga xa lilonke bangangqina ukuba ndithetha inyaniso xa nditshoyo. Ndandithatha iincwadi kubo, zibhalelwe amaJuda aseDamasko, ndize mna ndihambe ndiye kubamba abantu, ndibabuyise bekhonkxiwe, ndibazise eJerusalem, ukuze bohlwaywe.”

₆“Ndathi xa ndandihamba ndisondela eDamasko, emini emaqanda, ndabona ukukhanya okuqaqambileyo esibhakabhakeni kundibengezelela ngeenxa zonke. ₇Ndawa emhlabeni, ndaza ndeva ilizwi lisithi: ‘Sawule, Sawule, unditshutshisela ntoni na?’ ₈Ndabuza ndathi: ‘Ungubani wena, Nkosi?’ Laphendula lathi: ‘NdinguYesu waseNazarete, lo umtshutshisayo.’ ₉Amadoda endandihamba nawo akubona okunene ukukhanya, kodwa akazange ayive into ethethwa ngulowo wayethetha nam. ₁₀Ndabuza ndathi: ‘Ndingenza ntoni, Nkosi?’ Yaza yathi iNkosi kum: ‘Vuka, uye eDamasko; woyixelelwa khona apho into yonke akumisele ukuba uyenze uThixo.’ ₁₁Ukubengezela kokukhanya oko ndakubonayo kwanditsho ndayimfama, baza abo babendiphahlile bandibamba ngesandla, bandikhokelela eDamasko.

₁₂“Apho ke kwakukho indoda ethile egama linguHananiya. Yayiyindoda ewuzondeleleyo iwuthobele *umthetho, ihlonelwa kakhulu ngawo onke amaJuda aseDamasko. ₁₃Yeza yafika yema ecaleni kwam, yathi: ‘Sawule, mfondini, buya ubone.’ Kanye ngaloo mzuzu avuleka amehlo am, ndaza ndabona. ₁₄Wathi: ‘UThixo wookhokho bethu ukukhethele ukuba ukwazi ukuthanda kwakhe, ukuze usibone isiCaka sakhe esililungisa, uve ilizwi lakhe lithetha nawe, ₁₅kuba uya kuba lingqina lakhe, wazise bonke abantu izinto ozibonileyo nozivileyo. ₁₆Ngoku ke usalindele ntoni? Vuka, ubhaptizwe, zixolelwe izono zakho ngokubiza igama lakhe.’ ”

₁₇“Ndaphindela kwaseJerusalem, apho ndathi *ndisendlwini kaThixo ndithandaza, ndaba nombono. ₁₈Ndabona iNkosi isithi kum: ‘Khawuleza umke eJerusalem, kuba abantu balapha abayi kubamkela ubungqina bakho ngam.’ ₁₉Ndathi ke mna: ‘Nkosi, bazi kakuhle ukuba ndandifika ndibabambe abo bazinikele kuwe, ndibabethele apho *ezindlwini zesikhungo. ₂₀Kanti nangamhla kwakubulawa uStefano, ingqina lakho, nam ndandikho. Ndandihambisana nokugwintwa kwakhe, neempahla zababemgebenga zigcinwe ndim lo.’ ₂₁Yathi kum iNkosi: ‘Hamba, kuba ndiza kukuthuma kude kweleentlanga.’ ”

₂₂Babemphulaphule abantu uPawulos, kwada kwaza kutsho kule ndawo; basuka ke batsho ngentswahla besithi: “Msuse! Bulala loo nto!” ₂₃Kwakuthe nzwii yingxolo, bejiwuzisa iimpahla zabo, kuqhuma uthuli. ₂₄Ingqwayi-ngqwayi yomkhosi wamajoni amaRoma yathi uPawulos makangeniswe enqabeni yawo, akatswe, kuncinwe unobangela wento amxhibe ngayo amaJuda, ukuze angxole kangaka. ₂₅Kuthe sebembophelele, beza kumkatsa, uPawulos wabhekisa kumphathi-butho owayemi apho, wathi: “Khawutsho, kusemthethweni ukuba ungámbetha ummi ongumRoma engakhanga afunyanwe enetyala?”

₂₆Umphathi-butho akuyiva le nto, waya kwingqwayi-ngqwayi, wathi: “Uza kuthini ke? Lo mfo ngummi ongumRoma.”

₂₇Ingqwayi-ngqwayi ke yaya kuPawulos, yathi: “Khawutsho: ungummi ongumRoma wena?” Wavuma uPawulos. ₂₈Ingqwayi-ngqwayi yaqhuba isithi: “Ndahlawula imali eninzi ukuze ndibe ngummi ongumRoma.”

UPawulos wathi ukuphendula: “Kodwa ke mna ndinguye ngokuzalwa.”

₂₉Kwangoko loo madoda ayeza kumncina uPawulos arhoxa, ingqwayi-ngqwayi yoyika yakuqonda ukuba uPawulos wayengummi ongumRoma, imkhonkxe ngamatyathanga nje.

₃₀Ingqwayi-ngqwayi yafuna ukuqiniseka ngetyala awayemmangalela ngalo amaJuda uPawulos. Ithe ke ngengomso makakhululwe amatyathanga uPawulos, kubizwe ababingeleli abaziintloko kunye *neBhunga xa lilonke. Yaza ke yeza kummisa phambi kwentlanganiso uPawulos.

₁UPawulos wawajonga ntsho amalungu eBhunga, wathi: “Mawethu, kude kuze kuba yile mininje andinasazela nganto ngobomi bam bonke phambi koThixo.” ₂Akutsho, umbingeleli omkhulu uHananiya wayalela ukuba uPawulos ampakazwe emlonyeni ngabo babekufuphi naye. ₃Waphendula uPawulos wathi: “UThixo uya kukubetha, ludongandini luvetiweyo; uchophele ukundigweba ngokomthetho, kodwa kwawena uyawaphula umthetho, uthi mandibethwe!”

₄Amadoda awayekufuphi noPawulos athi kuye: “Ngumbingeleli omkhulu kaThixo lo umthukayo!”

₅UPawulos wathi: “Hayi, mawethu, bendingamazi ukuba ungumbingeleli omkhulu. Kaloku *iziBhalo zithi: ‘Ungàthethi kakubi ngomlawuli wabantu bakho.’”

₆Akuqonda uPawulos ukuba kweli qela kukho *abaSadusi kwakunye *nabaFarasi, wabhekisa eBhungeni apho, wathi: “Mawethu, mna ndingumFarasi ongunyana womFarasi. Ndisematyaleni nje kungenxa yokuba ndinethemba lokuba abafileyo baya kuvuka.”

₇Akutsho abaFarasi nabaSadusi baxabana bodwa, baza bahlukana kubini. ₈Kaloku bona abaSadusi bathi abantu abayi kuvuka ekufeni, bakwathi akukho zithunywa zezulu, akukho namimoya, kodwa abaFarasi bona bayakholelewa kwezi zinto zontathu. ₉Kwathi ke kwakuba njalo, kwaxokozela, abanye babachazi-mthetho beqela labaFarasi baphakama bekhalaza besithi: “Thina asifumani nto ingalunganga kule ndoda! Mhlawumbi ngenene umoya othile okanye isithunywa sezulu sithethile nayo.”

₁₀Ingxoxo leyo yakhula kangangokuba ingqwayi-ngqwayi yaba sexhaleni lokuba uPawulos bosuka bamthi qwenge-qwenge. Ngoko ke yayalela ukuba amajoni amthathe uPawulos apho entlanganisweni, aye naye enqabeni yomkhosi.

₁₁Ngobo busuku iNkosi yema ngakuPawulos, yathi: “Qina! Njengokuba undingqine apha eJerusalem nje, kufuneka wenze kwaloo nto naseRoma.”

₁₂Ngentsasa elandelayo amaJuda adibana enza iyelenqe. Azibopha ngesifungo sokuba angatyi angaseli engambulalanga uPawulos. ₁₃Ayengaphezu kwamashumi amane kweli yelenqe. ₁₄Aza ke aya kubabingeleli abaziintloko nakubadala athi: “Sizibophe ngesifungo, saye sizimisele ukuba singafaki nto phantsi kwempumlo singekambulali uPawulos. ₁₅Nina ke *neBhunga thumelani kumphathi-mkhosi wamaRoma ukuba azise uPawulos kuni, nenze ngathi nisafuna ukuncina inyaniso ngaye. Thina ke soba sesilungile, simhlasele simbulale engekafiki kuni.”

₁₆Kodwa weva ngeli yelenqe unyana wodade boPawulos, waza ke waya kungena enqabeni yamajoni, wamxelela ngalo uPawulos. ₁₇UPawulos ubize umphathi-butho, wathi kuye: “Yisa lo mfana kwingqwayi-ngqwayi. Kukho into afuna ukuyixelela yona.”

₁₈Umphathi-butho wamthatha wamsa kwingqwayi-ngqwayi, wafika wathi: “Ndibizwe ngumbanjwa uPawulos, wathi mandize nalo mfana kuwe, kuba kukho into aza kukuxelela yona.”

₁₉Ingqwayi-ngqwayi imbambe ngesandla umfana lowo, yamtsalela bucala, yambuza isithi: “Uze kundixelela ntoni?”

₂₀Uthe umfana: “Iziphathamandla zamaJuda zivumelene ukuba zikucele ngomso, ukhe uthumele uPawulos eBhungeni, zisenza ngathi kukho indawo ebalulekileyo elifuna ukuyiqonda kuye iBhunga. ₂₁Kodwa uze ungavumi ukuyiva loo nto, ngoba kukho amadoda angaphezu kwamashumi amane alalele uPawulos endleleni. Afungile ukuba akayi kutya, engayi kusela, ade ambulale. Nangoku selelungile, elindele ukuba uvume.”

₂₂Ithe ingqwayi-ngqwayi: “Uzungayithethi mntwini into yokuba undixelele ngeli yelenqe.” Yaza yamndulula umfana lowo.

₂₃Ingqwayi-ngqwayi ithe yabiza abaphathi-mabutho bayo ababini, yathi kubo: “Lungiselelani ukuya eKhesariya ngokuhlwanje ngentsimbi yethoba. Ze nihambe namakhulu amabini amajoni kunye namashumi asixhenxe amajoni akhwele amahashe, kwakunye namakhulu amabini amajoni aphatha iintshuntshe. ₂₄Nithathe namahashe okukhwela, uPawulos nimse kuFelekis irhuluneli engenzakalanga.”

₂₅Ingqwayi-ngqwayi yabhala ileta, yenjenje:

₂₆“UKlawudiyo Lisiya ubulisa ohloniphekileyo uFelekis irhuluneli. ₂₇Le ndoda âyibamba amaJuda eza kuyibulala. Ndivile ukuba ingummi ongumRoma, ndaya kuyihlangula ngamajoni. ₂₈Ndithe ke ngokufuna ukuqonda isityholo abayibeka sona, ndayisa *eBhungeni lawo. ₂₉Apho ke kuye kwacaca ukuba ayenzanga tyala lokuba ingagwetyelwa ukufa, nokuba mayivalelwe entolongweni. Isityholo ebekwa sona siphathelele kwimpikiswano ngomthetho wabo. ₃₀Ndithe ke ndakuva ukuba kukho amaJuda azungula ukuyibulala, ndagqiba ukuba ndiyithumele kuwe. Abamangali nabo ndibaxelele ukuba beze kuyimangalela kuwe.”

₃₁Amajoni enza njengoko ayeyalelwe. Amthatha uPawulos kwangobo busuku, aya kufika naye eAntipatri. ₃₂Ngengomso ahamba ngeenyawo abuyela eJerusalem, aza awamahashe ahamba naye. ₃₃Aya kufika naye eKhesariya, ayinika irhuluneli ileta leyo, amnikezela kuyo noPawulos. ₃₄Iyifundile ileta irhuluneli, yambuza uPawulos ukuba wayengowaliphi na iphondo. Yakuva ukuba wayengowaseKiliki ₃₅yathi: “Ityala lakho liya kuthethwa kwakufika abamangali.” Yathi uPawulos makagcinwe ebhotwe likaHerode.

₁Emva kweentsuku ezintlanu umbingeleli omkhulu uHananiya waya eKhesariya, ekunye nabadala abathile noTertulo igqwetha. Bavela phambi kwerhuluneli bemmangalela uPawulos. ₂Weziswa uPawulos, waza uTertulo wammangalela wenjenje: “Felekis, mhlekazi ohloniphekileyo, ukulawula kwakho ngobulumko kuze nethuba elide loxolo. Nezinye izinto eziyimfuneko zenkqubela siyazibona zisenzeka kweli lizwe lethu. ₃Ngamaxesha onke siyazamkela ezi zinto, futhi sinongazenzisiyo umbulelo kuwe. ₄Andifuni ukulidla ixesha lakho, ngoko ke ndicela ukuba usiphulaphule ngobulali esi simangalo. ₅Lo mfo simfumene engumdodobalisi oyingozi. Uhamba ephemba udushe phakathi kwamaJuda kulo lonke elimiweyo; futhi uyinkokheli yegqiza lamaNazarete. ₆Samfumana ezama ukunyelisa *indlu kaThixo, saza sambamba. [Sasifuna ukumgweba ngokomthetho wethu, ₇kodwa kwafika umphathi-mkhosi uLisiya wamhlutha kakubi. ₈ULisiya wayalela ukuba aze kumangalelwa kuwe.] Nawe ngokwakho ekumvavanyeni kwakho uya kuziqonda uziva ngaye ezi zinto simmangalela ngazo.” ₉NamaJuda asingqina esi simangalo ukuba siyinyaniso.

₁₀Irhuluneli yanqwala kuPawulos ukuba athethe, waza wathi: “Ndiyazi ukuba uneminyaka emininzi ugweba kwesi sizwe; yiyo loo nto ndivuyayo kuba ndiziphendulela phambi kwakho. ₁₁Nawe unokuyiqonda into yokuba azingaphezu kweshumi elinambini iintsuku ndayayo eJerusalem ndiye kunqula. ₁₂AmaJuda akandifumananga ndixoxa namntu *endlwini kaThixo, engandifumananga ndiphembelela dushe bantwini *ezindlwini zesikhungo, okanye naphi na apho edolophini. ₁₃Futhi akanabo ubungqina obuphathekayo malunga nezi zinto andityhola ngazo ngoku. ₁₄Le yona into ndiyayivuma: Ndikhonza uThixo wookhokho bethu ngokulandela iNdlela le athi wona ayikho mgaqweni. Ndikholwa zizo zonke izinto ezibhaliweyo encwadini *yomthetho kaMosis nasezincwadini *zabashumayeli. ₁₅Ndibambelele ethembeni elinye nabo abamangali, eli lokuba bonke abantu, abalungileyo nabangalunganga, baya kuvuka ekufeni. ₁₆Ndibe ke ndizama kangangoko ndinako ukuba ndihlale ndingenasazela nganto phambi koThixo naphambi kwabantu.

₁₇“Ndakha ndangabikho iminyaka emininzi eJerusalem, ndaza emva koko ndaya khona ndisisela abantu bakowethu imali, futhi ndisiya kwenza amadini. ₁₈Ndandisendlwini kaThixo apho ke, ukundifikela kwawo amaJuda ekubeni sendigqibe ukwenza *intlambululo. Ndandingekho esiphithi-phithini, futhi kungekho naqhushululu olo. ₁₉Ayekhona amaJuda athile ephondo laseAsiya; ebefanele ukuba alapha phambi kwakho andimangalele ngokwawo, xa enendawo ngakum. ₂₀Okanye khawutsho kula madoda axele ukuba andifumana ndinatyala lini na ngokuya ndandimi phambi kweBhunga. ₂₁Into inye endakhala ngayo naphambi kwawo, ndathi: ‘Ndigwetywa nje namhlanje, kungenxa yokukholelwa ukuba abafileyo baya kuvuka.’ ”

₂₂Waza ke uFelekis owayeyazi kakuhle iNdlela le, walimisa ityala, wathi: “Ndiya kuligweba ityala lakho akufika umphathi-mkhosi uLisiya.” ₂₃Wayalela umphathi-butho owayegada uPawulos ukuba amgcine, kodwa angabi ngqongqo, azivumele izihlobo zakhe zimlungiselele.

₂₄Kwakudlula iintsuku uFelekis wafika noDrusila umkakhe, umJudakazi. Wambiza uPawulos, waza wamphulaphula ethetha ngokholo kuKrestu Yesu. ₂₅Kodwa wahambisa uPawulos echaza ngokuziphatha kakuhle, ukuzeyisa, nangomhla womgwebo, uFelekis watsho woyika wathi: “Ungakhe umke ngoku; ndiya kuphinda ndikubize xa ndinethuba.” ₂₆Wayenethemba lokuba mhlawumbi angahle anyotywe nguPawulos; kungesi sizathu ke wayesoloko emana ukumbiza ancokole naye.

₂₇Emva kweminyaka emibini uPorkiyo Festo waba yirhuluneli endaweni kaFelekis. Ngenxa yokuba uFelekis wayefuna ukuzenza mhle kumaJuda, wamshiya entolongweni apho uPawulos.