To The Word – Day 56

₁Kwathi lapho isizwe sonke sesiwele iJordani saphelela, uJehova wakhuluma kuJoshuwa, wathi: ₂“Zithatheleni amadoda ayishumi nambili, indoda ibenye ngesizwe, ₃niwayale nithi: ‘Zikhipheleni lapha phakathi kweJordani, endaweni lapho izinyawo zabapristi zazimi khona ziqinile, amatshe ayishumi nambili, niwele nawo, niwabeke endaweni eniyakulala kuyo ebusuku.’ ”

₄UJoshuwa wayesebiza lawo madoda ayishumi nambili ayewakhethile kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, indoda inye ngesizwe. ₅UJoshuwa wathi kuwo: “Welani phambi komphongolo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, niye phakathi kweJordani, netshathe, kube yilowo nalowo itshe ehlombe lakhe njengokomumo wezizwe zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ₆ukuba lokho kube yisikhumbuzo phakathi kwenu, kuze kuthi lapho abantwana benu bebuza ngesikhathi esizayo, bethi: ‘Ayini lawa matshe kini na?’ ₇anothi kubo: ‘Kungokuba amanzi aseJordani enqamuka phambi komphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova; ekuweleni kwawo iJordani amanzi aseJordani anqamuka; lawa matshe ayakuba yisikhumbuzo kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli kuze kube phakade.’ ”

₈Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli benza-ke njengalokho uJoshuwa ebayalile, bakhipha amatshe ayishumi nambili phakathi kweJordani, njengalokho uJehova ekhulumile kuJoshuwa, njengokomumo wezizwe zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli; bawela nawo, baya endaweni yokulala, bawabeka khona. ₉UJoshuwa wamisa amatshe ayishumi nambili phakathi neJordani, endaweni lapho izinyawo zabapristi abathwala umphongolo zazimi khona; akhona kuze kube namuhla.

₁₀Abapristi abathwala umphongolo babemi phakathi neJordani, kwaze kwaphelela konke uJehova amyale ngakho uJoshuwa ukuba akukhulume kubantu njengakho konke uMose abemyale ngakho uJoshuwa; abantu bashesha bawela. ₁₁Kwathi lapho bonke abantu sebewelile baphelela, umphongolo kaJehova wawela kanye nabapristi emehlweni abantu. ₁₂Abantwana bakwaRubeni, nabantwana bakwaGadi, nenxenye yesizwe sakwaManase bawela behlomile phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, njengalokho uMose ebekhulumile kubo; ₁₃kwawela phambi kukaJehova kungathi abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amane behlomele ukulwa ukuba baphume impi, baye emathafeni aseJeriko.

₁₄Ngalolo suku uJehova wamkhulisa uJoshuwa emehlweni abo bonke abakwa-Israyeli; bamesaba njengalokho babemesaba uMose izinsuku zonke zokuhamba kwakhe.

₁₅UJehova wakhuluma kuJoshuwa, wathi: ₁₆“Yala abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano ukuba benyuke eJordani.”

₁₇UJoshuwa wayala-ke abapristi, wathi: “Yenyukani eJordani.”

₁₈Kwathi lapho abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova sebenyuke phakathi kweJordani, amathe ezinyawo zabapristi esefike emhlabathini owomileyo, amanzi aseJordani abuyela endaweni yawo, aphuphuma lonke ugu njengakuqala.

₁₉Abantu benyuka eJordani ngolweshumi lwenyanga yokuqala, bamisa eGiligali emkhawulweni wangasempumalanga kwaseJeriko. ₂₀Lawo matshe ayishumi nambili abawakhipha eJordani wawamisa eGiligali. ₂₁Wakhuluma kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, wathi: “Nxa abantwana benu beyakubuza oyise ngesikhathi esizayo, bethi: ‘Ayini lawa matshe na?’ ₂₂anobazisa abantwana benu, nithi: ‘U-Israyeli wawela leli Jordani emhlabathini owomileyo,’ ₂₃ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu wawamisa amanzi aseJordani phambi kwenu, naze nawela, njengalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu wenza eLwandle Olubomvu, alomisa phambi kwethu, saze sawela, ₂₄ukuba abantu bonke bomhlaba bazi isandla sikaJehova ukuthi sinamandla, nesabe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu kuze kube phakade.”

₁Kwathi onke amakhosi ama-Amori ayengaphesheya kweJordani ngasentshonalanga, nawo onke amakhosi amaKhanani ayengaselwandle esezwa ukuthi uJehova womise amanzi aseJordani phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli saze sawela, izinhliziyo zabo zaphela amandla, kungabe kusaba khona sibindi ngenxa yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.

₂Ngaleso sikhathi uJehova wathi kuJoshuwa: “Zenzele omese bensengetsha, ubuye usoke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ngokwesibili.” ₃UJoshuwa wazenzela omese bensengetsha, wabasika abantwana bakwa-Israyeli eDulini Lamajwabu.

₄Nasi isizathu uJoshuwa abasoka ngaso: bonke abantu abaphuma eGibithe ababengabesilisa, onke amadoda empi, bafa ehlane ngasendleleni, sebephumile eGibithe. ₅Ngokuba bonke abantu abaphuma babesokiwe, kepha bonke abantu abazalwa ehlane ngasendleleni ekuphumeni kwabo eGibithe babengabasokanga. ₆Ngokuba abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bahamba iminyaka engamashumi amane ehlane, saze saphela isizwe sonke, yiwo amadoda empi aphuma eGibithe, lokhu engalalelanga izwi likaJehova, afunga kuwo uJehova ukuthi akayikuwabonisa izwe uJehova alifungela oyise ethi uyakusinika lona, izwe elivame ubisi nezinyosi. ₇Abantwana bawo abavusa esikhundleni sawo bona uJoshuwa wabasoka, ngokuba babengabangasokile, lokhu bengabasokanga endleleni. ₈Kwathi sebeqedile ukusoka abantu bonke, bahlala ezindaweni zabo ekamu,* baze baphola.

₉UJehova wayesethi kuJoshuwa: “Namuhla ngilethulile kini ihlazo laseGibithe.” Ngalokho igama laleyo ndawo lathiwa iGiligali kuze kube namuhla.

₁₀Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bamisa eGiligali, bagcina iphasika ngosuku lweshumi nane lwenyanga ngakusihlwa emathafeni aseJeriko. ₁₁Badla ezithelweni zezwe ngolwangakusasa emva kwephasika, amaqebelengwane angenamvubelo notshwele ngalona lolo suku. ₁₂Imana* lanqamuka ngangomuso, nxa sebedla ezithelweni zezwe; abakwa-Israyeli ababe besaba nemana futhi, kepha base bedla ezithelweni zezwe laseKhanani ngalowo mnyaka.

₁₃Kwathi uJoshuwa esengaseJeriko, waphakamisa amehlo akhe, wabona, bheka, nanso indoda malungana naye enenkemba yayo ihoshiwe esandleni sayo; uJoshuwa waya kuyo, wathi kuyo: “Uvuna thina noma izitha zethu na?”

₁₄Yathi: “Qha, ngifikile njengesikhulu sebandla likaJehova.”

UJoshuwa wayesewa ngobuso emhlabathini, wakhuleka, wathi kuyo: “Ithini inkosi yami encekwini yayo na?”

₁₅Isikhulu sebandla likaJehova sathi kuJoshuwa: “Khumula isicathulo sakho onyaweni lwakho, ngokuba indawo omi kuyo ingcwele.” UJoshuwa wenze njalo-ke.

₁IJeriko lalivalile amasango alo ngenxa yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli; kwakungaphumi muntu, kungangeni muntu.

₂UJehova wathi kuJoshuwa: “Bheka, nginikele esandleni sakho iJeriko, nenkosi yalo, namaqhawe anamandla. ₃Niyakuhaqa umuzi, onke amadoda empi, niwuzungeze umuzi kanye. Uyakwenze njalo izinsuku eziyisithupha. ₄Abapristi abayisikhombisa bayakuthwala amacilongo ayisikhombisa ejubili* phambi komphongolo; ngosuku lwesikhombisa niyakuwuzungeza umuzi kasikhombisa, abapristi babethe amacilongo. ₅Kuyakuthi lapho bekhalisa kade uphondo lwejubili* nalapho nilizwa izwi lecilongo, bonke abantu bakhamuluke ngokukhamuluka okukhulu, ugange lomuzi luwele phansi endaweni yalo, abantu bakhuphuke, yilowo nalowo aqonde phambili nje.”

₆UJoshuwa indodana kaNuni wabiza abapristi, wathi kubo: “Phakamisani umphongolo wesivumelwano, abapristi abayisikhombisa bathwale amacilongo ayisikhombisa ejubili* phambi komphongolo kaJehova.” ₇Kubantu wathi: “Dlulani, niwuzungeze umuzi, abahlomileyo badlule phambi komphongolo kaJehova.”

₈Kwathi lapho uJoshuwa esekhulumile kubantu, abapristi abayisikhombisa bethwele amacilongo ayisikhombisa ejubili* phambi kukaJehova badlula, babetha amacilongo, umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova wabalandela. ₉Abahlomileyo bahamba phambi kwabapristi ababetha amacilongo, nesigaba sasemuva sawulandela umphongolo, bebetha amacilongo besahamba. ₁₀UJoshuwa wayala abantu, wathi: “Aniyikukhamuluka; ningalizwakalisi izwi lenu, kungaphumi gama emlonyeni wenu, kuze kufike usuku engiyakuthi ngalo kini: ‘Khamulukani!’ Bese nikhamuluka.” ₁₁Wayesenza ukuba umphongolo kaJehova uzungeze umuzi, wawuhaqa kanye; base befika ekamu,* balala ubusuku ekamu.

₁₂UJoshuwa wavuka ekuseni kakhulu, abapristi bathatha umphongolo kaJehova. ₁₃Abapristi abayisikhombisa, bethwele amacilongo ayisikhombisa ejubili* phambi komphongolo kaJehova, bahamba njalo bewabetha amacilongo; abahlomileyo bahamba phambi kwabo, nesigaba sasemuva sawulandela umphongolo kaJehova, bebetha amacilongo besahamba. ₁₄Ngosuku lwesibili bawuzungeza umuzi kanye, babuyela ekamu;* benze njalo izinsuku eziyisithupha.

₁₅Kwathi ngosuku lwesikhombisa bavuka ukuntwela kokusa, bawuzungeza umuzi ngandlelanye kasikhombisa; ngalolo suku kuphela bawuzungeza umuzi kasikhombisa. ₁₆Kwathi ngokwesikhombisa abapristi sebebethile amacilongo, uJoshuwa wathi kubantu: “Khamulukani, ngokuba uJehova uninikile umuzi. ₁₇Umuzi uyakwahlukaniselwa uJehova, wona nakho konke okukuwo; uRahabi isifebe kuphela uyakusinda, yena nabo bonke abakuye endlini, ngokuba wazithukusa izithunywa esazithumayo. ₁₈Kodwa zigcineni nina kukho okuqalekisiweyo, funa lapho senikuqalekisile nithathe kukho okuqalekisiweyo, nilenze ikamu* libe ngeliqalekisiweyo, nilihluphe. ₁₉Kepha lonke isiliva, negolide, nezitsha zethusi nezensimbi kungcwele kuJehova; kuyakungena endlini yengcebo kaJehova.”

₂₀Abantu base bekhamuluka, amacilongo abethwa; kwathi lapho abantu bezwe ukukhala kwecilongo, abantu bakhamuluka ngokukhamuluka okukhulu, ugange lwawela phansi endaweni yalo, abantu benyukela emzini, yilowo nalowo waqonda phambili nje, bawuthatha umuzi. ₂₁Baqalekisa konke okusemzini, isilisa nesifazane, abasha nabadala, nezinkabi, nezimvu, nezimbongolo, ngosiko lwenkemba.

₂₂UJoshuwa wathi kulawo madoda amabili ayelihlolile izwe: “Ngenani endlini yesifebe, nikhiphe kuyo owesifazane nabo bonke anabo, njengalokho namfungela.” ₂₃Izinsizwa ezaziyizinhloli zangena, zamkhipha uRahabi, noyise, nonina, nabafowabo, nabo bonke anabo, zakhipha bonke abomuzi wakhe, zababeka ngaphandle kwekamu* lakwa-Israyeli.

₂₄Bawushisa umuzi ngomlilo, nakho konke okukuwo; isiliva kuphela, negolide, nezitsha zethusi nezensimbi bakufaka endlini yengcebo endlini kaJehova. ₂₅Kepha uRahabi isifebe, nabendlu kayise, nabo bonke anabo, uJoshuwa wabasindisa; uhlala phakathi kuka-Israyeli kuze kube namuhla, lokhu wathukusa izithunywa uJoshuwa azithuma ukuba zihlole iJeriko.

₂₆UJoshuwa wabafungisa ngaleso sikhathi, wathi: “Makaqalekiswe phambi kukaJehova umuntu osuka akhe lo muzi waseJeriko; uyakubeka isisekelo sawo ngokulahlekelwa yizibulo lakhe, amise amasango awo ngokulahlekelwa ngomncinyane wakhe.”

₂₇UJehova wayenaye uJoshuwa; udumo lwakhe lwalukhona ezweni lonke.

₁Kepha besakhuluma kubantu, abapristi nenduna yethempeli nabaSadusi babafikela, ₂benengwa ngukufundisa kwabo abantu nokumemezela ngoJesu ukuvuka kwabafileyo, ₃bababamba, babafaka etilongweni kwaze kwaba kusasa, ngokuba kwase kuhlwile. ₄Kepha abaningi kwabezwayo izwi bakholwa; umumo wamadoda waba kungathi izinkulungwane eziyisihlanu.

₅Kwathi ngangomuso kwabuthana eJerusalema ababusi namalunga nababhali babo, ₆no-Anase umpristi omkhulu, noKayafase, noJohane, no-Aleksandru, nabo bonke abendlu yompristi omkhulu, ₇babamisa phakathi kwabo, bababuza bathi: “Lokho nikwenze ngamaphi amandla nangaliphi igama na?”

₈Khona uPetru egcwele uMoya oNgcwele wathi kubo: “Nina babusi bezizwe namalunga, ₉nxa sibuzwa namuhla ngomsebenzi omuhle kumuntu ogulayo ukuthi yena usindiswe ngani, ₁₀makwazeke kini nonke nasesizweni sonke sakwa-Israyeli ukuthi ngegama likaJesu Kristu waseNazaretha enambethela esiphambanweni, amvusayo uNkulunkulu kwabafileyo, ngaye umi lo muntu phambi kwenu esindile. ₁₁Yena uyitshe eladelelwa yinina bakhi, eselaba yinhloko yegumbi.

₁₂“Ayikho insindiso ngomunye, ngokuba alikho futhi elinye igama phansi kwezulu elinikiwe ebantwini, esimelwe ukusindiswa ngalo.”

₁₃Kwathi bebona isibindi sikaPetru noJohane, beqonda ukuthi bangabantu abangafundile, bayimifunda nje, bamangala; babazi ukuthi kade benoJesu; ₁₄kepha bebona umuntu ophilisiweyo emi nabo, babengenakuphika lutho. ₁₅Kodwa sebebayalile ukuba baphume emphakathini balulekana bodwa, ₁₆bathi: “Sizakubenzani laba bantu na? Ngokuba kusobala kubo bonke abakhileyo eJerusalema ukuthi isibonakaliso esiqhamileyo senziwe yibo, asinakukuphika. ₁₇Kodwa ukuze kungabe kusanda phakathi kwabantu, asibalaye, bangabe besakhuluma kumuntu namunye ngalelo gama.”

₁₈Base bebabiza, babayala ngokuthi bangakhulumi, bangafundisi nakanye ngegama likaJesu. ₁₉Kepha oPetru noJohane baphendula, bathi kubo: “Nqumani nina ukuba kulungile yini ebusweni bukaNkulunkulu ukulalela nina kunoNkulunkulu, ₂₀ngokuba thina asinakuyeka ukukhuluma ngalokho esikubonileyo nesikuzwileyo.”

₂₁Khona sebebalayile futhi babayeka, bengafumananga ukuthi bangabajezisa kanjani ngenxa yabantu, ngokuba bonke bedumisa uNkulunkulu ngalokho okwenzekileyo; ₂₂ngokuba umuntu esenziwe kuye leso sibonakaliso sokuphulukiswa wayeneminyaka eve emashumini amane.

₂₃Sebeyekiwe baya kwabakubo, babika konke abapristi abakhulu namalunga abekushilo kubo. ₂₄Bona sebezwile baphakamisa izwi kuNkulunkulu nganhliziyonye, bathi: “Somandla, wena owenza izulu, nomhlaba, nolwandle, nakho konke okukukho, ₂₅owasho ngoMoya oNgcwele ngomlomo kababa uDavide inceku yakho ukuthi:

₃₁Kwathi sebekhulekile, kwazanyazanyiswa indawo lapho bebebuthene khona, bagcwaliswa bonke nguMoya oNgcwele, bakhuluma izwi likaNkulunkulu ngesibindi.

₃₂Isixuku sabakholwayo sasinhliziyonye nomphefumulo munye; akwabakho noyedwa owasho ngezimpahla zakhe ukuthi ngezakhe, kodwa bakuhlanganyela konke. ₃₃Abaphostoli baveza ngamandla amakhulu ubufakazi ngokuvuka kweNkosi uJesu; umusa omkhulu wawuphezu kwabo bonke. ₃₄Kwakungekho oswelayo phakathi kwabo; ngokuba bonke ababengabanikazi bamazwe noma bezindlu bathengisa ngakho, baletha imali yalokho abathengise ngakho, ₃₅bayibeka ngasezinyaweni zabaphostoli; kwaba yilowo nalowo wabelwa njengokuswela kwakhe.

₃₆Kwathi uJosefa owathiwa ngabaphostoli uBarnaba, okungukuthi ngokuhunyushwa indodana yenduduzo, umLevi waseKhupro ngokuzalwa, ₃₇enensimu, wathengisa ngayo, waletha imali, wayibeka ngasezinyaweni zabaphostoli.

₁Kepha indoda ethile, igama layo lingu-Ananiya, inoSafira umkayo, yathengisa ngendawo; ₂yagodla inxenye yemali, nomkayo ekwazi, yaletha inxenye ethile, yayibeka ngasezinyaweni zabaphostoli.

₃Wayesethi uPetru: “Ananiya, kungani ukuba uSathane agcwalise inhliziyo yakho, uqambe amanga kuMoya oNgcwele, ugodle inxenye yemali yezwe, na? ₄Lisekhona belingesilo elakho na? Selithengisiwe belingekho emandleni akho na? Uyibekeleni leyo nto enhliziyweni yakho na? Awuqambanga amanga kubantu kepha kuNkulunkulu.”

₅Kuthe u-Ananiya ezwa lawo mazwi, wawa phansi, wafa, ukwesaba okukhulu kwehlela bonke abezwa lokho. ₆Izinsizwa zasuka, zamsongelezela, zamkhiphela phandle, zammbela.

₇Kwathi emva kwesikhathi esingaba ngamahora amathathu kwangena nomkakhe, engakwazi okwenzakeleyo. ₈UPetru wayesethatha ethi: “Ngitshele ukuba izwe nilithengise ngokungaka na?”

Wathi: “Yebo, ngokungaka.”

₉Kepha uPetru wathi kuye: “Kungani ukuba nivumelene ngokulinga uMoya weNkosi na? Bheka, izinyawo zabambele indoda yakho zisemnyango, nawe bazakukukhiphela phandle.”

₁₀Wayesewa phansi masinyane ngasezinyaweni zakhe, wafa; izinsizwa zangena, zamfumana efile, zamkhiphela phandle, zammbela ngasendodeni yakhe. ₁₁Ukwesaba okukhulu kwalehlela ibandla lonke nabo bonke abezwa lokho.

₁₂Kwenziwa izimangaliso nezibonakaliso eziningi ebantwini ngezandla zabaphostoli; bonke babe nhliziyonye besemphemeni kaSolomoni. ₁₃Kepha kwabanye akwabakho owayenesibindi sokuzihlanganisa nabo, kepha abantu babebazisa kakhulu; ₁₄benezelwa kakhulu abakholwa yiNkosi, abaningi nabesilisa nabesifazane, ₁₅ngangokuba bakhiphela phandle emigwaqweni abagulayo, bababeka emacansini nasezinhlakeni, kuze kuthi lapho eza uPetru, isithunzi nje sakhe sisithibeze abanye kubo. ₁₆Kwabuthana nesixuku esivela emizini ezungeze iJerusalema, beletha abagulayo nabakhathazwa ngawomoya abangcolileyo; baphulukiswa bonke.

₁₇Kwase kusuka umpristi omkhulu nabo bonke ababe naye abangabehlelo labaSadusi, bagcwala umhawu, ₁₈babamba abaphostoli, babafaka etilongweni lombuso. ₁₉Kepha ingelosi yeNkosi yavula iminyango yetilongo ebusuku, yabakhipha, yathi: ₂₀“Hambani, nime nikhulume ethempelini kubantu amazwi onke alokhu kuPhila.”

₂₁Kwathi sebezwile, bangena ethempelini ekuthatheni kokusa, bafundisa. Kepha kwafika umpristi omkhulu nababe naye, babizela ndawonye umphakathi nezigele zonke zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, bathumela endlini yeziboshwa ukuba balethwe. ₂₂Kepha izikhonzi ezafika khona azibafumananga etilongweni; zase zibuyela emuva, zabika ₂₃zathi: “Indlu yeziboshwa sayifumana ivaliwe, iqinile impela, nabalindi bemi eminyango; kepha sesivulile asifumananga muntu ngaphakathi.” ₂₄Kwathi ukuba induna yethempeli nabapristi abakhulu bezwe lawo mazwi, basambatheka ngawo ngokuthi kungaba yini lokho na?

₂₅Kepha kwafika omunye, wababikela wathi: “Bhekani, amadoda ebeniwafakile etilongweni emi ethempelini, afundisa abantu.” ₂₆Khona yaphuma induna kanye nezikhonzi, zabaletha, kungengampoqo, ngokuba bebesaba abantu, funa bakhandwe ngamatshe.

₂₇Sebebalethile babamisa emphakathini; umpristi omkhulu wababuza, ₂₈wathi: “Saniyala nokuniyala ukuba ningafundisi ngalelo gama; bhekani, senigcwalise iJerusalema ngesifundiso senu, nihlose ukwehlisela igazi lalowo muntu phezu kwethu.”

₂₉Kepha uPetru nabaphostoli baphendula bathi: “Simelwe ukulalela uNkulunkulu kunabantu. ₃₀UNkulunkulu wawobaba wamvusa uJesu enambulala nina ngokumphanyeka emthini; ₃₁lowo uNkulunkulu wamphakamisa ngesokunene sakhe abe yiNkosi noMsindisi ukuba anike u-Israyeli ukuphenduka nokuthethelelwa kwezono. ₃₂Thina singofakazi balezo zinto kanye noMoya oNgcwele uNkulunkulu amnikile labo abamlalelayo.”

₃₃Bona sebezwile bathukuthela, bafuna ukubabulala.

₃₄Kwase kusukuma omunye emphakathini, umFarisi ogama lakhe linguGamaliyeli, isazimthetho esitusekayo esizweni sonke, wayala ukuba abantu bakhishwe isikhashana; ₃₅wayesethi kubo: “Madoda akwa-Israyeli, qaphelani kulokho enizakukwenza kulaba bantu. ₃₆Ngokuba ngaphambi kwalezi zinsuku kwasuka uThewuda ezishaya omkhulu; kwanamathela kuye amadoda angathi amakhulu amane; wabulawa yena nabo bonke abamlalelayo, bachitheka, baphela. ₃₇Emva kwalowo kwasuka uJuda waseGalile ezinsukwini zokubhalwa; wahlubukisa abantu ukuba bamlandele; nalowo wabhubha, nabo bonke abamlalelayo bahlakazeka. ₃₈Manje-ke ngithi kini: Dedani kulaba bantu, nibayeke, ngokuba uma leli su nalo msebenzi kuvela kubantu, kuyakuchitheka; ₃₉kepha uma kuvela kuNkulunkulu, aniyikuba namandla okubachitha, funa mhlawumbe nifunyanwe ningabalwayo noNkulunkulu.” Bamvumela-ke.

₄₀Base bebabiza abaphostoli, babashaya, babayala ngokuthi bangakhulumi ngegama likaJesu, babakhulula.

₄₁Khona basuka phambi komphakathi bethokoza, ngokuba bebefanele ukudunyazwa ngenxa yalelo gama; ₄₂abayekanga ukufundisa nokushumayela ivangeli ngoJesu Kristu imihla yonke ethempelini nasemakhaya.

₁Kwathi ngaleyo mihla abafundi sebanda, kwavela ukukhonona kubaJuda abakhuluma isiGreki ngamaHeberu ngokuthi abafelokazi bakubo bayancishwa ekwabelweni kwemihla ngemihla. ₂Abayishumi nambili base bebiza ibandla labafundi, bathi: “Akukuhle ukuba thina sishiye izwi likaNkulunkulu, sikhonze ematafuleni. ₃Funani-ke phakathi kwenu bazalwane amadoda ayisikhombisa anodumo oluhle, agcwele uMoya nokuhlakanipha, esingawamisela lowo msebenzi. ₄Kepha thina sizakuqinisela ekukhulekeni nasenkonzweni yezwi.”

₅Leli zwi laba lihle kulo lonke ibandla; base bekhetha uStefanu, umuntu owayegcwele ukukholwa noMoya oNgcwele, noFiliphu, noProkhoro, noNikanori, noThimoni, noPharmena, noNikolawu, iproselite* lase-Antiyokiya, ₆babamisa phambi kwabaphostoli; bakhuleka, babeka izandla phezu kwabo.

₇Izwi likaNkulunkulu landa, umumo wabafundi wakhula eJerusalema, nesixuku esikhulu sabapristi salalela inkolo.

₈Kepha uStefanu egcwele umusa namandla wenza izimangaliso nezibonakaliso ezinkulu phakathi kwabantu. ₉Kwase kusuka abanye besinagoge* elithiwa elabaLibertino, nabaseKhurene, nabase-Aleksandriya, nabavela eKhilikhiya nase-Asiya, baphikisana noStefanu; ₁₀kepha babengenamandla okumelana nokuhlakanipha noMoya ayekhuluma ngakho.

₁₁Khona bathenga amadoda athi: “Simzwile ekhuluma amazwi enhlamba ngoMose nangoNkulunkulu,” ₁₂bavusa abantu namalunga nababhali, bamvukela, bambamba, bamyisa emphakathini; ₁₃bamisa ofakazi bamanga abathi: “Lo muntu akayeki ukukhuluma amazwi ngale ndawo engcwele nangomthetho; ₁₄ngokuba simzwile ethi uJesu lo waseNazaretha uzakuchitha le ndawo, aguqule imithetho asinika yona uMose.”

₁₅Kwathi bemgqolozela bonke ababehlezi emphakathini, babona ubuso bakhe kungathi ubuso bengelosi.