To The Word – Day 58

₁Kwathi lapho u-Adoni Sedeki inkosi yaseJerusalema esezwile ukuthi uJoshuwa uthathile i-Ayi, waliqeda nya njengalokho ebenzile kulo iJeriko nenkosi yalo, wayenze njalo kulo i-Ayi nenkosi yalo nokuthi abakhileyo eGibeyoni benzile ukuthula no-Israyeli, baba phakathi kwabo, ₂besaba kakhulu, ngokuba iGibeyoni lalingumuzi omkhulu njengomunye wemizi yamakhosi nangokuba lalilikhulu kune-Ayi, onke amadoda alo engamaqhawe. ₃Ngalokho u-Adoni Sedeki inkosi yaseJerusalema wathumela kuHohamu inkosi yaseHebroni, nakuPiramu inkosi yaseJarimuthi, nakuJafiya inkosi yaseLakishi, nakuDebiri inkosi yase-Egiloni, wathi: ₄“Khuphukelani kimi, ningisize sichithe iGibeyoni, ngokuba lenzile ukuthula noJoshuwa nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.”

₅Ngalokho amakhosi ayisihlanu ama-Amori, inkosi yaseJerusalema, nenkosi yaseHebroni, nenkosi yaseJarimuthi, nenkosi yaseLakishi, nenkosi yase-Egiloni, ahlangana, akhuphuka, wona nawo onke amabandla awo, amisa malungana neGibeyoni, alwa nalo.

₆Amadoda aseGibeyoni athumela kuJoshuwa ekamu* laseGiligali, athi: “Ungayekethisi isandla sakho ezincekwini zakho; shesha ukhuphukele kithi usisindise, usisize, ngokuba onke amakhosi ama-Amori akhile ezintabeni asihlanganyele.”

₇UJoshuwa wayesekhuphuka eGiligali, yena nabo bonke abantu bempi kanye naye, nawo onke amaqhawe anamandla. ₈UJehova wathi kuJoshuwa: “Ungabesabi, ngokuba ngibanikele ezandleni zakho; akuyikubakho muntu wabo ongema phambi kwakho.”

₉UJoshuwa wabafikela ngokuzumayo; wakhuphuka eGiligali ubusuku bonke. ₁₀UJehova wabangquzula ngaphambi kuka-Israyeli, wabaceka ngokuceka okukhulu ngaseGibeyoni, wabaxosha ngendlela ekhuphukela eBeti Horoni, wababulala kwaze kwaba se-Azeka naseMakheda. ₁₁Kwathi besabalekela u-Israyeli behla eBeti Horoni, uJehova wawisa phezu kwabo amatshe amakhulu, ehla ezulwini, baze bafika e-Azeka, bafa; babe baningi abafa ngesichotho kunababulawa ngu-Israyeli ngenkemba.

₁₂UJoshuwa wayesekhuluma kuJehova mhla uJehova enikela ama-Amori phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, wathi ebusweni babakwa-Israyeli:

Akulotshiwe yini lokho eNcwadini Yolungileyo na? Ilanga lema phakathi nomkhathi, alisheshanga ukushona kungathi usuku lonke. ₁₄Aluzange lube khona usuku olunjengalo ngaphambi kwalo noma ngasemva kwalo lokuba uJehova alilalele izwi lomuntu, ngokuba uJehova wamlwela u-Israyeli.

₁₅UJoshuwa wabuyela ekamu* laseGiligali, bonke abakwa-Israyeli benaye.

₁₆Lawo makhosi omahlanu abaleka, acasha emhumeni waseMakheda. ₁₇Kwabikwa kuJoshuwa ukuthi: “Lawo makhosi omahlanu afunyanisiwe ecashile emhumeni waseMakheda.” ₁₈UJoshuwa wathi: “Gingqelani amatshe amakhulu emlonyeni womhume, nibeke amadoda ngakuwo ukuba awalinde; ₁₉kepha ningemi nina; xoshani izitha zenu, nibulale ezingasemuva, ningazivumeli ukuba zingene emizini yazo, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uzinikele esandleni senu.”

₂₀Kwathi lapho uJoshuwa nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli sebeqedile ukubaceka ngokuceka okukhulu kakhulu baze baqedwa, insali yabo nokho isingenile emizini ebiyelweyo, ₂₁bonke abantu babuyela ekamu* kuJoshuwa eMakheda ngokuthula, akwabakho onyakazisa ulimi lwakhe ngomuntu wabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.

₂₂Wayesethi uJoshuwa: “Vulani umlomo womhume, nikhiphele kimi lawo makhosi omahlanu emhumeni.” ₂₃Benze njalo-ke; bawakhiphela kuye lawo makhosi omahlanu emhumeni: inkosi yaseJerusalema, nenkosi yaseHebroni, nenkosi yaseJarimuthi, nenkosi yaseLakishi, nenkosi yase-Egiloni. ₂₄Kwathi lapho bekhiphela kuJoshuwa lawo makhosi, uJoshuwa wabiza onke amadoda akwa-Israyeli, wathi ezinduneni zamadoda empi ezazihamba naye: “Sondelani, nibeke izinyawo zenu ezintanyeni zalawa makhosi.” Zasondela-ke, zabeka izinyawo zazo ezintanyeni zawo.

₂₅UJoshuwa wathi kuzo: “Ningesabi, ningabi naluvalo; qinani, nime isibindi, ngokuba uJehova uyakwenza kanjalo kuzo zonke izitha zenu enilwa nazo.” ₂₆Ngasemuva uJoshuwa wawagenca, wawabulala, wawaphanyeka emithini eyisihlanu, alenga emithini kwaze kwahlwa.

₂₇Kwathi ngesikhathi sokushona kwelanga uJoshuwa wayala, bawehlisa emithini, bawaphonsa emhumeni lapho ebecashe khona, babeka amatshe amakhulu emlonyeni womhume; akhona nanamuhla.

₂₈UJoshuwa wathatha iMakheda ngalolo suku, walichitha ngosiko lwenkemba kanye nenkosi yalo, wabaqothula nabo bonke abakulo, akashiyanga noyedwa owasalayo; wenza-ke kuyo inkosi yaseMakheda njengalokho ebenzile kuyo inkosi yaseJeriko.

₂₉UJoshuwa wasuka eMakheda nabo bonke abakwa-Israyeli benaye, waya eLibina, walwa neLibina; ₃₀uJehova walinikela nalo nenkosi yalo esandleni sakwa-Israyeli, walichitha ngosiko lwenkemba nabo bonke abakulo, akashiyanga noyedwa owasala phakathi kwalo; wenza-ke kuyo inkosi yalo njengalokho ebenzile kuyo inkosi yaseJeriko.

₃₁UJoshuwa wasuka eLibina nabo bonke abakwa-Israyeli benaye, waya eLakishi, wamisa malungana nalo, walwa nalo; ₃₂uJehova wanikela iLakishi esandleni sakwa-Israyeli, walithatha ngosuku lwesibili, walichitha ngosiko lwenkemba kanye nabo bonke ababekulo njengakho konke abekwenzile kulo iLibina.

₃₃Khona kwakhuphuka uHoramu inkosi yaseGezeri ukuba asize iLakishi; kepha uJoshuwa wambulala nabantu bakhe, akaze amshiyela noyedwa owasalayo.

₃₄UJoshuwa wasuka eLakishi, bonke abakwa-Israyeli benaye, waya e-Egiloni; bamisa malungana nalo, balwa nalo. ₃₅Balithatha ngalolo suku, balichitha ngosiko lwenkemba; nabo bonke ababekulo wabaqothula ngalolo suku njengakho konke abekwenzile kulo iLakishi.

₃₆UJoshuwa wakhuphuka e-Egiloni, bonke abakwa-Israyeli benaye, waya eHebroni, balwa nalo. ₃₇Balithatha, balichitha ngosiko lwenkemba kanye nenkosi yalo, nayo yonke imizi yalo, nabo bonke ababekulo; akashiyanga noyedwa owasalayo njengakho konke abekwenzile kulo i-Egiloni, waliqothula nabo bonke abakulo.

₃₈UJoshuwa wabuyela nabo bonke abakwa-Israyeli eDebiri, walwa nalo; ₃₉walithatha kanye nenkosi yalo nayo yonke imizi yalo, bayichitha ngosiko lwenkemba. Baqothula bonke ababekulo, akashiyanga noyedwa owasalayo; njengalokho ebenzile kulo iHebroni, wenze njalo kulo iDebiri nakuyo inkosi yalo, njengalokho ebenzile nakulo iLibina nakuyo inkosi yalo.

₄₀Wachitha-ke uJoshuwa izwe lonke, izintaba, neNingizimu, namathafa, nemithambeka, namakhosi onke alo; akashiyanga noyedwa owasalayo, kepha waqothula konke okuphefumulayo njengokuyala kukaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. ₄₁UJoshuwa wabachitha kusukela eKadeshi Barineya kuze kufike eGaza, nezwe lonke laseGosheni kuze kufike eGibeyoni. ₄₂Onke lawo makhosi nezwe lawo uJoshuwa wakuthatha ngasikhathi sinye, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli walwela u-Israyeli.

₄₃UJoshuwa wabuyela ekamu* laseGiligali, bonke abakwa-Israyeli benaye.

₁Kwathi lapho uJabini inkosi yaseHasori ekuzwa lokho, wathumela kuJobabi inkosi yaseMadoni, nakuyo inkosi yaseShimroni, nakuyo inkosi yase-Akishafu, ₂nakuwo amakhosi angasenyakatho ezintabeni, nase-Araba ngaseningizimu kwaseKinereti, nasemathafeni, nasezintabeni zaseDori ngasentshonalanga, ₃nakuwo amaKhanani ngasempumalanga nangasentshonalanga, nakuwo ama-Amori, namaHeti, namaPherizi, namaJebusi ezintabeni, namaHivi ngaphansi kweHermoni ezweni laseMispa. ₄Aphuma wona nawo onke amabandla awo enawo, abantu abaningi, bengangesihlabathi esisogwini lolwandle ngobuningi, namahhashi nezinqola eziningi kakhulu. ₅Onke lawo makhosi ahlangana, eza amisa ndawonye ngasemanzini aseMerome ukuba alwe no-Israyeli.

₆UJehova wathi kuJoshuwa: “Ungesabi ngenxa yabo, ngokuba kusasa ngalesi sikhathi ngizakubanikela bonke bebulewe ngaphambi kuka-Israyeli; wena uyakunquma amahhashi abo imisipha, uzishise izinqola zabo ngomlilo.”

₇Wayesefika uJoshuwa nabo bonke abantu bempi benaye, babazuma ngasemanzini aseMerome, babadumela. ₈UJehova wabanikela esandleni sakwa-Israyeli, babanqoba, babaxosha kwaze kwaba seSidoni Elikhulu, naseMisirefoti Mayimi, nasesigodini saseMispa ngasempumalanga, bababulala, abaze bamshiyela noyedwa owasalayo. ₉UJoshuwa wenza kubo njengokumyala kukaJehova: wanquma amahhashi abo imisipha, wazishisa izinqola zabo ngomlilo.

₁₀UJoshuwa wabuya ngaleso sikhathi, wathatha iHasori, wabulala inkosi yalo ngenkemba, ngokuba iHasori laliyinhloko yayo yonke leyo mibuso kuqala. ₁₁Bachitha bonke ababekulo ngosiko lwenkemba, babaqothula, akusalanga noyedwa ophefumulayo; walishisa iHasori ngomlilo.

₁₂Yonke imizi yalawo makhosi nawo onke amakhosi ayo uJoshuwa wakuthatha, wakuchitha ngosiko lwenkemba, wakuqothula njengokuyala kukaMose inceku kaJehova. ₁₃Kepha imizi eyayimi emagqumeni ayo u-Israyeli akashisanga namunye kuyo ngaphandle kweHasori kuphela; lowo uJoshuwa wawushisa. ₁₄Impango yonke yale mizi nezinkomo abantwana bakwa-Israyeli baziphangela khona; kepha bachitha bonke abantu ngosiko lwenkemba baze babaqeda; abashiyanga noyedwa ophefumulayo. ₁₅Njengalokho uJehova ebemyalile uMose inceku yakhe, kanjalo uMose wamyala uJoshuwa; noJoshuwa wenze njalo; akayekanga into neyodwa kukho konke uJehova amyala ngakho uMose.

₁₆UJoshuwa wathatha-ke lonke lelo zwe, izintaba, neNingizimu yonke, nalo lonke izwe laseGosheni, namathafa, ne-Araba, nezintaba zakwa-Israyeli, namathafa akhe, ₁₇kusukela entabeni yaseHalaki kwenyukela eSeyiri, yebo, naseBali Gadi esigodini saseLebanoni ngaphansi kwentaba yaseHermoni; onke amakhosi abo wawathatha, wawagenca, wawabulala. ₁₈UJoshuwa walwa isikhathi eside nawo onke lawo makhosi. ₁₉Akwabakho muzi owenza ukuthula nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ngaphandle kwamaHivi akhileyo eGibeyoni; bayinqoba yonke ngokulwa. ₂₀Ngokuba kwavela kuJehova ukwenza lukhuni izinhliziyo zabo ukuba bahlangabezane no-Israyeli ngokulwa, ukuze abaqothule, angabahawukeli, kepha abachithe, njengalokho uJehova ebemyalile uMose.

₂₁UJoshuwa wafika ngaleso sikhathi, wanquma ama-Anaki ezintabeni eHebroni, naseDebiri, nase-Anabi, nasezintabeni zakwaJuda, nasezintabeni zakwa-Israyeli, uJoshuwa wawaqothula kanye nemizi yawo. ₂₂Akusalanga noyedwa kuwo ama-Anaki ezweni labantwana bakwa-Israyeli; asala eGaza kuphela, naseGati, nase-Ashidodi. ₂₃Wathatha-ke uJoshuwa izwe lonke njengakho konke uJehova abekukhulumile kuMose; uJoshuwa walinika u-Israyeli libe yifa lakhe ngokwezabelo zabo nezizwe zabo. Izwe lase liphumula ekulweni.

₁Lawa angamakhosi ezwe anqotshwa ngabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, belidla izwe lawo ngaphesheya kweJordani ngasempumalanga, kusukela esigodini sase-Arinoni kuze kube sentabeni yaseHermoni, nalo lonke i-Araba ngasempumalanga: ₂uSihoni inkosi yama-Amori owayehlala eHeshiboni, ebusa kusukela e-Aroweri eliseceleni kwesigodi sase-Arinoni, naphakathi nesigodi, nenxenye yakwaGileyadi, kuze kube semfuleni iJaboki, umkhawulo wabantwana bakwa-Amoni, ₃ne-Araba kuze kufike elwandle lwaseKinereti ngasempumalanga, kuze kube seLwandle lwase-Araba, uLwandle Lukasawoti, ngasempumalanga endleleni eya eBeti Jeshimoti nangaseningizimu ngaphansi kwemithambeka yasePisiga; ₄futhi izwe lika-Ogi inkosi yaseBashani, owensali yamaRefa, owahlala e-Ashitaroti nase-Edireyi, ₅ebusa entabeni yaseHermoni, naseSaleka, nakulo lonke iBashani kuze kube semkhawulweni wamaGeshuri nowamaMahakhati, nenxenye yakwaGileyadi, umkhawulo kaSihoni inkosi yaseHeshiboni.

₆UMose inceku kaJehova nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli babebabulele; uMose inceku kaJehova wabanika lona abakwaRubeni, nabakwaGadi, nenxenye yesizwe sakwaManase, laba yifa labo.

₇Lawa angamakhosi ezwe anqotshwa nguJoshuwa nangabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ngaphesheya kweJordani ngasentshonalanga, kusukela eBali Gadi esigodini saseLebanoni kuze kufike entabeni yaseHalaki eyenyukela eSeyiri, uJoshuwa walinika izizwe zakwa-Israyeli libe yifa ngokwezabelo zabo ₈ezintabeni, nasemathafeni, nase-Araba, nasemithambekeni, nasehlane, naseningizimu: amaHeti, nama-Amori, namaKhanani, namaPherizi, namaHivi, namaJebusi:

₁Kwakukhona eKesariya indoda ethile egama layo linguKorneliyu, eyinduna yekhulu yebutho elithiwa elase-Italiya; ₂wayengumuntu okholwayo nowesaba uNkulunkulu kanye nendlu yakhe yonke, abela abantu abampofu izipho eziningi, ekhuleka kuNkulunkulu njalonjalo. ₃Wabona ngokusobala embonweni ingelosi kaNkulunkulu ingena kuye kungathi ngehora lesishiyagalolunye lemini, ithi: “Korneliyu!”

₄Wayigqolozela enokwesaba, wathi: “Kwenze njani, Nkosi?”

Yathi kuye: “Imikhuleko yakho nokwabela kwakho abampofu izipho kwenyukile kwaba yisikhumbuzo emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. ₅Thuma-ke amadoda eJopha, ubize uSimoni othile othiwa uPetru; ₆yena ungenisile kwaSimoni othile, umshuki, ondlu yakhe ingaselwandle.”

₇Isimukile ingelosi ebikhuluma naye, wabiza ababili bendlu yakhe nebutho elikholwayo kulawo ayehlala naye njalo, ₈wabalandisa konke, wabathumela eJopha.

₉Ngangomuso besahamba labo, sebesondela emzini, uPetru wenyukela phezu kwendlu ukuyokhuleka ngehora lesithupha. ₁₀Khona walamba kakhulu, wafuna ukudla; kepha besamlungisela wehlelwa yisiyezi, ₁₁wabona izulu livulekile nesitsha esithile sehla sinjengendwangu enkulu, sehliselwa emhlabeni ngamachopho amane. ₁₂Kusona kwakukhona zonke izilwane ezinezinyawo ezine, nezinwabuzelayo zomhlaba, nezinyoni zezulu. ₁₃Kwavela izwi, lathi kuye: “Vuka, Petru; hlaba, udle.”

₁₄Kepha uPetru wathi: “Qha, Nkosi, ngokuba angizange ngikudle okuyichilo nokungcolileyo.”

₁₅Izwi laphinda lasho kuye ngokwesibili, lathi: “Lokho akuhlambululile uNkulunkulu, ungasho wena ukuthi kubi.”

₁₆Lokho kwaphindwa kathathu; isitsha senyuselwa masinyane ezulwini.

₁₇UPetru esasambathekile ngokuthi ngakube uyini lowo mbono awubonileyo, bheka, amadoda ayethunyiwe nguKorneliyu, esebuzile indlu kaSimoni, ema ngasesangweni, ₁₈amemeza ebuza ukuthi uSimoni othiwa uPetru ungenisile yini lapho.

₁₉UPetru esazindla ngombono, uMoya wathi kuye: “Bheka, amadoda amabili ayakufuna; ₂₀sukuma-ke, wehle, uhambe nabo, ungangabazi ngalutho, ngokuba yimina engibathumileyo.”

₂₁UPetru wayesehlela kuwo amadoda, wathi: “Bhekani, yimina enimfunayo; kuyindabani enize ngayo na?”

₂₂Bathi: “UKorneliyu induna yekhulu, indoda elungileyo nemesabayo uNkulunkulu, efakazelwa kahle esizweni sonke sabaJuda, uyaliwe yingelosi engcwele ukuba akubizele endlini yakhe, ezwe amazwi kuwe.” ₂₃Wayesebabiza, wabangenisa. Ngangomuso wasuka wahamba nabo, abathile babazalwane baseJopha bamphelekezela. ₂₄Ngangomuso bangena eKesariya. UKorneliyu wayebalindele esebizile izihlobo nabangane bakhe abakhulu. ₂₅Kwathi ukuba angene uPetru, uKorneliyu wamhlangabeza, wawa phansi ngasezinyaweni zakhe, wakhuleka. ₂₆Kepha uPetru wamvusa wathi: “Sukuma, nami ngingumuntu nje.”

₂₇Esakhuluma naye wangena, wafumana abaningi ababebuthene. ₂₈Wayesethi: “Niyazi ukuthi akuvunyelwe ukuba umuntu ongumJuda ahlangane, ahambelane nowesinye isizwe; kepha uNkulunkulu ungitshengisile ukuba ngingasho nangoyedwa ukuthi unechilo nokuthi ungcolile. ₂₉Ngakho lokhu ngibiziwe, ngizile ngingalanga. Ngakho-ke sengiyabuza ukuthi ningibizeleni na?”

₃₀UKorneliyu wathi: “Ngezinsuku ezine ezidlule ngaleli hora bengenza umkhuleko wehora lesishiyagalolunye endlini yami; bheka, indoda eyembethe ingubo ekhazimulayo yema phambi kwami, ₃₁yathi: ‘Korneliyu, kuzwakele ukukhuleka kwakho, nokwabela kwakho abampofu izipho kukhunjuliwe phambi kukaNkulunkulu. ₃₂Ngakho thumela eJopha, ubize uSimoni othiwa uPetru; yena ungenisile endlini kaSimoni umshuki ngaselwandle.’ ₃₃Ngase ngithumela kuwe ngaso leso sikhathi; wenze kahle ufike. Manje sesikhona sonke phambi kukaNkulunkulu ukuba sizwe konke okuyalelwe yiNkosi.”

₃₄Khona uPetru wavula umlomo, wathi: “Nembala ngiyabona ukuthi uNkulunkulu akabheki ubuso bamuntu, ₃₅kodwa ezizweni zonke omesabayo nowenza ukulunga uyamukeleka kuye. ₃₆Walithumela izwi kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, eshumayela ivangeli lokuthula ngaye uJesu Kristu; yena uyiNkosi yabo bonke. ₃₇Niyalazi izwi elamenyezelwa eJudiya lonke, liqalile eGalile, emva kokubhapathiza akushumayelayo uJohane ₃₈lokuthi: UNkulunkulu wamgcoba uJesu waseNazaretha ngoMoya oNgcwele nangamandla, owahamba enza umusa, ephulukisa bonke ababesemandleni kaSathane, ngokuba uNkulunkulu wayenaye.

₃₉“Nathi singofakazi bezinto zonke azenzayo ezweni labaJuda naseJerusalema yena abambulalayo bemphanyeka emthini. ₄₀Lowo uNkulunkulu wamvusa ngosuku lwesithathu, wamnika ukuba abonakale, ₄₁kungekubantu bonke kodwa kithina esingofakazi ababekhethwe nguNkulunkulu ngaphambili, esasidla siphuza naye emva kokuvuka kwakhe kwabafileyo. ₄₂Wasiyala ukuba sishumayele kubantu, sifakaze ukuthi: Nguye omiswe nguNkulunkulu ukuba abe nguMahluleli wabaphilayo nabafileyo. ₄₃Ngaye bonke abaprofethi bafakaza ukuthi ngegama lakhe bonke abakholwa nguye bayakwamukela ukuthethelelwa kwezono.”

₄₄Kwathi uPetru esakhuluma lawo mazwi, uMoya oNgcwele wehlela phezu kwabo bonke ababelizwa izwi. ₄₅Abokusoka abakholwayo ababefikile noPetru bamangala kakhulu, ngokuba isipho sikaMoya oNgcwele sitheliwe naphezu kwabezizwe. ₄₆Ngokuba babezwa bekhuluma ngezilimi, betusa uNkulunkulu. Khona uPetru waphendula wathi: ₄₇“Ukhona yini ongala namanzi ukuba bangabhapathizwa laba abamukela uMoya oNgcwele njengathi na?” ₄₈Wayeseyala ukuba babhapathizwe egameni leNkosi. Base bemncenga ukuba ahlale izinsuku ezithile.

₁Kepha abaphostoli nabazalwane abaseJudiya bezwa ukuthi nabezizwe balamukele izwi likaNkulunkulu. ₂Kwathi ukuba uPetru enyukele eJerusalema, abokusoka baphikisana naye, ₃bathi: “Ungene kubantu abangasokile, wadla nabo.”

₄Kepha uPetru wabathathela konke ngokulandelana, wathi: ₅“Mina bengisemzini waseJopha ngikhuleka; ngehlelwa yisiyezi, ngabona umbono, kwehla isitsha esithile sinjengendwangu enkulu, yehliswa ezulwini ngamachopho amane, yaze yafika kimi. ₆Kwathi ukuba ngiyigqolozele, ngabhekisisa, ngabona izilwane zomhlaba ezinezinyawo ezine, nezilo zasendle, nezinwabuzelayo, nezinyoni zezulu. ₇Ngezwa izwi lithi kimi: ‘Sukuma, Petru; hlaba, udle.’

₈“Kepha ngathi: ‘Qha, Nkosi, ngokuba okuyichilo nokungcolileyo akuzange kungene emlonyeni wami.’

₉“Khona izwi elivela ezulwini laphendula ngokwesibili, lathi: ‘Lokho akuhlambululileyo uNkulunkulu, ungasho wena ukuthi kuyichilo.’ ₁₀Lokho-ke kwenzeka kathathu, konke kwabuye kwenyuselwa ezulwini.

₁₁“Bhekani, ngaso leso sikhathi kwase kumi amadoda amathathu phambi kwendlu esasikuyo; ayethunyelwe kimi, evela eKesariya. ₁₂UMoya wayesethi kimi angihambe nabo ngingangabazi ngalutho. Bangiphelekezela labo bazalwane abayisithupha, saya sangena endlini yaleyo ndoda. ₁₃Yasibikela-ke ukuthi yayibonile ingelosi imi endlini yayo, ithi: ‘Thumela eJopha, ulande uSimoni othiwa uPetru ₁₄ozakukhuluma kuwe amazwi ozakusindiswa ngawo, wena nendlu yakho yonke.’

₁₅“Ngathi ngisaqala ukukhuluma, uMoya oNgcwele wehlela phezu kwabo njengakithi ekuqaleni. ₁₆Ngalikhumbula-ke izwi leNkosi, njengalokho yathi: ‘UJohane wabhapathiza ngamanzi, kodwa nina nizakubhapathizwa ngoMoya oNgcwele.’ ₁₇Ngakho uma uNkulunkulu ebanikile bona isipho njengathi esakholwa yiNkosi uJesu Kristu, ngingubani mina ukuba ngivimbele uNkulunkulu na?”

₁₈Bathi ukuzwa lokho, bathula, badumisa uNkulunkulu, bathi: “Kanti uNkulunkulu unike nabezizwe ukuphendukela ekuphileni.”

₁₉Kepha labo ababehlakazekile ngokuhlupheka okwaqala ngoStefanu bahamba, baze bafika eFenike, naseKhupro, nase-Antiyokiya, bengalikhulumi izwi koyedwa, kubaJuda kuphela. ₂₀Kodwa kwakukhona abanye kubo, amadoda aseKhupro naseKhurene, abathi befika e-Antiyokiya, bakhuluma nakumaGreki, beshumayela ivangeli ngeNkosi uJesu. ₂₁Isandla seNkosi sasinabo; kwakholwa abaningi kakhulu, baphendukela eNkosini.

₂₂Kepha kwezwakala izwi ngabo ezindlebeni zebandla laseJerusalema; lase lithuma uBarnaba ukuba ahambe afike e-Antiyokiya; ₂₃wathi ukuba afike, abone umusa kaNkulunkulu, wathokoza, wabayala bonke ukuba banamathele eNkosini ngokuzimisela inhliziyo. ₂₄Ngokuba wayeyindoda enhle, egcwele uMoya oNgcwele nokukholwa; kwenezelwa eNkosini abantu abaningi.

₂₅UBarnaba wayeseya eTarsu ukuba afune uSawulu; ₂₆kwathi esemfumene, wamyisa e-Antiyokiya. Kwase kwenzeka ukuba umnyaka wonke bahlangane ebandleni, befundisa abantu abaningi. Kwaqala e-Antiyokiya ukuba abafundi bathiwe amaKristu.

₂₇Ngalezo zinsuku kwehlela e-Antiyokiya abaprofethi bevela eJerusalema. ₂₈Kwasukuma omunye kubo ogama lakhe lingu-Agabu, wakhomba ngoMoya ukuthi kuzakuba khona indlala enzima ezweni lonke; yaba khona emihleni kaKlawudiyu. ₂₉Abafundi base bezimisela ukuba yilowo nalowo kubo athumele njengamandla akhe okokusiza abazalwane abakhe eJudiya. ₃₀Bakwenza-ke, bakuthumela emalungeni ngesandla sikaBarnaba noSawulu.

₁Ngaleso sikhathi uHerode inkosi welula izandla ukuba ahluphe abathile bebandla. ₂Wabulala uJakobe umfowabo kaJohane ngenkemba. ₃Esebonile ukuthi lokhu kuyabathokozisa abaJuda, waqhubeka wambamba noPetru. Kwakuyizinsuku zezinkwa ezingenamvubelo. ₄Wambamba, wamfaka etilongweni, wamnikela emaviyweni amane, yilelo nalelo linamabutho amane, ukuba amlinde, ehlose ukumkhuphulela ebantwini emva kwePhasika.

₅Ngakho-ke uPetru wagcinwa etilongweni; kepha ibandla lamkhulekela ngesineke kuNkulunkulu.

₆Kwathi mhla uHerode ebezakumphumisa, ngalobo busuku uPetru wayelele phakathi kwamabutho amabili, eboshiwe ngamaketanga amabili, nabalindi phambi komnyango begcina itilongo. ₇Bheka, yafika ingelosi yeNkosi, kwakhanya ukukhanya etilongweni, yamshaya uPetru ohlangothini, yamvusa ithi: “Shesha usukume.” Ayesewa amaketanga ezandleni zakhe.

₈Ingelosi yathi kuye: “Gqoka, ufake izicathulo zakho.” Wenze njalo. Yathi kuye: “Yembatha ingubo yakho, ungilandele.” ₉Waphuma, wayilandela; wayengazi ukuthi kuyiqiniso okwenziwa yingelosi, kodwa wayethi ubona umbono. ₁₀Sebedlulile kubalindi bokuqala nabesibili bafika esangweni lensimbi eliya emzini, labavulekela ngokwalo, baphuma, badlula isitaladi saba sinye; ingelosi yayisimshiya masinyane.

₁₁UPetru esesangulukile wathi: “Manje sengiyazi ngeqiniso ukuthi iNkosi ithumile ingelosi yayo, yangikhulula esandleni sikaHerode nakukho konke okubhekwe yisizwe sabaJuda.”

₁₂Sekumkhanyele lokho, wafika endlini kaMariya unina kaJohane othiwa uMarku, lapho bebebuthene khona abaningi bekhuleka. ₁₃Esengqongqotha esivalweni sesango, yeza intombazana ukusabela, egama layo linguRoda; ₁₄isilizwile izwi likaPetru ayivulanga esangweni ngenxa yokuthokoza, kepha yagijima yabika ukuthi uPetru umi ngasesangweni.

₁₅Kodwa bathi kuyo: “Uyahlanya.”

Yona yaqinisa yathi: “Hhayi, kunjalo.”

Bona bathi: “Yingelosi yakhe.”

₁₆Kepha uPetru waqinisa wangqongqotha; sebevulile babona ukuthi nguye, bamangala. ₁₇Wayesebaqhweba ngesandla ukuba bathule, wabalandisa ukuthi iNkosi imkhiphe kanjani etilongweni, wathi: “Bikelani uJakobe nabazalwane lokhu.” Wayesephuma, waya kwenye indawo.

₁₈Sekusile, kwaba khona ukunyakaza okukhulu phakathi kwamabutho kokuthi uPetru wehlelwe yini. ₁₉UHerode esemfunile engamfumananga, wabuzisisa abalindi, wayala ukuba babulawe. Wayesehla eJudiya, waya eKesariya, wahlala khona.

₂₀Kepha wayebathukuthelele abaseTire nabaseSidoni; kodwa beza kuye nganhliziyonye; sebemvumisile uBlastu induna yendlu yenkosi, bacela ukuthula, ngokuba izwe lakubo lalifunzwa ngelenkosi.

₂₁Ngosuku olumisiweyo uHerode wembatha ingubo yobukhosi, wahlala esihlalweni, wakhuluma kubantu. ₂₂Abantu bamemeza bathi: “Yizwi likaNkulunkulu, akusilo elomuntu.” ₂₃Kepha ingelosi yeNkosi yamshaya khona lapho, ngokuba enganikanga uNkulunkulu udumo; wadliwa yizimpethu, wafa.

₂₄Kodwa izwi likaNkulunkulu lakhula, landa.

₂₅Kepha oBarnaba noSawulu babuya eJerusalema sebeqede ukukhonza kwabo, behamba benoJohane othiwa uMarku.