To The Word – Day 62

₁UJoshuwa wababiza abakwaRubeni, nabakwaGadi, nenxenye yesizwe sakwaManase, ₂wathi kubo: “Nigcinile konke uMose inceku kaJehova aniyala ngakho, nalalela izwi lami kukho konke enganiyala ngakho; ₃anishiyanga abafowenu lezi zinsuku eziningi kuze kube namuhla, kepha nigcinile imfanelo yomyalo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu. ₄Manje uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ubanikile abafowenu ukuphumula njengalokho ebekhuluma kubo; ngalokho buyani, niye ematendeni enu ezweni lefa lenu aninika lona uMose inceku kaJehova ngaphesheya kweJordani. ₅Qaphelisisani kuphela ukwenza imiyalo nomthetho aniyala ngakho uMose inceku kaJehova ukuba nimthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, nihambe kuzo zonke izindlela zakhe, nigcine imiyalo yakhe, ninamathele kuye, nimkhonze ngayo yonke inhliziyo yenu nangawo wonke umphefumulo wenu.”

₆UJoshuwa wayesebabusisa, wabamukisa; baya ematendeni abo.

₇Inxenye yesizwe sakwaManase uMose wayeyabele izwe eBashani, kepha inxenye uJoshuwa wayinika izwe phakathi kwabafowabo phesheya kweJordani ngasentshonalanga. Lapho uJoshuwa esebamukisa ukuba baye ematendeni abo, wababusisa, wakhuluma kubo, wathi: ₈“Buyelani ematendeni enu nemfuyo eningi: izinkomo eziningi kakhulu, nesiliva, negolide, nethusi, nensimbi, nezingubo eziningi, nabelane impango yezitha zenu nabafowenu.”

₉Abantwana bakwaRubeni nabantwana bakwaGadi nenxenye yesizwe sakwaManase babuya, bamuka kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli eShilo eliyizwe laseKhanani ukuba baye ezweni lakwaGileyadi, izwe lefa labo, ababelwa lona njengesiyalezo sikaJehova ngesandla sikaMose; ₁₀sebefike eziyingeni zamatshe ngaseJordani ezisezweni laseKhanani abantwana bakwaRubeni nabantwana bakwaGadi nenxenye yesizwe sakwaManase bakha khona i-altare ngaseJordani, liyi-altare elikhulu ukubonakala kwalo. ₁₁Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bezwa kuthiwa: “Bhekani, abantwana bakwaRubeni nabantwana bakwaGadi nenxenye yesizwe sakwaManase bakhile i-altare malungana nezwe laseKhanani eziyingeni zamatshe ngaseJordani ngaphesheya kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.” ₁₂Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli sebezwile lokho, yonke inhlangano yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli yabuthana ngaseShilo ukuba ikhuphuke ilwe nabo.

₁₃Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathuma kubantwana bakwaRubeni nakubantwana bakwaGadi nakuyo inxenye yesizwe sakwaManase ezweni lakwaGileyadi uFinehasi indodana ka-Eleyazare umpristi, ₁₄nezikhulu eziyishumi kanye naye, isikhulu sibe sinye ngendlu kayise ezizweni zonke zakwa-Israyeli, yileso naleso siyinhloko yendlu kayise phakathi kwemindeni yakwa-Israyeli.

₁₅Bafika kubantwana bakwaRubeni nakubantwana bakwaGadi nakuyo inxenye yesizwe sakwaManase ezweni lakwaGileyadi, bakhuluma kubo, bathi: ₁₆“Isho kanje yonke inhlangano kaJehova, ithi: ‘Isiphambeko sini enisenzile kuNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ukuba nibuye namuhla ekumlandeleni uJehova ngokuzakhela i-altare, nihlubuke namuhla uJehova. ₁₇Ububi basePeyori buncane yini kithi esingakazihlambululi kubo kuze kube namuhla, noma inhlangano kaJehova yehlelwa yisifo, ₁₈ukuba nibuye namuhla ekumlandeleni uJehova na? Kuzakuthi uma nihlubuka namuhla uJehova, athukuthelele yonke inhlangano ka-Israyeli kusasa. ₁₉Kepha uma izwe lefa lenu lingcolile, welani, niye ezweni lefa likaJehova, lapho lihlala khona itabernakele* likaJehova, nibe nefa phakathi kwethu; kepha ningahlubuki uJehova, ningahlubuki futhi kithi ngokuzakhela i-altare ngaphandle kwe-altare likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu. ₂₀U-Akani indodana kaZera akenzanga yini isiphambeko kukho okuqalekisiweyo, yonke inhlangano yakwa-Israyeli yehlelwa yintukuthelo na? Futhi akafanga yedwa lowo muntu ebubini bakhe.’ ”

₂₁Abantwana bakwaRubeni nabantwana bakwaGadi nenxenye yesizwe sakwaManase baphendula, bakhuluma kuzo izinhloko zemindeni yakwa-Israyeli, bathi: ₂₂“UNkulunkulu, uJehova uNkulunkulu, yebo, uNkulunkulu, uJehova uNkulunkulu, uyakwazi, no-Israyeli futhi uyakukwazi ukuthi uma kwakungokuhlubuka noma kungokuphambuka kuJehova, ungasisindisi namuhla ₂₃ngokuthi sizakhele i-altare, sabuya ekumlandeleni uJehova; futhi uma kwakungukuba sinikele phezu kwalo ngeminikelo yokushiswa nangeminikelo yempuphu, nokuba sinikele ngemihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula phezu kwalo, uJehova uqobo makakubize.

₂₄“Qha, impela senzile lokho ngokunakekela nangesizathu, sathi: Ngesikhathi esizayo abantwana benu bangakhuluma kubantwana bethu ngokuthi: ‘Ninamsebenzi muni noJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli na? ₂₅UJehova wenzile iJordani umkhawulo phakathi kwethu nani, nina bantwana bakwaRubeni nabantwana bakwaGadi; aninasabelo kuJehova;’ abantwana benu bese bebuyisela emuva abantwana bethu ukuba bangabe besamesaba uJehova.

₂₆“Sase sithi-ke: ‘Masenze silakhe i-altare, lingabi ngelomnikelo wokushiswa nelomhlatshelo,’ ₂₇kepha libe ngufakazi phakathi kwethu nani naphakathi kwezizukulwane zethu emva kwethu, ukuze senze inkonzo kaJehova phambi kwakhe ngeminikelo yethu yokushiswa, nangemihlatshelo yethu, nangeminikelo yethu yokuthula, ukuba abantwana benu bangasho kubantwana bethu ngesikhathi esizayo ukuthi: ‘Aninasabelo kuJehova.’

₂₈“Sathi-ke: ‘Kuyakuthi lapho besho kanjalo kithi nakuzo izizukulwane zethu ngesikhathi esizayo, sisho ukuthi: “Bhekani isifanekiso se-altare likaJehova abalenzayo obaba, lingabi ngeleminikelo yokushiswa nelemihlatshelo; lingufakazi phakathi kwethu nani.” ’

₂₉“Makube kude nathi ukuba sihlubuke uJehova, sibuye namuhla ekumlandeleni uJehova ngokwakha i-altare leminikelo yokushiswa, neleminikelo yempuphu, nelemihlatshelo, ngaphandle kwe-altare likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu eliphambi kwetabernakele* lakhe.”

₃₀Kuthe uFinehasi umpristi, nezikhulu zenhlangano, izinhloko zemindeni yakwa-Israyeli ezazinaye sezizwile amazwi akhulunywa ngabantwana bakwaRubeni, nangabantwana bakwaGadi, nangabantwana bakwaManase, kwaba kuhle emehlweni abo. ₃₁UFinehasi indodana ka-Eleyazare umpristi wathi kubantwana bakwaRubeni nakubantwana bakwaGadi nakubantwana bakwaManase: “Namuhla siyazi ukuthi uJehova uphakathi kwethu, ngokuba anenzanga lesi siphambeko kuJehova; manje senophulile abantwana bakwa-Israyeli esandleni sikaJehova.”

₃₂UFinehasi indodana ka-Eleyazare umpristi nezikhulu babuya kubantwana bakwaRubeni nakubantwana bakwaGadi ezweni lakwaGileyadi, bebuyela ezweni laseKhanani kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, bababuyisela izwi. ₃₃Leyo nto yaba nhle emehlweni abantwana bakwa-Israyeli; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bambonga uNkulunkulu, ababe besasho ukuthi bayakukhuphuka babahlasele, bachithe izwe ababehlala kulo abantwana bakwaRubeni nabantwana bakwaGadi.

₃₄Abantwana bakwaRubeni nabantwana bakwaGadi balibiza i-altare ngokuthi: “Lingufakazi phakathi kwethu wokuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu.”

₁Kwathi emva kwezinsuku eziningi, lapho uJehova esephumuzile u-Israyeli ezitheni zabo zonke nxazonke, uJoshuwa esemdala eneminyaka eminingi, ₂uJoshuwa wabiza wonke u-Israyeli, amalunga akhe, nezinhloko zakhe, nabahluleli bakhe, nezinduna zakhe, wathi kubo: “Sengimdala ngineminyaka eminingi; ₃nibonile konke uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu akwenzile kuzo zonke lezi zizwe ngenxa yenu, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nguye onilweleyo. ₄Bhekani, nginabele lezi zizwe eziseleyo zibe yifa lezizwe zenu, kusukela eJordani, kanye nezizwe zonke engizinqumileyo, kuze kufike eLwandle Olukhulu ngasentshonalanga. ₅UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uyakuzixosha ngaphambi kwenu, azidungule ebusweni benu, nilidle izwe lazo, njengalokho ebekhuluma uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu kini.

₆“Yimani kakhulu isibindi ukugcina nokwenza konke okulotshiwe encwadini yomthetho kaMose, ukuze ningachezuki kukho ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo, ₇ukuba ningangeni kulezo zizwe ezisele phakathi kwenu, ningabizi amagama awonkulunkulu bazo, ningabafungi, ningabakhonzi, ningabakhothameli, ₈kepha ninamathele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, njengalokho nenzile kuze kube namuhla.

₉“Ngokuba uJehova uxoshile ngaphambi kwenu izizwe ezinkulu ezinamandla, kepha nina, akukho muntu omile phambi kwenu kuze kube namuhla. ₁₀Umuntu oyedwa uxoshile inkulungwane, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nguye onilwelayo, njengalokho ebekhuluma kini. ₁₁Qaphelisisani ukuba nimthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.

₁₂“Ngokuba uma nibuyela emuva, ninamathele ensalini yalezo zizwe, zona lezi ezisele phakathi kwenu, niganiselane nazo, ningene kuzo, nazo kini, ₁₃yazini nokwazi ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu akasayikuzixosha lezo zizwe phambi kwenu, kepha zoba lugibe nesihibe kini, nenkalivasi* ezinhlangothini zenu, nameva emehlweni enu, nize nibhubhe kuleli zwe elihle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aninike lona.

₁₄“Bhekani, namuhla ngiyahamba indlela yomhlaba wonke; niyazi ezinhliziyweni zenu zonke nasemiphefumulweni yenu yonke ukuthi akuphuthanga nento eyodwa kuzo zonke izinto ezinhle azikhuluma uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngani; kwenziwa konke kini, akuphuthanga nento eyodwa kukho. ₁₅Kuyakuthi njengalokho zonke izinto ezinhle zenziwe kini akhuluma ngazo uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu kini, kanjalo uJehova ehlisele phezu kwenu zonke izinto ezimbi, aze anibhubhise kuleli zwe elihle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aninike lona. ₁₆Uma neqa isivumelwano sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu akuyala ngaso, niye nikhonze abanye onkulunkulu, nibakhothamele, intukuthelo kaJehova iyakunivuthela, nibhubhe masinyane ezweni elihle aninike lona.”

₁UJoshuwa wabutha zonke izizwe zakwa-Israyeli eShekemi, wabiza amalunga akwa-Israyeli, nezinhloko zakhe, nabahluleli bakhe, nezinduna zakhe, bema phambi kukaNkulunkulu.

₂UJoshuwa wathi kubantu bonke: “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Oyihlo bahlala endulo ngaphesheya koMfula,* uThera uyise ka-Abrahama noyise kaNahori, bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu. ₃Ngamthatha uyihlo u-Abrahama ngaphesheya koMfula,* ngamhambisa ezweni lonke laseKhanani, ngayandisa inzalo yakhe, ngamupha u-Isaka. ₄Ngamupha u-Isaka oJakobe no-Esawu; ngamnika u-Esawu intaba yaseSeyiri ukuba ayidle; uJakobe nabantwana bakhe behlela eGibithe.

₅“ ‘Ngathuma oMose no-Aroni, ngahlupha iGibithe ngalokho engakwenza phakathi kwalo; ngasemuva nganikhipha. ₆Ngakhipha oyihlo eGibithe; nafika elwandle; abaseGibithe babaxosha oyihlo ngezinqola nangabamahhashi, baze bafika eLwandle Olubomvu. ₇Lapho bekhala kuJehova, wabeka ubumnyama phakathi kwenu nabaseGibithe, waluhambisa ulwandle phezu kwabo, wabasibekela; amehlo enu abona engakwenzayo eGibithe; nahlala ehlane izinsuku eziningi.

₈“ ‘Nganingenisa ezweni lama-Amori ahlala ngaphesheya kweJordani, alwa nani; ngawanikela esandleni senu, nadla izwe lawo; ngawachitha phambi kwenu. ₉Kwase kuvuka uBalaki indodana kaSipori, inkosi yakwaMowabi, walwa no-Israyeli; wathuma wabiza uBileyamu indodana kaBeyori ukuba aniqalekise, ₁₀kepha angithandanga ukumlalela uBileyamu, kodwa kakhulu wanibusisa, nganophula esandleni sakhe.

₁₁“ ‘Nase niwela iJordani, nafika eJeriko; amadoda aseJeriko alwa nani, nama-Amori, namaPherizi, namaKhanani, namaHeti, namaGirigashi, namaHivi, namaJebusi, ngawanikela esandleni senu. ₁₂Ngathuma iminyovu phambi kwenu eyawaxosha phambi kwenu amakhosi omabili ama-Amori, kungengankemba yakho noma ngomnsalo wakho. ₁₃Nganinika izwe eningakhandlekanga kulo, nemizi eningayakhanga nihlala nokho kuyo; niyadla ezivinini naseminqumeni eningakutshalanga.’

₁₄“Manje yesabani uJehova, nimkhonze ngobuqotho nangeqiniso, nisuse onkulunkulu ababakhonzayo oyihlo phesheya koMfula* naseGibithe, nimkhonze uJehova. ₁₅Uma kukubi emehlweni enu ukumkhonza uJehova, khethani namuhla ukuthi ngubani eniyakumkhonza, noma onkulunkulu ababakhonzayo oyihlo besengaphesheya koMfula,* noma onkulunkulu bama-Amori enihlala ezweni lawo; kepha mina nendlu yami siyakumkhonza uJehova.”

₁₆Abantu baphendula bathi: “Makube kude nathi ukumshiya uJehova ukuba sikhonze abanye onkulunkulu, ₁₇ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu nguye owasikhuphula thina nawobaba ezweni laseGibithe, indlu yobugqila, nowazenza lezo zibonakaliso emehlweni ethu, wasilondoloza endleleni yonke esahamba ngayo, naphakathi kwabo bonke abantu esadlula phakathi kwabo. ₁₈UJehova waxosha phambi kwethu bonke abantu, nama-Amori futhi ayehlala ezweni; ngalokho nathi siyakumkhonza uJehova, ngokuba unguNkulunkulu wethu.”

₁₉UJoshuwa wathi kubantu: “Aninakumkhonza uJehova, ngokuba unguNkulunkulu ongcwele; unguNkulunkulu onomhawu, akayikuthethelela iziphambeko zenu nezono zenu. ₂₀Uma nimshiya uJehova, nikhonze onkulunkulu babezizwe, uyakuphenduka, anenzele okubi, aniqede esenenzele okuhle.”

₂₁Kepha abantu bathi kuJoshuwa: “Qha, ngokuba siyakumkhonza uJehova.”

₂₂Wayesethi uJoshuwa kubantu: “Nina ningofakazi benu bokuthi nizikhethele uJehova ukuba nimkhonze yena.”

Bathi: “Singofakazi.”

₂₃Wathi: “Susani manje onkulunkulu babezizwe abaphakathi kwenu, nithobele izinhliziyo zenu kuJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.”

₂₄Abantu bathi kuJoshuwa: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu siyakumkhonza, sililalele izwi lakhe.”

₂₅UJoshuwa wayesenza isivumelwano nabantu ngalolo suku, wabamisela isimiso nomthetho eShekemi.

₂₆UJoshuwa waloba lawo mazwi encwadini yomthetho kaNkulunkulu, wathatha itshe elikhulu, walimisa lapho phansi kwe-oki* elingasendlini engcwele kaJehova.

₂₇Wayesethi uJoshuwa kubo abantu bonke: “Bhekani, leli tshe liyakuba ngufakazi ngathi, ngokuba lizwile onke amazwi kaJehova awakhuluma kithi; ngalokho liyakuba ngufakazi ngani, funa nimphike uNkulunkulu wenu.”

₂₈UJoshuwa wayesebamukisa abantu, yilowo nalowo waya efeni lakhe.

₂₉Kwathi emva kwalezo zinto uJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, inceku kaJehova, wafa eneminyaka eyikhulu neshumi. ₃₀Bammbela emkhawulweni wefa lakhe eThimnati Sera elisezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi ngasenyakatho kwentaba yakwaGahashi.

₃₁U-Israyeli wamkhonza uJehova zonke izinsuku zikaJoshuwa nazo zonke izinsuku zamalunga ayekhona izinsuku ezithile emva kukaJoshuwa, ayeyazi yonke imisebenzi kaJehova ayeyenzele u-Israyeli.

₃₂Amathambo kaJosefa akhushulwa eGibithe ngabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, bawembela eShekemi esiqeshini sezwe asithengayo uJakobe kumadodana kaHamori uyise kaShekemi ngamakesita* ayikhulu, laba ifa labantwana bakwaJosefa.

₃₃U-Eleyazare indodana ka-Aroni wafa; bammbela egqumeni likaFinehasi indodana yakhe, abenikiwe lona ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi.

₁“Madoda, bazalwane, nani bobaba, yizwani ukuziphendulela kwami phambi kwenu kalokhu.”

₂Kwathi bemuzwa ekhuluma kubo ngolimi lwesiHeberu, bathula bathi du. Wayesethi: ₃“Mina ngiyindoda engumJuda, ngazalwa eTarsu laseKhilikhiya, kodwa ngakhulela kulo muzi, ngafundiswa ngasezinyaweni zikaGamaliyeli ngesineke ngomthetho wawobaba, ngashisekela uNkulunkulu njengokuba nonke ninjalo namuhla; ₄ngayizingela leyo Ndlela kwaze kwaba sekufeni, ngibopha ngibakhaphela ematilongweni abesilisa nabesifazane, ₅njengokuba nompristi omkhulu ufakaza ngami namalunga onke; ngamukela kubo izincwadi ezilotshelwe abazalwane, ngaya eDamaseku ukuba nababe khona lapho ngibayise eJerusalema beboshiwe, ukuze bajeziswe.

₆“Kwathi ngisahamba ngisondela eDamaseku kuphakathi kwemini, kwangibaneka masinyane nxazonke ukukhanya okukhulu okwavela ezulwini, ₇ngawa phansi emhlabathini, ngezwa izwi lithi kimi: ‘Sawulu, Sawulu, ungizingelelani na?’

₈“Ngase ngiphendula ngathi: ‘Ungubani, Nkosi, na?’

“Wathi kimi: ‘Mina nginguJesu waseNazaretha omzingelayo.’ ₉Kepha labo ababe nami bakubona ukukhanya, kodwa izwi lowakhuluma nami abalizwanga.

₁₀“Ngathi: ‘Ngizakwenzani, Nkosi, na?’

“INkosi yayisithi kimi: ‘Sukuma, uye eDamaseku, uzakutshelwa khona konke okumiselweyo ukuba ukwenze.’ ₁₁Kepha njengokuba ngangingasaboni ngenxa yenkazimulo yalokho kukhanya, ngaholwa ngesandla yibo ababe nami, ngafika eDamaseku.

₁₂“U-Ananiya othile, indoda ekholwa ngokomthetho, owayefakazelwa yibo bonke abaJuda ababakhile khona, ₁₃weza kimi, wema, wathi kimi: ‘Sawulu, mzalwane, buye ubone.’ Mina ngase ngimbona ngaso leso sikhathi.

₁₄“Wayesethi: ‘UNkulunkulu wawobaba wakumisela ngaphambili ukuyazi intando yakhe, nokumbona oLungileyo, nokulizwa izwi eliphuma emlonyeni wakhe, ₁₅ngokuba uzakuba ngufakazi wakhe kubantu bonke walokho okubonileyo nokuzwileyo. ₁₆Manje-ke ulibalelani na? Sukuma, ubhapathizwe, uhlambulule izono zakho ngokukhuleka egameni lakhe.’

₁₇“Kwathi sengibuyele eJerusalema, ngikhuleka ethempelini, ngehlelwa yisiyezi, ₁₈ngambona; wathi kimi: ‘Khawuleza uphume masinyane eJerusalema, ngokuba abazukwamukela ubufakazi bakho ngami.’

₁₉“Mina ngase ngithi: ‘Nkosi, bayazi bona ukuthi yimina engangibabopha ngibashaya emasinagogeni* abakholwa nguwe; ₂₀futhi mhla kuchithwa igazi likaStefanu ufakazi wakho, ngangimi khona mina, ngivuma, ngilinda izingubo zabambulalayo.’

₂₁“Wathi kimi: ‘Hamba, ngokuba mina ngizakukuthuma uye kude kwabezizwe.’ ”

₂₂Kepha bamlalela kwaze kwaba kulelo zwi; base bephakamisa izwi labo, bethi: “Msuseni onje emhlabeni, ngokuba akufanele ukuba aphile.” ₂₃Kwathi besabangalasa, behlubula izingubo, bethuquza uthuli phezulu, ₂₄induna yenkulungwane yayala ukuba angeniswe ekamu,* yathi akahlolwe ngenduku, ukuze iqonde ukuthi kungasiphi isici bememeza kanje ngaye. ₂₅Kepha besamelula ngemichilo, uPawulu wathi enduneni yekhulu eyayimi khona: “Kuvunyelwe yini ukushaya umuntu ongumRoma engalahlwanga yicala na?”

₂₆Induna yekhulu ikuzwile yaya enduneni yenkulungwane, yabika yathi: “Usuzakwenzani na, ngokuba lowo muntu ungumRoma?”

₂₇Induna yenkulungwane yayisifika, yathi kuye: “Ngitshele, wena ungumRoma na?”

Yena wathi: “Yebo.”

₂₈Kepha induna yenkulungwane yaphendula yathi: “Mina ngalithenga lelo lungelo ngemali enkulu.”

Kodwa uPawulu wathi: “Kepha mina ngazalwa nalo.”

₂₉Ngakho basuka kuye masinyane abase bezakumhlola; kepha induna yenkulungwane yesaba, isiyazi ukuthi ungumRoma nokuthi ibimbophile.

₃₀Kwathi ngangomuso ifuna ukwazi iqiniso lalokho amangalelwe ngakho ngabaJuda, yamkhulula, yayala ukuba abapristi abakhulu nomphakathi wonke ubuthane, yamehlisa uPawulu phambi kwabo.

₁UPawulu wayesegqolozela umphakathi, wathi: “Madoda, bazalwane, mina ngihambile phambi kukaNkulunkulu nginonembeza wonke omuhle kuze kube namuhla.” ₂Kepha umpristi omkhulu u-Ananiya wayala ababemi khona ukuba bamshaye umlomo. ₃Khona uPawulu wathi kuye: “UNkulunkulu uzakukushaya wena ludonga olucakiweyo; uhlalele ukungahlulela ngokomthetho, kodwa ngokuphambene nomthetho uyala ukuba ngishaywe na?”

₄Ababemi khona base bethi: “Uthuka umpristi omkhulu kaNkulunkulu na?”

₅UPawulu wayesethi: “Bengingazi, bazalwane, ukuthi ungumpristi omkhulu; ngokuba kulotshiwe ukuthi:

₆Kepha kwathi uPawulu azi ukuthi enye inxenye yabo ingabaSadusi nenye ingabaFarisi, wamemeza emphakathini, wathi: “Madoda, bazalwane, ngingumFarisi mina, ngiyindodana yabaFarisi; ngimangalelwa ngethemba nangokuvuka kwabafileyo.” ₇Eseshilo lokho, kwavela ukuphambana phakathi kwabaFarisi nabaSadusi, ibandla lahlukana kabili. ₈Ngokuba abaSadusi bathi akukho ukuvuka kwabafileyo, nangelosi, namoya, kepha abaFarisi bavuma kokubili.

₉Kwase kuvela umsindo omkhulu, kwasukuma abathile kubabhali benxenye yabaFarisi, balwa kakhulu, bathi: “Asifumani lutho olubi kulo muntu; uma, pho, kukhulume kuye umoya noma ingelosi na?” ₁₀Kwathi sekuvele isiyaluyalu esikhulu, induna yenkulungwane yesaba ukuba uPawulu angadwengulwa yibo, yayala impi ukuba yehle imhlwithe phakathi kwabo, imyise ekamu.*

₁₁Ngobusuku obulandelayo iNkosi yema ngakuye, yathi: “Yima isibindi; njengalokho ufakaze ngami eJerusalema, ngokunjalo umelwe ukufakaza naseRoma.”

₁₂Kwathi sekusile, abaJuda benza iqeqeba, bazilokothela bethi abayikudla, bangaphuzi, bengakambulali uPawulu. ₁₃Babengaphezu kwamashumi amane ababenze lelo cebo. ₁₄Bona base beza kubapristi abakhulu nasemalungeni, bathi: “Sizibophe ngesilokothelo sokuthi asiyikuzwa ukudla size simbulale uPawulu. ₁₅Manje-ke nina kanye nomphakathi yazisani induna yenkulungwane ukuba imehlisele kini ngokungathi nizakuhlolisisa indaba yakhe; thina-ke silungele ukumbulala engakasondeli.”

₁₆Kepha indodana kadadewabo kaPawulu yezwa ngokumqamekela kwabo, yafika yangena ekamu,* yambikela uPawulu.

₁₇UPawulu wayesebiza enye induna yekhulu, wathi: “Yisa le nsizwa enduneni yenkulungwane, ngokuba inento ezakuyibika kuyo.” ₁₈Yayisiyithatha-ke, yayiyisa enduneni yenkulungwane, yathi: “Isiboshwa uPawulu singibizile, sacela ukuba ngilethe le nsizwa kuwe, inento ezakukutshela yona.”

₁₉Induna yenkulungwane yayisiyibamba ngesandla, yagudluka nayo, yayibuza bebodwa, yathi: “Kuyini ozakungibikela khona na?”

₂₀Yathi: “AbaJuda bavumelene ukucela kuwe ukuba wehlisele uPawulu emphakathini ngomuso ngokungathi bazakuhlolisisa indaba yakhe. ₂₁Ngakho-ke wena ungabavumeli, ngokuba kubona amqamekele amadoda angaphezu kwamashumi amane azilokotheleyo ukuba angadli, angaphuzi, engakambulali; manje-ke sebelungele bebheke isithembiso sakho.”

₂₂Khona induna yenkulungwane yayisiyimukisa insizwa, isiyiyalile ukuba ingatsheli muntu ukuthi imbikele lokho.

₂₃Yayisibiza izinduna zekhulu ezimbili, yathi: “Lungisani amabutho angamakhulu amabili alungele ukuya eKesariya ngehora lesithathu lasebusuku, kanye nezinkweli ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa, nabemikhonto abangamakhulu amabili, ₂₄kulungiselwe futhi izilwane, ukuze bakhwelise uPawulu, bamyise kahle kuFeliksi umbusi,” ₂₅yaloba incwadi ehlelwe kanje:

₂₆UKlawudiyu Lisiya kuye uFeliksi umbusi odumileyo; ngiyakubingelela.

₂₇Le ndoda ibibanjwe ngabaJuda; ibisizakubulawa yibo, ngafika namabutho, ngayophula sengizwile ukuba ingumRoma. ₂₈Ngathi ngifuna ukwazi icala abayimangalela ngalo, ngayehlisela emphakathini wabo; ₂₉ngayifumana imangalelwe ngezindaba zomthetho wakubo, kepha engamangalelwa ngalutho olufanele ukufa nokuba ukuboshwa. ₃₀Sekudaluliwe kimi ukuthi kukhona icebo ngaleyo ndoda, ngase ngiyithumela kuwe masinyane, ngibayalile nabayimangalelayo ukuba bakhulume ngayo phambi kwakho.

₃₁Khona amabutho ayesemthatha uPawulu njengokuyalwa kwawo, amyisa e-Antipatheri ebusuku. ₃₂Kepha ngangomuso ashiya izinkweli ukuba zihambe naye; wona abuyela ekamu;* ₃₃lezo sezifikile eKesariya zanika umbusi incwadi, zamisa uPawulu phambi kwakhe. ₃₄Eseyifundile wambuza ukuthi ungowasiphi isifunda; esezwile ukuthi ungowaseKhilikhiya, ₃₅wathi: “Ngiyakuyizwa kahle indaba yakho, nxa sebefikile abakumangalelayo.” Wayala ukuba alondwe enqabeni kaHerode.

₁Emva kwezinsuku eziyisihlanu umpristi omkhulu u-Ananiya wewuka kanye namalunga athile nommeli othile uTertulu; laba bammangalela uPawulu kumbusi. ₂Yena esebiziwe, uTertulu waqala ukumbeka icala, ethi: “Lokho ukuthi ngenxa yakho sitholile ukuthula okukhulu nangokubonelela kwakho lesi sizwe senzelwe okuhle okuningi ₃siyakwamukela ngezikhathi zonke nasezindaweni zonke ngokubonga okukhulu, Feliksi odumileyo. ₄Kepha ukuba ngingakubambezeli, ngiyakuncenga ukuba ngobumnene bakho usizwe ngokufushane.

₅“Ngokuba le ndoda siyifumene iyishinga ivusa ukwambuka phakathi kwabaJuda ezweni lonke, iyinhloko yehlelo lamaNazaretha, ₆yalinga nokungcolisa ithempeli; sayibamba, sathanda ukuyahlulela ngomthetho wakithi. ₇Kepha kwafika uLisiya induna yenkulungwane, wamthatha ngendluzula enkulu ezandleni zethu, ₈eyala abambeka icala ukuba beze kuwe, ukuze umbuzisise wena uqobo, uzwe ngakho konke esimmangalela ngakho.”

₉NabaJuda bakuvuma lokho, bathi kunjalo.

₁₀Umbusi esemqhwebile ukuba akhulume, uPawulu waphendula wathi: “Lokhu ngiyazi ukuthi sekuyiminyaka eminingi ungumahluleli kulesi sizwe, ngiyaziphendulela ngesibindi; ₁₁futhi ungaqonda ukuthi akungaphezu kwezinsuku eziyishumi nambili ngikhuphukile ukuyokhuleka eJerusalema; ₁₂abangifumananga ngiphikisana namuntu, nakuba ngivusa isiphithiphithi esixukwini, nasethempelini, nasemasinagogeni,* nasemzini, ₁₃futhi bangekuqinise kuwe lokhu abangibeka icala ngakho manje. ₁₄Kepha ngiyavuma lokhu kuwe ukuthi ngeNdlela abathi iyihlelo ngiyamkhonza ngokunjalo uNkulunkulu wawobaba, ngikholwa yikho konke okulotshiwe emthethweni nakubaprofethi; ₁₅nginethemba kuNkulunkulu abalibheka nabo uqobo lokuthi kuyakuba khona ukuvuka kwabafileyo, okwabalungile nokwabangalungile. ₁₆Kulokhu nami ngiyazama ukuba njalo ngibe nonembeza ongenacala phambi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu.

₁₇“Kwathi emva kweminyaka eminingi ngafika ukuletha izipho esizweni sakithi neminikelo, ₁₈okuthe ngikulokho bangifumana ethempelini ngihlanjululiwe, kungekho isixuku nomsindo, ₁₉abaJuda abathile base-Asiya ababefanele ukuvela phambi kwakho, bangimangalele, uma benotho ngami. ₂₀Nokuba mabasho laba ukuthi bafumanani okungalungile mhla ngimi phambi komphakathi, ₂₁ngaphandle kwalelo zwi elilodwa engalimemeza ngimi phakathi kwabo lokuthi: ‘Ngokuvuka kwabafileyo mina ngimangalelwa yinina namuhla.’ ”

₂₂Kepha uFeliksi ekwazi ngokuchachileyo okwaleyo Ndlela wabahlehlisa ethi: “Lapho uLisiya induna yenkulungwane esewukile, ngizakuyinquma indaba yenu,” ₂₃wayala induna yekhulu ukuba agcinwe, kepha abe nenkululeko, kunganqatshelwa muntu wakubo ukumkhonza.

₂₄Kepha emva kwezinsuku ezithile wafika uFeliksi noDrusila umkakhe owayengumJudakazi, wabiza uPawulu, wamuzwa ngokukholwa nguKristu Jesu. ₂₅Esakhuluma ngokulunga, nangokuzithiba, nangokwahlulela okuzayo, uFeliksi washaywa luvalo, waphendula wathi: “Okwamanje hamba; kepha nxa ngithola isikhathi, ngizakukubiza,” ₂₆wethemba futhi ukuthi uzakunikwa imali nguPawulu; ngalokho wayehleze embiza, ekhuluma naye.

₂₇Kepha sekuphelile iminyaka emibili, uFeliksi walandelwa nguPorkiyu Festu; kodwa uFeliksi efuna ukubongwa ngabaJuda washiya uPawulu eboshiwe.