To The Word – Day 86

₁Njengokuba abaningi sebezamile ukulanda ngokuhlelekile ngalezo zindaba ezigcwaliseke phakathi kwethu, ₂njengalokho basinika zona labo ababekhona kwasekuqaleni, bezibonela ngamehlo, beyizikhonzi zezwi, ₃kwasengathi kuhle nakimina, lokhu ngizihlolisisile zonke izinto, kusukela ekuqaleni, ngikulobele ngokulandelana, Theyofilu odumileyo, ₄ukuze wazi ukuqiniseka kwalezo zindaba ozifundisiweyo.

₅Emihleni kaHerode inkosi yaseJudiya kwakukhona umpristi othile ogama lakhe nguZakariya, esigabeni sika-Abiya, nomkakhe engowamadodakazi ka-Aroni, igama lakhe ngu-Elisabethe. ₆Babelungile bobabili phambi kukaNkulunkulu behamba ngayo yonke imiyalo nezimiso zeNkosi, bengasoleki. ₇Kepha babengenamntwana, ngokuba u-Elisabethe wayeyinyumba; bobabili base bekhulile.

₈Kwathi-ke esayenza inkonzo yobupristi phambi kukaNkulunkulu njengokuhlelwa kwesikhathi sesigaba sakubo, ₉ngokomthetho wobupristi kwaba nguye owabelwa ukungena ethempelini leNkosi, azoshisa impepho. ₁₀Isixuku sonke sabantu sasikhuleka ngaphandle ngesikhathi sempepho.

₁₁Kwabonakala kuye ingelosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene se-altare lempepho. ₁₂UZakariya eyibona wethuka, wehlelwa luvalo. ₁₃Kepha ingelosi yathi kuye: “Ungesabi, Zakariya, ngokuba isicelo sakho sizwakele; umkakho u-Elisabethe uzakukuzalela indodana, uyiqambe igama lokuthi uJohane. ₁₄Uzakuba nokujabula nokuthokoza wena; nabaningi bazakujabula ngokuzalwa kwakhe. ₁₅Ngokuba uzakuba mkhulu emehlweni eNkosi; kasoze waphuza iwayini nophuzo oludakisayo; uzakugcwaliswa nguMoya oNgcwele esesesiswini sikanina. ₁₆Abaningi kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli uyakubaphendulela eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo. ₁₇Uyakuhamba ngaphambi kwayo emoyeni nasemandleni ka-Eliya ukuphendulela izinhliziyo zawoyise kubantwana nabangalaleliyo ekuqondeni kwabalungileyo, ukulungisela iNkosi isizwe esilungiselweyo.”

₁₈UZakariya wathi engelosini: “Ngiyakukwazi ngani lokhu na? Ingani sengiyindoda endala mina, nomkami uqhubekile ezinsukwini zakhe.”

₁₉Ingelosi yaphendula, yathi kuye: “NginguGabriyeli mina, omiyo phambi kukaNkulunkulu; ngithunyiwe ukuba ngikhulume kuwe, ngikubikele lezi zindaba ezinhle. ₂₀Bheka-ke, uzakuba yisimungulu, ungakwazi ukukhuluma kuze kube lusuku okwenzeka ngalo lokhu, ngokuba ungakholwanga ngamazwi ami azakugcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo.”

₂₁Abantu bemlindele uZakariya bamangala ngokulibala kwakhe ethempelini. ₂₂Kuthe esephuma, wahluleka ukukhuluma kubo; bazi ukuthi ubone umbono ethempelini; wayelokhu ebaqhweba, wahlala eyisimungulu.

₂₃Kwathi seziphelile izinsuku zokukhonza kwakhe, wamuka waya ekhaya. ₂₄Kepha emva kwalezo zinsuku u-Elisabethe umkakhe wakhulelwa, wazifihla izinyanga eziyisihlanu, wathi: ₂₅“Yenze njalo iNkosi kimi emihleni eyangibheka ngayo ukususa ihlazo lami phakathi kwabantu.”

₂₆Ngenyanga yesithupha ingelosi uGabriyeli yathunywa nguNkulunkulu emzini waseGalile ogama lawo yiNazaretha, ₂₇entombini eyayimiselwe indoda ebizo layo nguJosefa wendlu kaDavide; ibizo lentombi nguMariya. ₂₈Yangena ingelosi kuye, yathi: “E wena ophiwe umusa! INkosi inawe; ubusisiwe esifazaneni.”

₂₉Kepha yena wethuka ngezwi layo ezindla ngokuthi kungaba ngukubingelela kuni lokhu. ₃₀Ingelosi yathi kuye: “Ungesabi, Mariya, ngokuba ufumene umusa kuNkulunkulu. ₃₁Bheka, uzakukhulelwa, uzale indodana, uyiqambe igama lokuthi uJesu. ₃₂Yena uyakuba mkhulu, athiwe iNdodana yoPhezukonke; iNkosi uNkulunkulu iyakumnika isihlalo sobukhosi sikayise uDavide; ₃₃uyakuba yinkosi yendlu kaJakobe kuze kube phakade, nombuso wakhe awuyikuba nakuphela.”

₃₄UMariya wathi engelosini: “Lokhu kuyakwenzeka kanjani, njengokuba ngingayazi indoda na?”

₃₅Ingelosi yaphendula, yathi kuye: “UMoya oNgcwele uzakuza phezu kwakho, amandla oPhezukonke akusibekele; ngakho-ke okungcwele okuzozalwa kuzakuthiwa iNdodana kaNkulunkulu. ₃₆Bheka, u-Elisabethe isihlobo sakho naye ukhulelwe indodana esemdala; lena ngeyesithupha yakhe obethiwa inyumba. ₃₇Ngokuba akukho lutho olungenzeke kuNkulunkulu.”

₃₈UMariya wathi: “Bheka, ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi; akube kimi njengezwi lakho.” Ingelosi yamuka kuye.

₃₉Ngalezo zinsuku uMariya wasuka waya ngokushesha kwelezintaba emzini wakwaJuda. ₄₀Wangena endlini kaZakariya, wambingelela u-Elisabethe. ₄₁Kwathi ukuba u-Elisabethe ezwe ukubingelela kukaMariya, umntwana waxhuma esiswini sakhe; u-Elisabethe wagcwala uMoya oNgcwele, ₄₂wamemeza ngezwi elikhulu, wathi: “Ubusisiwe wena esifazaneni! Sibusisiwe nesithelo sesisu sakho! ₄₃Ngehlelwe kanjani yilokhu ukuba unina weNkosi yami ahambele kimi na? ₄₄Ngokuba bheka, kuthe izwi lokubingelela kwakho lifika ezindlebeni zami, umntwana waxhuma esiswini sami ngokujabula. ₄₅Ubusisiwe owakholwayo, ngokuba kuzakuba khona ukufezeka kwalokho akutshelwa, kuvela eNkosini.”

₄₆Wayesethi uMariya:

₅₆UMariya wahlala naye kungathi izinyanga ezintathu, wabuyela ekhaya.

₅₇Saphelela-ke isikhathi sika-Elisabethe sokuba abelethe; wazala indodana. ₅₈Abakhelene naye nezihlobo zakhe bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yenze isihawu sayo saba sikhulu kuye, bathokoza naye.

₅₉Kwathi ngosuku lwesishiyagalombili beza ukusoka umntwana, bamqamba ngegama likayise uZakariya. ₆₀Unina wayesephendula ethi: “Qhabo, uzakuthiwa uJohane.”

₆₁Bathi kuye: “Akakho noyedwa emndenini wakini obizwa ngalelo gama.”

₆₂Bamqhweba uyise ukuthi ufuna ukumqamba ngaliphi. ₆₃Wabiza isileti,* waloba ukuthi. “NguJohane igama lakhe.” Bamangala bonke. ₆₄Kwase kuvuleka umlomo wakhe khona lapho nolimi lwakhe, wakhuluma embonga uNkulunkulu. ₆₅Bonke abakhelene nabo behlelwa ngukwesaba, bakhuluma ngazo zonke lezo zindaba kulo lonke lezintaba laseJudiya, ₆₆nabo bonke abazizwayo bazigcina ezinhliziyweni zabo, bethi: “Kodwa lo mntwana uyakuba yini na?” Isandla seNkosi sasinaye.

₆₇UZakariya uyise wagcwala uMoya oNgcwele, waprofetha wathi:

₈₀Wakhula-ke umntwana, waba namandla emoyeni; wahlala ehlane kwaze kwaba lusuku lokubonakaliswa kwakhe ku-Israyeli.

₁Kwathi ngalezo zinsuku kwaphuma isimemezelo kuKesari Awugustu sokuba kubalwe izwe lonke. ₂Lokhu kubalwa kokuqala kwenziwa uKhureniyu engumbusi waseSiriya. ₃Bonke baya kubalwa, yilowo nalowo emzini wakubo.

₄Naye uJosefa wakhuphuka ephuma eGalile emzini waseNazaretha, waya eJudiya emzini kaDavide othiwa iBetlehema, ngokuba wayengowendlu nozalo lukaDavide, ₅ukuyobalwa kanye noMariya owayemmiselwe ukuba abe ngumkakhe, ekhulelwe. ₆Kwathi-ke beselapho, zaphelela izinsuku zokuba abelethe. ₇Wazibula ngendodana, wayembesa, wayilalisa emkhombeni, ngokuba bantula indawo endlini yezihambi.

₈Kwakukhona abelusi kulelo zwe ababehlezi endle, belinda umhlambi wabo ebusuku. ₉Ingelosi yeNkosi yema phambi kwabo, inkazimulo yeNkosi yabakhanyisa nxazonke; besaba ngokwesaba okukhulu. ₁₀Ingelosi yathi kubo: “Ningesabi; ngokuba bhekani, nginibikela izindaba ezinhle zokuthokoza okukhulu okuzakuba kubantu bonke, ₁₁ukuthi nizalelwe namuhla uMsindisi onguKristu iNkosi emzini kaDavide. ₁₂Nalokhu kuyisiboniso kini: niyakufumana umntwana embesiwe, elele emkhombeni.”

₁₃Masinyane kwaba khona kanye nengelosi uquqaba lwebandla lasezulwini, lumdumisa uNkulunkulu, luthi:

₁₅Kwathi ukuba zimuke kubo izingelosi ziya ezulwini, abelusi bakhuluma bodwa, bathi: “Asihambe manje, size sifike eBetlehema, sibone leyo nto eyenzekileyo iNkosi esazisile yona.”

₁₆Bephuthuma bafika, bafumanisa oMariya noJosefa, nomntwana olele emkhombeni. ₁₇Sebebonile balanda ngalelo zwi ababetshelwe lona ngalowo mntwana. ₁₈Bonke abezwayo bamangala ngokukhulunywe kubo ngabelusi. ₁₉Kepha uMariya wagcina onke lawo mazwi ezindla ngawo enhliziyweni yakhe. ₂₀Babuya-ke abelusi bemdumisa, bembonga uNkulunkulu ngakho konke abakuzwileyo nabakubonileyo, njengalokho kwakukhulunyiwe kubo.

₂₁Kwathi seziphelile izinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili zokuba umntwana asokwe, igama lakhe lathiwa uJesu, elaliqanjiwe yingelosi, engakathatshathwa esiswini.

₂₂Kwathi ukuba kuphelele izinsuku zokuhlanjululwa kwabo ngokomthetho kaMose, benyukela naye eJerusalema ukuba bammise phambi kweNkosi ₂₃njengokulotshiwe emthethweni weNkosi ukuthi: “Konke okwesilisa okuyizibulo kuyakuthiwa okwahlukaniselwe iNkosi”, ₂₄banikele ngomhlatshelo njengokushiwo emthethweni weNkosi: “Amahobhe amabili noma amaphuphu amabili amajuba.”

₂₅Bheka, kwakukhona umuntu eJerusalema ogama lakhe linguSimeyoni; lo muntu wayelungile, emesaba uNkulunkulu, ebhekile induduzo ka-Israyeli; noMoya oNgcwele wayephezu kwakhe. ₂₆Kwakubonakalisiwe kuye ngoMoya oNgcwele ukuthi akayikubona ukufa engakamboni uKristu weNkosi. ₂₇Wafika ngoMoya ethempelini. Kwathi ukuba abazali balethe umntwana uJesu ethempelini ukuba benze kuye njengesiko lomthetho, ₂₈wamamukela ngokumgona, wambonga uNkulunkulu, wathi:

₃₃Uyise nonina bamangala ngalokho okukhulunywa ngaye. ₃₄USimeyoni wababusisa, wathi kuMariya unina: “Bheka, lo umiselwe ukuwa nokuvuka kwabaningi ku-Israyeli, nesibonakaliso esiphikwayo – ₃₅yebo, inkemba iyakudabula nowakho umphefumulo – ukuba kwambulwe izizindlo zezinhliziyo eziningi.”

₃₆Kwakukhona nomprofethikazi, u-Ana, indodakazi kaFanuweli, owesizwe sika-Aseri; wayesekhulile kakhulu, ebehlalile nendoda iminyaka eyisikhombisa emva kobuntombi bakhe, ₃₇engumfelokazi waze waba neminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalombili nane, engasuki ethempelini, ekhonza ngokuzila nangokukhuleka ubusuku nemini. ₃₈Naye-ke efika ngasona leso sikhathi wamtusa uNkulunkulu, wakhuluma ngaye kubo bonke ababebheke ukukhululwa kweJerusalema.

₃₉Kwathi sebefeze konke okungokomthetho weNkosi babuyela eGalile emzini wakubo iNazaretha. ₄₀Wakhula umntwana, waba namandla, wagcwala ukuhlakanipha; nomusa kaNkulunkulu wawuphezu kwakhe.

₄₁Abazali bakhe baya eJerusalema iminyaka yonke ngomkhosi wePhasika. ₄₂Eseneminyaka eyishumi nambili, bakhuphuka njengokomthetho womkhosi. ₄₃Sebeziqedile izinsuku, ekubuyeni kwabo, umntwana uJesu wasala eJerusalema, abazali bakhe bengazi. ₄₄Bethi-ke bona uphakathi kwabahambisana nabo bahamba ibanga losuku, bamfuna phakathi kwezihlobo nabazana nabo. ₄₅Bengamtholi babuyela eJerusalema, bemfuna. ₄₆Kwathi emva kwezinsuku ezintathu bamfumana ethempelini ehlezi phakathi kwabafundisi, ebezwa, ebabuza. ₄₇Bonke ababemuzwa bamangala ngokuqonda nangokuphendula kwakhe. ₄₈Bathi bembona, bamangala; unina wathi kuye: “Mntanami, usenzeleni okunje na? Bheka, uyihlo nami besikufuna silusizi.”

₄₉Wathi kubo: “Kukanjani, beningifunelani na? Beningazi yini ukuthi kumelwe ukuba ngibe kokukaBaba na?” ₅₀Abaliqondanga lelo zwi abelikhuluma kubo.

₅₁Wehla nabo, wafika eNazaretha, wabathobela. Kepha unina wawagcina onke lawa mazwi enhliziyweni yakhe. ₅₂UJesu waqhubeka ekuhlakanipheni, nasekukhuleni, nasemseni kuNkulunkulu nakubantu.

₁Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nanhlanu wokubusa kukaTiberiyu Kesari, uPontiyu Pilatu engumbusi waseJudiya, uHerode engumtetrarki* waseGalile, uFiliphu umfowabo engumtetrarki wezwe lase-Itureya nelaseTrakhoniti, uLisaniya engumtetrarki wase-Abilene, ₂u-Anase engumpristi omkhulu noKayafase, kwafika izwi likaNkulunkulu kuJohane indodana kaZakariya ehlane. ₃Weza ezweni lonke laseJordani eshumayela umbhapathizo wokuphenduka, kube ngukuthethelelwa kwezono, ₄njengokuba kulotshiwe encwadini yamazwi ka-Isaya umprofethi ukuthi:

₇Ngakho-ke wathi ezixukwini ezaziphumela ukubhapathizwa nguye: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ubani onibonise ukubalekela intukuthelo ezayo na? ₈Ngakho vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka, ningaqali ukuthi phakathi kini: ‘Sinobaba u-Abrahama;’ ngokuba ngithi kini: UNkulunkulu unamandla okumvusela u-Abrahama abantwana kulawa matshe. ₉Namanje izembe selibekiwe empandeni yemithi; ngakho yonke imithi engatheli isithelo esihle iyanqunywa, iphonswe emlilweni.”

₁₀Izixuku zambuza zathi: “Pho, sizakwenzani na?”

₁₁Waphendula, wathi kubo: “Onezingubo ezimbili akamuphe ongenayo; naye onokudla enze njalo.”

₁₂Kwafika nabathelisi ukuba babhapathizwe, bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, sizakwenzani na?”

₁₃Wathi kubo: “Ningabizi lutho ngaphezu kwenikumiselweyo.”

₁₄Namabutho ambuza athi: “Thina-ke, sizakwenzani na?”

Wathi kuwo: “Ningamuki muntu lutho ngendluzula, ningamxabheleli; yaneliswani yizinkokhelo zenu.”

₁₅Abantu besabhekile, bezindla bonke ezinhliziyweni zabo ngoJohane ukuthi ingabe unguKristu yini, ₁₆uJohane waphendula, wathi kubo bonke: “Mina kambe nginibhapathiza ngamanzi, kepha uyeza onamandla kunami engingafanele ukuthukulula umchilo wezicathulo zakhe; yena uzakunibhapathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele nangomlilo; ₁₇oqoma lakhe lokwela lisesandleni sakhe ukushanelisisa isibuya sakhe nokubuthela ukolweni enqolobaneni yakhe; kepha amakhoba uzakuwashisa ngomlilo ongacimekiyo.” ₁₈Nangokunye okuningi washumayela ivangeli kubantu, ebayala.

₁₉Kepha uHerode umtetrarki,* esolwa nguye ngenxa kaHerodiya umkamfowabo nangenxa yakho konke okubi abekwenzile uHerode, ₂₀wenezela nalokhu kokunye konke, wamvalela uJohane etilongweni.

₂₁Kwathi bebhapathiziwe abantu bonke, naye uJesu esebhapathiziwe, ekhuleka, izulu lavuleka, ₂₂uMoya oNgcwele enesimo somzimba njengejuba wehlela phezu kwakhe; kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: “Wena uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo; ngithokozile ngawe.”

₂₃Yena uJesu, ukuqala kwakhe, wayeneminyaka engaba ngamashumi amathathu, eyindodana, njengokushiwoyo, kaJosefa ka-Eli ₂₄kaMathati kaLevi kaMeliki kaJanayi kaJosefa ₂₅kaMatathiya ka-Amose kaNahume ka-Eseli kaNagayi ₂₆kaMati, kaMatathiya kaSemeyini kaJosefa kaJuda ₂₇kaJohanani kaResa kaZorobabeli kaSalatiyeli kaNeri ₂₈kaMeliki ka-Adi kaKosamu ka-Elimadamu ka-Eri ₂₉kaJose ka-Eliyezeri kaJorimi kaMathati kaLevi ₃₀kaSimeyoni kaJuda kaJosefa kaJonamu ka-Eliyakimi ₃₁kaMeleya kaMena kaMathata kaNathamu kaDavide ₃₂kaJesayi ka-Obede kaBowasi kaSala kaNasoni ₃₃ka-Aminadaba ka-Adameyini ka-Arani ka-Esiromu kaFaresi kaJuda ₃₄kaJakobe ka-Isaka ka-Abrahama kaThara kaNahori ₃₅kaSeruki kaRagawu kaFaleki ka-Ebere kaSala ₃₆kaKayinamu ka-Arfakisadi kaSemi kaNowa kaLameka ₃₇kaMathusala ka-Enoke kaJarethi kaMaleleyeli kaKayinani ₃₈ka-Enose kaSeti ka-Adamu kaNkulunkulu.

₁UJesu egcwele uMoya oNgcwele wabuya eJordani, waholekela ngoMoya ehlane, ₂elingwa nguSathane izinsuku ezingamashumi amane. Akadlanga lutho kulezo zinsuku; seziphelile, walamba.

₃Wayesethi kuye uSathane: “Uma uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, yisho kuleli tshe ukuba libe yisinkwa.”

₄UJesu wamphendula wathi: “Kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Akusinkwa sodwa umuntu azakuphila ngaso.’ ”

₅Esemenyusela entabeni ende wambonisa imibuso yonke yezwe ngomzuzwanyana. ₆USathane wathi kuye: “Amandla onke lana ngokunika wena kanye nenkazimulo yawo, ngokuba inikwe mina, futhi ngiyinika noma ubani ngokuthanda kwami. ₇Ngakho-ke wena, uma ukhuleka phambi kwami, konke kuzakuba ngokwakho.”

₈UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Wokhuleka eNkosini uNkulunkulu wakho, umkhonze yena yedwa.’ ”

₉Wayesemholela eJerusalema, wammisa esiqongweni sethempeli, wathi kuye: “Uma uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, ziphonse phansi lapha, ₁₀ngokuba kulotshiwe ukuthi:

₁₂UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Kwathiwa: ‘Ungayilingi iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho.’ ”

₁₃USathane eseqede ukulinga konke wamuka kuye isikhathi.

₁₄UJesu wabuyela eGalile ngamandla kaMoya; udumo lwakhe lwanda kulo lonke izwe langakhona. ₁₅Wafundisa emasinagogeni* abo edunyiswa yibo bonke.

₁₆Wafika eNazaretha, lapho wayondliwa khona, wangena esinagogeni* ngosuku lwesabatha njengokwenza kwakhe, wasukumela ukufunda. ₁₇Wanikwa incwadi ka-Isaya umprofethi, wayivula incwadi, wafumana indawo okulotshwe kuyo ukuthi:

₂₀Wayigoqonga incwadi, wayinika isikhonzi, wahlala; amehlo abo bonke ababesesinagogeni* amgqolozela. ₂₁Waqala ukukhuluma kubo, ethi: “Namhlanje ugcwalisekile lo mbhalo ezindlebeni zenu.”

₂₂Bonke bamfakazela bemangala ngamazwi omusa aphuma emlonyeni wakhe, bathi: “Lo akasiyo indodana kaJosefa na?”

₂₃Wathi kubo: “Nempela niyakusho kimi lesi saga sokuthi: ‘Nyanga, zelaphe wena.’ Lokho esikuzwile kwenziwa eKapernawume, kwenze nalapha ezweni lakini.”

₂₄Wathi-ke: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Akukho mprofethi owamukelwa ezweni lakubo. ₂₅Kepha ngempela ngithi kini: Kwakukhona kwa-Israyeli abafelokazi abaningi emihleni ka-Eliya, lapho izulu lalivalekile iminyaka emithathu nezinyanga eziyisithupha, kwaba khona indlala enkulu ezweni lonke; ₂₆kepha u-Eliya kathunyelwanga nakoyedwa kubona, kuphela eSarepita laseSidoni kowesifazane ongumfelokazi. ₂₇Kwakukhona futhi kwa-Israyeli abanochoko abaningi ngesikhathi sika-Elisha umprofethi; kepha akuhlanjululwanga namunye kubo, kuphela uNayimani umSiriya.”

₂₈Bonke ababesesinagogeni* bagcwala ulaka bekuzwa lokho. ₂₉Basukuma, bamxosha emzini, bamqhubela ekwengameni kwentaba umuzi wabo owakhiwe phezu kwayo, ukuze bamkhalakathelisele phansi. ₃₀Kepha yena edabula phakathi kwabo wamuka.

₃₁Wehlela eKapernawume umuzi waseGalile. Wayebafundisa ngosuku lwesabatha. ₃₂Bamangala ngokufundisa kwakhe, ngokuba izwi lakhe lalinamandla.

₃₃Kwakukhona esinagogeni* umuntu onomoya wedemoni elingcolileyo, wamemeza ngezwi elikhulu, wathi: ₃₄“Hhiya! Sinamsebenzi muni nawe Jesu waseNazaretha? Uze ukusibhubhisa na? Ngiyakwazi ukuba ungubani: ungoNgcwele kaNkulunkulu.”

₃₅UJesu wamkhuza wathi: “Thula, uphume kuye!” Idemoni lamphonsa phansi phakathi kwabo, laphuma kuye lingamlimazanga.

₃₆Behlelwa ngukwesaba bonke, bakhuluma bodwa, bathi: “Yizwi lini leli lokuba ayale omoya abangcolileyo ngegunya nangamandla, baphume?” ₃₇Kwanda udumo ngaye kuzo zonke izindawo zangakhona.

₃₈Wasuka esinagogeni,* wangena endlini kaSimoni. Kepha umkhwekazi kaSimoni wayebanjwe ngumkhuhlane omkhulu; bamnxusa ngaye. ₃₉Wamengama, wakhuza umkhuhlane; wona wamyeka; wasuka masinyane, wabakhonza.

₄₀Ukushona kwelanga bonke ababe nabagulayo izifo ngezifo babaletha kuye; ebeka izandla phezu kwabo ngabanye wabaphulukisa. ₄₁Kwaphuma namademoni kwabaningi ememeza ethi: “Wena uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.” Kepha wawakhuza, kawavumelanga ukuba akhulume, ngokuba ayemazi ukuthi unguKristu.

₄₂Sekusile, waphuma waya endaweni eyihlane; izixuku zamfuna, zaze zafika kuye impela, zambamba ukuba angamuki kuzo. ₄₃Kepha wathi kuzo: “Nakweminye imizi ngimelwe ukushumayela ivangeli lombuso kaNkulunkulu, ngokuba ngithunyelwe lokho.” ₄₄Washumayela emasinagogeni* aseGalile.

₁Kwathi isixuku simbunganyela ukuba sizwe izwi likaNkulunkulu, wayemi ngaselwandle lwaseGenesaretha, ₂wabona imikhumbi emibili imi ngaselwandle; abadobi babephumile kuyo behlanza amanetha. ₃Esengene komunye wemikhumbi ongokaSimoni wamcela ukuba asuke kancane emhlabathini. Wahlala phansi, wabafundisa abantu esemkhunjini.

₄Kuthe esegcinile ukukhuluma, wathi kuSimoni: “Qhubekela ekujuleni, nehlise amanetha enu, nibambe.”

₅USimoni waphendula wathi: “Nkosi, sishikile ubusuku bonke, asibambanga lutho; kepha ngezwi lakho ngiyakuwehlisa amanetha.”

₆Sebekwenzile lokho babamba izinhlanzi eziningi kakhulu, aze agqabuka amanetha abo. ₇Babaqhweba omana babo abakomunye umkhumbi ukuba beze, bababambise. Beza-ke, bayigcwalisa imikhumbi yomibili, yaze yathi ayizike.

₈Kuthe uSimoni Petru ekubona lokho, waziphonsa phansi ngasemadolweni kaJesu, wathi: “Suka kimi, Nkosi, ngokuba ngingumuntu oyisoni.” ₉Ngokuba ubehlelwa ngukwesaba, yena kanye nabo bonke ababe naye, ngobuningi bezinhlanzi ababezibambile, ₁₀kanjalo-ke noJakobe noJohane amadodana kaZebedewu ababesebenzisana noSimoni.

UJesu wathi kuSimoni: “Ungesabi; kusukela manje uzakubamba abantu.” ₁₁Sebeyilethile imikhumbi emhlabathini bashiya konke, bamlandela.

₁₂Kwathi ekomunye wemizi, bheka, nanso indoda egcwele uchoko. Kuthe embona uJesu, wawa ngobuso, wamnxusa wathi: “Nkosi, uma uthanda, ungangihlambulula.”

₁₃Welula isandla sakhe, wamphatha, wathi: “Ngiyathanda; hlambuluka.” Masinyane uchoko lwasuka kuye.

₁₄Wamyala ukuba angatsheli muntu, wathi: “Kepha suka, uzibonakalise kumpristi, unikele ngokuhlanjululwa kwakho, njengalokho uMose akuyalayo, kube ngubufakazi kubo.”

₁₅Kwayilapho ukukhuluma ngaye kwanda kakhulu. Zabuthana izixuku eziningi ukuzwa nokuphulukiswa ezifweni zazo. ₁₆Kepha yena wamonyukela ehlane, wakhuleka.

₁₇Kwathi ngolunye lwalezo zinsuku yena esafundisa, kwakuhlezi khona abaFarisi nabafundisi bomthetho ababephuma emizini yonke yaseGalile neJudiya neJerusalema. Namandla eNkosi ayekuye ukuba aphulukise. ₁₈Bheka-ke, nanko amadoda ethwele ohlakeni umuntu ofe uhlangothi, efuna ukumngenisa nokumbeka phambi kwakhe. ₁₉Engafumani ukuthi angamngenisa kanjani ngenxa yesixuku akhwela phezu kwendlu, amehlisa ophahleni kanye nohlaka ngaphakathi phambi kukaJesu.

₂₀Ebona ukukholwa kwawo wathi: “Mngane, uthethelelwe izono zakho.”

₂₁Ababhali nabaFarisi baqala ukuzindla ngokuthi: “Ngubani lo okhuluma ngokuhlambalaza? Ngubani ongathethelela izono ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu yedwa na?”

₂₂Kepha uJesu ezazi izizindlo zabo waphendula, wathi kubo: “Nizindlani ezinhliziyweni zenu na? ₂₃Yikuphi okulula ukuthi: ‘Uthethelelwe izono zakho,’ noma ukuthi: ‘Vuka uhambe,’ na? ₂₄Kepha ukuze nazi ukuthi iNdodana yomuntu inamandla emhlabeni okuthethelela izono,” wayesethi kofe uhlangothi: “Kuwena ngithi: Vuka uthabathe uhlaka lwakho, uye endlini yakho.” ₂₅Wasukuma khona lapho phambi kwabo, wathabatha lokho abelele kukho, wamuka waya endlini yakhe emdumisa uNkulunkulu. ₂₆Ukumangala kwabehlela bonke, bamdumisa uNkulunkulu, bagcwala ukwesaba, bathi: “Sibonile izimanga namuhla.”

₂₇Emva kwalokho waphuma, wabona umthelisi, igama lakhe nguLevi, ehlezi endaweni yokuthela, wathi kuye: “Ngilandele.” ₂₈Washiya konke, wasukuma, wamlandela.

₂₉ULevi wamenzela isidlo esikhulu endlini yakhe; kwakukhona isixuku esikhulu sabathelisi nabanye ababehlezi nabo ekudleni. ₃₀AbaFarisi nababhali bakhonona kubafundi bakhe, bathi: “Yini ukuba nidle niphuze nabathelisi nezoni na?”

₃₁Waphendula uJesu, wathi kubo: “Abaphilileyo abadingi inyanga, ngabagulayo bodwa. ₃₂Kangizelanga ukubiza abalungileyo kodwa izoni ukuba ziphenduke.”

₃₃Base bethi kuye: “Abafundi bakaJohane bazila kaningi, benze imikhuleko, kanjalo nababaFarisi, kepha abakho bayadla, baphuze.”

₃₄Kepha uJesu, wathi kubo: “Ningabazilisa yini abayeni, umyeni esenabo na? ₃₅Kodwa kuzakufika izinsuku, lapho umyeni ezakususwa kubo; yikhona bezakuzila ngalezo zinsuku.”

₃₆Wabatshela nomfanekiso wokuthi: “Akakho odabula isiziba engutsheni entsha, asibekele engutsheni endala; uma enza lokho, uyayona entsha, futhi isiziba sentsha asizukuzwana nendala. ₃₇Futhi akakho othela iwayini elisha ezimvabeni ezindala funa iwayini elisha liqhumise izimvaba, lichitheke lona, nezimvaba zonakale. ₃₈Kodwa iwayini elisha limelwe ukuthelwa ezimvabeni ezintsha. ₃₉Akakho othi ephuze iwayini elidala, afune elisha, ngokuba uthi elidala limnandi.”

₁Kwathi ngesabatha wadabula amasimu; abafundi bakhe bakha izikhwebu, badla bezihlikihla ngezandla. ₂Kepha abathile babaFarisi bathi: “Nenzelani lokho okungavunyelwe ngesabatha na?”

₃UJesu ebaphendula wathi: “Anifundanga yini ngalokho akwenza uDavide mhla elambile yena nababe naye ₄ukuthi wangena endlini kaNkulunkulu, wathatha izinkwa zokubukwa ezingavunyelwe ukudliwa muntu, ngabapristi bodwa, wadla, wanika nababe naye, na?” ₅Wathi kubo: “INdodana yomuntu iyiNkosi neyesabatha.”

₆Kwathi-ke ngelinye isabatha wangena esinagogeni,* wafundisa. Kwakukhona umuntu lapho osandla sakhe sokunene sasishwabene. ₇Ababhali nabaFarisi bamqaphelisisa ukuthi uyaphilisa yini ngesabatha, ukuze bathole ukumbeka icala. ₈Kepha wazazi izizindlo zabo wathi kuyo indoda esandla sishwabene: “Sukuma, ume phakathi.” Wasukuma-ke, wema.

₉UJesu wathi kubo: “Ngiyanibuza ukuthi kuvunyelwe ngesabatha ukwenza okuhle noma okubi yini, ukusindisa umuntu noma ukumbulala, na?”

₁₀Esebaqalazile bonke wathi kuye: “Yelula isandla sakho.” Wenze njalo-ke saze saphiliswa isandla sakhe. ₁₁Base begcwala ukuhlanya, bakhuluma bodwa ngokuthi bangamenze njani uJesu.

₁₂Kwathi ngalezo zinsuku waphuma waya entabeni ukuyokhuleka; wahlala ubusuku bonke ekhuleka kuNkulunkulu. ₁₃Kwathi sekusile, wababiza abafundi bakhe, wakhetha kubo abayishumi nambili, wabaqamba ngokuthi abaphostoli: ₁₄uSimoni owamqamba ngokuthi uPetru, no-Andreya umfowabo, noJakobe, noJohane, noFiliphu, noBartolomewu, ₁₅noMathewu, noTomase, noJakobe ka-Alfewu, noSimoni othiwa isishisekeli, ₁₆noJuda kaJakobe, noJuda Iskariyothe owaba ngumkhapheli.

₁₇Khona wehla nabo, wema endaweni eyithafa kanye nesixuku esikhulu sabafundi bakhe noquqaba lwabantu abavela kulo lonke laseJudiya, naseJerusalema, nangaselwandle lwaseTire neSidoni, ₁₈ababezile ukumuzwa nokuphulukiswa ezifweni zabo; nababekhathazwa ngawomoya abangcolileyo baphulukiswa. ₁₉Isixuku sonke safuna ukumthinta, ngokuba kwakuphuma kuye amandla abaphilisa bonke.

₂₀Wayesephakamisela amehlo akhe ngakubafundi bakhe, wathi:

₂₃“Thokozani ngalolo suku, nigxume; ngokuba bhekani, umvuzo wenu mkhulu ezulwini; ngokuba oyise babo benze njalo kubaprofethi.

₂₇“Kepha ngithi kini enizwayo: Thandani izitha zenu, nenze okuhle kwabanizondayo, ₂₈nibusise abaniqalekisayo, nibakhulekele abanidumazayo. ₂₉Okushaya esihlathini, mnike nesinye; nokwaphuca ingubo, ungamnqabeli nebhantshi. ₃₀Muphe yilowo nalowo ocela kuwe; nokwaphuca okwakho, ungabuyi ukubize kuye. ₃₁Njengalokhu nithanda ukuba abantu benze kini, yenzani njalo kubo.

₃₂“Uma nithanda abanithandayo, ninakubongwa kuni na? Ngokuba nezoni zithanda abazithandayo. ₃₃Ngakho uma nenza okuhle kwabenza okuhle kini, ninakubongwa kuni na? Ngokuba nezoni zenza khona lokho. ₃₄Uma nitsheleka labo enithemba ukwamukela kubo, ninakubongwa kuni na? Nezoni zitsheleka izoni ukuba zamukele okungako. ₃₅Kepha thandani izitha zenu, nenze okuhle, nitsheleke, ningadikibali; nomvuzo wenu uyakuba mkhulu, nibe ngabantwana boPhezukonke, ngokuba umnene yena kwabangabongiyo nababi. ₃₆Yibani nesihawu, njengokuba uYihlo enesihawu.

₃₇“Ningahluleli, khona anisoze nahlulelwa; ningalahli, khona anisoze nalahlwa; thethelelani, khona niyakuthethelelwa. ₃₈Yiphani, khona niyakuphiwa; bayakunipha esifubeni senu isilinganiso esihle, esigxushiweyo, esigqishiweyo, esichichimayo; ngokuba ngesilinganiso enilinganisa ngaso nani niyakulinganiselwa ngaso.”

₃₉Wabatshela nomfanekiso wokuthi: “Impumputhe ingahola impumputhe na? Aziyikukhalakathela emgodini zombili na? ₄₀Umfundi kaphezu komfundisi; kepha yilowo ophelelisiwe uyakuba njengomfundisi wakhe.

₄₁“Ubhekelani ucezwana olusesweni lomfowenu, kanti ugongolo olukwelakho iso awuluboni na? ₄₂Ungasho kanjani kumfowenu ukuthi: ‘Mfowethu, ake ngikhiphe ucezwana olusesweni lakho,’ wena ongaboni ugongolo olukwelakho iso, na? Mzenzisi, khipha kuqala ugongolo olukwelakho iso, yikhona uyakubonisisa ukukhipha ucezwana olusesweni lomfowenu.

₄₃“Ngokuba akukho muthi omuhle othela isithelo esibi; futhi nomuthi omubi awutheli isithelo esihle. ₄₄Ngokuba yilowo nalowo muthi waziwa ngesithelo sawo. Akukhiwa kambe amakhiwane emeveni, nezithelo zomvini azikhiwa ejikijolweni. ₄₅Umuntu omuhle uveza okuhle emfuyweni enhle yenhliziyo, nomubi uveza okubi emfuyweni embi; ngokuba umlomo wakhe ukhuluma ngokuchichima kwenhliziyo.

₄₆“Ningibizelani ngokuthi: ‘Nkosi, Nkosi,’ ningakwenzi engikushoyo, na? ₄₇Yilowo nalowo oza kimi, ezwe amazwi ami, awenze, ngonikhombisa lowo afana naye. ₄₈Ufana nomuntu owayakha indlu, wemba washonisa, wabeka isisekelo edwaleni. Ekufikeni kwesikhukhula umfula washaya leyo ndlu, kepha wawungenamandla okuyinyakazisa, ngokuba yayakhiwe kahle. ₄₉Kodwa ozwayo engenzi unjengomuntu owakha indlu emhlabathini ingenasisekelo; umfula wayishaya, yawa masinyane; kwaba kukhulu ukudilika kwaleyo ndlu.”