To The Word – Day 89

₁Wangena eJeriko, wadabula khona. ₂Bheka, kwakukhona indoda, igama layo linguZakewu, ingumthelisi omkhulu, icebile. ₃Yayifuna ukumbona uJesu ukuthi ungubani; yahluleka ngenxa yesixuku, ngokuba yayimfushane. ₄Yagijimela phambili, yakhwela emthombeni ukuba imbone, ngokuba ebezakudlula ngakhona.

₅Esefikile uJesu kuleyo ndawo wabheka phezulu, wathi kuyo: “Zakewu, shesha wehle, ngokuba namuhla ngimelwe ukuhlala endlini yakho.” ₆Washesha wehla, wamamukela ngokuthokoza.

₇Kuthe bekubona, bakhonona bonke, bathi: “Uye kungenisa kwandoda eyisoni.”

₈Kodwa uZakewu wasukuma, wathi eNkosini: “Bheka, Nkosi, ngipha abampofu inxenye yempahla yami; kuthi uma ngimaphucile umuntu into ngamacebo, ngiyibuyisa iphindwe kane.”

₉UJesu wathi kuye: “Namuhla insindiso ifikile kule ndlu, lokhu naye eyindodana ka-Abrahama. ₁₀Ngokuba iNdodana yomuntu ize ukufuna nokusindisa okulahlekileyo.”

₁₁Kuthe ukuba bakuzwe lokho, weleka walandisa umfanekiso, ngokuba ebeseduze neJerusalema nangokuba bebethi umbuso kaNkulunkulu uzakubonakala masinyane. ₁₂Wathi-ke: “Umuntu othile wohlanga olukhulu waya ezweni elikude eyozithathela umbuso, abuye. ₁₃Wayesebiza izinceku zakhe eziyishumi, wazinika omina* abayishumi, wathi kuzo: ‘Hwebani ngabo, ngize ngibuye.’

₁₄“Kepha abantu bomuzi wakhe babemzonda, bathuma amanxusa emva kwakhe, bethi: ‘Asithandi ukuba lo abuse phezu kwethu.’

₁₅“Kwathi esebuyile ekuthatheni umbuso, wathi azibizelwe kuye lezo zinceku abezinike imali ukuba azi ukuthi yileyo naleyo izuzeni ngokuhweba.

₁₆“Yavela-ke eyokuqala, yathi: ‘Nkosi, umina wakho uzuze omina abayishumi.’

₁₇“Wathi kuyo: ‘Kuhle-ke, nceku enhle; lokhu ufunyanwe uthembekile kokuncinyane, uzakubusa phezu kwemizi eyishumi.’

₁₈“Yafika neyesibili, yathi: ‘Umina wakho, Nkosi, uzuze omina abayisihlanu.’

₁₉“Wathi nakuleyo: ‘Nawe yiba phezu kwemizi eyisihlanu.’

₂₀“Kwafika nenye, yathi: ‘Nkosi, nangu umina wakho ebengimkhwezile esongwe endwangwini. ₂₁Ngokuba bengikwesaba, lokhu ungumuntu olukhuni; uthabatha ongakubekanga, uvuna ongakuhlwanyelanga.’

₂₂“Wathi kuyo: ‘Ngizakukwahlulela ngomlomo wakho wena nceku embi. Ubuwazi ukuba ngingumumtu olukhuni, ngithabatha engingakubekanga, ngivuna engingakuhlwanyelanga; ₂₃awufakanga ngani imali yami ebhange,* mina-ke ekufikeni kwami ngabe ngiyibizile kanye nenzalo, na?’

₂₄“Wayesethi kwababemi khona: ‘Maphuceni umina, nimnike onawomina abayishumi.’

₂₅“Kepha bathi kuye: ‘Nkosi, unawomina abayishumi.’

₂₆“Ngithi kini: Yilowo nalowo onakho uyakuphiwa, kepha ongenakho uyakwaphucwa nalokho anakho. ₂₇Kodwa lezo zitha zami ezazingathandi ukuba ngibuse phezu kwazo, ziletheni lapha, nizibulale phambi kwami.”

₂₈Eseshilo lokho waqhubekela phambili, wakhuphukela eJerusalema.

₂₉Kwathi esondele eBetfage naseBethaniya ngasentabeni ethiwa eYeminqumo, wathuma ababili kubafundi bakhe, ₃₀ethi: “Hambani niye emzaneni obhekene nani, nothi ukuba ningene kuwo, nizakufumana ithole lembongolo likhulekiwe, okungazange kuhlale muntu kulo; lithukululeni, nililethe. ₃₁Uma umuntu enibuza ethi: ‘Nilithukululelani na?’ anothi: ‘INkosi iyalidinga.’ ”

₃₂Ababethunyiwe bahamba-ke, bafumana kunjengokusho kwakhe kubo. ₃₃Kuthe besalithukulula ithole, abaninilo bathi kubo: “Nilithukululelani ithole na?”

₃₄Bathi: “INkosi iyalidinga.”

₃₅Base beliletha kuJesu; babeka izingubo zabo phezu kwethole, bamkhwelisa uJesu. ₃₆Esahamba, babendlala izingubo zabo endleleni.

₃₇Esesondela ekwehleleni kweNtaba Yeminqumo, isixuku sonke sabafundi saqala ukuthokoza nokumdumisa uNkulunkulu ngezwi elikhulu ngemisebenzi yonke yamandla esiyibonileyo, ₃₈sithi:

₃₉Abanye babaFarisi besesixukwini bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, bakhuze abafundi bakho.”

₄₀Waphendula wathi: “Ngithi kini: Uma bethula laba, amatshe azakumemeza.”

₄₁Kwathi esondela, ewubona umuzi, wawukhalela. ₄₂Wathi: “Sengathi nga wazi nawe ngalolu suku okokuthula. Kepha kalokhu kufihlakele emehlweni akho. ₄₃Ngokuba uyakufikelwa yizinsuku, lapho izitha ziyakukukaka ngodonga lwempi, zikuhaqe, zikuvimbezele nxazonke, ₄₄zikuwise phansi, wena nabantwana abakuwe, zingashiyi itshe phezu kwetshe phakathi kwakho, ngokuba ungasazanga isikhathi sokuhanjelwa kwakho.”

₄₅Wangena ethempelini, waqala ukuxosha abathengisayo, ₄₆wathi kubo: “Kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Indlu yami iyakuba yindlu yokukhuleka,’ kepha nina niyenze ‘umhume wabaphangi’.”

₄₇Wayefundisa ethempelini imihla ngemihla. Kepha abapristi abakhulu, nababhali, nezikhulu zabantu bafuna ukumbulala. ₄₈Kodwa babengatholi ukuthi bangenzani, ngokuba abantu bonke babebambelela kuye bemuzwa.

₁Kwathi ngolunye lwezinsuku lezo esafundisa abantu ethempelini, eshumayela ivangeli, abapristi abakhulu nababhali bekanye namalunga bamvukela. ₂Bakhuluma, bathi kuye: “Sitshele ukuthi lokhu ukwenza ngagunya lini, nokuba ngubani okunike leli gunya na?”

₃Waphendula, wathi kubo: “Nami ngizakunibuza izwi, nize ningitshele. ₄Ukubhapathiza kukaJohane kwavela ezulwini noma kubantu na?”

₅Bazindlisana bodwa, bathi: “Uma sithi: ‘Ezulwini,’ uzakuthi: ‘Anikholwanga nguye ngani na?’ ₆Kepha uma sithi: ‘Kubantu,’ abantu bonke bazakusikhanda ngamatshe, ngokuba bakholiwe ukuthi uJohane ungumprofethi.”

₇Base bephendula ukuthi abazi lapho evela khona.

₈UJesu wayesethi kubo: “Nami-ke anginitsheli ukuthi ngenza lokhu ngagunya lini.”

₉Wayeseqala ukulandisa lo mfanekiso, ethi kubantu: “Umuntu watshala isivini, wasiqashisa kubalimi, waya kwelinye izwe isikhathi eside. ₁₀Ngenkathi efaneleyo wayesethumela inceku kubalimi ukuba bamnike ezithelweni zesivini; kepha abalimi bayishaya, bayimukisa ze. ₁₁Waphinda wathuma enye inceku; naleyo bayishaya, bayidumaza, bayimukisa ze. ₁₂Wayesephinda ethuma neyesithathu; nalena bayilimaza, bayiphonsa ngaphandle.

₁₃“Khona wathi umninisivini: ‘Ngizakwenze njani na? Ngizakuthuma indodana yami ethandekayo; mhlawumbe lena bazakuyazisa.’

₁₄“Kepha abalimi beyibona bakhulumisana bathi: ‘Lo uyindlalifa; masiyibulale ukuba ifa libe ngelethu.’ ₁₅Bayiphonsa ngaphandle kwesivini, bayibulala; ngakho-ke umninisivini uzakwenze njani kubo na? ₁₆Uzakuza, ababhubhise labo balimi, isivini asinike abanye.”

Bekuzwa bathi: “Qha, makungabi njalo.”

₁₇Kepha wababheka, wathi: “Yini, pho, lokhu okulotshiweyo ukuthi:

₁₉Ababhali nabapristi bafuna ukumbamba khona lapho, kepha besaba abantu, ngokuba bazi ukuthi uwukhulumile lo mfanekiso ngabo.

₂₀Bamqaphela, bathuma izinhloli ezizishaya abalungileyo ukuba bamhile ngezwi lakhe, baze bamkhaphele emandleni nasegunyeni lombusi wezwe. ₂₁Bambuza-ke bathi: “Mfundisi, siyazi ukuthi ukhuluma, ufundisa ngokuqondileyo, awukhethi buso bamuntu, kepha ufundisa indlela kaNkulunkulu ngokuqinisileyo. ₂₂Sivunyelwe ukuthela kuKesari noma qha?”

₂₃Kepha eqonda ubuqili babo wathi kubo: ₂₄“Ngiboniseni udenariyu;* unomfanekiso nombhalo kabani?”

Bathi: “OkaKesari.”

₂₅Wayesethi kubo: “Ngakho-ke nikani uKesari okukaKesari noNkulunkulu okukaNkulunkulu.”

₂₆Abaze baba namandla ukumhila ngezwi lakhe phambi kwabantu; bamangala ngokuphendula kwakhe, bathula.

₂₇Kwase kufika kuye abathile babaSadusi abathi akukho ukuvuka kwabafileyo; ₂₈bambuza bathi: “Mfundisi, uMose wasilobela ukuthi, uma kufa umfowabo womuntu enomfazi kepha engenamntwana, umfowabo makamthathe umkakhe, amvusele umfowabo inzalo. ₂₉Kwakukhona izelamani eziyisikhombisa; owokuqala wathatha umfazi; wafa engenamntwana, ₃₀nowesibili; ₃₁nowesithathu wamthatha; kanjalo-ke abayisikhombisa; bafa bengashiyanga bantwana. ₃₂Ukugcina wafa nomfazi. ₃₃Ngakho-ke ekuvukeni owesifazane uyakuba ngumfazi wamuphi kubo, lokhu abayisikhombisa babe naye engumkabo.”

₃₄UJesu wathi kubo: “Abantwana bale nkathi bayaganwa, bayendiswa. ₃₅Kepha labo abazakuthiwa bafanele ukufinyelela kuleyo nkathi nasekuvukeni kwabafileyo kabaganwa, kabendiswa; ₃₆ngokuba bangebuye bafe, banjengezingelosi; bangabantwana bakaNkulunkulu bengabantwana bokuvuka. ₃₇Kepha ukuthi bayavuswa abafileyo, noMose wakubonakalisa esihlahleni, lapho eyibiza iNkosi ngokuthi uNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama, noNkulunkulu ka-Isaka, noNkulunkulu kaJakobe. ₃₈UNkulunkulu kasiye owabafileyo kodwa owabaphilayo, ngokuba bonke baphila kuye.”

₃₉Abathile bababhali baphendula bathi: “Mfundisi, ukhulume kahle.” ₄₀Ngokuba babengasenasibindi sokumbuza lutho.

₄₁Wayesethi kubo: “Basho kanjani ukuthi uKristu uyindodana kaDavide na? ₄₂lokhu uDavide uqobo uthi eNcwadini yamaHubo:

₄₅Besalalele abantu bonke, wathi kubafundi bakhe: ₄₆“Xwayani ababhali abafuna ukuhamba bembethe izingubo ezinde, bethanda ukubingelelwa ezigcawini nokuhlala phambili emasinagogeni* nasezindaweni ezingenhla ekudleni, ₄₇abadla izindlu zabafelokazi, bekhuleka isikhathi eside ngokuzenzisa; laba bayakwamukeliswa ukulahlwa okukhulu.”

₁Kwathi ebheka, wabona abacebileyo bebeka iminikelo yabo emphongolweni womnikelo. ₂Wabona nomfelokazi othile ompofu ebeka khona amafadingi* amabili; ₃wathi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Lo mfelokazi ompofu ubeke okuningi kunabo bonke. ₄Ngokuba bonke laba babeka eminikelweni kokuchichimileyo kwabo, kepha yena ebumpofini bakhe ubeke konke abephila ngakho.”

₅Besakhuluma abanye ngethempeli ukuthi lihlotshiswe ngamatshe amahle nangezipho, wathi kubo: ₆“Kuyakufika izinsuku, lapho kungayikushiywa kulokhu enikubonayo itshe phezu kwetshe elingayikudilizelwa phansi.”

₇Base bembuza bethi: “Mfundisi, lokhu kuyakuba nini na? Nesibonakaliso siyakuba yini, lapho sekuyakwenzeka lokhu, na?”

₈Wathi: “Qaphelani ningadukiswa, ngokuba kuyakuza abaningi ngegama lami, bathi: ‘Nginguye;’ bathi futhi: ‘Isikhathi sesisondele;’ maningabalandeli. ₉Nxa nizwa ngezimpi neziyaluyalu, ningethuki, ngokuba kumelwe ukuba kwenzeke lokho kuqala, kepha ukuphela akukabikho masinyane.”

₁₀Khona wathi kubo: “Isizwe siyakuvukela isizwe, nombuso uvukele umbuso; ₁₁kuyakuba khona ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba, nobhici, nendlala izindawo ngezindawo, kube khona izinto ezesabekayo nezibonakaliso ezinkulu ezivela ezulwini.

₁₂“Kepha ngaphambi kwakho konke lokho bayakunibamba, banizingele, banikhaphele emasinagogeni* nasematilongweni, baniyise phambi kwamakhosi nababusi ngenxa yegama lami. ₁₃Kuyakunehlela kube ngubufakazi. ₁₄Ngakho kugcineni ezinhliziyweni zenu ukuba ningazindli ngaphambili eniyakuziphendulela ngakho; ₁₅ngokuba mina ngiyakuninika umlomo nokuhlakanipha abangemelane nakho, bakuphike, bonke abayimpi kini. ₁₆Yebo, niyakukhashelwa nangabazali, nabafowenu, nezihlobo, nabangane; abanye benu bayakubulawa yibo. ₁₇Niyakuzondwa yibo bonke ngenxa yegama lami. ₁₈Akuyikulahleka nalunwele lwekhanda lenu. ₁₉Ngokukhuthazela kwenu niyakuzuza imiphefumulo yenu.

₂₀“Kepha nxa nibona iJerusalema lihaqiwe yizimpi, yazini ukuthi sekusondele ukuchithwa kwalo. ₂₁Khona abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, abaphakathi kwalo baphume, abasemaphandleni bangangeni kulo. ₂₂Ngokuba lezi ziyizinsuku zempindiselo ukuba kugcwaliseke konke okulotshiweyo. ₂₃Maye kwabakhulelweyo nabancelisayo ngalezo zinsuku! Ngokuba kuyakuba khona ukuhlupheka okukhulu emhlabeni nentukuthelo phezu kwalesi sizwe. ₂₄Bayakuwa bedliwa yinkemba, bathunjelwe ezizweni zonke; iJerusalema liyakunyathelwa phansi ngabezizwe, kuze kugcwaliseke izikhathi zabezizwe.

₂₅“Kuyakuba khona izibonakaliso elangeni nasenyangeni nasezinkanyezini; nasemhlabeni usizi luyakwehlela izizwe, zixakeke ngokuduma kolwandle namaza, ₂₆abantu baphele amandla ngokwesaba nangokubheka okuvelela umhlaba ngokuba amandla ezulu ayakunyakaziswa. ₂₇Khona bayakuyibona iNdodana yomuntu iza efwini, inamandla nenkazimulo enkulu. ₂₈Kepha nxa kuqala ukuvela lokho, lulamani, niphakamise amakhanda enu, ngokuba kusondele ukukhululwa kwenu.”

₂₉Wabalandisa umfanekiso wokuthi: “Bhekani umkhiwane nemithi yonke. ₃₀Nxa isihluma, niyabona, nazi ngokwenu ukuthi ihlobo seliseduze. ₃₁Kanjalo nani, nxa nibona lezo zinto zenzeka, yazini ukuthi umbuso kaNkulunkulu useduze.

₃₂“Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Lesi sizukulwane asiyikudlula, kungakenzeki konke. ₃₃Kuyakudlula izulu nomhlaba, kepha amazwi ami awasoze adlula.

₃₄“Xwayani ukuba izinhliziyo zenu zingasindwa ngukuminza nokudakwa nokunaka okwalokhu kuphila, lunizume lolo suku ningazelele, ₃₅ngokuba luyakufika njengogibe phezu kwabo bonke abahlezi emhlabeni wonke. ₃₆Ngakho lindani ngesikhathi sonke, nikhuleke ukuba nibe namandla okuphepha kukho konke lokhu okuyakwenzeka nawokuma phambi kweNdodana yomuntu.”

₃₇Njalo wayefundisa ethempelini emini, kepha kusihlwa wayephuma ayokulala entabeni ethiwa eyemiNqumo. ₃₈Ekuseni abantu bonke beza kuye ethempelini ukumuzwa.

₁Kwasondela umkhosi wesinkwa esingenamvubelo othiwa iPhasika. ₂Abapristi abakhulu nababhali bafuna ukuba bangambulala kanjani; ngokuba babesaba abantu.

₃Kepha uSathane wangena kuJuda othiwa u-Iskariyothe engowabayishumi nambili. ₄Wasuka wakhuluma nabapristi abakhulu nezinduna ngokuthi angamkhaphela kanjani kubo. ₅Bathokoza, bavumelana naye ukumnika imali. ₆Wavuma-ke, waze wafuna ithuba lokumkhaphela kubo, singekho isixuku.

₇Lwase lufika usuku lwesinkwa esingenamvubelo okumelwe ukuba kuhlatshwe ngalo iphasika. ₈Wathuma oPetru noJohane, wathi: “Hambani niye ukusilungisela iphasika ukuba sidle.”

₉Bathi kuye: “Uthanda ukuba sikulungiselephi na?”

₁₀Wathi kubo: “Bhekani, seningene emzini niyakuhlangana nomuntu othwele imbiza yamanzi; mlandeleni, niye endlini angena kuyo, ₁₁nize nithi kumninindlu: ‘Uthi uMfundisi kuwe: Liphi ikamelo lokungenisa, lapho ngingadlela khona iphasika nabafundi bami, na?’ ₁₂Lowo-ke uzakunikhombisa ikamelo elikhulu eliphezulu, elendlelweyo; lungiselani lapho.”

₁₃Basuka, bafumana kunjengokusho kwakhe kubo; base belungisa iphasika.

₁₄Kwathi ukuba kufike isikhathi, wahlala phansi, nabaphostoli kanye naye. ₁₅Wayesethi kubo: “Nginxanele nokunxanela ukudla nani leli phasika ngingakahlupheki. ₁₆Ngokuba ngithi kini: Angisayikulidla ngempela lize ligcwaliseke embusweni kaNkulunkulu.”

₁₇Wamukela isitsha, wabonga wathi: “Thabathani lokhu, nabelane; ₁₈ngokuba ngithi kini kusukela manje angisayikuphuza okwesithelo somvini, uze ufike umbuso kaNkulunkulu.”

₁₉Wayesethabatha isinkwa, wabonga, wasihlephula, wabanika, wathi: “Lokhu kungumzimba wami onikelwa nina; yenzani lokhu ukuba ningikhumbule.”

₂₀Kanjalo-ke nesitsha emva kokudla, ethi: “Lesi sitsha siyisivumelwano esisha egazini lami elithululelwa nina. ₂₁Kepha bhekani, isandla songikhaphelayo sinami etafuleni. ₂₂Ngokuba iNdodana yomuntu isihamba njengokumisiweyo, kepha maye kulowo muntu ekhashelwa ngaye!” ₂₃Base beqala ukubuzana bodwa ukuthi kungase kube ngubani kubo ozakukwenza lokho.

₂₄Kwavela nokuphikisana phakathi kwabo kokuthi ngumuphi kubo ongathiwa omkhulu. ₂₅Wayesethi kubo: “Ababusi bezizwe bazenza amakhosi phezu kwazo, neziphathimandla zazo zithiwa abazenzela okuhle. ₂₆Kepha nina aninjalo; kodwa omkhulu kini makabe njengomncinyane, nobusayo makabe njengokhonzayo. ₂₇Ngokuba ngumuphi omkhulu, ohlezi ekudleni noma okhonzayo, na? Akusiye ohlezi ekudleni na? Kepha mina ngiphakathi kwenu njengokhonzayo. ₂₈Nina-ke ningababekhuthazela nami ekulingweni kwami; ₂₉nanjengokuba uBaba engimisele umbuso, nami nginimisela wona ₃₀ukuba nidle, niphuze etafuleni lami embusweni wami; niyakuhlala ezihlalweni zobukhosi, nahlulele izizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli.

₃₁“Simoni, Simoni, bheka, uSathane unifunile ukuba anihlunge njengokolweni; ₃₂kepha mina ngikunxusele ukuba ukukholwa kwakho kungapheli; wena-ke, nxa usuphendukile, uqinise abafowenu.”

₃₃Wathi kuye: “Nkosi, ngilungele ukuya nawe nasetilongweni nasekufeni.”

₃₄Wayesethi: “Ngiyakutshela, Petru, ukuthi iqhude aliyikukhala namhlanje, ungakangiphiki kathathu ukuthi awungazi.”

₃₅Wathi kubo: “Mhla nginithuma ningenasikhwama, nayika, nazicathulo, naswela utho na?”

Bathi: “Lutho.”

₃₆Wayesethi kubo: “Kepha manje onesikhwama kasithathe, neyika futhi; oswelayo kathengise ngengubo yakhe, athenge inkemba. ₃₇Ngokuba ngithi kini: Kumelwe ukugcwaliseka kimi lokho okulotshiweyo kokuthi: ‘Wabalwa kanye nezelelesi;’ ngokuba okuqondene nami sekuyaphelela.”

₃₈Base bethi: “Nkosi, bheka, nazi izinkemba ezimbili.”

Wathi kubo: “Kwanele.”

₃₉Wayesephuma, waya eNtabeni Yeminqumo njengomkhuba wakhe, nabafundi bakhe bamlandela. ₄₀Esefikile endaweni wathi kubo: “Khulekani ukuba ningangeni ekulingweni.” ₄₁Wamonyuka kubo kungathi ibanga lokuphonsa itshe, waguqa phansi, wakhuleka, ₄₂wathi: “Baba, uma uthanda, susa lesi sitsha kimi; nokho makungenziwa intando yami kodwa eyakho.” ₄₃Kwabonakala kuye ingelosi ivela ezulwini, imqinisa. ₄₄Esosizini olunzima wakhuleka eqinisela, izithukuthuku zakhe zaba njengamathonsi egazi, aconsela emhlabathini.

₄₅Esesukume ekukhulekeni weza kubafundi bakhe, wabafumana belele ngokudabuka. ₄₆Wathi kubo: “Nilaleleni na? Vukani nikhuleke ukuba ningangeni ekulingweni.”

₄₇Esakhuluma, bheka, kwafika isixuku; naye othiwa uJuda, omunye wabayishumi nambili, wayehamba phambi kwabo, wasondela kuJesu ukumanga. ₄₈Kepha uJesu wathi kuye: “Juda, uyayikhaphela iNdodana yomuntu ngokuyanga na?”

₄₉Kuthe ababengakuye sebebona okuzakwenzeka, bathi: “Nkosi, sigadle ngenkemba na?” ₅₀Omunye othile kubo wayigadla inceku yompristi omkhulu, wayinquma indlebe yokunene.

₅₁Kepha uJesu wathatha wathi: “Musani; sekwanele.” Wayiphatha indlebe, wayipholisa.

₅₂Wathi uJesu kubapristi abakhulu, nezinduna zethempeli, namalunga ababeze kuye: “Niphumile kungathi nize kumphangi niphethe izinkemba nezinduku. ₅₃Benginani imihla ngemihla ethempelini, anelulanga zandla kimi; kepha lokhu kuyihora lenu namandla obumnyama.”

₅₄Base bembamba, bamuka naye, bamusa endlini yompristi omkhulu. UPetru walandela ekude. ₅₅Sebebasile umlilo phakathi egcekeni bahlala phansi ndawonye; uPetru wahlala phakathi kwabo. ₅₆Intombazana ethile, imbona ehlezi ngasemlilweni, yamgqolozela yathi: “Nalona ube naye.”

₅₇Kepha waphika, wathi: “Sifazane, angimazi.”

₅₈Emva kwesikhashana omunye wambona, wathi: “Nawe ungomunye wabo.”

Kepha uPetru wathi: “Muntundini, angisiye.”

₅₉Sekudlulile okungathi ihora linye, omunye umuntu waqinisa wathi: “Impela nalona ube naye, ngokuba futhi ungowaseGalile.”

₆₀Kepha uPetru wathi: “Muntundini, angikwazi ukuthi uthini.” Masinyane esakhuluma, lakhala iqhude. ₆₁INkosi yayisiphenduka, yambheka uPetru. UPetru walikhumbula izwi leNkosi, njengokuba ithe kuye: “Iqhude lingakakhali namhlanje, uzakungiphika kathathu.” ₆₂Waphumela phandle, wakhala kamunyu.

₆₃Amadoda abembambile uJesu ambhinqa emshaya. ₆₄Ammboza ubuso, ambuza ethi: “Profetha ukuthi ngubani okushayileyo na?” ₆₅Nokunye okuningi akukhuluma kuye emthuka.

₆₆Kwathi sekusile, kwabuthana amalunga abantu nabapristi abakhulu nababhali, bamyisa emphakathini wabo, ₆₇bathi: “Uma unguKristu, sitshele.”

Wathi kubo: “Uma nginitshela, anisoze nakholwa; ₆₈noma ngibuza, anisoze naphendula. ₆₉Kepha kusukela manje iNdodana yomuntu izakuhlala ngakwesokunene samandla kaNkulunkulu.”

₇₀Base bethi bonke: “Kanti uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu na?”

Wathi kubo: “Nisho khona, ngokuba ngiyiyo.”

₇₁Bathi: “Pho, sisaswele bufakazi na? Ngokuba sesizwile uqobo lwethu ngomlomo wakhe.”

₁Kwase kusuka uquqaba lonke, lwamyisa kuPilatu. ₂Baqala ukumthwesa icala, bathi: “Simfumene lo edukisa isizwe sakithi, enqaba ukuba kuthelwe imali kuKesari, ethi nguye onguKristu inkosi.”

₃UPilatu wambuza wathi: “Wena uyinkosi yabaJuda na?”

Wamphendula wathi: “Usho khona.”

₄Wayesethi uPilatu kubapristi abakhulu nakuzo izixuku: “Angifumani cala kulo muntu.”

₅Kwayikhona beqinisa kakhulu, bethi: “Uvusa abantu efundisa kulo lonke laseJudiya, eqalile kwelaseGalile, waze wafika lapha.”

₆UPilatu esezwa lokho wabuza ukuba lowo muntu ungowaseGalile yini. ₇Esethole ukwazi ukuthi ungowesifunda sikaHerode, wamthumela kuHerode owayekhona naye eJerusalema ngalezo zinsuku.

₈Kwathi uHerode embona uJesu, wathokoza kakhulu, ngokuba kwase kukade efuna ukumbona, lokhu ebezwile ngaye; wayethemba ukuthi uzakubona isibonakaliso esithile senziwa nguye. ₉Wambuza ngamazwi amaningi, kepha yena kamphendulanga ngalutho. ₁₀Abapristi abakhulu nababhali babemi bemmangalela kakhulu. ₁₁Kepha uHerode namabutho akhe bameyisa, bambhinqa, baze bamembathisa ingubo ecwebezelayo, bambuyisela kuPilatu. ₁₂Ngalolo suku oPilatu noHerode baba ngabahlobo; ngokuba ngaphambili kwakukhona ubutha phakathi kwabo.

₁₃UPilatu wabizela ndawonye abapristi abakhulu nababusi nabantu, ₁₄wathi kubo: “Nilethe kimi lo muntu ngokuthi ungodukisa abantu. Bhekani, mina ngimhlolile phambi kwenu, kepha angifumananga cala lalezo zinto enimmangalela ngazo; ₁₅kunjalo noHerode futhi ngokuba umbuyisele kithi; bheka-ke, akenzanga lutho afanele ukufa ngalo. ₁₆Ngakho-ke ngiyakumshaya, ngimkhulule.” ₁₇Ubemelwe phela ukubakhululela abe munye ngomkhosi.

₁₈Kepha bamemeza kanyekanye, bathi: “Susa lo, usikhululele uBaraba,” ₁₉yena owayefakwe etilongweni ngenxa yesiyaluyalu esithile esasenzeka emzini, nangenxa yokubulala.

₂₀UPilatu wabuye wakhuluma kubo efuna ukumkhulula uJesu; ₂₁kodwa bamemeza bathi: “Mbethele, mbethele esiphambanweni!”

₂₂Wayesethi kubo ngokwesithathu: “Kanti lo wenze bubi buni na? Angifumananga kuye icala lokufa; ngakho ngiyakumshaya, ngimkhulule.”

₂₃Kepha bamcindezela ngokumemeza okukhulu befuna ukuba abethelwe. Ukumemeza kwabo kwanqoba. ₂₄Wayesenquma uPilatu ngokuthi akwenziwe abakufunayo. ₂₅Wayesemkhulula owayefakwe etilongweni ngenxa yesiyaluyalu nokubulala, ababemcela, kepha wamnikela uJesu kubo njengokuthanda kwabo.

₂₆Kwathi bemuka naye, babamba uSimoni waseKhurene evela endle, bamthwesa isiphambano ukuba asithwale emva kukaJesu. ₂₇Kwamlandela isixuku esikhulu sabantu, kukhona nabesifazane ababemkhalela, bemlilela. ₂₈Kepha uJesu ephendukela kubo wathi: “Madodakazi aseJerusalema, ningangikhaleli mina, kodwa zikhaleleni nina nabantwana benu. ₂₉Ngokuba bhekani, kuyeza izinsuku abayakusho ngazo ukuthi: ‘Zibusisiwe izinyumba nezizalo ezingazalanga namabele angancelisanga.’ ₃₀Khona

₃₂Kwakukhona nabanye, izelelesi ezimbili, abayiswa ukuba babulawe kanye naye. ₃₃Sebefikile endaweni ethiwa iKhanda bambethela khona nazo izelelesi, esinye ngakwesokunene nesinye ngakwesokhohlo. ₃₄Kepha uJesu wathi: “Baba, bathethelele, ngokuba abakwazi abakwenzayo.” Babelana izingubo zakhe, benzelana inkatho.

₃₅Abantu bema, bebukela; nababusi bamklolodela bathi: “Wasindisa abanye; kazisindise yena, uma enguKristu okhethiweyo kaNkulunkulu.”

₃₆Namabutho ambhinqa, eza kuye, amnika uviniga, ₃₇ethi: “Uma uyinkosi yabaJuda, zisindise.”

₃₈Kwakukhona nombhalo phezu kwakhe othi: LO YINKOSI YABAJUDA.

₃₉Njalo esinye sezelelesi ebeziphanyekiwe samhlambalaza sathi: “Wena awusiye uKristu na? Zisindise kanye nathi.”

₄₀Sase siphendula esinye, sasithethisa sathi: “Nawe awumesabi uNkulunkulu, ingani ukulokhu kulahlwa nawe na? ₄₁thina kambe ngokufaneleyo, ngokuba samukela okulingene nesikwenzile; kepha lo akenzanga lutho olubi.”

₄₂Sase sithi: “Jesu, ngikhumbule, nxa usufike embusweni wakho.”

₄₃Wathi kuso: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kuwe: Namuhla uzakuba nami eParadisi.*”

₄₄Kungaba yihora lesithupha kwase kuba mnyama emhlabeni wonke, kwaze kwaba yihora lesishiyagalolunye; ₄₅kwafiphala ilanga, isihenqo sethempeli sadabuka phakathi. ₄₆UJesu wamemeza ngezwi elikhulu, wathi: “Baba, ezandleni zakho ngiyawubeka umoya wami.” Eseshilo lokho wafa.

₄₇Induna yekhulu ibone okwenzekileyo yamdumisa uNkulunkulu, yathi: “Nempela lowo muntu ube ngolungileyo.” ₄₈Zonke izixuku ezazibuthanele ukubukela lokho sezibonile okwenzekileyo, zabuyela emuva, zishaya izifuba zazo. ₄₉Bonke abazana naye nabesifazane ababemlandela bevela eGalile bema kude, bebuka lezo zinto.

₅₀Bheka-ke, kwakukhona indoda, igama layo nguJosefa, eyilungu lomphakathi, indoda enhle nelungileyo – ₅₁yona yayingavumanga icebo nesenzo sabo – eyase-Arimatheya umuzi wabaJuda, eyayibheke umbuso kaNkulunkulu; ₅₂yona yaya kuPilatu, yacela isidumbu sikaJesu. ₅₃Yasehlisa, yasisonga ngendwangu enhle, yasibeka ethuneni elaliqoshwe edwaleni, lapho kungakabekwa muntu khona. ₅₄Kwakulusuku lokulungisela; isabatha lase lizakuqala.

₅₅Abesifazane abeza naye bevela eGalile balandela, balibona ithuna nokubekwa kwesidumbu sakhe. ₅₆Base bebuyela emuva, balungisa amakha namafutha; kepha ngesabatha baphumula njengokomthetho.

₁Kepha ngosuku lokuqala lweviki, kuntwela ngenzansi, bafika ethuneni bephethe amakha ababewalungisile. ₂Bafumana itshe ligingqiwe ethuneni. ₃Kuthe bengena, abasifumananga isidumbu seNkosi uJesu. ₄Kwathi besasambathekile yilokho, bheka, nanko amadoda amabili emi ngakubo, enezingubo ezicwebezelayo. ₅Besesaba bekhothamela phansi ngobuso, athi kubo: “Nifunelani ophilayo kwabafileyo na? ₆Kakho lapha, kepha uvukile; khumbulani ukukhuluma kwakhe kini eseseGalile, ₇ethi: ‘INdodana yomuntu imelwe ukukhashelwa ezandleni zabantu abayizoni, ibethelwe, ivuke ngosuku lwesithathu.’ ” ₈Bawakhumbula-ke amazwi akhe.

₉Base bebuya ethuneni, babika konke lokho kwabayishumi nanye nakubo bonke abanye. ₁₀KwakungoMariya Magdalena, noJowana, noMariya unina kaJakobe; nabanye ababe kanye nabo babatshela abaphostoli lokho. ₁₁Kepha lawo mazwi aba njengokukhuluma okuyize kubo, kabaze bakholwa yibo. ₁₂Khona uPetru wasuka, wagijimela ethuneni, wakhothama, wabona izindwangu zizodwa; wamuka, waya ekhaya emangele ngokwenzekileyo.

₁₃Bheka-ke, ababili babo babehamba ngalona lolo suku, beya emzaneni othiwa i-Emawuse, ukude neJerusalema amastadiyu* angamashumi ayisithupha. ₁₄Babekhulumisana omunye nomunye ngazo zonke lezo zinto ezehlakeleyo. ₁₅Kwathi besakhuluma bebuzana, uJesu uqobo wasondela, wahambisana nabo. ₁₆Kepha amehlo abo abebambekile ukuba bangamazi.

₁₇Wathi kubo: “Zindaba zini lezi enikhuluma ngazo omunye nomunye nihamba na?” Base bema benyukumele. ₁₈Omunye, nguKleyophase igama lakhe, waphendula, wathi kuye: “Wena uyisihambi eJerusalema, ungoyedwa ongazazi izinto ezenzekileyo khona ngalezi zinsuku na?”

₁₉Wayesethi kubo: “Zinto zini na?”

Bathi kuye: “NgoJesu waseNazaretha obengumprofethi onamandla ngesenzo nangezwi phambi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu bonke, ₂₀ukuthi abapristi abakhulu nababusi bethu bamkhaphela ukunqunyelwa ukufa, baze bambethela esiphambanweni. ₂₁Thina-ke besethemba ukuthi nguye ozakuhlenga u-Israyeli; kodwa phezu kwalokho konke sekulusuku lwesithathu lezo zinto zenzekile. ₂₂Futhi nabesifazane abathile bakithi basethusile, ababeyile ethuneni ekuseni; ₂₃kuthe bengasifumani isidumbu sakhe, bafika bathi babone nombono wezingelosi ezithi uyaphila. ₂₄Nabathile babakithi baya ethuneni, bakufumana kunjalo njengokuba beshilo abesifazane, kodwa yena uqobo abambonanga.”

₂₅Wayesethi kubo: “O nina eningaqondiyo nenilibele enhliziyweni ukukholwa yikho konke abakushilo abaprofethi! ₂₆UKristu ubengamelwe yini ukuhlupheka ngalokho, aze angene enkazimulweni yakhe na?” ₂₇Wayesethathela kuMose nakubaprofethi bonke, wabachasisela emibhalweni okuqondene naye.

₂₈Base besondela emzaneni ababeya kuwo yena washaya sengathi udlulela phambili. ₂₉Bamncengisisa bathi: “Hlala nathi, ngokuba sekuzakuhlwa, nemini isiyadlula.” Wangena wahlala nabo.

₃₀Kwathi esehlezi nabo ekudleni, wathabatha isinkwa, wabonga, wasihlephula, wabanika. ₃₁Amehlo abo ayesevuleka, bamazi; wayesenyamalala kubo. ₃₂Bathi omunye komunye: “Inhliziyo yethu ibingavuthi yini phakathi kwethu, lapho ekhuluma kithi endleleni, nalapho esivulela imibhalo, na?”

₃₃Base besuka ngasona leso sikhathi, baphindela eJerusalema, bafumana abayishumi nanye nababe nabo behlangene ndawonye, ₃₄bethi: “Impela iNkosi ivukile, ibonakele kuSimoni.” ₃₅Base belanda nabo okwenzekileyo endleleni, nokuthi yaziwa kanjani yibo ekuhlephuleni isinkwa.

₃₆Besakhuluma lokho, yena uqobo wema phakathi kwabo, wathi kubo: “Ukuthula makube kinina.”

₃₇Kepha bashaywa luvalo, besaba bethi babona ithongo. ₃₈Wayesethi kubo: “Nikhathazekeleni na? Kuvelelani imizindlo ezinhliziyweni zenu na? ₃₉Bhekani izandla zami nezinyawo zami ukuthi yimina uqobo; ngiphatheni, nibone, ngokuba ithongo alinanyama namathambo, njengokuba ningibona nginakho.”

₄₀Esekushilo lokho wababonisa izandla nezinyawo. ₄₁Kepha bengakakholwa ngenxa yentokozo bemangala, wathi kubo: “Ninakho ukudla lapha na?” ₄₂Bamnika iqatha lenhlanzi eyosiweyo neqa lezinyosi. ₄₃Wakuthatha, wadla phambi kwabo.

₄₄Wayesethi kubo: “Yiwo lawo mazwi ami engawakhuluma kini ngisenani okuthi: ‘Kumelwe ukugcwaliseka konke okulotshwe ngami emthethweni kaMose, nakubaprofethi nasemaHutsheni.’ ”

₄₅Khona wayesevula ingqondo yabo, ukuze baqonde imibhalo. ₄₆Wathi kubo: “Kulotshiwe kanje ukuthi uzakuhlupheka uKristu, avuke kwabafileyo ngosuku lwesithathu, ₄₇kushunyayelwe egameni lakhe ukuphenduka, kube ngukuthethelelwa kwezono ezizweni zonke, kuqalwe eJerusalema. ₄₈Nina-ke ningofakazi balezi zinto. ₄₉Bhekani, ngiyathumela kini isithembiso sikaBaba; kepha hlalani emzini, nize nembathiswe amandla avela phezulu.”

₅₀Wabahola, baze bafika ngaseBethaniya, waphakamisa izandla zakhe, wababusisa. ₅₁Kwathi esababusisa, wahlukana nabo, wenyuselwa ezulwini. ₅₂Bakhuleka kuye, baphindela eJerusalema benokuthokoza okukhulu. ₅₃Babekhona ethempelini njalo bemdumisa uNkulunkulu.