Ndu Manzaniba 23
1 Bulus sru shishi ya bi ninkon wa ba kia nda tre ndi, “Mri vayi, mi son ni shishi Irji ni sron ndindi ye ni vi wu luwa.”
Paul looked straight at the Jewish council members and said: “My fellow Jews, all my life I have lived respecting our God, and I do not know of anything that I have done that I knew was wrong/evil.”
2 Kikle Prist Ananiyas a yo tre gbangban ni biwa ba kri whi niwu du ba wru ni nyu.
When Ananias the supreme priest [heard what Paul said], he commanded the men who were standing near Paul to hit him on the mouth.
3 Niki, Bulus a hla wu ndi, “Irji ni yowru, iwu wa wu kpagonkan wa ba ngal ni kinklan penti. Wu son nitu ruron gaatre nimu nitu du, i wuuyi wu du ba yome wru, nkan ni tre du a?”
Then Paul said to Ananias, “God will punish you [(sg) for that], you hypocrite [MET]! You sit there and judge me, using the laws that [God gave Moses]. But you [yourself] disobey those laws, because you commanded me to be struck {[these men] to strike me} [without having proved that I have done anything that is wrong!]”
4 Biwa ba ki whi niwu ba tre ndi, “A hi toki mba wu mre ninkon Prist wu Rji?”
The men who were standing near Paul [rebuked him. They] said, “Are not you [(sg)] afraid to insult God’s [servant, our] supreme priest?”
5 Bulus hla ndi, “Ime mina toh na, mri vayi, ndi ahi kikle Prist. U ba nha kazi, Wu ka na tre meme tre nitu bi ninkon ba ndji mbi.”
Paul replied, “My fellow Jews, I [am sorry that I said that]. I did not know that the man [who told one of you to hit me] is the high priest. [If I had known that, I would not have insulted our supreme priest], because I [know that] it is written {[that Moses] wrote} [in our Jewish law], ‘Do not speak evil of any of your rulers!’”
6 Niwa Bulus a to ndi ngbala ri bana Sadusii i bari ba Farasii, a tre gbangban me ni son ba'a, a he ni tu mi he ni yo sron tashme ni kwu nikima yi basi tsra lome.”
Paul realized that some of the [Council members] were Sadducees and others were Pharisees. So, [in order to cause the Pharisees and Sadducees to argue among themselves instead of accusing him], he called out loudly in the Council [hall], “My fellow Jews, I am a Pharisee, like my father was. I have been put {[You] have put me} on trial [here] because I confidently expect that [some day God] will (cause people who have died to become alive again/raise people from the dead).”
7 Niwa a tre toyi, sen nyu a lu nimi Farasii mba Sadusii, i jbu indi ba ba gaatu.
When he said that, the Pharisees and Sadducees started to argue with one another [about whether people who have died will become alive again or not].
8 Bi Sadusii ba tre ndi tashme na hena, Maleku bana hena, mba ibrji bana hena; i Farisii ba kpanyme ndi wawu mba ba he.
The Sadducees believe that after people die, they will not become alive again. They also believe that there are no angels and no [other kinds of] spirits. But the Pharisees believe [that all people who have died will one day become alive again. They also believe] that there are [angels and other kinds of spirits].
9 Niki ti gro wu nzu sron a lu, i bi nha bari wa ba he ni ngbala bi Farisii ba ba lu kri nda sen nyu ni tre ndi, 'Kina to kpe meme ni indji yi na. Anita ibrji koka Maleka mba a tre niwu na?”
So the Council members (were divided/did not agree with each other), and they began shouting at one another [as they argued]. Some of the teachers of the laws that [God gave Moses] who were Pharisees stood up. One of them said, “We [(exc)] think that this man has done nothing wrong.” Another said, “Maybe an angel or some [other] spirit [really] spoke to him [and what he says is true].”
10 Niwa kikle sen nyu a lu, kikle kaptin a ti sissri ndi ba yba Bulus ti gbanjan, niki a yo tre gbangban ni bi lokpa ba du ba grji hi banw ni gbengblen rhini mi son bi ninkon, nda nji wu ye ni bubu mla zi gbangban.
Then the [Pharisees and Sadducees] argued even more loudly [with one another]. As a result, the commander (was afraid/thought) that they would tear Paul to pieces. So he [commanded] soldiers to go down [from the barracks] and forcefully take Paul away from the Council members and bring him up into the barracks. [So the soldiers did that].
11 Ni chu wa a ka hua kima, Bachi a kri nha niwu nda tre ndi, “Vu sron ni kri gbangban, too wa wu bwu bla nitu mu ni Urushelima, kima me wu bwu bla ni Roma ngame.
That night, [in a vision Paul saw] the Lord [Jesus come and] stand near him. The Lord said [to him], “Be courageous! You [(sg)] have told people [here] in Jerusalem about me, and you must tell people in Rome [about me], too.”
12 Niwa mble a nhran, Yahudawa bari ba zontu wu ti meme, nda tan mbre, ndi bana rhi mba so kpe na se ba wuu Bulus ri.
The next morning [some] of the Jews [MTY] [who hated Paul] met secretly and talked [about how they could kill him]. They promised [themselves] that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed him. They asked God to curse them [if they did not do what they promised].
13 Bana zan indji Arbain (ise tra don nza) wa ba rini zontu meme'a.
There were more than 40 men who planned to do that.
14 Ba hi ni ninkon Prist mba nibi chiche ba nda katre ndi, ki ton ni kikle tan bre ndi kina rhi koka so kpena se ki wuu Bulus.
They went to the chief priests and [Jewish] elders and told them, “God has heard us promise/vow that we [(exc)] will not eat [or drink] anything until we [(exc)] have killed Paul.
15 Zizan, nitu kii, du son bi ninkon du banzi nda mye ninkon kaptin ndi du njiwu ye nu yi, ni du ya ndi bi son ban tre ma mla ya. Anita kita, ki son ni gben ni duta wuu ri du ye rhini wa.”
So [we request that] you go to the commander and ask him, on behalf of the whole Jewish Council, to bring Paul down to us [from the barracks]. Tell the commander that you want to question Paul some more. But we [(exc)] will be waiting to kill Paul while he is on the way here.”
16 I vren wu vayi Bulus vrenwa a wo ndi ba ki kru gben ni nkon, niki, a hi ka ri ni bubu ngbangban wa ba mla Bulus zia nda ka hla wu.
But the son of Paul’s sister heard what they were planning to do, so he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17 Bulus a yo ri nimi bi ya bi lokpa deria nda tre ndi, “Ban vren nze yi hi ni kikle kaptin, nitu a he ni kpe wa ani vu bla niwu'a.
[When Paul heard that], he called one of the officers and said to him, “[Please] take this young man to the commander, because he needs to tell him something [important].”
18 Niki, indji wu lokpa a ban vrenze a nda njiwu ye ni kikle kaptin nda tre ndi, “Bulus indji wa a kri troa a yo me hi ni kpama, nda du me nji vrenze yi ye niwu. A he ni kpe wa ani hla niwu.”
So the officer took Paul’s nephew to the commander. The officer said to the commander, “That prisoner, Paul, called me and said, ‘Please take this young man to the commander, because he needs to tell him something [important].’”
19 Ninkon kaptin a ban u niwo hi ni kosan nda ka mye'u, “A ngye wa gbigbi se wu vu bla mu?”
The commander took the young man by the hand, led him off by himself, and asked him, “What do you [(sg)] need to tell me?”
20 Vrenze a tre ndi, “Yahudawa ba kpanyime ndi duba mye u du nji Bulus grji ye ni bi son ninkon, rjuto ndi ba hi mla mye nitu tre ma.
The young man said, “[There are some] [SYN] Jews who have planned to ask you [(sg)] to bring Paul before their Council tomorrow. They will say that they want to ask him some more questions. [But that is not true].
21 Na gle rini wo mba na, nitu indji zan arbain bari ba kru nkon si gben u. Ba tan bre wa bana rji ko nda so kpena se ba wuu ri. Zizan me, ba ki si gben yowo nyime me.”
Do not do what they ask you [(sg)] to do, because there are more than 40 [Jewish] men who will be hiding and waiting [to attack Paul when he passes by on the way to the Council]. They even promised/vowed to God that they will not eat or drink anything until they have killed Paul. They are ready [to do it], and right now they are waiting for you [(sg)] to agree [to do what they are asking you to do].”
22 Niki, kikle kaptin a a du vrenze a hi, hu gon yo tre niwu ndi, “Na hla ni ndrjo kpe wa wu vu bla nimu na.”
The commander said to [Paul’s] young nephew, “Do not tell anyone that you [(sg)] have told me [about their plan].” Then he sent the young man away.
23 Niki a yo ye ni kpama, bi lokpa Roma ha, nda tre, “Vu Soja deri ha nda du ba mla ki wu hi gban tsra ni Kasariya, baba bi hon nkma Sabain (Seventy) ngame mba indji deri ha bi ta wyen. Bi lu ku nkon ni nton wu tra ni chu luwa.”
Then the commander called two of his officers and told them, “Get a group of 200 soldiers ready [to travel]. Take along 70 soldiers riding horses, and 200 other soldiers carrying spears. [All of you must be ready] to leave at nine o’clock tonight, to go [down] to Caesarea.
24 A yo tre bawu ngame duba nu nma wu zren wa Bulus ni hon nda njiwu hama ni ya hi nu Gona Felix.
And take along horses for Paul [and those accompanying him] to ride, and safely escort him to [the palace of] Governor Felix.”
25 Niki a nha ni vunvu to yi:
Then the commander wrote a letter [to send to the governor]. This is what he wrote:
26 Claudius Lysias hi ni wa azan Gomna Felix, mi chiwu.
“[I am] Claudius Lysias [writing to you]. You, Felix, are our governor whom we [(exc)] respect, [and I sincerely send you] my greetings.
27 Yahudawa bana vu iguyi lo nda ta wuu kimba ri mi wru sru ni sojoji ndi ka kpaachuwo, nitu mi wo ndi a hi indjui wu meme Roma.
I [have sent you(sg)] this man, [Paul, because certain] Jews seized him and were about to kill him. But I heard [someone tell me] that he is a Roman citizen, so I and my soldiers went and rescued him.
28 Mita son to kaa a hi ngye ba heni wu nituma, niki mi banw grji ka nu bison bi ninkon.
I wanted to know what those Jews were saying that he had done wrong, so I took him to their Jewish Council.
29 Mi ye wo ndi basi tsrau nitu du mba, i ndana he ni kpe wa ba vuu nu bi lo, duba wuu ko ka yoo ni kotro na.
I listened [while they asked this man questions and he answered them]. The things [they] accused him about were entirely concerned with their [Jewish] laws. But Paul has not disobeyed any of our [Roman] laws. [So our officials] should not execute him or [even] put him in prison [MTY].
30 Niki ba ye bwu bla nimu ndi ba zontu wu ti meme nitu igu'a, niki hari mi tru ye niwu ndi yo tre ni biwa ba heni kpe nituma duba nji kpe wu lo a ye ni shishi me. Son pian me.”
[Someone] told me that some [SYN] Jews were secretly planning to kill this man, so I immediately am sending him to you, [so that you(sg) may give him a fair trial there]. I have also [commanded] the Jews who have accused him to [go there to Caesarea and] tell you [(sg) what they are accusing him about].”
31 Sojoji ba ba ba hu tre gbangban wa ba yo bawua. Ba ban Bulus nda niwu ni chua hi ni Anti patris.
So the soldiers did what [the commander commanded] them, [taking this letter with them]. They [got Paul and] took him with them during the night [down] to Antipatris [city].
32 Ni vi waaka hua, gbugbu sojoji babadon bi hon nkma ba duba niwu hi, i baba ba kma hi ni bubu mla bi son gbangban.
The next day, the foot soldiers returned to the barracks [in Jerusalem], and the soldiers who rode horses went on with Paul.
33 Niwa bi hon nkma baka ri ni Kasariya nda ka nu vunvua ni gomn, ba ka Bulus nuu ngame.
When the men escorting Paul arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and they delivered Paul to the governor. [Then the horsemen returned to Jerusalem].
34 Niwa Gomna a bla vunvua, a mye ka Bulus rhini grji rime. Niwa a wo ndi a rhi ni Cilicia,
The governor read the letter, and then he said to Paul, “What province are you [(sg)] from?” [Paul answered], “I am from Cilicia [province].”
35 a tre ndi, “Bi tsro wo nitu me bata ye niwa, mi mla wowu, “Niki a yo tre zi gbangban ndi du ba hi ziu ni ko gomnati wu Herod.
Then the governor said, “When the people who have accused you [(sg)] arrive, I will listen [to what each of you says] and then I will judge your case.” Then he [commanded] that Paul be guarded {[soldiers] to guard Paul} in the palace that King Herod [the Great had built].
