Masengo 22
1 “Achalongo achinjangu ni achatati, mumbilikanile uchenene inguti kulichenjela paujo penu!”
Paul said, “[Jewish] elders and my other fellow Jews, listen to me now while I reply to [those who are accusing me]!”
2 Ŵandu ŵala paŵampilikene che Paolo achikungulukaga nawo Mchiebulania ŵamyalele jii. Ni che Paolo ŵajendelechele kuŵecheta,
When the crowd of people heard Paul speaking to them in [their own] Hebrew language, they became even more quiet and really listened. Then Paul said to them,
3 “Uneji ndili Myahudi, napagwilwe ku Taso, musi wa ku Kilikia. Nambo ngulile papapa pa Yelusalemu, naliji jwakulijiganya ju che Gamalieli. Nalijiganyisye uchenene kukamula malajisyo ga achambuje ŵetu. Nalityosisye ni ntima wose kwa Akunnungu mpela intite ŵanyamwe lelo jino.
“I am a Jew, [as are all of you]. I was born in Tarsus [city], in Cilicia [province], but I grew up here in Jerusalem. [When I was young, for many years] I studied the laws [that Moses gave to our ancestors]. I was taught by [the famous teacher] Gamaliel [MTY] {[The famous teacher] Gamaliel taught [MTY] me}. [I have] carefully [obeyed those laws, because] I have wanted to obey God. I [am sure that] many of you also carefully obey [those laws].
4 Naalagesye ŵandu Ŵakwakuya Che Yesu mpaka kwaulaga. Naakamwile achalume ni achakongwe ŵakwe ni kwataŵa mu nyuumba jakutaŵilwa.
[That is why] I previously persecuted those who believe the message [that people call] the Way [that Jesus taught. I continually looked for ways] to kill [them. Whenever I found] men or women [who believed that message], I [commanded that] they should be seized and thrown {[people to] seize them and throw them} into jail.
5 Jŵambopesi jwankulu pamo ni nkungulu wa achachekulu akukombola kuutyosya umboni wa yeleyo. Ŵanyawo ni ŵaŵambele chikalata chakwapelechela Ŵayahudi ŵakutama ku Damesiki. Najawile ku Damesiki kuti ngaakamule ŵandu wo ni kwajigala kuja nawo ku Yelusalemu ali ataŵikwe kuti ajamukwe.”
The supreme priest knows this, and so do the [other respected men who belong to our Jewish] Council. They gave me letters to [take to] their fellow Jews in Damascus [city. By means of those letters, they authorized me to] go to there and find people who believed in [Jesus. They had written in the letters that I was to bring those people] as prisoners to Jerusalem, so that they would be punished here {[the leaders here] could punish them}. [So I went on my way to Damascus].
6 “Nipele, panaliji mwitala kuŵandichila ku Damesiki, muusi mpela lyuŵa pa ntwe chisisimuchile kwinani kwakopochele lulanga lwekulungwa ni lwalanguchisye une mbande syose.
About noon, my companions and I were getting near Damascus. Suddenly a bright light from the sky flashed all around me.
7 Pelepo nagwile paasi, nipele napilikene liloŵe lichisalilaga, ‘Che Sauli, che Sauli! Ana ligongo chi nkuunagasya une?’
[The light was so bright that] I fell to the ground. Then I heard the voice [of someone] speaking to me [from up in the sky. The one who was speaking to me said], ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you [(sg)] do things to harm me?’
8 Noneji nausisye, ‘Ana ŵaani alakwe, Ambuje?’ Nombewo ŵajanjile, ‘Uneji ndili Che Yesu jwa ku Nasaleti junkunagasya.’
I answered, ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘I am Jesus from Nazareth. I [am the one] whom you [(sg)] are harming [by doing things to harm my followers].’
9 Achinjangu ŵanaliji nawo mu ulendo ŵala ŵaliweni lilanguka lila nambo nganalipikana liloŵe lya ajula jwaŵaŵechetaga ni une.
The men who were [traveling] with me saw the [very bright] light, [and they heard a voice], but they did not understand what the voice said to me.
10 Nipele uneji nausisye, ‘Ana ndende chichi Ambuje?’ Nombe Ambuje ŵanyanjile, ‘Njime, njaule ku Damesiki ni kweleko chansalile yose yaikummajila kuipanganya.’
Then I asked, ‘Lord, what [do you want] me to do?’ The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus! [A man] there will tell you [(sg)] all that I have planned for you to do.’
11 Kwa ligongo lya kung'alima kwa lilanguka lila nalepele kulola nipele achinjangu unalongene nawo mu ulendo ŵala ŵangamwile nkono ni kunongosya mpaka naiche ku Damesiki.
[After that, I could not see], because the [very bright] light had caused me to become blind. So my companions took me by the hand and led me until [we(exc) arrived] in Damascus.
12 “Ni ku Damesiki ko jwapali mundu jumo liina lyakwe che Anania, mundu jwakwalamba Akunnungu ni jwakugakamulichisya Malajisyo ga Akunnungu gaŵapele che Musa ni juŵaŵalanjikwe umboni kuti ali jwambone ni Ŵayahudi ŵakutama ku Damesiki.
[A couple of days] later, a man whose name was Ananias came to [see] me. He was a man who [greatly respected God and] carefully obeyed [our Jewish] laws. All the Jews living in Damascus said good things about him.
13 Jwelejo ŵaiche kukuunola, ni ŵajimi pachiŵandi ni uneji ni kuti, ‘Mpwanga che Sauli! Nkombole kulola sooni.’ Papopo nakombwele kulola sooni ni nammweni.
He came and stood beside me and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, see [again]!’ Instantly I could see! I saw Ananias [standing there beside me].
14 Nipele che Anania ŵatite, ‘Akunnungu ŵa achambuje ŵetu ansagwile mmwe kuti mmanyilile yakuisaka, ni kummona jwelejo Jwakupanganya yambone paujo pa Akunnungu, ni kumpilikana nsyene achiŵechetaga.
Then he said: ‘The God whom [we(inc) worship and] whom our ancestors [worshipped] has chosen you and will show you what he wants [you to do. He has allowed you] to see the righteous one, [the Messiah], and you have heard him speaking [to you].
15 Pakuŵa chimme jwaumboni jwakwe kwa ŵandu wose nchasalilaga aila yose inyiweni ni kwipilikana.
He wants you to tell people everywhere what you have seen and heard [from him].
16 Nipele sano nkulindilila ichichi, njime mbatiswe ni kutyosyekwa sambi syenu, kwakutenda yelei nkuliŵilanga liina lya Ambuje.’
So now (do not delay!/why delay?) [RHQ] Stand up, let [me] baptize you, and by praying to the Lord [Jesus ask God] to forgive you [(sg)] for your sins!’”
17 “Nipele, nausile ku Yelusalemu ni panapopelaga pa Nyuumba ja Akunnungu pala naiweni yakwiwona.
“Later, I returned to Jerusalem. [One day] I went to the Temple courtyard. While I was praying there, I saw a vision [in which]
18 Nammweni Ambuje achiisalilaga, ‘Njanguye! Ntyoche chitema mu Yelusalemu pakuŵa ŵandu ŵa pelepa ŵa ngaapochela umboni wenu nkati une.’
I saw the Lord speaking to me. He said to me, ‘[Do not stay here]! Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people [here] will not (believe/listen to) what you [(sg)] tell [them] about me!’
19 Noneji najanjile, ‘Ambuje, ŵanyawo akumanyilila kuti uneji ni jwejula junajendagajendaga mmajumba gao ga kupopelela ni kwataŵa mu nyuumba jakutaŵilwa aŵala ŵaŵankulupilile mmweji ni kwaputa.
But I [protested and] said to him, ‘Lord, they know that I went to many of our meeting houses looking for people who believe in you. I was putting in jail those [whom I found] who believed in you, and I was even beating them.
20 Ni katema paŵammuleje che Stefano jwa umboni jwenu, uneji nansyene naliji palapala ni sooni najitichisye kuti ŵaulaje ni nalindilile nguo sya ŵaŵambuleje ŵala.’
[They remember that] when Stephen was killed [MTY] {when people killed [MTY] Stephen} because he told people about you, I stood there [watching it all] and approving [what they were doing]. I [even] guarded the outer garments that those who were murdering him [had thrown aside. So if I stay here, the fact that I have changed how I think about you will surely impress those leaders of our people].’
21 Ambuje ŵaasalile, ‘Njaule, chinantume kwakutalika, kwa ŵandu ŵangaŵa Ŵayahudi.’”
But the Lord said to me, ‘No, [do not stay here]! Leave [Jerusalem, because] I am going to send you [(sg)] far away [from here] to non-Jewish people!’”
22 Ŵandu ŵala ŵapilikanilaga mpaka paŵaŵechete maloŵe go, nipele, ŵatandite kunyanyisya achitiji, “Mumbulaje! Mundu jwati yelei ngaakuŵajilwa kulama.”
The people listened [quietly] to what Paul was saying until [he mentioned the Lord sending him to non-Jewish people]. Then they began shouting [angrily], “Kill him! [He does not deserve to live any longer]!” [They said that because they could not believe that God would save anyone except Jews].
23 Ni ŵajendelechele kunyanyisya akuno achiulaga iwalo yao ni kututumya luundu mwinani.
While they continued shouting, [“Kill him!”] they took off their cloaks and threw dust into the air, [which showed how angry they were].
24 Jwankulu jwa ŵangondo lichila jula ŵaalamwile ŵangondo ŵao anjigale che Paolo ni kunjinjisya mu likome, ni ŵaalajisye ŵaapute mbokola ali nkumbusya kuti ŵamanyisye ligongo lya Ŵayahudi kunyanyisya.
So the commander [commanded] that Paul be taken {[soldiers] to take Paul} into the barracks. He told [the soldiers] that they should strike Paul with a whip [that had pieces of bone/metal on the end of it], in order to make him tell what he had done that made the Jews shout so angrily. [So the soldiers took Paul into the barracks].
25 Nambo paŵantaŵile ngonji kuti ŵapute, che Paolo ŵambusisye jwankulu jumo juŵajimi pepala, “Ana malajisyo gakutusaka kumputa mbokola Mloma akanaŵe kulamulikwa?”
Then they stretched his arms out [and tied them] so that they could whip him [on his back. But] Paul said to the officer who was standing nearby [watching], “[You(sg) should think carefully about this]! You will certainly be [RHQ] acting unlawfully if you whip me, a Roman [citizen whom] no [one has put on trial and] condemned!”
26 Jwankulu jula paŵapilikene yeleyo, ŵajawile ku jwankulu jwa ŵangondo jula ni kwasalila, “Ana nkusaka kutenda chichi? Pakuŵa mundu ju ali Mloma!”
When the officer heard that, he went to the commander and reported it to him. He said [to the commander], “This man is a Roman [citizen] (Surely you would not [command us to whip him]!/Do you really want [us to whip him]?) [RHQ]”
27 Nipele jwankulu jwa ŵangondo jula ŵanjaulile che Paolo ni kummusya, “Musalile, ana mmwe Mloma?” Che Paolo ŵajanjile, “Elo.”
The commander [was surprised when he heard that. He himself] went [into the barracks] and said to Paul, “Tell me, are you [(sg) really] a Roman [citizen]?” Paul answered, “Yes, I [am].”
28 Jwankulu jwa ŵangondo jula ŵatite, “Uneji none ndili Mloma kwa kusuma ni ntengo wekulungwa.” Che Paolo ŵatite, “Nambo uneji ndili Mloma jwakupagwa.”
Then the commander said, “[I am also a Roman citizen]. I paid a lot of money to become a [Roman] citizen.” Paul said, “But I was born a [Roman] citizen, [so I did not need to pay anything].”
29 Nipele ŵandu ŵaŵasachile kumbusya ali nkumputa che Paolo ŵala papopo ŵatyosile. Ni jwankulu jwa ŵangondo jula paŵaimanyilile kuti che Paolo ŵaliji Mloma ŵajogwepe pakuŵa ŵantaŵile ni minyolo.
The soldiers [were about to whip Paul and to ask him questions about what he had done. But when they heard what Paul said, they] left him immediately. The commander also became afraid, because he realized that Paul was a Roman [citizen] and that he had [illegally commanded soldiers to] tie up Paul’s [hands].
30 Malaŵi jakwe, jwankulu jwa ŵangondo mia moja jula ŵasachile kugamanyilila magambo gasyenesyene gakuŵechetelwa che Paolo ni Ŵayahudi. Nipele ŵangopwele minyolo jila ni ŵaalamwile achakulu ŵambopesi ni achakulu ŵa nkungulu asimane. Nipele ŵanjigele che Paolo ni kuntulusya paasi ni kunjimika paujo pa nkungulu.
[The commander still] wanted to know exactly why the Jews were accusing Paul. So the next day he [told the soldiers to] take the chains off Paul. He also summoned the chief priests and the [other Jewish] Council [members]. Then he took Paul [to where the Council was meeting] and [commanded] him to stand before them.
