Acts 23
1 Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
Paulo li ŋku ɖe takpekpea dzi gãa, eye wòƒo nu gblɔ be, “Nɔviwo, nye dzitsinya ka ɖe edzi nam be nye agbenɔnɔ dzea Mawu ŋu ɣe sia ɣi.”
2 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
Esi wòɖe nu le nya sia me teti ko la, nunɔlagã Anania ɖe gbe be ame siwo le Paulo gbɔ lɔƒo la naƒo nugbɔ nɛ. Ale woƒoe nɛ.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
Paulo gblɔ nɛ be, “Mawu aƒo wò hã, wò ame si le abe gli si wosi akalo na ene. Ènɔ zi dzi be nadrɔ̃ ʋɔnum ɖe se la nu, ke wò ŋutɔ nèda sea dzi, ɖe gbe be woaƒo alɔgbɔ nam!”
4 But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”
Ame siwo nɔ tsitre ɖe Paulo gbɔ la do ɣli ɖe eta be, “Mɔ kae nèkpɔ be nànɔ Mawu ƒe nunɔlagã la dzum alea?”
5 “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
Paulo ɖo eŋu be, “Tɔnye medzɔ o, nɔviwo, nyemenya be eyae nye nunɔlagã la o, elabena mawunya gblɔ be, ‘Mègagblɔ nya vɔ̃ aɖeke ɖe wò dukɔ ƒe kplɔlawo ŋu o.’”
6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
Azɔ, esi Paulo kpɔe dze sii be takpekpea me valawo ƒe akpa aɖewo nye Zadukitɔwo, eye ɖewo hã nye Farisitɔwo ŋuti la, edo ɣli gblɔ be, “Nɔvinyewo, Farisitɔ menye abe tɔgbuinyewo ke ene, eye nu si ta wohem va ʋɔnue egbe lae nye be nye hã meka ɖe edzi abe miawo ke ene be ame siwo ku la agafɔ tso ku me.”
7 As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Esi wògblɔ esia ko la, ʋiʋli ge ɖe Farisitɔwo kple Zadukitɔwo dome, eye takpekpe la ma ɖe akpa eve.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
(Elabena Zadukitɔwo gblɔna be tsitretsitsi tso ame kukuwo dome meli o, eye mawudɔlawo kple gbɔgbɔwo meli o, ke Farisitɔwo xɔ nu siawo dzi se be woli.)
9 A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
Nu sia he tɔtɔ gã aɖe vɛ, eye Yudatɔwo ƒe agbalẽfiala aɖewo siwo nye Farisitɔwo tsi tsitre hedo ɣli be yewomekpɔ be naneke gblẽ le Paulo ŋu o, ke boŋ ɖewohĩ mawudɔla alo gbɔgbɔ aɖee ƒo nu nɛ le Damasko mɔ dzi.
10 The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
Hoowɔwɔ la va de dzi blibo, eye asrafoawo ƒe amegã vɔ̃ be woava vuvu Paulo. Mlɔeba la, eɖe gbe na eƒe asrafowo be woakplɔ Paulo adzoe sesẽtɔe le wo gbɔ, ale wokplɔe gayi ɖe gaxɔa mee le asrafowo ƒe nɔƒe.
11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
Le zã me la, Aƒetɔ la va Paulo gbɔ gblɔ nɛ be, “Paulo, dzi megaɖe le ƒowò o, elabena abe ale si nèɖi ɖase le ŋunye le Yerusalem ene la, nenema kee nèle ɖase ɖi ge le ŋunye le Roma hã.”
12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
Esi ŋu ke la, Yudatɔ aɖewo ƒo ƒu, eye woka atam na wo ɖokuiwo be ne yewomewu Paulo o kpaa, yewomaɖu nu alo ano tsi o.
13 More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
Ŋutsu siwo ɖo vɔ̃ sia la sɔ gbɔ wu ame blaene.
14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
Woyi nunɔlagãwo kple dumegãwo gbɔ hegblɔ na wo be, “Míeka atam ƒo ɖe mía ɖokui dzi be míele naneke ɖu ge va se ɖe esime míawu Paulo o.
15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”
Miawo kple ʋɔnudrɔ̃lawo, miwɔ abe ɖe miedi be yewoagabia gbe Paulo ene, ale be miabia asrafowo ƒe amegã ne wòakplɔe va takpekpe gã la me. Míawo la, míade xa ɖe mɔa dzi, eye ne wokplɔ Paulo gbɔnae la, míadzo adze edzi, awui.”
16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
Ke Paulo ƒe srɔ̃nyi aɖe se woƒe ɖoɖo sia ale wòɖe abla ɖagblɔe na Paulo le mɔ la me.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
Paulo yɔ asrafowo dometɔ ɖeka, eye wòbia tso esi be wòakplɔ ɖekakpui la yi asrafoawo ƒe amegã gbɔe, elabena nya aɖe le esi wòdi be yeagblɔ nɛ.
18 So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
Asrafoa kplɔ ɖekakpui la yii abe ale si Paulo gblɔ nɛ ene, eye wògblɔ na asrafoawo ƒe amegã be, “Paulo, gamenɔla la, yɔm va eɖokui gbɔ, eye wòɖe kuku nam be makplɔ ɖekakpui sia va gbɔwò, elabena nya aɖe le esi be wòagblɔ na wò.”
19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”
Asrafomegã la kplɔ ɖekakpui la ɖe kpɔe hebia gbee be, “Nya ka nèdi be yeagblɔ nam?”
20 He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.
Paulo ƒe nyruiyɔvi la gblɔ nɛ be, “Etsɔ la, Yudatɔwo aɖo ame ɖe gbɔwò be nàkplɔ Paulo va yewoƒe takpekpe gã la ŋkumee be yewoagabia gbee.
21 Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
Gake mègawɔe o, elabena Yudatɔ blaene aɣla wo ɖokuiwo ɖe mɔa dzi be ne Paulo va yina la, yewoalée awu. Woka atam na wo ɖokuiwo be, ne Paulo meku o la, yewomaɖu nu alo ano tsi hã o, eya ta wode xa ɖe mɔa dzi fifi laa hã xoxo.”
22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
Asrafowo ƒe amegã la gblɔ na ɖekakpui la be, “Mègana ame aɖeke nanya be èva gblɔ nya sia nam o.” Emegbe la edzo.
23 Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.
Enumake Asrafomegã la yɔ etevi eve, eye wògblɔ na wo be, “Midzra ɖo miadze Kaesarea mɔ dzi egbe zã ga asiekɛ me.
24 Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”
Midi sɔ na Paulo wòado ale be miakplɔe aɖade asi na mɔmefia Felix dedie.”
25 And he wrote the following letter:
Eŋlɔ agbalẽ kpe ɖe eŋu ale:
26 Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
Klaudio Lisia, Na Bubutɔ, mɔ̃mefia Felix, Xɔ gbedoname nyui sia.
27 This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,
Gbe ɖeka la, Yudatɔwo lé ŋutsu sia, eye wonɔ eƒom be yewoawui, ke esi mese be Romatɔ wònye la, meɖo asrafowo ɖa woɖaxɔe le wo si.
28 and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
Emegbe la, mekplɔe yi Yudatɔwo ƒe takpekpe gã la me be mase nu si tututu wòwɔ tae wolée ɖo.
29 I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
Le woƒe nyamedzodzrowo me la, mekpɔ be menye nya gobii aɖeke wotsɔ ɖe eŋu o, ke boŋ nya siwo ku ɖe Yudatɔwo ƒe xɔse kple kɔnuwo ŋu la koe, eye medze be woawui alo adee gaxɔ me kura gɔ̃ hã ɖe nya siawo ƒomevi ta o.
30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.
Ke le esime mese be Yudatɔwo ganɔ ɖoɖo wɔm le bebeme be yewoawui ta la, meɖoe be makplɔe ɖo ɖe wò, eye magblɔ na eƒe futɔwo hã be woava gbɔwò ne nàdrɔ̃ nya la na wo.
31 So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.
Ale, le zã ma me la, asrafoawo kplɔ Paulo yi va ɖo Antipatre.
32 The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
Esi ŋu ke la, wotsɔe de asi na sɔdzisrafoawo be woakplɔe ayi Kaesarea, ke afɔzɔlawo ya gatrɔ va woƒe nɔƒe le mɔ la me.
33 When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.
Esi wova ɖo Kaesarea la, wotsɔ Paulo de asi na mɔmefia la, eye wotsɔ agbalẽ si Lisia ŋlɔ de wo si la hã nɛ.
34 The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
Esi mɔmefiagã la xlẽ agbalẽ la vɔ la, ebia du si me tɔ Paulo nye lae eye Paulo ɖo eŋu be, “Metso Kilikia.”
35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.
Azɔ mɔmefia la gblɔ nɛ be, “Maɖo to wò nyawo katã nenye be nuwòtsolawo va ɖo.” Ale wòɖe gbe be woaɖatui ɖe gaxɔ me le Fia Herod ƒe fiasã me.
