< Acts 9 >
1 Meanwhile, Saul angrily continued to say, “I will kill those who believe that [Jesus is] the Lord!” He went to the supreme priest [in Jerusalem]
Ihinda-inĩ o rĩu Saũlũ no eehĩtagĩra kũũraga arutwo a Mwathani. Agĩthiĩ kũrĩ mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai ũrĩa mũnene,
2 and requested him [to write] letters [introducing him] to [the leaders of] [MTY] the Jewish meeting places in Damascus [city. The letters asked them to authorize Saul] to seize any men or women who followed the way [that Jesus had taught], and to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem [so that the Jewish leaders could judge and punish them].
na akĩmũhooya marũa athiĩ namo thunagogi-inĩ iria ciarĩ Dameski, nĩgeetha angĩkora andũ a Njĩra ĩyo kuo, marĩ arũme kana andũ-a-nja, amanyiite amatware Jerusalemu marĩ ohe.
3 Saul took those letters, and while he [and those with him] traveled toward Damascus, as they were approaching the city, suddenly a [brilliant] light from heaven shone around Saul.
Naarĩ rũgendo-inĩ aakuhĩrĩria Dameski-rĩ, o rĩmwe ũtheri ũkiuma na igũrũ, ũkĩmwarĩra mĩena yothe.
4 [Immediately] he fell down to the ground. Then he heard the voice [of the Lord] say to him, “Saul, Saul, (stop causing me to suffer!/why are you causing me to suffer?) [RHQ]”
Akĩgũa thĩ, na akĩigua mũgambo ũkĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Saũlũ, Saũlũ, ũũnyariiraga nĩkĩ?”
5 Saul asked him, “Lord, who are you?” He replied, “I am Jesus, [and] you [(sg)] are causing me to suffer [by hurting my followers]!
Saũlũ akĩũria atĩrĩ, “Nĩwe ũ, Mwathani?” Nake akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Nĩ niĩ Jesũ ũrĩa ũnyariiraga.
6 Now instead [of continuing to do that], stand up and go into the city! [Someone there] will tell you [(sg)] what I [want] you to do.”
No rĩrĩ, rĩu ũkĩra ũtoonye itũũra rĩĩrĩ inene, na nĩũkwĩrwo ũrĩa wagĩrĩirwo nĩ gwĩka.”
7 The men who were traveling with Saul [became so frightened that they] could not say anything. [They just] stood there. They only heard the sound [when the Lord spoke], but they did not see anyone.
Nao andũ arĩa maatwaranaga hamwe na Saũlũ makĩrũgama hau maagĩte ũrĩa mangiuga; o nĩmaiguire mũgambo no matiigana kuona mũndũ o na ũrĩkũ.
8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see anything. So the men [with him] took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.
Nake Saũlũ agĩũkĩra, akĩrũgama, no rĩrĩa aahingũririe maitho ndoonaga o na hanini. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio makĩmũnyiita guoko makĩmũtwara Dameski.
9 For the next three days Saul could not see [anything], and he did not eat or drink anything.
Ihinda rĩa matukũ matatũ aarĩ mũtumumu, na ndarĩ kĩndũ aarĩĩaga kana akanyua.
10 In Damascus there was [a Jew] named Ananias who believed in Jesus. While [Ananias was seeing] a vision, the Lord [Jesus] said to him, “Ananias!” He replied, “Lord, I [am listening].”
Na rĩrĩ, kũu Dameski nĩ kwarĩ na mũrutwo wetagwo Anania. Mwathani akĩmwarĩria na kĩoneki, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Anania!” Nake agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Niĩ ũyũ Mwathani.”
11 The Lord Jesus told him, “Go to Straight Street to the house that belongs to Judas. Ask [someone there if you(sg) can talk to] a man named Saul from Tarsus [city], because, surprisingly, at this moment he is praying [to me].
Nake Mwathani akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Thiĩ kwa Judasi o kũu njĩra ĩrĩa ĩtagwo Nũngarũ, ũrie mũndũ uumĩte Tariso wĩtagwo Saũlũ, nĩ ũndũ nĩkũhooya arahooya.
12 [Saul has seen] a vision in which a man named Ananias entered [the house where he was staying] and put his hands on him in order that he might see again.”
Nĩonete mũndũ kĩoneki-inĩ wĩtagwo Anania agĩũka kũmũigĩrĩra moko, nĩguo acooke kuona.”
13 But Ananias [protested], saying, “But Lord, many people have told me about this man! He has done many evil things to the people in Jerusalem who [believe in] you!
Anania akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Mwathani, nĩnjiguĩte ũhoro mũingĩ ũkoniĩ mũndũ ũcio, na maũndũ maingĩ mooru marĩa aaneka andũ aku arĩa aamũre kũũrĩa Jerusalemu.
14 And the chief priests have authorized him to come here [to Damascus] in order to seize all of us who believe in you [(sg)] [MTY] [and take us to Jerusalem]!”
Na okĩte gũkũ arĩ na wathani kuuma kũrĩ athĩnjĩri-Ngai arĩa anene, nĩgeetha anyiite andũ arĩa othe makayagĩra rĩĩtwa rĩaku.”
15 But the Lord [Jesus] told Ananias, “Go to [Saul! Do what I say], because I have chosen him to serve me in order that he might speak about me [MTY] both to non-Jewish people and [their] kings and to the Israeli people.
No Mwathani akĩĩra Anania atĩrĩ, “Thiĩ, tondũ ũndũ ũcio nĩ kĩndũ gĩakwa kĩrĩa ndĩĩthuurĩire gĩa gũtwara ũhoro wa rĩĩtwa rĩakwa kũrĩ andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ, na athamaki, o na kũrĩ andũ a Isiraeli.
16 I myself will tell him that he must often suffer greatly because of [telling people about] me [MTY].”
Nĩngũmuonia ũrĩa arĩ o nginya anyamaarĩke nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩakwa.”
17 So Ananias went, and [after he found] the house [where Saul was], he entered it. Then, [as soon as he met Saul], he put his hands on him, and he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus [himself] commanded me to come [to you]. He is the [same] one who appeared to you [(sg)] while you were traveling along the road. [He sent me to you] in order that you might see again and that you might be completely controlled by the Holy Spirit {that the Holy Spirit might completely control you}.”
Hĩndĩ ĩyo Anania agĩthiĩ na agĩtoonya nyũmba ĩyo. Akĩigĩrĩra Saũlũ moko, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Saũlũ, mũrũ wa Ithe witũ, Mwathani, o we Jesũ ũrĩa ũrakuumĩrĩire ũrĩ njĩra-inĩ ũgĩũka gũkũ, nĩandũmĩte nĩguo ũcooke kuona, na ũiyũrio na Roho Mũtheru.”
18 Instantly, things like [fish] scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he was able to see again. Then he stood up and was baptized {[Ananias] baptized him} [immediately].
O hĩndĩ ĩyo, tũnyamũ twahaanaga ta ngaracũ tũkiuma maitho-inĩ ma Saũlũ, tũkĩgũa thĩ, nake akĩhota kuona rĩngĩ. Agĩũkĩra na akĩbatithio,
19 After Saul ate some food, he felt strong again. Saul stayed with the [other] believers in Damascus for several days.
na aarĩkia kũrĩa irio, akĩgĩa na hinya. Saũlũ agĩikara mĩthenya ĩigana ũna marĩ hamwe na arutwo kũu Dameski.
20 Right away Saul began to preach [to people about Jesus] in the Jewish meeting places [in Damascus. He told them] that Jesus is (the Son of/the man who is also) God.
Na hĩndĩ ĩyo akĩambĩrĩria kũhunjia thunagogi-inĩ atĩ Jesũ nĩ Mũrũ wa Ngai.
21 And all the people who heard him [preach] were amazed. [Various ones of] them were saying, “([We(inc) can hardly believe that] this is the [same man] who persecuted the believers in Jerusalem!/Is this really the [same man] who persecuted the believers in Jerusalem?) [RHQ, MTY] And we [(inc)] know that he has [RHQ] come here to seize us and take us to the chief priests [in Jerusalem]!”
Andũ othe arĩa maamũiguire makĩgega makĩũria atĩrĩ, “Githĩ mũndũ ũyũ tiwe ũraagithĩtie andũ thayũ kũu Jerusalemu gatagatĩ-inĩ ka arĩa makayagĩra rĩĩtwa rĩu? Na githĩ ndokĩte gũkũ nĩgeetha amanyiite amatware marĩ ohe kũrĩ athĩnjĩri-Ngai arĩa anene?”
22 But [God] enabled Saul [to preach to many people even] more convincingly. He was proving [from the Scriptures] that Jesus is the Messiah. So the Jewish leaders in Damascus could not think of anything (to refute [what he said/to prove that what he said was not true]).
Nowe Saũlũ agĩkĩrĩrĩria kũgĩa na hinya, na akĩgegia Ayahudi arĩa maatũũrĩte kũu Dameski na ũndũ wa kũmaiguithia na ma atĩ Jesũ nĩwe Kristũ.
23 Some time later, [after Saul had left Damascus and then returned], the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] [there] plotted to kill him.
Thuutha wa mĩthenya mĩingĩ gũthira, Ayahudi magĩcookania ndundu mamũũrage,
24 [During each] day and night those Jews were continually watching [the people passing through] the city gates, in order that [when they saw Saul] they might kill him. However, someone told Saul what they planned to do.
no Saũlũ akĩmenya mũbango ũrĩa maarĩ naguo. Mũthenya na ũtukũ maaikaraga mamuoheirie ihingo-inĩ cia itũũra inene nĩguo mamũũrage.
25 So some of those whom he had helped [to believe in Jesus] took him [one] night [to the high stone wall that surrounded the city]. They [used ropes to] lower him in a [large] basket through an opening in the wall. [So he escaped from Damascus].
No arũmĩrĩri aake makĩmuoya ũtukũ, makĩmũharũrũkia arĩ gĩkabũ-inĩ mamũgereirie mwanya warĩ rũthingo-inĩ.
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he began trying to associate with other believers. However, [almost] all of them continued to be afraid of him, because they did not believe that he had become a believer.
Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa aakinyire Jerusalemu, akĩgeria kwĩgwatania na arutwo, no othe nĩmamwĩtigagĩra, tondũ matietĩkagia atĩ kũna aarĩ mũrutwo.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He explained to the apostles how, [while Saul was traveling] along the road [to Damascus], he had seen the Lord [Jesus] and how the Lord had spoken to him [there. He] also told them how Saul had preached boldly about Jesus [MTY] [to people] in Damascus. [The apostles believed Barnabas and told the other believers about that].
No Baranaba akĩmuoya akĩmũtwara kũrĩ atũmwo. Akĩmeera ũrĩa Saũlũ oonire Mwathani arĩ rũgendo-inĩ rwake, na ũrĩa Mwathani aamwarĩirie, na ũrĩa aahunjirie kũu Dameski thĩinĩ wa rĩĩtwa rĩa Jesũ ategwĩtigĩra.
28 So Saul began to associate with the apostles [and other believers] throughout Jerusalem, and he spoke boldly [to people] about [MTY] the Lord [Jesus].
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Saũlũ agĩikara na atũmwo, na agaceeraga kũu Jerusalemu, akĩaragia na ũcamba thĩinĩ wa rĩĩtwa rĩa Mwathani, ategwĩtigĩra.
29 Saul was [also] speaking [about Jesus] with Jews who spoke Greek, and he was debating with them. But they were continually trying [to think] ([of a way] to kill him/of [how they could] kill him).
Ningĩ nĩaaragia na agakararanagia na Ayahudi arĩa maaciarĩirwo kwa Ayunani, no nao makageria ũrĩa mangĩmũũraga.
30 When the [other] believers heard that [those Jews were planning to kill him, some of] the believers took Saul down to Caesarea [city. There] they arranged for him to go [by ship] to Tarsus, [his hometown].
Rĩrĩa ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ maamenyire ũguo, makĩmuoya, makĩmũikũrũkia nginya Kaisarea, makĩmũtũma Tariso.
31 So the groups of believers throughout [the entire regions of] Judea, Galilee, and Samaria lived peacefully [because no one was persecuting them any more]. The Holy Spirit was strengthening them [spiritually] and encouraging them. They were continuing to revere/honor the Lord [Jesus, and the Holy Spirit] was enabling many other people [to become believers].
Hĩndĩ ĩyo kanitha wa Judea guothe, na Galili, na Samaria ũgĩkenera ihinda rĩa thayũ. Nĩwongereirwo hinya; na ũkĩũmĩrĩrio nĩ Roho Mũtheru, na ũkĩongererwo andũ, nao magĩtũũra metigĩrĩte Mwathani.
32 While Peter was traveling throughout those [regions, once] he went to [the coastal plain to visit] the believers [who lived] in Lydda [town].
Na rĩrĩ, rĩrĩa Petero aaceeraga kũndũ na kũndũ bũrũri-inĩ, nĩathiire gũceerera andũ arĩa aamũre a kũu Lida.
33 There he met a man whose name was Aeneas. Aeneas had not been able to get up from [his] bed for eight years, because he was paralyzed.
Arĩ kũu agĩkora mũndũ wetagwo Ainea warĩ na mũrimũ wa gũkua ciĩga, na aatũũrĩte akomete gĩtanda-inĩ ihinda rĩa mĩaka ĩnana.
34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you [(sg) right now]! Get up and roll up your mat!” Right away Aeneas stood up.
Petero akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ainea, Jesũ Kristũ nĩakũhonia. Ũkĩra ũkũnje kĩbarĩ gĩaku.” O hĩndĩ ĩyo Ainea akĩrũgama.
35 Most of the people who lived in Lydda and on Sharon [Plain] saw Aeneas [after the Lord had healed him], so they believed in the Lord [Jesus].
Andũ othe arĩa maatũũraga Lida na Sharoni makĩmuona na makĩgarũrũkĩra Mwathani.
36 In Joppa [town] there was a believer whose name was Tabitha. [Her name] in the [Greek] language was Dorcas. [Both of these names mean gazelle/deer/antelope]. That woman was continually doing good deeds [for others. Specifically], she was helping poor people [by giving them things that they needed].
Kũu Jopa nĩ kwarĩ mũrutwo wetagwo Tabitha (narĩo rĩĩtwa rĩu rĩgĩtaũrwo nĩ kuuga Dorokasi), nake aatũũrĩte ekaga maũndũ mega, na agateithagia athĩĩni.
37 During the time [that Peter was in Lydda], she became sick and died. [Some women there] washed her body [according to the Jewish custom so that the people could bury it]. Then they [covered her body with cloth and] placed it in an upstairs room [in her house].
O ihinda-inĩ rĩu nĩarũarire na agĩkua, naguo mwĩrĩ wake ũgĩthambio, ũkĩigwo nyũmba ya igũrũ.
38 Lydda was near Joppa, so when the believers heard that Peter was [still] in Lydda, they sent two men to [go] to Peter. [When they arrived where Peter was], they repeatedly urged/begged him, “Please come immediately with us [to Joppa]!”
Lida kwarĩ hakuhĩ na Jopa; nĩ ũndũ ũcio rĩrĩa arutwo maaiguire atĩ Petero aarĩ kũu Lida, magĩtũma andũ eerĩ makamũringĩrĩrie mamwĩre atĩrĩ, “Twagũthaitha ũka narua!”
39 So [right away] Peter got ready and went with them. When they arrived [at the house in Joppa], the two men took Peter to the upstairs room [where Dorcas’ body was lying]. All the widows [there] around Peter. They were crying and showing him the cloaks and [other] garments that Dorcas had made for people while she was still alive.
Nake Petero agĩthiĩ hamwe nao, na aakinya agĩtwarwo nyũmba ya igũrũ. Atumia othe a ndigwa makĩrũgama, makĩmũthiũrũrũkĩria makĩrĩraga, na makĩmuonagia kanjũ na nguo ingĩ iria Dorokasi aatumĩte rĩrĩa aarĩ nao.
40 But Peter sent them all out of the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. Then, turning toward Tabitha’s body, he said, “Tabitha, stand up!” [Immediately] she opened her eyes and, when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Nake Petero akĩmeera othe moime nja ya nyũmba; agĩcooka agĩturia maru akĩhooya Ngai. Agĩcooka akĩgarũrũkĩra mũtumia ũcio wakuĩte, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Tabitha, ũkĩra,” nake Tabitha akĩhingũra maitho, na oona Petero, agĩĩtiira.
41 He grasped one of her hands and helped her to stand up. After he had summoned the believers and [especially] the widows [among them to come back in], he showed them that Tabitha was alive [again].
Nake Petero akĩmũnyiita guoko, akĩmũrũgamia. Agĩcooka agĩĩta andũ arĩa meetĩkĩtie, na atumia acio a ndigwa, akĩmũneana kũrĩ o arĩ muoyo.
42 [Soon] people everywhere in Joppa knew about that miracle, and as a result many people believed in the Lord [Jesus].
Naguo ũhoro ũcio ũkĩmenyeka Jopa guothe, nao andũ aingĩ magĩĩtĩkia Mwathani.
43 Peter stayed in Joppa many days with a man named Simon who made leather [from animal skins].
Nake Petero agĩikara Jopa mĩthenya mĩingĩ kwa mũndũ wetagwo Simoni, ũrĩa warĩ mũtanduki wa njũũa.