< 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]
Ma ugbu a, Sọl, onye ume niile ọ na-ekupụta bụ naanị ịba mba na igbu ndị na-eso ụzọ Onyenwe anyị, gakwuuru onyeisi nchụaja,
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].
rịọ ya ka o nye ya akwụkwọ ozi nke ọ ga-eji jekwuru ndị ụlọ nzukọ ndị Juu dị na Damaskọs, nke ọ ga-abụ ọ hụ onye ọbụla na-eso Ụzọ ahụ ma ha bụ nwoke ma ha bụ nwanyị, ka ọdọkpụrụ ha nʼagbụ, kpụgaa Jerusalem.
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.
Mgbe ọ na-aga nʼụzọ, ọ bịaruru ebe dị Damaskọs nso. Na mberede, ihe ìhè nke sitere nʼeluigwe chara ya gburugburu.
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]”
Ọ dara nʼala, nụ olu na-akpọ ya oku, “Sọl, Sọl, gịnị mere i ji na-akpagbu m?”
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]!
Ọ sịrị, “Ị bụ onye, Onyenwe anyị?” Olu ahụ zaghachiri, “Abụ m Jisọs onye ị na-akpagbu.
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.”
Ugbu a, bilie, baa nʼime obodo, a ga-agwa gị ihe ị na-aghaghị imezu.”
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.
Ndị ikom ha na ya so aga guzoro nʼebe ahụ, ma ha enweghị ike ikwu okwu. Ha nụrụ olu ahụ, ma ha ahụghị onye ọbụla.
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.
Sọl si nʼala bilie, ma nʼagbanyeghị nʼanya ya meghere emeghe, ọ dịghị ihe o nwere ike ịhụ. Nke a mere na ha sekpụrụ ya nʼaka dubata ya na Damaskọs.
9 For the next three days Saul could not see [anything], and he did not eat or drink anything.
Ọ hụghị ụzọ ụbọchị atọ, o nweghị ike iri nri maọbụ ṅụọ ihe ọṅụṅụ.
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].”
Otu onye nke na-eso ụzọ ya nọ na Damaskọs, a na-akpọ Ananayas. Onyenwe anyị gwara ya nʼọhụ, “Ananayas!” Ọ sịrị, “Lee m, Onyenwe anyị.”
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].
Onyenwe anyị gwara ya, “Gaa nʼụlọ Judas nke dị nʼokporoụzọ Guzoziri Eguzo, jụọ ajụjụ banyere onye a na-akpọ Sọl, onye si Tasọs, ọ nọ ugbu a na-ekpe ekpere.
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.”
Ọ hụla ọhụ na otu nwoke a na-akpọ Ananayas na-abịakwute ya, ibikwasị ya aka nʼisi ka ọ hụ ụzọ.”
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!
Ma Ananayas zara, “Onyenwe anyị, anụla m akụkọ ihe ọjọọ niile nwoke a mere ndị nsọ gị bi na Jerusalem.
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]!”
Ugbu a, ọ natara ikike nʼaka ndịisi nchụaja bịa nʼebe a ka o jide ndị niile na-akpọku aha gị.”
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.
Ma Onyenwe anyị gwara ya, “Gaa, nʼihi na ahọpụtala m nwoke a ka ọ bụrụ ngwa ọrụ m, onye ga-ewegara mba ndị ọzọ, ndị eze na ụmụ Izrel aha m.
16 I myself will tell him that he must often suffer greatly because of [telling people about] me [MTY].”
Mụ onwe m ga-egosi ya ụdị ahụhụ ọ na-aghaghị ịta nʼihi aha m.”
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}.”
Ya mere, Ananayas garuru nʼụlọ ahụ, banyekwa nʼime ya. Ọ bikwasịrị aka ya nʼisi Sọl, sị, “Nwanna Sọl, Onyenwe anyị Jisọs, onye gosiri gị onwe ya nʼụzọ, zitere m ka ị hụkwa ụzọ ọzọ, ka ị jupụtakwa na Mmụọ Nsọ.”
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].
Otu mgbe ahụ, ihe dịka akpịrịkpa sitere nʼanya ya dapụta, o bidokwara ịhụ ụzọ ọzọ. O biliri ọtọ, e mee ya baptizim.
19 After Saul ate some food, he felt strong again. Saul stayed with the [other] believers in Damascus for several days.
Mgbe o richara nri, ọ nwetakwara ike ya. Ya na ndị na-eso ụzọ Jisọs nọrọ na Damaskọs ọtụtụ ụbọchị.
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.
Ngwangwa, o bidoro ikwusa Jisọs nʼụlọ nzukọ na-asị, Ọ bụ Ọkpara Chineke.
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]!”
O juru ndị niile nụrụ ya anya, ha na asị, “Ọ bụghị nwoke a bụ onye ahụ na-emekpa ndị niile na-akpọku aha ahụ na Jerusalem? Ọ bụ na ọ bụghị maka nke a ka o ji bịa ebe a ịkpụrụkwa ha kpụgara ndịisi nchụaja?”
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]).
Ma Sọl gara nʼihu baa ụba nʼike karịa na ikwu okwu nke gbara ndị Juu bi nʼobodo Damaskọs gharịị site nʼụzọ o siri gosi na Jisọs bụ Kraịst ahụ.
23 Some time later, [after Saul had left Damascus and then returned], the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] [there] plotted to kill him.
Mgbe ọtụtụ ụbọchị gasịrị ndị Juu gbara izu igbu ya.
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.
Ma Sọl chọpụtara ihe ha zubere ime. Ehihie na abalị, ndị a nọ na-eche ụzọ niile e si apụ nʼobodo ahụ nche, ka ha nwe ike gbuo ya.
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].
Ma ụmụazụ ya kunyere ya na nkata amanyere ụdọ bufee ya nʼofe mgbidi nke obodo.
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.
Mgbe o rutere Jerusalem, ọ gbalịrị ịdịnyere ndị na-eso ụzọ Jisọs nọ nʼebe ahụ, ma ha tụrụ egwu. Ha ekwenyeghị na ọ ghọọla ezi onye na-eso ụzọ Jisọs dịka ha.
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].
Ma Banabas duuru ya gaa nʼebe ndị ozi nọ. Ọ kọọrọ ha akụkọ otu o siri hụ Onyenwe anyị na otu o siri gwakwa ya okwu. Na otu o siri kwusaa oziọma nʼaha Jisọs na Damaskọs na-atụghị egwu.
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].
O soro ha na-agagharị na Jerusalem. Ọ na-ekwusakwa okwu nʼaha Onyenwe anyị na-atụghị egwu.
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).
Ya na ndị Juu na-asụ asụsụ Griik rụrịtakwara ụka. Nʼihi ya ndị a gbara izu igbu ya.
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].
Mgbe ndị kwere ekwe nụrụ banyere nzube ha, ha duuru ya gaa Sizaria site nʼebe ahụ zipụ ya ka ọ laa obodo Tasọs.
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].
Mgbe ahụ, nzukọ niile ndị nọ na Judịa, Galili na Sameria, nọọrọ nʼudo, guzosiekwa ike. Ha na-amụba nʼọnụọgụgụ site nʼịtụ egwu nke Onyenwe anyị na ịgbaume nke Mmụọ Nsọ.
32 While Peter was traveling throughout those [regions, once] he went to [the coastal plain to visit] the believers [who lived] in Lydda [town].
Pita na-ejegharị nʼetiti ndị kwere ekwe, ọ gakwara leta ndị nsọ nọ nʼobodo 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.
Nʼebe ahụ, ọ hụrụ otu nwoke aha ya bụ Ainias. Nwoke a anọọla nʼute ọrịa afọ asatọ. Ọ bụ onye ahụ ya kpọnwụrụ akpọnwụ.
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.
Pita sịrị ya, “Ainias, Jisọs Kraịst agwọọla gị. Bilie mezie ute gị.” Ngwangwa, Ainias biliri ọtọ.
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].
Ndị niile bi na Lida na Sharọn hụrụ ya. Nʼihi ya, ha nabatara Onyenwe anyị.
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].
Nʼobodo Jopa, e nwere otu onye nwanyị na-eso ụzọ ya, nke aha ya bụ Tabita nke pụtakwara Dọkas na asụsụ Griik. O jupụtara nʼọrụ ọma, na ọrụ obi ebere nʼebe ụmụ ogbenye nọ.
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].
Nʼoge a, ọ rịara ọrịa, nwụọ. Mgbe ha sachara ya ahụ, ha nibere ya nʼotu ime ụlọ dị nʼụlọ elu.
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]!”
Jopa dịkwa nso na Lida. Mgbe ndị na-eso ụzọ ya nụrụ na Pita nọ nʼebe ahụ, ha ziri ụmụ nwoke abụọ ozi ka a rịọọ ya, sị, “Biko, ahapụla ịbịakwute anyị ngwangwa.”
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.
Pita biliri soro ha gawa, mgbe o ruru, ha duuru ya gbago nʼụlọ elu nʼime ụlọ ahụ. Ụmụ nwanyị niile di ha nwụrụ anwụ nọ nʼebe ahụ na-ebe akwa, na-egosi uwe Dọkas dụụrụ ha mgbe ọ dị ndụ.
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.
Pita chụpụrụ ha niile nʼezi, gbuo ikpere nʼala, kpee ekpere. Ọ tụgharịrị chee ozu ahụ ihu sị, “Tabita, bilie.” O meghere anya ya, ma mgbe ọ hụrụ Pita, o biliri, nọdụ ala.
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].
O nyeere ya aka ka ọ kwụrụ ọtọ. Ọ kpọrọ ndị nsọ niile nọ nʼebe ahụ, ha na ụmụ nwanyị ahụ di ha nwụrụ gosi ha na ọ dị ndụ.
42 [Soon] people everywhere in Joppa knew about that miracle, and as a result many people believed in the Lord [Jesus].
A nụrụ akụkọ ihe a mere nʼebe niile na Jopa, nke mere ka ọtụtụ kwere nʼOnyenwe anyị.
43 Peter stayed in Joppa many days with a man named Simon who made leather [from animal skins].
Ọ nọgidere na Jopa ọtụtụ ụbọchị. Ọ nọdụrụ nʼụlọ Saimọn, onye ọrụ ya bụ idozi akpụkpọ anụ.

< Acts 9 >