Acts 22
1 “Brothers and Father, listen to the defence which I am about to make.”
“Valongo vangu na vadadi vangu, muyuwanila hinu chenikujikengelela palongolo yinu!”
2 When they heard that he was speaking to them in Hebrew, they were still more quiet; and Paul went on:
Pevamuyuwini ilongela nawu kwa luga ya Chiebulania vakatama nuu neju. Kangi Pauli akayendelela kujova,
3 “I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, but I was brought up in this city under the teaching of Gamaliel, and educated in accordance with the strict system of our ancestral Law. I was as zealous in God’s service as any of you who are here to-day.
“Nene na Myawudi mkolonjinji wa ku Taso muji wa Kilikia. Nambu naleliwi bahapa pa Yelusalemu. Muwula wangu Gamalieli. Nawuliwi kulanda malagizu ga vagogo vitu, najiwusili mtima woha kwa Chapanga ngati chemuvi nyenye lelu.
4 In my persecution of this Cause I did not stop even at the taking of life. I put in chains, and imprisoned, men and women alike —
Navang'ahisi hati kuvakoma vandu vala vevalanda Njila ya Bambu. Navakamwili vagosi na vadala na kuvakunga muchifungu.
5 And to that the High Priest himself and all the Council can testify. For I had letters of introduction from them to our fellow Jews at Damascus, and I was on my way to that place, to bring those whom I might find there prisoners to Jerusalem for punishment.
Mteta mkulu wa Chapanga, vagogo voha va libanji vihotola kujova ndava ya lijambu lenili. Kuhumila kwavi napokili balua yevayandikiwi valongo Vayawudi vala, vevavi ku Damasko. Nahambili ku Damasko muni nivakamulayi vandu avo na kuvaleta kuni ku Yelusalemu, muni vabuniwayi.”
6 While I was still on my way, just as I was getting close to Damascus, about mid-day, suddenly there flashed from the heavens a great light all round me.
“Hinu, panavili munjila papipi kuhika Damasko, lukumbi lwa saa sita ya muhi, lumuli luvaha kuhuma kunani kwa Chapanga chigafula ukahumila na kunilangasa pandi zoha.
7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
Penapo ndi nagwili pahi, nakuyuwana lwami lukunijovela, ‘Sauli, Sauli! Ndava kyani, ukuning'aha?’
8 ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I replied. Then the voice said ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’
Hinu nakotili, yani Bambu? Aniyangwili, ‘Nene ndi Yesu wa ku Nazaleti mweukumung'aha.’
9 The men with me saw the light, but did not hear the speaker’s voice.
Vayangu vala valuwene lumuli lula, nambu nakummanya lwami lwa mwenilongela nayu.
10 Then I said ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ The Lord said to me, ‘and there you shall be told all that you have been appointed to do.’
Ndi nikakota, ‘Nikita kyani, Bambu?’ Bambu akaniyangula, ‘Yima, uhamba ku Damasko na kwenuko yati ujoviwa goha geupangiwi kugahenga.’
11 In consequence of that dazzling light I could not see, but my companions held me by the hand, till I reached Damascus.
Mihu nakuhotola kulola ndava ya lumuli lula, hinu yavaganili vayangu vala kunilongosa mbaka kuhika ku Damasko.”
12 There a man named Ananias, a strict observer of our Law, well spoken of by all the Jewish inhabitants, came to see me.
“Kwenuko kwavili na mundu mmonga liina laki Anania, mundu mweakumtopesa Chapanga, mweilanda Mhilu wa Chapanga weampeli Musa na mweitopeswa neju na Vayawudi voha vevitama ku Damasko.
13 Standing close to me, he said ‘Saul, my Brother, recover your sight.’ And then and there I recovered my sight and looked up at him.
Mwene abwelili kunilola, akanihegelela na kunijovela, ‘Mlongo wangu Sauli! Lola kavili.’ Bahapo nikahotola kumlola.
14 Then he said ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to learn his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear words from his lips;
Kangi Anania akajova, ‘Chapanga wa vagogo vitu akuhagwili veve uhotola kumanya maganu gaki, kumlola Mweikita geigana Chapanga, na kumyuwana malovi gaki.
15 for you shall be a witness for him to all the world of what you have just seen and heard.
Ndava muni yati wijova ndava yaki kwa vandu voha gala geugawene na kuyuwana.
16 And now why wait any longer: Be baptized at once, wash away your sins, and invoke his Name.
Hinu ndi, ndava kyani kutamakisa? Yima, ubatiziwayi na kulekekeswa geumbudili Chapanga kwa njila yeniyi ukulikemela liina la Yesu.’”
17 After my return to Jerusalem, while I was praying one day in the Temple, I fell into a trance,
“Hinu nawuyili ku Yelusalemu, na panavili mukuyupa Munyumba ya Chapanga, nagawene maono.
18 and saw Jesus saying to me ‘Make haste and leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’
Namuwene Bambu akunijovela, ‘Yumbatika! Wuka Yelusalemu kanyata, ndava muni vandu va penapa yati vakukuyidakila lepi mukujova kwaku ndava yangu.’
19 ‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘these people know that I used to imprison and scourge, in Synagogue after Synagogue, those who believed in you;
Nikamyangula, Bambu, vandu ava vimanya hotohoto kuvya nene ndi yula mwenahambayi munyumba za kukonganekela Vayawudi na kuvakamula na kuvatova vala vevakusadikayi.
20 and, when the blood of your martyr, Stephen, was being shed, I was myself standing by, approving of his death, and took charge of the clothes of those who were murdering him.
Na lukumbi Stefani mweijova ndava yaku peakomiwi, namwene navili nayidakili lepi chitendu chenicho hati navi mlonda wa nyula za vakomaji vala.
21 But Jesus said to me ‘Go; for I will send you to the Gentiles far away’.”
Kangi Bambu akanijovela, ‘Hamba, Yati nikutuma kutali kwa vangali Vayawudi.’”
22 Up to this point the people had been listening to Paul, but at these words they called out: “Kill him! A fellow like this ought not to have been allowed to live!”
Msambi wa vandu wamuyuwanili Pauli mbaka peajovili malovi ago. Kangi vakajova kwa lwami luvaha, “Mkoma mundu uyu! Mundu ngati uyu iganikiwa lepi kutama pamulima.”
23 As they were shouting, tearing off their clothes, and throwing dust in the air,
Ndi vayendalili kuywanga kuni vitaga nyula zavi na kutikula lububu kunani.
24 the Commanding Officer ordered Paul to be taken into the Fort, and directed that he should be examined under the lash, that he might find out the reason for their outcry against him.
Mkulu wa msambi wa manjolinjoli avalagizi vandu vaki vampeleka Pauli mungomi, akavajovela vamtova michapilu muni amanya ndava kyani Vayawudi vakumywangila.
25 But just as they had tied him up to be scourged, Paul said to the Captain standing near: “Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman citizen, unconvicted?”
Nambu pevamalili kumkunga Pauli muni vamtovayi, mwene akamkota chilongosi mmonga wa manjolinjoli mweayimi penapo, “Malagizu ginu yikuvayidakila kumtova mkolonjinji wa ku Loma angahamuliwa?”
26 On hearing this, the Captain went and reported it to the Commanding Officer. “Do you know what you are doing?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
Hinu chilongosi yula peayuwini genago, akamjovela mkulu wa msambi wa manjolinjoli akajova, “Wigana kukita kyani? Mundu uyu ndi mkolonjinji wa ku Loma!”
27 So the Commanding Officer went up to Paul and said: “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” replied Paul.
Hinu mkulu yula amhambalili Pauli, akamkota, “Nijovela, veve ndi mkolonjinji wa ku Loma?” Pauli akayangula, “Ena.”
28 “I had to pay a heavy price for my position as citizen,” said the Officer. “I am one by birth,” rejoined Paul.
Kangi mkulu yula akayendelela kujova, “Nene namkolonjinji wa Loma wa kugula kwa mashonga gamahele.” Pauli akajova, “Nambu nene namkolonjinji wa Loma mukuvelekewa.”
29 The men who were to have examined Paul immediately drew back, and the Officer, finding that Paul was a Roman citizen, was alarmed at having put him in chains.
Vandu vala vevamkotekesayi na kumtova michapilu Pauli bahapo vakawuka. Hati mkulu yula akayogopa peamanyili kuvya Pauli mkolonjinji wa ku Loma na kuni amkungili minyololo.
30 On the next day the Commanding Officer, wishing to find out the real reason why Paul was denounced by the Jews, had his chains taken off, and directed the Chief Priests and the whole of the High Council to assemble, and then took Paul down and brought him before them.
Chilau yaki mkulu wa msambi wa manjolinjoli aganili kumanya matakilu ga Vayawudi gevamtakili Pauli. Ndi amuwopwili minyololo na akalagiza vamteta vakulu va Chapanga na vagogo va libanji loha vakonganeka. Kangi amletili Pauli na kumyimika palongolo yavi.
