Dɔwɔwɔwo 17
1 Azɔ ame eveawo zɔ mɔ to Amfipolis kple Apolonia nutowo me va ɖo Tesalonika, afi si Yudatɔwo ƒe ƒuƒoƒe aɖe le.
Now when they had walked through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they arrived at Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Paulo yi ƒuƒoƒe sia abe ale si wòwɔna ɖaa ene, eye Dzudzɔgbe etɔ̃ katã wòyi ɖaɖe mawunya me na ameawo.
Then Paul, according to custom, entered to them. And for three Sabbaths he disputed with them about the Scriptures,
3 Paolo ɖe eme, eye wòɖo kpe edzi na wo be ele na Kristo la be wòakpe fu, eye wòatsi tsitre tso ame kukuwo dome. Eyi edzi be, “Yesu si ƒe nya gblɔm mele na mi lae nye Kristo la.”
interpreting and concluding that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead, and that “this is the Jesus Christ, whom I am announcing to you.”
4 Yudatɔ geɖewo xɔ se, eye wowɔ ɖeka kple Paulo kple Silas, hekpe ɖe Helatɔ siwo vɔ̃a Mawu la ƒe ha gã aɖe kpakple nyɔnu ŋkuta aɖewo ŋu.
And some of them believed and were joined to Paul and Silas, and a great number of these were from the worshipers and the Gentiles, and not a few were noble women.
5 Yudatɔwo ƒe amegã siwo nɔ dua me la ʋã ŋu Paulo kple Silas, eya ta woƒo gbevu aɖewo nu ƒu tso ablɔwo dzi siwo wɔ ameha gã aɖe, eye wowɔ ʋunyaʋunya le dua me. Wosi du yi Yason ƒe aƒe me le Paulo kple Silas dim ne woakplɔ wo va ameha la ŋkumee.
But the Jews, being jealous, and joining with certain evildoers among the common men, caused a disturbance, and they stirred up the city. And taking up a position near the house of Jason, they sought to lead them out to the people.
6 Ke womekpɔ Paulo kple Silas le aƒea me o, eya ta wolé Yason kple xɔsetɔ aɖewo, kplɔ wo yi dumegãwo gbɔe, eye wonɔ ɣli dom be, “Ame siwo de zi amewo me le xexea me katã la va afi sia hã azɔ,
And when they had not found them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers to the rulers of the city, crying out: “For these are the ones who have stirred up the city. And they came here,
7 woawoe Yason na sitsoƒee ɖe eƒe aƒe me. Wo katã da le Kaisaro ƒe se dzi le gbɔgblɔm be fia bubu aɖe li si ŋkɔe nye Yesu.”
and Jason has received them. And all these men act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
8 Esi wose esia la, ameawo kple dumegãwo de asi hoowɔwɔ me.
And they incited the people. And the rulers of the city, upon hearing these things,
9 Ke esi woxɔ asiƒuakɔnu le Yason kple etɔwo si la woɖe asi le wo ŋu be woadzo.
and having received an explanation from Jason and the others, released them.
10 Le zã ma me la, xɔsetɔ siwo le dua me la kplɔ Paulo kple Silas do goe le dua me alɔtsɔtsɔe, eye woyi Berea. Paulo kple Silas gayi woƒe dɔ dzi le afi sia hã hegblɔ mawunya le Yudatɔwo ƒe ƒuƒoƒe si le dua me la me.
Yet truly, the brothers promptly sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. And when they had arrived, they entered the synagogue of the Jews.
11 Bereatɔwo ɖɔ ʋu wu Tesalonikatɔwo, elabena woɖo to Paulo ƒe nyagbɔgblɔ kple dzidzɔ. Woawo ŋutɔwo hã nɔa mawunya la me dzrom ɣe sia ɣi be yewoakpɔe ɖa be nyateƒenya gblɔm Paulo nɔ mahã.
But these were more noble than those who were at Thessalonica. They received the Word with all enthusiasm, daily examining the Scriptures to see if these things were so.
12 To esia me la, wo dometɔ geɖewo zu xɔsetɔwo eye Helatɔ ŋkuta siwo nye nyɔnuwo kple ŋutsuwo siaa xɔ nya la dzi se.
And indeed, many believed among them, as well as not a few among the honorable Gentile men and women.
13 Esi Yudatɔ siwo tso Tesalonika la gase be Paulo nɔ mawunya gblɔm le Berea la, wogati wo yome yi afi ma hã, eye wògade zi ameawo me ɖe wo ŋu.
Then, when the Jews of Thessalonica had realized that the Word of God was also preached by Paul at Beroea, they went there also, stirring up and disturbing the multitude.
14 Ke xɔsetɔwo wɔ kaba ɖo Paulo ɖe ƒuta gome lɔƒo, gake Silas kple Timoteo ya tsi anyi.
And then the brothers quickly sent Paul away, so that he might travel by sea. But Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 Ame siwo kplɔ Paulo yii la ɖoe ɖa va se ɖe Atene hafi trɔ yi Berea. Paulo de gbe asi na wo be woagblɔ na Silas kple Timoteo be woawɔ kaba ava tu ye le Atene.
Then those who were leading Paul brought him as far as Athens. And having received an order from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him quickly, they set out.
16 Esi Paulo nɔ Sila kple Timoteo lalam le Atene la, eɖi tsa le dua me, eye wòɖe fu na eƒe susu ŋutɔ be dua me yɔ fũu kple legbawo.
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred up within him, seeing the city given over to idolatry.
17 Eyi Yudatɔwo ƒe ƒuƒoƒe be yeadzro nya me kple Yudatɔwo kple Helatɔ mawuvɔ̃lawo. Eƒo nu na ameha si le dua ƒe takpeƒe la hã gbe sia gbe.
And so, he was disputing with the Jews in the synagogue, and with the worshipers, and in public places, throughout each day, with whomever was there.
18 Paulo dzro nya me kple xexemenunyala gã aɖewo siwo woyɔna be Epikurea kple Stoiktɔwo hã. Wo dometɔ aɖewo bia be, “Nu kae nukpoloeƒola sia le didim be yeagblɔ?” Ɖewo gblɔ be, “Ewɔ abe dutamawuwo ŋue wòle nu ƒom le ene.” Wogblɔ esia, elabena Paulo nɔ nyanyui la gblɔm ku ɖe Yesu ƒe ku kple tsitretsitsi ŋuti.
Now certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were arguing with him. And some were saying, “What does this sower of the Word want to say?” Yet others were saying, “He seems to be an announcer for new demons.” For he was announcing to them Jesus and the Resurrection.
19 Ale wolée hekplɔe yi takpeƒe si woyɔna be Areopago la, afi ma wogblɔ nɛ be, “Na míase nya tso nufiafia yeye si nèhe vɛ la ŋu.
And apprehending him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: “Are we able to know what this new doctrine is, about which you speak?
20 Èle nya masekpɔ aɖewo gblɔm ɖe míaƒe towo me, míedi be míase nya siawo gɔme kple nu si wonye.”
For you bring certain new ideas to our ears. And so we would like to know what these things mean.”
21 (Atenetɔwo katã kple amedzroawo hã lɔ̃a anyinɔnɔ ɖe takpeƒe hewɔa woƒe ɣeyiɣiwo ŋuti dɔ to nyamedzodzro kple susu yeyewo xɔxɔ me.)
(Now all the Athenians, and arriving visitors, were occupying themselves with nothing other than speaking or hearing various new ideas.)
22 Esi ŋkekea ɖo la, Paulo tsi tsitre ɖe ameha la titina le Areopago la dzi heƒo nu gblɔ na wo be, “Nɔvinye Atenetɔwo, edze nam ƒãa be mienye ame siwo kpɔa dzidzɔ le mawuvɔvɔ̃ ŋu ŋutɔ,
But Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are rather superstitious.
23 elabena esi menɔ tsa ɖim le miaƒe dua me la, mekpɔ miaƒe nu subɔsubɔwo. Ke mekpɔ vɔsamlekpui aɖe si ŋuti woŋlɔ ɖo be, mawu si mienya o la tɔe. Mawu si miesubɔna le manyamanya me la ƒe nyae metsɔ vɛ na mi.
For as I was passing by and noticing your idols, I also found an altar, on which was written: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this is what I am preaching to you:
24 “Mawu siae wɔ xexea me kple nu siwo katã le eme, eye wònye dziƒo kple anyigba ƒe aƒetɔ na nu sia nu. Esia ta menɔa gbedoxɔ si amewo tsɔ asi tui la me o,
the God who made the world and all that is in it, the One who is the Lord of heaven and earth, who does not live in temples made with hands.
25 eye le esime naneke mehiãnɛ o ta la, amegbetɔ mate ŋu awɔ naneke nɛ o. Ke eya boŋ naa agbe kple gbɔgbɔ amegbetɔ, eye wònaa nu ame sia ame ɖe eƒe hiahiã nu.
Neither is he served by the hands of men, as if in need of anything, since it is he who gives to all things life and breath and all else.
26 Mawu siae wɔ amegbetɔ siwo katã tso dzɔtsoƒe ɖeka, eye wokaka ɖe xexea me ƒe akpa ɖe sia ɖe. Eɖo liƒo kple ɣeyiɣi na dukɔwo da ɖi xoxo.
And he has made, out of one, every family of man: to live upon the face of the entire earth, determining the appointed seasons and the limits of their habitation,
27 Mawu ƒe didie nye be amegbetɔwo nadii, ake ɖe eŋu togbɔ be egbɔ medidi tso ame aɖeke gbɔ o hã.
so as to seek God, if perhaps they may consider him or find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
28 ‘Eya mee míele agbe le, eye míeʋãna le, eye míele.’ Abe ale si miaƒe hɛnɔ aɖe gblɔe ene be, ‘Míawoe nye Mawu viwo.’
‘For in him we live, and move, and exist.’ Just as some of your own poets have said. ‘For we are also of his family.’
29 “Ne míenye Mawu viwo la, ekema menyo be míabu be Mawu nye legba si amegbetɔ awɔ kple sika alo klosalo alo kpe le ame ƒe aɖaŋuwɔwɔ kple tamesusu nu la o.
Therefore, since we are of the family of God, we must not consider gold or silver or precious stones, or the engravings of art and of the imagination of man, to be a representation of what is Divine.
30 Tsã la, Mawu mia ŋku ɖe amegbetɔ ƒe numanyamanya dzi. Ke azɔ la, eɖe gbe be ame sia ame natrɔ dzi me asubɔ ye ɖeka ko,
And indeed, God, having looked down to see the ignorance of these times, has now announced to men that everyone everywhere should do penance.
31 elabena eɖo ŋkeke tɔxɛ aɖe da ɖi be yeava drɔ̃ ʋɔnu xexea me, eya ŋutɔ tia ame si le ʋɔnu la drɔ̃ ge la da ɖi, eye eyae nye ame si wòfɔ ɖe tsitre tso ame kukuwo dome.”
For he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in equity, through the man whom he has appointed, offering faith to all, by raising him from the dead.”
32 Esi wosee wògblɔ nya tso fɔfɔ tso ame kukuwo dome ŋu la, nyasela aɖewo koe ŋutɔ, ke ame bubuwo gblɔ be, “Míedi be míagase nya sia ɣe bubu ɣi”
And when they had heard about the Resurrection of the dead, indeed, some were derisive, while others said, “We will listen to you about this again.”
33 Ale Paulo dzo le takpeƒe la.
So Paul departed from their midst.
34 Ame ʋɛ aɖewo ya dze eyome trɔ zu xɔsetɔwo. Ame siawo dometɔ aɖewoe nye Dionisio si nye dumegã ɖeka kple nyɔnu aɖe si ŋkɔe nye Damaris.
Yet truly, certain men, adhering to him, did believe. Among these were also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
