Dɔwɔwɔwo 23
1 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.”
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 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.
And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3 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!”
Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, [thou] whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 Ame siwo nɔ tsitre ɖe Paulo gbɔ la do ɣli ɖe eta be, “Mɔ kae nèkpɔ be nànɔ Mawu ƒe nunɔlagã la dzum alea?”
And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?
5 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.’”
Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 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.”
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men [and] brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 Esi wògblɔ esia ko la, ʋiʋli ge ɖe Farisitɔwo kple Zadukitɔwo dome, eye takpekpe la ma ɖe akpa eve.
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 (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.)
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 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.
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10 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.
And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.
11 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.”
And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
12 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.
And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 Ŋutsu siwo ɖo vɔ̃ sia la sɔ gbɔ wu ame blaene.
And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
14 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.
And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
15 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.”
Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
16 Ke Paulo ƒe srɔ̃nyi aɖe se woƒe ɖoɖo sia ale wòɖe abla ɖagblɔe na Paulo le mɔ la me.
And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
17 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.
Then Paul called one of the centurions unto [him], and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.
18 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.”
So he took him, and brought [him] to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto [him], and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
19 Asrafomegã la kplɔ ɖekakpui la ɖe kpɔe hebia gbee be, “Nya ka nèdi be yeagblɔ nam?”
Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went [with him] aside privately, and asked [him], What is that thou hast to tell me?
20 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.
And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
21 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.”
But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.
22 Asrafowo ƒe amegã la gblɔ na ɖekakpui la be, “Mègana ame aɖeke nanya be èva gblɔ nya sia nam o.” Emegbe la edzo.
So the chief captain [then] let the young man depart, and charged [him, See thou] tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
23 Enumake Asrafomegã la yɔ etevi eve, eye wògblɔ na wo be, “Midzra ɖo miadze Kaesarea mɔ dzi egbe zã ga asiekɛ me.
And he called unto [him] two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
24 Midi sɔ na Paulo wòado ale be miakplɔe aɖade asi na mɔmefia Felix dedie.”
And provide [them] beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring [him] safe unto Felix the governor.
25 Eŋlɔ agbalẽ kpe ɖe eŋu ale:
And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 Klaudio Lisia, Na Bubutɔ, mɔ̃mefia Felix, Xɔ gbedoname nyui sia.
Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix [sendeth] greeting.
27 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.
This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.
28 Emegbe la, mekplɔe yi Yudatɔwo ƒe takpekpe gã la me be mase nu si tututu wòwɔ tae wolée ɖo.
And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
29 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.
Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
30 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.
And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what [they had] against him. Farewell.
31 Ale, le zã ma me la, asrafoawo kplɔ Paulo yi va ɖo Antipatre.
Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought [him] by night to Antipatris.
32 Esi ŋu ke la, wotsɔe de asi na sɔdzisrafoawo be woakplɔe ayi Kaesarea, ke afɔzɔlawo ya gatrɔ va woƒe nɔƒe le mɔ la me.
On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 Esi wova ɖo Kaesarea la, wotsɔ Paulo de asi na mɔmefia la, eye wotsɔ agbalẽ si Lisia ŋlɔ de wo si la hã nɛ.
Who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 Esi mɔmefiagã la xlẽ agbalẽ la vɔ la, ebia du si me tɔ Paulo nye lae eye Paulo ɖo eŋu be, “Metso Kilikia.”
And when the governor had read [the letter], he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that [he was] of Cilicia;
35 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.
I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
