Misala ya Bantoma 22
1 — Bandeko mpe batata, boyoka sik’oyo ndenge nini nalingi komilongisa.
“Brother and fathers,” he said, “Please listen as I give my defense before you.”
2 Tango bayokaki Polo koloba na lokota ya Arami, bavandaki lisusu kimia koleka. Bongo, Polo alobaki:
When they heard him speaking to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.
3 — Nazali Moyuda, nabotama na Tarse kati na Silisi, kasi nakoli kaka awa, na engumba oyo ya Yelusalemi. Gamalieli nde azalaki molakisi na ngai; ye nde ateyaki ngai na bosolo nyonso Mobeko ya bakoko na biso. Nazalaki na bolingo makasi mpo na Nzambe, ndenge bino nyonso bozali na yango lelo.
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia,” he began. “However, I was brought up here in this city, and sat at the feet of Gamaliel. I was taught to strictly observe the law of our fathers. I was zealous for God, just like all of you here today,
4 Nanyokolaki bato oyo bazalaki kolanda Nzela oyo kino koboma bango, nazalaki kokanga mibali mpe basi, mpe kobwaka bango na boloko.
and I persecuted the people of this Way—having them put to death, and imprisoning both men and women.
5 Mokonzi ya Banganga-Nzambe mpe lisanga mobimba ya bakambi bakoki kotatola bosolo ya makambo oyo nazali koloba. Bango nde kutu bapesaki ngai mikanda mpo ete nakende kopesa na bandeko na bango ya Damasi. Boye, nakendeki kuna mpo na kokanga bato mpe komema bango na Yelusalemi, mpo ete bapesa bango etumbu.
As the high priest and the council of the elders can also verify, I received from them letters of authorization addressed to the Jewish brothers in Damascus, and went there to arrest these people and bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 Wana nazalaki na nzela mpe nakomaki pene ya Damasi, na ngonga pene ya midi, namonaki mbala moko pole makasi kowuta na Likolo mpe kongengela ngai.
At around noon, while I was on my way and approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven shone all around me.
7 Nakweyaki na mabele mpe nayokaki mongongo moko koloba na ngai: « Saulo, Saulo, mpo na nini ozali konyokola Ngai? »
I fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 Natunaki: « Nkolo, yo nani? » Alobaki na ngai: « Nazali Yesu ya Nazareti, oyo yo ozali konyokola. »
‘Who are you, Lord?’ I answered. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting,’ he told me.
9 Bato oyo bazalaki na ngai elongo bamonaki pole yango, kasi bayokaki te mongongo ya moto oyo azalaki koloba na ngai.
Those who were traveling with me did see the light, but they didn't hear the voice that spoke to me.
10 Natunaki: « Nkolo, nasala nini? » Nkolo alobaki na ngai: « Telema, kende na Damasi; kuna, bakoyebisa yo makambo nyonso oyo osengeli kosala. »
‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you'll be told everything that's arranged for you to do.’
11 Baninga na ngai basimbaki ngai na loboko mpe bamemaki ngai kino na Damasi, pamba te kongenga ya pole wana ebomaki ngai miso.
Since I couldn't see because of the brightness of the light, those who were with me led me by the hand into Damascus.
12 Ezalaki na moto moko kuna, kombo na ye ezalaki « Ananiasi. » Azalaki kotosa makambo ya Nzambe ndenge Mobeko ezalaki kotinda, mpe azalaki na lokumu mingi na miso ya Bayuda nyonso ya engumba wana.
There a man called Ananias came to see me. He was a religious man who observed the law, and was highly respected by the Jews who lived in the town.
13 Ayaki kokutana na ngai mpe alobaki: « Ndeko na ngai, Saulo, mona lisusu. » Mpe kaka na tango yango, nazwaki lisusu makoki ya komona mpe namonaki ye.
He stood in front of me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive back your sight.’ At that very moment I could see again, and I looked at him.
14 Bongo alobaki na ngai: « Nzambe ya bakoko na biso apona yo wuta kala mpo ete oyeba mokano na Ye, omona Moto na sembo mpe oyoka mongongo na Ye.
He told me, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, to see the one who is truly good and right, and to listen to what he has to say to you.
15 Okozala motatoli na Ye liboso ya bato nyonso, mpo na koyebisa bango makambo nyonso oyo osili komona mpe koyoka.
You will testify for him to everyone about what you have seen and heard. So what are you waiting for?
16 Mpo na nini ozali kolekisa tango? Telema, zwa libatisi mpe belela Kombo ya Nkolo mpo ete opetolama na masumu na yo. »
Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins as you call on his name.’
17 Sima na ngai kozonga na Yelusalemi, wana nazalaki kosambela na Tempelo, nakweyaki na Molimo
I returned to Jerusalem, and as I was praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance.
18 mpe nayokaki Nkolo koloba na ngai: « Sala noki, bima na Yelusalemi, pamba te bato na yango bakondima te litatoli oyo okoloba na tina na Ngai. »
I saw a vision of the Lord telling me, ‘Hurry! You need to leave Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept what you are telling them about me.’
19 Nazongisaki: « Nkolo, bato wana bayebi malamu ete nazalaki kotambola na bandako ya mayangani mpo na kobwaka na boloko mpe kobetisa fimbu, bato oyo bazalaki kondimela Yo.
I replied, ‘Lord, they certainly know that I went from synagogue to synagogue, beating and imprisoning those who trusted in you.
20 Tango basopaki makila ya Etieni, motatoli na Yo, ngai mpe nazalaki wana, nandimaki makambo oyo esalemaki mpe nazalaki kokengela bilamba ya bato oyo babomaki ye. »
When Stephen was killed for testifying about you I was standing there in full agreement with those who killed him, holding their coats for them.’
21 Kasi Nkolo azongiselaki ngai: « Kende, nakotinda yo mosika, epai ya bato ya bikolo ya bapaya. »
The Lord told me, ‘Leave now, for I am sending you far away to the foreigners.’”
22 Bato bayokaki Polo kino tango alobaki maloba wana. Boye, batombolaki mingongo na bango mpe bagangaki: — Bolongola ye na mokili! Asengeli te kozala na bomoi!
Up until this point they had listened to what he was saying, but then they started shouting, “Get rid of this man from the earth—he doesn't deserve to live!”
23 Lokola bazalaki koganga makasi mpe kobwaka bilamba na bango mpe putulu na likolo,
They screamed and tore off their coats and threw dust into the air.
24 mokonzi ya basoda apesaki mitindo ete bakotisa Polo kati na lopango ya basoda mpe babeta ye fimbu, mpo ete aloba polele tina nini Bayuda bazali koganga bongo mpo na ye.
The commander ordered Paul brought into the fortress, and gave orders for him to be interrogated by flogging so he could find out the reason people were shouting so much against Paul.
25 Wana bazalaki kokanga Polo basinga, Polo atunaki mokonzi oyo azalaki wana: — Boni, mibeko epesi penza ndingisa ya kobeta moto ya Rome fimbu, wana bosambisi ye nanu te?
As they stretched him out and tied him down to flog him, Paul asked the centurion standing there, “Is it legal to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't had a trial?”
26 Tango mokonzi ayokaki bongo, akendeki koyebisa mokonzi ya basoda: — Okosala nini? Tata oyo azali moto ya Rome.
When the centurion heard what Paul said, he went to the commander and asked him, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen.”
27 Mbala moko, mokonzi ya basoda akendeki epai ya Polo mpe atunaki ye: — Yebisa ngai solo, ozali penza moto ya Rome? Azongisaki: — Iyo, ezali bongo!
The commander came, and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” Paul replied, “Yes I am.”
28 Mokonzi ya basoda alobaki: — Nafutaki mbongo mingi mpo na kozwa makoki ya kokoma moto ya Rome. Polo azongisaki: — Kasi ngai, nazali moto ya Rome ya kobotama.
“I paid a lot of money to buy Roman citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
29 Mbala moko, bato oyo balingaki kobeta ye fimbu batikaki ye. Mokonzi ya basoda akomaki kobanga tango asosolaki ete tata oyo ye akangaki minyololo azali penza moto ya Rome.
Those who were about to interrogate Paul left immediately. The commander was worried when he found out that Paul was a Roman citizen because he had placed him in chains.
30 Mokolo oyo elandaki, lokola mokonzi ya basoda azalaki na posa ya koyeba malamu tina oyo Bayuda bafundelaki Polo, apesaki mitindo ete bafungola Polo minyololo; mpe abengisaki bakonzi ya Banganga-Nzambe mpe bato ya Likita-Monene mpo ete basala mayangani. Bongo amemaki Polo mpe atiaki ye liboso na bango.
The next day, wanting to find out the reason why the Jews were accusing Paul, he had him released and taken before the chief priests and the whole council which he ordered to assemble. He had Paul brought down and placed him before them.
