Ebikolwa by’Abatume 22
1 “Abasajja abooluganda, ne bakadde bange, mumpulirize.”
Brethren and fathers, hear my defence, which I now make to you.
2 Bwe baawulira ng’ayogera Lwebbulaniya ne beeyongera okusirikira ddala.
And on hearing him speak to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept the more silence. And he saith:
3 Pawulo n’abagamba nti, “Ndi Muyudaaya, nazaalibwa mu kibuga Taluso eky’omu Kirukiya, naye ne nkulira wano mu Yerusaalemi. Era mu kibuga muno mwe nayigira ne nzijjumbira amateeka gonna aga bajjajjaffe n’obwegendereza, nga njigirizibwa Gamalyeri. Nafubanga nnyo okuweesa Katonda ekitiibwa mu buli kye nakolanga, nga nammwe bwe mukola leero.
I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, hut brought up in this city, taught at the feet of Gamaliel in the strictness of the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God, as ye all are this day.
4 Nayigganya abantu b’Ekkubo n’okubatuusa ku kufa, ne nkwata abasajja n’abakazi ne mbasibisa mu kkomera.
And I persecuted this way [[of belief]] even to death, binding and putting into prisons both men and women,
5 Era Kabona Asinga Obukulu n’ab’Olukiiko Olukulu be bajulirwa bange. Kubanga nabasaba bawandiikire bannaabwe mu Damasiko ebbaluwa okunnyamba nkwate abaali eyo mbaleete wano mu Yerusaalemi nga mbasibye mu njegere mbaweeyo babonerezebwe.
as also the high-priest beareth me witness, and all the elderhood; from whom I received letters to the brethren, and was on my way to Damascus to bring those also that were there, bound, to Jerusalem, that they might be punished.
6 “Naye mu ssaawa ez’omu ttuntu bwe nnali nga nsemberera Damasiko, amangwago ekitangaala eky’amaanyi ekyava mu ggulu ne kinjakira okunneetooloola.
But it came to pass, as I was on my way, and approaching Damascus, that about noon there suddenly shone around me a great light from heaven;
7 Ne ngwa wansi ku ttaka, ne mpulira eddoboozi nga liŋŋamba nti, ‘Sawulo, Sawulo, onjigganyiza ki?’
and I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?
8 “Ne mbuuza nti, ‘Ani, Mukama wange?’ “N’anziramu nti, ‘Nze Yesu Omunnazaaleesi gw’oyigganya.’
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom thou persecutest.
9 Be nnali nabo baalaba ekitangaala, naye eddoboozi ly’oyo eyayogera nange tebaaliwulira.
And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but the voice of him that spoke to me they did not hear.
10 “Ne mmubuuza nti, ‘Nkole ki, Mukama wange?’ “Mukama waffe n’anziramu nti, ‘Yimuka ogende mu Damasiko, bw’onootuuka eyo ojja kutegeezebwa byonna bye nkutumye okukola.’
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there thou wilt be told of all which it hath been appointed thee to do.
11 Bannange ne bankwata ku mukono ne bannyingiza mu Damasiko, kubanga ekitiibwa ky’ekitangaala kiri eky’amaanyi kyali kinzibye amaaso.
And as I could not see by reason of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand of those that were with me, and came into Damascus.
12 “Omusajja omu ayitibwa Ananiya, ng’atya Katonda era ng’agondera amateeka gonna ag’Ekiyudaaya, n’Abayudaaya bonna mu Damasiko nga bamussaamu ekitiibwa,
But one Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, well spoken of by all the Jews who dwelt there,
13 n’ajja okundaba n’ayimirira we ndi n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Owooluganda Sawulo, zibuka amaaso!’ Mu ssaawa eyo yennyini ne nsobola okumulaba!
came to me, and standing over me said, Brother Saul, receive sight. And I immediately looked up upon him.
14 “Awo n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Katonda wa bajjajjaffe akulonze otegeere by’ayagala era olabe Omutuukirivu we, era owulire okuyitibwa okuva mu kamwa ke.
And he said, The God of our fathers chose thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth;
15 Olituusa obubaka bwe mu bantu bonna ng’obategeeza by’olabye era ne by’owulidde.
for thou shalt be a witness for him to all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 Kaakano olinda ki? Situka obatizibwe onaazibweko ebibi byo nga bw’oyatudde erinnya lye.’
And now why dost thou delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.
17 “Ne nkomawo mu Yerusaalemi. Naye olunaku lumu bwe nnali mu Yeekaalu nga nsaba, ne mbeera ng’eyeebase,
And it came to pass after my return to Jerusalem, while I was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,
18 ne nfuna okwolesebwa ne ndaba Mukama waffe ng’ayogera nange, n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Yanguwa mangu ove mu Yerusaalemi, kubanga abantu ba wano tebajja kukkiriza bubaka bwo bw’onoobategeeza obufa ku nze.’
and saw him saying to me, Make haste, and go quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 “Ne nziramu nti, ‘Naye Mukama wange, abantu bonna bamanyi nga bwe nagendanga mu buli kkuŋŋaaniro ne nzigyamu abakukkiriza, ne mbatwala ne bakubwa emiggo n’okusibibwa ne basibibwa mu kkomera.
And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned, and beat in every synagogue, those that believed in thee;
20 Era n’omujulirwa wo Suteefano bwe yali attibwa nnali nnyimiridde awo era nga mpagira okuttibwa kwe, era nga ndabirira engoye z’abo abaali bamutta.’
and when the blood of Stephen, thy witness, was shed, I myself was standing by and consenting, and keeping the garments of those who slew him.
21 “Naye Mukama waffe n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Vva mu Yerusaalemi, kubanga nzija kukutuma mu bitundu bye wala mu baamawanga!’”
And he said to me, Depart; for I will send thee far hence to the gentiles.
22 Ekibiina ky’abantu ne bawuliriza Pawulo okutuusa lwe yatuuka ku bigambo ebyo, bonna ne balyoka baleekaanira wamu nti, “Mumuggyeewo! Mumutte! Tasaanira kuba mulamu!”
And they listened to him as far as this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth! for it was not fit that he should live.
23 Ne bawowoggana nnyo nga bwe bakasuka n’engoye zaabwe waggulu mu bbanga, ne bayoola enfuufu nga bagiyiwa mu bbanga.
And as they were crying out, and shaking their garments, and throwing dust into the air,
24 Omukulu w’abaserikale n’ayingiza Pawulo munda mu nkambi yaabwe, n’alagira akubwemu embooko nga bwe bamubuuza ayogere omusango gwe yazzizza oguleetedde ekibiina kyonna okwecwacwana.
the chief captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might ascertain for what cause they were thus crying out against him.
25 Bwe baali bamugalamizza nga bagenda okumusiba bamukube, Pawulo n’abuuza omuserikale eyali amuyimiridde okumpi nti, “Amateeka gabakkiriza okukuba omuntu Omuruumi nga temunnaba na kumuwozesa?”
But when they had stretched him out with the cords, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
26 Omuserikale n’agenda eri omuduumizi waabwe n’amutegeeza nti, “Kiki kino ky’ogenda okukola? Omusajja ono Muruumi.”
When the centurion heard this, he went and told the chief captain, saying, What art thou about to do? For this man is a Roman.
27 Omuduumizi w’abaserikale n’ajja n’abuuza Pawulo nti, “Mbulira, oli Muruumi?” Pawulo n’amuddamu nti, “Yee, bwe kiri.”
Then the chief captain came and said to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yes.
28 Omuduumizi w’abaserikale n’amugamba nti, “Nange ndi Muruumi, naye nabusasulira ensimbi nnyingi.” Pawulo n’amuddamu nti, “Nze mwe nazaalirwa!”
The chief captain answered, For a great sum I obtained this citizenship. And Paul said, But I was born a Roman.
29 Abaserikale abaali beetegese okumubuuza ne baseebulukuka ne bavaawo bwe baategeera nga Pawulo Muruumi, n’omuduumizi waabwe naye n’atya nnyo kubanga yali alagidde okumusiba n’okumukuba kibooko.
They therefore who were about to examine him left him immediately. And the chief captain also was alarmed when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
30 Enkeera omuduumizi w’abaserikale bwe yayagala okumanyira ddala ensonga Abayudaaya gye bamulanze, n’asumulula Pawulo mu njegere, n’alagira bakabona abakulu bayite Olukiiko lw’Abayudaaya Olukulu lutuule. N’alagira Pawulo aleetebwe mu Lukiiko ensonga Abayudaaya gye bamuvunaana eryoke etegeerebwe.
On the morrow, wishing to have certain knowledge why he was accused by the Jews, he released him, and ordered the chief priests and all the council to assemble; and bringing Paul down, he set him before them.
