Ebikolwa by’Abatume 22
1 “Abasajja abooluganda, ne bakadde bange, mumpulirize.”
Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.
2 Bwe baawulira ng’ayogera Lwebbulaniya ne beeyongera okusirikira ddala.
And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: 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 a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even 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 unto the death, binding and delivering 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 doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and journeyed to Damascus, to bring them also which were there unto Jerusalem in bonds, for to be punished.
6 “Naye mu ssaawa ez’omu ttuntu bwe nnali nga nsemberera Damasiko, amangwago ekitangaala eky’amaanyi ekyava mu ggulu ne kinjakira okunneetooloola.
And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew nigh unto Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
7 Ne ngwa wansi ku ttaka, ne mpulira eddoboozi nga liŋŋamba nti, ‘Sawulo, Sawulo, onjigganyiza ki?’
And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou 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 unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 Be nnali nabo baalaba ekitangaala, naye eddoboozi ly’oyo eyayogera nange tebaaliwulira.
And they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
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 unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11 Bannange ne bankwata ku mukono ne bannyingiza mu Damasiko, kubanga ekitiibwa ky’ekitangaala kiri eky’amaanyi kyali kinzibye amaaso.
And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I 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,
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that 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 unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked up on 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 hath appointed 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 unto 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 tarriest thou? 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, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, 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 unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: because they will not receive of thee 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 themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on 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 also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him.
21 “Naye Mukama waffe n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Vva mu Yerusaalemi, kubanga nzija kukutuma mu bitundu bye wala mu baamawanga!’”
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto 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 gave him audience unto this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is 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 cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast 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 commanded him to be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted 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?”
And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said unto 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.”
And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain, and told him, 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.”
And the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yea.
28 Omuduumizi w’abaserikale n’amugamba nti, “Nange ndi Muruumi, naye nabusasulira ensimbi nnyingi.” Pawulo n’amuddamu nti, “Nze mwe nazaalirwa!”
And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am [a Roman] born.
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 then which were about to examine him straightway departed from him: and the chief captain also was afraid, 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.
But on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty, wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
