Ebikolwa by’Abatume 22
1 “Abasajja abooluganda, ne bakadde bange, mumpulirize.”
“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense I now make to you.”
2 Bwe baawulira ng’ayogera Lwebbulaniya ne beeyongera okusirikira ddala.
When they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. Then he said,
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 Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel and instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today.
4 Nayigganya abantu b’Ekkubo n’okubatuusa ku kufa, ne nkwata abasajja n’abakazi ne mbasibisa mu kkomera.
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding both men and women and putting them in prison,
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 the high priest can testify about me, along with the whole council of elders. From them I received letters to the brothers in Damascus and then made my way there to make arrests and bring the prisoners back to Jerusalem 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.
“About noon, as I was going along and drawing near to Damascus, a great light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.
7 Ne ngwa wansi ku ttaka, ne mpulira eddoboozi nga liŋŋamba nti, ‘Sawulo, Sawulo, onjigganyiza ki?’
Then I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are yoʋ persecuting me?’
8 “Ne mbuuza nti, ‘Ani, Mukama wange?’ “N’anziramu nti, ‘Nze Yesu Omunnazaaleesi gw’oyigganya.’
I answered, ‘Who are yoʋ, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom yoʋ are persecuting.’
9 Be nnali nabo baalaba ekitangaala, naye eddoboozi ly’oyo eyayogera nange tebaaliwulira.
Those who were with me saw the light and were afraid, but they did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking 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.’
Then I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Rise and go to Damascus, and there yoʋ will be told about all that has been appointed for yoʋ to do.’
11 Bannange ne bankwata ku mukono ne bannyingiza mu Damasiko, kubanga ekitiibwa ky’ekitangaala kiri eky’amaanyi kyali kinzibye amaaso.
But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went 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,
“Now a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who was well spoken of by all the Jews dwelling there,
13 n’ajja okundaba n’ayimirira we ndi n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Owooluganda Sawulo, zibuka amaaso!’ Mu ssaawa eyo yennyini ne nsobola okumulaba!
came and stood beside me. He said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive yoʋr sight,’ and in that very hour I received my sight and saw him.
14 “Awo n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Katonda wa bajjajjaffe akulonze otegeere by’ayagala era olabe Omutuukirivu we, era owulire okuyitibwa okuva mu kamwa ke.
Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed yoʋ to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the voice coming from his mouth.
15 Olituusa obubaka bwe mu bantu bonna ng’obategeeza by’olabye era ne by’owulidde.
For yoʋ will be his witness to all people of what yoʋ have seen and heard.
16 Kaakano olinda ki? Situka obatizibwe onaazibweko ebibi byo nga bw’oyatudde erinnya lye.’
And now why do yoʋ delay? Rise and be baptized, and wash away yoʋr sins, calling upon the name of the Lord.’
17 “Ne nkomawo mu Yerusaalemi. Naye olunaku lumu bwe nnali mu Yeekaalu nga nsaba, ne mbeera ng’eyeebase,
“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at 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 the Lord saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not accept yoʋr testimony about 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.
So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe in yoʋ.
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 yoʋr witness Stephen was being shed, I myself stood there approving of his execution as I watched over the cloaks of those who were killing him.’
21 “Naye Mukama waffe n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Vva mu Yerusaalemi, kubanga nzija kukutuma mu bitundu bye wala mu baamawanga!’”
Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send yoʋ far away 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!”
The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement, but then they lifted up their voices and said, “Away with this man from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”
23 Ne bawowoggana nnyo nga bwe bakasuka n’engoye zaabwe waggulu mu bbanga, ne bayoola enfuufu nga bagiyiwa mu bbanga.
As they were crying out, throwing off their cloaks and flinging 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 commander ordered Paul to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out the reason why they were shouting at him in this way.
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 as one of the soldiers was stretching Paul out with the straps, Paul said to the centurion standing nearby, “Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman citizen without a proper trial?”
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 reported it to the commander, saying, “Consider what yoʋ are about to do, for this man is a Roman citizen.”
27 Omuduumizi w’abaserikale n’ajja n’abuuza Pawulo nti, “Mbulira, oli Muruumi?” Pawulo n’amuddamu nti, “Yee, bwe kiri.”
So the commander went over and said to Paul, “Tell me, are yoʋ a Roman citizen?” 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 commander responded, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.”
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.
So those who were about to examine him immediately drew back, and the commander was afraid when he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that 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.
So the next day, wishing to know for certain why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the commander released him from his bonds and commanded the chief priests and their entire Sanhedrin to come. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.
