Ebikolwa by’Abatume 25
1 Fesuto yamala ennaku ssatu mu Kayisaliya ng’azze okutandika emirimu gye emiggya, n’asitula okugenda e Yerusaalemi.
Three days after Festus had arrived in his province, he left Caesarea and went up to Jerusalem.
2 Bwe yali ali eyo, bakabona abakulu n’abakulembeze b’Abayudaaya ne bamutegeeza bye baali bavunaana Pawulo.
There the chief priests and the leading men among the Jews laid an information before him against Paul,
3 Ne bamwegayirira abayambe atumye Pawulo aleetebwe mu Yerusaalemi, kubanga baali bategeka bamuttire mu kkubo.
and asked a favor of him, to Paul’s injury – to have Paul brought to Jerusalem. All the while they were plotting to make away with him on the road.
4 Naye Fesuto n’abaddamu nti, “Nga Pawulo bw’ali mu Kayisaliya, ate nga nange nzija kuddayo mu nnaku ntono,
But Festus answered that Paul was in prison at Caesarea, and that he himself would be leaving for that place shortly.
5 abakulembeze mu nsonga ezo tugende nabo nga nzirayo.” Obanga waliwo omusango Pawulo gw’azizza baguleete mu mbuga z’amateeka awozesebwe.
“So let the influential men among you,” he said, “go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, charge him formally with it.”
6 Oluvannyuma lw’ennaku nga munaana oba kkumi, Fesuto n’aserengeta mu Kayisaliya, era bwe yatuuka, enkeera n’alagira Pawulo aleetebwe mu mbuga z’amateeka.
After staying among them some eight or ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat on the Bench, and ordered Paul to be brought before him.
7 Awo Pawulo bwe yaleetebwa, Abayudaaya abaava e Yerusaalemi ne baleeta emisango mingi egy’amaanyi bamuvunaane kyokka nga tebayinza kulaga bukakafu bwagyo.
On Paul’s appearance, the Jewish leaders who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him, and made many serious charges, which they failed to establish.
8 Pawulo n’awoza ng’agamba nti, “Simenyanga mateeka ga Kiyudaaya n’akamu, era siyonoonanga Yeekaalu, so sijeemeranga Kayisaali.”
Paul’s answer to the charge was – ‘I have not committed any offense against the Jewish Law, or the Temple, or the Emperor.’
9 Fesuto, olw’okwagala okusanyusa Abayudaaya, n’abuuza Pawulo nti, “Oyagala okugenda e Yerusaalemi gy’oba owoleza emisango gino mu maaso gange?”
But, as Festus wished to gain popularity with the Jews, he interrupted Paul with the question, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried on these charges before me there?”
10 Awo Pawulo n’addamu nti, “Kaakano nyimiridde mu maaso g’embuga ya Kayisaali era we nteekwa okuwozesebwa. Naawe omanyidde ddala bulungi nga bwe sirina musango gwonna gwe nazza ku Bayudaaya.
“No,” replied Paul, “I am standing at the Emperor’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not wronged the Jews, as you yourself are well aware.
11 Naye obanga waliwo omusango gwe nazza, ne gunsaanyiza okufa, nange sigaana kufa! Naye obanga siriiko musango, ng’emisango gyonna Abayudaaya bano gye bankakaatikako gya bulimba bwereere, ggwe tolina kw’osinziira wadde omuntu omulala yenna, okumpaayo gye bali okunzita. Njulidde eri Kayisaali.”
If, however, I am breaking the law and have committed any offense deserving death, I do not ask to escape the penalty; but, if there is nothing in the accusations of these people, no one has the power to give me up to them. I appeal to the Emperor.”
12 Fesuto, bwe yamala okuteesaamu n’abamuwa amagezi, n’addamu nti, “Nga bw’ojulidde ewa Kayisaali, kale, onootwalibwa ewa Kayisaali.”
Festus, after conferring with his Council, answered, “You have appealed to the Emperor; to the Emperor you will go.”
13 Awo bwe waayitawo ennaku Kabaka Agulipa ne Berenike ne batuuka mu Kayisaliya okukyalira Fesuto.
Some days later King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea, and paid a visit of congratulation to Festus;
14 Ku bugenyi baamalako ennaku nnyingi, era mu bbanga eryo Fesuto n’ategeeza kabaka eby’omusango gwa Pawulo. N’amugamba nti, “Waliwo omusajja wano Ferikisi gwe yaleka mu kkomera nga musibe.
and, as they were staying there for several days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king. “There is a man here,” he said, “left a prisoner by Felix,
15 Bwe nnali mu Yerusaalemi, bakabona ne bantegeeza emisango gye baali bamuvunaana, ne bansaba musalire omusango gumusinge era abonerezebwe.
about whom, when I came to Jerusalem, the Jewish chief priest and the elders laid an information, demanding judgment against him.
16 “Ne mbannyonnyola nti mu mateeka g’Ekiruumi, omuntu tasalirwa musango kumusinga nga tamaze kuwozesebwa n’aweebwa omukisa okuwoza n’abamuwawaabira.
My answer to them was, that it was not the practice of Romans to give up anyone to their accusers until the accused had met them face to face, and had also had an opportunity of answering the charges brought against them.
17 Bwe bajja wano okuwoza omusango ogwo, enkeera ne mpita Pawulo n’ajja mu mbuga z’amateeka.
So they met here, and without loss of time I took my seat on the Bench the very next day, and ordered the man to be brought before me.
18 Naye emisango gye baamuwawaabira si gye gyo gye nnali nsuubira.
But, when his accusers came forward, they brought no charge of wrongdoing such as I had expected;
19 Gyali gikwata ku bya ddiini yaabwe, ne ku muntu ayitibwa Yesu eyafa, naye Pawulo gw’ategeeza abantu nti mulamu!
but I found that there were certain questions in dispute between them about their own religion, and about some dead man called Jesus, whom Paul declared to be alive.
20 Ebyo ne binnemesa. Kwe ku mubuuza obanga yandyagadde emisango egyo okugiwoleza mu Yerusaalemi.
And, as I was at a loss how to enquire into questions of this kind, I asked Paul if he were willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be put on trial there.
21 Naye Pawulo n’ajulira eri Kayisaali! Bwe ntyo ne mmuzzaayo mu kkomera, nteeketeeke okumuweereza eri Kayisaali.”
Paul, however, appealed to have his case reserved for the consideration of his August Majesty, so I ordered him to be detained in custody, until I could send him to the Emperor.”
22 Agulipa n’agamba nti, “Nange nandiyagadde okuwulira ku musajja ono by’agamba.” Fesuto n’addamu nti, “Enkya onoomuwulira.”
“I should like to hear this man myself,” Agrippa said to Festus. “You will hear him tomorrow,” Festus answered.
23 Awo ku lunaku olwaddirira Agulipa ne Berenike ne bayingira n’ekitiibwa kinene nnyo mu kisenge ekinene we batuukira, nga bawerekerwako abaserikale n’abantu abatutumufu mu kibuga. Fesuto n’alagira ne baleeta Pawulo.
So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come in full state and had entered the Audience Chamber, with the superior officers and the principal people of the city, by the order of Festus Paul was brought before them.
24 Fesuto n’alyoka agamba nti, “Kabaka Agulipa, nammwe mwenna abali wano ono ye musajja, Abayudaaya aba kuno n’abo ab’omu Yerusaalemi, gwe bansabye attibwe!
Then Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all here present, you see before you the man about whom the whole Jewish people have applied to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly asserting that he ought not to be allowed to live.
25 Nze nga bwe ndaba, talina ky’akoze kimusaanyiza kufa. Naye bwe yajulira eri Kayisaali, nange kwe kusalawo okumuweereza e Ruumi.
I found, however, that he had not done anything deserving death; so, as he had himself appealed to his August Majesty, I decided to send him.
26 Naye bye nnassa mu bbaluwa emutwala eri Kayisaali nange bimbuze, kubanga taliiko musango gwennyini gwe yazza! Kyenvudde muleeta mu maaso gammwe mwenna, n’okusingira ddala gy’oli, Kabaka Agulipa, nga neesiga ng’okuva mu ebyo bye munaamubuuza, naye by’anaddamu, nzija kufunamu bye nnassa mu bbaluwa ya Kayisaali.
But I have nothing definite to write about him to my Imperial Master; and for that reason I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examining him, I may have something to write.
27 Kubanga sirowooza nti kirungi okuweereza omusibe eri Kayisaali ng’omusango gw’azizza tegunnyonnyose.”
For it seems to me absurd to send a prisoner, without at the same time stating the charges made against him.”
