Imisebenzi 15
1 Amadoda athile eza e-Antiyokhi evela eJudiya, afika afundisa abazalwane esithi: “Ngaphandle kokuthi lisokwe ngendlela yomkhuba eyafundiswa nguMosi lingeke lisindiswe.”
But certain persons who had come down from Judaea tried to convince the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the Mosaic custom, you cannot be saved."
2 Lokhu kwenza uPhawuli loBhanabhasi baphikisana labo kakhulu. Ngakho uPhawuli loBhanabhasi bakhethwa kanye lamanye amakholwa ukuthi baye eJerusalema ukuyabona abapostoli labadala ngaloludaba.
Between these new comers and Paul and Barnabas there was no little disagreement and controversy, until at last it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some other brethren should go up to consult the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem on this matter.
3 Ibandla labavalelisa. Bathi bedabula eFenikhiya leSamariya balandisa ngokuthi abeZizwe basebephendukile. Indaba le yathokozisa bonke abazalwane.
So they set out, being accompanied for a short distance by some other members of the Church; and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of the conversion of the Gentiles and inspired all the brethren with great joy.
4 Bafika eJerusalema bemukelwa kuhle libandla langabapostoli labadala, bababikela konke uNkulunkulu ayekwenzile ngabo.
Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were cordially received by the Church, the Apostles, and the Elders; and they reported in detail all that God, working with them, had done.
5 Kwasekusithi amanye amakholwa ayengawoluhlu lwabaFarisi asukuma athi, “AbeZizwe kumele basokwe njalo batshelwe ukuthi balandele umthetho kaMosi.”
But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees but were now believers, stood up in the assembly, and said, "Yes, Gentile believers ought to be circumcised and be ordered to keep the Law of Moses."
6 Abapostoli labadala bahlangana bakhuluma ngalindaba.
Then the Apostles and Elders met to consider the matter;
7 Ngemva kokuphikisana okukhulu uPhethro wasukuma wakhuluma kubo wathi: “Bazalwane, liyakwazi ukuthi esikhathini esedluleyo uNkulunkulu wangikhetha phakathi kwenu ukuthi abeZizwe bezwe kwezami izindebe ilizwi levangeli bakholwe.
and after there had been a long discussion Peter rose to his feet. "It is within your own knowledge," he said, "that God originally made choice among you that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the Message of the Good News, and believe.
8 UNkulunkulu owazi inhliziyo watshengisa ukuthi uyabemukela ngokubapha uMoya oNgcwele, njengalokhu akwenzayo kithi.
And God, who knows all hearts, gave His testimony in their favour by bestowing the Holy Spirit on them just as He did on us;
9 Kenzanga umahluko phakathi kwethu labo, ngoba wahlanza inhliziyo zabo ngokukholwa.
and He made no difference between us and them, in that He cleansed their hearts by their faith.
10 Pho-ke lizamelani ukulinga uNkulunkulu ngokwethesa abafundi beZizweni ijogwe thina labokhokho bethu esehluleka ukulithwala?
Now, therefore, why try an experiment upon God, by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 Hatshi! Sikholwa ukuthi sisindiswa ngomusa weNkosi uJesu, njengabo labo.”
On the contrary, we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus that we, as well as they, shall be saved."
12 Wonke umhlangano wathula zwi balalela uBhanabhasi loPhawuli belandisa ngemimangaliso lezimanga uNkulunkulu ayezenzile kwabeZizwe ngabo.
Then the whole assembly remained silent while they listened to the statement made by Paul and Barnabas as to all the signs and marvels that God had done among the Gentiles through their instrumentality.
13 Bathi sebeqedile uJakhobe wakhuluma wathi: “Bazalwane, ake lingilalele.
When they had finished speaking, James said, "Brethren, listen to me.
14 USimoni usesilandisele ngokuthi ekuqaleni uNkulunkulu watshengisa njani ukunakekela kwakhe abeZizwe ngokukhetha phakathi kwabo abantu ukuba babe ngabakhe.
Symeon has related how God first looked graciously on the Gentiles to take from among them a People to be called by His name.
15 Amazwi abaphrofethi ayavumelana lalokhu, njengalokhu kulotshiwe ukuthi:
And this is in harmony with the language of the Prophets, which says:
16 ‘Ngemva kwalokhu ngizabuya ngakhe kutsha indlu kaDavida ewileyo. Amanxiwa ayo ngizawavuselela, njalo ngizayimisa kutsha,
"'"Afterwards I will return, and will rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will set it up again;
17 ukwenzela ukuthi lonke uluntu luyidinge iNkosi, kanye labeZizwe abaziwa ngebizo lami, kutsho iNkosi eyenza lezizinto’:
In order that the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord--even all the nations which are called by My name,"
Says the Lord, who has been making these things known from ages long past.' (aiōn g165)
19 Ngokubona kwami, kakumelanga sikwenze kube lukhuni kwabeZizwe abaphendukela kuNkulunkulu.
"My judgement, therefore, is against inflicting unexpected annoyance on those of the Gentiles who are turning to God.
20 Esikhundleni salokho, kasibalobeleni sibatshele ukuthi baxwaye ukudla okungcoliswe yizithombe, lokuhlobonga, lenyama yenyamazana ekhanyiweyo lobubende.
Yet let us send them written instructions to abstain from things polluted by connexion with idolatry, from fornication, from meat killed by strangling, and from blood.
21 Phela uMosi sekwatshunyayelwa ngaye kuwo wonke amadolobho kusukela ekuqaleni njalo kufundwa ngaye emasinagogweni amaSabatha wonke.”
For Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town, being read, as he is, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the various synagogues."
22 Abapostoli labadala kanye lebandla lonke bamisa ukukhetha abanye babo ukuthi babathume e-Antiyokhi loPhawuli loBhanabhasi. Bakhetha uJudasi owayethiwa nguBhasabhasi, loSayilasi, la engamadoda amabili ayengabakhokheli kubazalwane.
Thereupon it was decided by the Apostles and Elders, with the approval of the whole Church, to choose suitable persons from among themselves and send them to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas. Judas, called Bar-sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, were selected,
23 Babaphathisa incwadi le: Abapostoli labadala, abazalwane benu, KwabeZizwe abakholwayo e-Antiyokhi, lase-Asiriya laseSilisiya: Siyalibingelela.
and they took with them the following letter: "The Apostles and the elder brethren send greeting to the Gentile brethren throughout Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.
24 Sesizwile ukuthi bakhona abasuka kithi bengelamvumo yethu bafika balidunga, bedida ingqondo zenu ngalokho ababekutsho.
As we have been informed that certain persons who have gone out from among us have disturbed you by their teaching and have unsettled your minds, without having received any such instructions from us;
25 Ngakho sivumelene sonke ukukhetha amadoda athile ukuthi siwathumele kini labangane bethu abathandekayo, uBhanabhasi loPhawuli,
we have unanimously decided to select certain men and send them to you in company with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,
26 amadoda adele impilo zawo ngenxa yebizo leNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu.
who have endangered their very lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Ngakho sithumela uJudasi loSayilasi ukugcwalisa ngomlomo lokhu esikulobayo.
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who are themselves bringing you the same message by word of mouth.
28 Kubonakale kufanele kuMoya oNgcwele lakithi ukuthi singalethesi omthwalo omkhulu ngaphandle kwezimiso lezi:
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no burden heavier than these necessary requirements--
29 Xwayani ukudla okunikelwe ezithombeni, ububende, inyama yenyamazana ekhanyiweyo kanye lokuhlobonga. Lizabe lenze kuhle nxa lizixwaya lezizinto. Salani kuhle.
You must abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear of these things, and it will be well with you. Farewell."
30 Bawavalelisa amadoda ahamba aya e-Antiyokhi, lapho afika ahlanganisa ibandla ndawonye ethula incwadi.
They, therefore, having been solemnly sent, came down to Antioch, where they called together the whole assembly and delivered the letter.
31 Abantu bayibala bathokoza ngenxa yamazwi ayo akhuthazayo.
The people read it, and were delighted with the comfort it brought them.
32 UJudasi loSayilasi, bona ngokwabo ababengabaphrofethi, bakhuluma okunengi ukukhuthaza lokuqinisa abazalwane.
And Judas and Silas, being themselves also Prophets, gave them a long and encouraging talk, and strengthened them in the faith.
33 Sebehlale isikhathi esithile khonapho, abazalwane babavalelisa ngesibusiso sokuthula sebebuyela kulabo ababathumayo. [
After spending some time there they received an affectionate farewell from the brethren to return to those who had sent them.
34 Kodwa uSayilasi wakhetha ukusala khona.]
35 Kodwa uPhawuli loBhanabhasi basala e-Antiyokhi, lapho bona kanye labanye abanengi bafundisa njalo batshumayela ilizwi leNkosi.
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and, in company with many others, telling the Good News of the Lord's Message.
36 Emva kwesikhatshanyana uPhawuli wathi kuBhanabhasi, “Kasibuyele emuva siyebona abazalwane emadolobheni wonke esitshumayele khona ilizwi leNkosi ukuthi baqhuba njani.”
After a while Paul said to Barnabas, "Suppose we now revisit the brethren in the various towns in which we have made known the Lord's Message--to see whether they are prospering!"
37 UBhanabhasi wayefuna ukuthi bahambe loJohane, owayethiwa nguMakho,
Barnabas, however, was bent on taking with them John, whose other name was Mark,
38 kodwa uPhawuli wakubona kungafanele ukuhamba laye ngoba wayeke wabafulathela besePhamfiliya kaze aqhubeka labo emsebenzini.
while Paul deemed it undesirable to have as their companion one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.
39 Baphikisana kakubi baze bacina betshiyana. UBhanabhasi wamthatha uMakho bawelela eSiphrasi,
So there arose a serious disagreement between them, which resulted in their parting from one another, Barnabas taking Mark and setting sail for Cyprus.
40 kodwa uPhawuli wakhetha ukuhamba loSayilasi, basuka bebekwe ngabazalwane emuseni weNkosi.
But Paul chose Silas as his travelling companion; and set out, after being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord;
41 Wahamba phakathi kwe-Asiriya leSilisiya eqinisa amabandla.
and he passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the Churches.
