Imisebenzi 25
1 Ngemva kwensuku ezintathu efikile esifundeni uFestasi, wasuka eKhesariya waya eJerusalema
Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Urishlim from Qesarya.
2 lapho abaphristi abakhulu labakhokheli bamaJuda bema phambi kwakhe beneka amacala kaPhawuli.
Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they urged him,
3 Bamcela ngokuphangisa uFestasi, ukuba abenzele umusa, abalethele uPhawuli eJerusalema, ngoba babeceba ukumcathamela bambulale endleleni.
asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Urishlim; plotting to kill him on the way.
4 UFestasi waphendula wathi, “UPhawuli uvalelwe eKhesariya, njalo mina ngokwami Ngiya khona masinyane.
However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Qesarya, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
5 Akuthi abanye abakhokheli bakini bahambe lami bafike bamethese amacala khonale, nxa kukhona akonileyo.”
"Let them therefore," he said, "that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him."
6 Esehlale insuku eziyisificaminwembili loba ezilitshumi labo, wehlela eKhesariya, kwathi ngosuku olulandelayo wangenisa inkundla wathi kalethwe uPhawuli phambi kwakhe.
When he had stayed among them more than eight or ten days, he went down to Qesarya, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 Esefikile uPhawuli amaJuda ayebuyile evela eJerusalema ambuthanela, ethula amacala amanengi esabekayo ngaye, kodwa engelabufakazi ngawo.
When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Urishlim stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,
8 UPhawuli wasezivikela wathi, “Angenzanga lutho oluphikisa umlayo wamaJuda kumbe ukudumaza ithempeli, kumbe oluphikisa uKhesari.”
while he said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all."
9 UFestasi wayefuna ukwenzela amaJuda umusa, wathi kuPhawuli, “Uyavuma na ukuya eJerusalema ukuthi ngiyekuthonisela khona amacala la?”
But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Urishlim, and be judged by me there concerning these things?"
10 Waphendula uPhawuli wathi, “Khathesi sengisiyakuma phambi kwenkundla kaKhesari, lapho engifanele ukuthonisiswa khona. Kangonanga lutho kumaJuda, njengoba lawe usazi kakuhle.
But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.
11 Kodwa, nxa ngilecala lokwenza loba yini efanele ukufa kangali ukubulawa. Kodwa nxa lawomacala engiwetheswa ngamaJuda la engasiqiniso, kakho olelungelo lokunginikela kuwo. Ngilidlulisela kuKhesari!”
For if I have done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."
12 UFestasi esehlanganise amakhanda lomphakathi wakhe, wathi, “Usulidlulisele kuKhesari. Uzakuya-ke kuKhesari!”
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go."
13 Sekuyizinsuku ezimbalwa ngemva kwalokho iNkosi u-Agripha loBhenikhe bafika eKhesariya ukuyaqinisa ubudlelwano laye uFestasi.
Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Qesarya, and greeted Festus.
14 Njengoba babezachitha insuku ezinengi khona, uFestasi wakhuluma leNkosi ngendaba kaPhawuli. Wathi, “Kulendoda lapha eyatshiywa nguFelikhe iyisibotshwa.
As they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;
15 Ngathi ngiseJerusalema, abaphristi abakhulu labadala bamaJuda bayimangalela ngamacala athile, bacela ukuthi ibulawe.
about whom, when I was at Urishlim, the chief priests and the Jewish elders informed me, asking for a sentence against him.
16 Ngabatshela ukuthi kakusimkhuba wamaRoma ukunikela umuntu engakahlanganiswa labamangaleli bakhe, waphiwa ithuba lokuzivikela kulawo macala abambeka wona.
To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused has met the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make his defense against the charge.
17 Bathi sebefikile lapha behamba lami, ngahle ngalingenisa icala, kodwa inkundla ngayihlanganisa ngosuku olulandelayo, ngathi indoda leyo kayingeniswe.
When therefore they had come together here, I did not delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought.
18 Sebephakamile ukuba bakhulume, kabasambekanga lawomacala engangiwakhumbula.
Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed;
19 Kodwa, kulezinto ezithile ababephikisana ngazo laye mayelana lenkolo yabo langenye indoda eyafayo ethiwa nguJesu, uPhawuli athi yena iyaphila.
but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Yeshua, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 Ngisuke ngadideka ukuthi ngizicubungule njani izindaba ezinjalo; yikho ngimbuzile ukuthi angavuma yini ukuya eJerusalema ayethonisiswa khona ngamacala la.
Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Urishlim and there be judged concerning these matters.
21 Kuthe uPhawuli esethe ucela icala lakhe limiswe liyoqunywa nguMbusi oMkhulu, ngathi kagcinwe entolongweni ngize ngimdlulisele kuKhesari.”
But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar."
22 U-Agripha wasesithi kuFestasi, “Ngifuna ukuthi kengiyizwe mina ngokwami indoda leyo.” Waphendula wathi, “Uzayizwa kusasa.”
Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."
23 Kusisa u-Agripha loBhenikhe bafika ngodumo olukhulu bangena emthethwandaba lezikhulu zakhona ezaziwayo kanye labakhokheli bedolobho. UFestasi wathi uPhawuli kalethwe.
So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
24 UFestasi wasesithi, “Nkosi Agripha, lani lonke elikhona lathi lapha, liyayibona indoda le! Sonke isizwe samaJuda eJerusalema lakhona lapha eKhesariya senza isikhalazo kimi bememeza ukuthi kayisafanelanga ukuthi ibe ilokhu iphila.
And Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all people who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Urishlim and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25 Ngafumana ukuthi kwakungelalutho alwenzayo olufanele ukufa, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi wacela ukudluliselwa kuMbusi oMkhulu, ngakhetha ukuthi ngimdlulisele eRoma.
But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.
26 Kodwa kakulalutho olubambekayo engizalulobela uMhlekazi ngaye. Ngakho sengimlethe lapha phambi kwenu lonke, ikakhulu phambi kwakho wena Nkosi Agripha, ukuze kuthi ngemva kokumhlola hlezi ngithole ulutho engingaluloba.
Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write.
27 Ngibona kungaba liphutha elikhulu ukuthumela isibotshwa ngingacacanga ngamacala esiwetheswayo.”
For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him."
