Imisebenzi 13
1 Kwakukhona eAntiyoki ebandleni lapho abaprofethi labafundisi abathile, uBarnabasi kanye loSimeyoni othiwa nguNigeri, loLukiyu umKurene, loManayeni owayondliwe kanye loHerodi umtetrarki, loSawuli.
Now there were in Antioch, in the Church there--as Prophets and teachers--barnabas, Symeon surnamed 'the black,' Lucius the Cyrenaean, Manaen (who was Herod the Tetrarch's foster-brother), and Saul.
2 Kwathi bekhonza iNkosi bezila ukudla, uMoya oyiNgcwele wathi: Ngehlukaniselani oBarnabasi kanye loSawuli emsebenzini engibabizele wona.
While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me, now at once, Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them."
3 Sebezile ukudla bakhuleka babeka izandla phezu kwabo, babathuma.
So, after fasting and prayer and the laying on of hands, they let them go.
4 Bona-ke sebethunyiwe nguMoya oyiNgcwele, behlela eSelukiya, basuka lapho baya eKuprosi ngomkhumbi.
They therefore, being thus sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleuceia, and from there sailed to Cyprus.
5 Kwathi sebefikile eSalamisi, batshumayela ilizwi likaNkulunkulu emasinagogeni amaJuda; njalo babeloJohane umsizi.
Having reached Salamis, they began to announce God's Message in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John as their assistant.
6 Kwathi sebedabule isihlenge bafika ePhafosi, bafica isanuse esithile, umprofethi wamanga, umJuda, obizo lakhe nguBarjesu,
When they had gone through the whole length of the island as far as Paphos, they there met with a Jewish magician and false prophet, Bar-Jesus by name,
7 owayelombusi uSergiyu Pawuli, indoda ehlakaniphileyo. Lo wabizela kuye uBarnabasi loSawuli edinga ukuzwa ilizwi likaNkulunkulu.
who was a friend of the Proconsul Sergius Paulus. The Proconsul was a man of keen intelligence. He sent for Barnabas and Saul, and asked to be told God's Message.
8 Kodwa isanuse, uElimasi, ngoba liphendulelwa njalo ibizo lakhe, waphikisana labo, edinga ukuphambula umbusi ekholweni.
But Elymas (or 'the Magician,' for such is the meaning of the name) opposed them, and tried to prevent the Proconsul from accepting the faith.
9 Kodwa uSawuli, onguPawuli futhi, egcwele uMoya oNgcwele, njalo emjolozela
Then Saul, who is also called Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, fixing his eyes on Elymas,
10 wathi: O wena ogcwele inkohliso yonke lobuqili bonke, ndodana kadiyabhola, sitha sakho konke ukulunga, kawuyekeli ukuphambula indlela eziqondileyo zeNkosi yini?
said, "You who are full of every kind of craftiness and unscrupulous cunning--you son of the Devil and foe to all that is right--will you never cease to misrepresent the straight paths of the Lord?
11 Njalo khathesi khangela, isandla seNkosi siphezu kwakho, njalo uzakuba yisiphofu, ungaliboni ilanga okwesikhathi. Kwahle kwamehlela ukufiphala lobumnyama, wahamba ebhoda edinga abazamdonsa ngesandla.
The Lord's hand is now upon you, and you will be blind for a time and unable to see the light of day." Instantly there fell upon him a mist and a darkness, and, as he walked about, he begged people to lead him by the hand.
12 Ngalesosikhathi umbusi wabona okwenziweyo wakholwa, edidwa yimfundiso yeNkosi.
Then the Proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed, being struck with amazement at the teaching of the Lord.
13 UPawuli lababelaye basebesuka ngomkhumbi ePhafosi bafika ePerga esePamfiliya. Kodwa uJohane wehlukana labo wabuyela eJerusalema.
From Paphos, Paul and his party put out to sea and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and returned to Jerusalem.
14 Kodwa bona bedabula besuka ePerga, bafika eAntiyoki esePisidiya; ngosuku lwesabatha basebengena esinagogeni, bahlala phansi.
But they themselves, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch in Pisidia. Here, on the Sabbath day, they went into the synagogue and sat down.
15 Kwathi sekufundwe umlayo labaprofethi, abaphathi besinagoge bathumela kubo, besithi: Madoda bazalwane, uba kulelizwi phakathi kwenu lenkuthazo ebantwini, khulumani.
After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the Wardens of the synagogue sent word to them. "Brethren," they said, "if you have anything encouraging to say to the people, speak."
16 Kwathi uPawuli esukuma, njalo eqhweba ngesandla, wathi: Madoda maIsrayeli, lani elesaba uNkulunkulu, lalelani.
So Paul rose, and motioning with his hand for silence, said, "Israelites, and you others who fear God, pay attention to me.
17 UNkulunkulu walesisizwe sakoIsrayeli wakhetha obaba bethu, wabaphakamisa abantu bengabemzini elizweni leGibhithe, wabakhupha kulo ngengalo ephakemeyo.
The God of this people of Israel chose our forefathers, and made the people great during their stay in Egypt, until with wondrous power He brought them out from that land.
18 Wasebekezelela isimilo sabo okungaba yisikhathi seminyaka engamatshumi amane enkangala.
For a period of about forty years, He fed them, like a nurse, in the Desert.
19 Njalo esechithile izizwe eziyisikhombisa elizweni leKhanani, wabehlukanisela ilizwe labo ngenkatho.
Then, after overthrowing seven nations in the land of Canaan, He divided that country among them as their inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years;
20 Lemva kwalezizinto, okungaba ngokweminyaka engamakhulu amane lamatshumi amahlanu, wabanika abahluleli kwaze kwaba nguSamuweli umprofethi.
and afterwards He gave them judges down to the time of the Prophet Samuel.
21 Njalo kusukela lapho bacela inkosi; uNkulunkulu wasebanika uSawuli indodana kaKishi, indoda yesizwe sakoBhenjamini, okweminyaka engamatshumi amane.
Next they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who reigned forty years.
22 Njalo esemkhuphile, wabavusela uDavida waba yinkosi, afakaza langaye ngokuthi: Ngimtholile uDavida kaJese, indoda ngokwenhliziyo yami, ezakwenza intando yami yonke.
After removing him, He raised up David to be their king, to whom He also bore witness when He said, "'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man I love, who will obey all My commands.'
23 Enzalweni yalumuntu njengesithembiso, uNkulunkulu uvusele uIsrayeli uMsindisi uJesu;
"It is from among David's descendants that God, in fulfilment of His promise, has raised up a Saviour for Israel, even Jesus.
24 engakafiki yena uJohane wayesetshumayele kuqala ubhabhathizo lokuphenduka kubo bonke abantu bakoIsrayeli.
Before the coming of Jesus, John had proclaimed to all the people of Israel a baptism of repentance.
25 UJohane esegcwalise uhambo lwakhe, wathi: Licabanga ukuthi ngingubani? Kangisuye mina; kodwa khangelani, emva kwami uyeza, engingafanelanga ukukhulula amanyathela enyawo zakhe.
But John, towards the end of his career, repeatedly asked the people, "'What do you suppose me to be? I am not the Christ. But there is One coming after me whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.'
26 Madoda bazalwane, bantwana bohlanga lukaAbrahama, lalabo phakathi kwenu abesaba uNkulunkulu, lithunyelwe kini ilizwi lalolusindiso.
"Brethren, descendants of the family of Abraham, and all among you who fear God, to us has this Message of salvation been sent.
27 Ngoba labo abahlala eJerusalema lababusi babo kabamazanga lo, bawagcwalisa lamazwi abaprofethi afundwayo isabatha ngesabatha, ngokumlahla;
For the people of Jerusalem and their rulers, by the judgement they pronounced on Jesus, have actually fulfilled the predictions of the Prophets which are read Sabbath after Sabbath, through ignorance of those predictions and of Him.
28 njalo bengatholi lacala lokufa, bacela kuPilatu ukuthi abulawe.
Without having found Him guilty of any capital offence they urged Pilate to have Him put to death;
29 Kwathi sebeqedile konke okulotshiweyo ngaye, bamethula esihlahleni, bamlalisa engcwabeni.
and when they had carried out everything which had been written about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.
30 Kodwa uNkulunkulu wamvusa kwabafileyo;
"But God raised Him from the dead.
31 owabonwa insuku ezinengi yilabo ababenyukele laye ukuya eJerusalema besuka eGalili, abangabafakazi bakhe ebantwini.
And, after a few days, He appeared to the people who had gone up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem and are now witnesses concerning Him to the Jews.
32 Lathi sitshumayela indaba ezinhle kini zesithembiso esenziwa kubobaba,
And we bring you the Good News about the promise made to our forefathers,
33 ukuthi uNkulunkulu usigcwalisile sona kithi, abantwana babo, emvusile uJesu, njengoba kulotshiwe futhi kusihlabelelo sesibili ukuthi: Wena uyiNdodana yami, lamuhla mina ngikuzele.
that God has amply fulfilled it to our children in raising up Jesus; as it is also written in the second Psalm, 'Thou art My Son: to-day I have become Thy Father.'
34 Njalo ngokuthi wamvusa kwabafileyo, engasayikubuyela ekuboleni, wakhuluma kanje wathi: Ngizalinika izibusiso ezingcwele lezithembekileyo zikaDavida.
And as to His having raised Him from among the dead, never again to be in the position of one soon to return to decay, He speaks thus: 'I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David.'
35 Ngakho njalo kwenye indawo uthi: Kawuyikunikela oNgcwele wakho abone ukubola.
Because in another Psalm also He says, 'Thou wilt not give up Thy Holy One to undergo decay.'
36 Ngoba uDavida, esekhonze esakhe isizukulwana ngecebo likaNkulunkulu walala, njalo walaliswa laboyise, wabona ukubola;
For David, after having been useful to his own generation in accordance with God's purpose, did fall asleep, was gathered to his forefathers, and did undergo decay.
37 kodwa lowo uNkulunkulu amvusayo, kakubonanga ukubola.
But He whom God raised to life underwent no decay.
38 Ngakho kakwaziwe yini, madoda bazalwane, ukuthi ngalowo kutshunyayelwa kini uthethelelo lwezono;
"Understand therefore, brethren, that through this Jesus forgiveness of sins is announced to you;
39 njalo kulo wonke okholwayo uyalungisiswa kukho konke ebelingelungisiswe kukho ngomlayo kaMozisi.
and in Him every believer is absolved from all offences, from which you could not be absolved under the Law of Moses.
40 Ngakho qaphelani ukuthi kalehlelwa yilokhu okwakhulunywa kubaprofethi, okokuthi:
Beware, then, lest what is spoken in the Prophets should come true of you:
41 Khangelani, zideleli, njalo limangale, litshabalale; ngoba mina ngenza umsebenzi ensukwini zenu, umsebenzi elingasoze lawukholwa, nxa umuntu elilandisela.
'Behold, you despisers, be astonished and perish, because I am carrying on a work in your time--a work which you will utterly refuse to believe, though it be fully declared to you.'"
42 Kwathi ekuphumeni kwamaJuda esinagogeni, abezizwe bacela ukuthi lamazwi akhulunywe kubo ngesabatha elilandelayo.
As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people earnestly begged to have all this repeated to them on the following Sabbath.
43 Kwathi abesinagoge sebephumile, abanengi kumaJuda labakhonzayo abaphendukela kumaJuda balandela uPawuli loBarnabasi; abakhuluma labo, bebancenga ukuthi bahlale emuseni kaNkulunkulu.
And, when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and of the devout converts from heathenism continued with Paul and Barnabas, who talked to them and urged them to hold fast to the grace of God.
44 Kwathi ngesabatha elilandelayo babuthana kwaphose kwaba ngumuzi wonke ukuzwa ilizwi likaNkulunkulu.
On the next Sabbath almost the whole population of the city came together to hear the Lord's Message.
45 Kodwa amaJuda ebona amaxuku agcwaliswa ngomona, aphikisa izinto ezakhulunywa nguPawuli, ephikisa njalo ehlambaza.
Seeing the crowds, the Jews, filled with angry jealousy, opposed Paul's statements and abused him.
46 Kodwa uPawuli loBarnabasi bekhuluma ngesibindi bathi: Kwakudingeka ukuthi ilizwi likaNkulunkulu likhulunywe kini kuqala; kodwa njengoba lilinina, njalo lizigweba ukuthi alifanelanga impilo elaphakade, khangelani, siphendukela kwabezizwe. (aiōnios g166)
Then, throwing off all reserve, Paul and Barnabas said, "We were bound to proclaim God's Message to you first. But since you spurn it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of the Life of the Ages--well, we turn to the Gentiles. (aiōnios g166)
47 Ngoba iNkosi isilayile ngokunjalo yathi: Ngikumisile ube yikukhanya kwabezizwe, ube ngowosindiso kuze kube semkhawulweni womhlaba.
For such is the Lord's command to us. "'I have placed Thee,' He says of Christ, 'as a light to the Gentiles, in order that Thou mayest be a Saviour as far as the remotest parts of the earth.'"
48 Kwathi abezizwe bekuzwa bathokoza, basebelidumisa ilizwi leNkosi, basebekholwa bonke ababemiselwe impilo elaphakade; (aiōnios g166)
The Gentiles listened with delight and extolled the Lord's Message; and all who were pre-destined to the Life of the Ages believed. (aiōnios g166)
49 lelizwi leNkosi lasatshalaliswa elizweni lonke.
So the Lord's Message spread through the whole district.
50 Kodwa amaJuda avusa abesifazana abakhonzayo abadumileyo lezikhulu zomuzi, avusela uPawuli loBarnabasi ukuzingelwa, abaxotsha emikhawulweni yawo.
But the Jews influenced the gentlewomen of rank who worshipped with them, and also the leading men in the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of the district.
51 Kodwa babathintithela uthuli lwenyawo zabo, bafika eIkoniyuma.
But they shook off the dust from their feet as a protest against them and came to Iconium;
52 Njalo abafundi bagcwaliswa ngentokozo loMoya oNgcwele.
and as for the disciples, they were more and more filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
