Imisebenzi 15
1 Kwasekusehla abathile bevela eJudiya, bafundisa abazalwane ukuthi: Nxa lingasokwanga ngokwesiko likaMozisi, lingesindiswe.
Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.”
2 Ngakho kwathi sekulokuphambana lokuphikisana okungekuncinyane ngoPawuli loBarnabasi bemelane labo, bamisa ukuthi uPawuli loBarnabasi labanye abathile kubo benyukele kubaphostoli labadala eJerusalema, ngaloludaba.
Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
3 Ngakho, kwathi sebephelekezelwe libandla, badabula iFenekiya leSamariya, balandisa ngokuphenduka kwabezizwe; benzela bonke abazalwane intokozo enkulu.
They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.
4 Kwathi sebefikile eJerusalema, bemukelwa libandla labaphostoli labadala, njalo balandisa ukuthi zingakanani izinto uNkulunkulu ayezenze labo.
When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.
5 Kodwa kwasukuma abanye abakholwayo abangabehlelo labaFarisi, besithi: Kufanele ukubasoka, lokubalaya bagcine umlayo kaMozisi.
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 Kwasekubuthana abaphostoli labadala ndawonye ukuze baluhlole loludaba.
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
7 Kwathi sebephikisene kakhulu, uPetro wasukuma wathi kubo: Madoda bazalwane, lina liyazi ukuthi ensukwini zakuqala uNkulunkulu wakhetha phakathi kwethu, ukuthi ngomlomo wami abezizwe balizwe ilizwi levangeli, bakholwe.
When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice amongst you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe.
8 Njalo uNkulunkulu umazi wenhliziyo wabafakazela, ebanika uMoya oyiNgcwele, lanjengathi;
God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
9 futhi kehlukanisanga phakathi kwethu labo, ehlambulula inhliziyo zabo ngokholo.
He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
10 Pho-ke limlingelani uNkulunkulu, ngokubeka ijogwe entanyeni yabafundi, obaba bethu kanye lathi esingabanga lamandla okulithwala?
Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 Kodwa sikholwa ukuthi sisindiswa ngomusa weNkosi uJesu Kristu, ngandlelanye labo.
But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
12 Ixuku lonke laselithula; laselisizwa uBarnabasi loPawuli belandisa ukuthi zingakanani izibonakaliso lezimangaliso uNkulunkulu ayezenze ngabo phakathi kwabezizwe.
All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done amongst the nations through them.
13 Kwathi bona sebeqedile ukukhuluma, uJakobe waphendula wathi: Madoda bazalwane, ngilalelani:
After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 USimeyoni uselandisile ukuthi uNkulunkulu wahambela njani abezizwe ekuqaleni ukuze azuzele ibizo lakhe abantu kubo.
Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.
15 Njalo amazwi abaprofethi ayavumelana lalokhu, njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi:
This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
16 Emva kwalezizinto ngizabuya, ngilakhe futhi ithabhanekele likaDavida eliwileyo; njalo ngizakwakha okudilikileyo kwalo, njalo ngilimise;
‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up
17 ukuze abaseleyo babantu bayidinge iNkosi, labezizwe bonke ibizo lami elibizwa phezu kwabo, itsho iNkosi eyenza lezizinto zonke.
that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’
“All of God’s works are known to him from eternity. (aiōn g165)
19 Ngakho mina ngiquma ukuthi singabakhathazi labo kwabezizwe abaphendukela kuNkulunkulu;
Therefore my judgement is that we don’t trouble those from amongst the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 kodwa sibabhalele ukuthi bazile amanyala ezithombe, lokufeba, lokukhanyiweyo, legazi.
but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
21 Ngoba uMozisi ulabo kusukela ezizukulwaneni zendulo abamtshumayelayo umuzi ngomuzi, efundwa emasinagogeni isabatha ngesabatha.
For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Kwasekubonakala kukuhle kubaphostoli lakubadala kanye lebandla lonke, ukuthuma amadoda akhethiweyo phakathi kwabo eAntiyoki loPawuli loBarnabasi; babe ngoJudasi othiwa futhi nguBarsaba, loSilasi, amadoda angabakhokheli phakathi kwabazalwane,
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men amongst the brothers.
23 basebebhala lokhu ngesandla sabo ukuthi: Abaphostoli labadala labazalwane kubazalwane abangabezizwe eAntiyoki leSiriya leKilikhiya, bayabingelela;
They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.
24 njengoba sizwile ukuthi abathile abaphume kithi balikhathazile ngamazwi, bedunga imiphefumulo yenu, besithi lisokwe lilonde umthetho, bona esingabalayanga;
Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment;
25 kwabonakala kukuhle kithi singqondonye, ukuthi siwakhethe amadoda siwathume kini, kanye labathandekayo bethu uBarnabasi loPawuli,
it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 abantu abanikele impilo yabo ngenxa yebizo leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.
men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Ngakho sithumile uJudasi loSilasi, abazakuthi labo ngelizwi lomlomo balitshele izinto ezifananayo.
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.
28 Ngoba kwabonakala kukuhle kuMoya oNgcwele, lakithi, ukuthi singalethesi umthwalo omkhulu, ngaphandle kwalezizinto ezifunekayo:
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
29 Ukuthi lizile okuhlatshelwe izithombe, legazi, lokukhanyiweyo, lokufeba; lezizinto nxa lizazizila, lizabe lenze kuhle. Salani kuhle.
that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
30 Ngakho sebebakhululile beza eAntiyoki; futhi sebelihlanganisile ixuku, balinika incwadi.
So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31 Kwathi sebefundile, bathokoza ngenduduzo.
When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
32 UJudasi kanye loSilasi, njengoba labo babengabaprofethi, balaya abazalwane ngamazwi amanengi, babaqinisa.
Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
33 Sebehlale isikhathi, bayekelwa basuka ngokuthula kubazalwane baya kubaphostoli,
After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
34 kodwa kwabonakala kukuhle kuSilasi ukuthi asale khona.
35 UPawuli loBarnabasi basebesala eAntiyoki, befundisa betshumayela indaba ezinhle zelizwi leNkosi, kanye labanye abanengi.
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 Emva kwensuku ezithile uPawuli wasesithi kuBarnabasi: Ake sibuye sihambele abazalwane bethu emizini yonke, lapho esatshumayela khona ilizwi leNkosi, sibone ukuthi bahlezi njani.
After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37 UBarnabasi wasehlosa ukuthatha uJohane, othiwa nguMarko, ahambe labo.
Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
38 Kodwa uPawuli wacabanga ukuthi kufanele ukuthi bangamthathi ahambe labo lowo owabatshiya ePamfiliya, kaze aya labo emsebenzini.
But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work.
39 Kwasekuvela ukuphikisana okukhulu, baze behlukana phakathi; uBarnabasi wasethatha uMarko wahamba laye ngomkhumbi, baya eKuprosi.
Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
40 Kodwa uPawuli wakhetha uSilasi wasuka wahamba, esenikelwe emuseni kaNkulunkulu ngabazalwane.
but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 Wasedabula iSiriya leKilikhiya, eqinisa amabandla.
He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
