Imisebenzi 24
1 Kwathi emva kwensuku ezinhlanu uAnaniya umpristi omkhulu wehla labadala lomkhulumeli othile uTertulo, abamangalela uPawuli kumbusi.
And after five days, Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and [with] a certain orator [named] Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
2 Kwathi esebiziwe, uTertulo waqala ukumcala esithi: Ukuthula okukhulu sikuzuzile ngawe, lemisebenzi emihle yenzakele kulesisizwe ngokunakekela kwakho,
And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse [him], saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done to this nation by thy providence,
3 ngazo zonke indlela lakuzo zonke indawo siyakwemukela, mhlekazi Felike, ngakho konke ukubonga.
We accept [it] always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 Kodwa ukuze ngingakubambeleli kakhulu, ngiyakuncenga ukuthi ngomusa wakho usizwe ngokufitshane.
Notwithstanding, that I may not be further tedious to thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldst of thy clemency hear us a few words.
5 Ngoba lindoda siyifice iyinkathazo, njalo ingeyenza umvukela phakathi kwamaJuda wonke emhlabeni jikelele, lomkhokheliqembu wobubhazuka bamaNazaretha;
For we have found this a pestilent man, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
6 eyake yazama lokungcolisa ithempeli; esike sayibamba sithanda ukuyehlulela ngokomlayo wethu,
Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
7 kodwa kwafika uLisiya induna enkulu wamthatha ngodlakela olukhulu ezandleni zethu,
But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took [him] out of our hands,
8 elaya abamangaleli bakhe ukuthi beze kuwe; ongathi, ngokumbuzisisa wena uqobo, ungaba lakho ukwazi kuye ngazo zonke izinto thina esimmangalela ngazo.
Commanding his accusers to come to thee: by examining whom, thou thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things of which we accuse him.
9 LamaJuda lawo avuma, esithi lezizinto zinjalo.
And the Jews also assented, saying, that these things were so.
10 UPawuli wasephendula, umbusi esemqhwebile ukuthi akhulume, wathi: Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi sekuyiminyaka eminengi ungumahluleli phezu kwalesisizwe, ngiyaziphendulela ngesibindi esikhulu ngezinto zami,
Then Paul, after the governor had beckoned to him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been for many years a judge to this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
11 njengoba ungakubona ukuthi kakukadluli insuku ezilitshumi lambili, lokhu ngenyukele eJerusalema ukukhuleka;
That thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12 njalo kabangificanga ethempelini ngiphikisana lomuntu loba ngivusa isiphithiphithi exukwini, loba emasinagogeni, loba emzini.
And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither exciting the people to sedition, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
13 Futhi bangeke baqinise ngezinto abangimangalela ngazo khathesi.
Neither can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
14 Kodwa ngiyavuma kuwe lokhu, ukuthi ngendlela abayibiza ngokuthi yibubhazuka, ngokunjalo ngiyamkhonza uNkulunkulu wabobaba, ngikholwa konke okulotshiweyo emlayweni lakubaprofethi;
But this I confess to thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
15 ngilethemba kuNkulunkulu, abalilindeleyo labo uqobo lwabo, elokuthi kuzakuba khona ukuvuka kwabafileyo, okwabalungileyo kanye labangalunganga.
And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
16 Njalo kulokho mina ngiyazama, ukuthi ngibe lesazela esingelacala phambi kukaNkulunkulu labantu isikhathi sonke.
And in this I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense towards God, and [towards] men.
17 Kwathi emva kweminyaka eminengi ngafika ukuletha izipho zomusa esizweni sakithi leminikelo;
Now after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
18 ngikulezizinto amaJuda athile avela eAsiya angifica ethempelini ngihlanjululwe, kungekho ixuku loba isiphithiphithi;
Upon which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
19 afanele ukuba khona lapha phambi kwakho angicale uba elolutho ngami;
Who ought to have been here before thee, and object if they had aught against me.
20 kumbe bona ngokwabo kabatsho, ukuthi baficani okungalunganga kimi, mhla ngimi phambi komphakathi,
Or else let these same [here] say, if they have found any evil-doing in me, while I stood before the council,
21 ngaphandle kwalelolizwi elilodwa, engalimemeza ngimi phakathi kwabo ngisithi: Ngokuvuka kwabafileyo mina ngiyehlulelwa yini lamuhla.
Except it is for this one voice, that I cried, standing among them, Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
22 Kwathi uFelike wabadlulisela phambili, esezwile lezizinto esazi ngokupheleleyo izinto ngaleyondlela, esithi: Nxa uLisiya induna enkulu isiyehlile, ngizayihlolisisa indaba yenu;
And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of [that] way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
23 waselaya induna yekhulu ukuthi agcinwe uPawuli, lokuthi abe lenkululeko, njalo kungalelwa muntu wakibo ukumncedisa kumbe ukuza kuye.
And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let [him] have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister, or come to him.
24 Kwathi emva kwensuku ezithile, uFelike weza loDrusila umkakhe engumJudakazi, wathumela ukubiza uPawuli, wamuzwa mayelana lokholo kuKristu.
And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25 Kwathi esakhuluma ngokulunga langokuzithiba langokwahlulela okuzayo, uFelike watshaywa luvalo waphendula wathi: Hamba okwakhathesi; nxa sengizuze ithuba elihle ngizakubizela kimi;
And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, depart for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
26 njalo ngesikhathi esifananayo wayethemba futhi ukuthi uzanikwa imali nguPawuli, ukuze amkhulule; ngakho wayehlezi embizela kuye ekhuluma laye.
He hoped also that money would have been given him by Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
27 Kodwa sekugcwaliseke iminyaka emibili, uFelike wemukela omlandelayo uPorkiyu uFestusi; uFelike efisa ukuthokozisa amaJuda wamtshiya uPawuli ebotshiwe.
But after two years Porcius Festus came as successor to Felix: and Felix willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
