Imisebenzi 28
1 Kwathi sebesindile, basebesizwa ukuthi isihlenge sithiwa yiMelitha.
When we were all safe, we found that the island was called Malta.
2 Labalelolizwe basiphatha ngomusa ongandanga; ngoba babasa umlilo, basemukela sonke, ngenxa yezulu elaseliqalisile, langenxa yomqando.
The natives showed us marked kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all under shelter, because it had come on to rain and was cold.
3 UPawuli wasetheza umnyaba wenkuni, wazibeka emlilweni, kwaphuma inyoka ngenxa yokutshisa, yanamathela esandleni sakhe.
Paul had gathered a quantity of dry sticks and laid them on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened on his hand.
4 Kwathi abalelolizwe bebona isilo silenga esandleni sakhe, bakhulumisana besithi: Isibili lumuntu ungumbulali, othi esindile olwandle, ukulunga kakuvumi ukuthi aphile.
When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another: “Evidently this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
5 Yena-ke wasithintithela emlilweni isilo, akaze ehlelwa yibubi.
However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and took no harm.
6 Basebelindela ukuthi uzavuvuka lokuthi awele phansi ahle afe; kwathi sebelinde isikhathi eside, basebebona ukuthi kakulalutho olubi olwenzakala kuye, baphendula imicabango yabo bathi ungunkulunkulu.
The natives were expecting inflammation to set in, or that he would suddenly fall dead; but, after waiting for a long time, and seeing that there was nothing amiss with him, they changed their minds and said that he was a God.
7 Kubomakhelwane baleyondawo kwakulamasimu esikhulu sesihlenge, uPubliyo ngebizo; owasemukela wasingenisa kuhle insuku ezintathu.
In that neighbourhood there was an estate belonging to the Governor of the island, whose name was Publius. He took us up to his house, and for three days entertained us most courteously.
8 Kwasekusithi uyise kaPubliyo wayelele ebanjwe luqhuqho lesisu segazi; angena kuye uPawuli, wakhuleka, wabeka izandla phezu kwakhe, wamsilisa.
It happened that the father of Publius was lying ill of fever and dysentery. So Paul went to see him; and, after praying, he placed his hands on him and cured him.
9 Ngakho lokho sekwenzakele, beza labanye ababesesihlengeni ababelezifo basebesiliswa;
After this, all the people in the island who had any illness came to Paul, and were cured.
10 abasidumisa langodumo olunengi, njalo mhla sisukayo ngomkhumbi, basethesa izinto ezidingekayo.
They also presented us with many gifts, and when we set sail they put supplies of necessaries on board.
11 Kwathi emva kwenyanga ezintathu sasuka ngomkhumbi weAleksandriya, owawuhlezi ebusika esihlengeni, ulophawu oluthiwa ngoDiyosikuroyi.
After three months, we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island. She was an Alexandrian vessel, and had the Twin Sons of Zeus for her figure-head.
12 Sasesifika eSirakhuse sahlala insuku ezintathu;
We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days,
13 sasuka lapho sahamba ngokubhoda sayafika eRegiyuma, sekudlule usuku olulodwa kwafika umoya weningizimu, safika ePuthiyoli ngosuku lwesibili;
and from there we worked to windward and so got to Rhegium. A day later a south wind sprang up and took us to Puteoli in two days.
14 lapho esafica khona abazalwane, sacelwa ukuhlala labo insuku eziyisikhombisa; ngokunjalo saya-ke eRoma.
There we found some of the Brethren, and were urged to stay a week with them; after which we went on to Rome.
15 Njalo besuka lapho abazalwane sebezwile izinto ngathi, beza ukusihlangabeza baze bafika eApiyi Foruma leNdlini zeZihambi eziNtathu; okwathi uPawuli ebabona, wabonga uNkulunkulu, wema isibindi.
The Brethren there had heard about us, and came out as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At sight of them Paul thanked God and was much cheered.
16 Sathi sesifike eRoma, induna yekhulu yanikela izibotshwa enduneni yabalindi; kodwa uPawuli wavunyelwa ukuhlala yedwa, lowebutho omlindayo.
On our reaching Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, except for the soldier who was in charge of him.
17 Kwasekusithi emva kwensuku ezintathu uPawuli wabizela ndawonye labo abangabakhulu bamaJuda; sebebuthene, wathi kubo: Madoda bazalwane, mina kangenzanga lutho oluphambene lesizwe kumbe lamasiko abobaba, ngiyisibotshwa ngivela eJerusalema nganikelwa ezandleni zamaRoma;
Three days after our arrival, Paul invited the leading Jews to meet him; and, when they came, he spoke to them as follows: “Brothers, although I had done nothing hostile to the interests of our nation or to our ancestral customs, yet I was sent from Jerusalem as a prisoner, and handed over to the Romans.
18 wona esengihlolile afuna ukungikhulula, ngoba kungekho kimi cala elifanele ukufa.
The Romans, when they had examined me, were ready to release me, because there was nothing in my conduct deserving death.
19 Kodwa amaJuda ala, ngacindezeleka ukulidlulisela kuKesari, kungeyisikho ukuthi ngilolutho olokumangalela isizwe sakithi.
But, as the Jews opposed my release, I was compelled to appeal to the Emperor — not, indeed, that I had any charge to make against my own nation.
20 Ngakho ngenxa yalesisizatho ngilibizele lapha ukuthi ngilibone ngikhulume lani; ngoba ngenxa yethemba likaIsrayeli ngizingelezelwe ngaleliketane.
This, then, is my reason for urging you to come to see me and talk with me; because it is for the sake of the Hope of Israel that I am here in chains.”
21 Basebesithi kuye: Thina kasemukelanga izincwadi ngawe ezivela eJudiya, futhi loba ngubani wabazalwane, esefikile, kabikanga kumbe akhulume lutho olubi ngawe.
“We,” was their reply, “have not had any letter about you from Judea, nor have any of our fellow-Jews come and reported or said anything bad about you.
22 Kodwa sifisa ukuzwa izinto ozinakanayo wena; ngoba mayelana lalobububhazuka siyazi ukuthi buyaphikiswa endaweni zonke.
But we shall be glad to hear from you what your views are, for, with regard to this sect, we are well aware that it is spoken against on all sides.”
23 Njalo kwathi sebemmisele usuku, abanengi beza kuye endlini yezihambi; owabachasisela wafakaza umbuso kaNkulunkulu, ebancenga ngezinto zikaJesu, ethathela emlayweni kaMozisi kanye labaprofethi, kusukela ekuseni kakhulu kwaze kwaba kusihlwa.
They then fixed a day with him, and came to the place where he was staying, in even larger numbers, when Paul proceeded to lay the subject before them. He bore his testimony to the Kingdom of God, and tried to convince them about Jesus, by arguments drawn from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets — speaking from morning till evening.
24 Abanye basebekholwa izinto azitshoyo, kodwa abanye kabakholwanga.
Some were inclined to accept what he said; others, however, rejected it.
25 Kwasekusithi bengavumelani bodwa basuka bahamba, uPawuli esekhulume ilizwi laba linye lokuthi: Wayekhulume kuhle uMoya oyiNgcwele ngoIsaya umprofethi kubobaba bethu,
So, as they disagreed among themselves, they began to disperse, Paul adding only — “True, indeed, was the declaration made by the Holy Spirit, through the Prophet Isaiah to your ancestors —
26 esithi: Hamba uye kulesisizwe ubususithi: Ngokuzwa lizakuzwa, njalo kalisoze liqedisise; lokubona lizabona, njalo kalisoze libonisise.
‘Go to this nation and say — “You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, And, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving.”
27 Ngoba inhliziyo yalesisizwe seyaba buthundu, njalo bezwa kanzima ngendlebe, lamehlo abo bawacimezile; hlezi babone ngamehlo, njalo bezwe ngendlebe, futhi baqedisise ngenhliziyo, njalo baphenduke, besengibasilisa.
For the mind of this nation has grown dense, And their ears are dull of hearing, Their eyes also have they closed; Lest some day they should see with their eyes, And with their ears they should hear, And in their mind they should understand, and should turn — And I should heal them.’
28 Ngakho kakwaziwe kini, ukuthi usindiso lukaNkulunkulu luyathunyelwa kwabezizwe, bona-ke bazakuzwa.
Understand, then, that this Salvation of God was sent for the Gentiles; and they will listen.”
29 Njalo kwathi esetshilo lezizinto, amaJuda asuka, elokuphikisana okukhulu phakathi kwawo.
30 UPawuli wasehlala iminyaka emibili egcweleyo endlini yakhe uqobo ayeyiqhatshile, wemukela bonke abangena kuye,
For two whole years Paul stayed in a house which he rented for himself, welcoming all who came to see him,
31 watshumayela umbuso kaNkulunkulu, njalo wafundisa ngeNkosi uJesu Kristu, ngaso sonke isibindi, engelakuvinjelwa.
proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, with perfect fearlessness, unmolested.
