Matendu 22
1 “Valongo vangu na vadadi vangu, muyuwanila hinu chenikujikengelela palongolo yinu!”
Paul said, “[Jewish] elders and my other fellow Jews, listen to me now while I reply to [those who are accusing me]!”
2 Pevamuyuwini ilongela nawu kwa luga ya Chiebulania vakatama nuu neju. Kangi Pauli akayendelela kujova,
When the crowd of people heard Paul speaking to them in [their own] Hebrew language, they became even more quiet and really listened. Then Paul said to them,
3 “Nene na Myawudi mkolonjinji wa ku Taso muji wa Kilikia. Nambu naleliwi bahapa pa Yelusalemu. Muwula wangu Gamalieli. Nawuliwi kulanda malagizu ga vagogo vitu, najiwusili mtima woha kwa Chapanga ngati chemuvi nyenye lelu.
“I am a Jew, [as are all of you]. I was born in Tarsus [city], in Cilicia [province], but I grew up here in Jerusalem. [When I was young, for many years] I studied the laws [that Moses gave to our ancestors]. I was taught by [the famous teacher] Gamaliel [MTY] {[The famous teacher] Gamaliel taught [MTY] me}. [I have] carefully [obeyed those laws, because] I have wanted to obey God. I [am sure that] many of you also carefully obey [those laws].
4 Navang'ahisi hati kuvakoma vandu vala vevalanda Njila ya Bambu. Navakamwili vagosi na vadala na kuvakunga muchifungu.
[That is why] I previously persecuted those who believe the message [that people call] the Way [that Jesus taught. I continually looked for ways] to kill [them. Whenever I found] men or women [who believed that message], I [commanded that] they should be seized and thrown {[people to] seize them and throw them} into jail.
5 Mteta mkulu wa Chapanga, vagogo voha va libanji vihotola kujova ndava ya lijambu lenili. Kuhumila kwavi napokili balua yevayandikiwi valongo Vayawudi vala, vevavi ku Damasko. Nahambili ku Damasko muni nivakamulayi vandu avo na kuvaleta kuni ku Yelusalemu, muni vabuniwayi.”
The supreme priest knows this, and so do the [other respected men who belong to our Jewish] Council. They gave me letters to [take to] their fellow Jews in Damascus [city. By means of those letters, they authorized me to] go to there and find people who believed in [Jesus. They had written in the letters that I was to bring those people] as prisoners to Jerusalem, so that they would be punished here {[the leaders here] could punish them}. [So I went on my way to Damascus].
6 “Hinu, panavili munjila papipi kuhika Damasko, lukumbi lwa saa sita ya muhi, lumuli luvaha kuhuma kunani kwa Chapanga chigafula ukahumila na kunilangasa pandi zoha.
About noon, my companions and I were getting near Damascus. Suddenly a bright light from the sky flashed all around me.
7 Penapo ndi nagwili pahi, nakuyuwana lwami lukunijovela, ‘Sauli, Sauli! Ndava kyani, ukuning'aha?’
[The light was so bright that] I fell to the ground. Then I heard the voice [of someone] speaking to me [from up in the sky. The one who was speaking to me said], ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you [(sg)] do things to harm me?’
8 Hinu nakotili, yani Bambu? Aniyangwili, ‘Nene ndi Yesu wa ku Nazaleti mweukumung'aha.’
I answered, ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘I am Jesus from Nazareth. I [am the one] whom you [(sg)] are harming [by doing things to harm my followers].’
9 Vayangu vala valuwene lumuli lula, nambu nakummanya lwami lwa mwenilongela nayu.
The men who were [traveling] with me saw the [very bright] light, [and they heard a voice], but they did not understand what the voice said to me.
10 Ndi nikakota, ‘Nikita kyani, Bambu?’ Bambu akaniyangula, ‘Yima, uhamba ku Damasko na kwenuko yati ujoviwa goha geupangiwi kugahenga.’
Then I asked, ‘Lord, what [do you want] me to do?’ The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus! [A man] there will tell you [(sg)] all that I have planned for you to do.’
11 Mihu nakuhotola kulola ndava ya lumuli lula, hinu yavaganili vayangu vala kunilongosa mbaka kuhika ku Damasko.”
[After that, I could not see], because the [very bright] light had caused me to become blind. So my companions took me by the hand and led me until [we(exc) arrived] in Damascus.
12 “Kwenuko kwavili na mundu mmonga liina laki Anania, mundu mweakumtopesa Chapanga, mweilanda Mhilu wa Chapanga weampeli Musa na mweitopeswa neju na Vayawudi voha vevitama ku Damasko.
[A couple of days] later, a man whose name was Ananias came to [see] me. He was a man who [greatly respected God and] carefully obeyed [our Jewish] laws. All the Jews living in Damascus said good things about him.
13 Mwene abwelili kunilola, akanihegelela na kunijovela, ‘Mlongo wangu Sauli! Lola kavili.’ Bahapo nikahotola kumlola.
He came and stood beside me and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, see [again]!’ Instantly I could see! I saw Ananias [standing there beside me].
14 Kangi Anania akajova, ‘Chapanga wa vagogo vitu akuhagwili veve uhotola kumanya maganu gaki, kumlola Mweikita geigana Chapanga, na kumyuwana malovi gaki.
Then he said: ‘The God whom [we(inc) worship and] whom our ancestors [worshipped] has chosen you and will show you what he wants [you to do. He has allowed you] to see the righteous one, [the Messiah], and you have heard him speaking [to you].
15 Ndava muni yati wijova ndava yaki kwa vandu voha gala geugawene na kuyuwana.
He wants you to tell people everywhere what you have seen and heard [from him].
16 Hinu ndi, ndava kyani kutamakisa? Yima, ubatiziwayi na kulekekeswa geumbudili Chapanga kwa njila yeniyi ukulikemela liina la Yesu.’”
So now (do not delay!/why delay?) [RHQ] Stand up, let [me] baptize you, and by praying to the Lord [Jesus ask God] to forgive you [(sg)] for your sins!’”
17 “Hinu nawuyili ku Yelusalemu, na panavili mukuyupa Munyumba ya Chapanga, nagawene maono.
“Later, I returned to Jerusalem. [One day] I went to the Temple courtyard. While I was praying there, I saw a vision [in which]
18 Namuwene Bambu akunijovela, ‘Yumbatika! Wuka Yelusalemu kanyata, ndava muni vandu va penapa yati vakukuyidakila lepi mukujova kwaku ndava yangu.’
I saw the Lord speaking to me. He said to me, ‘[Do not stay here]! Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people [here] will not (believe/listen to) what you [(sg)] tell [them] about me!’
19 Nikamyangula, Bambu, vandu ava vimanya hotohoto kuvya nene ndi yula mwenahambayi munyumba za kukonganekela Vayawudi na kuvakamula na kuvatova vala vevakusadikayi.
But I [protested and] said to him, ‘Lord, they know that I went to many of our meeting houses looking for people who believe in you. I was putting in jail those [whom I found] who believed in you, and I was even beating them.
20 Na lukumbi Stefani mweijova ndava yaku peakomiwi, namwene navili nayidakili lepi chitendu chenicho hati navi mlonda wa nyula za vakomaji vala.
[They remember that] when Stephen was killed [MTY] {when people killed [MTY] Stephen} because he told people about you, I stood there [watching it all] and approving [what they were doing]. I [even] guarded the outer garments that those who were murdering him [had thrown aside. So if I stay here, the fact that I have changed how I think about you will surely impress those leaders of our people].’
21 Kangi Bambu akanijovela, ‘Hamba, Yati nikutuma kutali kwa vangali Vayawudi.’”
But the Lord said to me, ‘No, [do not stay here]! Leave [Jerusalem, because] I am going to send you [(sg)] far away [from here] to non-Jewish people!’”
22 Msambi wa vandu wamuyuwanili Pauli mbaka peajovili malovi ago. Kangi vakajova kwa lwami luvaha, “Mkoma mundu uyu! Mundu ngati uyu iganikiwa lepi kutama pamulima.”
The people listened [quietly] to what Paul was saying until [he mentioned the Lord sending him to non-Jewish people]. Then they began shouting [angrily], “Kill him! [He does not deserve to live any longer]!” [They said that because they could not believe that God would save anyone except Jews].
23 Ndi vayendalili kuywanga kuni vitaga nyula zavi na kutikula lububu kunani.
While they continued shouting, [“Kill him!”] they took off their cloaks and threw dust into the air, [which showed how angry they were].
24 Mkulu wa msambi wa manjolinjoli avalagizi vandu vaki vampeleka Pauli mungomi, akavajovela vamtova michapilu muni amanya ndava kyani Vayawudi vakumywangila.
So the commander [commanded] that Paul be taken {[soldiers] to take Paul} into the barracks. He told [the soldiers] that they should strike Paul with a whip [that had pieces of bone/metal on the end of it], in order to make him tell what he had done that made the Jews shout so angrily. [So the soldiers took Paul into the barracks].
25 Nambu pevamalili kumkunga Pauli muni vamtovayi, mwene akamkota chilongosi mmonga wa manjolinjoli mweayimi penapo, “Malagizu ginu yikuvayidakila kumtova mkolonjinji wa ku Loma angahamuliwa?”
Then they stretched his arms out [and tied them] so that they could whip him [on his back. But] Paul said to the officer who was standing nearby [watching], “[You(sg) should think carefully about this]! You will certainly be [RHQ] acting unlawfully if you whip me, a Roman [citizen whom] no [one has put on trial and] condemned!”
26 Hinu chilongosi yula peayuwini genago, akamjovela mkulu wa msambi wa manjolinjoli akajova, “Wigana kukita kyani? Mundu uyu ndi mkolonjinji wa ku Loma!”
When the officer heard that, he went to the commander and reported it to him. He said [to the commander], “This man is a Roman [citizen] (Surely you would not [command us to whip him]!/Do you really want [us to whip him]?) [RHQ]”
27 Hinu mkulu yula amhambalili Pauli, akamkota, “Nijovela, veve ndi mkolonjinji wa ku Loma?” Pauli akayangula, “Ena.”
The commander [was surprised when he heard that. He himself] went [into the barracks] and said to Paul, “Tell me, are you [(sg) really] a Roman [citizen]?” Paul answered, “Yes, I [am].”
28 Kangi mkulu yula akayendelela kujova, “Nene namkolonjinji wa Loma wa kugula kwa mashonga gamahele.” Pauli akajova, “Nambu nene namkolonjinji wa Loma mukuvelekewa.”
Then the commander said, “[I am also a Roman citizen]. I paid a lot of money to become a [Roman] citizen.” Paul said, “But I was born a [Roman] citizen, [so I did not need to pay anything].”
29 Vandu vala vevamkotekesayi na kumtova michapilu Pauli bahapo vakawuka. Hati mkulu yula akayogopa peamanyili kuvya Pauli mkolonjinji wa ku Loma na kuni amkungili minyololo.
The soldiers [were about to whip Paul and to ask him questions about what he had done. But when they heard what Paul said, they] left him immediately. The commander also became afraid, because he realized that Paul was a Roman [citizen] and that he had [illegally commanded soldiers to] tie up Paul’s [hands].
30 Chilau yaki mkulu wa msambi wa manjolinjoli aganili kumanya matakilu ga Vayawudi gevamtakili Pauli. Ndi amuwopwili minyololo na akalagiza vamteta vakulu va Chapanga na vagogo va libanji loha vakonganeka. Kangi amletili Pauli na kumyimika palongolo yavi.
[The commander still] wanted to know exactly why the Jews were accusing Paul. So the next day he [told the soldiers to] take the chains off Paul. He also summoned the chief priests and the [other Jewish] Council [members]. Then he took Paul [to where the Council was meeting] and [commanded] him to stand before them.
