Matendu 26
1 Hinu Agilipa akamjovela Pauli, “Wihotola kujova malovi ga kujikengelela.” Ndi Pauli akakwesa chiwoko na kutumbula kujova.
And, Agrippa, to Paul, said—It is permitted thee, on thine own behalf, to be speaking. Then Paul, stretching forth his hand, went on to make his defence.
2 “Nkosi Agilipa, lelu niheka neju, kujikengelela palongolo yaku ndava ya mambu goha gevanitakili Vayawudi.
Concerning all things of which I am accused by Jews, King Agrippa, I have been counting myself happy, that, before thee, am I about, this day, to be making my defence;
3 Neju ndava wamwene wimanya bwina mivelu ya Vayawudi na muhutanu wavi, nikuyupa uniyuwanila bwina.”
especially, as thou art, well-versed, in all the Jewish customs and questions. Wherefore, I beseech thee, patiently, to hear me.
4 “Vayawudi voha vamanyili wumi wangu kutumbula uwana wangu, chenitamili kutumbula kadeni pamulima wangu ndi mewa ku Yelusalemu.
My manner of life, then, from my youth, which, from its commencement, was formed among my nation, even in Jerusalem, know all Jews,
5 Vanimanyili mu magono gamahele na vihotola kujova ndava yangu ngati vigana, kuvya kutumbula kadeni navili mmonga pagati ya chikundi cha Vafalisayu chechikangamalisa neju kulanda mvelu wa njila ya kumuyupa Chapanga yitu.
inasmuch as they were aforetime observing me, from the outset, —if they please to bear witness, —that, according to the strictest sect of our own religion, I lived, a Pharisee.
6 Na hinu nivii palongolo yaku nihamuliwa ndava nisadika lilaganu lila Chapanga avalagazili vagogo vitu.
And, now, for the hope of the promise, unto our fathers, being brought to pass by God, am I standing to be judged, —
7 Malaganu gene ndi galagala gegihuvalila na makabila kumi na gavili ga vandu vitu, vakumhengela Chapanga muhi na kilu. Mtopeswa nkosi, Vayawudi vakunitakila ndava ya sadika yeniyo!
unto which [hope], our twelve-tribed nation, with intensity, night and day, rendering divine service, is hoping to attain—concerning which hope, I am being accused by Jews, O King!
8 Ndava kyani nyenye mwivya na mtahu kusadika kuvya Chapanga akuvayukisa vevafwili?
What! incredible, is it judged with you, that, God the dead doth raise?
9 Chakaka namwene naholalili kuvya yikunigana kuhenga mambu kubela uhotola wa Yesu wa ku Nazaleti.
I, therefore, imagined to myself, that, against the name of Jesus the Nazarene, it was needful, many hostile things, to bring about, —
10 Mambu genakitili ku Yelusalemu, napatili uhotola kuhuma kwa vakulu va kuteta va Chapanga, navasopili muchifungu vandu vamahele vevakumganisa Chapanga, ndi pavahukumiwi kukomiwa, nayidakili kuvya vakomiwa.
which also I did in Jerusalem, yea and, many of the saints, I myself, in prisons, shut up, —the authority, from the High-priests, having received: and, when they were to be put to death, I brought against them my vote;
11 Pamahele navalipisi munyumba za kukonganekela Vayawudi zoha, navajovili kwa makakala vayibela sadika yavi. Namemili ligoga ndava yavi hati navahakili mbaka mumiji ya kutali.”
and, throughout all the synagogues, ofttimes punishing them, I would fain have compelled them to defame; and, being excessively maddened against them, I went on to pursue them as far as even the outlying cities.
12 “Kwa lihengu lenilo, nahambili kumuji wa Damasko kwa uhotola na malagizu ga vamteta va vakulu va Chapanga.
Among which things, being on a journey unto Damascus, with the authority and commission of the High-priests,
13 Mtopeswa Nkosi, lukumbi nivii munjila, muhi wa saa sita nauwene lumuli luvaha kuliku wa lilanga utilangasa kuhuma kunani kwa Chapanga, wanitidili nene pamonga na vamulugendu vayangu.
at mid-day, on the road, I saw, O King, from heaven, above the splendour of the sun, shining around me, a light, and [around] them who, with me, were journeying;
14 Tavoha tete tagwili pahi, ndi nayuwini lwami lukunijovela kwa luga ya Chiebulania, ‘Sauli, Sauli! Ndava kyani ukuning'aha? Ukujilemasa waka ngati ng'ombi yeyitakula ndonga ya bambu waki.’
and, when we were all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice, saying unto me, in the Hebrew language—Saul! Saul! why, me, art thou persecuting? It is hard for thee, against goads, to be kicking!
15 Ndi nene namkotili, ‘Veve wayani Bambu?’ Bambu akayangula, ‘Nene ndi Yesu mweukuning'aha.
And, I, said—Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said—I, am Jesus, whom, thou, art persecuting!
16 Nambu hinu yimuka, uyimayi. Nikuhumalili muni nikuvika kuvya mtangatila wangu. Ukavajovela vandu vangi mambu geugaweni lelu na gala genivii nakona kukulangisa.
But rise and stand upon thy feet; for, to this end, have I appeared unto thee, —To appoint thee an attendant and a witness, both of the things as to which thou hast seen me, and of those as to which I will appear unto thee:
17 Yati nikusangula kuhuma kwa vandu va Isilaeli na vandu vangali Vayawudi, ndi nene kwenikutuma kwavi.
Rescuing thee from among the people, and from among the nations, unto whom, I, am sending thee—
18 Yati ukugagubukula mihu gavi muni uvang'anamusa vahuma muchitita na kuyingila mu lumuli, vahuma muulongosi wa Setani, vamuwuyila Chapanga, muni kunisadika nene valekekeswa gevamubudili Chapanga muni vatola uhali pamonga na vandu vevahaguliwi na Chapanga.’”
To open their eyes; that they turn from darkness unto light, and the authority of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance among them who have been made holy by the faith respecting me.
19 “Ndi, Nkosi Agilipa, nabelili lepi maono ago ga kunani kwa Chapanga.
Wherefore, O King Agrippa, —I became not disobedient unto the heavenly vision;
20 Hinu natumbwili hoti kuvakokosela vandu va ku Damasko, kangi kwa vandu va ku Yelusalemu na mulima woha wa ku Yudea mewawa kwa vandu vangali Vayawudi. Navakokosili vamuwuyila Chapanga kwa kulangisa mumatendu kuvya vang'anamwiki.
But—both to them in Damascus, first, and in Jerusalem, unto all the country of Judaea also, and unto the nations, I carried tidings—that they should repent, and turn unto God, and, works worthy of their repentance, should practise.
21 Ndava ya genago Vayawudi vanikamwili Munyumba ya Chapanga, vakalinga kunikoma.
Because of these things, Jews seized me in the temple, and were attempting to slay me with their own hands.
22 Nambu kwa ulonda wa Chapanga nakona muni hati lelu, nikuvajovela vadebe na vavaha. Nidandaula galagala vamlota va Chapanga na Musa vajovili yati gihumila,
So then, having met with, the help that is from God, until this day, do I stand, witnessing to both small and great, nothing else saying, than those things which both the prophets, and Moses, did say should certainly come to pass: —
23 kuvya yamganili Kilisitu kung'aiswa na mutumbula kuyuka, muni akokosayi kuvya lumuli lwa usangula lukuvalangasa vandu voha, Vayawudi na vandu vangali Vayawudi.”
If, to suffer, the Christ was destined, if, the first of a resurrection of the dead, he is about to carry tidings, of light, both unto the people, and unto the nations.
24 Pauli peajikengelelayi mu malovi ago, Festo akajova kwa lwami luvaha, “Pauli! Wipenga! Usomili neju ndi wipenga luhala.”
Now, as he was saying these things in his defence, Festus, with a loud voice, saith—Thou art raving, Paul! Thy great learning, is turning thee round unto, raving madness.
25 Nambu Pauli akajova, “Mtopeswa Festo, nipenga lepi mu malovi genijova ndi gachakaka na gana luhala.
But Paul—I am not raving (saith he), most noble Festus, —but, the declarations of truth and soberness, am I sounding forth:
26 Wamwene Nkosi, ukugamanya mambu aga, hinu nihotola kulongela kwa ukekesi palongolo yaku. Mambu genago gamanyikini kwaku muni lijambu ilo lahengiki lepi mumfiyu.
For well-knoweth, the king, concerning these things, unto whom, with boldness of utterance, am I speaking; for, that these things are not hidden from him, I am well persuaded, —for, not in a corner, hath this thing been done.
27 Nkosi Agilipa, wu, ukugasadika gegajoviwi na vamlota vakadeni va Chapanga? Nimanyili kuvya ukugasadika.”
Believest thou, King Agrippa, in the prophets? I know that thou believest!
28 Agilipa akamyangula Pauli, “Wihololela kuvya mu malovi gadebe wihotola kunikulukisa kuvya Mkilisitu?”
And, Agrippa, [said] unto Paul—Almost, art thou persuading, me, to become a, Christian!
29 Pauli akayangula, “Nikumuyupa Chapanga kuvya mulukumbi luhupi amala lutali lepi wamwene ndu, nambu voha vevakuniyuwanila lelu vahotola kuvya ngati chenivii nene, changali kukungwa minyololo.”
And, Paul, [answered] —I could pray unto God that, both almost and altogether, not only thou but all they who are hearing me this day, might become such, —as even, I, am, excepting these bonds.
30 Kangi Nkosi Agilipa, mkulu Festo na Belinike na vandu voha vevatamii pamonga nawu, vakayima.
And the king rose up, and the governor, Bernice also, and they who had been sitting with them;
31 Pevamali kuwuka ndi vajovisini, “Mundu mwenuyu ahengili lepi chindu chihakau hati kuganikiwa kukomiwa amala chifungu.”
And, retiring, they began conversing one with another, saying, Nothing worthy of death or of bonds, doth this man practise.
32 Agilipa akamjovela Festo “Mundu uyu ngaihotoliki kulekekeswa kuvyaa ayupili lepi uhamula kwa Nkosi wa ku Loma.”
And, Agrippa, unto Festus, said—This man might have been released, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
