Matendu 26
1 Hinu Agilipa akamjovela Pauli, “Wihotola kujova malovi ga kujikengelela.” Ndi Pauli akakwesa chiwoko na kutumbula kujova.
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Yoʋ have permission to speak for yoʋrself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and began to make his defense:
2 “Nkosi Agilipa, lelu niheka neju, kujikengelela palongolo yaku ndava ya mambu goha gevanitakili Vayawudi.
“I consider myself fortunate that it is before yoʋ, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense today concerning all the things of which I am being accused by the Jews,
3 Neju ndava wamwene wimanya bwina mivelu ya Vayawudi na muhutanu wavi, nikuyupa uniyuwanila bwina.”
especially since yoʋ are acquainted with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg yoʋ to listen to me patiently.
4 “Vayawudi voha vamanyili wumi wangu kutumbula uwana wangu, chenitamili kutumbula kadeni pamulima wangu ndi mewa ku Yelusalemu.
“All the Jews know about my manner of life from my youth up, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem.
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.
They have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.
6 Na hinu nivii palongolo yaku nihamuliwa ndava nisadika lilaganu lila Chapanga avalagazili vagogo vitu.
And now I am standing trial because of my hope in the promise God made to our fathers,
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!
a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve him night and day. Regarding this hope, King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews.
8 Ndava kyani nyenye mwivya na mtahu kusadika kuvya Chapanga akuvayukisa vevafwili?
Why is it deemed unbelievable by you that God raises the dead?
9 Chakaka namwene naholalili kuvya yikunigana kuhenga mambu kubela uhotola wa Yesu wa ku Nazaleti.
“Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
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.
And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. I locked up many of the saints in prison by the authority I received from the chief priests, and when they were being put to death, I cast my vote against them.
11 Pamahele navalipisi munyumba za kukonganekela Vayawudi zoha, navajovili kwa makakala vayibela sadika yavi. Namemili ligoga ndava yavi hati navahakili mbaka mumiji ya kutali.”
I also punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme. And being furiously enraged against them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.
12 “Kwa lihengu lenilo, nahambili kumuji wa Damasko kwa uhotola na malagizu ga vamteta va vakulu va Chapanga.
“While engaged in such things, I was on my way to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief 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.
when at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me.
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.’
When we had all fallen down to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are yoʋ persecuting me? It is hard for yoʋ to kick against the goads.’
15 Ndi nene namkotili, ‘Veve wayani Bambu?’ Bambu akayangula, ‘Nene ndi Yesu mweukuning'aha.
I said, ‘Who are yoʋ, Lord?’ He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom yoʋ are 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 on yoʋr feet, for I have appeared to yoʋ for this purpose, to appoint yoʋ as a servant and witness to the things yoʋ have seen and to the things in which I will appear to yoʋ.
17 Yati nikusangula kuhuma kwa vandu va Isilaeli na vandu vangali Vayawudi, ndi nene kwenikutuma kwavi.
I will rescue yoʋ from yoʋr own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending yoʋ
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 so that they may turn away from darkness to light, and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an allotment among those who have been sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “Ndi, Nkosi Agilipa, nabelili lepi maono ago ga kunani kwa Chapanga.
“Consequently, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to 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 first to those in Damascus and then to those in Jerusalem, to all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, doing works consistent with repentance.
21 Ndava ya genago Vayawudi vanikamwili Munyumba ya Chapanga, vakalinga kunikoma.
That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and were trying to kill me.
22 Nambu kwa ulonda wa Chapanga nakona muni hati lelu, nikuvajovela vadebe na vavaha. Nidandaula galagala vamlota va Chapanga na Musa vajovili yati gihumila,
But having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what the Prophets and Moses said would take place:
23 kuvya yamganili Kilisitu kung'aiswa na mutumbula kuyuka, muni akokosayi kuvya lumuli lwa usangula lukuvalangasa vandu voha, Vayawudi na vandu vangali Vayawudi.”
that the Christ would suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”
24 Pauli peajikengelelayi mu malovi ago, Festo akajova kwa lwami luvaha, “Pauli! Wipenga! Usomili neju ndi wipenga luhala.”
As Paul was saying these things in his own defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Yoʋ are out of yoʋr mind, Paul. Too much learning is driving yoʋ insane!”
25 Nambu Pauli akajova, “Mtopeswa Festo, nipenga lepi mu malovi genijova ndi gachakaka na gana luhala.
But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking words of truth and good sense.
26 Wamwene Nkosi, ukugamanya mambu aga, hinu nihotola kulongela kwa ukekesi palongolo yaku. Mambu genago gamanyikini kwaku muni lijambu ilo lahengiki lepi mumfiyu.
For the king knows about these things, to whom I am speaking boldly. I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice at all, for this has not been done in a corner.
27 Nkosi Agilipa, wu, ukugasadika gegajoviwi na vamlota vakadeni va Chapanga? Nimanyili kuvya ukugasadika.”
Do yoʋ believe the Prophets, King Agrippa? I know that yoʋ believe.”
28 Agilipa akamyangula Pauli, “Wihololela kuvya mu malovi gadebe wihotola kunikulukisa kuvya Mkilisitu?”
Agrippa said to Paul, “Do yoʋ think yoʋ can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”
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.”
Paul said, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only yoʋ but also all who are listening to me today would become as I am, except for these chains.”
30 Kangi Nkosi Agilipa, mkulu Festo na Belinike na vandu voha vevatamii pamonga nawu, vakayima.
After Paul said these things, the king stood up, along with the governor, Bernice, and those who were sitting with them.
31 Pevamali kuwuka ndi vajovisini, “Mundu mwenuyu ahengili lepi chindu chihakau hati kuganikiwa kukomiwa amala chifungu.”
After leaving the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is doing nothing that deserves death or imprisonment.”
32 Agilipa akamjovela Festo “Mundu uyu ngaihotoliki kulekekeswa kuvyaa ayupili lepi uhamula kwa Nkosi wa ku Loma.”
And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
