Matendu 19
1 Shipindi Apolu pakaweriti Korintu, Paulu kagenditi mwanja seemu za bala, kaziti Efesu kweni kawoniti wafundwa wamu.
Kwasekusithi, uApolosi eseseKorinte, uPawuli wafika eEfesu esedabule indawo eziphakemeyo; wasefica abafundi abathile
2 Kakosiiti, “hashi, pampatiti kuwera wajimira myangiti Rohu. Mnanagala?” Nawomberi wamwankula, “Ndala! Hatweni pikanira handa kwana Rohu Mnanagala.”
wathi kubo: Lamemukela yini uMoya oNgcwele mhla likholwayo? Basebesithi kuye: Kodwa kasizanga sizwe ngitsho ukuthi kukhona uMoya oNgcwele.
3 Nayomberi katakula, “Vinu mpatiti ubatizu wa ntambu gaa?” Wamwankula, “ubatizu wa Yohani.”
Wasesithi kubo: Pho labhabhathizelwa kukuphi? Basebesithi: Kubhabhathizo lukaJohane.
4 Nayomberi Paulu katakula, “ubatizu wa Yohani uweriti wa kulanguziya handa wantu waleka vidoda. Yohani kawagambiriti wantu wamjimiri ulii yomberi yakaweriti kakwiza pa yomberi, yaani Yesu.”
Kodwa uPawuli wathi: UJohane isibili wabhabhathiza ubhabhathizo lokuphenduka, etshela abantu ukuze bakholwe kulowo oweza emva kwakhe, okuyikuthi, kuKristu Jesu.
5 Pa kupikinira aga, wabatiziti kwa litawu lya Mtuwa Yesu.
Lalabo abezwayo babhabhathizwa ebizweni leNkosi uJesu.
6 Su, Paulu kawatulira mawoku, na Rohu Mnanagala kawasulukira. Wanja kutakula likabila luhenga na kubwera ujumbi wa Mlungu.
Wathi uPawuli esebeke izandla phezu kwabo, uMoya oyiNgcwele weza phezu kwabo; basebekhuluma ngendimi, baprofetha.
7 Woseri waweriti wantu lilongu na wawili.
Njalo wonke amadoda ayengaba litshumi lambili.
8 Kwa shipindi sha myezi mitatu Paulu kaweriti kankugenda munumba za Mlungu, kawera na matakuliranu ga kukwegiziya nentu kuusu ufalumi wa Mlungu.
Wasengena esinagogeni wakhuluma ngesibindi, inyanga ezintathu etshumayela eqinisekisa izinto ngombuso kaNkulunkulu.
9 Kumbiti wamonga waweriti wakakatala, walema kujimira, wanja kuyowera vidoda kuusu njira ayi ya Mtuwa mulijojiniku lya wantu. Panu Paulu kaulekiti uganja nawomberi, kawatola pambwega wafundwa wakuwi walii, kaweriti kankuyowera nawomberi kila lishaka panumba ya masomu ga Tiranu.
Kodwa kwathi abanye besiba lukhuni bengakholwa, bekhuluma kubi ngaleyondlela phambi kwabantu, wasuka kubo wehlukanisa abafundi, insuku ngensuku etshumayela esikolo sothile uTiranu.
10 Kendereyiti kutenda hangu kwa shipindi sha vinja viwili ata wanalushi woseri wa Asiya, Wayawudi na wantu wa maisi gamonga, waweza kupikinira shisoweru sha Mtuwa.
Lalokhu kwenzeka okweminyaka emibili, baze balizwa ilizwi leNkosi uJesu bonke abakhileyo eAsiya, amaJuda kanye lamaGriki.
11 Mlungu katenditi mauzauza ga kulikangasha kwa mawoku ga Paulu.
UNkulunkulu wasesenza imisebenzi yamandla engejwayelekanga ngezandla zikaPawuli,
12 Wantu waweriti wankutola shitambala na nguwu zimonga zya lihengu zyeni Paulu kaweriti kankuvala, wazijegiti kwa walweli, nawomberi waponiziwa malweri gawu na walii wawaweriti na washamshera wadoda walawa.
kwaze kwathi lakwabagulayo kwasiwa izifinyo kumbe amafasikoti okuvela emzimbeni wakhe, lezifo zasuka kubo, labomoya ababi baphuma kubo.
13 Wayawudi wamu yawawusiya wamshera wadoda. Wagenditi mwanja aku na aku wankujera kulitumiya litawu lya Mtuwa Yesu mweni Paulu kankumbwera.
Kwathi abanye kumihambuma yamaJuda, izanuse, bazama ukubiza ibizo leNkosi uJesu kulabo ababelabomoya ababi, besithi: Siyalifungisa ngoJesu amtshumayelayo uPawuli.
14 Wana saba wa Sikewa na Mtambika Mkulu wa Shiyawudi, woseri watenditi hangu.
Njalo kwakukhona amadodana ayisikhombisa athile kaSikeva umJuda umpristi omkhulu akwenzayo lokho.
15 Kumbiti shamshera kadoda kawankula, “Nummana Yesu, nummana viraa Paulu, kumbiti mwenga mwa gaa?”
Kodwa umoya omubi waphendula wathi: UJesu ngiyamazi, loPawuli ngiyazi ngaye; kodwa lina lingobani?
16 Shakapanu muntu ulii yakalendemeriti kawakopokera woseri kwa likakala, kawakanka likakala. Na wana awa wa Skewa watuga kulawa mnumba mlii pawawera shivula na kuwera na vironda.
Lowomuntu okwakukuye umoya omubi waseseqela phezu kwabo, njalo wabehlula, wabanqoba, baze babaleka kuleyondlu benqunu belimele.
17 Kila muntu Efesu aku, Myawudi na muntu yakawera ndiri Myawudi, kapikaniriti kuusu shitwatira ashi. Woseri waweriti na lyoga, walikwisa litawu lya Mtuwa Yesu.
Lokhu kwasekusaziwa yibo bonke abakhileyo eEfesu amaJuda kanye lamaGriki; lokwesaba kwasekubehlela bonke; njalo lakhuliswa ibizo leNkosi uJesu.
18 Wawumini watangala walawiriti wajimira paweru vitwatira avi vyawaweriti watenda.
Labanengi balabo abakholwayo beza, bevuma, bememezela izenzo zabo.
19 Wamonga waweriti wankutenda vitwatira vya uhawi shipindi shipititi, wajojiniriti vintola vyawu, wavilunguziya paulongolu pa woseri. Wakisiyiti galama ya vintola avi, wawona ifikira vipandi vya shuma malongu mhanu elufu.
Labanengi balabo ababesenza amasalamusi baletha ingwalo ndawonye bazitshisa phambi kwabo bonke; basebebala intengo yazo, bathola izinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amahlanu zesiliva.
20 Toziya ayi, shisoweru sha Mtuwa shendereya kweneya na shiwera na likakala nentu.
Ngokunjalo ilizwi leNkosi lakhula ngamandla lanqoba.
21 Pa vitwatira avi, Paulu kaamuiti kugenda Yerusalemu kwa kupitila Makedoniya na Akaya katakuliti, “Pa kusoka aku, infiruwa kuiwona Rumi viraa.”
Kwathi lezizinto seziphelile, uPawuli wazimisela emoyeni, esedabule eMakedoniya leAkaya, ukuya eJerusalema, esithi: Emva kokuba kwami lapho, ngimele ukubona iRoma layo.
22 Avi, kawatumiti wawili wa ntumintumi wakuwi, Timotewu na Erastu walonguleri genda Makedoniya, yomberi kalikaliti kwa katepu aku Asiya.
Esethume eMakedoniya ababili balabo ababemsiza, uTimothi loErastu, yena wahlala eAsiya okwesikhathi.
23 Shipindi ashi ndo pailawiriti ndewu nkulu aku Efesu toziya ya njira ayi ya Mtuwa.
Kodwa ngalesosikhathi kwasuka isiphithiphithi esingesincinyane mayelana laleyondlela.
24 Kuweriti na munyawa shuma yumu wamshema Demetiriu, yomberi kaweriti na lihengu lya kunyawa vinyagu vya numba ya mlungu gwa shidala yawamshema Aritemi. Lihengu ali liwayupiti wanyawa wakuwi mota ngulu.
Ngoba umuntu othile onguDemetriyu ngebizo, umkhandi wesiliva, owenza amathempelana esiliva kaDiyana, waletha kuzingcwethi inzuzo engencinyane;
25 Demetiriu kawajojiniriti pamwera watenda lihengu awa pamwera na wamonga wawaweriti na lihengu handa ali, kawagambira, “Wanalushi, muvimana handa shipatu shangu shilawirana na biyashala ayi.
owabaqoqayo bona, lezisebenzi zezinto ezifananayo, wathi: Madoda, liyazi ukuthi inotho yethu ivela kulumsebenzi.
26 Vinu, muweza kupikinira na kuliwonera maweni vitwatira avi Paulu kankuvitenda, panu Efesu hera ndiri, ira viraa koseri Muasiya. Yomberi kawashawishi na kuwagalambula wantu wajumiri handa wamilungu walii yawanyawitwi na wantu milungu ndiri ata shididini.
Njalo liyabona liyezwa ukuthi kungeyisikho eEfesu kuphela, kodwa phose kulo lonke iAsiya, uPawuli lo uncengile njalo uphambule ixuku elikhulu, esithi kayisibo onkulunkulu abenziwe ngezandla.
27 Su iwezekana kuwera biyashara yetu iweri na litawu lidoda. Hangu hera ndiri, kumbiti shitwatira ashi shiweza kuitenda numba ya mlungu Aritemi iweri shintu ndiri sha mana. Shakapanu nzyumi zakuwi ayu Asiya na pasipanu poseri ntambu yawamguwira, Hayiperi.”
Njalo kayisikho lokhu kuphela ukuthi sisengozini yokuthi lolugatsha lomsebenzi lufike ekutheni lungahlonitshwa, kodwa lethempeli likankulunkulukazi omkhulu uDiyana lizathiwa liyinto engesilutho, njalo lobukhulukazi bakhe buzakwehliswa, elimkhonzayo yonke iAsiya lomhlaba wonke.
28 Pawapikiniriti aga, waweriti na maya, wayanja kubotanga umatu, “Mkulu ndo Aritemi gwa Efesu!”
Kwathi bekuzwa bagcwala intukuthelo, bamemeza besithi: Mkhulu uDiyana wamaEfesu!
29 Kaya yoseri imema fuju. Wawavamiya Gayu na Alisitariku, wenikaya wa Makedoniya, weni waweriti wanamwanja wayaguwi Paulu, watuga nawomberi mpaka kumdamu gwa madingu.
Njalo umuzi wonke wagcwala isiphithiphithi; basebetheleka kanyekanye endaweni yokudlalela, bahudula uGayusi loAristako amaMakedoniya, abaphelekezeli bakaPawuli.
30 Paulu mweni kafiriti kushigendera shipinga sha wantu awa, kumbiti waumini walii wamleweleriti.
Kwathi uPawuli efuna ukungena exukwini, abafundi kabamvumelanga.
31 Wakulu wa sirikali wamonga wa aku kumkoa wa Asiya, wawaweriti maganja wakuwi, wamjegiriti Paulu ujumbi wankumluwa nakalitula muatali kwa kugenda kweni kumdamu gwa madingu.
Njalo labanye bababusi beAsiya, ababengabangane bakhe, bathuma kuye, bemncenga ukuthi angazinikeli endaweni yokudlalela.
32 Shipindi shilii, wantu wamu waweriti pawabota hangu na wamonga vilii. Wantu wavuwa wavimaniti ndiri iwera ashi wawera aku.
Ngakho abanye bamemeza okunye labanye okunye; ngoba umhlangano wawusanganisekile, njalo inengi labo lalingazi ukuthi libuthene lapho ngenxa yani.
33 Toziya Wayawudi wamtenda Alekizanda kalawiri kulongolu, wamu wa wantu mushipinga shilii walisheriti kuwera ndo mweni. Su, Alekizanda kawapungiriti wantu kwa liwoku pakafira kujiteteya paulongolu pa shipinga sha wantu walii.
Basebemusa phambili uAleksandro esuka exukwini, ngoba amaJuda amqhubela phambili. UAleksandro waseqhweba ngesandla, efuna ukuzivikela ebantwini.
34 Kumbiti pawavimaniti weri yomberi ndo Myawudi, woseri kwa liziwu limu washowangana, “Mkulu ndo Aritemi gwa Efesu!” Wendereya kushowangana showangana hangu kwa shipindi sha masaa mawili.
Kodwa bathi sebekwazi ukuthi ungumJuda, kwaba lelizwi elilodwa livela kubo bonke okungaba ngamahola amabili limemeza lisithi: Mkhulu uDiyana wamaEfesu!
35 Upeleru kalani gwa lushi kafawuliti kuwanyamaziya, kawagambira, “Wanalushi wa Efesu, kila muntu kavimana handa kaya ayi ya Efesu ndo mlolera gwa numba ya mlungu gwa shidala Aritemi na mlolera gwa shinyagu shilii shashiguwiti kulawa kumpindi.
Njalo kwathi umabhalane eselithulisile ixuku wathi: Madoda eEfesu, kanti kukhona yini umuntu ongaziyo ukuthi umuzi weEfesu ungumlondolozi wethempeli likankulunkulukazi omkhulu uDiyana lowento eyawa ivela kuZewusi?
36 Kwahera yakaweza kulema shitwatira ashi. Hangu su, munyamali, namtenda shoseri pota hepera.
Ngakho njengoba lezizinto zingephikwe, kufanele lithule, lingenzi lutho ngamawala.
37 Muwashema wantu awa panu tembera wayigilanga ndiri numba ya mlungu ama kumwigilanga mlungu gwetu gwa shidala.
Ngoba lilethe lamadoda, angeyisibo abaphangi bamathempeli langahlambazi unkulunkulukazi wenu.
38 Handa, Demetiriu na watenda lihengu wayaguwi wawera na masitaka gawu kuusu wantu awa, pana mahakama na wakulu wa mikoni, waweza kusitakiana aku.
Ngakho uba uDemetriyu lezingcwethi kanye laye belodaba ngomuntu, amalanga okuthonisa amacala ayagcinwa, bakhona lababusi; kabamangalelane.
39 Handa pamuwera na visoweru vyamonga, vyaviwagaziya, muvijegi pashiyotera motu yapafiruwa.
Kodwa uba lidinga ulutho ngezinye izinto, kuzalungiswa emhlanganweni osemthethweni.
40 Toziya tuweza kusitakiwa kwa kujega ndewu kulawirana na vituku vya lelu. Ndewu ayi kwahera toziya ya nakaka na metusindi kulaviya toziya za nyanyi za ndewu ayi.”
Ngoba futhi sisengozini yokumangalelwa ngomvukela ngenxa yalamuhla, kungelambangela esingalandisa ngayo ngalesisiphithiphithi.
41 Pakatakuliti aga, kakumaliriti kuliwona.
Njalo esetshilo lokho, wawuchitha umhlangano.
