Asomafo 22
1 “Anuanom ne agyanom, muntie mʼanoyi yi.”
Brethren and fathers! Hear ye, the defence, which I now make unto you: —
2 Wɔtee sɛ ɔka Arameike no, wɔyɛɛ komm koraa. Paulo toaa so se,
And, when they heard that, in the Hebrew language, he had begun to address them, they kept the more quiet. And he saith—
3 “Meyɛ Yudani a wɔwoo me wɔ Tarso a ɛwɔ Kilikia. Wɔtetew me wɔ Yerusalem wɔ Gamaliel nan ase. Misuaa sɛnea wodi Yudafo mmara ne wɔn amanne so pɛpɛɛpɛ. Mebɔɔ mmɔden sɛ biribiara a meyɛ no, mede bɛhyɛ Onyankopɔn anuonyam sɛnea mo nyinaa nso reyɛ nnɛ yi.
I, am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but nurtured in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, —trained after the strictness of our ancestral law; being jealous for God just as, all ye, are this day;
4 Metaa nnipa a wodi Awurade asɛm so no nyinaa kunkum wɔn. Mekyeree mmea ne mmarima de wɔn guu afiase.
and, this way, I persecuted unto the death, binding and delivering up into prisons both men and women: —
5 Ɔsɔfopanyin ne agyinatufo no nyinaa di me adanse sɛ, asɛm a mereka yi yɛ nokware. Wɔn nkyɛn mpo na migyee tumi nhoma sɛ mede rekɔma anuanom Yudafo a wɔwɔ Damasko no. Saa nhoma no na anka megyina so makyekyere nnipa a wodi Awurade asɛm so no agu wɔn nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn, de wɔn aba Yerusalem na wɔatwe wɔn aso.
as, even the High-priest, beareth me witness, and all the Eldership, —from whom, letters also, accepting to the brethren, unto Damascus, was I journeying, to bring them who were there bound unto Jerusalem, that they might be punished.
6 “Owigyinae a mereyɛ adu Damasko no, mpofirim na hann bi twa faa me ho.
But it befell me, as I was journeying and drawing nigh unto Damascus, that, about mid-day—suddenly—out of heaven, there flashed a great light all around me;
7 Mitwa hwee fam, na metee nne bi a ɛrebisa me se, ‘Saulo! Saulo! Adɛn nti na wotaa me?’
I fell also to the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me—Saul! Saul! Why, me, art thou persecuting?
8 “Mibisae se, ‘Ɛyɛ wo hena, Awurade?’ “Nne no buaa me se, ‘Ɛyɛ me Nasareni Yesu a wotaa me no.’
And, I, answered—Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me—I, am Jesus the Nazarene, whom, thou, art persecuting!
9 Nnipa a na wɔne me nam no huu hann no de, nanso wɔante nne a ɛkasa kyerɛɛ me no.
Now, they who were with me, beheld, indeed, the light, but heard not, the voice, of him that was speaking with me
10 “Mibisae se, ‘Dɛn na menyɛ, Awurade?’ “Awurade ka kyerɛɛ me se, ‘Sɔre na kɔ Damasko, na hɔ na mɛkyerɛ wo biribiara a mepɛ sɛ woyɛ.’
And said—What shall I do, Lord? And, the Lord, said unto me—Arise, and be going thy way into Damascus, and, there, shall it be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11 Hann no hyerɛn ano den no maa mʼani furae enti nnipa a na me ne wɔn rekɔ no susoo me nsa de me kɔɔ Damasko.
But, as I could not see clearly owing to the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 “Na Onipa bi a wɔfrɛ no Anania a odi Mose mmara so a na Yudafo nyinaa di no ni no te Damasko hɔ.
And, one Ananias, a man devout according to the law, well-attested by all the Jews that dwelt there,
13 Ɔbaa me nkyɛn bɛkae se, ‘Onua Saulo, hu ade bio!’” Na hɔ ara mʼani buei.
coming unto me, and standing over me, said—Saul, brother! look up. And, I, in that very hour, looked up on him.
14 “Ɔka kyerɛɛ me se, ‘Yɛn nenanom Nyankopɔn ayi wo sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a wobɛyɛ nʼapɛde na woahu ɔtreneeni no, na wobɛte nʼankasa ne nne sɛ ɛkasa kyerɛ wo.
And he said—The God of our fathers, hath chosen thee to get to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, —and to hear a voice out of his mouth.
15 Wubedi adanse afa biribiara a woahu na woate wɔ Awurade ho no akyerɛ nnipa nyinaa.
Because thou shalt be a witness to him unto all men, of the things which thou hast seen and heard.
16 Afei, dɛn na woretwɛn bio? Sɔre na ma wɔmmɔ wo asu nhohoro wo bɔne wɔ Yesu din mu.’
And, now, what art thou going to do? Arise, and get thyself immersed, and have thy sins bathed away, calling upon his name.
17 “Mesan kɔɔ Yerusalem na merebɔ mpae wɔ asɔredan mu no,
And it came to pass, when had returned unto Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, that I came to be in a trance,
18 mihuu Awurade wɔ anisoadehu mu na ɔka kyerɛɛ me se, ‘Yɛ ntɛm fi Yerusalem ha, efisɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ ha no rentie adanse a wudi fa me ho no.’
and saw him, saying unto me—Haste thee, and go forth speedily out of Jerusalem, inasmuch as they will not accept thy witness concerning me.
19 “Mekae se, ‘Awurade, wɔn nyinaa nim pefee sɛ mekɔɔ hyiadan mu kɔkyekyeree asuafo boroo wɔn.
And, I, said—Lord! they themselves, well know that I was imprisoning and beating in every synagogue them who were believing on thee.
20 Saa ara na bere a wokum wo dansefo Stefano no, na mewɔ hɔ bi. Mepenee ne kum no so, hwɛɛ awudifo no ntama so.’
And, when the blood of Stephen thy witness was being shed, even I myself, was standing by, and approving, and guarding the mantles of them who were slaying him.
21 “Awurade ka kyerɛɛ me se, ‘Sɔre na kɔ, efisɛ mɛsoma wo akɔ akyirikyiri, amanamanmufo nkyɛn!’”
And he said unto me—Be taking thy journey; because, I, unto nations afar off, will send thee.
22 Bere a Paulo kae se wɔasoma no amanamanmufo nkyɛn pɛ na dɔm no fii ase teɛteɛɛ mu dennen se, “Munkum no! Ɔmfata sɛ ɔtena wiase!”
And they hearkened unto him as far as this word, and lifted up their voice, saying—Away from the earth, with such a man as this, for it is not fit that he should live.
23 Nnipa no kɔɔ so teɛteɛɛ mu, hugyaa wɔn ntama saw mfutuma tow petee wim.
Now, as they were both making an outcry and tearing their mantles, —dust, also were throwing into the air,
24 Roma sahene no hyɛɛ sɛ wɔmfa Paulo nkɔ aban mu nkɔbɔ no mmaa sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a ɔbɛka nea enti a nnipa no nyinaa mpɛ sɛ wotie nʼasɛm no.
the captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, saying, that, with scourging, he should be put to the test, —that he might find out, for what cause they were, thus, clamouring against him.
25 Bere a wɔkyekyeree no wiee a wɔrebɛbɔ no mmaa no, Paulo bisaa ɔsraani panyin a na ogyina hɔ no se, “Mowɔ ho kwan sɛ mobɔ Romani a wonnii nʼasɛm mmuu no fɔ no mmaa ana?”
But, when they had stretched him out with straps, Paul said unto the by-standing centurion—A Roman, and uncondemned, is it allowed you to be scourging?
26 Bere a ɔsraani panyin no tee saa asɛm no, ɔkɔɔ ɔsahene no nkyɛn kobisaa no se, “Dɛn na wopɛ sɛ woyɛ yi? Onipa no yɛ Romani!”
And, when the centurion heard [that], he went unto the captain, and reported, saying—What art thou going to do? For, this man, is, a Roman?
27 Afei ɔsahene no kɔɔ Paulo nkyɛn kobisaa no se, “Woyɛ Romani ana?” Paulo buaa no se, “Yiw meyɛ Romani.”
And the captain, coming up, said to him—Tell me! Art, thou, a, Roman? And, he, said—Yea!
28 Ɔsahene no kae se, “Mituaa sika bebree na mede tɔɔ me Roma maniyɛ.” Paulo nso kae se, “Me de, wɔwoo me sɛ Romani.”
And the captain answered—I, for a large sum, this citizenship acquired! And, Paul, said—But, I, am even, [free-] born!
29 Ntɛm ara, nnipa a na wɔrebebisa Paulo nsɛm no twee wɔn ho fii ne nkyɛn. Ɔsafohene no tee sɛ Paulo yɛ Romani no, osuroe sɛ wama wɔagu Paulo nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn.
Straightway, therefore, they who were about to put him to the test, withdrew from him; and, even the captain, was struck with fear, when he found out he was, a Roman, and because, him, he had bound.
30 Esiane sɛ na ɔsafohene no pɛ sɛ ohu nea enti a Yudafo no asɔre atia Paulo no nti, ade kyee no, ɔhyɛ ma woyii Paulo fii nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn mu. Ɔmaa asɔfo mpanyin ne agyinatufo no nyinaa hyiae. Afei ɔde Paulo kɔɔ se wɔnhwehwɛ nʼasɛm no mu.
But, on the morrow, being minded to get to know the certainty as to why he was being accused by the Jews, he released him, and ordered the High-priests and all the High-council to come together; and, bringing down Paul, set him before them.
