Asomafo 23
1 Paulo hwɛɛ agyinatufo no dinn kae se, “Anuanom, ahonim pa na mede ayɛ Onyankopɔn adwuma de abesi nnɛ da yi.”
Paul looked straight at the Jewish council members and said: “My fellow Jews, all my life I have lived respecting our God, and I do not know of anything that I have done that I knew was wrong/evil.”
2 Anania a na ɔyɛ Ɔsɔfopanyin no hyɛɛ nnipa a na wogyina Paulo ho no se wɔmmɔ nʼano so.
When Ananias the supreme priest [heard what Paul said], he commanded the men who were standing near Paul to hit him on the mouth.
3 Paulo ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Wo a wote sɛ ɔfasu a wɔasra ho fitaa, Onyankopɔn bɛbɔ wo. Wote ha de mmara rebu me atɛn, nanso wubu mmara no so hyɛ sɛ wɔmmɔ me!”
Then Paul said to Ananias, “God will punish you [(sg) for that], you hypocrite [MET]! You sit there and judge me, using the laws that [God gave Moses]. But you [yourself] disobey those laws, because you commanded me to be struck {[these men] to strike me} [without having proved that I have done anything that is wrong!]”
4 Nnipa a na wogyina Paulo nkyɛn no bisaa no se, “Sɛɛ na ɛsɛ sɛ wokasa kyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɔfopanyin?”
The men who were standing near Paul [rebuked him. They] said, “Are not you [(sg)] afraid to insult God’s [servant, our] supreme priest?”
5 Paulo buaa wɔn se, “Anuanom, minnim sɛ ɔyɛ Ɔsɔfopanyin. Kyerɛwsɛm no ka se, ‘Monnkasa ntia wɔn a wodi mo so.’”
Paul replied, “My fellow Jews, I [am sorry that I said that]. I did not know that the man [who told one of you to hit me] is the high priest. [If I had known that, I would not have insulted our supreme priest], because I [know that] it is written {[that Moses] wrote} [in our Jewish law], ‘Do not speak evil of any of your rulers!’”
6 Bere a Paulo huu sɛ nnipa no bi yɛ Sadukifo na bi yɛ Farisifo no, ɔteɛɛ mu wɔ agyinatufo no anim se, “Me nuanom, meyɛ Farisini. Mʼawofo yɛ Farisifo. Gyidi a mewɔ wɔ awufosɔre mu no nti na migyina ha ama wɔredi mʼasɛm yi.”
Paul realized that some of the [Council members] were Sadducees and others were Pharisees. So, [in order to cause the Pharisees and Sadducees to argue among themselves instead of accusing him], he called out loudly in the Council [hall], “My fellow Jews, I am a Pharisee, like my father was. I have been put {[You] have put me} on trial [here] because I confidently expect that [some day God] will (cause people who have died to become alive again/raise people from the dead).”
7 Asɛm a Paulo kae yi maa ntawntaw sii Farisifo ne Sadukifo no ntam maa wɔn mu kyɛɛ abien
When he said that, the Pharisees and Sadducees started to argue with one another [about whether people who have died will become alive again or not].
8 efisɛ na Sadukifo no nnye owusɔre, abɔfo ne honhom nni. Nanso Farisifo no de, wogye saa nneɛma abiɛsa no di.
The Sadducees believe that after people die, they will not become alive again. They also believe that there are no angels and no [other kinds of] spirits. But the Pharisees believe [that all people who have died will one day become alive again. They also believe] that there are [angels and other kinds of spirits].
9 Nteɛteɛmu no kɔɔ so kosii sɛ Kyerɛwsɛm no akyerɛkyerɛfo no mu bi a wɔyɛ Farisifo no sɔre gyinaa hɔ kae se, “Yenhu bɔne biara a saa onipa yi ayɛ! Ebia honhom anaa ɔbɔfo na ɔkasa kyerɛɛ no!”
So the Council members (were divided/did not agree with each other), and they began shouting at one another [as they argued]. Some of the teachers of the laws that [God gave Moses] who were Pharisees stood up. One of them said, “We [(exc)] think that this man has done nothing wrong.” Another said, “Maybe an angel or some [other] spirit [really] spoke to him [and what he says is true].”
10 Akasakasa no mu yɛɛ den maa ɔsafohene no suroo sɛ anhwɛ a wɔbɛtetew Paulo mu; ɛno nti ɔhyɛɛ nʼasraafo sɛ, wɔnkɔ nnipa no mu na wonkogye Paulo mfi wɔn nsam mfa no nkɔ aban mu.
Then the [Pharisees and Sadducees] argued even more loudly [with one another]. As a result, the commander (was afraid/thought) that they would tear Paul to pieces. So he [commanded] soldiers to go down [from the barracks] and forcefully take Paul away from the Council members and bring him up into the barracks. [So the soldiers did that].
11 Anadwo no, Awurade begyinaa Paulo nkyɛn ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Nsuro! Sɛnea woadi me ho adanse wɔ Yerusalem ha no, saa ara nso na kodi me ho adanse wɔ Roma.”
That night, [in a vision Paul saw] the Lord [Jesus come and] stand near him. The Lord said [to him], “Be courageous! You [(sg)] have told people [here] in Jerusalem about me, and you must tell people in Rome [about me], too.”
12 Ade kyee no, Yudafo bi hyia kaa ntam, dii nsew sɛ wɔrennidi na wɔrennom nso kosi sɛ wobekum Paulo.
The next morning [some] of the Jews [MTY] [who hated Paul] met secretly and talked [about how they could kill him]. They promised [themselves] that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed him. They asked God to curse them [if they did not do what they promised].
13 Na saa nnipa no dodow bɛboro aduanan.
There were more than 40 men who planned to do that.
14 Afei wɔkɔɔ asɔfo mpanyin ne mpanyin no nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Yɛaka ntam adi nsew sɛ hwee renka yɛn ano kosi sɛ yebekum Paulo.
They went to the chief priests and [Jewish] elders and told them, “God has heard us promise/vow that we [(exc)] will not eat [or drink] anything until we [(exc)] have killed Paul.
15 Mo ne agyinatufo no nsoma nkɔ Roma ɔsafohene no nkyɛn nhyɛ da nka se, mopɛ sɛ mubisa nea Paulo ayɛ no mu yiye enti ɔmma wɔmfa no mmra mo anim. Ansa na wɔde no bedu hɔ no na yɛakum no dedaw.”
So [we request that] you go to the commander and ask him, on behalf of the whole Jewish Council, to bring Paul down to us [from the barracks]. Tell the commander that you want to question Paul some more. But we [(exc)] will be waiting to kill Paul while he is on the way here.”
16 Nanso Paulo wɔfaase bi tee pɔw a wɔabɔ no nti ɔkɔɔ aban mu hɔ kɔbɔɔ Paulo amanneɛ.
But the son of Paul’s sister heard what they were planning to do, so he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17 Paulo frɛɛ asraafo mpanyin no mu baako ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Wo ne aberante yi nkɔ ɔsahene no nkyɛn efisɛ ɔwɔ asɛm bi ka kyerɛ no.”
[When Paul heard that], he called one of the officers and said to him, “[Please] take this young man to the commander, because he needs to tell him something [important].”
18 Ɔsraani panyin no ne aberante no kɔɔ ɔsahene no nkyɛn. Woduu hɔ no, ɔka kyerɛɛ ɔsahene no se, “Paulo a ɔda afiase no asoma me sɛ memfa aberante yi mmehu wo na ɔwɔ asɛm bi ka kyerɛ wo.”
So the officer took Paul’s nephew to the commander. The officer said to the commander, “That prisoner, Paul, called me and said, ‘Please take this young man to the commander, because he needs to tell him something [important].’”
19 Ɔsahene no soo aberante no nsa de no kogyinaa nkyɛn baabi bisaa no se, “Asɛm bɛn na wowɔ ka kyerɛ me?”
The commander took the young man by the hand, led him off by himself, and asked him, “What do you [(sg)] need to tell me?”
20 Aberante no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Yudafo mpanyin no abɔ pɔw sɛ ɔkyena wɔbɛhyɛ da abɛsrɛ wo na woama wɔde Paulo abrɛ agyinatufo no sɛ wɔrebebisa no ne nsɛm no mu yiye.
The young man said, “[There are some] [SYN] Jews who have planned to ask you [(sg)] to bring Paul before their Council tomorrow. They will say that they want to ask him some more questions. [But that is not true].
21 Mma wɔnnaadaa wo. Efisɛ mmarima bɛboro aduanan bi a wɔaka ntam adi nsew sɛ wɔremfa hwee nka wɔn ano kosi sɛ wobenya Paulo akum no no bɛtetew no wɔ ɔkwan so. Nea wɔretwɛn ara ne sɛ wobɛma ho kwan.”
Do not do what they ask you [(sg)] to do, because there are more than 40 [Jewish] men who will be hiding and waiting [to attack Paul when he passes by on the way to the Council]. They even promised/vowed to God that they will not eat or drink anything until they have killed Paul. They are ready [to do it], and right now they are waiting for you [(sg)] to agree [to do what they are asking you to do].”
22 Ɔsafohene no gyaa aberante no kwan ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Nka nkyerɛ obiara sɛ woabɛka asɛm biara akyerɛ me.”
The commander said to [Paul’s] young nephew, “Do not tell anyone that you [(sg)] have told me [about their plan].” Then he sent the young man away.
23 Ɔsahene no frɛɛ nʼasraafo mpanyimfo baanu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mompɛ asraafo ahannu ne apɔnkɔsotefo ne mpeawkurafo ahannu na mumfi ha anadwo nnɔnkron yi ara nkɔ Kaesarea.
Then the commander called two of his officers and told them, “Get a group of 200 soldiers ready [to travel]. Take along 70 soldiers riding horses, and 200 other soldiers carrying spears. [All of you must be ready] to leave at nine o’clock tonight, to go [down] to Caesarea.
24 Mompɛ ɔpɔnkɔ mma Paulo na momfa no nkɔma Amrado Felike dwoodwoo.”
And take along horses for Paul [and those accompanying him] to ride, and safely escort him to [the palace of] Governor Felix.”
25 Afei, ɔsahene no kyerɛw nhoma a emu nsɛm ka se:
Then the commander wrote a letter [to send to the governor]. This is what he wrote:
26 Me Klaudio Lisia a Merekyerɛw wo Onuonyamfo Amrado Felike saa nhoma yi: Kyia wo!
“[I am] Claudius Lysias [writing to you]. You, Felix, are our governor whom we [(exc)] respect, [and I sincerely send you] my greetings.
27 Yudafo kyeree saa ɔbarima yi a anka wɔrekum no, nanso metee sɛ ɔyɛ Romani no, me ne mʼasraafo kogyee no fii wɔn nsam.
I [have sent you(sg)] this man, [Paul, because certain] Jews seized him and were about to kill him. But I heard [someone tell me] that he is a Roman citizen, so I and my soldiers went and rescued him.
28 Mepɛɛ sɛ mihu bɔne ko a wayɛ, enti mede no kɔmaa wɔn agyinatufo no.
I wanted to know what those Jews were saying that he had done wrong, so I took him to their Jewish Council.
29 Mihui sɛ ɔnyɛɛ biribiara a ɛsɛ sɛ wogyina so kum no anaasɛ wɔde no to afiase. Asɛm a wɔka too ne so no fa wɔn mmara ho.
I listened [while they asked this man questions and he answered them]. The things [they] accused him about were entirely concerned with their [Jewish] laws. But Paul has not disobeyed any of our [Roman] laws. [So our officials] should not execute him or [even] put him in prison [MTY].
30 Ɛno nti bere a metee sɛ Yudafo bi abɔ ne ho pɔw sɛ wɔbɛtɛw no akum no no, meyɛɛ mʼadwene sɛ mede no bɛbrɛ wo. Maka akyerɛ wɔn a wɔwɔ asɛm bi ka tia no no sɛ, wɔmmra wʼanim mmɛka.
[Someone] told me that some [SYN] Jews were secretly planning to kill this man, so I immediately am sending him to you, [so that you(sg) may give him a fair trial there]. I have also [commanded] the Jews who have accused him to [go there to Caesarea and] tell you [(sg) what they are accusing him about].”
31 Asraafo no yɛɛ biribiara a wɔhyɛɛ wɔn sɛ wɔnyɛ no. Anadwo no ara wɔde Paulo kɔɔ Antipatri.
So the soldiers did what [the commander commanded] them, [taking this letter with them]. They [got Paul and] took him with them during the night [down] to Antipatris [city].
32 Ade kyee no asraafo a wɔnam fam no san wɔn akyi, na wɔn a wɔte apɔnkɔ so no toaa so kɔɔ Kaesarea.
The next day, the foot soldiers returned to the barracks [in Jerusalem], and the soldiers who rode horses went on with Paul.
33 Woduu no wɔde nhoma no maa Amrado no de Paulo hyɛɛ ne nsa.
When the men escorting Paul arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and they delivered Paul to the governor. [Then the horsemen returned to Jerusalem].
34 Amrado no kenkan nhoma no wiee no obisaa Paulo ɔman ko a ofi mu. Ɔtee sɛ ofi Kilikia no,
The governor read the letter, and then he said to Paul, “What province are you [(sg)] from?” [Paul answered], “I am from Cilicia [province].”
35 ɔkae se, “Wɔn a wɔwɔ asɛm bi ka tia wo no ba a na metie wʼasɛm.” Afei ɔhyɛe se wɔmfa Paulo nkɔ Herode ahemfi na asraafo nwɛn no.
Then the governor said, “When the people who have accused you [(sg)] arrive, I will listen [to what each of you says] and then I will judge your case.” Then he [commanded] that Paul be guarded {[soldiers] to guard Paul} in the palace that King Herod [the Great had built].
