Asomafo 24
1 Nnaanum akyi no, Ɔsɔfopanyin Anania ne mpanyimfo bi ne mmaranimfo bi a ne din de Tertulo kɔɔ Kaesarea. Woduu hɔ no, wɔkɔɔ Amrado Felike nkyɛn de nsɛm a wɔwɔ tia Paulo no too nʼanim.
Five days later Ananias the high priest, [having heard that Paul was now in Caesarea], went down [there from Jerusalem], along with some [other Jewish] elders and a lawyer [whose name was] Tertullus. There they formally told the governor what Paul had done [that they considered] wrong.
2 Wɔfrɛɛ Tertulo ma ɔbɔɔ ne nkuro se, “Onuonyamfo! Esiane wo nimdeɛ ne wʼakwankyerɛ pa nti efi bere a wobaa yi, nsakrae pa pii aba yɛn man yi mu ama yɛn ho atɔ yɛn.
[The governor commanded] Paul to be brought {[a soldier] to bring Paul} in. [When Paul arrived], Tertullus began to accuse him. He said [to the governor], “Honorable Governor Felix, during the many years that you [(sg)] have ruled us, we [(exc)] have lived well/peacefully. By planning wisely, you have improved many things in this province.
3 Baabiara a yɛwɔ no yɛka eyi ho asɛm na yɛn ani sɔ nea woayɛ ama yɛn no da wo ase papaapa.
[Therefore], sir, we [(exc)] always gratefully acknowledge everything that [you have done] for all [of us], wherever [you have done those things].
4 Mempɛ sɛ mesɛe wo bere enti mesrɛ wo sɛ nya bere tiaa bi ma me na tie asɛm a merebɛka afa saa ɔbarima yi ho no.
But, so that I will not take up too much of your time, I earnestly request that you kindly listen to me very briefly.
5 “Yɛahu sɛ saa ɔbarima yi yɛ ɔmammɔfo a ɔde basabasayɛ ba Yudafo nyinaa mu. Ɔyɛ Nasarefo fekuw no mu panyin.
We [(exc)] have observed that this man, [wherever he goes], causes trouble. [Specifically], he causes all the Jews everywhere [HYP] to riot. [Also], he leads the entire group [whom people call] ‘the followers of the Nazarene’, a [false] sect.
6 Ɔpɛɛ sɛ ogu asɔredan no ho fi. Ɛno nti yɛkyeree no yɛɛ yɛn adwene sɛ anka yɛbɛfa yɛn mmara so abu no atɛn.
He even tried to do things in the Temple [in Jerusalem] that would (defile it/make it unholy). So we [(exc)] seized him.
7 Nanso Ɔsahene Lisia begyee no fii yɛn nsam abran so,
But Lysias, the commander at the Roman fort, came with his soldiers and forcefully took him away from us [SYN].
8 hyɛɛ sɛ wommedi nʼasɛm wɔ wʼanim. Sɛ wubisa no a, wo ara ankasa wubehu sɛ nsɛm a yɛreka afa ne ho no nyinaa yɛ nokware.”
Lysias also commanded Paul’s accusers to come here and accuse Paul before you. If you question him yourself, you will be able to learn that all these things about which we are accusing him are true.”
9 Yudafo no nso foaa nsɛm a wɔkaa no so se ɛyɛ nokware.
When the Jewish [leaders who were listening heard that, they] told [the governor that] what Tertullus had said was true.
10 Amrado no maa Paulo kwan sɛ onyi ne ho ano no, Paulo buae se, “Minim sɛ woyɛɛ ɔman yi so otemmufo akyɛ, ɛno nti sɛ migyina wʼanim reyi me ho ano a, minsuro.
Then the governor motioned with [his hand to Paul that] he should speak. So Paul replied. He said, “[Governor Felix, I know that you(sg) have judged this Jewish] province for many years. Therefore I gladly defend myself, confident [that you will listen to me and will judge me fairly].
11 Sɛnea ebia woate no bɛyɛ nnafua dumien ni na mekɔɔ Yerusalem asɔredan mu sɛ merekɔsom.
You [(sg)] can [easily] ascertain that (it has not been more than twelve days since/only twelve days ago) I went up went up to Jerusalem to worship [God. That is not enough time to cause a lot of trouble].
12 Yudafo a wɔde me baa ha yi anhu me sɛ me ne obi regye akyinnye wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ anaasɛ meretu nnipa aso wɔ hyiadan mu anaa ɔman no mu baabiara.
No one [can claim legitimately that they] saw me arguing with anyone at the Temple courts [because I did not do that. No one can claim legitimately that they saw me] causing people to riot in [any Jewish meeting place], or causing trouble anywhere [else] in [Jerusalem] city, [because I did not do that].
13 Saa ara nso na wɔrentumi nkyerɛ sɛ, nsɛm a wɔreka ato me so yi nyinaa yɛ nokware.
So they cannot prove to you the things about which they are now accusing me.
14 Nanso migye to mu sɛ menam Awurade asɛm a Yudafo yi kasa tia no so som yɛn Agyanom Nyankopɔn. Na migye nsɛm a wɔakyerɛw wɔ Mose mmara no ne adiyifo nhoma no mu no nso di.
But I admit to you [(sg) that this is true]: I do worship the God that our ancestors [worshipped. It is true that] I follow the way that [Jesus taught us]. The Jewish leaders call that a false religion/teaching. I also believe everything that was written [by Moses] {that [Moses wrote]} in the laws that [God gave him], and everything that was written by the [other] prophets {that the [other] prophets wrote} [in their books] [MTY].
15 Mewɔ anidaso a saa nnipa yi nso wɔ wɔ Onyankopɔn mu sɛ da bi, nnipa pa ne nnipa bɔne nyinaa bɛsɔre afi owu mu no nso bi.
I confidently expect, just like [some of] these men also expect, that [some day God] will cause everyone who has died to become alive again. He will (cause to become alive again/raise from the dead) both those who were righteous and those who were wicked.
16 Eyi nti, da biara mebɔ mmɔden sɛ mede ahonim pa bɛbɔ me bra wɔ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
[Because I am confidently waiting for that day], I always try to do what pleases God and what other people think is right.
17 “Mfe bebree akyi a mifii Yerusalem no, mesan baa hɔ sɛ mede ayɛyɛde rebrɛ me nuanom na mabɔ afɔre.
After I [had been in other places for] several years, I returned to Jerusalem. I went there to deliver some money to my fellow Jews [who are] poor, and to offer sacrifices [to God].
18 Bere a madwira me ho awie na migu so rebɔ aseda afɔre wɔ asɔredan no mu no, na nnipa a wɔde me baa ha yi huu me. Na matwitwa me tinwi sɛnea mmara no kyerɛ no. Saa bere no nso na dɔm biara nka me ho na basabasayɛ bi aba.
Some [Jews] saw me in the temple [courts] after I had completed the ritual by which a person is made {that makes a person} pure. There was no crowd with me, and I was not causing [people] to riot.
19 Saa bere no, na Yudafo bi a wofi Asiaman mu wɔ hɔ. Wɔn na sɛ anka wɔwɔ asɛm bi ka tia me a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔka.
But it was some [other] Jews [who had come] from Asia [province who really caused people to riot. They] should be here in front of you [(sg)] to accuse me, if they thought that I [did] something [wrong].
20 Sɛ saa nnipa a wɔwɔ ha yi nso nim asɛm bi a wogyina so buu me fɔ wɔ agyinatufo no anim a wɔnka.
[But if they] do not [want to do that] (OR, [But because they] are [not] here), these [Jewish] men who are here should tell you [(sg)] what [they think] I did that was wrong, when I [defended myself] before their Council.
21 Asɛm baako pɛ na migyina wɔn anim no mekae. Saa asɛm no ne sɛ, ‘Gyidi a mewɔ wɔ awufosɔre no mu nti na migye di sɛ morebu me atɛn nnɛ.’”
[They might say that] one thing that I shouted as I stood before them [was wrong. What I said] was, ‘You are judging me today because I believe that [God] will (cause [all people] who have died to become alive again/raise [all people] from the dead).’”
22 Felike a na onim saa Awurade asɛm no yiye no tuu asɛm no hyɛɛ da, kae se, “Sɛ Ɔsahene Lisia ba a na medi wʼasɛm no.”
Felix already knew quite a lot about [what people called] ‘the way [of Jesus’]. But he did not let Paul or his accusers continue to speak. [Instead], he said [to them], “[Later], when Commander Lysias comes down here, I will decide these matters that concern you all.”
23 Ɔhyɛɛ ɔsraani panyin a na ɔhwɛ Paulo so no sɛ ɔmma wɔnwɛn no, nanso wɔmma no ahotɔ kakra. Na sɛ ne nnamfonom de biribiara a ɛho hia no no rebrɛ no a, wɔmma ho kwan.
Then he told the officer [who was guarding Paul] to [take Paul back to the prison and] make sure that he was guarded all the time. But he said that Paul was not to be chained {that the officer was not to fasten chains on him}, and if his friends came to visit him, [the officer] should allow them to help Paul [in any way that they wished].
24 Nna bi akyi no, Felike ne ne yere Drusila a ɔyɛ Yudani no bae. Ɔsoma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ Paulo brɛɛ no ma ɔbɛkaa gyidi a ɔwɔ wɔ Kristo Yesu mu no kyerɛɛ wɔn.
Several days later Felix and his wife Drusilla, who was a Jew, came [back to Caesarea after having been away for a few days]. Felix [commanded] Paul to be brought in {[a soldier to] bring Paul in}. Then Felix listened to what Paul [said to him]. Paul spoke about what [Christians] believe about the Messiah Jesus.
25 Paulo reka trenee, ahohyɛso ne atemmuda ho asɛm no, Felike suroe, enti ɔkae se, “Kɔ! Akyiri no, sɛ minya adagyew a, mɛsoma abɛfrɛ wo.”
Paul explained [to them about what God requires people] to do in order to please him. [He also explained about God requiring people to] control how they act. [Paul also told him that there will be a time when God] will judge [people]. Felix became alarmed [after hearing those things. So] he said to Paul, “That is all I [want to hear] now. When there is a time that is convenient I will ask you [(sg)] to come [to me again].”
26 Na Felike ani da so sɛ Paulo bɛma no sika na wagyaa no, ɛno nti na ɔma wɔtaa kɔfrɛ no ntiantia mu ba ne nkyɛn ne no bɔ nkɔmmɔ no.
[Felix said that because] he hoped that Paul would give him some money [to allow Paul to get out of prison]. So he repeatedly sent for Paul to come, and Paul [repeatedly went and] talked with him. [But he] did not [give Felix any money, and Felix did not command his soldiers to release Paul from prison].
27 Mfe abien akyi no Porkio Festo besii Felike anan mu sɛ amrado. Esiane sɛ na Felike pɛ sɛ ɔsɔ Yudafo no ani no nti, ogyaw Paulo wɔ afiase hɔ.
Felix let Paul remain in prison, because he wanted to please the Jewish [leaders and he knew that they did not want him to release Paul]. But when two years had passed, Porcius Festus became governor in place of Felix.
