Asomafoɔ 24
1 Nnanum akyi no, Ɔsɔfopanin Anania ne mpanimfoɔ bi ne mmaranimfoɔ bi a ne din de Tertulo kɔɔ Kaesarea. Wɔduruu hɔ no, wɔkɔɔ Amrado Felike nkyɛn de nsɛm a wɔwɔ tia Paulo no too nʼanim.
Five days later Ananias the high priest arrived with some of the Jewish leaders, and with a lawyer called Tertullus. They presented formal charges against Paul to the governor.
2 Wɔfrɛɛ Tertulo ma ɔbɔɔ ne nkuro sɛ, “Onimuonyamfoɔ! Esiane wo nimdeɛ ne wʼakwankyerɛ pa enti, ɛfiri ɛberɛ a wobaeɛ yi, nsakraeɛ pa pii aba yɛn ɔman yi mu ama yɛn ho atɔ yɛn.
When Paul was summoned, Tertullus began making his case against him. He said, “Your Excellency Governor Felix, we have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and as a result of your wise judgment reforms have been enacted for the benefit of the nation.
3 Baabiara a yɛwɔ no, yɛka yei ho asɛm na yɛn ani sɔ deɛ woayɛ ama yɛn no da wo ase papaapa.
All of us throughout the country are so very grateful to you for this.
4 Mempɛ sɛ mesɛe wo berɛ enti mesrɛ wo sɛ nya berɛ tiawa bi ma me na tie asɛm a merebɛka afa saa ɔbarima yi ho no.
But in order not to bore you, please be so kind as to give us your attention for a short while.
5 “Yɛahunu sɛ saa ɔbarima yi yɛ ɔmammɔfoɔ a ɔde basabasayɛ ba Yudafoɔ nyinaa mu. Ɔyɛ Nasarefoɔ fekuo no mu panin.
We discovered that this man is a real pest, stirring up rebellions among Jews all over the world, a ringleader of the Nazarene sect.
6 Ɔpɛɛ sɛ ɔgu asɔredan no ho fi. Ɛno enti, yɛkyeree no yɛɛ yɛn adwene sɛ anka yɛbɛfa yɛn mmara so abu no atɛn.
He tried to defile the Temple, so we arrested him.
7 Nanso, Ɔsafohene Lisia bɛgyee no firii yɛn nsam abrane so,
8 hyɛɛ sɛ wɔmmɛdi nʼasɛm wɔ wʼanim. Sɛ wobisa no a, wo ara ankasa wobɛhunu sɛ nsɛm a yɛreka afa ne ho no nyinaa yɛ nokorɛ.”
By interrogating him yourself you will discover the truth of our accusations.”
9 Yudafoɔ no nso foaa nsɛm a wɔkaeɛ no so, sɛ ɛyɛ nokorɛ.
The Jews joined in, saying that this was all true.
10 Afei, Amrado no maa Paulo kwan sɛ ɔnyi ne ho ano. Paulo yii ne ho ano sɛ, “Menim sɛ woyɛɛ ɔman yi so ɔtemmufoɔ akyɛre, ɛno enti, sɛ megyina wʼanim reyi me ho ano a, mensuro.
The Governor motioned for Paul to respond. “Recognizing you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense,” Paul began.
11 Sɛdeɛ ebia woate no, ɛbɛyɛ nnafua dumienu ni a mekɔɔ Yerusalem, kɔɔ asɔredan mu sɛ merekɔsom.
“You can easily verify that I arrived in Jerusalem to worship just twelve days ago.
12 Yudafoɔ a wɔde me baa ha yi anhunu me sɛ me ne obi regye akyinnyeɛ wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ anaasɛ meretu nnipa aso wɔ hyiadan mu anaa ɔman no mu baabiara.
Nobody found me arguing in the Temple with anyone, or inciting people to riot in any synagogue or anywhere in the city.
13 Saa ara nso na wɔrentumi nkyerɛ sɛ, nsɛm a wɔreka ato me so yi nyinaa yɛ nokorɛ.
Nor can they prove to you any of their accusations against me.
14 Nanso, megye tom sɛ me ne nnipa a wɔka ekuo a wɔfrɛ no Ɛkwan no ho a Yudafoɔ yi kasa tia wɔn no som yɛn Agyanom Onyankopɔn. Na megye nsɛm a wɔatwerɛ wɔ Mose mmara no ne adiyifoɔ nwoma no mu no nso medi.
But I will admit this to you: I serve the God of our fathers following the beliefs of the Way, which they call a heretical sect. I believe everything the law teaches and what is written in the books of the prophets.
15 Mewɔ anidasoɔ a saa nnipa yi nso wɔ wɔ Onyankopɔn mu sɛ da bi, nnipa pa ne nnipa bɔne nyinaa bɛsɔre afiri owuo mu.
I have the same hope in God that they do, believing that there will be a resurrection of the good and the wicked.
16 Yei enti, da biara mebɔ mmɔden sɛ mede ahonim pa bɛbɔ me bra Onyankopɔn ne nnipa anim.
Consequently I try to make sure I always have a clear conscience before God and everyone.
17 “Mfeɛ bebree akyi a mefirii Yerusalem no, mesane mebaa hɔ sɛ mede ayɛyɛdeɛ rebrɛ me nuanom na mabɔ afɔdeɛ.
Having been away for a few years I returned to bring some money to help the poor and to give offerings to God.
18 Ɛberɛ a madwira me ho awie na megu so rebɔ aseda afɔdeɛ wɔ asɔredan no mu no, na nnipa a wɔde me baa ha yi hunuu me. Na matwitwa me tirinwi sɛdeɛ mmara no kyerɛ no. Saa ɛberɛ no nso na dɔm biara nka me ho na basabasayɛ bi aba.
That's what they found me doing in the Temple—completing the ceremony of purification. There was no crowd and no disturbance.
19 Saa ɛberɛ no, na Yudafoɔ bi a wɔfiri Asiaman mu wɔ hɔ. Wɔn na sɛ anka wɔwɔ asɛm bi ka tia me a, ɛsɛ sɛ wɔka.
But some Jews from the province of Asia were there, who should be present here before you today to bring their charges, if they have anything against me.
20 Sɛ saa nnipa a wɔwɔ ha yi nso nim asɛm bi a wɔgyina so buu me fɔ wɔ agyinatufoɔ no anim a, wɔnka.
Otherwise let these men here explain themselves what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the council,
21 Asɛm baako pɛ na megyina wɔn anim no, mekaeɛ. Saa asɛm no ne sɛ, ‘Gyidie a mewɔ wɔ awufosɔreɛ no mu enti na megye di sɛ morebu me atɛn ɛnnɛ.’”
except for the time when I shouted out to them, ‘I am on trial before you today because of my belief in the resurrection of the dead.’”
22 Felike a na ɔnim ekuo a wɔfrɛ no Ɛkwan no yie no tuu asɛm no hyɛɛ da, kaa sɛ, “Sɛ Ɔsafohene Lisia ba a, mɛdi wʼasɛm no.”
Felix who was well-informed about the Way then adjourned the trial. “When Lysias the commander comes I will make my decision regarding your case,” he said.
23 Ɔhyɛɛ ɔsraani panin 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.
He ordered the centurion to keep Paul in custody but to allow him some measure of freedom and to let Paul's friends care for him without interference.
24 Nna bi akyi no, Felike ne ne yere Drusila a ɔyɛ Yudani no baeɛ. Ɔsoma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ Paulo brɛɛ no maa ɔbɛkaa gyidie a ɔwɔ wɔ Kristo Yesu mu no kyerɛɛ wɔn.
Some days later Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about trusting in Christ Jesus.
25 Paulo reka tenenee, ahosohyɛ ne Atemmuo da ho asɛm no, Felike suroeɛ enti ɔkaa sɛ, “Kɔ! Akyire yi, sɛ menya adagyeɛ a, mɛsoma mabɛfrɛ wo.”
He discussed with them about living right, self-control, and the coming judgment. Felix became alarmed and told Paul, “You can go now, and I'll send for you when I get the chance.”
26 Na Felike ani da so sɛ Paulo bɛma no sika na wagyaa no, ɛno enti, na ɔma wɔtaa kɔfrɛ no ntiantia mu ba ne nkyɛn ne no bɔ nkɔmmɔ no.
Hoping that Paul would give him a bribe, Felix often sent for Paul and talked with him.
27 Mfeɛ mmienu akyi no, Porkio Festo bɛsii Felike ananmu sɛ amrado. Esiane sɛ na Felike pɛ sɛ ɔsɔ Yudafoɔ no ani no enti, ɔgyaa Paulo wɔ afiase hɔ.
Two years passed and Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. To stay in favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.
