Ebikolwa by’Abatume 26

1 Agulipa n’agamba Pawulo nti, “Okkirizibbwa okuwoza ensonga zo.” Awo Pawulo n’agolola omukono gwe, n’awoza nti,

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Yoʋ have permission to speak for yoʋrself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and began to make his defense:

2 “Kabaka Agulipa, nnina omukisa okuwoleza mu maaso go leero, nga nnyanukula byonna Abayudaaya bye banvunaana,

“I consider myself fortunate that it is before yoʋ, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense today concerning all the things of which I am being accused by the Jews,

3 kubanga mmanyi ng’empisa z’Ekiyudaaya, zonna ozitegeera bulungi. Kyenva nkusaba ompulirize n’obugumiikiriza.

especially since yoʋ are acquainted with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg yoʋ to listen to me patiently.

4 “Nayigirizibwa n’obwegendereza mu mpisa z’Ekiyudaaya okuviira ddala mu buto bwange mu kibuga ky’ewaffe e Taluso ne mu Yerusaalemi, era ne ntambulira mu mpisa ezo obulamu bwange bwonna. Ebyo byonna Abayudaaya bonna babimanyi bulungi.

“All the Jews know about my manner of life from my youth up, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem.

5 Era bammanyidde ebbanga ddene nnyo, singa babadde baagala bandinjulidde, nga ndi munnakibiina eky’Abafalisaayo, eky’omu ddiini yaffe ekisingira ddala okunonooza mu buli nsonga ey’Ekiyudaaya.

They have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.

6 Kaakano nnyimiridde nga nvunaanibwa, kubanga nnina essuubi mu ebyo Katonda bye yasuubiza bajjajjaffe,

And now I am standing trial because of my hope in the promise God made to our fathers,

7 ebika byaffe ekkumi n’ebibiri bye basuubira okutuukako nga banyiikira okusinza emisana n’ekiro; era olw’essuubi eryo, ayi kabaka, Abayudaaya kyebavudde banvunaana.

a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve him night and day. Regarding this hope, King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews.

8 Kiki ekibalowoozesa nti tekiyinzika Katonda okuzuukiza abafu?

Why is it deemed unbelievable by you that God raises the dead?

9 “Nze ku lwange nalowooza nti kiŋŋwanidde okuyigganya erinnya lya Yesu Omunnazaaleesi, n’obukambwe bungi.

“Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10 Bwe ntyo ne mbikola ne mu Yerusaalemi era ne nsiba abatuukirivu bangi mu makomera, era ne mpeebwa n’obuyinza okuva eri bakabona abakulu; abatukuvu ne bwe battibwanga, nga nkiwagira.

And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. I locked up many of the saints in prison by the authority I received from the chief priests, and when they were being put to death, I cast my vote against them.

11 Ne mu makuŋŋaaniro gonna wonna ne mbasindiikirizanga nga mbawalirizanga okuvvoola, ne mbasunguwaliranga nnyo, ne mbayigganyanga okutuuka ne mu bibuga eby’ewala.

I also punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme. And being furiously enraged against them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

12 “Awo bwe nnali nga ndaga e Damasiko, nga ndagiddwa era nga mpeereddwa obuyinza okuva eri bakabona abakulu,

“While engaged in such things, I was on my way to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13 nga ndi mu kkubo mu ttuntu, ayi Kabaka, ne ndaba ekitangaala ekyaka okusinga eky’enjuba, ne kinjakira ne bannange be nnali ntambula nabo.

when at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me.

14 Ffenna bwe twagwa wansi, ne mpulira eddoboozi nga liŋŋamba mu Lwebbulaniya nti, ‘Sawulo, Sawulo, onjigganyiza ki? Weerumya wekka bw’osamba ku nkato.’

When we had all fallen down to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are yoʋ persecuting me? It is hard for yoʋ to kick against the goads.’

15 Ne mbuuza nti, ‘Ggwe ani Mukama wange?’ Mukama waffe n’addamu nti, ‘Nze Yesu, gw’oyigganya.

I said, ‘Who are yoʋ, Lord?’ He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom yoʋ are persecuting.

16 Naye golokoka. Nkulabikidde, nkulonde obeere omuweereza wange era omujulirwa w’ebyo mw’ondabidde era ow’ebyo mwe nnaakulabikiranga.

But rise and stand on yoʋr feet, for I have appeared to yoʋ for this purpose, to appoint yoʋ as a servant and witness to the things yoʋ have seen and to the things in which I will appear to yoʋ.

17 Era ndikuwonya mu bantu bano ne mu baamawanga gye ndikutuma

I will rescue yoʋ from yoʋr own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending yoʋ

18 okuzibula amaaso gaabwe bakyuke bave mu kizikiza badde eri omusana, n’okuva mu buyinza bwa Setaani, badde eri Katonda balyoke basonyiyibwe ebibi bafunire wamu omugabo gwa Katonda n’abo abatukuzibwa olw’okunzikiriza.’

to open their eyes so that they may turn away from darkness to light, and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an allotment among those who have been sanctified by faith in me.’

19 “Bwe ntyo, Ayi Kabaka Agulipa, ne sinyooma kwolesebwa okwo okwava mu ggulu,

“Consequently, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

20 naye ne nsookera ku b’omu Damasiko, ne nzizaako ab’omu Yerusaalemi ne mu Buyudaaya mwonna, n’eri Abaamawanga, nga mbategeeza beenenye bakyukire Katonda, era bakolenga ebikolwa eby’okwenenya ebisaanira.

but first to those in Damascus and then to those in Jerusalem, to all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, doing works consistent with repentance.

21 Eyo y’ensonga Abayudaaya kyebaava bankwata nga ndi mu Yeekaalu ne bagezaako n’okunzita.

That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and were trying to kill me.

22 Katonda kyavudde ankuuma okutuusa leero ndyoke nyimirire nga ndi mujulirwa eri ab’ekitiibwa era n’aba bulijjo, nga sirina kirala kye njogera, wabula ebyo bannabbi ne Musa bye baategeeza nga bigenda okujja

But having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what the Prophets and Moses said would take place:

23 nti Kristo kimugwanira okubonaabona, era abeere omubereberye mu kuzuukira kw’abafu, alyoke aleetere abantu bano n’Abamawanga omusana.”

that the Christ would suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

24 Awo Pawulo bwe yali akyawoza Fesuto n’aleekaana mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka nti, “Pawulo, olaluse! Okusoma ennyo kukusudde eddalu!”

As Paul was saying these things in his own defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Yoʋ are out of yoʋr mind, Paul. Too much learning is driving yoʋ insane!”

25 Pawulo n’addamu nti, “Siraluse, Oweekitiibwa Fesuto. Ebigambo bye njogera bya nsonga era bya mazima.

But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking words of truth and good sense.

26 Era ebintu bino Kabaka Agulipa abitegeera, noolwekyo nnyinza okubimubuulira nga seekomoma. Era nkakasa nga tewali na kimu ku bintu bino ky’ataamanya, kubanga tebyakolerwa mu nkiso!

For the king knows about these things, to whom I am speaking boldly. I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice at all, for this has not been done in a corner.

27 Kabaka Agulipa, bannabbi obakkiriza? Mmanyi ng’obakkiriza.”

Do yoʋ believe the Prophets, King Agrippa? I know that yoʋ believe.”

28 Agulipa n’agamba Pawulo nti, “Onsendasenda nfuuke Omukristaayo mu kaseera kano akatono bwe kati?”

Agrippa said to Paul, “Do yoʋ think yoʋ can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”

29 Pawulo n’addamu nti, “Nsaba Katonda, mu kaseera katono oba mu kiseera kinene, ggwe ne bonna abampuliriza kaakano, bafuuke nga nze, okuggyako enjegere zino ezinsibiddwa.”

Paul said, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only yoʋ but also all who are listening to me today would become as I am, except for these chains.”

30 Awo Kabaka, ne gavana ne Berenike, n’abalala bwe baali batudde, ne basituka ne bafuluma.

After Paul said these things, the king stood up, along with the governor, Bernice, and those who were sitting with them.

31 Bwe badda ebbali ne bakkiriziganya ne bagamba nti, “Omusajja ono talina ky’akoze kimusaanyiza kuttibwa wadde okusibwa mu njegere.”

After leaving the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is doing nothing that deserves death or imprisonment.”

32 Agulipa kwe kugamba Fesuto nti, “Omusajja ono yanditeereddwa singa teyajulira wa Kayisaali.”

And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”