Acts 21
1 [After] we said goodbye to the elders [from Ephesus], we [got on the ship and] sailed to Cos [Island, where the ship stopped for the night]. The next day we sailed from Cos to Rhodes [Island, where the ship stopped again. The day after] that we sailed to Patara [town, where the ship stopped. This was on Patara Island].
Kwasekusithi sisuka ngomkhumbi sesehlukene labo, sahamba ngendlela eqondileyo safika eKosi, langosuku olulandelayo eRodesi, sasuka lapho saya ePathara;
2 [At Patara we left that ship, and someone told us that] there was a ship that would be going to Phoenicia [region. So] we got on that ship, and it left.
sasesithola umkhumbi ochaphela eFenekiya, sangena sahamba ngomkhumbi.
3 [We sailed until] we could see Cyprus [Island]. We passed to the south of the island and continued sailing until we arrived at [Phoenicia region, in] Syria [province]. We arrived at Tyre [city. The ship was going to stay there several days, because its workers] had to unload the cargo.
Kwathi sesiqhamuka eKuprosi, sasesiyitshiyela ngakwesokhohlo, saya ngomkhumbi eSiriya, sehlikela eTire; ngoba umkhumbi wawuzakwethulela khona impahla.
4 [Someone told us] where the believers in Tyre lived, so we [(exc) went and] stayed with them for seven days. Because [God’s] Spirit revealed to them ([that people would cause Paul to suffer/Paul would suffer]) [in Jerusalem], they told Paul that he should not go there.
Sesibatholile abafundi, sahlala khona insuku eziyisikhombisa; bona bamtshela uPawuli ngoMoya, ukuthi angenyukeli eJerusalema.
5 But when it was time [for the ship to leave again], we [prepared to] continue going [to Jerusalem]. When we left [Tyre], all the believers, including their wives and children, went with us [to the edge of the sea]. We all knelt down there on the sand/shore and prayed.
Kwathi sekwenzakele ukuthi siqede insuku, sasuka sahamba, bonke basiphelekezela kanye labomkabo labantwana kwaze kwaba ngaphandle komuzi; njalo saguqa ngamadolo ekhunjini sakhuleka,
6 After we all said goodbye, Paul and we [his companions] got on the ship, and the [other] believers returned to their own homes.
sesivalelisene, sangena emkhunjini, kodwa bona babuyela kubo.
7 After we [(exc)] left Tyre, we continued on [that ship] to Ptolemais [city]. There were believers there, and we greeted them and stayed with them that night.
Kodwa thina, sesiqedile uhambo ngomkhumbi sisuka eTire, safika ePetolemayi, sesibingelele abazalwane sahlala labo usuku lwaba lunye.
8 The next day we left [Ptolemais] and sailed to Caesarea [city], where we stayed in the home of Philip, who [spent his days] telling others how to become disciples of Jesus. He was one of the seven [men whom the believers in Jerusalem had chosen to care for the widows].
Kusisa thina esasiloPawuli sasuka safika eKesariya; sesingene endlini kaFiliphu umvangeli, owayengomunye wabayisikhombisa, sahlala laye.
9 He had four daughters who were not married. Each of them [frequently] spoke messages that the Holy Spirit had revealed to them.
Yena-ke wayelamadodakazi amane, intombi, eziprofethayo.
10 After [we(exc) had been in Philip’s house for] several days, a believer whose name was Agabus came down from Judea [district] and arrived [in Caesarea]. He [frequently] spoke messages that the Holy Spirit had told him.
Kwathi sesihlezi insuku ezinengi, kwehla umprofethi othile uAgabusi ngebizo evela eJudiya,
11 Coming over to where we were, he took off Paul’s belt. Then he tied his own feet and hands with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] in Jerusalem will tie up [the hands and feet of] the owner of this belt, like this, and they will hand him over to non-Jewish people [as a prisoner].’”
wasefika kithi, wathatha uzwezwe lukaPawuli, wazibopha izandla kanye lenyawo esithi: Utsho lokho uMoya oyiNgcwele: Indoda olungolwayo loluzwezwe, amaJuda eJerusalema azayibopha kanje, njalo ayinikele ezandleni zabezizwe.
12 When [the rest of] us heard that, we and [other] believers there repeatedly pled with Paul, “Please do not go up to Jerusalem!”
Sesizizwile lezizinto, samncenga thina kanye lalabo ababelapho, ukuthi angenyukeli eJerusalema.
13 But Paul replied, “(Please stop crying and trying to discourage me [IDM] [from going!]/Why are you crying and trying to discourage me [IDM] [from going]?) [RHQ] I am willing to be put {[for people] to put me} in prison and also to be killed {[for them] to kill me} in Jerusalem because I [serve] [MTY] the Lord Jesus.”
Kodwa uPawuli waphendula esithi: Lenzani likhala lidabula inhliziyo yami? Ngoba mina sengilungele, kungeyisikho ukubotshwa kuphela, kodwa lokufa eJerusalema ngenxa yebizo leNkosi uJesu.
14 When [we(exc) realized that] he was determined [to go to Jerusalem], we did not try [any longer] to persuade him [not to go]. We said, “May (the Lord [God] do what he wants/the Lord’s will be done)!”
Kwathi engancengeki, sathula sathi: Kayenziwe intando yeNkosi.
15 After those days [in Caesarea], we [(exc)] prepared [our things] and [left to] go [by land] up to Jerusalem.
Emva kwalezinsuku sasesilungiselela, senyukela eJerusalema.
16 Some of the believers from Caesarea also went with us. [On the way to Jerusalem], we stayed [one night] in the house of [a man whose name was] Mnason. He was from Cyprus [Island], and he had believed [in Jesus] when people were first beginning to hear the message [about him].
Labathile babafundi beKesariya basebehamba lathi, babuya lothile uMnasoni umKuprosi, umfundi omdala, ebesizangenisa kuye.
17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, [a group of] the believers greeted us happily.
Njalo sesifikile eJerusalema, abazalwane basemukela ngokuthokoza.
18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to speak with James, [who was the leader of the congregation there]. All of the [other] leaders/elders [of the congregation in Jerusalem] were also there.
Kusisa uPawuli wangena lathi kuJakobe, labadala bonke babekhona.
19 Paul greeted them, and then he reported all of the things that God had enabled him to do among the non-Jewish people.
Kwathi esebabingelele, walandisa ngakunye ngakunye izinto uNkulunkulu azenzileyo phakathi kwabezizwe ngenkonzo yakhe.
20 When they heard that, James and the other elders said, “Praise the Lord!” Then [one of] them said to Paul, “Brother/Friend, you [(sg)] know that there are very many thousands of us [(inc)] Jewish people [here] who have believed [in the Lord Jesus]. Also, you know that we [(inc)] all continue very carefully to obey the laws [that Moses gave us].
Kwathi sebekuzwile, bayidumisa iNkosi; bathi kuye: Uyabona, mzalwane, ukuthi zinengi kangakanani izigidi zamaJuda akholwayo; futhi bonke batshisekela umlayo;
21 [But our fellow Jewish believers] have been told {have heard [people say]} that when you are among non-Jews, you tell the Jewish believers who live there that they should stop obeying [the laws] [MTY] ([of] Moses/[that] Moses [received from God]). [People say that] you tell [those Jewish believers] not to circumcise their sons and not to practice our [other] customs. [We(exc) do not believe that this is true].
njalo sebetsheliwe ngawe, ukuthi ufundisa wonke amaJuda aphakathi kwabezizwe ukuthi adele uMozisi, usithi angasoki abantwana, lokuthi angahambi ngamasiko.
22 But our fellow [Jewish] believers will certainly hear that you have arrived, [and they will be angry with you]. So [you] need to do something [RHQ] [to show them that what they heard about you is not true].
Pho-ke kuyini? Isibili kufanele ukuthi ixuku libuthane; ngoba bazakuzwa ukuthi usufikile.
23 So you should do what we suggest to you. There are four men among us who have strongly promised [to God] about [something].
Ngakho yenza lokhu esikutsho kuwe; silamadoda amane abalesifungo phezu kwawo;
24 Go with these men [to the Temple] and [ritually] purify yourself along with them. Then, [when it is time for them to offer the sacrifices for that ritual], pay for what they offer [as sacrifices]. After that, they can shave their heads [to show that they have done what they promised to do. And when people see you in the courts of the Temple with those men], they will know that what they have been told {what people have told them} about you is not true. Instead, all of them will know that you obey all our Jewish laws [and rituals].
athathe kanye lawe, uzihlambulule kanye lawo, njalo uhlawule indleko zawo, ukuze aphuce amakhanda, njalo ukuze bakwazi bonke ukuthi kakulalutho kulokho abakutshelwe ngawe, kodwa ukuthi lawe uhamba ngokulondoloza umlayo.
25 As for the non-Jewish believers, [we elders here in Jerusalem have talked] about [which of our laws] they [should obey, and] we [(exc)] wrote them [a letter, telling them] what we decided. [We wrote] that they should not eat meat that people have offered as a sacrifice to any idol, [that they should not eat] blood [from animals], and that [they should not eat] meat from animals [that people have killed by] strangling [them. We also told them that] they should not have sex with someone to whom they are not married.”
Kodwa mayelana labezizwe abakholwayo thina sesibhalile, saquma sathi bangagcini lutho olunjalo, ngaphandle kokuthi kabazile okuhlatshelwe izithombe, legazi, lokukhanyiweyo, lokufeba.
26 So Paul [agreed to do what they asked], and the next day he took the [four] men, and together they ritually purified themselves. After that, Paul went to the Temple [courts and] told [the priest] what day they would [finish] purifying themselves [ritually] and when [they] would offer [the animals as sacrifices] for each of them.
UPawuli wasewathatha amadoda, kusisa wahlanjululwa kanye lawo wangena ethempelini, ukubika ukuphela kwensuku zokuhlanjululwa, kwaze kwalethwa umnikelo walowo lalowo wawo.
27 When the seven days [for purifying themselves] were nearly finished, Paul [returned] to the Temple [courtyard]. Some Jews from Asia [province] saw him there, [and they were very angry at him]. On another day they had seen Paul [walking around] in Jerusalem with Trophimus, who was a non-Jew. Their laws did not permit non-Jews to be in the Temple, and they thought that Paul had brought Trophimus into the Temple [courtyard that day. So] they called out to many other Jews [who were in the Temple courtyard] to [help them] seize [MTY] Paul. They shouted, “Fellow Israelites, come and help [us punish this] man! This is the one who is [constantly] teaching people wherever [he goes that they] should despise the [Jewish] people. [He teaches people that they should no longer obey] the laws [of Moses] nor respect this holy [Temple]. He has even brought non-Jews here into [the court of] our Temple, causing God to consider it no longer holy!”
Kwathi sezizaphela insuku eziyisikhombisa, amaJuda avela eAsiya ayembonile ethempelini, avusa ixuku lonke, amdumela ngezandla,
amemeza athi: Madoda maIsrayeli, sizani! Nguye lumuntu ofundisa bonke endaweni zonke okuphambene lesizwe, lomlayo, lalindawo; futhi ungenisile lamaGriki ethempelini, useyingcolisile lindawo engcwele.
Ngoba ayebonile ngaphambili uTrofimu umEfesu emzini elaye, amkhumbulela ukuthi uPawuli umngenisile ethempelini.
30 [People] throughout [MTY] the city heard that there was trouble [at the Temple courtyard], and they came running there. They grabbed Paul and dragged him outside of the Temple [area]. The gates [to the Temple courtyard were shut] {[The Temple guards] shut the doors [to the Temple courts]} immediately, [so that the people would not riot inside the Temple area].
Lomuzi wonke wanyakazela, labantu bagijimela ndawonye, bamdumela uPawuli bamhudulela ngaphandle kwethempeli; leminyango yahle yavalwa.
31 While they were trying to kill Paul, someone [ran to the fort near the Temple] and told the Roman commander that many [HYP] people [MTY] in Jerusalem were rioting [at the Temple].
Kuthe besafuna ukumbulala, ilizwi lafika enduneni enkulu yesigaba, ukuthi iJerusalema yonke iyaphithizela;
32 The commander quickly took some officers and [a large group of] soldiers and ran to [the Temple area where] the crowd was. When the crowd of people [who were yelling and beating Paul] saw the commander and the soldiers [coming], they stopped beating him.
eyahle yathatha amabutho lezinduna zekhulu, yagijimela kubo; kwathi sebebona induna enkulu lamabutho, bayekela ukumtshaya uPawuli.
33 The commander came to [where Paul was and] seized him. He [commanded soldiers] to fasten a chain to [each of] Paul’s [arms]. Then he asked [the people in the crowd], “Who is this man, and what has he done?”
Induna enkulu yasisondela, yambamba, yalaya ukuthi kabotshwe ngamaketane amabili, yabuza ukuthi ungubani, lokuthi wenzeni.
34 Some of the many people there were shouting one thing, [and] some were shouting something else. Because they continued shouting so loudly, the commander could not understand [what they were shouting. So] he [commanded] that Paul be taken {[the soldiers] to take Paul} into the barracks [so that he could question him there].
Abanye exukwini bememeza okunye labanye okunye; kodwa ingelakulazi iqiniso ngenxa yomsindo, yalaya ukuthi asiwe enkambeni yamabutho.
35 [The soldiers] led Paul to the steps [of the barracks], but many people continued to follow them, trying to kill [Paul. So the commander told] the soldiers to carry Paul [up the steps into the barracks].
Kwathi esefikile ezikhwelweni, kwenzeka ukuthi athwalwe ngamabutho ngenxa yokufutheka kwexuku;
36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Kill him! Kill him!”
ngoba ixuku labantu lalandela limemeza lisithi: Msuseni!
37 As Paul was about to be taken {[the soldiers] were about to take Paul} into the barracks, he said [in Greek] to the commander, “May I speak to you?” The commander said, “(I am surprised that you can speak the Greek [language]!/Can you [(sg)] speak the Greek [language]?)” [RHQ]
Kwathi uPawuli esezangeniswa enkambeni yamabutho wathi enduneni enkulu: Kuvunyelwe yini ukuthi ngikhulume ulutho kuwe? Yona yasisithi: Uyasazi isiGriki yini?
38 “(I [thought] that you [(sg)] were that fellow/Are you not that fellow) from Egypt [RHQ] who wanted to rebel [against the government not long ago], and who took 4,000 violent terrorists [with him] out into the desert, [so that we could not catch him]?”
Kanti kawusuye yini lowomGibhithe okwathi kungakafiki lezinsuku wenza umvukela, wakhokhelela enkangala amadoda azinkulungwane ezine angababulali?
39 Paul answered, “[No, I am not!] I am a Jew. I [was born] in Tarsus, which is an important [LIT] city in Cilicia [province]. I ask that you [(sg)] let me speak to the people.”
Kodwa uPawuli wathi: Mina ngingumuntu ongumJuda, weTarsu yeKilikhiya, isakhamuzi somuzi ongadelelekanga; ngiyakuncenga, ngivumela ngikhulume ebantwini.
40 Then the commander permitted Paul [to speak. So] Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand [for the crowd to be quiet. And after] the people in the crowd became quiet, Paul spoke to them in [their own] Hebrew language [MTY].
Kwathi esemvumele, uPawuli wema ezikhwelweni waqhweba abantu ngesandla; sekuthe cwaka, wasekhuluma labo ngolimi lwamaHebheru wathi:
