Acts 22
1 Paul said, “[Jewish] elders and my other fellow Jews, listen to me now while I reply to [those who are accusing me]!”
“Ashaapwanga na asha awawa, nnaino mmbilikananje shinguti bheleketa nkwitapula!”
2 When the crowd of people heard Paul speaking to them in [their own] Hebrew language, they became even more quiet and really listened. Then Paul said to them,
Bhakapilikananjeje bhalibheleketa Shiebhulania gubhapundilenje kupumula. Na bhalabho a Pauli gubhapundile kubheleketa.
3 “I am a Jew, [as are all of you]. I was born in Tarsus [city], in Cilicia [province], but I grew up here in Jerusalem. [When I was young, for many years] I studied the laws [that Moses gave to our ancestors]. I was taught by [the famous teacher] Gamaliel [MTY] {[The famous teacher] Gamaliel taught [MTY] me}. [I have] carefully [obeyed those laws, because] I have wanted to obey God. I [am sure that] many of you also carefully obey [those laws].
“Nne Nanyaudi, kumelekwe ku Tasho shilambo sha Kilikia. Ikabheje punelelwe pa Yelushalemu pepano na bhaajiganya bhangu a Gamalieli. Nashinkujiganywa ukoto Shalia ja ashinakulu bhetu. Nashinkwiishoya kwa ntima gwangu gowe kwa a Nnungu malinga lelo shinninginji mmanganyanjishi.
4 [That is why] I previously persecuted those who believe the message [that people call] the Way [that Jesus taught. I continually looked for ways] to kill [them. Whenever I found] men or women [who believed that message], I [commanded that] they should be seized and thrown {[people to] seize them and throw them} into jail.
Nashinkwaapotekanga mpaka kwaabhulaganga bhandunji bhakaagulanga a Yeshu. Natendaga kwaakamulanga bhanabhalume na bhanabhakongwe nikwaatabhanga, nikwaugalilanga nnigelesha.
5 The supreme priest knows this, and so do the [other respected men who belong to our Jewish] Council. They gave me letters to [take to] their fellow Jews in Damascus [city. By means of those letters, they authorized me to] go to there and find people who believed in [Jesus. They had written in the letters that I was to bring those people] as prisoners to Jerusalem, so that they would be punished here {[the leaders here] could punish them}. [So I went on my way to Damascus].
Bhakulungwa bha bhaabhishila na bhanangulungwa bhowe bha lukumbi shibhakong'ondelanje gegano. Gumboshele bhaluwa kukopoka kunngwabhonji jibhajandishilwenje ashaapwetu Bhayaudi bhalinginji ku Dameshiki. Gumbite ku Dameshiki nkupinga ngaakamulanje bhene bhandunjibho na kwiyanabhonji ku Yelushalemu bhali bhatabhilwenje nkupinga bhaukumulwanje.
6 About noon, my companions and I were getting near Damascus. Suddenly a bright light from the sky flashed all around me.
“Bhai, punaaliji mumpanda malanga ga shaa shita ja mui tome naika ku Dameshiki, shangupe shikukoposhelaga shilangaya sha punda kukopoka ku nnungu gushinangashiye mmbali yowe.
7 [The light was so bright that] I fell to the ground. Then I heard the voice [of someone] speaking to me [from up in the sky. The one who was speaking to me said], ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you [(sg)] do things to harm me?’
Penepo gung'wile pai, gumbilikene lilobhe lilimalanjila, ‘Shauli, Shauli! Kwa nndi unamboteka?’
8 I answered, ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘I am Jesus from Nazareth. I [am the one] whom you [(sg)] are harming [by doing things to harm my followers].’
Nne gumushiye, ‘Mmwe Mmakulungwa agani?’ Nabhalabho gubhamalanjile, ‘Nne a Yeshu Bhanashaleti bhunkwaapoteka.’
9 The men who were [traveling] with me saw the [very bright] light, [and they heard a voice], but they did not understand what the voice said to me.
Na bhene bhalinginji pamo na nne bhala, bhashibhweninji shilangaya shila ikabheje bhangalipilikana lilobhe lika jwene abheleketaga na nne.
10 Then I asked, ‘Lord, what [do you want] me to do?’ The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus! [A man] there will tell you [(sg)] all that I have planned for you to do.’
Bhai, gumushiye, ‘Ndende bhuli Mmakulungwa?’ Bhakulungwa bhala gubhamalanjile, ‘Jima, ujende ku Dameshiki na kweneko shiubhalanjilwe yupinjikwa utende.’
11 [After that, I could not see], because the [very bright] light had caused me to become blind. So my companions took me by the hand and led me until [we(exc) arrived] in Damascus.
Kwa ligongo lyapunda langaya shilangaya shila nangakombola kulola kwa nneyo gubhangamwilenje nkono ni nongoya mpaka ku Dameshiki.
12 [A couple of days] later, a man whose name was Ananias came to [see] me. He was a man who [greatly respected God and] carefully obeyed [our Jewish] laws. All the Jews living in Damascus said good things about him.
“Kweneko ashinkupagwa mundu jumo lina lyakwe a Anania, mundu abhajogopaga a Nnungu na kunda Shalia jetu na manyika na eshimika na Bhayaudi bhatamanganaga ku Dameshiki.
13 He came and stood beside me and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, see [again]!’ Instantly I could see! I saw Ananias [standing there beside me].
Gubhaishe mmona, gubhajimi tome na nne, gubhashite, ‘Apwanga a Shauli! Nnole kabhili.’ Popo pepo gunnolile, gunaabhweni.
14 Then he said: ‘The God whom [we(inc) worship and] whom our ancestors [worshipped] has chosen you and will show you what he wants [you to do. He has allowed you] to see the righteous one, [the Messiah], and you have heard him speaking [to you].
Kungai Anania gubhashite, ‘Nnungu jwa ashainabhetu ashikunng'agula mmwe nkupinga mwiimanye ibhapinga na mwaamanye Bhakamula Maengo bhabho bhanguja na pilikana lilobhe likopoka nkang'wa jabho.
15 He wants you to tell people everywhere what you have seen and heard [from him].
Pabha shimwaakong'ondele kubhandu bhowe ga imwibhweni na imwipilikene.
16 So now (do not delay!/why delay?) [RHQ] Stand up, let [me] baptize you, and by praying to the Lord [Jesus ask God] to forgive you [(sg)] for your sins!’”
Bhai, igala nkulinda nndi? Nnjime, nkabhatishwe nneshelelwe ilebho yenu kwa tenda nneyo shinnisheme lina lya Bhakulungwa.’
17 “Later, I returned to Jerusalem. [One day] I went to the Temple courtyard. While I was praying there, I saw a vision [in which]
“Bhai, ngabhujeje ku Yelushalemu, nilinkujuga Nnungu nniekalu guniibhweni agamii.
18 I saw the Lord speaking to me. He said to me, ‘[Do not stay here]! Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people [here] will not (believe/listen to) what you [(sg)] tell [them] about me!’
Gunaabhweni Bhakulungwa bhalimalanjila, ‘Shangu! Ujabhule pa Yelushalemu pabha bhandunji bha pepano bhakakukundanga pushiungong'ondele nne.’
19 But I [protested and] said to him, ‘Lord, they know that I went to many of our meeting houses looking for people who believe in you. I was putting in jail those [whom I found] who believed in you, and I was even beating them.
Gunaajangwile, ‘Mmakulungwa, bhalabhonji bhamumanyinji kuti nne natendaga pita mmashinagogi kwaakamulanga na kwaakomanga bhankulupalilangaga mmwe bhala.
20 [They remember that] when Stephen was killed [MTY] {when people killed [MTY] Stephen} because he told people about you, I stood there [watching it all] and approving [what they were doing]. I [even] guarded the outer garments that those who were murdering him [had thrown aside. So if I stay here, the fact that I have changed how I think about you will surely impress those leaders of our people].’
Na kabhili pubhabhulegwe bhaakong'ondela bhenu a Shitepano, nne namwene naapali popo nguliengwa na yatendekaga ila akuno nilingamwile nngubho yabhonji bhaabhulagangaga bhala.’
21 But the Lord said to me, ‘No, [do not stay here]! Leave [Jerusalem, because] I am going to send you [(sg)] far away [from here] to non-Jewish people!’”
Na Bhakulungwa gubhamalanjile, ‘Jenda, shinikutume kwaatalika kubhandunji bha ilambo ina.’”
22 The people listened [quietly] to what Paul was saying until [he mentioned the Lord sending him to non-Jewish people]. Then they began shouting [angrily], “Kill him! [He does not deserve to live any longer]!” [They said that because they could not believe that God would save anyone except Jews].
Bhandunji bhala gubhaapilikenishiyenje a Pauli mpaka penepo, ikabheje bhakabheleketeje genego, gubhatandwibhenje kujobhela bhalinkutinji, “Mwabhulaje! Mundu jwa nnei kubhulagwape.”
23 While they continued shouting, [“Kill him!”] they took off their cloaks and threw dust into the air, [which showed how angry they were].
Gubhapundilenje kujobhela akuno bhalileshelanga kunani nngubho yabhonji na litutuli.
24 So the commander [commanded] that Paul be taken {[soldiers] to take Paul} into the barracks. He told [the soldiers] that they should strike Paul with a whip [that had pieces of bone/metal on the end of it], in order to make him tell what he had done that made the Jews shout so angrily. [So the soldiers took Paul into the barracks].
Bhakulungwa bha bhakomana ngondo gubhaamulishe bhaapelekanje a Pauli nkati lugwani lwa manjola, gubhaabhalanjilenje bhaakomanje ibhoko nkupinga bhamumanye shiumilo shajamililwa nneila na Bhayaudi.
25 Then they stretched his arms out [and tied them] so that they could whip him [on his back. But] Paul said to the officer who was standing nearby [watching], “[You(sg) should think carefully about this]! You will certainly be [RHQ] acting unlawfully if you whip me, a Roman [citizen whom] no [one has put on trial and] condemned!”
Ikabheje bhakaatabhanjeje nkupinga bhaakomanje ibhoko, a Pauli gubhaabhushiye bhakulungwa bha manjola bhajimi tome, “Bhuli, mwa mmbone mmanganya kunkoma mundu jwa ku Loma akanabhe ukumulwa?”
26 When the officer heard that, he went to the commander and reported it to him. He said [to the commander], “This man is a Roman [citizen] (Surely you would not [command us to whip him]!/Do you really want [us to whip him]?) [RHQ]”
Bhakulungwa bha manjola bhala bhakapilikaneje nneyo, gubhaalugulile bhakulungwa bha bhakoma ngondo bhala bhalinkuti, “Nkupinga tenda nndi? Jwene munduju nshilambo jwa ku Loma!”
27 The commander [was surprised when he heard that. He himself] went [into the barracks] and said to Paul, “Tell me, are you [(sg) really] a Roman [citizen]?” Paul answered, “Yes, I [am].”
Bhai, bhakulungwa bha bhakomana ngondo bhala gubhaajendele a Pauli gubhaabhushiye, “Mmalanjile, mmwe mmashilambo sha ku Loma?” A Pauli gubhaajangwile, “Elo.”
28 Then the commander said, “[I am also a Roman citizen]. I paid a lot of money to become a [Roman] citizen.” Paul said, “But I was born a [Roman] citizen, [so I did not need to pay anything].”
Bhakulungwa bha bhakomana ngondo gubhashite, “Nne njipata ushilambo gwa ku Loma kwalipila mmbiyayaigwinji.” A Pauli gubhashite, “Ikabheje nne nanshilambo jwa ku Loma kwa bhelekwa.”
29 The soldiers [were about to whip Paul and to ask him questions about what he had done. But when they heard what Paul said, they] left him immediately. The commander also became afraid, because he realized that Paul was a Roman [citizen] and that he had [illegally commanded soldiers to] tie up Paul’s [hands].
Bhai, bhandunji bhapingangaga kwaabhuya a Pauli bhala shangupe gubhajabhulenje. Nkali bhakulungwa bha bhakomana ngondo bhala gubhajogwepe bhakamumanyeje kuti a Pauli pubhaliji bha shilambo sha Loma na pabha bhashinkwaatabha mindondolo.
30 [The commander still] wanted to know exactly why the Jews were accusing Paul. So the next day he [told the soldiers to] take the chains off Paul. He also summoned the chief priests and the [other Jewish] Council [members]. Then he took Paul [to where the Council was meeting] and [commanded] him to stand before them.
Malabhi gakwe, bhakulungwa bha manjola gubhapinjle bhamumanye kuti Bhayaudi bhakwaalugulanga bhuli a Pauli. Kwa nneyo gubhaagopwele mindondolo a Pauli, gubhaamulishenje bhakulungwanji bha bhaabhishila na bha lukumbi bhowe bhatamangane shitamo. Kungai gubhaajimishe a Pauli pakatipakati lukumbi.
