Imisebenzi 24

1 Kwathi emva kwensuku ezinhlanu uAnaniya umpristi omkhulu wehla labadala lomkhulumeli othile uTertulo, abamangalela uPawuli kumbusi.

Then, after five days, the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and a certain Tertullus, a speaker. And they went to the governor against Paul.

2 Kwathi esebiziwe, uTertulo waqala ukumcala esithi: Ukuthula okukhulu sikuzuzile ngawe, lemisebenzi emihle yenzakele kulesisizwe ngokunakekela kwakho,

And having summoned Paul, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Most excellent Felix, since we have much peace through you, and many things may be corrected by your providence,

3 ngazo zonke indlela lakuzo zonke indawo siyakwemukela, mhlekazi Felike, ngakho konke ukubonga.

we acknowledge this, always and everywhere, with acts of thanksgiving for everything.

4 Kodwa ukuze ngingakubambeleli kakhulu, ngiyakuncenga ukuthi ngomusa wakho usizwe ngokufitshane.

But lest I speak at too great a length, I beg you, by your clemency, to listen to us briefly.

5 Ngoba lindoda siyifice iyinkathazo, njalo ingeyenza umvukela phakathi kwamaJuda wonke emhlabeni jikelele, lomkhokheliqembu wobubhazuka bamaNazaretha;

We have found this man to be pestilent, to be inciting seditions among all the Jews in the entire world, and to be the author of the sedition of the sect of the Nazarenes.

6 eyake yazama lokungcolisa ithempeli; esike sayibamba sithanda ukuyehlulela ngokomlayo wethu,

And he has even been attempting to violate the temple. And having apprehended him, we wanted him to be judged according to our law.

7 kodwa kwafika uLisiya induna enkulu wamthatha ngodlakela olukhulu ezandleni zethu,

But Lysias, the tribune, overwhelming us with great violence, snatched him away from our hands,

8 elaya abamangaleli bakhe ukuthi beze kuwe; ongathi, ngokumbuzisisa wena uqobo, ungaba lakho ukwazi kuye ngazo zonke izinto thina esimmangalela ngazo.

ordering his accusers to come to you. From them, you yourself will be able, by judging about all these things, to understand the reason that we accuse him.”

9 LamaJuda lawo avuma, esithi lezizinto zinjalo.

And then the Jews interjected, saying that these things were so.

10 UPawuli wasephendula, umbusi esemqhwebile ukuthi akhulume, wathi: Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi sekuyiminyaka eminengi ungumahluleli phezu kwalesisizwe, ngiyaziphendulela ngesibindi esikhulu ngezinto zami,

Then, since the governor had motioned for him to speak, Paul responded: “Knowing that you have been the judge over this nation for many years, I will give an explanation of myself with an honest soul.

11 njengoba ungakubona ukuthi kakukadluli insuku ezilitshumi lambili, lokhu ngenyukele eJerusalema ukukhuleka;

For, as you may realize, it has only been twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.

12 njalo kabangificanga ethempelini ngiphikisana lomuntu loba ngivusa isiphithiphithi exukwini, loba emasinagogeni, loba emzini.

And they did not find me in the temple arguing with anyone, nor causing a rally of the people: neither in the synagogues, nor in the city.

13 Futhi bangeke baqinise ngezinto abangimangalela ngazo khathesi.

And they are not able to prove to you the things about which they now accuse me.

14 Kodwa ngiyavuma kuwe lokhu, ukuthi ngendlela abayibiza ngokuthi yibubhazuka, ngokunjalo ngiyamkhonza uNkulunkulu wabobaba, ngikholwa konke okulotshiweyo emlayweni lakubaprofethi;

But I confess this to you, that according to that sect, which they call a heresy, so do I serve my God and Father, believing all that is written in the Law and the Prophets,

15 ngilethemba kuNkulunkulu, abalilindeleyo labo uqobo lwabo, elokuthi kuzakuba khona ukuvuka kwabafileyo, okwabalungileyo kanye labangalunganga.

having a hope in God, which these others themselves also expect, that there will be a future resurrection of the just and the unjust.

16 Njalo kulokho mina ngiyazama, ukuthi ngibe lesazela esingelacala phambi kukaNkulunkulu labantu isikhathi sonke.

And in this, I myself always strive to have a conscience that is lacking in any offense toward God and toward men.

17 Kwathi emva kweminyaka eminengi ngafika ukuletha izipho zomusa esizweni sakithi leminikelo;

Then, after many years, I went to my nation, bringing alms and offerings and vows,

18 ngikulezizinto amaJuda athile avela eAsiya angifica ethempelini ngihlanjululwe, kungekho ixuku loba isiphithiphithi;

through which I obtained purification in the temple: neither with a crowd, nor with a commotion.

19 afanele ukuba khona lapha phambi kwakho angicale uba elolutho ngami;

But certain Jews out of Asia are the ones who should have appeared before you to accuse me, if they have anything against me.

20 kumbe bona ngokwabo kabatsho, ukuthi baficani okungalunganga kimi, mhla ngimi phambi komphakathi,

Or let these ones here say if they have found in me any iniquity, while standing before the council.

21 ngaphandle kwalelolizwi elilodwa, engalimemeza ngimi phakathi kwabo ngisithi: Ngokuvuka kwabafileyo mina ngiyehlulelwa yini lamuhla.

For while standing among them, I spoke out solely about this one matter: about the resurrection of the dead. It is about this that I am being judged today by you.”

22 Kwathi uFelike wabadlulisela phambili, esezwile lezizinto esazi ngokupheleleyo izinto ngaleyondlela, esithi: Nxa uLisiya induna enkulu isiyehlile, ngizayihlolisisa indaba yenu;

Then Felix, after having ascertained much knowledge about this Way, kept them waiting, by saying, “When Lysias the tribune has arrived, I will give you a hearing.”

23 waselaya induna yekhulu ukuthi agcinwe uPawuli, lokuthi abe lenkululeko, njalo kungalelwa muntu wakibo ukumncedisa kumbe ukuza kuye.

And he ordered a centurion to guard him, and to take rest, and not to prohibit any of his own from ministering to him.

24 Kwathi emva kwensuku ezithile, uFelike weza loDrusila umkakhe engumJudakazi, wathumela ukubiza uPawuli, wamuzwa mayelana lokholo kuKristu.

Then, after some days, Felix, arriving with his wife Drusilla who was a Jew, called for Paul and listened to him about the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

25 Kwathi esakhuluma ngokulunga langokuzithiba langokwahlulela okuzayo, uFelike watshaywa luvalo waphendula wathi: Hamba okwakhathesi; nxa sengizuze ithuba elihle ngizakubizela kimi;

And after he discoursed about justice and chastity, and about the future judgment, Felix was trembling, and he responded: “For now, go, but remain under guard. Then, at an opportune time, I will summon you.”

26 njalo ngesikhathi esifananayo wayethemba futhi ukuthi uzanikwa imali nguPawuli, ukuze amkhulule; ngakho wayehlezi embizela kuye ekhuluma laye.

He was also hoping that money might be given to him by Paul, and because of this, he frequently summoned him and spoke with him.

27 Kodwa sekugcwaliseke iminyaka emibili, uFelike wemukela omlandelayo uPorkiyu uFestusi; uFelike efisa ukuthokozisa amaJuda wamtshiya uPawuli ebotshiwe.

Then, when two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus. And since Felix wanted to show particular favor to the Jews, he left Paul behind as a prisoner.