Mabasa 23
1 Zvino Pauro wakati achitarisisa dare remakurukota akati: Varume hama, ini ndakafamba pamberi paMwari nehana yese yakanaka, kusvikira zuva rino.
Paul looked straight at the Jewish council members and said: “My fellow Jews, all my life I have lived respecting our God, and I do not know of anything that I have done that I knew was wrong/evil.”
2 Asi mupristi mukuru Ananiasi wakaraira vakange vamire naye kuti vamurove muromo.
When Ananias the supreme priest [heard what Paul said], he commanded the men who were standing near Paul to hit him on the mouth.
3 Ipapo Pauro akati kwaari: Mwari achakurova, madziro akadzudzurwa akacheneswa; nokuti iwe ugere kuti unditonge maererano nemurairo, zvino unoraira kuti ndirohwe zvinopesana nemurairo here?
Then Paul said to Ananias, “God will punish you [(sg) for that], you hypocrite [MET]! You sit there and judge me, using the laws that [God gave Moses]. But you [yourself] disobey those laws, because you commanded me to be struck {[these men] to strike me} [without having proved that I have done anything that is wrong!]”
4 Zvino vakange vamirepo vakati: Unotuka mupristi mukuru waMwari here?
The men who were standing near Paul [rebuked him. They] said, “Are not you [(sg)] afraid to insult God’s [servant, our] supreme priest?”
5 Pauro ndokuti: Ndanga ndisingazivi, hama, kuti mupristi mukuru; nokuti kwakanyorwa kuchinzi: Usataura zvakaipa pamusoro pemutungamiriri wevanhu vekwako.
Paul replied, “My fellow Jews, I [am sorry that I said that]. I did not know that the man [who told one of you to hit me] is the high priest. [If I had known that, I would not have insulted our supreme priest], because I [know that] it is written {[that Moses] wrote} [in our Jewish law], ‘Do not speak evil of any of your rulers!’”
6 Zvino Pauro wakati aziva kuti rimwe divi ndereVaSadhusi uye rimwe ndereVaFarisi, akadanidzira kudare remakurukota, akati: Varume hama, ini ndiri muFarisi, mwanakomana wemuFarisi; ini ndinotongwa pamusoro petariro nekumuka kwevakafa.
Paul realized that some of the [Council members] were Sadducees and others were Pharisees. So, [in order to cause the Pharisees and Sadducees to argue among themselves instead of accusing him], he called out loudly in the Council [hall], “My fellow Jews, I am a Pharisee, like my father was. I have been put {[You] have put me} on trial [here] because I confidently expect that [some day God] will (cause people who have died to become alive again/raise people from the dead).”
7 Wakati areva izvi, kupesana kukauya pakati peVaFarisi neVaSadhusi, chaunga ndokukamukana.
When he said that, the Pharisees and Sadducees started to argue with one another [about whether people who have died will become alive again or not].
8 Nokuti VaSadhusi vanoti hakuna kumuka, kana mutumwa, kana mweya; asi VaFarisi vanobvuma zviri zviviri.
The Sadducees believe that after people die, they will not become alive again. They also believe that there are no angels and no [other kinds of] spirits. But the Pharisees believe [that all people who have died will one day become alive again. They also believe] that there are [angels and other kinds of spirits].
9 Zvino mhere-mhere huru ikamuka; vanyori vekudivi reVaFarisi vakasimuka vachipikisa zvikuru vachiti: Hatiwani chinhu chakaipa kumunhu uyu; asi kana mweya akataura naye kana mutumwa, hatingarwisani naMwari.
So the Council members (were divided/did not agree with each other), and they began shouting at one another [as they argued]. Some of the teachers of the laws that [God gave Moses] who were Pharisees stood up. One of them said, “We [(exc)] think that this man has done nothing wrong.” Another said, “Maybe an angel or some [other] spirit [really] spoke to him [and what he says is true].”
10 Zvino kupesana kukuru kwakati kwauya, mukuru wechuru akatya kuti Pauro angabvamburwa navo, akaraira mauto kuti aburuke amubvute pakati pavo, amuise kuimba yemauto.
Then the [Pharisees and Sadducees] argued even more loudly [with one another]. As a result, the commander (was afraid/thought) that they would tear Paul to pieces. So he [commanded] soldiers to go down [from the barracks] and forcefully take Paul away from the Council members and bring him up into the barracks. [So the soldiers did that].
11 Zvino usiku hwakatevera Ishe wakamira naye akati: Tsunga moyo Pauro; nokuti sezvawakapupura zvinhu maererano neni paJerusarema, saizvozvo zvakafanirawo kuti upupure kuRoma.
That night, [in a vision Paul saw] the Lord [Jesus come and] stand near him. The Lord said [to him], “Be courageous! You [(sg)] have told people [here] in Jerusalem about me, and you must tell people in Rome [about me], too.”
12 Zvino kwakati kwaedza, vamwe veVaJudha vakaita rangano, vakazvisunga nemhiko, vachiti havangadyi kana kunwa kusvikira vauraya Pauro.
The next morning [some] of the Jews [MTY] [who hated Paul] met secretly and talked [about how they could kill him]. They promised [themselves] that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed him. They asked God to curse them [if they did not do what they promised].
13 Zvino vaipfuura makumi mana vakange vaita mhiko iyi pamwe chete;
There were more than 40 men who planned to do that.
14 ava vakaenda kuvapristi vakuru nevakuru vakati: Tazvisunga nemhiko huru, kuti hatidyi chinhu kusvikira tauraya Pauro.
They went to the chief priests and [Jewish] elders and told them, “God has heard us promise/vow that we [(exc)] will not eat [or drink] anything until we [(exc)] have killed Paul.
15 Naizvozvo ikozvino imwi nedare remakurukota taridzai kumukuru wechuru, kuti amuburusire kwamuri mangwana, sezvinonzi munoda kunyatsobvunzisisa zviri maererano naye; asi isu asati aswedera, tazvigadzira kumuuraya.
So [we request that] you go to the commander and ask him, on behalf of the whole Jewish Council, to bring Paul down to us [from the barracks]. Tell the commander that you want to question Paul some more. But we [(exc)] will be waiting to kill Paul while he is on the way here.”
16 Zvino mwanakomana wehanzvadzi yaPauro akanzwa zvekuvandira, akauya akapinda mumba memauto, akaudza Pauro.
But the son of Paul’s sister heard what they were planning to do, so he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17 Pauro ndokudanira kwaari umwe wevakuru vezana akati: Isa jaya iri kumukuru wechuru; nokuti rine chekutaura kwaari.
[When Paul heard that], he called one of the officers and said to him, “[Please] take this young man to the commander, because he needs to tell him something [important].”
18 Zvino ndokumutora, akamuuisa kumukuru wechuru, ndokuti: Pauro musungwa wandidanira kwaari akakumbira kuti ndiuise jaya iri kwamuri, rine chekutaura kwamuri.
So the officer took Paul’s nephew to the commander. The officer said to the commander, “That prisoner, Paul, called me and said, ‘Please take this young man to the commander, because he needs to tell him something [important].’”
19 Mukuru wechuru akabata ruoko rwaro, akaenda naro parutivi vari vega, akabvunza akati: Chii chaunacho chekundiudza?
The commander took the young man by the hand, led him off by himself, and asked him, “What do you [(sg)] need to tell me?”
20 Iye akati: VaJudha vatenderana kukukumbirai, kuti muburusire Pauro kudare remakurukota mangwana, sevanoda kunyatsobvunzisisa chimwe chinhu maererano naye.
The young man said, “[There are some] [SYN] Jews who have planned to ask you [(sg)] to bring Paul before their Council tomorrow. They will say that they want to ask him some more questions. [But that is not true].
21 Naizvozvo imwi musatendeswa navo; nokuti vakamuvandira pakati pavo varume vanopfuura makumi mana, vakazvisunga nemhiko kuti havangadyi kana kunwa kusvikira vamuuraya; zvino ikozvino vakagadzirira vachimirira chivimbiso kubva kwamuri.
Do not do what they ask you [(sg)] to do, because there are more than 40 [Jewish] men who will be hiding and waiting [to attack Paul when he passes by on the way to the Council]. They even promised/vowed to God that they will not eat or drink anything until they have killed Paul. They are ready [to do it], and right now they are waiting for you [(sg)] to agree [to do what they are asking you to do].”
22 Naizvozvo mukuru wechuru wakaregera jaya richienda, ariraira achiti: Usaudza munhu kuti wandizivisa zvinhu izvi.
The commander said to [Paul’s] young nephew, “Do not tell anyone that you [(sg)] have told me [about their plan].” Then he sent the young man away.
23 Zvino akadanira kwaari vamwe vaviri vevakuru vezana, akati: Gadzirirai mauto mazana maviri kuti afambe kusvikira Kesariya, nevatasvi vemabhiza makumi manomwe, nevemapfumo mazana maviri, kubva paawa rechitatu reusiku;
Then the commander called two of his officers and told them, “Get a group of 200 soldiers ready [to travel]. Take along 70 soldiers riding horses, and 200 other soldiers carrying spears. [All of you must be ready] to leave at nine o’clock tonight, to go [down] to Caesarea.
24 muvawanisewo zvipfuwo, kuti vatasvise Pauro vamuise akachengeteka kumutungamiriri Ferikisi;
And take along horses for Paul [and those accompanying him] to ride, and safely escort him to [the palace of] Governor Felix.”
25 akanyora tsamba yakatakura zvemukati izvi:
Then the commander wrote a letter [to send to the governor]. This is what he wrote:
26 Kiraudhio Risia kuna Ferikisi mutungamiriri changamire, kwaziwai.
“[I am] Claudius Lysias [writing to you]. You, Felix, are our governor whom we [(exc)] respect, [and I sincerely send you] my greetings.
27 Uyu murume wakabatwa neVaJudha, uye angadai akaurawa navo, ndikasvika nemauto ndikamununura, ndanzwa kuti muRoma.
I [have sent you(sg)] this man, [Paul, because certain] Jews seized him and were about to kill him. But I heard [someone tell me] that he is a Roman citizen, so I and my soldiers went and rescued him.
28 Zvino ndakati ndichida kuziva chikonzero chavaimupomera nacho, ndikamuburusira kudare ravo remakurukota;
I wanted to know what those Jews were saying that he had done wrong, so I took him to their Jewish Council.
29 ndikawana achipomerwa pamusoro pemashoko emurairo wavo, asi asingapomerwi chinhu chingafanira rufu kana zvisungo.
I listened [while they asked this man questions and he answered them]. The things [they] accused him about were entirely concerned with their [Jewish] laws. But Paul has not disobeyed any of our [Roman] laws. [So our officials] should not execute him or [even] put him in prison [MTY].
30 Zvino ndakati ndaziviswa kuti kwakange koda kuva nekuvandirwa kwemurume uyu neVaJudha, ndikamutumira kwamuri pakarepo, ndikarairawo vanomumhan'arira kuti vataure pamberi penyu zvavanopesana naye. Chisarai.
[Someone] told me that some [SYN] Jews were secretly planning to kill this man, so I immediately am sending him to you, [so that you(sg) may give him a fair trial there]. I have also [commanded] the Jews who have accused him to [go there to Caesarea and] tell you [(sg) what they are accusing him about].”
31 Zvino mauto, sezvaakarairwa akatora Pauro, akamuisa kuAntipatiri neusiku.
So the soldiers did what [the commander commanded] them, [taking this letter with them]. They [got Paul and] took him with them during the night [down] to Antipatris [city].
32 Zvino chifume, vakarega vatasvi vemabhiza kuti vaende naye, vakadzokera kuimba yemauto;
The next day, the foot soldiers returned to the barracks [in Jerusalem], and the soldiers who rode horses went on with Paul.
33 ivo vakati vasvika kuKesariya, vakakumikidza tsamba kumutungamiriri, vakaisawo Pauro pamberi pake.
When the men escorting Paul arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and they delivered Paul to the governor. [Then the horsemen returned to Jerusalem].
34 Zvino mutungamiriri wakati averenga, akabvunza kuti ndewedunhu ripi; zvino aziva kuti ndeweKirikia,
The governor read the letter, and then he said to Paul, “What province are you [(sg)] from?” [Paul answered], “I am from Cilicia [province].”
35 akati: Ndichakunzwa, kana vanokupomera mhosva vasvikawo; akaraira kuti achengetwe mumba maHerodhe mekutongera.
Then the governor said, “When the people who have accused you [(sg)] arrive, I will listen [to what each of you says] and then I will judge your case.” Then he [commanded] that Paul be guarded {[soldiers] to guard Paul} in the palace that King Herod [the Great had built].
