Bible Reading Plan – Day 301

₁₇Umbingeleli omkhulu nabalingane bakhe, abo beqela *labaSadusi, babamonela *abathunywa, ₁₈baza bababamba babafaka entolongweni. ₁₉Kwangobo busuku isithunywa seNkosi sawavula amasango entolongo, sabakhokelela phandle abathunywa, sathi kubo: ₂₀“Hambani niye *endlwini kaThixo, nibafundise yonke into abantu ngale ntlalo intsha.” ₂₁Bevile ke abathunywa, bathi kwasekuseni bangena endlwini kaThixo, bafundisa.

Umbingeleli omkhulu nabalingane bakhe nabo bonke abadala bamaJuda, babiza intlanganiso epheleleyo *yeBhunga, baza bathumela entolongweni ukuba abathunywa beziswe phambi kwabo. ₂₂Zifikile izigidimi azibafumananga abathunywa entolongweni; zabuya ke zeza kuxela entlanganisweni, zathi: ₂₃“Intolongo siyifumene ivalwe ngokuqinileyo, nabalindi bewagcinile amasango, kodwa sakuwavula amasango, asifumananga mntu ngaphakathi.” ₂₄Kwathi intloko yabalindi bendlu kaThixo nababingeleli abaziintloko bakuyiva le nto, baxakwa ukuba ngaba kuhle ntoni na kubathunywa. ₂₅Kwafika ndoda ithile eyathi kubo: “Khangelani, amadoda ebeniwafake entolongweni nangaya efundisa abantu endlwini kaThixo!” ₂₆Yasuka ke intloko yabalindi yahamba nabaphantsi kwayo, babaphuthuma abathunywa. Babaphatha kakuhle abathunywa, kuba besoyika hleze baxulutywe ngamatye ngabantu.

₂₇Babazisa phambi kweBhunga abathunywa, waza umbingeleli omkhulu wabamangalela esithi: ₂₈“Saninika imiyalelo engqongqo yokuba ningaphindi nifundise egameni lale ndoda; kodwa khanikhangele into eniyenzileyo! Imfundiso yenu niyisarhaze kule Jerusalem iphela; ngoku nifuna ukuxhoma ukufa kwayo phezu kwethu.”

₂₉OoPetros baphendula bathi: “Asinakwenza nto yimbi; sifanele ukuthobela uThixo endaweni yabantu! ₃₀UThixo woobawo bethu wamvusa uYesu ekufeni, ekubeni nina nambulalayo ngokumxhoma emnqamlezweni. ₃₁UThixo wammisela ewongeni, wayiNkokheli noMsindisi wokunika amaSirayeli ithuba lokuguquka, aze axolelwe izono zawo. ₃₂Thina noMoya oyiNgcwele osisipho sikaThixo kwabo bamthobelayo, singamangqina azo ezi zinto.”

₃₃Akuweva la mazwi amalungu eBhunga avutha ngumsindo kangangokuba afuna ukuba babulawe abathunywa. ₃₄Kodwa omnye wabo, *owayengumFarasi ogama linguGamaliyeli, owayengumchazi-mthetho ohloniphekileyo kubantu bonke, waphakama wayalela ukuba abathunywa khe bakhutshelwe phandle. ₃₅Wabhekisa eBhungeni esithi: “MaSirayeli, yilumkeleni into eniyenzayo kula madoda. ₃₆Ngaphambi koku kukhe kwavela uTuda ezenza uthile obalulekileyo, waza walandelwa ngamadoda akwisithuba samakhulu amane. Kodwa wafa, abalandeli bakhe bathi saa, waza naloo mbutho wakhe wafa. ₃₇Emva koko kwavela uJuda umGalili, ngexesha lobalo, naye walandelwa ngabantu abaninzi, kodwa naye wafa, nabalandeli bakhe basarhaka. ₃₈Ngokunjalo nakwesi isihlandlo musani ukuthatha manyathelo ngakula madoda. Wayekeni, kuba ukuba lo msebenzi wawo yinto nje yabantu uza kuphelela esithubeni; ₃₉ukanti ukuba yinto evela kuThixo, aninako ukuwutshabalalisa. Endaweni yaloo nto ningazibhaqa nisilwa noThixo.”

IBhunga lalandela icebo likaGamaliyeli. ₄₀Baza ke bababiza abathunywa, babayala ukuba bangaze baphinde bathethe ngegama likaYesu. Emva koko ke bakatswa abathunywa, baza bakhululwa. ₄₁Abathunywa balishiya iBhunga elo benemincili, kuba uThixo ebafumanise befanelekile ukuba bahlazeke ngenxa yegama likaYesu. ₄₂Bazingisa ke imihla yonke, endlwini kaThixo nasemakhayeni, ukufundisa nokushumayela iindaba ezimnandi ezingoYesu onguKrestu.

₁Kwathi kwakubon' ukuba liyanda inani labalandeli bakaYesu, kwavela ukungevisisani phakathi kwamaJuda athetha isiGrike kwanamaJuda athetha olweenkobe. AmaJuda athetha isiGrike akhalazela ukuba abahlolokazi bawo àbamkeliswa kakuhle kwimali yenkxaso yemihla ngemihla. ₂*Abathunywa abalishumi elinambini balihlanganisa ibandla lilonke, bathi kulo: “Asinto intle kuthi ukuba sikuyekelele ukushumayela ilizwi likaThixo ngenxa yokuzixakekisa ngomsebenzi wokwabela abasweleyo. ₃Ngoko ke, mawethu, khethani amadoda abe sixhenxe phakathi kwenu, awaziwa ngokuzaliswa nguMoya oyiNgcwele nangobulumko; thina ke siwamisele kulo msebenzi. ₄Ngalinye ke, thina siya kuzinikela ngokupheleleyo kumsebenzi wokushumayela nasemithandazweni.”

₅Isiphakamiso sabathunywa samkeleka kubo bonke; baza ke banyula aba: uStefano, indoda ezele lukholo nanguMoya oyiNgcwele, noFilipu, noProkuro, noNikano, noTimon, noParmena, kwakunye noNikolawo waseAntiyokwe owayengumngeni-buJudeni. ₆Aba ke banikelwa kubathunywa, baza bona babamisela ngokubathandazela nokubabeka izandla.

₇Laya lisanda ke ilizwi likaThixo, laza ke nenani labalandeli bakaYesu lakhula kakhulu eJerusalem, kwabakho neqela lababingeleli elazinikelayo eNkosini.

₈UStefano, indoda eyayisikelelwe nguThixo, izele ngamandla, wênza imiqondiso nemimangaliso phakathi kwabantu. ₉Aza amadoda athile amchasa. Wona ayedla ngokuhlangana *endlwini yesikhungo ekuthiwa yeyamakhoboka akhululekileyo. AyengamaJuda avela eKirene naseAlesandriya. Wona namaJuda aseKiliki nawaseAsiya axambulisana noStefano. ₁₀Kodwa uMoya wamnika ubulumko uStefano, ngokokude bangabi nako ukuphikisana naye. ₁₁Baza ke bafunza amadoda athile, khon' ukuze athi: “Thina simve ethetha kakubi ngoMosis nangoThixo.” ₁₂Ngale ndlela bamenza wavukelwa ngabantu, nangabadala, nangabachazi-mthetho. Bamqubula uStefano, bamthatha bamsa entlanganisweni *yeBhunga. ₁₃Bezisa namanye amadoda athetha ubuxoki ngaye, athi: “Le ndoda isoloko ithetha ngokuchaseneyo *nendlu kaThixo *nangomthetho kaMosis. ₁₄Kuba samva esithi lo Yesu waseNazarete uya kuyitshabalalisa indlu kaThixo, awatshintshe namasiko esawafumana kuMosis.” ₁₅Bonke abo babehleli entlanganisweni bamthi ntsho ngamehlo uStefano, baza babubona ubuso bakhe bunjengobesithunywa sezulu.

₁Umbingeleli omkhulu wabhekisa kuStefano wathi: “Khanyela watyholwa!”

₂Waza uStefano wathetha nentlanganiso wenjenje: “Mawethu nani bobawo, khanindiphulaphule. UThixo, eyona ngangalala, wabonakala kukhokho wethu uAbraham ngexesha awayehlala eMesopotami, ngaphambi kokuba aye kuhlala eHaran, ₃wathi kuye: ‘Suka, umke apha, uzishiye izizalwana zakho, kunye nelizwe lakowenu, uye kumhlaba endiya kukubonisa wona.’ ₄Waza ke ngoko wawushiya umhlaba wamaKaledi, waya kuhlala eHaran. Emveni kokufa kukayise, uThixo wathi uAbraham makafudukele kweli lizwe nikulo nani ngoku. ₅Ngelo xesha uThixo akamnikanga nendawana le uAbraham kulo mhlaba, ukuba ayime: hayi, nditsho nomhlathana lo womhlaba! Kodwa kananjalo uThixo wamthembisa uAbraham ukuba uya kumnika loo mhlaba, awume yena nezizukulwana zakhe emva kwakhe. Ukusenza kwakhe uThixo esi sithembiso uAbraham wayengekazali mntwana. ₆UThixo wathetha ngolu hlobo kuye: ‘Isizukulwana sakho siya kufuduka, siye kuhlala elizweni lasemzini, apho siya kuba ngamakhoboka, sibandezeleke iminyaka engamakhulu amane. ₇Kodwa mna ndiya kubagweba abo bantu siphantsi kwabo; kuze kuthi emva kwelo thuba, babuye kwelo lizwe, beze kundikhonza kule ndawo.’ ₈Waza uThixo wamnika ulwaluko uAbraham ukutywina loo mnqophiso. UAbraham ke wamolùsa uIsake ngosuku lwesibhozo ezelwe, waza ngokukwanjalo uIsake wamolùsa uYakobi, noYakobi wenza kwaloo nto kookhokho abalishumi elinambini.

₉“Oobawo bammonela uJosefu, bamthengisa waba likhoboka eJiputa. Kodwa uThixo waba naye, ₁₀wamweza kuzo zonke iinkxwaleko awaba kuzo. Akusiwa phambi kokumkani waseJiputa, uThixo wamenza wathandeka uJosefu, wampha nobulumko. Ukumkani wammisela uJosefu wayirhuluneli yelaseJiputa nekomkhulu lakhe. ₁₁Kwabakho indlala enkulu kulo lonke elaseJiputa nelaseKanana, ababi nakufumana nokutya oku ookhokho, ikati ilele eziko. ₁₂Akuva uYakobi ukuba eJiputa kukho ukudla, wabathumela okokuqala oonyana bakhe; ngookhokho kuthi ke abo. ₁₃Kutyelelo lwabo lwesibini uJosefu wazazisa kubantakwabo, waza wamxelela ukumkani ngamawabo lawo. ₁₄UJosefu wamema uyise uYakobi ukuba aye kuhlala eJiputa nomzi wakhe wonke. Babengamashumi asixhenxe anesihlanu bebonke. ₁₅Wehla ke uYakobi, waya eJiputa, apho yena nookhokho bethu bafela khona. ₁₆Imizimba yabo yasiwa eShekem, apho yangcwatywa kwingcwaba elathengwa nguAbraham koonyana bakaHamori.

₁₇“Ekusondeleni kwexesha lokuba uThixo asizalisekise isithembiso awasenza kuAbraham, abantu bakuthi ababeseJiputa babesebande kakhulu. ₁₈Ekuhambeni kwethuba kwavela kumkani wumbi, owayengamazi uJosefu, wangumlawuli weJiputa. ₁₉Wabenzela ubutshijolo abantu bakowethu, wabakhohlakalela ookhokho bethu, ebanyanzela ukuba babalahle abantwana babo, ukuze babe sesichengeni sokufa. ₂₀Wazalwa ngeli xesha ke uMosis engumntwana omhle kakhulu. Wakhuliselwa ekhayeni lakhe iinyanga ezintathu; ₂₁waza wathi naye akulahlwa, wacholwa yintombi yokumkani waseJiputa, yazikhulisela yena. ₂₂Wabufunda bonke ubulumko bamaJiputa, waza waba yingcaphephe ekuthetheni nasekwenzeni.

₂₃“Akuba neminyaka engamashumi amane uMosis, watyelela amawabo amaSirayeli. ₂₄Wabona uwabo edlakathiswa ngumJiputa, waza wamnceda, waphindezela ngokumbulala umJiputa lowo. ₂₅Wayecinga ukuba amawabo oqonda ukuba uThixo ufuna ukusebenzisa yena ekuwakhululeni, kodwa akazange aqonde. ₂₆Ngenye imini wagagana namaSirayeli amabini esilwa, waza wazama ukuwohlula, esithi kuwo: ‘Khangelani, madoda, niyazalana; kungani ukuba nilwe ke?’ ₂₇Kodwa lo wayevuyelela omnye, watyhalela uMosis bucala, wabuza wathi: ‘Ngubani okwenze induna nomgwebi phezu kwethu? ₂₈Nam ufuna ukundibulala njengalaa mJiputa umbuleleyo izolo?’ ₂₉Akuyiva le ntetho uMosis, wabaleka, waya kuhlala kumhlaba waseMidiyan. Apho wazala oonyana ababini.

₃₀“Emva kwamashumi amane eminyaka, kwabonakala isithunywa seNkosi kuMosis sisemalangatyeni etyholo elivuthayo entlango ngakwintaba yeSinayi. ₃₁Lo mbono wammangalisa uMosis, wasondela etyholweni apho ukuba aliqwalasele. Suka weva ilizwi leNkosi lisithi: ₃₂‘Mna ndinguThixo wookhokho bakho, uThixo ka-Abraham, kaIsake, noYakobi.’ UMosis wankwantya kukoyika, akabi saba nako ukulikhangela. ₃₃INkosi yathi kuye: ‘Khulula iimbadada ezo, kuba indawo le umi kuyo ingcwele. ₃₄Ndiyibonile ingcinezelo nentlupheko yabantu bam eJiputa; ndisivile isikhalo sabo; ke ngoku ndize kubahlangula. Yiza ke, ndikuthume eJiputa.’

₃₅“Lo ngulaa Mosis ambukulayo amaSirayeli esithi: ‘Ngubani okwenze induna nomgwebi phezu kwethu?’ Kanti ke lo Mosis unguyena mntu uThixo amthume ukuba abe ngumlawuli nomsindisi, esebenzisa isithunywa sezulu eso uMosis wasibona etyholweni elivuthayo. ₃₆Wabakhokela ke abantu ukuphuma eJiputa, wenza imiqondiso nemimangaliso, eJiputa nakuLwandle oluBomvu, kananjalo nasentlango, iminyaka emashumi mane. ₃₇Nguloo Mosis wathi kumaSirayeli: ‘UThixo uya kunithumela *umshumayeli ophuma kwalapha kumawenu njengam.’ ₃₈Nguye lowa wayekunye nebandla likaSirayeli entlango. Wayekhona apho nookhokho bethu, ekwakunye nesithunywa sezulu esasithetha naye entabeni yeSinayi. Wamkela kuThixo imiyalelo ephilileyo ukuba ayidlulisele kuthi.

₃₉“Kananjalo ookhokho bethu bala ukumthobela, bambukula, besithi kubhetele baphindele kwaseJiputa. ₄₀Kungoko bathi kuAron: ‘Senzele *oothixo bokusikhokela, kuba asiyazi into emngeneyo laa Mosis wasikhupha eJiputa.’ ₄₁Kungeli thuba ke apho baziqingqela umfanekiso wethole, baza balenzela umbingelelo, benza netheko lokuzivuyisa ngenxa yaloo nto yayenziwe zizandla zabo. ₄₂Ngenxa yaloo nto uThixo wabafulathela, wabayeka ukuba banqule iinkwenkwezi zezulu, njengoko kubhaliweyo encwadini *yabashumayeli kwathiwa:

₄₄“Ookhokho bethu bona babenaso entlango *isibingelelo esingqina ubukho bukaThixo. Sasakhiwe ngokomfanekiselo lowo uThixo wawubonisa uMosis. ₄₅Emva koko ookhokho bethu abasamkelayo isibingelelo kooyise, bahamba naso, kwada kwaza kuthi gaa ngexesha likaYoshuwa, xeshikweni bawuthathayo umhlaba wezizwe abazigxothelwa nguThixo. Sahlala ke isibingelelo eso kwada kwayimihla kaDavide. ₄₆Yena wathandeka kuThixo, waza wacela ukuba uThixo amvumele akhele inzala kaYakobi indlu yokunqula. ₄₇Kodwa yona indlu leyo yakhiwa nguSolomon.

₄₈“Phofu yena uThixo uPhezukonke akahlali zindlwini zakhiwe ngabantu; njengoko atshoyo umshumayeli:

₅₁“Bantundini baneenkani, abantliziyo ziqaqadekileyo, hayi ubuthulu benu emyalelweni kaThixo! Nifuz' ooyihlo! Nani nasoloko nimgiba uMoya oyiNgcwele! ₅₂Nguwuphi umshumayeli abangamtshutshisanga ooyihlo? Bazibulala izigidimi zikaThixo, ezathi kwangaphambili zakuvakalisa ukuza kwalowo uliLungisa. Kungokunje nimngcatshile namgebenga. ₅₃Umthetho kaThixo owaziswa zizithunywa zezulu, wamkelwa nini kanye – kodwa anikawuthobeli unangoku!”

₅₄Athi amalungu *eBhunga akuziva ezi zinto zithethwa nguStefano, acaphuka kangangokuba ade abe ngathi osuka amthi qwenge-qwenge. ₅₅Kodwa uStefano yena ezele nguMoya oyiNgcwele, wakhangela ezulwini, waza wabubona ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo, noYesu emi ewongeni ngakuThixo. ₅₆Waqhuba wathi: “Khawukhangele! Amazulu ndiwabona evulekile, *noNyana woLuntu emile ngasekunene kukaThixo!”

₅₇Kwesi sithuba basuka bazivingca iindlebe zabo, bahlahlamba kwathi nkxwe, baza basuka indulumbane phezu kwakhe. ₅₈Bamkhuphela ngaphandle kwedolophu, bamxuluba ngamatye. Abamangaleli bakaStefano bazigcinisa iimpahla zabo kumfana ogama linguSawule. ₅₉Bemxuluba njalo ngamatye, uStefano yena wakhala eNkosini esithi: “Nkosi Yesu, wamkele umoya wam!” ₆₀Waguqa ngamadolo, wadanduluka wathi: “Nkosi, musa ukubabeka tyala ngesi sono!” Akukhov' ukutsho, wafa ke.