79 – Ezinye iihambo zokuvakalisa iindaba

₁UPawulos waya eDerbhe naseListra. Apho kwakukho ikholwa eligama linguTimoti, onina wayekwalikholwa, engumJudakazi, uyise yena engumGrike. ₂Onke amakholwa aseListra naseIkoniyo ayemazi ngesimilo esihle uTimoti. ₃UPawulos wafuna ukuhamba noTimoti, ngoko ke wamolùsa kuqala, kuba onke amaJuda aloo mmandla ayesazi ukuba uyise wayengolukanga. ₄Ekuzityhutyheni kwabo ezo dolophu, amakholwa bawazisa ngesigqibo *sabathunywa nabadala eJerusalem. ₅Aza ke amabandla omelezeka elukholweni, anda nangamanani imihla ngemihla.

₆Xa babekwingingqi yaseFrigi naseGalati, uMoya oyiNgcwele wabalela ukuba balishumayele ilizwi eAsiya. ₇Bakufika emdeni waseMisi, bazama ukungena eBhitini, kodwa nakhona uMoya kaYesu akabavumelanga. ₈Ngoko ke bacanda eMisi, behla baya eTrowa. ₉Xa babelapho ke, ebusuku uPawulos wabona umbono. Indoda yaseMakedoni yayimile imcenga isithi: “Yiza apha eMakedoni, uzokusinceda.” ₁₀Ngokukhawuleza emva kwalo mbono kaPawulos, salungiselela ukuya eMakedoni, kuba saqonda ukuba uThixo usibizela ukuba siye kuzishumayela iindaba ezimnandi kubantu balapho.

₁₁Semka ngesikhephe eTrowa, sahamba ngqo sacanda sijonge eSamotraki, saza ngengomso sangena eNapoli. ₁₂Sakusuka apho, saya kutsho eFilipi, idolophu yokuqala kwisithili saseMakedoni, eyayilithânga laseRoma. Sakhe sahlala iintsukwana apho kuloo dolophu. ₁₃*NgoMhla wokuPhumla saphuma edolophini, saya ngasemlanjeni, apho sasiba koba kukho indawo athandazela kuyo amaJuda. Sahlala phantsi, sancokola namakhosikazi awayebuthe apho. ₁₄Enye yawo eyayisiphulaphule nguLidiya waseTiyatire, owayengumthengisi weempahla ezimsobo zexabiso. Wayeyintokazi eyayimhlonela uThixo, yaza ke iNkosi yayibaza ingqondo ukuba izigqale izinto ezazithethwa nguPawulos. ₁₅Yabhaptizwa kunye nosapho lwayo. Yaza ke yasimema isithi: “Ukuba nithi ndilikholwa ngenene eNkosini, khanizokuhlala kwam.” Yasithundeza ke ukuba siye.

₁₆Ngamhla uthile xa sasisiya kwindawo yokuthandaza, sahlangana nentombi eyayilikhoboka. Yayinamafufunyana. Yayibenzela imali eninzi ke abanikaziyo ngokuchazela abantu izinto eziza kubehlela. ₁₇Yasilandela sinoPawulos, ikhwaza isithi: “La madoda angabakhonzi bakaThixo uPhezukonke. Anishumayeza indlela eningásindiswa ngayo.” ₁₈Yaqhuba iintsuku ezininzi iyenza le nto, yada yamthukuthezela uPawulos, wajika wathi kuloo moya: “Ngengunya legama likaYesu Krestu ndithi: ‘Phuma kule ntombi.’ ” Aphuma kwangoko amafufunyana.

₁₉Bakuphawula abanikaziyo ukuba ayisekho indlela yokwenza imali ngale ntombi, babagxavula ooPawulos noSilas, babarhuqela kwinkundla yamatyala eyayisebaleni lembutho. ₂₀Babamangalela kwabasemagunyeni, besithi: “La madoda angamaJuda, yaye adala isidubedube apha edolophini yethu. ₂₁Afundisa imikhwa enxamnye nomthetho wethu. Thina singamaRoma, asinakuyamkela loo mikhwa.” ₂₂Nesihlwele sangenelela ekubahlaseleni.

Zaza iziphathamandla zathi mazikrazulwe izambatho zikaPawulos noSilas, babethwe nokubethwa. ₂₃Bakuba bebethwe kanobom, bavalelwa entolongweni. Wayalelwa nojela ukuba abatshixele abagcine ngokunqabileyo. ₂₄Ewufumene umyalelo lowo, ujela wabatshixela kwelingaphakathi igumbi, wabakhonkxa iinyawo ngezikhuni.

₂₅Phakathi kobusuku uPawulos noSilas bathandaza bacula bedumisa uThixo, namanye amabanjwa ebeva. ₂₆Ngesaquphe kwabakho inyikima eyashukumisa izisekelo zentolongo. Zatsho zavuleka zonke iingcango, namatyathanga akhululeka kumabanjwa. ₂₇Evukile ujela, wabona iingcango zentolongo zivulekile, wacinga ukuba abalekile amabanjwa onke; waza warhola ikrele lakhe, eza kuzibulala. ₂₈Kuthe kusenjalo wamemeza uPawulos esithi: “Mus' ukuzenzakalisa, kuba sisaphelele!”

₂₉Ujela lowo wathi makuziwe nesibane, waza engcangcazela enjalo wangena wawa ezinyaweni zikaPawulos noSilas. ₃₀Wabakhuphela phandle, wabuza wathi: “Bahlekazi, ndingenza ntoni ukuze ndisinde?”

Bona baphendula bathi: ₃₁“Zinikele eNkosini uYesu; uya kusindiswa wena nosapho lwakho.” ₃₂Bamchazela ke yena nabo bonke ababesendlwini yakhe ngodaba lweNkosi. ₃₃Ngaloo yure kanye yobusuku ujela wabathatha, wahlamba amanxeba abo; waza wabhaptizwa kunye nosapho lwakhe kwangoko. ₃₄Waya nabo endlwini yakhe ooPawulos noSilas, wabapha ukutya. Yena nosapho lwakhe bazaliswa luvuyo ngenxa yokuba bezinikele kuThixo.

₃₅Ngentsasa elandelayo abasemagunyeni bathumela amagosa abo, besithi: “Wakhululeni loo madoda.” ₃₆Ujela ke wamxelela uPawulos ukuba iziphathamandla zithumele umyalelo wokuba yena noSilas bangákhululwa. Ngoko ke bakhululekile bangáhamba ngoxolo.

₃₇Kodwa waphendula uPawulos wathi kumagosa lawo: “Hayi kaloku, sikatswe esidlangalaleni, nakuba singakhange sibekwe tyala, ibe futhi singabemi abangamaRoma! Ngaphezu koko sivalelwe entolongweni. Bangathini ke ngoku ukusikhulula bucala? Hayi bo! Ayinakwenzeka loo nto! Abasemagunyeni mabeze kusikhulula ngokwabo.”

₃₈Amagosa lawo aya kuwaxela la mazwi kwiziphathamandla, ezathi zakuva ukuba uPawulos noSilas ngabemi abangamaRoma, zoyika kakhulu. ₃₉Ngoko ke zaya kubo, zacela uxolo, zabacenga ukuba bahambe, zabakhupha ke bemka. ₄₀UPawulos noSilas bayishiya ke intolongo leyo, baya kwaLidiya. Apho ke bahlangana namakholwa, baza bathi, bakuba bewakhuthazile, bemka.

₁Bahamba ke, badlula eAmfipoli naseApoloniya, bada baya kufika eTesalonika, apho yayikho *indlu yesikhungo yamaJuda. ₂Njengoko ebeqhele ukwenjenjalo, uPawulos waya endlwini yesikhungo leyo. Apho wayexoxa nabantu *ngeziBhalo imiGqibelo emithathu, ₃ezichaza iziBhalo, ecacisa kwangazo ukuba ubemelwe kukuva ubunzima *uKrestu, abuye avuke ekufeni. “Lo Yesu ndimvakalisayo nguKrestu,” wayesitsho uPawulos. ₄Abanye abantu boyisakala, bazimanya noPawulos noSilas. Enjenjalo namaGrike aliqela awayemhlonela uThixo, kwakunye namakhosikazi amaninzi aphambili entlalweni.

₅Kodwa akhathazeka amaJuda, aqokelela amatshijolo ezitalatweni, yaligquba elenza intswahla nesiphithi-phithi edolophini. Lawuhlasela umzi kaJason, liba balapho ooPawulos noSilas, liza kubasa ematyaleni. ₆Kodwa lakungabafumani, larhuqa uJason kunye namanye amakholwa, libasa kubaphathi-dolophu, likhwaza lisithi: “La madoda luqhushululu konke apho ahamba khona; ngoku eze nakule idolophu, ₇yaye uJason uwagcine phaya endlwini yakhe. Ewonke angabaphuli-mthetho *kaKhesare, kuba athi kukho nkosi yimbi inguKrestu Yesu.” ₈Ngaloo mazwi basitsho isihlwele nabaphathi-dolophu bakhathazeka. ₉Abaphathi-dolophu babahlawulisa imali yesibambiso ooJason nabanye abo ngaphambi kokubakhulula bahambe.

₁₀Kuthe nje kusandul' ukuhlwa, amakholwa abathumela eBheriya ooPawulos noSilas. Bafika apho, baya *kwindlu yesikhungo yamaJuda. ₁₁Abantu balapho bona babeneengqondo eziphangaleleyo kunabantu baseTesalonika. Baluphulaphula ngomdla bona udaba, bazifunda mihla le *neziBhalo, befuna ukuqonda ukuba uPawulos unyanisile na. ₁₂Kwaguquka abantu abaninzi, amadoda kunye namakhosikazi amaGrike akumgangatho ophezulu entlalweni. ₁₃Kodwa akuva amaJuda aseTesalonika ukuba uPawulos ulishumayela naseBheriya ilizwi likaThixo, aya apho, afika afaka umoya woqhushululu ebantwini. ₁₄Amakholwa amsa ngaselwandle uPawulos kwangoko. Basala bona ooSilas noTimoti eBheriya. ₁₅La madoda âhamba noPawulos, ada aya kutsho eAtene. Abuyela eBheriya nomyalelo kaPawulos wokuba ooSilas noTimoti mabakhawuleze baye kuye.

₁₆Kwathi xa uPawulos wayesalinde uSilas noTimoti eAtene, wafumana umnqa kukubona indlela ezazizininzi ngayo izithixo kuloo dolophu. ₁₇Waxoxa endlwini yesikhungo namaJuda kunye neentlanga ezazihlonela uThixo. Ngokukwanjalo wayexoxa nabantu ababegqitha-gqitha ebaleni lembutho. ₁₈Nabathile abaziintanda-bulumko zeqela *lamaEpikure *namaStoyike babencokola naye. Bambi babesithi: “Ngaba lifuna ukuthini eli pholopholo?” abanye besithi: “Ngathi ngunozakuzaku *woothixo basemzini.” Babesitsho ke kuba uPawulos wayeshumayela ngoYesu nangovuko lwabafileyo.

₁₉Baza ke bamthatha uPawulos, baya naye entlanganisweni, endaweni ekwakusithiwa yiAriyopago, bathi kuye: “Khawutsho! Sifuna ukuyazi le mfundiso intsha uthetha ngayo. ₂₀Ezinye zezinto esikuva uthetha ngazo ziyasimangalisa, ngoko ke sifuna ukuyazi intsingiselo yazo.” ₂₁Kaloku abantu baseAtene nabatyeleli bakhona kwakungekho nto babeyixabise ngaphezu kokuncokola okanye ukuphulaphula iingcamango ezintsha.

₂₂UPawulos waphakama wema entlanganisweni apho eAriyopago, wathi: “Bantu baseAtene, ndiyaphawula ukuba ningabantu abaluthanda ngokuncamisayo unqulo. ₂₃Kuthe xa bendihamba-hamba ndibuka iindawo zenu zonqulo, ndabona neqonga lamadini elibhaliweyo kwathiwa: ‘Kongaziwayo uThixo.’ Ngoko ke lowo nina nimnqula ningamazi, mna ndivakalisa yena kuni. ₂₄UThixo lo udale ihlabathi nezinto ezikulo, uyiNkosi yezulu nomhlaba. Ngoko ke akahlali zindlwini zenziwe ngabantu, ₂₅engaswele nto ngokokude abantu bazidube ngokumenzela nto. Kuba kaloku nguye ngokwakhe onika ubomi nomphefumlo, nazo zonke iimfuneko zoluntu lonke. ₂₆Zonke iintlanga zabantu wazidala zaphuma mlibeni mnye, wazenza ukuba ziwume wonke umhlaba. Yena ngokwakhe kwangaphambili wazimisela amaxesha obomi, kunye nemida yokuhlala kwazo. ₂₇Oku wakwenza ukuze zihlale zimzingela, hleze zimphuthaphuthe de zimfumane; nangona yena uThixo engekude kuthi sonke, ₂₈kuba kungaye sikho nje, sisuka-suka, siphilile. Kunjengoko zitshoyo ezinye zeembongi zenu ukuthi: ‘Nathi siyinzala yakhe.’ ₂₉Singabantwana bakhe nje ke, masingacingi ukuba imo kaThixo ifana nento eqingqwe ngegolide, ngesiliva, okanye ngelitye, ngobugcisa bomntu. ₃₀UThixo wayewayeke ngabom loo maxesha apho abantu babengazi. Kungokunje uyalela abantu bonke, ezindaweni zonke, ukuba baguquke ezindleleni zabo ezimbi. ₃₁Kaloku uwumisele umhla apho aya kuligweba ihlabathi lonke liphela ngobulungisa, ngeNdoda ayimiseleyo. Le nto uyingqine kubantu bonke ngokuyivusa loo Ndoda ekufeni.”

₃₂Bathi bakumva uPawulos ethetha ngovuko lwabafileyo, bahlekisa ngaye. Bambi bathi: “Sisafuna ukuyiva kwakhona le ntetho yakho.” ₃₃Waza ke uPawulos wemka apho entlanganisweni. ₃₄Kambe abanye bazinikela, baza bamlandela. Phakathi kwabo kwakukho uDiyonisi, ilungu leAriyopago, nomfazi ogama linguDamari, kunye nabanye.

₁Emva koko uPawulos wemka eAtene, wabheka eKorinte. ₂Apho wadibana nomJuda ogama linguAkwila, owazalelwa ePonto, ekunye noPrisila umkakhe. Wayesand' ukufika apho, evela eItali, ekubeni *uKhesare Klawudiyo wawagxothayo amaJuda awayeseRoma. Ebandwendwele uPawulos, ₃wahlala kunye nabo, wasebenza kunye nabo, kuba kaloku wayephila ngokwenza iintente njengabo. ₄Yonke imiGqibelo wayedla ngokubamba iingxoxo *endlwini yesikhungo, ezama ukuwanelisa amaJuda kwanamaGrike.

₅Bakufika ooSilas noTimoti, bevela eMakedoni, uPawulos akabanga senza nto yimbi ingekuko ukushumayela iindaba ezimnandi, ewacacisela amaJuda ukuba uYesu unguye uKrestu. ₆Kuthe akumchasa emngcikiva, wavuthulula iimpahla zakhe, ekhalala, esithi: “Ukuba nithe natshabalala, lityala lenu. Mna andinatyala kuloo nto. Ukususela ngoku ndiya ezintlangeni.” ₇Wabashiya ke waya kuhlala emzini kaTitiyo Yusto intlanga eyayimnqula uThixo. Umzi wakhe wawumelene nendlu yesikhungo. ₈UKrispo, igosa lendlu yesikhungo, wazinikela eNkosini kunye nentsapho yakhe. Kwabhaptizwa nenkitha yabantu eKorinte eyalivayo ilizwi yazinikela eNkosini.

₉Ngabusuku buthile uPawulos waba nombono apho, yathi iNkosi kuye: “Sukoyika, zingisa ukuthetha ungancami, ₁₀kuba mna ndinawe. Akukho mntu uya kukuchukumisa, kuba baninzi abantu bam kule dolophu.” ₁₁UPawulos wahlala apho ke unyaka onesiqingatha, ebafundisa ilizwi likaThixo abantu.

₁₂Kwathi akuba uGaliyo eyirhuluneli emele amaRoma kwisithili saseAkaya, amaJuda adibana ngoPawulos, amthatha amsa enkundleni, afika athi: ₁₃“Le ndoda izama ukuwexula abantu ukuba bakhonze uThixo ngendlela ephambeneyo nomthetho.”

₁₄Kwathi xa aza kuphendula uPawulos, uGaliyo wabhekisa kumaJuda wathi: “Ukuba ngaba lo mbandela ubuyimpazamo ethile, okanye ityala elibi, bendingade ndiyinyamezele le nto, maJuda. ₁₅Kodwa ke ngenxa yokuba lo mbandela uphathelele kumazwi, namagama, nomthetho wenu, ziboneleni nina ukuba ningawulungisa njani na. Mna andinakugweba izinto ezinjalo.” ₁₆Waza ke wabakhupha apho enkundleni. ₁₇Bahlasela uSosteno igosa lendlu yesikhungo, bambethela apho phambi kwenkundla. Kodwa yena uGaliyo zange azikhathaze ngaloo nto.

₁₈UPawulos wahlala apho eKorinte ixesha elide, waza ke wanduluka apho ngesikhephe enoPrisila noAkwila, basinga eSiriya. Wathi xa aseKenkreya wacheba intloko yakhe, kuba wayenze isifungo. ₁₉Bakufika e-Efese, uPawulos wabashiya ooPrisila noAkwila, waya endlwini yesikhungo, waxoxa khona namaJuda. ₂₀Babemcela ukuba ahlale nabo ixesha elide, kodwa akavuma. ₂₁Wasuka wathi xa ahambayo: “Ukuba ngaba kuyintando kaThixo ukuba ndibuye, ndobuya ndibuye.” Waza ke wemka e-Efese.

₂₂Akufika eKhesariya, wadlula waya kubulisa ibandla, waza ke waya eAntiyokwe. ₂₃Emva kwethuba elapho wemka, watyhutyha imimandla yaseGalati neyaseFrigi, ehamba ewomeleza onke amakholwa.

₂₄E-Efese kwafika umJuda, ogama linguApolo, owazalelwa eAlesandriya. Wayeliciko lokuthetha, futhi ezazi ngokucokisekileyo *iziBhalo. ₂₅Wayeqeqeshiwe ngeNdlela yeNkosi, ngokunjalo wayethetha ngokutshiseka ezifundisa iinyaniso ezingoYesu ngentembeko. Nangona kunjalo wayesazi ubhaptizo lukaYohane kuphela. ₂₆Wayethetha ngesibindi *endlwini yesikhungo. Bathi ke bakumva ooPrisila noAkwila, bammemela emzini wabo, bamcacisela kakuhle ngokuzeleyo iNdlela yeNkosi. ₂₇UApolo wagqiba ukuba aye kwelaseAkaya, aza amakholwa ase-Efese amkhuthaza amphathisa neleta emazisayo kumakholwa alapho. Akufika khona waba luncedo olukhulu kwabo babethe ngesisa sikaThixo baguquka, ₂₈kuba ngenxa yobuciko bakhe wayewoyisa amaJuda ezingxoxweni. Kaloku wayecaphula eziBhalweni, ebonisa ukuba uYesu *unguKrestu.

₁Ngexesha uApolo wayeseKorinte, uPawulos yena wacanda phakathi kuloo mimandla, waya kufika e-Efese. Apho wafumana iqela labalandeli bakaYohane, ₂wababuza wathi: “Namamkela na uMoya oyiNgcwele ukuzinikela kwenu?”

Baphendula bathi: “Asizange sive nokuva ukuba kukho uMoya oyiNgcwele.”

₃UPawulos wababuza wathi: “Phofu lubhaptizo luni enabhaptizwa ngalo?”

Bona bathi: “Lubhaptizo lukaYohane.”

₄UPawulos wabachazela wathi: “Ubhaptizo lukaYohane lona lwalusalatha inguquko. Yena wayebaxelela abantu ukuba bazinikele kulowo wayesiza emva kwakhe; nguYesu ke lowo.”

₅Bakuyiva le ntetho, babhaptizwa egameni leNkosi uYesu. ₆UPawulos wababeka izandla, batsho bamamkela uMoya oyiNgcwele, baza bathetha iilwimi, belithetha ilizwi likaThixo. ₇Babengamadoda amalunga neshumi elinambini.

₈Ngesithuba seenyanga ezintathu uPawulos wayesiya *endlwini yesikhungo yamaJuda, ethetha, exoxa nabo abantu ngesibindi, ezama ukuboyisela ekulawulweni nguThixo. ₉Kodwa abanye babo baba neenkani, abavuma ukuzinikela, basuka bayingcikiva iNdlela yeNkosi esidlangalaleni. Ngoko ke uPawulos wabashiya, wathatha abalandeli bakaYesu, waza wafundisa imihla ngemihla esikolweni sikaTirano. ₁₀Le nto ke wayiqhuba isithuba seminyaka emibini, bada bonke abantu ababehlala kwelo phondo laseAsiya, amaJuda kwanamaGrike, baliva ilizwi leNkosi.

₁₁Amandla kaThixo âbonakala ngezinto ezingaqhelekanga ezazisenziwa nguPawulos. ₁₂Neetshefu ezi kwaneefaskoti ezichukumise umzimba kaPawulos zazibaphilisa abagulayo, kude kuphume neendimoni. ₁₃AmaJuda athile awayejikeleza ekhupha iindimoni, nawo akhe azama ukusebenzisa igama leNkosi uYesu. Ayesithi kwiindimoni: “Ndikuyala ngegama likaYesu, lo ushunyayelwa nguPawulos.” ₁₄Aba babesenza le nto yayingoonyana abasixhenxe bombingeleli oyintloko womJuda owayenguSkeva igama.

₁₅Kodwa indimoni yathi kubo: “Ndiyamazi uYesu, noPawulos ndiyamazi; nina ke ningoobani?”

₁₆Ke kaloku indoda leyo yayinendimoni yabahlasela yabongamela, ibadlakazelisa kangangokuba baphuma apho kuloo ndlu bagqotsa bengxwelerhekile, neempahla zabo zivukuvuku. ₁₇Onke amaJuda neentlanga ezazihlala apho e-Efese zasiva esi siganeko, zaza zoyika kakhulu; laza igama leNkosi uYesu lanikwa imbeko ladunyiswa. ₁₈Amakholwa amaninzi azinikezela, ezivuma ezixela esidlangalaleni izinto azenzileyo. ₁₉Uninzi lwâbo babesenza imilingo lwaziqokelela lwazitshisela esidlangalaleni iincwadi zalo. Bawabala bawadibanisa amaxabiso ezo ncwadi, bazifumana zikwisithuba samashumi amahlanu amawaka eerandi. ₂₀Ngamandla eNkosi ilizwi leNkosi lanwenwezela, lakhula, laya lisomelela ngokomelela ngale ndlela.

₂₁Emva koko uPawulos wazimisela ukucanda kwelaseMakedoni nelaseAkaya, aze agqithele eJerusalem. “Ndakuba ndiyile khona, kufuneka ndiyibone neRoma,” wakha watsho. ₂₂Ke kaloku wathumela eMakedoni uTimoti noErasto abancedisi bakhe, lo gama athe yena wolula ukuhlala kwiphondo laseAsiya.

₂₃Kungeli xesha ke apho kwavumbuluka udushe e-Efese ngenxa yeNdlela yeNkosi. ₂₄UDemetriyo umfo owayebumba imifanekiso yendlu yesithixokazi *uArtemis ngesiliva, wayewenzela ingeniso enkulu ngolu shishino amagcisa aqeshwe nguye. ₂₅Wenza imbizo ke ekwabakho kuyo abaqeshwa kwakunye nabanye ababesenza umsebenzi okwanjengowakhe, wathi kubo: “Madoda, niyazi ukuba impumelelo yethu ixhomekeke kolu shishino. ₂₆Niyabona nizivela ngokwenu into eyenziwa yile nkewu uPawulos. Uthi *oothixo abenziwe ngabantu àbangabo konke, yaye uphumelele ekuboyiseni abantu abaninzi jikelele kule Efese, phantse wawugqiba ummandla waseAsiya uphela. ₂₇Ilapha ke ingozi, kule ndawo yokuba ushishino olu lwethu lufumane igama elibi. Kanti asikokuphela kwaloo nto, ikwakho nale ndawo yokuba nendlu yesithixokazi uArtemis ayiyi kwazelwa nto, ukanti nesidima sesithixokazi saseAsiya – nditsho esinqulwa lihlabathi liphela – siya kuphanza.”

₂₈Iwaphulaphule la mazwi indimbane leyo, yakhathazeka kakhulu, yadanduluka yathi: “Mkhulu uArtemis wamaEfese!” ₂₉Le ntshukumo yatyhutyha yonke idolophu. Bahlasela uGayo noAristarko baseMakedoni ababehamba kunye noPawulos, babaqweqwedisela kwiqonga lemidlalo. ₃₀UPawulos wafuna ukungena phakathi kwesihlwele eso, ukuze athethe naso, kodwa amakholwa akamvumelanga. ₃₁Abathile kumagosa ephondo laseAsiya, ababenobuhlobo noPawulos, nabo bamthumela umyalezo, bemcebisa ukuba angayi phaya eqongeni lemidlalo. ₃₂Kwangeli xesha ke intlanganiso xa iyonke yayisisiphithi-phithi nje. Kaloku abanye babekhwaza bethetha le, bambi bekhwaza bethetha leya; kuba kaloku uninzi lwaluhamba nje nezihlwele, lungazi nokuba indibano le yeyantoni na. ₃₃Abanye abantu bamchazela ngale nto yenzekayo uAlesandire, kuba amaJuda ayegqatse yena phambili. UAlesandire wawangawangisa ngesandla ukuba kuthi cwaka, efuna ukulamla. ₃₄Kodwa bathi bakumqonda ukuba ungumJuda, batsho ngazwinye, besenza intswahla, bekhwaza, bephinda-phinda besithi: “Mkhulu uArtemis wamaEfese!” Kwada kwaphela iiyure ezimbini besenza loo nto.

₃₅Kwathi ngelikade unobhala wedolophu wada wanako ukusithomalalisa isihlwele. Wathi: “MaEfese, wonke ubani uyazi ukuba le dolophu yase-Efese ngumgcini wendlu yesikhulukazi uArtemis, nowomfanekiso oqingqiweyo owavela ezulwini. ₃₆Akukho bani unako ukuziphikisa ezi zinto. Ngoko ke zolani, ningenzi nto ngokungakhathali. ₃₇La madoda nize nawo apha, nangona angebanga zinto zingcwele zendlu yonqulo okanye anyelise isithixokazi sethu. ₃₈Ukuba uDemetriyo nezicaka zakhe banesityholo ngakubani, ikho imihla eyaziwayo yenkundla, neziphathamandla zikhona; bangamangalelana khona. ₃₉Kodwa ukuba kukho enye into, inokulungiswa yintlanganiso esemthethweni yabemi. ₄₀Kaloku ngenxa yale nto yehle namhlanje, sisengozini yokutyholwa ngokwenza ingxushungxushu. Asinandlela yakuziphendulela ngolu dushe, singenaso nesizathu esibambekayo.” ₄₁Akuba etshilo, wayichitha intlanganiso.

₁Lwakuba ludambile udushe olo, uPawulos wawahlanganisa amakholwa, wawanika amazwi enkuthazo nawokwahlukana. Waza wasuka apho wasinga kwelaseMakedoni. ₂Watyhutyha loo mimandla, ehamba ethetha amazwi enkuthazo ebantwini. Wafika nakwelamaGrike, ₃apho wahlala iinyanga ezintathu. Wathi xa alungiselela ukuya eSiriya, wabhaqa ukuba amaJuda amenzela iyelenqe, waza wabona ukuba makaphindele emva, acande kwelaseMakedoni. ₄Nâba abâmkhapháyo: uSopatro unyana kaPiro waseBheriya, uAristarko noSekundo baseTesalonika, uGayo waseDerbhe noTimoti, kwanoTikiko noTrofimo baseAsiya. ₅Basandulela baya kusilinda eTrowa. ₆Emva kweSidlo seZonka ezingenaGwele sanduluka eFilipi ngesikhephe, saza emva kweentsuku ezintlanu sadibana nabo eTrowa, apho sachitha iveki khona.

₇Ngokuhlwa koMgqibelo sahlanganisana kwisidlo sobudlelwana. UPawulos wathetha nabo abantu, wolula kwada kwaphakathi kobusuku, kuba kaloku wayeza kuhamba ngomhla olandelayo. ₈Intlanganiso leyo yayisegumbini eliphezulu apho kwakukho izibane ezininzi. ₉Umfana ogama linguYutiko wayehleli efestileni, wada wozela walala, kuba uPawulos engayeki ukuthetha. Wothuleka apho kumngangatho wesithathu, waya kuwa emhlabeni, bamchola apho efile. ₁₀UPawulos wehla waya kuye, wafika waziphosa phezu kwakhe, wamgona, wathi: “Sanukothuka, kuba akafanga, uhleli!” ₁₁Waza ke uPawulos wenyuka waya egumbini eliphezulu, wafika wathatha isonka watya. UPawulos wathetha nabo kwada kwaphuma ilanga, waza ke wemka. ₁₂Umfana lowo bagoduka naye ephilile, nabo bethuthuzelekile.

₁₃Thina sahlabela mgama, sihamba ngenqanawa, saya kutsho eAso, apho sasiza kuthatha uPawulos khona, kuba lo yayingumyalelo wakhe, njengoko yena wayehamba emhlabeni. ₁₄Wathi akudibana nathi eAso, sahamba naye saya kufika eMitilene. ₁₅Sasuka apho, saya kudlula malunga neKiyo ngosuku olulandelayo. Kwakhona ngemini elandelayo safika eSamo, saza ngengomso saya kufika eMileto. ₁₆UPawulos wayegqibe ukuba angagqithi e-Efese, ukuze angachithi xesha kwiphondo laseAsiya. Wayengxamele ukuba usuku *lwePentekoste lumfikele eseJerusalem xa kunokwenzeka.

₁₇Sathi xa siseMileto, uPawulos wathumela e-Efese, ukuba abadala bebandla baye kuye. ₁₈Bakufika wathi kubo: “Nina ngokwenu niyayazi kakuhle indlela endahlala nani ngayo, ukusuka kwimini yokuqala endathi ndafika ngayo kweli phondo laseAsiya. ₁₉Njengesicaka seNkosi, umsebenzi wam ndawenza ngentobeko ndisezinyembezini, nakumaxesha anzima ândifikeláyo ngenxa yamayelenqe amaJuda. ₂₀Niyazi ukuba andinifihlelanga nto ebinokuba luncedo kuni, xa bendishumayela ndinifundisa esidlangalaleni nasemakhayeni enu. ₂₁KumaJuda nasezintlangeni ndazingisa ukubalumkisa abantu ukuba baguqukele kuThixo beyivuma iNkosi yethu uYesu. ₂₂Ngoku ke ngokuthundezwa nguMoya oyiNgcwele ndiya eJerusalem, ndingayazi into eya kundihlela khona. ₂₃Ndazi nto-nye, le yokuba kuzo zonke iidolophu uMoya oyiNgcwele undilumkisile ukuba ndilindelwe yintolongo neenkxwaleko. ₂₄Kodwa kum ukuphila akubalulekanga ngaphezu kokuba ndilufeze ubizo lwam, ndiwugqibe umsebenzi endawunikwa yiNkosi wokuvakalisa iindaba ezimnandi zesisa sikaThixo.

₂₅“Ndijikelezile phakathi kwenu, ndivakalisa ngolawulo lukaThixo kuni. Ibe ngoku ndazi kakuhle ukuba akukho bani kuni uya kuphinda andibone. ₂₆Ngokunjalo ndingqina ndiqinisekile ngayo le mini ukuba xa kuthe kwakho umntu olahlekayo apha kuni, ndimsulwa mna, ₂₇kuba andizange ndifihle nto – ndalivakalisa njengoko linjalo icebo likaThixo kuni. ₂₈Zilumkeleni nina ngokwenu, niwulumkele nawo umhlambi athe uMoya oyiNgcwele wanibeka phezu kwawo. Yibani ngabelúsi bebandla likaThixo, athe walizuza ngegazi lowakhe uNyana. ₂₉Kuba ndiyazi ukuba ndakumka, kuya kuvela kwalapha kuni iingcuka eziqwengayo, ezingayi kuba nanceba ngomhlambi lo. ₃₀Kwalapha kuni kuya kubakho amadoda agqwetha inyaniso, enenjongo yokuwalahlekisa amakholwa. ₃₁Lumkani ngoko, nikhumbule ukuba imini nobusuku ndaniluleka nonke ngabanye, ndisezinyembezini, ithuba leminyaka emithathu.

₃₂“Ngoko ke ndiyambongoza uThixo ukuba makanikhusele. Uya kunakha ngodaba lwesisa sakhe, olunamandla okunenza nilixhamle ilifa kunye nabo bonke abantu bakhe. ₃₃Andizange ndinqwenele mali nampahla yamntu. ₃₄Kaloku nazi mhlophe ukuba ndasebenza ngezi zandla zam, ndizixhasa kuzo zonke iintswelo zam kwanezamahlakani am. ₃₅Ndinibonisile ngeendlela zonke ukuba sifanele ukusebenza nzima, ukuze sincede nabo bahluphekileyo, siwakhumbula amazwi eNkosi athi: ‘Kuluyolo ukupha ngaphezu kokuphiwa.’ ”

₃₆Akuwagqiba la mazwi uPawulos, waguqa nabo bonke, wathandaza. ₃₇Bathi besithi ndlela-ntle kuye, baye bengenakuzibamba bengqukruleka. Babemgona ngokwesiko labo. ₃₈Babehlatyaniselwe ngokukodwa ngamazwi awawathetháyo esithi abayi kuphinda bambone. Baza ke bamkhapha, baya naye enqanaweni.