To The Word – Day 56

₁Lakuba luwele lwaphelela uhlanga lwamaSirayeli, *uNdikhoyo wathi kuYoshuwa: ₂“Tyumba amadoda abe lishumi elinambini, ibe nye kwisizwe ngasinye. ₃Yithi makathathe ishumi elinambini lamatye kulaa ndawo bekume zinzi kuyo ababingeleli esazulwini seJordan, awathwale loo matye, aze awabeke apho kuya kuba kukhululwe khona ngokuhlwa namhlanje.”

₄UYoshuwa wawabiza loo madoda alishumi elinambini awatyumbileyo kwisizwe ngasinye, ₅wathi: “Ngenani emlanjeni iJordan, nigqithe kwityesi yomnqophiso kaThixo uNdikhoyo, ize indoda nganye ixwaye ilitye eliza kumela isizwe ngasinye samaSirayeli.” ₆Watsho esithi: “La matye ngumqondiso kumaSirayeli ngazo zonke iziganeko zikaNdikhoyo. Xa bebuza ngomso abantwana benu besithi: ‘Ngawantoni na la matye?’ ₇nobaxelela ukuba ngamhla ityesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo yayiwela umlambo, ema amanzi, ahlanganiselana eJordan. La matye ohlala esisikhumbuzo kumaSirayeli sesiganeko esehla kule ndawo.”

₈AmaSirayeli enza ngokomyalelo kaYoshuwa. Awakhetha amatye alishumi elinambini emlanjeni iJordan ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo kuYoshuwa, lalinye kwisizwe ngasinye, awasa kulaa ndawo kwakuza kukhululwa kuyo ngaloo mhla. ₉UYoshuwa yena wabeka amanye amatye alishumi elinambini kulaa ndawo kwakumi kuyo ababingeleli ababethwele ityesi yomnqophiso, phakathi emlanjeni iJordan. (Aselapho unanamhla loo matye.) ₁₀Ababingeleli bema njalo emlanjeni iJordan kwada kwagqitywa yonke into ekwakuthiwe kuYoshuwa mayenziwe ngabantu. Zizinto ezaziyalelwe nguMosis zonke ezo.

Abantu bakhawuleza ukuwela umlambo. ₁₁Bakuba bewele bonke, ityesi yomnqophiso yawezwa ngababingeleli, abantu bejongile. ₁₂Amadoda esizwe sakwaRubhen nesakwaGadi, kunye nenxalenye yesizwe sakwaManase, awela kuqala kunabo bonke abantu, exhobile, njengoko wayetshilo kuwo uMosis. ₁₃Kwawela amashumi mane amawaka amadoda axhobele idabi, aya kutsho kwezo ntili zeJeriko, ekhatshwa nguNdikhoyo. ₁₄Into eyenziwa nguNdikhoyo ngalo mhla yatsho amaSirayeli amhlonela uYoshuwa. Amhlonela bonke ubomi bakhe njengoko amhlonelayo uMosis.

₁₅UNdikhoyo wathi kuYoshuwa: ₁₆“Xelela ababingeleli abathwele ityesi yomnqophiso ukuba baphume emlanjeni.” ₁₇Wenjenjalo ke uYoshuwa, ₁₈bathi bakuba bewelile, wabuya wazala, waphuphuma kwakhona umlambo.

₁₉AmaSirayeli ayiwela iJordan ngomhla weshumi kwinyanga yokuqala, afika amisa iintente eGiligali engasempumalanga yeJeriko. ₂₀UYoshuwa wawamisa apho eGiligali laa matye alishumi linambini ayethathwe eJordan. ₂₁Wathi kumaSirayeli: “Xa bathe abantwana benu babuza kuni, boyise, besithi: ‘Ngawantoni na la matye?’ ₂₂ze nibabalisele nithi: ‘AmaSirayeli ayiwela le Jordan ehamba emhlabeni owomileyo.’ ₂₃Kaloku uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu wawanqumamisa amanzi eJordan, khon' ukuze niwele umlambo womile, kanye ngalaa ndlela womisa ngayo amanzi oLwandle oluBomvu khon' ukuze siwele. ₂₄Loo nto ke iya kwenza ukuba bonke abemi belizwe bawaqonde amandla kaNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, nani nimoyike ngalo lonke ixesha.”

₁Zonke iikumkani zama-Amori ngasentshonalanga kweJordan, nazo zonke ezamaKanana ezigudle ulwandle, zeva ngesiganeko esenziwa nguNdikhoyo sokomisa iJordan ada awela onke amaSirayeli. Zankwantya, zaphelelwa ngamandla ngenxa yamaSirayeli.

₂Ngelo xesha *uNdikhoyo wathi kuYoshuwa: “Sebenzisa iintshengeca zelitye lenyengane, uwaluse amaSirayeli angolukanga.”

₃Wenjenjalo ke uYoshuwa, wawalusela endaweni ekuthiwa yiNduli yeNyama yoKwaluswa. _4-6Ukumka kwamaSirayeli eJiputa onke amakhwenkwe ayesele alukile. Kodwa ke kuthe ngenxa yokubhadula entlango amashumi amane eminyaka akwabikho thuba lakwalusa nkwenkwe. Kanti ke onke amadoda ayeselekwixabiso lokuya emfazweni ukufuduka kwabo eJiputa ayeselebhubhile ngenxa yokungamthobeli uNdikhoyo. Njengoko watshoyo kooyise-mkhulu uNdikhoyo akazange awavumele alibone ilizwe laseKanana eliphuphuma ubisi nobusi. ₇Oonyana uNdikhoyo awabakhulisa endaweni yooyise ngabo aba awabalusayo ngoku uYoshuwa, kuba kaloku babengazange boluka.

₈Akuba alusiwe ke onke, ahlala esikhululweni ada aphila loo madoda. ₉UNdikhoyo wathi kuYoshuwa: “Namhlanje ndilisusile kuni ihlazo lokuba ngamakhoboka aseJiputa.” Yiyo ke loo nto loo ndawo kwathiwa ukubizwa kwayo yiGiligali, igama esabizwa ngalo.

₁₀Ngexesha amaSirayeli ayeseseGiligali entilini yaseJeriko, enza umsitho *wePasika ngokuhlwa komhla weshumi elinesine waloo nyanga. ₁₁Ngomhla olandelayo ayeqala ukutya ukutya kwaseKanana, agcada ingqolowa, enza nezonka ezingenagwele. ₁₂*Imana yaphela ngengomso, akaphinda ayifumana amaSirayeli, aza ngaloo nyaka atya ukutya okuveliswe yiKanana.

₁₃Xa wayeselapho ngaseJeriko uYoshuwa, wagagana nomfo ophethe ikrele. Waya kuye uYoshuwa, wafika wathi: “Ngaba ungakuthi, okanye ulutshaba?”

₁₄“Nakanye, ndikho nje mna ndiyingqwayi-ngqwayi yomkhosi *kaNdikhoyo,” utshilo lo mfo.

Wazikhahlela phantsi uYoshuwa, wathi: “Mhlekazi, mna ke ndisisicaka sakho; ufuna ndenze ntoni?”

₁₅Yathi loo ngqwayi-ngqwayi yomkhosi kaNdikhoyo: “Khulula iimbadada zakho ezo. Lo mhlaba umi kuwo ngumhlaba ongcwele.” Wenjenjalo ke uYoshuwa.

₁Amasango eJeriko ayevalwe mba ukuze amaSirayeli angabi nako ukungena. Kwakungekho mntu uphumayo nongenayo kweso sixeko. ₂*UNdikhoyo wathi kuYoshuwa: “IJeriko ndiyinikela kuwe, kunye nokumkani wayo, kwakunye namagorha ayo. ₃Wena ke kunye nomkhosi wakho kufuneka niyijikeleze kanye ngemini iintsuku zibe ntandathu. ₄Kufuneka ababingeleli babe sixhenxe, elowo ephethe isigodlo, bahambe ngaphambi kwetyesi yomnqophiso. Ngosuku lwesixhenxe kufuneka wena nomkhosi wakho nisijikeleze kasixhenxe isixeko, ababingeleli bona bavuthele izigodlo. ₅Kuya kuthi ke xa bevuthela isandi eside ababingeleli, nihlabe umkhosi, nimemeze, zidilike iindonga zeJeriko. Wandule ke ukungena macal' onke ngaphakathi kwesixeko wonke umkhosi.”

₆UYoshuwa wababiza ababingeleli, wathi kubo: “Thathani ityesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo, baze abasixhenxe kuni bahambe ngaphambi kwayo, bephethe izigodlo.” ₇Waza ke wayalela umkhosi wakhe ukuba ujikeleze isixeko, amanye amadoda axhobileyo ahambe ngaphambi kwetyesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo.

₈Kwathi uYoshuwa esathetha njalo beza phambili abo babingeleli basixhenxe bephethe izigodlo ezisixhenxe, bazivuthela, baza balandelwa yityesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo. ₉Ibutho lamadoda axhobileyo lahamba phambi kwabababingeleli ababevuthela izigodlo, elinye ibutho lalandela ityesi yomnqophiso. Wonke loo gama izigodlo bezihlokoma. ₁₀UYoshuwa wawayalela amadoda akhe wathi: “Ze ningahlabi mkhosi, ningakhwazi. Ewe, ze ningakhe nilinge niyivule imilomo yenu, ide ibe lolo suku niya kuyalelwa ndim.” ₁₁Loo madoda ke ajikeleza isixeko kwakanye, ehamba netyesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo, aza abuyela esikhululweni, alala.

₁₂Ngengomso uYoshuwa wavuka kwangentseni, nababingeleli baphinda bayithwala ityesi yomnqophiso njengezolo. ₁₃Kwahamba amadoda axhobileyo ngaphambili, kwalandela ababingeleli abavuthela izigodlo abasixhenxe, kweza ababingeleli abathwele ityesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo, kwaza ekugqibeleni yangamadoda axhobileyo. ₁₄Ngolu suku lwesibini basijikeleza kanye isixeko, baza babuyela kwasesikhululweni. Loo nto bayenza iintsuku zantandathu.

₁₅Ngosuku lwesixhenxe bavuka kwangomsobomvu, baza basijikeleza kasixhenxe isixeko, kwanjengalaa ndlela babenze ngayo. Ewe, ngale imini baphindelela kwada kwasixhenxe ukusijikeleza. ₁₆Ngesihlandlo sesixhenxe, xa ababingeleli babevuthela izigodlo, uYoshuwa wathi kumadoda akhe: “Ze nihlabe umkhosi, nimemeze, kuba uNdikhoyo usinikile esi sixeko! ₁₇Isixeko, nayo yonke into ekuso, kufuneka zitshatyalaliswe mpela, zibe ngumnikelo kuNdikhoyo ngomlilo. NguRahabhi ihenyukazi yedwa kunye nabantu bakowabo amabasindiswe, kuba yena wazifihla iintlola zethu. ₁₈Ze ningathathi nto ekufuneka itshatyalaliswe; xa nenjenjalo nozibizela intshabalalo ngokunokwenu, nihlisele amaSirayeli ishwangusha xa ewonke. ₁₉Yonke into eyenziwe ngesiliva, negolide, nobhedu, okanye ngentsimbi, mayahlulelwe uNdikhoyo. Kufuneka ifakwe koovimba bakaNdikhoyo.”

₂₀Bazivuthela izigodlo ababingeleli. Athi akuziva amadoda, ahlaba umkhosi ememeza, zadilika iindonga! Wasuka umkhosi waya ngqo esixekweni, wafika wasithimba. ₂₁Asenza umnikelo kuNdikhoyo isixeko, afaka ikrele umntu wonke, abulala amadoda nabafazi, abatsha nabadala. Abulala iinkomo, iigusha, kunye needonki.

₂₂UYoshuwa wathi la madoda mabini ayeziintlola makaye kwaRahabhi, eze naye nabantu bakowabo, njengoko ayethembisile. ₂₃Aya ke, abuya naye uRahabhi, kunye noyise, nonina, nabantakwabo, kunye nabo bonke abantu bakowabo. Bathatha wonke loo mzi uphela, babahlalisa ngakwisikhululo samaSirayeli. ₂₄Bantumeka umlilo kweso sixeko, satsha nqu, kunye nento yonke eyayilapho. Igolide, nesiliva, nezinto zobhedu, nentsimbi, bazithatha bazisa koovimba bakaNdikhoyo. ₂₅Kodwa uYoshuwa wabasindisa ooRahabhi nabantu bakowabo, yaye uRahabhi usekho kwaSirayeli unanamhla, kuba wafihla iintlola ezazithunyelwe eJeriko nguYoshuwa.

₂₆UYoshuwa wafunga wathi:

₂₇UNdikhoyo waba noYoshuwa, lwavakala kulo lonke udumo lwakhe.

₁Kwathi uPetros noYohane besathetha nabo abantu, kwafika ababingeleli nentloko yabalindi *bendlu kaThixo kunye *nabaSadusi. ₂Babekhathazekile kuba aba *bathunywa babefundisa abantu ngokuvuka kukaYesu ekufeni, nto leyo yayiqinisekisa ukuba abafileyo baya kuvuka. ₃Bababamba ke, babafaka entolongweni, ukuba balinde khona kude kube ngengomso, njengoko imini yayiselisangene. ₄Uninzi lwâbo bayivayo imfundiso leyo lwakholwa, laza ke landa inani labo laya kumawaka amahlanu.

₅Ngomhla olandelayo iinkokheli zamaJuda, nabadala, nabachazi-mthetho, bahlangana eJerusalem. ₆YayingooAnas umbingeleli omkhulu, noKayafa, noYohane, noAlesandire, kwanabanye bendlu yombingeleli omkhulu, ababelapho. ₇Babamisa phambi kwabo abathunywa, bababuza bathi: “Niyenze kanjani le nto? Gunya lini eli ninalo? Ligama likabani eli nisebenze ngalo?”

₈UPetros, ezele nguMoya oyiNgcwele, wabaphendula wathi: “Ziphathamandla nani badala, ₉xa namhlanje nisixoxisa ngesenzo esihle sokuphiliswa komntu osisiqhwala, ₁₀nina ninamaSirayeli ewonke yazini le nto ke: Lo mntu umi apha phambi kwenu ephile qete, uphile ngenxa yegunya legama likaYesu Krestu waseNazarete. Lowo nina nambethelela emnqamlezweni; wamvusa ke yena uThixo. ₁₁Lo Yesu ngulowo zithi *iziBhalo xa zithetha ngaye:

₁₃Amalungu *eBhunga amangaliswa kukubona ukungafihlisi kukaPetros noYohane, eqonda ukuba bangabantu nje abaqhelekileyo abangenamfundo. Baphawula nokuba babengamahlakani kaYesu. ₁₄Kodwa babengenandlela yokuphikisana nabo, kuba indoda le yayiphilisiwe yayimi apho kunye noPetros noYohane. ₁₅Babakhuphela ngaphandle kwendlu leyo yeBhunga, basala bona bexoxa bodwa. ₁₆Babuzana besithi: “Singawathini la madoda? Wonke ubani apha eJerusalem uyazi ukuba lo mqondiso ungaqhelekanga wenziwe ngawo, sibe ke thina singenako ukuyiphika le nto. ₁₇Ukuze ke inganwenwi le nto phakathi kwabantu, masibalumkise bangaze bathethe nakubani ngegama likaYesu.”

₁₈Babangenisa kwakhona, baza babayala ukuba ze bangaphindi bathethe okanye bafundise ngegama likaYesu. ₁₉UPetros noYohane bona baphendula bathi: “Zahluleleni nina ngokwenu ukuba kulunge kuphi na phambi koThixo; kukho ukwenza intando yenu, kukho nokwenza intando kaThixo. ₂₀Thina asinakuyeka ukuthetha ngento esiyibone sayiva ngokwethu.” ₂₁IBhunga labatyityimbisela umnwe, laza labakhulula. Alibanga nakroba lakubohlwaya, ngenxa yokoyika abantu, kuba babedumisa uThixo ngesi senzo. ₂₂Kaloku le ndoda yaphiliswa ngalo mmangaliso yayingaphezu kwamashumi amane eminyaka ubudala.

₂₃Bakuba bekhululwe uPetros noYohane babuyela kubahlobo babo, bababalisela okwathethwa kubo ngababingeleli abaziintloko bekunye nabadala. ₂₄Bevile ke, bonke bathandaza ngamxhelo mnye, besithi: “Nkosi, Mdali wezulu nomhlaba nolwandle nazo zonke izinto ezilapho, ₂₅uDavide, isicaka sakho, ukhokho wethu, eqhutywa nguMoya oyiNgcwele wathi:

₃₁Bakuba begqibile ukuthandaza, indawo ababehlangene kuyo yazanya-zanyiswa. Bonke bazaliswa nguMoya oyiNgcwele, baza baluthetha udaba lukaThixo benobuganga.

₃₂Ewonke amakholwa ayevana entliziyo-nye. Akukho bani wayekubanga oko anako, kuba babesabelana ngezinto zonke abanazo. ₃₃*Abathunywa babezingisa ukungqina ngovuko lweNkosi uYesu, waza uThixo wabasikelela xa bebonke. ₃₄Kwakungekho bani usweleyo phakathi kwabo. Ababenemihlaba nezindlu babethengisa ngazo, baze imali leyo bayifumeneyo ₃₅beze nayo, bayinike abathunywa, ize yabelwe ulowo nalowo ngokweentswelo zakhe.

₃₆UJosefu, *umLevi onkaba iseSipro, owathiywa ngabathunywa bathi nguBarnabha, uMthuthuzeli, ₃₇wathengisa umhlaba wakhe, waza wayizisa imali leyo kubathunywa.

₁Ke kaloku kwakukho nendoda egama linguHananiya, umfazi wayo yena enguSafira. Bathengisa umhlaba wabo, ₂baza inxalenye yemali leyo bayifumeneyo bayigcina, eseleyo ke bayizisa *kubathunywa. ₃UPetros wabuza wathi: “Hananiya, kutheni ukuba umyeke uSathana alawule intliziyo yakho, akwenze uxokise uMoya oyiNgcwele ngokugcina inxalenye yemali oyifumeneyo ngomhlaba wakho? ₄Umhlaba wakho ubungowakho phambi kokuba uwuthengise, nemali yawo ibiyeyakho emveni kokuba uwuthengisile. Kungani ke ukuba ufike kwisigqibo sokwenza into enje? Awuxokisanga mntu, uxokise uThixo.” ₅Akuweva loo mazwi uHananiya wawa phantsi, wafa; baza bonke abayivayo loo nto bankwantya luloyiko. ₆Bafika abafana, bawuthatha bawuthandela umzimba wakhe, baya kumngcwaba.

₇Emva kweeyure ezintathu, yafika inkosikazi kaHananiya ingekayiva loo nto ihlileyo. ₈Wabhekisa kuyo uPetros esithi: “Khawutsho, ingaba le yimali epheleleyo eniyizuze ngokuthengisa umhlaba wenu nomyeni wakho?”

Yaphendula yathi: “Ewe, iphelele.”

₉Wayibuza wathi uPetros: “Kungani ukuba wena nendoda yakho nidibane ngokuvavanya uMoya weNkosi? Uyabona ke, abafana abavela kungcwaba indoda yakho nâbo emnyango, nawe lo baza kukuthatha bemke nawe.” ₁₀Ngoko nangoko uSafira wawa ezinyaweni zakhe, wafa. Bangena abafana, bambona ukuba ufile, bamthatha baya kumngcwaba ecaleni komyeni wakhe. ₁₁Xa lilonke ibandla nabo bonke abayivayo le nto bazaliswa kukunkwantya.

₁₂*Abathunywa benza imiqondiso nemimangaliso emininzi ebantwini. Bonke abakholwayo babehlangana eVarandeni kaSolomon. ₁₃Abangakholwayo babengazibandakanyi nabo, nakuba kwakuthethwa kakuhle ngabo. ₁₄Kuyo yonke loo nto kwabakho ihlokondiba lamadoda namakhosikazi azinikelayo eNkosini, laza longezeka inani labo. ₁₅Baza abagulayo basiwa ezitalatweni, balaliswa ezibhedini nasemakhukweni, ukuze kuthi xa agqithayo uPetros isithunzi sakhe siwe phezu kwabanye. ₁₆Izihlwele zabantu zazisiza, zivela kwiidolophu ezimelene neJerusalem, zizisa abagulayo nâbo babeneendimoni, baze baphile bonke.

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.