To The Word – Day 58

₁UAdoni-zedeki ukumkani waseJerusalem weva ukuba uYoshuwa wayithimba iAyi wayitshabalalisa, waza nekumkani yalapho wayibulala kanye njengoko wayenzile naseJeriko nakukumkani walapho. Weva nokuba amaGibheyon anqophisene namaSirayeli, yaye ngoku ahlalisana nawo ngoxolo. ₂Abemi baseJerusalem yabaxhalisa kakhulu le meko, kuba kaloku iGibheyon yayisisixeko esibalulekileyo esilingana nezinye ezingamaziko olawulo. IGibheyon le yayingaphezulu kweAyi, nomkhosi wakhona unamagorha amadoda. ₃Ngoko ke ukumkani uAdoni-zedeki wathumela izigidimi kukumkani uHoham waseHebron, nakukumkani uPiram waseYamuti, nakukumkani uYafiya waseLakishe, nakukumkani uDebhiri wase-Eglon, esithi: ₄“Khanize kundincedisa siyihlasele iGibheyon, kuba amaGibheyon enze uxolo noYoshuwa namaSirayeli.” ₅Zasuka ke ezi kumkani zintlanu zama-Amori – eyaseJerusalem neyaseHebron, eyaseYamuti neyaseLakishe kunye neyase-Eglon – zahlanganyela iGibheyon, zayihlasela.

₆Amadoda aseGibheyon athumela isigidimi kuYoshuwa esikhululweni eGiligali, esithi: “Nceda ungasiyekeli thina zicaka zakho. Khawuleza uze kusinceda usisindise, kuba iinkosi zonke zama-Amori asezintabeni zisihlanganyele; ziyasihlasela.”

₇Wesuka kwangoko eGiligali uYoshuwa namagorha onke omkhosi wakhe. ₈Waza *uNdikhoyo wathi kuYoshuwa: “Uze ungaboyiki. Sendibanikele esandleni sakho. Akukho nanye kwezo kumkani enokumelana nawe.” ₉UYoshuwa nomkhosi wakhe wahamba ubusuku bonke ukusuka eGiligali besiya eGibheyon, bafika bawaqubula ama-Amori. ₁₀UNdikhoyo wawenza adideka ama-Amori ukufika komkhosi wamaSirayeli. AmaSirayeli abaswantsulisa eGibheyon, abasukela ukunyuka inkalo yaseBhete-horon ukubheka eAzeka naseMakeda. ₁₁Ngeli xesha babaleka amaSirayeli ukuhla ithambeka, uNdikhoyo wabatyhumfuza ngesichotho konke ukwenjenjeya ukuya eAzeka. Abaninzi bafa sisichotho ngaphezu kokubulawa ngamaSirayeli.

₁₂Ngaloo mhla uNdikhoyo amaSirayeli wawoyisela ngawo ama-Amori uYoshuwa wabhekisa kuNdikhoyo phambi kwawo onke amaSirayeli, wathi:

₁₅Emva kwedabi uYoshuwa nomkhosi wakhe babuyela esikhululweni eGiligali.

₁₆Ookumkani bama-Amori baphuncula bobahlanu, baya kuzimela emqolombeni eMakeda. ₁₇Babhaqwa, waza waxelelwa apho bakhoyo uYoshuwa. ₁₈Wathi: “Qengqelani amatye amakhulu, nivale ngawo umlomo womqolomba, nize nishiye amadoda okulinda. ₁₉Ke nina ze ningahlali apho, koko lusukeleni utshaba, ningaluvumeli lubalekele ezixekweni zalo. Kaloku *uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu selebanikele ezandleni zenu.” ₂₀Umkhosi kaYoshuwa waluswantsulisa utshaba, kambe abambalwa babaleka bade baya kungena ezixekweni ezinqatyisiweyo zakomawabo, basinda. ₂₁Abuya onke amadoda omkhosi kaYoshuwa, ehamba ngoxolo, aya esikhululweni esasiseMakeda, kungekho nto inokuwaphazamisa.

₂₂UYoshuwa wathi: “Wuvuleni umqolomba, nizizise kum zontlanu ezo kumkani.” ₂₃Wavulwa ke umqolomba, zaza zasiwa kuYoshuwa iikumkani zaseJerusalem, eHebron, eYamuti, eLakishe, nase-Elon. ₂₄UYoshuwa wawabiza ke onke amadoda akwaSirayeli, wathi kubaphathi-mkhosi: “Yizani apha nizinyathele entanyeni ezi kumkani.” Benjenjalo, ₂₅wathi ke uYoshuwa: “Nize ningoyiki ninkwantye! Yomelelani nikhaliphe! Yiyo le into aza kuyenza uNdikhoyo kuzo zonke iintshaba zenu enilwa nazo.”

₂₆UYoshuwa wazixabela ke ezo zikumkani, wathi mazixhonywe emithini emihlanu. Zajinga apho ke kwada kwaba ngorhatya. ₂₇Kwathi ngongcwalazi uYoshuwa wayalela ukuba zithulwe izidumbu zazo. Zaphoswa kwakuloo mqolomba bezizimele kuwo, kwavalwa ngamatye amakhulu apho. Aselapho unanamhla.

₂₈Kwangaloo mini uYoshuwa wahlasela iMakeda, wayithimba kwakunye nekumkani valapho. Kwabulawa wonke ubani kweso sixeko, akwasala namnye. Kwikumkani yaseMakeda wenza kwalaa nto wayeyenze kukumkani waseJeriko.

₂₉Ukusuka kwabo eMakeda uYoshuwa nawo onke amaSirayeli badlulela eLibhena, nayo bayihlasela. ₃₀Nalapho *uNdikhoyo wasinikela isixeko nokumkani waso ezandleni zamaSirayeli. Abulala wonke ubani apho, akashiya mntu. Nalapho kukumkani uYoshuwa wenza eso saseJeriko.

₃₁Basuka eLibhena ooYoshuwa, baya eLakishe, bayingqinga, bayihlasela. ₃₂UNdikhoyo wayinikezela iLakishe ezandleni zamaSirayeli, waza uYoshuwa wangena kuyo ngosuku lwesibini. Isixeko nabo bonke abakuso wasitshabalalisa njengoko wênjenjalo eLibhena. ₃₃Kweza ukumkani uHoram waseGezere, ezokunceda amaLakishe, wachithwa kunye nomkhosi wakhe, babulawa bonke, akwasala nempunde le.

₃₄UYoshuwa nomkhosi wakhe basuka eLakishe baya e-Eglon, bafika bayingqinga, bayihlasela. ₃₅Bayoyisa kwangaloo mini, babulala wonke umntu apho, baxelisa eLakishe.

₃₆UYoshuwa namaSirayeli onke bemka eLakishe, baya eHebron, bafika bayihlasela ₃₇bayoyisa kwangaloo mini. Babulala ukumkani walapho, nabantu bonke beso sixeko, kwakunye nabeelali ezimelene naso. Wathi masitshatyalaliswe eso sixeko uYoshuwa, kanye njenge-Eglon. Akuzange kusinde mntu apho.

₃₈Baphethuka apho, babheka eDebhiri. Bafika bayihlasela, ₃₉bayoyisa, kunye nokumkani wayo, neelali ezimelene nayo. Kwatshatyalaliswa ukumkani naye wonke umntu owayelapho, akwasala namnye. Nalapho wenza kwaesaseLibhena nesaseHebron.

₄₀UYoshuwa wabatshabalalisa bonke abemi belo zwe. Abantu ababemi kweleentaba, emathambekeni ngasempumalanga, kumazants' eentaba zasentshona, kwakunye nabo babemi kwimimandla yentlango ngasemazantsi, neekumkani zabo bonke. Wayethatha phambi konyawo atshayele yonke into ephefumlayo, ngokomyalelo kaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli. ₄₁Waloyisa ukusukela eKadeshe-bhaneya emazantsi, kuse eGaza ngaselwandle, nawo wonke ummandla waseGeshon, kuse eGibheyon emantla. ₄₂Le mimandla yonke uYoshuwa wayoyisa ephume umkhosi isihlandlo sasinye, kuba kaloku wayesilwelwa nguNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli. ₄₃Babuyela kwasesikhululweni eGiligali ooYoshuwa nomkhosi wakhe.

₁Ukumkani uJabhin waseHazore uthe akuva ngeziqwenga ezazisenziwa ngamaSirayeli, wathumela isigidimi kukumkani uJobhabhi waseMadon nakwiikumkani zaseShimron naseAkeshafi, ₂nakwiikumkani ezazikweleentaba emantla, eJordan kwintili esemzantsi woLwandle lwaseGalili, emazantsi eentaba, nakunxweme lwangaseDore. ₃Wasithumela nakumaKanana aphahle iJordan, kuma-Amori, kumaHeti, kumaPerezi, nakumaJebhusi kweleenduli, kwanakumaHivi awayemi phantsi kwentaba iHermon kummandla waseMizpa. ₄Ezo kumkani zeza nemikhosi yazo yonke, inyambalala yamajoni esith' ilanga, ekwanjalo namahashe neenqwelo ubuninzi. ₅Zahlanganisa imikhosi yazo ezo kumkani, zaya kugxumeka iintente ngakumlanjana iMerom, zilungele ukulwa namaSirayeli.

₆*UNdikhoyo wathi kuYoshuwa: “Uzungaboyiki wena. Ngeli xesha ngomso ndoba sendiwancedile amaSirayeli ukubabulala bonke. Kufuneka amahashe abo niwatshece imisipha, nezo nqwelo zabo nizintumeke umlilo.” ₇Nanko ke uYoshuwa nomkhosi wakhe wonke eyiqubula loo mikhosi ngakuloo mlanjana iMerom. ₈Wayinikela ezandleni zabo loo mikhosi uNdikhoyo, bayoyisa, bayisukela ukuya kutsho emantla eMisefoti-mayim naseSidon enkulu, kwaya kutsho entshonalanga kuloo ntili yaseMizpa. Babatyakatya kwada akwabikho namnye useleyo. ₉Ngokomyalelo kaNdikhoyo uYoshuwa wawatsheca imisipha loo mahashe abo, watshisa nezo nqwelo zabo.

₁₀Wajika apho uYoshuwa, waya kuthimba iHazore, wayibulala nekumkani yalapho. (Ngaloo mihla iHazore yayisesona sikumkani siyinjinga kwezo zalapho.) ₁₁Kwabulawa wonke umntu apho, akwasinda namnye, neso sixeko satshatyalaliswa ngomlilo.

₁₂Wazithimba zonke ezo zixeko ezinookumkani uYoshuwa, ebulala wonke umntu kwanokumkani, kanye njengoko wayeyalelwe nguMosis isicaka sikaNdikhoyo. ₁₃Kambe ke akazange azitshise amaSirayeli izixeko ezazakhiwe ezindulini; yaba yiHazore yodwa awathi uYoshuwa mayitshiswe. ₁₄AmaSirayeli emka nawo amaxhoba nemfuyo yezo zixeko. Ababulala bonke abantu, akashiya namnye. ₁₅Kaloku uNdikhoyo wayalela uMosis, waza uMosis yena wayigqithisela kuYoshuwa loo miyalelo, ke yena uYoshuwa wayithobela. Wenza konke okwayalelwa nguNdikhoyo kuMosis.

₁₆UYoshuwa wawuthimba wonke loo mhlaba: eleenduli, amazantsi eentaba ngasemantla nangasemazantsi, wonke ummandla waseGoshen, nentlango esezantsi, kwakunye naloo ntili yeJordan. _17-18Lo mmandla usuka kwintaba iHalaki ngase-Edom ezantsi, wenjenjeya ukuya kutsho eBhali-gadi emantla kuloo ntili yeLebhanon ngaphantsi kwentaba iHermon. UYoshuwa walwa ithuba elide neekumkani zalapha, kodwa ekugqibeleni wazoyisa, wazibulala. ₁₉YiGibheyon qha isixeko esanqophisana namaSirayeli. Kulapho ayehlala khona amaHivi. Zonke ezinye izixeko zoyiswa edabini. ₂₀*UNdikhoyo wazinika isibindi sokulwa namaSirayeli, khon' ukuze zitshatyalaliswe ziphele tu kungekho lusizi. Yayingumyalelo kaNdikhoyo lowo kuMosis.

₂₁Ngelo xesha uYoshuwa waya kutshabalalisa ama-Anaki ahlala kweleenduli eHebron, eDebhiri, eAnabhi, nakuzo zonke iinduli zakwaJuda nakwaSirayeli. Wawatshabalalisa kunye nezixeko zawo zonke uYoshuwa. ₂₂KwaSirayeli akuzange kusinde namnye umntu wesizwe sama-Anaki. Babekho kambe abasindayo eGaza, eGati, naseAshdode.

₂₃Wawuthimba wonke loo mhlaba uYoshuwa ngokomyalelo kaNdikhoyo kuMosis. Wawunika amaSirayeli ukuba bawume, libe lilifa lawo, khon' ukuze isizwe ngasinye sifumane indawo yaso.

Kwabakho uxolo elizweni.

₁AmaSirayeli ayesele oyisa awuthimba nomhlaba ongasempumalanga yeJordan, ukususa kuloo ngingqi yeAnon, kunyuse loo ntili yeJordan, kuye kutsho kwintaba iHermon. ₂Owokuqala ukumkani owoyiswayo yaba nguSihon umAmori owayelawula ummandla waseHeshbhon. Icala leGiliyadi laliphantsi kwakhe, ukususela eArure (engakumlambo iAnon) nasembindini wengingqi leyo, ukwenjenjeya ukusa eJabhoko (engumda welama-Amon). ₃Intili yeJordan ukususela kuLwandle lwaseGalili nayo yayikwalapho, ukusa ezantsi eBhete-yeshimoti (engasempumalanga yoLwandle oluFileyo) kwenjenjeya kuse emazantsi entaba iPisga.

₄Woyiswa naye ukumkani uOgi waseBhashan owayengowokugqibela kumaRafa. Wayephethe iAshtaroti kunye ne-Edreyi. ₅Intaba iHermon, iSaleka, kunye nayo yonke iBhashan, kuse kwimida yeGeshuri neMahaka, necala leGiliyadi, kuye kutsho kummandla kakumkani uSihon waseHeshbhon, nazo zazikwalawulwa yile kumkani.

₆Ezi kumkani zombini zoyiswa nguMosis namaSirayeli. Umhlaba wazo uMosis isicaka *sikaNdikhoyo wawunika isizwe sakwaRubhen nesakwaGadi nesiqingatha sesizwe sakwaManase.

₇UYoshuwa kunye namaSirayeli bazoyisa iikumkani ezazimi kummandla ongasentshonalanga yeJordan, ukusuka eBhali-gadi kwintili vaseLebhanon kuse kwintaba iHalaki ezantsi kufuphi neSeyire. Wawohlulela izizwe zakwaSirayeli lo mmandla uYoshuwa, ukuba ziwume.

₈Nazi iziphaluka zalo mmandla: eleenduli, amazantsi eentaba zasentshona, intili yeJordan namazantsi eentaba zayo, iingingqi zangasempuma, kunye nentlango engasezantsi. Lo mmandla yayingumhlaba wamaHiti, ama-Amori, amaKanana, amaPerezi, amaHivi, namaJebhusi. ₉AmaSirayeli oyisa iikumkani zezixeko iJeriko, iAyi (ngaseBhetele), ₁₀iJerusalem, iHebron, ₁₁iYarmuti, iLakishe, ₁₂iEglon, iGezere, ₁₃iDebhiri, iGedere, ₁₄iHoma, iAradi, ₁₅iLibhena, iAdulam, ₁₆iMakeda, iBhetele, ₁₇iTapuwa, iHefere, ₁₈iAfeki, iLasharon, ₁₉iMadon, iHazore, ₂₀iShimron-meron, iAkeshafi, ₂₁iTanaki, iMegido, ₂₂iKedeshe, iYokeneham (eKarmele), ₂₃iDore (elunxwemeni), iGoyim (eGiligali), ₂₄kunye neTirza. Yayingamashumi mathathu ezikumkani zizonke.

₁EKhesariya kwakukho umphathi-butho wamajoni aseRoma ogama linguKorneli. Umkhosi wakhe kwakusithiwa ngowaseItali. ₂Yena nosapho lwakhe babengabantu abamnqulayo bemhlonela uThixo. Wayengumntu onezinwe, ewanceda amaJuda ahlelelekileyo, ethandaza rhoqo kuThixo. ₃Ngenye injika-langa kwisithuba sentsimbi yesithathu, waba nombono, wasibona ngokucacileyo isithunywa sikaThixo singena sisithi kuye: “Korneli!”

₄Wasiqwalasela enoloyiko, wathi: “Yintoni, Nkosi?”

Saphendula sathi: “UThixo uyamkele imithandazo nemisebenzi yakho yesisa; akazange wakulibala. ₅Ngoku ke thuma amadoda eJopa, kumntu othile ogama linguSimon Petros, ₆olundwendwe lukaSimon umsuki weemfele, ondlu ingaselwandle.” ₇Sakumka isithunywa eso, uKorneli wabiza izicaka zakhe ezibini, kunye nejoni elalimhlonela uThixo, elalingumlindi wakhe. ₈Wabachazela konke okwakumhlele, waza wabathuma eJopa.

₉Ngomhla olandelayo, xa babesendleleni, besondela eJopa, uPetros uthe emini emaqanda waya kuthandaza phezu kwendlu kwindawo esabuvaranda. ₁₀Wasuka walamba, wafuna into etyiwayo, kwathi besamlungiselela ukutya wabona umbono. ₁₁Wabona izulu livulekile, kusihla into engathi lilaphu elikhulu libanjwe ngamasondo omane, lisiza emhlabeni. ₁₂Kulo kwakukho zonke iintlobo zezidalwa ezingatyiwayo ezizitho zine, ezirhubuluzayo, nezibhabhayo. ₁₃Weva ilizwi lisithi kuye: “Vuka, xhela utye, Petros.”

₁₄Waphendula wathi: “Nkosi, ngunotshe lowo! Mna andizange ndiyitye into engatyiwayo.”

₁₅Laphinda ilizwi elo lavakala kuye lisithi: “Musa ukuthi ayityiwa into athi uThixo iyatyiwa.” ₁₆Le nto yenzeka kwada kwakathathu, laza ke ilaphu elo lanyuselwa ezulwini.

₁₇Ngoku asamangalisiweyo yena uPetros ukuba ngaba yintoni na intsingiselo yalo mbono, wona amadoda athunywe nguKorneli ayesede awufumana umkhondo wendlu kaSimon, selemi esangweni. ₁₈Abuzisa ukuba ngaba akukho mhambi ugama linguSimon Petros na apho.

₁₉UPetros yena wayesajika-jikana nalo mbono ukuva kwakhe uMoya oyiNgcwele esithi: “Phulaphula, nango amadoda amathathu ekufuna. ₂₀Phakama uye kuwo la madoda, ungathandabuzi, uhambe nawo, kuba athunywe ndim.” ₂₁Waya kuwo uPetros, wafika wathi: “Ndim lo nimfunayo. Ngaba nindifuna ngani?”

₂₂Wona aphendula athi: “Sithunywa yiNkosi yethu uKorneli, oyindoda elungileyo emhlonelayo uThixo, ehlonitshwayo nangamaJuda. Uxelelwe sisithunywa sikaThixo ukuba makakubize uye endlwini yakhe, ukuze eve loo nto uya kumxelela yona.” ₂₃Wangena nabo endlwini uPetros, baza balalisa apho ngaloo mini.

Ngosuku olulandelayo wahamba nawo la madoda kunye namanye amakholwa aseJopa. ₂₄Ngengomso wagaleleka eKhesariya, apho wafika elindelwe nguKorneli nezizalwana nezihlobo zakhe ezisenyongweni. ₂₅Xa angenayo uPetros, uKorneli wazikhahlela phambi kwakhe, ₂₆kodwa uPetros wamphakamisa wathi: “Hayi, ndingumntu nje nam; musa ukwenjenjalo.” ₂₇UPetros wayethetha noKorneli ekungeneni kwakhe endlwini, apho wafika kubuthelene abantu abaninzi. ₂₈Uthe kubo uPetros: “Nina ngokwenu nazi kakuhle ukuba umJuda akavumelekile ngokwenkolo yakowabo ukuba andwendwele nokuba abe nento yokwenza neentlanga. Selendibonisile ke kodwa uThixo ukuba mandingathathi bani njengongahlambulukanga. ₂₉Yiyo loo nto uthe wakundibiza andala. Khawundixelele ke, undibizele ntoni?”

₃₀Uthe ukuphendula uKorneli: “Ngoku kusemva kweentsuku ezine oko ndandithandaza endlwini yam, malunga neli lixa ngentsimbi yesithathu emva kwemini, kwathi gqi umfo onxibe ezibengezelayo, wema phambi kwam, ₃₁wathi kum: ‘Korneli, uThixo uyamkele imithandazo yakho, wayikhumbula nemisebenzi yakho yesisa. ₃₂Ngoko ke thuma umntu eJopa, aye kubiza umntu ogama linguSimon Petros. Ulundwendwe lukaSimon umsuki weemfele, ondlu ingaselwandle.’ ₃₃Ndithumele kwangoko kuwe, nawe ke ulungisile ukuza. Thina sonke sihlangene apha ngenjongo yokudibana noThixo, silindele ukuphulaphula yonke into iNkosi ekuyalele ukuba usixelele yona.”

₃₄UPetros wathetha wenjenje: “Ngenene ndiyaqonda ngoku ukuba uThixo akamkhethi wabuso bamntu. ₃₅Nabani na, nokuba ngowaluphi na uhlanga, ukuba uyamhlonela uThixo, esenza okulungileyo, wamkelekile kuye. ₃₆Niyalwazi udaba awaluthumela kumaSirayeli, evakalisa iindaba ezimnandi zoxolo ngoYesu Krestu, oyiNkosi yabantu bonke. ₃₇Niyasazi isiganeko esenzekayo kulo lonke elakwaJuda, ukuqalela eGalili, emva kokushumayela kukaYohane ngobhaptizo. ₃₈Nivile ngoYesu waseNazarete owathanjiswa nguThixo ngoMoya oyiNgcwele waba namandla. Wayehamba kulo lonke, esenza okulungileyo, ebaphilisa bonke ababephantsi kwamandla omtyholi, kuba uThixo wayenaye. ₃₉Thina singamangqina ako konke awakwenzayo eJerusalem nakwelamaJuda. Bambulala ngokumbethelela emnqamlezweni, ₄₀waza uThixo wamvusa ekufeni ngosuku lwesithathu. ₄₁Akazange wabonakala kubantu bonke, koko wabonakala kuthi mangqina awawakhetha kwangaphambili uThixo, thina sasisitya sisela kunye naye emveni kokuba uThixo emvusile ekufeni. ₄₂Wasigunyazisa ukuba sishumayele ebantwini, singqine ukuba ungulowo uThixo amnyulele ukuba ngumgwebi wabahleliyo nabafileyo. ₄₃Bâthetha ngaye bonke *abashumayeli besithi wonke umntu ozinikelayo kuye uxolelwa izono zakhe ngamandla egama lakhe.”

₄₄Esathethanje uPetros, wehla uMoya oyiNgcwele phezu kwabo bonke abo babephulaphule. ₄₅AmaJuda akholwayo, lawo ayesuke noPetros eJopa, amangaliswa kukuba uThixo ezinike isipho soMoya oyiNgcwele neentlanga, ₄₆kuba baziva zithetha ngalwimi zimbi, zidumisa uThixo. UPetros wathetha wathi: ₄₇“Aba bantu bamkele uMoya oyiNgcwele njengoko samamkelayo nathi. Ngenene ke akukho namnye umntu ongalayo ukuba aba bantu babhaptizwe ngamanzi.” ₄₈UPetros ke ngoko wathi mababhaptizwe egameni likaYesu Krestu. Ke yena bamcela ukuba akhe ahlale nabo iintsukwana.

₁*Abathunywa namakholwa akulo lonke elakwaJuda, eva ukuba iintlanga nazo zilamkele ilizwi likaThixo. ₂Akubuyela eJerusalem uPetros, amaJuda angamakholwa amgxeka esithi: ₃“Wena ubulundwendwe lwabantu abangolukiyo ngokwesiko likaMosis, usitya nokutya nabo.”

₄Ke yena uPetros wabanika inkcazelo ezeleyo, esusela ekuqaleni kwento eyehlayo. Wathi: ₅“Ndathi ndiseJopa, ndithandaza ndabona umbono. Ndabona kusihla into engathi lilaphu elikhulu, lithotywa ngamasondo omane ezulwini, yaza kuthi ngxingxilili ngakum. ₆Ndaqwalasela ngaphakathi kuyo, ndabona izilo nezilwanyana, iinyoka neentaka zasendle. ₇Ndeva ilizwi lisithi kum: ‘Vuka, xhela utye, Petros.’ ₈Kodwa mna ndithe: ‘Nkosi, unotshe! Andizanga ndikufake kowam umlomo ukutya okungatyiwayo.’ ₉Kwakho lathi ilizwi elo: ‘Musa ukuthi ayityiwa nayiphi na into uThixo athi iyatyiwa.’ ₁₀Le nto yenzeka kwada kwakathathu, kwathi ekugqibeleni labuyiselwa kwasezulwini elo laphu. ₁₁Ngaloo mzuzu kanye, nako kufika kuloo mzi ndandihlala kuwo, amadoda amathathu awayethunywe kum, evela eKhesariya. ₁₂UMoya oyiNgcwele wathi mandihambe nawo loo madoda, ndingathingazi. Naloo makholwa mathandathu aseJopa aya kunye nam eKhesariya, safikela kwaKorneli sisonke. ₁₃UKorneli wasixelela ngombono wakhe, apho isithunywa sezulu safika sathi kuye makathumele umntu eJopa, aye kubiza umfo ogama linguSimon Petros, ₁₄sisithi nguye oya kubazisa indlela abaya kusindiswa ngayo yena nosapho lwakhe. ₁₅Ndithe ke ndakushumayela wehla kwangoko uMoya oyiNgcwele phezu kwabo, njengoko wehlayo nakuthi kuqala. ₁₆Ndatsho ndacinga ngamazwi âthethwa yiNkosi xa yayisithi: ‘UYohane wayebabhaptiza ngamanzi abantu; ke nina niza kubhaptizwa ngoMoya oyiNgcwele.’ ₁₇Kucace gcaa ukuba uThixo ezaa ntlanga uzinike kanye esiya sipho wasinika sona thina siyamkeleyo iNkosi uYesu Krestu. Bendingubani na ke mna ukuba ndingáde ndime phambi kwentando kaThixo?”

₁₈Yabanelisa le ngxelo, baza bamdumisa uThixo, ngokuba kuthe kanti neentlanga ezi uThixo uyazinika ithuba lokuguquka, ukuze zidle ubomi.

₁₉Abakholwayo basarhazwa yintshutshiso yethuba lokufa kukaStefano. Abanye baphaphatheka, baya kutsho eFenike, eSipro, naseAntiyokwe. Babeluvakalisa udaba lweNkosi kumaJuda kuphela. ₂₀Kodwa abanye bamakholwa, amadoda aphuma eSipro naseKirene, aya eAntiyokwe, aluvakalisa udaba nakwiintlanga ezintetho isisiGrike, ezishumayeza iindaba ezimnandi ezingeNkosi uYesu. ₂₁Amandla eNkosi ayewafukamele loo madoda, laza iqela elikhulu labantu lazinikela eNkosini.

₂₂Le nto yenzekileyo ngabo yaya kuvakala nakwibandla laseJerusalem, laza lathumela uBharnabha eAntiyokwe. ₂₃Akuba efikile khona, wabubona ububele bukaThixo ebantwini; waza wavuya wabalúleka bonke ukuba bathembeke, banyaniseke eNkosini ngeentliziyo zabo zonke. ₂₄UBharnabha wayeyindoda elungileyo, ezele nguMoya oyiNgcwele nalukholo.

Abantu abaninzi bazinikela eNkosini, ₂₅waza ke ngoko uBharnabha waya kukhangela uSawule eTarso. ₂₆Akumfumana, waya naye eAntiyokwe. Yaba ngunyaka wonke aba babini behlala phakathi kwebandla elo, baza baqeqesha iqela elikhulu. Kwakulapha eAntiyokwe apho abalandeli bakaYesu baqala ukubizwa ngokuba ngamaKrestu.

₂₇Ngelo xesha kwesuka *abashumayeli abathile eJerusalem baya eAntiyokwe. ₂₈Omnye wabo ogama linguAgabho, ezele nguMoya oyiNgcwele, wayixela kwangaphambili indlala eyayiza kubakho kuwo wonke umhlaba. Yona ke yafika ngexesha *likaKhesare Klawudiyo. ₂₉AmaKrestu agqiba ekubeni ulowo nalowo kuwo makaqwebele inkxaso yamakholwa akwelakwaJuda kangangoko anako. ₃₀Le nto ke bayenza, baza ke imali leyo bayithumela kubadala bebandla ngoBharnabha noSawule.

₁Ngeli thuba naye ukumkani uHerode wabatshutshisa abathile balo ibandla. ₂Wambulala ngekrele uYakobi umntakwabo-Yohane. ₃Uthe akuqonda ukuba esi senzo siwakholisile amaJuda, waqhubela phambili ngokuvalela uPetros. Le nto yenzeka ngexesha leSidlo seZonka ezingenaGwele. ₄Akuba ebanjiwe uPetros, wavalelwa entolongweni. Wanikelwa ukuba alindwe ngamajoni angamaqela amane angamane. UHerode wayezimisele ukumsa ematyaleni emva *kwePasika. ₅Waza ke uPetros wagcinwa entolongweni apho, kodwa amaKrestu wona azingisa ukumthandazela kuThixo, lo gama avalelweyo.

₆Ke kaloku uPetros wayelele phakathi kwabalindi ababini, ebotshelelwe kubo ngamatyathanga, kukho nabagadi abalinde isango lentolongo, ngobusuku obuphambi komhla awayeza kusiwa ngawo ematyaleni nguHerode. ₇Ngebhaqo kwabonakala isithunywa seNkosi simi bhuxe apho egumbini lentolongo, kwatsho kwasemini kukukhanya. Samshukumisa uPetros, samvusa sisithi: “Khawuleza, vuka!” Ukubanje sitsho, athi xibilili amatyathanga ezandleni. ₈Saqhuba sathi: “Bhinqa, unxibe iimbadada zakho.” Wenjenjalo ke uPetros, saza saphinda isithunywa eso sathi: “Yambatha, undilandele.” ₉Wasilandela ke uPetros, baphuma entolongweni. Wayengekaqondi ukuba iyinene le nto yenziwa sisithunywa seNkosi; wayeba uyaphupha. ₁₀Babagqitha abalindi bokuqala nabesibini, baza ekugqibeleni bafika kwisango lentsimbi elivulela edolophini. Lavuleka ngokwalo isango, baphuma ke. Bathi besehla ngesitalato sesuka see shwaka isithunywa eso.

₁₁Akuqabuka ebuthongweni uPetros wathi: “Ngoku ndiyazi ukuba ngenene le nto yinyaniso! INkosi isithumele isithunywa sayo, sandihlangula egunyeni likaHerode, nakuzo zonke izinto amaJuda ebenqwenela ukuzenza kum.”

₁₂Akuyiqonda le nto yenzekileyo uPetros waya emzini kaMariya, unina kaYohane Marko. Kwakukho abantu abaninzi apho, bethandaza. ₁₃Wankqonkqoza emnyango, kwaza kwaya intombazana egama linguRoda, ₁₄eyathi yakuliva ilizwi likaPetros, yasuka yajika ngenxa yovuyo ingamvulelanga, yaya kuxela ukuba nguPetros lo unkqonkqozayo. ₁₅“Unantoni na? Uyageza!” bamphikisa batsho abo babesendlwini. Kodwa yena wema ekubeni le nto iyinyaniso. Bathi ke bona: “Hayi ke, fan' ukuba sisithunywa sakhe.”

₁₆UPetros yena waphikelela enkqonkqoza, bada ngelikade bamvulela, bamangaliswa kakhulu bakuqonda ukuba kuthe kanti nguPetros ngenkqu lo. ₁₇Wawangawangisa ngesandla ukuba bathi cwaka, waza ke wabachazela indlela emkhuphe ngayo iNkosi entolongweni. Wabayaleza ukuba baye kuxela le nto kuYakobi nakwamanye amakholwa, waza yena wemka waya kwenye indawo.

₁₈Ngengomso yaba sisiphithi-phithi kubalindi bentolongo besithi: “Yaz' ukuba uphi na uPetros?” ₁₉UHerode wathi mabamfune, kodwa abazange bamfumane. Ngoko ke abalindi bancinwa, waza uHerode wagunyazisa ukuba babulawe.

Emva kwesi singaneko ke, uHerode wemka kwaJuda, waya kuhlala eKhesariya okwexeshana.

₂₀UHerode wayengavisisani mpela nabantu baseTire nabaseSidon. Kwakuba njalo bavumelana ngokuthumela igqiza labameli. Lona laqala lavana noBlasto, induna yasebhotwe, laza langena ngaye ukudala imvisiswano. Babecela uxolo kuba ilizwe labo lalixhomekeke kummandla kaHerode ekufumaneni ukudla.

₂₁Ngosuku olumisiweyo uHerode wavatha ezobukumkani, waza wahlala esihlalweni sakhe apho ebhotwe, wathetha nabantu. ₂₂“Asimntu, nguThixo lowo uthethayo,” bamemeza batsho abantu. ₂₃Ngakonje ukuba batsho abantu, isithunywa seNkosi sambetha ngesifo uHerode, ngokuba engamnikanga mbeko uThixo. Wadliwa ziimpethu, wada wafa.

₂₄Laqhubela phambili ilizwi likaThixo ukunwenwa.

₂₅UBharnabha noSawule bawugqiba umsebenzi wabo, baza babuya eJerusalem, behamba noYohane Marko.