To The Word – Day 59

₁Mhlenikweni uYoshuwa wayeselaluphele kakhulu, *uNdikhoyo wathi kuye: “Sewumdala kakhulu ngoku, Yoshuwa, ukanti umhlaba ekusafuneka uthinjwe usemkhulu. _2-3Yiyo le imimandla esaseleyo:

“Bonke abemi balapho ndobakhupha apho ukufika kwamaSirayeli. Loo mhlaba uzuwabele amaSirayeli kanye ngalaa ndlela bendikuxelele yona, ube lilifa lezizwe ezilithoba kunye nesiqingatha sakwaManase.”

₈Isizwe sakwaRubhen nesakwaGadi kwakunye nesinye isiqingatha sakwaManase zona zaziseziwabelwe umhlaba wazo nguMosis isicaka *sikaNdikhoyo. Loo mhlaba wawungasempumalanga kweJordan. ₉Wawuye kuthi xhaxhe eArure ummandla wabo, phezu kwentili iAnoni, nakwisixeko esasikuloo ntili, uthathe onke loo mathafa aseMedebha ukusa eDibhon. ₁₀Wenjenjeya ukusa kwimida yaseAmon, waquka zonke ezo zixeko zaziphantsi kwekumkani yama-Amori uSihon owayephethe eHeshbhon. ₁₁Lo mmandla wawuquka iGiliyadi, utyhutyhe imimandla yaseGeshure naseMahaka, uthathe yonke intaba iHermon nayo yonke iBhashan ukuya kutsho eSaleka. ₁₂Ukwalapho nomhlaba kaOgi owaba yikumkani yokugqibela kumaRafa, owayephethe iAshtaroti ne-Edreyi. Ezi ntlanga zonke zoyiswa nguMosis, wawuthimba umhlaba wazo. ₁₃Kambe ke amaSirayeli wona akazange abagxotha abantu baseGeshure naseMahaka; basahlala kunye namaSirayeli unangoku.

₁₄UMosis akazange ababele mhlaba abaLevi. Bona esabo isabelo, ngokomyalelo kaNdikhoyo kuMosis, yinxaxheba bayifumana kumadini atshiswayo enzelwa uNdikhoyo, uThixo kaSirayeli.

₁₅Nguwo lo umhlaba uMosis owawabela isizwe sakwaRubhen ngokwemizi yaso ube lilifa laso: ₁₆ummandla waso wawuye kuthi xhaxhe ngeArure phezu kwentili iAnoni, udibanise nesixeko esisembindini waloo ntili, kunye naloo mathafa ajikeleze iMedebha, ₁₇uthathe iHeshbhon kunye nezo zixeko zikuloo mathafa: iDibhon, iBhamoti-bhali, iBhete-bhali-mehon, ₁₈iYaza, iKedemoti, iMefati, ₁₉iKiriyatayim, iSibhema, kunye neZereti-shahare eyayisendulini kuloo ntili, ₂₀iBhete-pehore, amathambeka aloo ntaba iPisga, kunye neBhete-yeshimoti. ₂₁Wawucanda kwezo dolophu zikuloo mathafa, uwuthathe wonke umhlaba wekumkani yama-Amori uSihon, owayephethe eHeshbhon. UMosis wayoyisa le kumkani ndawonye nezilawuli zaseMidiyan: uEvi, uRekem, uZure, noYuri, kunye noRebha. La madoda ayezizibonda ezaziphantsi kokumkani uSihon. ₂₂Phakathi kwabantu ababulawa ngamaSirayeli kwafa noBhalam unyana kaBhehore owayengusiyazi. ₂₃Umlambo iJordan yayingumda wangasentshonalanga wesizwe sakwaRubhen. Zizo ke ezo izixeko needolophu ezabelwa imizi yesizwe sakwaRubhen zaba lilifa lazo.

₂₄Nguwo lo umhlaba uMosis owawabela isizwe sakwaGadi ngokwemizi yaso ube lilifa laso: ₂₅ummandla waso uthathela eJazere udibanise zonke izixeko zaseGiliyadi, udibanise nesiqingatha sommandla wama-Amon, kuye kuthi xhaxhe ngeArure ekhangelene neRabha. ₂₆Wawusuka eHeshbhon use eRamati-mizepe naseBhetonim, usuke eMahanayim use kwimida yeDebhiri. ₂₇Kwintili yeJordan wawuthatha iBhete-haram, iBhete-nimra, iSukoti, kunye neZafon, nawo wonke ummandla kakumkani uSihon waseHeshbhon. Umda wabo ngasentshona yayingumlambo iJordan kuse emantla kuLwandle lwaseGalili. ₂₈Ezi zixeko needolophu zaba lilifa lezindlu zesizwe sakwaGadi.

₂₉Nguwo lo umhlaba uMosis owawabela isiqingatha sesizwe sakwaManase ngokwemizi yaso ube lilifa laso: ₃₀ummandla waso waya kuthi xhaxhe ngeMahanayim, wadibanisa neBhashan – wonke ummandla kakumkani uOgi waseBhashan, kunye nazo zonke ezo lali zimashumi mathandathu zaseJayire eBhashan. ₃₁Uthatha isiqingatha seGiliyadi, udibanise iAshtaroti ne-Edreyi, iidolophu ezazingamaziko olawulo zelizwe likakumkani uOgi waseBhashan. Wonke lo mmandla wabelwa isiqingatha semizi eyinzala kaMakire unyana kaManase.

₃₂Wenjenjalo ke uMosis ukwaba umhlaba ongasempumalanga kweJeriko neJordan kuloo mathafa akwaMowabi. ₃₃Kodwa ke uMosis akazange ababele mhlaba bona abaLevi. Elabo ilifa nguNdikhoyo uThixo wamaSirayeli ngokwesithembiso sakhe.

₁Le yinkcukacha yokwabelwa kwamaSirayeli umhlaba waseKanana ongasentshonalanga kweJordan. Lo mhlaba wabelwa abantu nguElazare umbingeleli, noYoshuwa unyana kaNune, bekunye neentloko zezindlu zezizwe zamaSirayeli. ₂Umhlaba olilifa lezizwe ezilithoba elinesiqingatha wasikwa ngokwenza *amaqashiso ngokomyalelo *kaNdikhoyo kuMosis. _3-4Umhlaba ongasempumalanga kweJordan uMosis wayeselewabele izizwe ezibini ezinesiqingatha. (Inzala kaJosefu yayizizizwe ezibini: esakwaManase nesakwaEfrayim.) Kambe ke abaLevi bona uMosis akazange ababele mhlaba. Ndaweni yaloo nto babelwa izixeko bahlala kuzo, kunye namadlelo empahla. ₅AmaSirayeli awaba loo mhlaba kanye ngokomyalelo kaNdikhoyo kuMosis.

₆Abantu besizwe sakwaJuda bafika kuYoshuwa eGiligali, uKalebhi unyana kaJefune umKenezi wathi kuYoshuwa: “Uyayazi into eyathethwa kuMosis umfo wakwaThixo *nguNdikhoyo mayela nawe kunye nam eKadeshe-bhaneya. ₇Ndandimashumi mane ubudala ngamhla uMosis wandithumayo ndesuka eKadeshe-bhaneya ndaza kuhlola lo mhlaba. Ndamphathela ingxelo ngokungafihlisi, ₈kuba ndamthobela ngomxhelo wam wonke uNdikhoyo uThixo. Kambe ke amadoda awayekunye nam abatsho bankwantya abantu. ₉Ke ngoko uMosis wafunga wathi kum: ‘Inene, laa mhlaba unyathele kuwo woba lilifa lakho ndawonye nenzala yakho ngonaphakade, kuba umthobele ngomxhelo wonke uNdikhoyo uThixo wam.’ ₁₀Ke uNdikhoyo usandigcinile njengoko wathembisayo. Kambe sekudlule amashumi amane anantlanu eminyaka oko uNdikhoyo wathetha loo nto kuMosis ngokuya amaSirayeli ayebhadula entlango. Ndim lo ke, ndimashumi asibhozo anantlanu eminyaka ndisidla amazimba, ₁₁kodwa ndisengumqabaqaba njengoko ndandinjalo ukundithuma kwakhe uMosis. Ndisomelele; ndingaya emfazweni, ndingenza nantoni na. ₁₂Ngoku ke ndabele eliya leentaba ndalithenjiswa nguNdikhoyo mhla ndenza ingxelo. Nawe ngokwakho weva ngaloo mini ukuba olwaa hlanga lweengxilimbela kuthiwa ngama-Anaki ayehlala apho ezixekweni ezikhulu ezingqingwe ngeendonga. Ukuba uNdikhoyo ungakum ndozichitha kanye njengoko yena watshoyo.”

₁₃UYoshuwa wamsikelela uKalebhi unyana kaJefune, wamabela iHebron yaba lilifa lakhe. ₁₄Unanamhla oku iHebron iseyeyenzala kaKalebhi unyana kaJefune umKenazi, kuba yena wamthobela ngomxhelo wonke uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli. ₁₅Ngaphambili iHebron kwakusithiwa sisixeko sika-Arbha. (UArbha ngoyena mAnaki mkhulu.)

Kwabakho uxolo elizweni.

₁Nguwo lo umhlaba owabelwa izindlu zesizwe sakwaJuda *ngamaqashiso: Lo mhlaba waya kutsho kumda wase-Edom ezantsi kwentlango. ₂Lo mda wangasezantsi wawucanda kwincam engezantsi yoLwandle oluFileyo, ₃uhle ubheke ezantsi ukusuka kwiNkalo yooNomadudwana, ugqithele eZin. Wawutyhutyha amazantsi eKadeshe-bhaneya, udlule eHezeron, unyuke usinge eAdare, ujike ujonge ngaseKareka, ₄wenjenjeya usinga eAzemon, ugudle intlambo ekuthiwa yeyeJiputa, ujonge elwandle, apho ufika ume khona. Ngumda ongasezantsi wakwaJuda ke lowo.

₅Umda wangasempumalanga wawuluLwandle oluFileyo, wenjenjeya uye kutsho apho umlambo iJordan ungena khona elwandle.

Wawuqala apho umda wangasentla, ₆unyuke ubheke ngaseBhete-hogela, ubheke entla eBhete-arabha. Wawusuka apho unyukele kwiLitye likaBhohan (uBhohan ngunyana kaRubhen), ₇usuke ngakwintili yeAkore, unyukele eDebhiri, uze ujike ujonge emantla ngaseGiligali. IGiligali le yayijonge inkalo yeAdumim esemazantsi omfula lowo. Wawugqithela kwimithombo yase-En-shemeshe, wenjenjeya ukuya e-En-rogele, ₈uze unyuke utyhutyhe intili yoonyana bakaHinom esethambekeni lenduli ekwakumi kuyo isixeko samaJebhusi (yiJerusalem ke leyo), usuke apho unyuse intaba, utsho encotsheni ngakwicala langasentshona lentili iHinom ngasentla kumaphethelo entili yamaRafa. ₉Usuka apho usinge emthonjeni waseNefetowa, ugqithele kwizixeko ezingakwintaba iEfron. Uyajika apho, ubheke ngaseBhala (oko kukuthi iKiriyati-yarim), ₁₀apho ujikela ngasentshonalanga yeBhala, ujonge kwintaba iSeyire, uphume kwicala elingasentla lentaba iYarim (oko kukuthi iKesalon), uhle uye eBhete-shemeshe, ugqithele eTimna. ₁₁Lo mda wawunyuka uye kwinduli engasentla kwe-Ekron, ujike ujonge eShikeron, udlule intaba iBhala, wenjenjeya ukusinga eYabheneli. Wawuhamba uyokuma ngolwandle ₁₂olwalungumda wangasentshonalanga.

Ngaphakathi kwale mida kwakuhlala abantu bezindlu zikaJuda.

₁₃Inxalenye yommandla wakwaJuda wabelwa uKalebhi unyana kaJefune wesizwe sakwaJuda, ngokomyalelo *kaNdikhoyo kuYoshuwa. Wabelwa iHebron, isixeko sika-Arbha, uyise ka-Anaki. ₁₄UKalebhi wayikhuphela ngaphandle kweso sixeko inzala ka-Anaki. YayinguSheshayi, uAhiman, noTalmayi. ₁₅Wesuka apho waya kuhlasela abantu ababehlala eDebhiri ekwakusithiwa yiKiriyati-sefere mandulo. ₁₆UKalebhi wathi: “Intombi yam uAkesa ndoyendisela kumntu oya kuze ayihlasele ayithimbe iKiriyati-sefere.” ₁₇UOteniyeli unyana womntakwabo-Kalebhi uKenazi wasithimba ke eso sixeko, waza uKalebhi wayendisela kuye intombi yakhe uAkesa. ₁₈Bakuba betshatile wacenga uOteniyeli amvumele acele umhlaba kuyise. Wehla kwidonki awayekhwele kuyo uAkesa, waza uKalebhi wabuza wathi: “Kwenzeke ntoni?”

₁₉Wathi ukuphendula uAkesa: “Ndicela intsikelelo. Kaloku umhlaba ondinike wona ukwindawo ebharhileyo. Nceda undinike imithombo.” UKalebhi ke wamnika imithombo angasentla nengasezantsi.

₂₀Lo ngumhlaba owabelwe izindlu zesizwe sakwaJuda, waba lilifa lazo:

₂₁Izixeko zabo ezazisemazantsi, ezo zazikufuphi nomda wase-Edom, yayizezi: iKabhezeli, iEdere, iYagure, ₂₂iKina, iDimona, iAdada, ₂₃iKedeshe, iHazore, i-Itenana, ₂₄iZifi, iTelem, iBheyaloti, ₂₅iHazore-hadata, iKeriyoti-hezeron (okanye iHazore), ₂₆iAmam, iShema, iMolada, ₂₇iHazare-gada, iHeshmon, iBhete-pelete, ₂₈iHazare-shuwali, iBheshebha, iBhiziyotiya, ₂₉iBhala, i-Iyim, iEzem, ₃₀iEltoladi, iKezili, iHoma, ₃₁iZikelage, iMademana, iSanesana, ₃₂iLebhawoti, iShilim, iAyin, kunye neRimon. Yaba zizixeko ezimashumi mabini anethoba zizonke, kwakunye neelali ezizingqongileyo.

₃₃Izixeko ezazisesihlanjeni yayizezi: iEshtawoli, iZora, iAshna, ₃₄iZanowa, iEn-ganim, iTapuwa, iEnam, ₃₅iYamuti, iAdulam, iSoko, iAzeka, ₃₆iSharayim, iAditayim, neGedera (okanye iGederotayim). Yaba zizixeko ezilishumi elinesine kunye neelali ezazizingqongile.

_37-41Kwakukho nezinye izixeko ezilishumi linantandathu ezazingqongwe ziilali. YayiyiZenan, iHadasha, iMigdali-gadi, iDilan, iMizpa, iYoketeli, iLakishe, iBhozekati, iEglon, iKabhon, iLamam, iKitilishe, iGederoyi, iBhete-dagoni, iNama, kunye neMakeda.

_42-44Kanti ke kwakukho nezinye izixeko ezilithoba ezazingqongwe ziilali: iLibhena, iEtere, iAshan, i-Ifeta, iAshna, iNezibhi, iKeyila, iAkezibhi, kunye neMaresha.

₄₅IEkron yayingqongwe zizixeko kunye neelali, ₄₆kukho nezinye izixeko neelali ngaseAshdode, ukusuka e-Ekron kuse elwandle.

₄₇Yayikwalapho iAshdode kunye neGaza kwanezixeko neelali zazo, zithe thande de kuye kuthi xhaxhe kwintlambo ekuthiwa yeyeJiputa nakunxweme lolwandle.

₄₈Izixeko zeleentaba yayiyiShamire, iYatire, iSoko, ₄₉neDana, iKiriyati-sana (okanye iDebhiri), ₅₀iAnabhi, iEshtemo, kunye neAnim, ₅₁iGoshen, neHolon, kunye neGilo. Yayizizixeko ezilishumi linambini zizonke kunye neelali ezizingqongileyo.

₅₂YayiyiArabhu, iDuma, iEshan, ₅₃iYanim, iBhete-tapuwa, iAfeka, ₅₄iHumta, iKiriyati-arbha (yiHebron ke leyo), kunye neZiwore, izixeko ezilithoba kunye neelali ezizingqongileyo.

₅₅IMawon, iKarmele, iZifi, neJuta, ₅₆kunye neYizereli, iYokedim, neZanowa, ₅₇iKayin, neGibheya, kunye neTimna, izixeko ezilishumi zizonke kunye neelali ezizingqongileyo.

₅₈IHalehule, neBhete-zure, iGedore, ₅₉neMarati, kunye neBhete-anoti ne-Eltekon, yayizizixeko ezithandathu kunye neelali ezizingqongileyo.

₆₀Kwakukho neKiriyati-bhali (okanye iKiriyati-yarim) kunye neRabha: izixeko ezibini neelali ezizingqongileyo.

₆₁Entlango kwakukho iBhete-arabha, iMidin, iSekaka, ₆₂iNibheshan, isiXeko seTyuwa, kunye ne-Engedi: zazizithandathu kunye neelali ezizingqongileyo.

₆₃Kodwa ke kambe amaJuda akazanga aba nako ukuwagxotha amaJebhusi awayemi eJerusalem. Asahlala apho nangoku kunye noonyana bakaJuda.

₁Ke kaloku ebandleni laseAntiyokwe kwakukho abashumayeli nabefundisi: uBharnabha, uSimon ekwakusithiwa nguMnyamana, uLukiyo waseKirene, uManayen owayekhuliswe noHerode irhuluneli, kunye noSawule. ₂Ekuyikhonzeni kwabo iNkosi, bezila ukutya, uMoya oyiNgcwele wathi kubo: “Ndikhetheleni uBharnabha noSawule, ukuze benze umsebenzi endibabizele wona.”

₃Ngoko ke bazila ukutya bathandaza, bababeka izandla, baza babandulula.

₄Bakuba bethunywe nguMoya oyiNgcwele, uBharnabha noSawule behla baya eSeluki, baza ukusuka apho bahamba ngolwandle ukuya eSipro. ₅Bathi bakufika eSalamisi, balishumayela khona ilizwi likaThixo ezindlwini zesikhungo zamaJuda. Babehamba noYohane Marko, khon' ukuze abancedise emsebenzini.

₆Basijikeleza ke isiqithi eso, bada bafika ePafo. Apho badibana nomfo onemilingo ogama linguBhar-yesu, umJuda owayezenza *umshumayeli. ₇Wayeliphakathi lerhuluneli yesiqithi eso, uSergiyo Pawulos, owayeyindoda enengqondo ekrele-krele. Irhuluneli leyo yababiza ooBharnabha noSawule, ifuna ukuphulaphula ilizwi likaThixo. ₈Kodwa lo mfo unemilingo, owayebizwa ngokuba nguElima ngesiGrike, wachasana nabo, nerhuluneli leyo wafuna ukuyiwexula elukholweni. ₉Waza ke ngoko uSawule, ogama limbi linguPawulos, ezaliswe nguMoya oyiNgcwele, wamjonga lo mfo, ₁₀wathi: “Nyanandini kamtyholi, lutshabandini lobulungisa, uzele ngamaqhinga nobuqhetseba, usoloko uzama ukugqwetha inyaniso yeNkosi ngobuxoki! ₁₁Khona ngoku iNkosi iza kukubetha, ube yimfama, futhi kuya kuba mzuzu ungakuboni ukukhanya.”

Ngoko nangoko aba nkungu amehlo kaElima, wabuva ubumnyama buwavala, wajikeleza ke empampatha, efuna umntu ongamrhuqayo. ₁₂Ke kaloku yona irhuluneli yakuyibona loo nto, yazinikela, imangalisiwe yimfundiso emayela neNkosi.

₁₃UPawulos nababemphahlile bemka ePafo, bahamba ngenqanawe, baya kufika ePerga yasePamfili. Apha ke wahlukana nabo uYohane Marko, wabuyela eJerusalem. ₁₄Abanye bona banduluka ePerga, babheka eAntiyokwe yasePisidi. Bathi apho *ngoMhla wokuPhumla baya *kwindlu yesikhungo, bafika bahlala phantsi. ₁₅Kwathi zakuba zifundiwe izicatshulwa encwadini *yomthetho kaMosis *nezabashumayeli, amagosa endlu yesikhungo athumela ebacela esithi: “Mawethu, khanisiphe kowenu umphako welizwi, ukwenzela ukukhuthaza abantu.”

₁₆Waphakama uPawulos, wawangawangisa ngesandla, ukuba kuthi cwaka, waza wenjenje ukuthetha: “Mawethu, maSirayeli, nani nina zintlanga zimhlonelayo uThixo, khanibeke iindlebe! ₁₇UThixo lo unqulwa ngamaSirayeli nguye owanyula ookhokho bethu, wawenza amaSirayeli asisizwe esikhulu ngexesha ayengabaphambukeli kwelaseJiputa. Nguye owawakhupha ngamandla angummangaliso amaSirayeli eJiputa. ₁₈Wawanyamezela iminyaka emashumi mane entlango. ₁₉Ikwanguye owazitshabalalisayo izizwe ezisixhenxe eKanana, waza loo mhlaba wawunika abantu bakhe amaSirayeli. ₂₀Yonke loo nto yathatha isithuba esingangeminyaka engamakhulu amane anamashumi amahlanu.

“Emva koko wabanika iinkokheli, zabalawula kwada kwalixesha lomshumayeli uSamweli. ₂₁Bakufuna ukumkani, wabanika uSawule unyana kaKishe, wesizwe sakwaBhenjamin, waza wabalawula iminyaka engamashumi amane. ₂₂Akumsusa uSawule, uThixo wamisela uDavide wangukumkani. Nanga amazwi athethwa nguThixo ngoDavide: ‘Ndiphawule ukuba uDavide, unyana kaJese, ngulo mntu kanye ndimfunayo, umfo oya kwenza oko sukuba ndifuna kwenziwe.’ ₂₃NguYesu lo mzukulwana kaDavide wenziwe uMsindisi wamaSirayeli nguThixo njengoko wathembisayo. ₂₄Ngaphambi kokufika kukaYesu, uYohane wawashumayeza onke amaSirayeli, esithi makaziguqule iindlela zawo aze abhaptizwe. ₂₅Ekuwusongeni kwakhe uYohane umsebenzi wakhe, wathi ebantwini: ‘Nithi ndingubani? Andinguye lowo nicinga ukuba ndigunye. Khangelani yena uza emva kwam, ndaye mna andikufanele nokukhulula iimbadada ezi ezinyaweni zakhe.’

₂₆“Mawethu, nzala ka-Abraham, nani nonke zintlanga zimhlonelayo uThixo, olu daba losindiso lwathunyelwa kuthi. ₂₇Kaloku abantu baseJerusalem, bekunye neenkokheli zabo, babengamazi, bengawaqondi namazwi abashumayeli bamandulo afundwayo ngayo yonke iMihla yokuPhumla. Kodwa bâwazalisekisa amazwi abo bashumayeli ngokumgweba uYesu. ₂₈Nangona babengasifumani isizathu sokuba agwetyelwe ukufa, bacela uPilato ukuba ambulale. ₂₉Emveni kokuzenza zonke izinto ezithethwa *ziziBhalo ngaye, bamothula emnqamlezweni, bamngcwaba. ₃₀Kodwa uThixo yena wamvusa ekufeni, ₃₁waza kwithuba leentsuku ezininzi wabonwa ngâbo wayejikeleza nabo ukusuka eGalili baye eJerusalem. Ngoku bangamangqina akhe kumaSirayeli. ₃₂Thina silapha nje, sizise iindaba ezimnandi kuni. Loo nto uThixo wayithembisa ookhokho bethu, ₃₃uyenzele thina bayinzala yabo, ngokumvusa uYesu. Kunjengoko kubhaliweyo eNdumisweni yesibini, kwathiwa:

₃₆“Kuba kaloku ngexesha lakhe uDavide wayifeza injongo kaThixo, waza wafa emva koko, wangcwatywa ngakookhokho bakhe, wabola. ₃₇Kodwa uYesu, evusiwe nje nguThixo, khange abole. _38-39Yazini niqiniseke xa ninonke, mawethu, ukuba kungoYesu ukushunyayelwa kodaba lokuxolelwa kwezono. Ngokunjalo qondani ukuba wonke umntu ozinikelayo kuye uyakhululwa kuzo zonke izono, obungenako ukumkhulula kuzo *umthetho kaMosis. ₄₀Lumkani ke ngoko, hleze ihle kuni into eyathethwa ngabashumayeli, besithi:

₄₂Xa bayishiyayo intlanganiso ooPawulos noBharnabha, abantu babamema ukuba ze beze kwakhona ngoMhla wokuPhumla olandelayo, ukuze baphinde babafundise. ₄₃Emveni kokuphuma kwentlanganiso, uPawulos noBharnabha balandelwa sisihlwele samaJuda neentlanga eziguqukele ebuJudeni, baza basikhuthaza ukuba sibambelele ngenyameko kuThixo onesisa.

₄₄NgoMhla woPhumlo olandelayo phantse wonke umntu osedolophini weza kuphulaphula ilizwi leNkosi. ₄₅Akuyibona le nkitha yabantu, amaJuda azala ngumona, amphikisa amnyelisa uPawulos. ₄₆Kodwa bona ooPawulos noBharnabha bawaxelela phandle amaJuda bathi: “Kakade bekufuneka lishunyayezwe nina kuqala ilizwi likaThixo; koko ngenxa yokuba nilibukula, niziqonda ukuba anibulungelanga ubomi obungonaphakade, siza kuniyeka, siye ezintlangeni. ₄₇Thina kaloku sanikwa lo myalelo yiNkosi:

₄₈Zavuya iintlanga zakukuva oku, zayidumisa iNkosi ngenxa yodaba lwayo. Abo ke babenyulelwe ukungena ebomini obungonaphakade, baguquka bangamakholwa.

₄₉Ilizwi leNkosi lanwenwa kuwo wonke loo mmandla. ₅₀Kodwa amaJuda adala uchuku, enza *abathunywa bavukelwa ngamadoda aloo dolophu aphambili kwanangabafazi abakumgangatho ophezulu entlalweni, ababemhlonela uThixo. Babatshutshisa babagxotha kuloo mmandla. ₅₁Abathunywa bavuthulula uthuli ezinyaweni, bekhalala, bemka baya eIkoniyo. ₅₂Basala abalandeli bakaYesu eAntiyokwe bezele luvuyo nanguMoya oyiNgcwele.

₁NaseIkoniyo yaba sesezolo: uPawulos noBharnabha baya *endlwini yesikhungo baza bathetha kangangokuba iqela elikhulu lamaJuda neentlanga lazinikela. ₂Kodwa amaJuda angakholwayo azixhokonxa iintlanga, azifaka umoya ombi ngakumakholwa. ₃*Abathunywa bahlala apho ixesha elide. Bathetha ngesibindi ngeNkosi, iNkosi ibanika amandla okwenza imiqondiso nemimangaliso, ingqina inyaniso yodaba lwabo ngesisa sayo. ₄Inkoliso yabantu edolophini apho yathi qheke kubini: abanye baba ngakumaJuda, abanye baba ngakubathunywa.

₅Zaza iintlanga namaJuda ndawonye neenkokheli zazimisela ukubaphatha kakubi abathunywa, zibaxulube ngamatye. ₆Bathe bakuyiqonda le nto abathunywa, basaba baya eLikawoni, kwiidolophu zaseListra naseDerbhe nemimandla ejikelezileyo. ₇Baza bazishumayela khona iindaba ezimnandi.

₈Apho eListra kwakukho indoda eyazalwa isisiqhwala, ingazange yaba nako ukuhamba. ₉Yawaphulaphula ngomdla amazwi kaPawulos. UPawulos wayithi ntshoo ngamehlo, waqonda ukuba inokholo olungayiphilisayo, ₁₀wadanduluka wathi: “Suk' ume ngeenyawo.” Indoda leyo yatsiba yema, yahamba-hamba. ₁₁Zithe izihlwele zakuyibona le nto yenziwe nguPawulos, zakhwaza ngesiLikawoni zisithi: “Oothixo beze kuthi befana nabantu!” ₁₂UBharnabha bamthiya bathi *nguZeyus, uPawulos bathi *nguHermes ngenxa yokuba yena wayesisithethi. ₁₃Ke kaloku kwakukho indlu yokunqulela uZeyus ngaphandle nje kwedolophu. Waza umbingeleli kaZeyus weza neenkunzi zeenkomo neentyatyambo esangweni ledolophu. Yena nesihlwele eso babefuna ukwenzela *abathunywa idini.

₁₄Bathe abathunywa ooBharnabha noPawulos bakuyiva le nto iqhubekayo, bazikrazula iimpahla zabo, babaleka baya kuso isihlwele, bekhwaza besithi: ₁₅“Madoda, yintoni le niyenzayo? Nathi singabantu; sifana nani! Size apha ukuze sivakalise iindaba ezimnandi, ukuze niguquke nijike kwezi zinto ziphuthileyo, nize kuThixo, owenza izulu, nomhlaba, nolwandle, nezinto ezilapho kuzo. ₁₆Mandulo uThixo wabayeka abantu, benza ukuthanda kwabo; ₁₇kodwa wasoloko ezibonakalisa ubukho bakhe ngezinto ezintle azenzayo. Usipha imvula nezilimo ngamaxesha afanelekileyo; usipha nokudla, iintliziyo zethu azizalise ngovuyo.” ₁₈Naxa sebethethe kangako abathunywa, phantse bangabi nako ukusijika isihlwele ekubeni sibenzele idini.

₁₉Kwafika iqela lamaJuda evela eAntiyokwe yasePisidi naseIkoniyo. Ekubeni ezifake umoya ombi izihlwele, ukuba zithathe icala lawo, bamxuluba ngamatye uPawulos, bamrhuqela ngaphandle kwedolophu, beba ufile. ₂₀Kodwa akungqongwa ngamakholwa, wavuka, wabuyela kwasedolophini. Ngengomso wemka kunye noBharnabha, baya eDerbhe.

₂₁UPawulos noBharnabha bazishumayela iindaba ezimnandi naseDerbhe, bafumana inkitha eyaba ngabalandeli bakaYesu. Baza ke babuyela eListra, baya eIkoniyo ukusuka apho, baya naseAntiyokwe yasePisidi. ₂₂Bawomeleza amakholwa, bewakhuthaza ukuba ahlale ehleli elukholweni enyanisekile, besithi ukufundisa: “Simelwe kukuthwala ubunzima thina singene phantsi kolawulo lukaThixo.” ₂₃Kwibandla ngalinye batyumba abadala, babanikela ngemithandazo nangozilo-kutya eNkosini ababethembele kuyo.

₂₄Emveni kokutyhutyha ummandla wasePisidi, bafika ePamfili. ₂₅Bashumayela udaba ePerga, baza badlulela eAtaliya. ₂₆Basuka apho ngesikhephe babuyela eAntiyokwe yaseSiriya, apho babenikelwe elugcinweni naselubabalweni lukaThixo ukuya kwenza kwabo lo msebenzi bawufezileyo ngoku.

₂₇Bakufika eAntiyokwe, balihlanganisela ndawonye ibandla, babalisa ngezinto uThixo awazenza ngabo, bexela nokuba nabaziintlanga uThixo ubavulele indlela yokukholwa. ₂₈Bahlala ke apho kunye namakholwa ithuba elide.

₁Amadoda athile asuka eJerusalem, aya eAntiyokwe afundisa amakholwa esithi akanako ukusindiswa ngaphandle kokuba olùswe *ngokomthetho kaMosis. ₂UPawulos noBharnabha baba nengxoxo eshushu nabo ngalo mbandela, kwaza kwagqitywa ukuba uPawulos noBharnabha kunye nabanye baseAntiyokwe baye eJerusalem, bayokuva le ngxaki *kubathunywa nakubadala.

₃Ke kaloku lakuba libandulule ibandla, bacanda kwelaseFenike nelaseSamariya, behamba bebalisa ngokuguquka kweentlanga; iindaba ke ezo ezawavuyisa kakhulu amakholwa. ₄Befikile ke eJerusalem, bamkelwa libandla, abathunywa, nabadala, baza ke benza ingxelo kubo ngendlela awayebasebenzise ngayo uThixo. ₅Kodwa amakholwa athile awayekade engaweqela *labaFarasi, athi wona amakholwa aphuma ezintlangeni makoluswe awuthobele umthetho kaMosis.

₆Abathunywa nabadala benza intlanganiso, baphicotha lo mbandela. ₇Emva kwengxoxo ende, waphakama uPetros, wathi: “Mawethu, niyazi ukuba kwixesha elidlulileyo uThixo wandonyula phakathi kwenu ukuba iintlanga zizive ngam iindaba ezimnandi, zize ziguquke. ₈UThixo ozaziyo iintliziyo zabantu, wabonakalisa ukuzamkela iintlanga ngokuzinika uMoya oyiNgcwele njengoko wasinikayo nathi. ₉Akabonakalisanga mahluko phakathi kwazo nathi; nazo wazihlambulula iintliziyo zakuba zizinikele kuye. ₁₀Ngoku ke nimlingela ntoni uThixo ngokuthwalisa amakholwa umthwalo abangazange babe nako ukuwuthwala ookhokho bethu, nathi ngokwethu esingenako ukuwuthwala? ₁₁Hayi bo! Sikholwa kukuba thina sisindiswa ngesisa seNkosi uYesu kwanjengazo.”

₁₂Kwakuthe cwaka ngexesha uBharnabha noPawulos besenza ingxelo ngemimangaliso nemiqondiso ayenzileyo uThixo ngabo phakathi kweentlanga. ₁₃Emva kwentetho yabo kwathetha uYakobi, wathi: “Ndiphulaphuleni, mawethu! ₁₄USimon unichazele indlela uThixo abonakalise ngayo ukuzikhathalela kwakhe iintlanga ngokukhetha phakathi kwazo abantu abangabakhe. ₁₅Amazwi *abashumayeli ayavumelana nesi senzo, kuba zithi *iziBhalo:

₂₂*Abathunywa nabadala, kunye nebandla lonke, bafika kwisigqibo sokuba kukhethwe amadoda phakathi kwabo, athunywe eAntiyokwe kunye noPawulos noBharnabha. Banyulwa ke ooJudas ogama limbi linguBharsabha kunye noSilas, ingamadoda awayebekwe kakhulu ngamakholwa. ₂₃Banikwa incwadi ukuba bahambe nayo. Ke yona yayibhalwe ngolu hlobo:

“Thina bathunywa sikunye nabadala siyanibulisa njengamawethu xa ninonke, nina zizwe zaseAntiyokwe eSiriya naseKiliki. ₂₄Sivile ukuba kubekho madoda athile aphuma apha kuthi aza kunixhamla, eniphazamisa ngento esingawathumanga yona, ayithethileyo kuni. ₂₅Sihlangene ke, savumelana sonke ukuba sinyule izigidimi sizithume kuni, zihambe kunye nabahlobo bethu abaziintanda, uBharnabha noPawulos, ₂₆amadoda ancame ubomi bawo ngenxa yokukhonza uKrestu. ₂₇Ke ngoko sinithumela uJudas noSilas abaya kunichazela ngokwabo ezi zinto kanye sizibhalileyo. ₂₈Thina samkele isigqibo soMoya oyiNgcwele sokuba singanithwalisi bunzima bumbi ngaphandle kwale migaqo ibalulekileyo: ₂₉Musani ukuyitya into ebingelelwe kwizithixo, nenyama enegazi, nesilo esikrwitshiweyo; nizigcine nyulu ekurheletyeni. Niya kuba niyakholisa xa nizilumlayo kwezo zinto. Salani kakuhle.”

₃₀Izigidimi ezo zandululwa, zasinga eAntiyokwe, apho zafika zawahlanganisa amakholwa, zawanika incwadi leyo. ₃₁Bathi abantu bakuyifunda incwadi leyo, bavuya kakhulu ziindaba zayo zenkuthazo. ₃₂UJudas noSilas, ababengabashumayeli ngokwabo, bathetha ixesha elide namakholwa, bewakhuthaza, bewomeleza. ₃₃Emva kwexesha belapho bakhululwa ngoxolo ngamakholwa, baza bagoduka. [ ₃₄Kodwa uSilas yena wabona ukuba makasale khona.]

₃₅UPawulos noBharnabha bona bakhe banexesha belapho eAntiyokwe. Bekunye nabanye balifundisa, balishumayela, ilizwi leNkosi.

₃₆Ekuhambeni kwexesha wathi uPawulos kuBharnabha: “Makhe sityelele amakholwa kuzo zonke iidolophu apho sasikhe salishumayela khona ilizwi leNkosi, siqonde ukuba aphila njani na.” ₃₇UBharnabha wafuna ukuba kuhanjwe noYohane Marko, ₃₈kodwa uPawulos yena akathandanga ukuba bahambe naye, kuba ngokuya babehambe naye kuqala wajika esithubeni, wabashiya ePamfili. ₃₉Baxambulisana ke ngale ndawo, bada bagqibela ngokwahlukana. UBharnabha wahamba noMarko, basinga eSipro ngesikhephe. ₄₀Waza yena uPawulos wakhetha ukuhamba noSilas. Ke amakholwa abanikela ezibeleni zikaThixo, bemka. ₄₁UPawulos watyhutyha imimandla yaseSiriya naseKiliki, ewomeleza amabandla.