Paul Is Accused in the Court of Felix
1 Five days later Ananias the high priest, together with some of their leaders and a lawyer named Tertullus, went to the governor to present their case against Paul. 2 So Paul was called in, and Tertullus stated the case against him:
Honorable Felix, you have brought our people a long period of peace, and because of your concern our nation is much better off. 3 All of us are always grateful for what you have done. 4 I don't want to bother you, but please be patient with us and listen to me for just a few minutes.
5 This man has been found to be a real pest and troublemaker for our people all over the world. He is also a leader of a group called Nazarenes. 6-8 When he tried to disgrace the temple, we arrested him. If you question him, you will find out for yourself that our charges are true.
9 The Jewish crowd spoke up and agreed with what Tertullus had said.
Paul Defends Himself
10 The governor motioned for Paul to speak, and he began:
I know that you have judged the people of our nation for many years, and I am glad to defend myself in your court.
11 It was no more than twelve days ago that I went to worship in Jerusalem. You can find this out easily enough. 12 Never once did the Jews find me arguing with anyone in the temple. I didn't cause trouble in the synagogues or in the city itself. 13 There is no way that they can prove these charges they are now bringing against me.
14 I admit that their leaders think the Lord's Way which I follow is based on wrong beliefs. But I still worship the same God that my ancestors worshiped. And I believe everything written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets. 15 I am just as sure as these people are that God will raise from death everyone, good or evil. 16 And because I am sure, I try my best to have a clear conscience in whatever I do for God or for people.
17 After being away for several years, I returned here to bring gifts for the poor people of my nation and to offer sacrifices. 18 This is what I was doing when I was found going through a ceremony in the temple. I wasn't with a crowd, and there was no uproar.
19 Some Jews from Asia were there at that time, and if they have anything to say against me, they should be here now. 20 Or ask the ones who are here. They can tell you that they didn't find me guilty of anything when I was tried by their own council. 21 The only charge they can bring against me is what I shouted out in court, when I said, “I am on trial today because I believe that the dead will be raised to life!”
22 Felix knew a lot about the Lord's Way. But he brought the trial to an end and said, “I will make my decision after Lysias the commander arrives.” 23 He then ordered the army officer to keep Paul under guard, but not to lock him up or to stop his friends from helping him.
Paul Is Kept under Guard
24 Several days later Felix and his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, went to the place where Paul was kept under guard. They sent for Paul and listened while he spoke to them about having faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But Felix was frightened when Paul started talking to them about doing right, about self-control, and about the coming judgment. So he said to Paul, “That's enough for now. You may go. But when I have time I will send for you.” 26 After this, Felix often sent for Paul and talked with him, because he hoped that Paul would offer him a bribe.
27 Two years later Porcius Festus became governor in place of Felix. But since Felix wanted to do the Jewish leaders a favor, he kept Paul in jail.
Ovajuda tava hokololifa Paulus koshipala shaFeliks
1 Ndele eshi pa pita omafiku atano, omupristeli omukulunhu Ananias pamwe novakulunhu vamwe, omupopili waye Tertullus, e uya muKesarea nova shiivifila omupangeli woshilongo, kutya ova hala okuhokololifa Paulus. 2 Ndele eshi a ka talwa ko, Tertullus okwa hovela oku mu hokololifa ta ti: “Feliks omufimanekwa munene, fye otu nombili ihapu molwoye. Okefiloshisho loye lihapu oshiwana eshi osha mona omalundululo mawa eenghedi, 3 oshinima eshi hatu hepaulula alushe naakushe noku ku pandula. 4 Ndele ndiha mane po efimbo, ohandi ku ilikana, u tu pwilikine kanini, omolwonheni yoye. 5 Omulumenhu ou otwe mu koneka, oye a fa oudu wolutapo nomupiyaaneki mokati kOvajuda aveshe mounyuni aushe, nomwene woshimhanga shOvanasareti. 6 Ye okwa hetekela yo okunyateka otembeli yetu. Fye otwe mu kwata notwa hala tu mu tokole pamhango yetu vene, 7 ndelenee omuneyovi Lisias okwe uya ndele te mu kufa momake etu keenghono daye dihapu 8 ndele okwa lombwela ovahokololifi vaye ve nokuuya koshipala shoye. Hano ove oto dulu oku mu pwilikina, u shiive oinima ei hatu i mu hokololifa.” 9 Ndele Ovajuda ova ya meendjovo edi dokuhokololifa ndele tave di pameke.
Elipopilo laPaulus
10 Ndele omupangeli woshilongo okwa aneka Paulus a popye, nde ta ti: “Eshi ndi ku shii, ove owa kala omido dihapu omutokoli woshiwana eshi, ohandi lipopile ndi nelineekelo. 11 Ove ngaashi u shi shii, omafiku omulongo naavali aeke a pita po, eshi nda ya kuJerusalem okwiilikana. 12 Ndele vo inava hanga nge nda twa eemhata nande onalyelye, ile nda lumbakanifa ovanhu, motembeli ile moshinagoga ile moshilando. 13 Ndele itava dulu oku ku etela omatomhelo oinima ei tave i hokololifa nge paife. 14 Ndele ohandi ku hepaululile, ohandi longele Kalunga kootate kondjila ei, tava ti oyo oshimhanga, eshi nda itavela inya aishe ya shangwa momhango nomovaxunganeki, 15 nondi neteelelo olo lomuKalunga, navo vene ngaashi ve li kwete yo, nokutya, otaku ka kala enyumuko lovayuki nolovalunde. 16 Onghee naame yo ohandi kondjo shili ndi kale alushe ndi neliudo lihe noshipo puKalunga nopovanhu.
17 “Ndelenee eshi pa pita omido dihapu, onde uya ndi etele oshiwana shetu oikwafa nondi yambe omayambo. 18 Ndele fimbo nda li handi longo ei, Ovajuda vamwe vomuAsia ova mona nge motembeli, nda li nde liyelifa, ndele kamwa li nande eefina dovanhu ile ekulukuto. 19 Venya ngeno ve nokukala koshipala shoye nokuhokololifa nge, ngeenge ova mona nge nda nyona, 20 ile ava ve li po, nava tonge ngeenge onda nyona sha, eshi nda li nda kala ofika koshipala shoshiongalele shovakulunhu. 21 Ondjovo imwe aike shapu, eshi nda popya pombada mokati kavo: ‘Ame handi hokololifwa nena molwenyumuko lovafi.’ ”
Paulus ta fiwa modolongo
22 Ndele Feliks ou kwa li e shii nawa omalongo ondjila ei, okwa mweneka manga eendjovo davo ndele ta ti: “Omuneyovi Lisias ngeenge e uya, onda hala okupwilikina naanaa eendjovo deni.” 23 Ndele ye okwa lombwela omunefele, Paulus a nangelwe, ye ina nangelwa unene, vakwao vaha kelelwe oku mu talela po noku mu yakula. 24 Ndele eshi pa pita omafiku amwe, Feliks e uya pamwe nomukainhu waye Drusila, Omujuda, nokwa ifana Paulus, ndele ta pwilikine eendjovo daye deitavelo lokwiitavela Kristus Jesus. 25 Ndele Paulus eshi a popya ouyuki nelidiliko netokolo olo li nokuuya, Feliks okwa tila ndele ta ti: “Inda manga, ndele ngeenge nda mono efimbo la wapalela nge, ohandi ku ifana natango.” 26 Ndele kombinga imwe okwa li e shii ota pewa oimaliwa kuPaulus, ye e mu efe, onghee e mu ifanena ko luhapu, ndele ta kundafana naye.
27 Ndele eshi pa pita omido mbali, Porkius Festus okwa tulwa mo mepangelo ponhele yaFeliks. Ndele Feliks eshi a hala okuwapalela Ovajuda, okwa fiya mo Paulus meemango daye.
