Paul Goes to Jerusalem
1 We said good-bye to them and left. After sailing straight across, we came to Cos; the next day we reached Rhodes, and from there we went on to Patara. 2 There we found a ship that was going to Phoenicia, so we went aboard and sailed away. 3 We came to where we could see Cyprus, and then sailed south of it on to Syria. We went ashore at Tyre, where the ship was going to unload its cargo. 4 There we found some believers and stayed with them a week. By the power of the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 5 But when our time with them was over, we left and went on our way. All of them, together with their wives and children, went with us out of the city to the beach, where we all knelt and prayed. 6 Then we said good-bye to one another, and we went on board the ship while they went back home.
7 We continued our voyage, sailing from Tyre to Ptolemais, where we greeted the believers and stayed with them for a day. 8 On the following day we left and arrived in Caesarea. There we stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen as helpers in Jerusalem. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who proclaimed God's message. 10 We had been there for several days when a prophet named Agabus arrived from Judea. 11 He came to us, took Paul's belt, tied up his own feet and hands with it, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: The owner of this belt will be tied up in this way by the Jews in Jerusalem, and they will hand him over to the Gentiles.”
12 When we heard this, we and the others there begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 13 But he answered, “What are you doing, crying like this and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but even to die there for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”
14 We could not convince him, so we gave up and said, “May the Lord's will be done.”
15 After spending some time there, we got our things ready and left for Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us and took us to the house of the man we were going to stay with —Mnason, from Cyprus, who had been a believer since the early days.
Paul Visits James
17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the believers welcomed us warmly. 18 The next day Paul went with us to see James; and all the church elders were present. 19 Paul greeted them and gave a complete report of everything that God had done among the Gentiles through his work. 20 After hearing him, they all praised God. Then they said, “Brother Paul, you can see how many thousands of Jews have become believers, and how devoted they all are to the Law. 21 They have been told that you have been teaching all the Jews who live in Gentile countries to abandon the Law of Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or follow the Jewish customs. 22 They are sure to hear that you have arrived. What should be done, then? 23 This is what we want you to do. There are four men here who have taken a vow. 24 Go along with them and join them in the ceremony of purification and pay their expenses; then they will be able to shave their heads. In this way everyone will know that there is no truth in any of the things that they have been told about you, but that you yourself live in accordance with the Law of Moses. 25 But as for the Gentiles who have become believers, we have sent them a letter telling them we decided that they must not eat any food that has been offered to idols, or any blood, or any animal that has been strangled, and that they must keep themselves from sexual immorality.”
26 So Paul took the men and the next day performed the ceremony of purification with them. Then he went into the Temple and gave notice of how many days it would be until the end of the period of purification, when a sacrifice would be offered for each one of them.
Paul Is Arrested in the Temple
27 But just when the seven days were about to come to an end, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and grabbed Paul. 28 “People of Israel!” they shouted. “Help! This is the man who goes everywhere teaching everyone against the people of Israel, the Law of Moses, and this Temple. And now he has even brought some Gentiles into the Temple and defiled this holy place!” ( 29 They said this because they had seen Trophimus from Ephesus with Paul in the city, and they thought that Paul had taken him into the Temple.)
30 Confusion spread through the whole city, and the people all ran together, grabbed Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple. At once the Temple doors were closed. 31 The mob was trying to kill Paul, when a report was sent up to the commander of the Roman troops that all of Jerusalem was rioting. 32 At once the commander took some officers and soldiers and rushed down to the crowd. When the people saw him with the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 The commander went over to Paul, arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked, “Who is this man, and what has he done?” 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing, others something else. There was such confusion that the commander could not find out exactly what had happened, so he ordered his men to take Paul up into the fort. 35 They got as far as the steps with him, and then the soldiers had to carry him because the mob was so wild. 36 They were all coming after him and screaming, “Kill him!”
Paul Defends Himself
37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the fort, he spoke to the commander: “May I say something to you?”
“You speak Greek, do you?” the commander asked. 38 “Then you are not that Egyptian fellow who some time ago started a revolution and led four thousand armed terrorists out into the desert?”
39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Please let me speak to the people.”
40 The commander gave him permission, so Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand for the people to be silent. When they were quiet, Paul spoke to them in Hebrew:
Paulus ma i kOjerusalem
1 Eṱe twe ve virikiza natu i. Tji twa za nokukonda okuvare arire tji twa hungama osemba atu ya kOkos; nu mependukirwa twa kavaza kOrodos, nokuzambo atu ya kOpatara. 2 MOpatara twa vaza mo ondjuwoyomomeva, ndji mai i kOfenisie, narire tji twa rondo mu yo natu kayenda. 3 Eṱe twa muna okakoverwa Siprus komurungu wetu, nu atu varama na ko komukuma wokokumuho kweyuva okuyenda kOsirie. Nu mOtirus ondjuwoyomomeva mu ya herurira omitwaro omu twa herukira. 4 Twa vazere mo ovakriste tjiva natu kara puna wo oure womayuva hambombari. Okupitira momasa wOmbepo, owo va raera Paulus kutja eye a ha i kOjerusalem. 5 Nungwari omayuva wetu puna wo tji ya manuka, arire tji twa zu po atu kayenda. Owo avehe puna ovakazendu novanatje vawo ve tu ṱika pendje yotjihuro nga komukuro wokuvare. Atuhe twa wora ozongoro atu kumbu. 6 Tjazumba atu virikizasana, neṱe atu rondo mondjuwoyomomeva, nowo ave yaruka kozoyawo.
7 Eṱe twa kayendisa ouyenda wetu komurungu atu kondo okuvare okuza kOtirus okuyenda kOptolemais atu kaminika ovakambure natu kakara puna wo oure weyuva rimwe. 8 Mependukirwa twa ya atu kavaza kOsesarea. Nu mOsesarea twa kasekira mondjuwo ya Filipus, omuzuvarise wOmbuze Ombwa, umwe wovarumendu mba hambombari mba toororerwe okurira ovavatere mOjerusalem. 9 Filipus wa ri novanatje vane ovakazona mbe ha kupirwe, nu mbaa ve zuvarisa ombuze ya Ndjambi. 10 Nu tji twa kara mo omayuva tjiva, arire tji pe ya omuprofete wena Agabus ngwa zire kOjudea. 11 Eye we ere ku eṱe, a toora ekwamo ra Paulus e ripandeke na ro ozombaze nomake we omuini na tja: “Ombepo Ondjapuke mai tja omurumendu omuini wekwamo ndi ma kapandekwa momuhingo mbwi i Ovajuda mOjerusalem, nowo mave kemuyandja momake wa imba mbe he ri Ovajuda.”
12 Nu tji twa zuva omambo nga, eṱe novakwetu mba ri mbo arire tji twe riheke ku Paulus kutja a ha i ko kOjerusalem. 13 Nungwari Paulus wa zira a tja: “Mamu tjiti tjike tji mamu riri nokukurungisa omutima wandje nai? Ami kakutja mbe rirongerere okukapandekerwa mOjerusalem porwako, nungwari wina mbe rirongerere okukaṱira Muhona Jesus koṋa ngo.”
14 Nu tji tu ha sorere okumuyeura nomambo, arire tji twe rihahiza atu tja: “Ombango ya Muhona ngai tjitwe.”
15 Nu kombunda yomayuva tjiva eṱe twa ṱuna oviṋa vyetu natu i kOjerusalem. 16 Ovahongewa tjiva va Sesarea wina va ya puna eṱe nave tu twara kondjuwo ya Mnason, omurumendu pu twa sere okukasekira, ngwa zire kOsiprus, nu ngwa ri umwe wa imba ovakambure ovatenga.
Paulus ma kavarura Jakobus
17 Tji twe ya kOjerusalem, ovakambure ve tu yakura nenyando tjinene. 18 Nu mependukirwa, Paulus wa ya puna eṱe okukavarura Jakobus; novatarere avehe wombongo tjandje va woronganene mbo. 19 Paulus we ve minika, tjazumba e ve serekarere avihe Ndjambi mbya tjitire okupitira mu ye mokati kaimba mbe ha ri Ovajuda. 20 Tji va za nokupuratena komambo we, avehe arire tji va tanga Ndjambi. Okuzambo ave tja: “Mukwetu Paulus, ove mo munu kutja Ovajuda omayovi omengi va rira ovakambure mu Jesus nokutja owo avehe nga mba ve ṱakamisa Omatwako. 21 Owo va raerwa kutja ove iyo hongo Ovajuda avehe mba tura momahi wa imba mbe he ri Ovajuda kutja ve ise Omatwako wa Moses, nokuveraera kutja ave ha sukareke ovanatje vawo nave ha horere kotuzo twOvajuda. 22 Nambano ngape tjitwe vi? Owo, tjiri, mave zuu kutja ove weya. 23 Ngo tji tjiti mba punga amatu ku raere. Tu novarumendu vane poṋa mba mba tjiti oruyano. 24 Twende puna wo mu katjite omerikohororero, nu u kevesutire ovimariva; owo mave sora okurihora oviuru. Komuhingo mbwi owo avehe otji mave tjiwa kutja oviṋa avihe mbya hungirirwa ove ovyo kauatjiri, nungwari ove omuini ongu u ri omuṱakamise wOmatwako wa Moses. 25 Nu ovakambure mba rutenga mbe he ri Ovajuda twe ve tjivisa morutuu indwi ondyero yetu yokutja ave ha ri ko ovikurya avihe ngamwa mbya punguhirwa oomukuru vovisenginina, nombinḓu, notjinamuinyo tji tja siniwa, nokutja ve sokuritjaera kokunanukira oruvakiro.”
26 Mependukirwa, Paulus wa toorere ovarumendu mba vane na katjita omerikohororero puna wo. Tjazumba arire tja i kondjuwo ya Muhona nu a katjivisa indi eyuva omakohororero mu maye sokuyanda, indu auhe wawo tji ma punguhirwa ombunguhiro.
Paulus ma kamburirwa mondjuwo ya Muhona
27 Nungwari omayuva nga hambombari tji ya ri pokumanuka, Ovajuda tjiva mba zire korukondwa rwa Asie va muna Paulus mondjuwo ya Muhona. Owo arire tji va zunganisa otjimbumba tjovandu, ave kambura Paulus 28 amave ravaere nai: “Varumendu Ovaisrael, indjeye mu vatere. Eye onguri omurumendu ngwi ngu ryanga akuhe okuhonga ovandu avehe kutja ve pirukire otjiwaṋa tja Israel, nOmatwako wa Moses, nondjuwo ya Muhona ndji. Nambano eye wa hitisa nangarire imba mbe he ri Ovajuda mondjuwo ya Muhona, nu wa yamburura moṋa momuyapuke mwi.” 29 Owo va hungira omambo nga, tjinga ava munine Trofimus ngwa zire kOefese puna Paulus motjihuro, notji va tjangovasi Paulus ongwe mu hitisa wina mondjuwo ya Muhona.
30 Omazunganeno ya rimbarere motjihuro atjihe, novandu avehe va worongana ave kambura Paulus nave mu kokozorere pendje yondjuwo ya Muhona. Tjimanga omivero vyayo arire tji vya patwa. 31 Otjira tjovazungane tja vanga okuzepa Paulus. Ombuze arire tji ya hindwa komuhongore wotjira tjovita tjOvaroma kutja Jerusalem atjihe tji ri mezunganeno. 32 Tjimanga omunane wotjimbumba tjovita wa toorere ovanane novarwe wovita na hakahana okuyenda kotjimbumba tjovandu. Ovandu tji ve mu muna e ri puna ovarwe wovita, arire tji va isa okutona Paulus. 33 Omuhongore wovita weya ku Paulus, e mu kambura nu a rakiza kutja a pandekwe nouketanga uvari. Tjazumba a pura a tja: “Omurumendu ngwi ouṋe, nu wa ungura tjike?” 34 Ovandu tjiva motjimbumba ngunda amave ravaere omambo wawo peke, ovakwao tjandje mave ravaere omambo wawo peke. Pa ri ezunganeno enene nai nga omuhongore tje ha yenenene okutjiwa ouatjiri waimbi mbya tjitwa, nu arire tja rakiza kovandu ve kutja ve kahitise Paulus momaturiro wovarwe wovita. 35 Owo ve mu twara nga pozondomba zomaturiro nga, okuzambo ovarwe wovita ave mu toora okumuyera, otjira tjovazungane tjinga aatji vanga okumuhakana komasa. 36 Owo avehe ve mu kongorera amave ravaere nai: “Nga ṱe!”
Paulus me riyeura omuini
37 Ovarwe wovita tji va hara okuhitisa Paulus momaturiro wawo, eye arire tja tja komuhongore: “Mo ndji yandjere uri kutja mbi hungire otjiṋa kove?”
Omuhongore a pura a tja: “Ove nai u hungira Otjigrike are? 38 Nangwari kaove Omuengipte ngwi momayuva omasupi nga nga kapita ngwa uta omapirukiriro na hongorere ovatirise omayovi yane mbe ripangaṋa novirwise kokuti onguza are?”
39 Paulus arire tja ziri a tja: “Owami Omujuda ngu mba kwaterwa mOtarsus mehi ra Silisie, omukwatera wotjihuro otjinanḓengu. Arikana ndji yandjera mbi hungire notjiwaṋa.”
40 Omuhongore wovita we mu yandjera okuhungira, nu Paulus a kurama kozondondo na ṋanga ovandu neke kutja ve mwine. Nowo tji va mwina, Paulus wa hungira ku wo mOtjiheberi a tja:
