Peter and John before the Council
1 Peter and John were still speaking to the people when some priests, the officer in charge of the Temple guards, and some Sadducees arrived. 2 They were annoyed because the two apostles were teaching the people that Jesus had risen from death, which proved that the dead will rise to life. 3 So they arrested them and put them in jail until the next day, since it was already late. 4 But many who heard the message believed; and the number grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the Jewish leaders, the elders, and the teachers of the Law gathered in Jerusalem. 6 They met with the High Priest Annas and with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the others who belonged to the High Priest's family. 7 They made the apostles stand before them and asked them, “How did you do this? What power do you have or whose name did you use?”
8 Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: 9 if we are being questioned today about the good deed done to the lame man and how he was healed, 10 then you should all know, and all the people of Israel should know, that this man stands here before you completely well through the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—whom you crucified and whom God raised from death. 11 Jesus is the one of whom the scripture says,
‘The stone that you the builders despised
turned out to be the most important of all.’
12 Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.”
13 The members of the Council were amazed to see how bold Peter and John were and to learn that they were ordinary men of no education. They realized then that they had been companions of Jesus. 14 But there was nothing that they could say, because they saw the man who had been healed standing there with Peter and John. 15 So they told them to leave the Council room, and then they started discussing among themselves. 16 “What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone in Jerusalem knows that this extraordinary miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn these men never again to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus.”
18 So they called them back in and told them that under no condition were they to speak or to teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “You yourselves judge which is right in God's sight—to obey you or to obey God. 20 For we cannot stop speaking of what we ourselves have seen and heard.” 21 So the Council warned them even more strongly and then set them free. They saw that it was impossible to punish them, because the people were all praising God for what had happened. 22 The man on whom this miracle of healing had been performed was over forty years old.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23 As soon as Peter and John were set free, they returned to their group and told them what the chief priests and the elders had said. 24 When the believers heard it, they all joined together in prayer to God: “Master and Creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and all that is in them! 25 By means of the Holy Spirit you spoke through our ancestor David, your servant, when he said,
‘Why were the Gentiles furious;
why did people make their useless plots?
26 The kings of the earth prepared themselves,
and the rulers met together
against the Lord and his Messiah.’
27 For indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Jesus, your holy Servant, whom you made Messiah. 28 They gathered to do everything that you by your power and will had already decided would happen. 29 And now, Lord, take notice of the threats they have made, and allow us, your servants, to speak your message with all boldness. 30 Reach out your hand to heal, and grant that wonders and miracles may be performed through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”
31 When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God's message with boldness.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 The group of believers was one in mind and heart. None of them said that any of their belongings were their own, but they all shared with one another everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God poured rich blessings on them all. 34 There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale, 35 and turn it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed according to the needs of the people.
36 And so it was that Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “One who Encourages”), 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and turned it over to the apostles.
Pita na Johani pa lubazhe
1 Pita na Johani bakati batjalebeleka ne bathu bapirisiti ne nlauli we ng'umba ye Ndzimu ne Basadusi bakazha ku bali. 2 Bakazha bakadzongeka ngoti batumwa bakabe bediya bathu beleba ngekwe kumusiwa kwe bafi ndi Jesu. 3 Bakabhata Pita na Johani, ngobe kwakabe kuli madekwana bakabalonga mu ng'umba ye busungwa kuswikila tjimuka. 4 Koga banjinji bakahwa dama bakagalamoyo, ngono palo ye balume yakakula ikalizana zwiwulu zwili zwishanu (5 000).
5 Tjimuka balauli babo ne batungamili ne badiyi be nlayo bakakubungana mu Jerusalema, 6 Anasi mpirisiti nkulu na Kaifasi na Johani na Alekizanda na bose be ng'umba ye bupirisiti. 7 Bakati Pita na Johani bezhisiwa mbeli kwabo bakatangisa kubabhuzwa beti, “Makashinga ikoku nge simba lipi kene nge zina laani?”
8 Ipapo Pita, ali zhele Meya yakayengemala kati ku bali, “Balauli ne bakulu be bathu! 9 Ha ili kuti todang'wa nasi kuwodabilila nshingo mbuya wathamigwa tjilema ngono tibhuzwiwa kuti tjapodziwa tjini, 10 ndizo zibani woku mose imwi ne bathu bose be Iziraela, takashinga ikoku nge zina la Jesu Kirisiti we Nazareta iye wamakabambula, iye Ndzimu wawakamusa mu bafi, nge kukwe nlume iwoyu umile mbeli kwenyu apola kwakapelela. 11 Ndiye
“ ‘Bgwe lamakalamba imwi babaki,
koga ndilo lakabe bgwe linotambunudza mbako.’
12 “Jidzo ali towang'wa mu mmwe kakale, ngobe akuna limwe zina kakale mu shango lakapiwa bathu latingatjidziwa ndilo.”
13 Bakati bebona kube nge tjilopa kwa Pita na Johani, ngono beziba kuti abazodiyika, bathu koga, bakatjenama ndizo bakapedzisisa kuti bathu ibaba bakabe bana Jesu. 14 Koga ngobe bebona nlume wakabe apodziwa ali mile ipapo nabo, kwakabe kusina tjabangaleba benyanyayidza. 15 Koga bakabadwa bakati babhudile kuzhe kwe lubazhe, ngono bakalebeleka bali boga. 16 Bakabhuzwa beti, “Ini tjatinowoshinga nge balume ibaba kene? Mmwe ne mmwe mu Jerusalema unoziba kuti bashinga jenamiso gulu, ngono atingalandule ikoko. 17 Koga kumisa tjithu itjetji kuandama mu bathu, ngatitjemeleni balume ibaba kuti basitjayite wabanolebeleka naye nge zina ileli.”
18 Ipapo bakabakowomesedza kuti basibe batjabe belebeleka kene bediya nge zina la Jesu. 19 Koga Pita na Johani bakashandula beti, “Muzwithubukanyile imwi kuti apa kwakalulwama mu mesho e Ndzimu kuhwa imwi kene Ndzimu. 20 Ngobe atingatubule kuletja kulebeleka ngekwe tjatakabona ne tjatakahwa.” 21 Bakati basinobatjemela bakabaletja bakayenda. Abazoziba kuti bangabapa shamu tjini ngekwe bathu, ngobe bathu bose bakabe bekudza Ndzimu ngekwe tjakabe tjashingikala. 22 Nlume iwoyu wakapodziwa nge kunotjenamisa, wakabe ana makole anopinda makumi manna.
Bagalimoyo bakatembezelela kusimamoyo
23 Bakati basinobe basunungugwa Pita na Johani bakabgwilila ku bakwinya babo ngono bakababikila kose kwakabe kwalebgwa nge bapirisiti bakulu ne bawola. 24 Bakati behwa ikoku, bakamilidzila mahwi abo bose ku Ndzimu betembezela beti, “She una masimba, imwi makathama kudzimu ne shango ne gungwa naizo zose zwimu magalo iyawa. 25 Makaleba nge Meya yakayengemala nge nlomo we nlanda wenyu, tate bedu Dafite muti,
“ ‘Ini zwitjaba zwizhala bushongola,
ne bathu belanganila suli?
26 Bomambo be shango bakazwilulwamisa,
ne balauli bakakubungana kumukila ne Ndzimu She ne Mesiya uwe.’
27 “Nge malebeswa Herode na Pontiyo Pilato ne Bezwitjaba ne bathu be Iziraela mu nzi iwoyu bakashangana kulangana ngekwe Nlanda wenyu wakayengemala Jesu iye wamakashalula. 28 Bakashinga tjakabe tjabigwa kale nge simba nenge kuda kwenyu kuti tjowoshingikala. 29 Ngwenu She, bonani kutjisa kwabo, ngono muyite kuti balanda benyu batubule kuleba dama lenyu nge kusimamoyo kukulu. 30 Tambunudzani luboko gwenyu kupodza ne kuthama zwilakidzo ne matjenamiso nge zina le nlanda wenyu wakayengemala iye Jesu.”
31 Shule kwe batembezela, pathu pabakabe bakakubunganilapo pakazunguzika. Ngono bose bakazhala Meya yakayengemala bakaleba dama le Ndzimu nge kusimamoyo.
Bagalimoyo bekobana zwabanazo
32 Bagalimoyo bose bakabe bana moyo ng'ompela ne nkumbulo ng'ompela. Akuna wakabe eti tjithu tjaanatjo nge tjitje, koga bakabe bekobana tjimwe ne tjimwe tjabanatjo. 33 Ngono, nge simba gulu batumwa bakadwilila mbeli bepa butendeki ngekwe kumuka kwa She Jesu, ngono ngoni hwulu dzinodwa ku Ndzimu dzakabe dzili mubali. 34 Kwakabe kusina nshayi pakati kwabo. Ibabo bakabe bana minda kene ng'umba bakabe betengesa, bezhisa mari edwa mu kutengesa 35 beayisa ku batumwa, ngono ekokobanyiwa mmwe ne mmwe kulizana nge kusheta kukwe.
36 Josefa, wakabe ali Nlevi we Sipuro, iye batumwa wabakadana beti Bhanabhasi, kunodwa kuti “Nkololo we Gulumbidzo,” 37 wakatengesa nnda wakabe uli uwe, ngono kazhisa mari kaayisa ku batumwa.