Acts 22
1 ପାଉଲ କହିଲେ, ଭାଇମାନେ ଓ ପିତାମାନେ, ଯେ ହତେୁ ମୁଁ ମାରେ ନିଜ ସପକ୍ଷ ରେ କଥା କହୁଛି, ତେଣୁ ଆପଣମାନେ ମାେ କଥା ଶୁଣନ୍ତୁ।
2 ସମାନେେ ପାଉଲଙ୍କୁ ଯିହୂଦୀ ଭାଷା ରେ କହିବାର ଶୁଣି ଆହୁରି ଅଧିକ ଶାନ୍ତ ହାଇଗେଲେ। ତା'ପରେ ପାଉଲ କହିଲେ,
3 ମୁଁ ଜଣେ ଯିହୂଦୀୟ ଲୋକ। ମାରେ ଜନ୍ମ କିଲିକିଆ ଦେଶର ତାର୍ଷ ନଗର ରେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ଏହି ନଗର ରେ ମାରେ ଲାଳନପାଳନ ହାଇେଥିଲା। ମୁଁ ଆମ୍ଭ ପିତୃପୁରୁଷଙ୍କ ନିୟମ ଗୁଡ଼ିକ ବିଷୟ ରେ ଗୁରୁ ଗମଲୀଯଲଙ୍କେ ପାଖରୁ ବହୁତ ଯତ୍ନ ସହକା ରେ ତାଲିମ ପାଇଛି। ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କେ ପରି, ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ଯ ପରମେଶ୍ବରଙ୍କ ନିମନ୍ତେ ଅତି ଉତ୍ସାହୀ ଥିଲି।
4 ମୁଁ ଯୀଶୁଙ୍କ ପଥରେ ଯାଉଥିବା ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ତାଡ଼ନା ଓ କଷ୍ଟ ଦେଉଥିଲି। ମୁଁ ପୁରୁଷ ଓ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ବନ୍ଦୀ କରି କାରାଗାର ରେ ରଖିଥିଲି।
5 ମହାୟାଜକ ଓ ପ୍ରାଚ଼ୀନ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କର ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପରିଷଦ ଏ କଥାର ସାକ୍ଷୀ ଅଟନ୍ତି। ମୁଁ ସମାନଙ୍କେଠାରୁ ଦମ୍ମସକରେେ ଥିବା ସମାନଙ୍କେର ଭାଇମାନଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ପତ୍ର ନଇେ ଯାଇଥିଲି। ସଠାେରେ ଥିବା ଯୀଶୁଙ୍କର ଶିଷ୍ଯମାନେ ଯେପରି ଦଣ୍ଡ ପାଇପାରନ୍ତି, ଏଥିନିମନ୍ତେ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ବନ୍ଦୀ କରି ୟିରୁଶାଲମକୁ ନଇେ ଆସିବା ପାଇଁ ମୁଁ ଯାଉଥିଲି।
6 ମୁଁ ଦମ୍ମସକରେ ନିକଟବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ହେଲା ବେଳେ ହଠାତ୍ ଗୋଟଏ ଘଟଣା ଘଟିଲା। ଦମ୍ମସକରେେ ପହଞ୍ଚିବା ବେଳେ ପ୍ରାୟ ଦ୍ବିପହର ହାଇେଥିଲା। ସେତବେେଳେ ହଠାତ୍ ଆକାଶରୁ ଗୋଟିଏ ଉଜ୍ଜ୍ବଳ ଆଲୋକ ମାେ ଚ଼ାରିପାଖ ରେ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ହେଲା।
7 ମୁଁ ତଳେ ପଡ଼ିଗଲି। ସେତବେେଳେ ମାେତେ ଗୋଟିଏ ବାଣୀ ଶୁଭିଲା, 'ଶାଉଲ, ଶାଉଲ, ତୁମ୍ଭେ କାହିଁକି ମାେତେ ତାଡ଼ନା କରୁଛ?'
8 ମୁଁ ପଚ଼ାରିଲି, 'ଆପଣ କିଏ, ପ୍ରଭୁ?' ସେ ମାେତେ କହିଲେ, 'ମୁଁ ସହେି ନାଜରିତୀୟ ଯୀଶୁ, ଯାହାକୁ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ତାଡ଼ନା କରୁଅଛ।'
9 ମାେ ସହିତ ଥିବା ଲୋକମାନେ ମଧ୍ଯ ସହେି ଆଲୋକ ଦେଖି ପାରିଲେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ସମାନେେ ମାେତେ କୁହାୟିବା ବାକ୍ଯ ଶୁଣି ବୁଝି ପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ।
10 ମୁଁ ପଚ଼ାରିଲି, 'ପ୍ରଭୁ ମୁଁ କଣ କରିବି?' ପ୍ରଭୁ ମାେତେ କହିଲେ, 'ଉଠ ଦମ୍ମସକେ ନଗରକୁ ଯାଅ।' ଯେଉଁସବୁ କାର୍ୟ୍ଯ ନିମନ୍ତେ ତୁମ୍ଭକୁ ମନୋନୀତ କରାଯାଇଛି, ତାହା ସଠାେରେ ତୁମ୍ଭକୁ କୁହାୟିବ।'
11 ମୁଁ କିଛି ଦେଖିପାରୁ ନଥିଲି, କାରଣ ସହେି ଆଲୋକର ତଜେ ମାେତେ ଅନ୍ଧ କରି ପକାଇଥିଲା। ସେଥିପାଇଁ ମାରେ ବନ୍ଧୁମାନେ ମାେ ହାତ ଧରି ଦମ୍ମସକେ ନଇଗେଲେ।
12 ହନନିୟ ନାମକ ଜଣେ ଭକ୍ତ ଦମ୍ମସକେ ନଗର ରେ ଥିଲେ। ସେ ମାଶାଙ୍କେ ବ୍ଯବସ୍ଥା ମାନୁଥିଲେ। ସଠାେରେ ରହୁଥିବା ସମସ୍ତ ଯିହୂଦୀୟମାନେ ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ସମ୍ମାନ ଦେଉଥିଲେ।
13 ହନନିୟ ମାେ ପାଖ ରେ ଆସି ଠିଆ ହାଇେ କହିଲେ, ' ହେ ଭାଇ ଶାଉଲ, ତୁମ୍ଭେ ପୁଣି ଥରେ ଦେଖିବାକୁ ପାଅ।' ମୁଁ ସହେି ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତ ରେ ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖିପାରିଲି।
14 ସେ ମାେତେ କହିଲେ, 'ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ପୈତୃକ ପରମେଶ୍ବର ତାହାଙ୍କର ଇଚ୍ଛା ଜାଣିବା ନିମନ୍ତେ, ଓ ସହେି ଧାର୍ମିକ ବ୍ଯକ୍ତିଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖିବା ଓ ତାହାଙ୍କ ମୁଖର କଥା ଶୁଣିବା ନିମନ୍ତେ ତୁମ୍ଭକୁ ମନୋନୀତ କରି ଅଛନ୍ତି।
15 କାରଣ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ପାଖ ରେ ତାହାଙ୍କର ସାକ୍ଷୀ ହବେ। ତୁମ୍ଭେ ଯାହା ଯାହା ଦେଖିଛ ଓ ଶୁଣିଛ, ତାହା ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ କହିବ।
16 ତୁମ୍ଭେ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଆଉ ଅପେକ୍ଷା କର ନାହିଁ। ଶୀଘ୍ର ଉଠ ଓ ବାପ୍ତିଜିତ ହୁଅ ଏବଂ ଯୀଶୁଙ୍କ ନାମ ରେ ତୁମ୍ଭର ପାପରୁ ଧୋଇ ହୁଅ।'
17 ତା'ପରେ ମୁଁ ୟିରୁଶାଲମକୁ ଫରେି ଆସିଲି। ସଠାେରେ ମନ୍ଦିର ରେ ଦିନେ ପ୍ରର୍ଥନା କଲା ବେଳେ ମୁଁ ଗୋଟିଏ ଦର୍ଶନ ଦେଖିଲି।
18 ସହେି ସମୟରେ ମୁଁ ଯୀଶୁଙ୍କୁ ଦର୍ଶନ କଲି। ସେ ମାେତେ କହିଲେ, 'ତୁମ୍ଭେ ସଙ୍ଗେ ସଙ୍ଗେ ୟିରୁଶାଲମ ଛାଡ଼ି ଦିଅ, କାରଣ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ମାେ ବିଷୟ ରେ ଯାହା କହିବ, ସମାନେେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବେ ନାହିଁ।'
19 କିନ୍ତୁ ମୁଁ କହିଲି, ପ୍ରଭୁ, ଏ ଲୋକମାନେ ତ ସମସ୍ତେ ଜାଣନ୍ତି ଯେ ମୁଁ ପ୍ରେତ୍ୟକକ ସମାଜଗୃହକୁ ଯାଇ ସଠାେରେ ତୁମ୍ଭକୁ ବିଶ୍ବାସ କରୁଥିବା ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ବନ୍ଦୀ କରୁଥିଲି ଏବଂ ମାଡ଼ ମାରୁଥିଲି।
20 ତୁମ୍ଭର ସାକ୍ଷୀ ସ୍ତିଫାନଙ୍କ ରକ୍ତ ବହିଯାଉଥିବା ସମୟରେ ମୁଁ ସଠାେରେ ଠିଆ ହାଇେ ସହେି କାର୍ୟ୍ଯକୁ ସମର୍ଥନ କରୁଥିଲି। ମୁଁ ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ହତ୍ଯା କରୁଥିବା ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କର ଲୁଗାପଟାକୁ ଜଗିଥିଲି, ଏସବୁ କଥା ସମାନେେ ଜାଣନ୍ତି।'
21 କିନ୍ତୁ ପ୍ରଭୁ ମାେତେ କହିଲେ, 'ତୁମ୍ଭେ ଯାଅ। ମୁଁ ତୁମ୍ଭକୁ ବହୁତ ଦୂର ଅଣଯିହୂଦୀ ଦେଶଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ପଠାଇବି।'
22 ପାଉଲ ଏକଥା କହିବା ପର୍ୟ୍ଯନ୍ତ ଯିହୂଦୀମାନେ ଶୁଣୁଥିଲେ। ତା'ପରେ ସମାନେେ ସମସ୍ତେ ମିଶି ଖୁବ୍ ଜାରେ ରେ ପାଟି କରି କହିଲେ, ଏ ଲୋକକୁ ପୃଥିବୀରୁ ଦୂର କର। କାରଣ ସେ ବଞ୍ଚିରହିବା ପାଇଁ ଯୋଗ୍ଯ ନୁହଁ।
23 ସମାନେେ ଚ଼ିତ୍କାର କରି ନିଜ ନିଜ ଲୁଗାପଟା ବାହାର କରି ଫୋପାଡ଼ି ଦେଲେ ଓ ଶୂନ୍ଯକୁ ଧୂଳି ଫୋପାଡ଼ିଲେ।
24 ତା'ପରେ ସନୋପତି ପାଉଲଙ୍କୁ ସୈନ୍ଯ ନିବାସ ଭିତରକୁ ନଇୟିବୋ ପାଇଁ ଆଦେଶ ଦେଲେ। କାହିଁକି ଲୋକମାନେ ତାହାଙ୍କ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧ ରେ ଏଭଳି ପାଟିତୁଣ୍ଡ କରୁଥିଲେ, ତାହା ଜାଣିବା ପାଇଁ କୋରଡ଼ା ପ୍ରହାର ଦ୍ବାରା ପାଉଲଙ୍କୁ ପଚ଼ାରିବା ନିମନ୍ତେ ସେ ସୈନିକମାନଙ୍କୁ ଆଦେଶ ଦେଲେ।
25 ସମାନେେ ପାଉଲଙ୍କୁ କୋରଡ଼ା ମାରିବା ପାଇଁ ବାନ୍ଧୁଥିବା ସମୟରେ ପାଉଲ ସଠାେରେ ଠିଆ ହାଇେଥିବା ଜଣେ ସନୋ ଅଧିକାରୀଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ, ଜଣେ ରୋମୀୟ ନାଗରିକ, ଯେ କି ଦୋଷୀ ବୋଲି ପ୍ରମାଣିତ ହାଇେ ନାହିଁ, ତାହାକୁ କୋରଡ଼ା ମାରିବା କ'ଣ ଆଇନ ସଙ୍ଗତ ଅଟେ?
26 ଏ କଥା ଅଧିକାରୀ ଶୁଣି ସନୋଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷଙ୍କୁ ଜଣାଇଲେ। ଅଧିକାରୀ କହିଲେ, ତୁମ୍ଭେ ଜାଣ, ତୁମ୍ଭେ କଣ କରୁଛ? ଏ ଲୋକ ଜଣେ ରୋମୀୟ ନାଗରିକ?
27 ତେଣୁ ସନୋଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷ ଯାଇ ପାଉଲଙ୍କୁ ପଚ଼ାରିଲେ, ମାେତେ କୁହ, ତୁମ୍ଭେ କଣ ପ୍ରକୃତ ରେ ଜଣେ ରୋମୀୟ ନାଗରିକ?
28 ସନୋଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷ କହିଲେ, ମୁଁ ଜଣେ ରୋମୀୟ ନାଗରିକ ହବୋପାଇଁ ପ୍ରଚୁ଼ର ଟଙ୍କା ଦଇେଥିଲି।।
29 ପାଉଲ ଜଣେ ରୋମୀୟ ନାଗରିକ ବୋଲି ଜାଣିବା ପରେ ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଯାଉଥିବା ଲୋକମାନେ ସଙ୍ଗେ ସଙ୍ଗେ ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ଚ଼ାଲି ଗଲେ। ସନୋଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷ ମଧ୍ଯ ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ବାନ୍ଧି ବେତ୍ରାଘାତ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଆଦେଶ ଦଇେଥିବାରୁ ଡ଼ରିଗଲେ।
30 ତହିଁ ଆର ଦିନ ସନୋଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷ ଜାଣିବା ପାଇଁ ଚାହିଁଲେ, ଯିହୂଦୀମାନେ ପ୍ରକୃତ ରେ ପାଉଲଙ୍କ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧ ରେ କଣ ଦୋଷରୋପ କରୁଥିଲେ। ତେଣୁ ସେ ପାଉଲଙ୍କୁ ମୁକ୍ତ କରି ଦେଲେ ଏବଂ ୟିହୁଦୀ ମୁଖ୍ଯ ଯାଜକମାନଙ୍କୁ ଓ ସମଗ୍ର ଯିହୂଦୀ ମହାସଭା ଏକାଠି ହବୋକୁ ଆଦେଶ ଦେଲେ। ତା'ପରେ ସନୋଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷ ପାଉଲଙ୍କର ଶିକୁଳି ଖାଲିେ ଦେଲେ। ସେ ପାଉଲଙ୍କୁ ମହାସଭା ସମ୍ମୁଖ ରେ ବିଚ଼ାର ପାଇଁ ଠିଆ କରାଇଲେ।
1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.