ରେରିତମାନଙ୍କ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟର ବିବରଣ 12
1 ରାଜା ହରେୋଦ ସେ ସମୟରେ ମଣ୍ଡଳୀ ରେ କେତକେ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଅତ୍ଯାଚ଼ାର କରିବା ଆରମ୍ଭ କରି ଦେଲେ।
2 ସେ ଯୋହନଙ୍କ ଭାଇ ଯାକୁବଙ୍କୁ ଖଣ୍ଡା ରେ ହତ୍ଯା କରି ଦେଲେ।
3 ଯିହୂଦୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଏ ଘଟଣା ରେ ଖୁସି ହବୋର ଦେଖି ପିତରଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ଯ ବନ୍ଦୀ କରିବାପାଇଁ ଆଗଇେଲେ। ଏହା ଯିହୂଦୀୟ ନିସ୍ତାରପର୍ବ ଦିନର ଘଟଣା।
4 ତା'ପରେ େ ହରୋଦ ପିତରଙ୍କୁ ବନ୍ଦୀ କରି କାରାଗାର ରେ ରଖିଲେ। ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ଜଗିବାପାଇଁ ଷୋହଳ ଜଣ ପ୍ରହରୀ ରହିଲେ। େ ହରୋଦଙ୍କ ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ଯ ଥିଲା ନିସ୍ତାର ପର୍ବ ପରେ ସେ ପିତରଙ୍କୁ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ସାମନାକୁ ଆଣିବେ।
5 ତେଣୁ ପିତର କାରାଗାର ରେ ବନ୍ଦୀ ହାଇେ ରହିଲେ। ତାହାଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମଣ୍ଡଳୀର ସମସ୍ତେ ପରମେଶ୍ବରଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ନିରବଚ୍ଛିନ୍ନ ଭାବରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କଲେ।
6 ହରେୋଦ ଯେଉଁଦିନ ପିତରଙ୍କୁ ବିଚ଼ାର ପାଇଁ ବାହାରକୁ ଆଣିବା ନିମନ୍ତେ ଯୋଜନା କରିଥିଲେ, ତା'ପୂର୍ବ ରାତ୍ରି ରେ ପିତର ଦୁଇଟି ଶିକୁଳି ରେ ବନ୍ଧା ହାଇେ ଦୁଇଜଣ ସୈନିକଙ୍କ ମଝି ରେ ଶୋଇଥିଲେ। ବହୁତ ଜଗୁଆଳୀମାନେ ଫାଟକ ପାଖ ରେ ରହି କାରାଗାରକୁ ଜଗି ରହିଥିଲେ।
7 ହଠାତ୍ ପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ଜଣେ ଦୂତ ଆସି ସଠାେରେ ଉଭା ହେଲେ। କଠାେରୀଟି ଉଜ୍ଜ୍ବଳ ଆ ଲୋକରେ ଆଲୋକିତ ହାଇଗେଲା। ସେ ପିତରଙ୍କୁ ହଲଇେ ଦଇେ କହିଲେ, ଶୀଘ୍ର ଉଠ। ସହେି ସମୟରେ ତାହାଙ୍କ ହାତରୁ ସବୁ ଶିକୁଳି ଖସିପଡ଼ିଲା।
8 ସେ ସ୍ବର୍ଗଦୂତ ପିତରଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ, ଲୁଗାପଟା ଓ ଜୋତା ପିନ୍ଧ। ସେ ପିନ୍ଧିଲେ। ସେ ପୁଣି କହିଲେ, ତୁମ୍ଭର ଚ଼ାଦର ଘୋଡ଼ଇେ ହୁଅ ଓ ମାେତେ ଅନୁସରଣ କର।
9 ପିତର ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ଅନୁସରଣ କଲେ। ସ୍ବର୍ଗଦୂତ ଯେ ପ୍ରକୃତ ରେ ଏହି ଘଟଣାଟି ଘଟାଉଛନ୍ତି ଏହା ପିତର ଅନୁଭବ କରିପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ। ସେ ଭାବୁଥିଲେ ଯେ, ସେ ଏକ ଦର୍ଶନ ଦେଖୁଛଅନ୍ତି।
10 ସମାନେେ ପ୍ରଥମ ଓ ଦ୍ବିତୀୟ ପ୍ରହରୀଙ୍କୁ ଟପି ଗୋଟିଏ ଲିହା ଫାଟକ ପାଖକୁ ଆସିଲେ। ଏହା କାରାଗାରକୁ ନଗରରୁ ବିଚ୍ଛିନ୍ନ କରୁଥିଲା। ଏହା ଆପେ ଆପେ ଖାଲିଗେଲା ଓ ସମାନେେ ବାହାରକୁ ଚ଼ାଲିଗଲେ। ସମାନେେ ଗୋଟିଏ ଗଳିର ଶଷେ ଆଡ଼କୁ ଗଲାପରେ ହଠାତ୍ ସ୍ବର୍ଗଦୂତ ଜଣକ ପିତରଙ୍କୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ଚ଼ାଲିଗଲେ।
11 ତା'ପରେ ପିତର ଜାଣିପାରିଲେ ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ଯାହା ସବୁ ଘଟିଗଲା ଏବଂ କହିଲେ, ମୁଁ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଜାଣିଲି, ଏହା ପ୍ରକୃତ ରେ ସତ୍ଯ ଅଟେ। ପ୍ରଭୁ ପ୍ରକୃତ ରେ ତାହାଙ୍କ ସ୍ବର୍ଗଦୂତଙ୍କୁ ପଠାଇ େ ହରୋଦଙ୍କ କବଳରୁ ମାେତେ ଉଦ୍ଧାର କଲେ ଓ ଯିହୂଦୀୟମାନଙ୍କ ସମସ୍ତ ମନ୍ଦ ଆଶାକୁ ବ୍ଯର୍ଥ କଲେ।
12 ଏହା ଅନୁଭବ କଲାପରେ, ସେ ଯୋହନଙ୍କ ମାତା ମରିୟମଙ୍କ ଘରକୁ ଗଲେ। ଯୋହନଙ୍କୁ ମାର୍କ ମଧ୍ଯ କୁହା ଯାଉଥିଲା। ସଠାେରେ ଅନକେ ଲୋକ ଏକାଠି ହାଇେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଥିଲେ।
13 ପିତର କବାଟରେ ଠକ୍ ଠକ୍ କରନ୍ତେ ରୋଦା ନାମକ ଜଣେ ଚ଼ାକରାଣୀ କବାଟ ଖାଲିବୋକୁ ଆସିଲା।
14 ସେ ପିତରଙ୍କର ସ୍ବର ଜାଣିପାରି ଏତେ ଖୁସି ହାଇଗେଲା ଯେ, ସେ କବାଟ ନଖାଲିେ ଭିତରକୁ ହୌଡ଼ିଗଲା। ଭିତରକୁ ଦୌଡ଼ିଯାଇ ସେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ କହିଲା, ପିତର କବାଟ କାଖ ରେ ଠିଆ ହାଇେଛନ୍ତି!
15 ବିଶ୍ବାସୀମାନେ ରୋଦର କଥା ଶୁଣି ତାହାକୁ କହିଲେ, ତୁ ପାଗଳୀ, କିନ୍ତୁ ସେ ତା କଥା ସତ୍ଯ ବୋଲି ଦୃଢ଼ଭାବେ କହିବାକୁ ଲାଗିଲା। ସମାନେେ କହିଲେ, ସେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ପିତରଙ୍କର ଦୂତ।
16 କିନ୍ତୁ ପିତର କବାଟରେ ଠକ୍ ଠକ୍ କରି ଚ଼ାଲିଥିଲେ। ବିଶ୍ବାସୀମାନେ ଯେତବେେଳେ କବାଟ ଖାଲିେଲେ ସେତବେେଳେ ପିତରଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖି ବିସ୍ମିତ ହାଇଗେଲେ।
17 ପିତର ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ହାତ ରେ ଠାରି ଚୁପ୍ ରହିବାକୁ କହିଲେ। ପ୍ରଭୁ କିପରି ତାହାଙ୍କୁ କାରାଗାରରୁ ବାହାରକରି ଆଣିଲେ, ସେ ସବୁ କଥା ପିତର ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ବୁଝାଇ କହିଲେ। ସେ ଏ ବିଷୟ ରେ ଯାକୁବ ଓ ଅନ୍ୟ ଭାଇମାନଙ୍କୁ ଜଣଇବୋ ପାଇଁ କହିଲେ। ତା'ପରେ ସେ ଅନ୍ୟ ସ୍ଥାନକୁ ଚ଼ାଲିଗଲେ।
18 ତହିଁ ଆରଦିନ ସକାଳ ହବୋରୁ ସୈନ୍ଯମାନେ ଅତି ବିବ୍ରତ ହାଇଗେଲେ। ପିତରଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି କ'ଣ ଘଟିଥିବ, ଏହା ଭାବି ସମାନେେ ଚିନ୍ତିତ ହାଇପେଡ଼ିଲେ।
19 େ ହରୋଦ ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ଖାଜେିଲେ, କିନ୍ତୁ ପାଇଲେ ନାହିଁ। ତା'ପରେ ସେ ଜଗୁଆଳୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ପଚ଼ରା ଉଚ଼ରା କରିସାରି, ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ମୃତ୍ଯୁଦଣ୍ତ ରେ ଦଣ୍ଡିତ ଦେଲେ।
20 େ ହରୋଦ ସୋର ଓ ସୀଦୋନର ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଭୀଷଣ ରାଗୁଥିଲେ। ସମାନେେ ଦଳଦଳ ହାଇେ ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖିବାକୁ ଆସିଲେ। ସମାନେେ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ବ୍ଯକ୍ତିଗତ ଚ଼ାକର ବ୍ଲାସ୍ତଙ୍କ ସାହାୟ୍ଯ ନେଲେ। ସମାନେେ େ ହରୋଦଙ୍କ ସହିତ ଶାନ୍ତିସନ୍ଧି ରଖିଲେ, କାରଣ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଦେଶରୁ ସମାନଙ୍କେ ଦେଶକୁ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଆସୁଥିଲା।
21 େ ହରୋଦ ଗୋଟିଏ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ ଦିନ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ଦଖାେ କରିବାପାଇଁ ସ୍ଥିର କଲେ। ସଦେିନ ସେ ରାଜକୀୟ ବସ୍ତ୍ର ପିନ୍ଧି ସିଂହାସନ ରେ ବସି ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ଭାଷଣ ଦେଲେ।
22 ଲୋକମାନେ ପାଟିକରି କହିଲେ, ଏହା ଦବେତାର ସ୍ବର, ମନୁଷ୍ଯର ନୁହେଁ।
23 େ ହରୋଦ ନିଜର ଏହି ପ୍ରଶଂସା ଶୁଣିଲେ, କିନ୍ତୁ ସେ ପରମେଶ୍ବରଙ୍କୁ ତାହାଙ୍କର ସମ୍ମାନ ଜଣାଇଲେ ନାହିଁ। ତେଣୁ ପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ଜଣେ ଦୂତ ହଠାତ୍ ତାହାଙ୍କୁ ଆଘାତ କଲେ ଓ ତାହାଙ୍କ ଶରୀରକୁ କୀଟମାନେ ଖାଇଲେ। ଶଷେ ରେ ସେ ମୃତ୍ଯୁବରଣ କଲେ।
24 କିନ୍ତୁ ପରମେଶ୍ବରଙ୍କର ସୁସମାଚ଼ାର ଚ଼ାରିଆଡ଼େ ବ୍ଯାପିଗଲା। ଅଧିକରୁ ଅଧିକ ଲୋକମାନେ ଏହି ସୁସମାଚ଼ାର ଦ୍ବାରା ପ୍ରଭାବିତ ଦେଲେ। ବିଶ୍ବାସୀମାନଙ୍କ ସଂଖ୍ଯା ବୃଦ୍ଧି ପାଇବାକୁ ଲାଗିଲା।
25 ବର୍ଣ୍ଣବ୍ବା ଓ ଶାଉଲ ୟିରୂଶାଲମ ରେ କାମ ସାରି ଆନ୍ତିୟଖିଆକୁ ଫରେିଗଲେ। ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ସହିତ ମାର୍କ ନାମ ରେ ପରିଚ଼ିତ ଯୋହନ ଥିଲେ।
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14 And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country.
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.