Lesson 111
Saul was a Roman citizen who was born in Tarsus.
Ovbi e Rom na biẹ vbe Tasọs ẹre Sọl ghaa khin.
He was a Pharisee who was an expert in Jewish Law, and he hated Christians. He dragged Christian men and women out of their houses and threw them into jail.
Ovbi e Farisi nọ wa vbe rẹn Uhi e Ju ẹre ghaa nọ. Te irẹn wa gha mu ohu Ivbiotu e Kristi sẹrriọ wẹẹ, ọ na gha viọ iran ku eghan.
He even stood by and watched as an angry mob stoned the disciple Stephen to death.
Sirra e Sọl ẹre emwa na filo okuta gbe Stivin rua. Ọkpa vbe erhuanegbe Jesu ẹre Stivin ghaa khin.
But Saul was not satisfied with arresting Christians in Jerusalem only.
Agharhemiẹn wẹẹ, e Sọl ghaa viọ Ivbiotu e Kristi ni rre Jerusalẹm ye eghan, ọni ma zẹdẹ sẹ ọre ọkẹn.
He asked the high priest to send him to the city of Damascus so that he could hunt down Christians there.
Ọ na wẹẹ ne ogie ohẹn rhie asẹ ne irẹn, ne irẹn mieke na ya kpokpo Ivbiotu e Kristi ni rre Damaskọs.
As Saul got near the city, a bright light suddenly flashed all around him, and he fell to the ground.
Vbe Sọl ghi sikẹ e Damaskọs, awanwan nọ ke ẹrinmwi rre keghi wan lẹga re vbe udemwurri, ẹre ọ na wa de gbotọ.
He heard a voice say:
Urhu ọkpa nọ ke ẹrinmwi rre keghi tama rẹn wẹẹ:
‘Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
‘E Sọl, vbọzẹe ne u na zẹ mwẹ kpokpo?’
Saul asked:
Ẹre Sọl na ghi nọ rẹn wẹẹ:
‘Who are you?’
‘De ọmwa ne ọ gu mwẹ guan na?’
The answer:
Nene ọmwa na wanniẹn ọnrẹn wẹẹ:
‘I am Jesus.
‘Mẹ ọre Jesu.
Go into Damascus, and you will learn what you must do.’
Gha rrie Damaskọs. U gha sẹ evba, I gha tama ruẹ emwi ne u gha ru.’
In an instant, Saul had become blind, and he had to be led by the hand into the city.
Vbe ọwarọkpa nii, e Sọl keghi rhuaro. Te a ghi rhie ẹre obọ lae Damaskọs.
In Damascus, there was a faithful Christian named Ananias.
Ọ ghaa mwẹ Ovbiotu e Kristi ọkpa nọ rre Damaskọs na tie ẹre Ananaias.
Jesus told him in a vision:
E Jesu keghi tama rẹn vbe umian wẹẹ:
‘Go to the house of Judas on the street called Straight, and look for Saul.’
‘Gha rrie owa e Judas nọ rre idunmwu ọkpa na tie ẹre Nọdiae (Straight). U gha sẹ evba, u ghi nọ ẹmwẹ okpia ọkpa na tie ẹre Sọl.’
Ananias said:
Ananaias keghi tama Jesu wẹẹ:
‘Lord, I know all about that man!
‘Nọyaẹnmwa, I wa rẹn okpia nii!
He is throwing your disciples into prison!’
Ẹi re avbiẹ erhuanegbe ruẹ ẹre ọ he viọ ye eghan!’
But Jesus said:
Sokpan Jesu na tama rẹn wẹẹ:
‘Go to him.
‘Bu ẹre gha khian.
I have chosen Saul to preach the good news to many nations.’
I zẹ e Sọl nẹ, ne ọ gha re ọguọmwadia mwẹ. Te ọ khian kporhu iyẹn nọ maan ma agbẹnvbo nibun.’
So Ananias found Saul and told him:
Ananaias ghi miẹn e Sọl, ọ keghi tama rẹn wẹẹ:
‘Saul, brother, Jesus has sent me to open your eyes.’
‘E Sọl ne ọtẹnmwẹ, Jesu ẹre ọ gie mwẹ rre, ne I do rran ruẹ aro.’
Instantly, Saul could see again.
Vbe ọwarọkpa nii, e Sọl na dọlegbe gha bẹghe.
He learned about Jesus and became his follower.
E Sọl ghi ruẹ vbekpae Jesu nẹ, ọ na ghi khian ọkpa vbe erhuanegbe ẹre.
Now baptized as a Christian, Saul began to preach in the synagogues, along with his fellow Christians.
Vbe Sọl ghi dinmwiamẹ nẹ, ọ keghi deba erhuanegbe nikẹre gha kporhu vbe sinagọg.
Can you imagine how shocked the Jews were to see Saul teaching people about Jesus?
Vbe uwẹ a yayi wẹẹ, ekhọe Ivbi e Ju ghaa ye hẹ, vbe iran ghi bẹghe ẹre wẹẹ e Sọl kporhu iyẹn nọ maan vbekpae Jesu? Te ọ wa kpa iran odin!
They said:
Iran keghi kha wẹẹ:
‘Isn’t this the same man who used to hunt down Jesus’ disciples?’
‘Ẹi re okpia na, ẹre ọ ghaa zẹ erhuanegbe Jesu kpokpo?’
For three years, Saul preached to the people living in Damascus.
Ukpo eha, ẹre Sọl wa ya kporhu iyẹn nọ maan vbe Damaskọs.
The Jews hated Saul and made plans to kill him.
Ivbi e Ju kegha khẹko e Sọl, sẹrriọ wẹẹ iran na gha so uma ne iran gbe ẹre rua.
But the brothers learned about the plot and helped him to escape.
Sokpan etẹn ghi họn vbekpa uma na, iran keghi ru iyobọ ne Sọl ya lẹẹ fe.
They put him in a basket and lowered him down through a hole in the city wall.
Iran ghi mu e Sọl ye uwu okhuaẹ, iran na muẹn la uvun ekẹn ọghe ẹvbo nii ladian.
When Saul went to Jerusalem, he tried to join the brothers there.
E Sọl ghi sẹ e Jerusalẹm, ọ na te gha hoo ne ọ deba etẹn ni rre evba.
But they were afraid of him.
Sokpan ohan e Sọl kegha mu iran.
Then a kind disciple named Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and convinced them that Saul had truly changed.
Ọtẹn ọkpa na tie ẹre Banabas ẹre ọ ghi gi avbe ukọ rẹn wẹẹ e Sọl gele fiwerriẹ nẹ.
Saul began to preach the good news zealously with the congregation in Jerusalem.
Vbe iyeke ọni, e Sọl keghi deba etẹn ni rre Jerusalẹm gha kporhu iyẹn nọ maan.
Later, he became known as Paul.
Vbene ẹghẹ ya khian, a na do gha tie ẹre Pọl.
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these, I am foremost.”—1 Timothy 1:15
“Te Kristi Jesu rrie agbọn, ne ọ do miẹn emwa orukhọ fan. Mẹ ọre ọka ẹrhia ne ọ rrọọ.”—1 Timoti 1:15
Questions:
Inọta:
Why were the Christians afraid of Saul?
Vbọsiẹ ne ohan e Sọl na gha mu Ivbiotu e Kristi?
Why did he change?
De emwi nọ ya e Sọl fiwerriẹ?