IZenzo 25:1-12

Kwathi uFestu esefikile esifundeni, emva kwezinsuku ezintathu, wasuka eKhesariya, wakhuphukela eJerusalema. Abaphristi abakhulu nezikhulu zabaJuda bamchazela ngoPawula. Bamncenga, becela umusa kuye ukuba ambizele eJerusalema uPawula; base bakhe uzungu lokumbulala endleleni. Kepha uFestu wabaphendula ngokuthi uPawula njengoba egcinwe eKhesariya nje, naye usazobuyela khona lapho ngokushesha. Wayesethi: “Makwehle kanye nami izikhulu phakathi kwenu, uma kukhona utho olubi elwenzileyo le ndoda, aziyimangalele.” Esehlalile nabo izinsuku ezingaphezu kweziyisishiyagalombili noma ezilishumi, wehlela eKhesariya. Ngakusasa wahlala esihlalweni sokwehlulela, wayaleza ukuba uPawula alethwe kuye. Esefikile, abaJuda ababehle bevela eJerusalema bema bemngungile, bambeka uxhaxha lwamacala anzima abangenabufakazi bawo. UPawula eziphendulela, wathi: “Angonanga ngalutho emthethweni wabaJuda, nasethempelini, nakuKhesari.” Kepha uFestu ethanda ukubongwa ngabaJuda, wamphendula uPawula, wathi: “Uyathanda yini ukwenyukela eJerusalema, wehlulelwe khona phambi kwami ngalezi zinto, na?” UPawula wayesethi: “Ngimi phambi kwesihlalo sokwehlulela sikaKhesari, lapho kumele ngehlulelwe khona. Akukho okubi engikwenze kubaJuda njengalokhu nawe wazi kahle. Uma ngenzile utho olubi olufanele ukufa, mangife, angenqabi, kodwa nxa kungekho utho olunjalo kulokhu laba abangimangalela ngakho, akekho-ke onganginikela kubo. Ngilidlulisela kuKhesari.” Ngakho-ke uFestu esekhulumile nomphakathi, waphendula wathi: “Ulidlulisele kuKhesari, uzokuya kuKhesari.”