Acts 23
1 Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
Paulo akawaangalia moja kwa moja watu wa baraza na kusema, “Ndugu zangu, nimeishi mbele za Mungu kwa dhamira nzuri hadi hivi leo.”
2 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
Kuhani mkuu Anania akawaamuru wale waliosimama karibu naye wampige kinywa chake.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
Ndipo Paulo akamwambia, “Mungu atakupiga wewe, ukuta uliopakwa chokaa. Umekaa ukinihukumu kwa sheria, nawe unaamuru nipigwe kinyume cha sheria?”
4 But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”
Wale waliokuwa wamesimama karibu naye wakasema, “Hivi ndivyo unavyomtukana kuhani mkuu wa Mungu?”
5 “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
Paulo akasema, “ndugu zangu, mimi sikujua kwamba huyu ni kuhani mkuu. Kwa kuwa imeandikwa, hutazungumza vibaya juu ya mtawala wa watu wako.”
6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
Paulo alipoona ya kwamba upande mmoja wa baraza ni Masadukayo na wengine Mafarisayo, akapaza sauti na kusema, “ndugu zangu, mimi ni Mfarisayo, mwana wa Mfarisayo. Ni kwa sababu hii nategemea kwa ujasiri ufufuo wa wafu ninao hukumiwa nao.”
7 As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Alipoyasema haya, malumbano makubwa yakatokea baina ya Mafarisayo na Masadukayo, na mkutano ukagawanyika.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
Kwani Masadukayo husema hakuna ufufuo, malaika wala hakuna roho, ila Mafarisayo husema haya yote yapo.
9 A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
Ghasia kubwa ikatokea na baadhi ya waandishi waliokuwa upande wa Mafarisayo wakasimama na kujadili, wakisema, “hatujaona chochote kibaya dhidi ya mtu huyu. Vipi kama roho au malaika ameongea na yeye?”
10 The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
Wakati kulitokea hoja kubwa, mkuu wa majeshi aliogopa kwamba Paulo angeraruliwa vipande vipande na wao, hivyo akaamuru wanajeshi washuke chini na kumchukua kwa nguvu kutoka kwa wajumbe wa baraza, na kumleta katika ngome.
11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
Usiku uliofuata Bwana alisimama karibu naye na kusema, “Usiogope, kwa kuwa umenishuhudia katika Yerusalemu, hivyo utatoa ushahidi pia katika Roma.”
12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
Kulipokucha, baadhi ya Wayahudi walifanya agano na kuita laana juu yao wenyewe: walisema ya kwamba hawatakula wala kunywa chochote mpaka watakapomuua Paulo.
13 More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
Kulikuwa na watu zaidi ya arobaini ambao walifanya njama hii.
14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
wakaenda kwa wakuu wa makuhani na wazee na kusema, “Tumejiweka wenyewe kwenye laana kuu, tusile chochote hadi tutakapomwua Paulo.
15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”
Hivyo sasa, baraza limwambie jemadari mkuu amlete kwenu, kana kwamba mnaamua kesi yake kwa usahihi. Kwetu sisi tuko tayari kumwua kabla hajaja hapa.”
16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
Lakini mtoto wa dada yake na Paulo akasikia kwamba kulikuwa na njama, akaenda akaingia ndani ya ngome na kumwambia Paulo.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
Paulo akamwita akida mmoja akasema, “Mchukue kijana huyu kwa jemadari; maana ana neno la kumwambia.”
18 So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
Basi akida akamchukua yule kijana akampeleka kwa jemedari mkuu akamwambia, “Paulo yule mfungwa aliniita akataka nikuletee kijana huyu kwako. Ana neno la kukuambia.”
19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”
Yule jemadari mkuu akamshika kwa mkono akajitenga naye kando, na akamwuliza, “Ni kitu gani unachotaka kuniambia?”
20 He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.
Kijana yule akasema, “Wayahudi wamepatana kukuomba umlete Paulo kesho kwenye baraza kana kwamba wanataka kupata habari zake kwa usahili zaidi.
21 Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
Basi wewe usikubali kwa maana watu zaidi ya arobaini wanamvizia. Wamejifunga kwa laana, wasile wala wasinywe hata watakapomwua. Hata sasa wako tayari, wakisubiria kibali toka kwako.”
22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
Basi yule jemadari mkuu akamwacha kijana aende zake, baada ya kumwagiza “usimwambie mtu yeyote ya kwamba umeniarifu haya.”
23 Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.
Akawaita maakida wawili akasema watayarisheni askari mia mbili kwenda Kaisaria na askari wapanda farasi sabini, na wenye mikuki mia mbili, mtaondoka zamu ya tatu ya usiku.
24 Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”
Akawaambia kuweka wanyama tayari ambaye Paulo atamtumia na kumchukua salama kwa Feliki Gavana.
25 And he wrote the following letter:
Akaandika barua kwa namna hii,
26 Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
Klaudio Lisia kwa Liwali mtukufu Feliki, salamu.
27 This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,
Mtu huyu alikamatwa na wayahudi wakawa karibu kumwua, ndipo nikaenda pamoja na kikosi cha askari nikamwokoa, nilipopata habari ya kuwa yeye ni raia wa kirumi.
28 and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
Nilitaka kujua kwa nini wamemshtaki, hivyo nikampeleka kwenye baraza.
29 I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
Nikaona kwamba alikuwa ameshitakiwa kwa ajili ya maswali ya sheria yao, wala hakushitakiwa neno lolote la kustahili kuuawa wala kufungwa.
30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.
Kisha ikajulikana kwangu kwamba kuna njama dhidi yake, hivyo kwa haraka nikamtuma kwako, na kuwaagiza wanaomshitaki pia walete mashitaka dhidi yake mbele yako. Wakaagana.”
31 So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.
Basi wale askari wakatii amri: wakamchukua Paulo wakampeleka hata Antipatri usiku.
32 The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
Siku iliyofuata, maaskari wengi wakawaacha wale wapanda farasi waende pamoja naye, nao wakarudi zao ngomeni.
33 When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.
Na wapanda farasi walipofika Kaisaria, na kumpa liwali ile barua, wakamweka Paulo mbele yake.
34 The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
Naye liwali alipoisoma barua, alimuuliza Paulo alitokea jimbo gani; alipojua ya kwamba ni mtu wa Kilikia,
35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.
akasema, “Nitakusikia wewe watakapo kuja wale waliokushitaki,” akaamuru awekwe katika ikulu ya Herode.
