Acts 24
1 And after five days came down the high priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator called Tertullus, and laid their informations against Paul before the governor.
Baada ya siku tano, Kuhani Mkuu Anania aliwasili Kaisarea pamoja na wazee kadhaa na wakili mmoja wa sheria aitwaye Tertulo. Walimwendea yule mkuu wa mkoa wakamweleza mashtaka yao juu ya Paulo.
2 And he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse, saying, Seeing we enjoy great peace through thee, and that excellent measures are executed for this nation by thy forethought,
Paulo aliitwa na Tertulo akafungua mashtaka hivi: “Mheshimiwa Felisi, uongozi wako bora umeleta amani kubwa na marekebisho ya lazima yanafanywa kwa manufaa ya taifa letu.
3 we receive [it] always and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
Tunalipokea jambo hili kwa furaha daima na kutoa shukrani nyingi kwako kila mahali.
4 But that I may not too much intrude on thy time, I beseech thee to hear us briefly in thy kindness.
Lakini, bila kupoteza wakati wako zaidi, tunakusihi kwa wema wako, usikilize taarifa yetu fupi.
5 For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans;
Tumegundua kwamba mtu huyu ni wa hatari mno. Yeye huanzisha ghasia kati ya Wayahudi kila mahali duniani na pia ni kiongozi wa kile chama cha Wanazareti.
6 who also attempted to profane the temple; whom we also had seized, [and would have judged according to our law;
Tena alijaribu kulikufuru Hekalu nasi tukamtia nguvuni. Kama ukimhoji wewe mwenyewe, utaweza kubainisha mambo haya yote tunayomshtaki kwayo.” Tulitaka kumhukumu kufuatana na Sheria yetu.
7 but Lysias, the chiliarch, coming up, took [him] away with great force out of our hands,
Lakini Lusia, mkuu wa jeshi, aliingilia kati, akamchukua kwa nguvu kutoka mikononi mwetu.
8 having commanded his accusers to come to thee; ] of whom thou canst thyself, in examining [him], know the certainty of all these things of which we accuse him.
Kisha akaamuru washtaki wake waje mbele yako.
9 And the Jews also joined in pressing the matter against [Paul], saying that these things were so.
Nao Wayahudi waliunga mkono mashtaka hayo wakisema kwamba hayo yote yalikuwa kweli.
10 But Paul, the governor having beckoned to him to speak, answered, Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge to this nation, I answer readily as to the things which concern myself.
Basi, mkuu wa mkoa alimwashiria Paulo aseme. Naye Paulo akasema, “Nafurahi kujitetea mbele yako nikijua kwamba umekuwa hakimu wa taifa hili kwa miaka mingi.
11 As thou mayest know that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem,
Unaweza kujihakikishia kwamba si zaidi ya siku kumi na mbili tu zimepita tangu nilipokwenda kuabudu Yerusalemu.
12 and neither in the temple did they find me discoursing to any one, or making any tumultuous gathering together of the crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;
Wayahudi hawakunikuta nikijadiliana na mtu yeyote. Hawakunikuta nikichochea watu Hekaluni wala katika masunagogi yao, wala mahali pengine popote katika mji huo.
13 neither can they make good the things of which they now accuse me.
Wala hawawezi kuthibitisha mashtaka waliyotoa juu yangu.
14 But this I avow to thee, that in the way which they call sect, so I serve my fathers' God, believing all things which are written throughout the law, and in the prophets;
Ninachokubali mbele yako ni hiki: Mimi ninamwabudu Mungu na wazee wetu nikiishi kufuatana na Njia ile ambayo wao wanaiita chama cha uzushi. Ninaamini mambo yote yaliyoandikwa katika vitabu vya Sheria na manabii.
15 having hope towards God, which they themselves also receive, that there is to be a resurrection both of just and unjust.
Mimi namtumainia Mungu, na wao wanalo tumaini hilo, kwamba watu, wema na wabaya, watafufuka.
16 For this cause I also exercise [myself] to have in everything a conscience without offence towards God and men.
Kwa hiyo ninajitahidi daima kuwa na dhamiri njema mbele ya Mungu na mbele ya watu.
17 And after a lapse of many years I arrived, bringing alms to my nation, and offerings.
“Baada ya kukaa mbali kwa miaka kadhaa, nilirudi Yerusalemu ili kuwapelekea wananchi wenzangu msaada na kutoa dhabihu.
18 Whereupon they found me purified in the temple, with neither crowd nor tumult. But it was certain Jews from Asia,
Wakati nilipokuwa nikifanya hayo ndipo waliponikuta Hekaluni, nilipokuwa nimekwisha fanya ile ibada ya kujitakasa. Hakukuwako kundi la watu wala ghasia.
19 who ought to appear before thee and accuse, if they have anything against me;
Lakini kulikuwa na Wayahudi wengine kutoka mkoa wa Asia; hao ndio wangepaswa kuwa hapa mbele yako na kutoa mashtaka yao kama wana chochote cha kusema dhidi yangu.
20 or let these themselves say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the council,
Au, waache hawa walio hapa waseme kosa waliloliona kwangu wakati niliposimama mbele ya Baraza lao kuu,
21 [other] than concerning this one voice which I cried standing amongst them: I am judged this day by you touching [the] resurrection of [the] dead.
isipokuwa tu maneno haya niliyosema niliposimama mbele yao: Mnanihukumu leo hii kwa sababu ya kushikilia kwamba wafu watafufuliwa!”
22 And Felix, knowing accurately the things concerning the way, adjourned them, saying, When Lysias the chiliarch is come down I will determine your affair;
Hapo, Felisi, ambaye mwenyewe alikuwa anaifahamu hiyo Njia vizuri, aliahirisha kesi hiyo. Akawaambia, “Nitatoa hukumu juu ya kesi hiyo wakati Luisa, mkuu wa jeshi, atakapokuja hapa.”
23 ordering the centurion to keep him, and that he should have freedom, and to hinder none of his friends to minister to him.
Kisha akamwamuru yule jemadari amweke Paulo kizuizini, lakini awe na uhuru kiasi, na rafiki zake wasizuiwe kumpatia mahitaji yake.
24 And after certain days, Felix having arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
Baada ya siku chache, Felisi alifika pamoja na mkewe Drusila ambaye alikuwa Myahudi. Aliamuru Paulo aletwe, akamsikiliza akiongea juu ya kumwamini Yesu Kristo.
25 And as he reasoned concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment about to come, Felix, being filled with fear, answered, Go for the present, and when I get an opportunity I will send for thee;
Lakini wakati Paulo alipoanza kuongea juu ya uadilifu, juu ya kuwa na kiasi na juu ya siku ya hukumu inayokuja, Felisi aliogopa, akasema, “Kwa sasa unaweza kwenda; nitakuita tena nitakapopata nafasi.”
26 hoping at the same time that money would be given him by Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener and communed with him.
Wakati huohuo alikuwa anatumaini kwamba Paulo angempa fedha. Kwa sababu hii alimwita Paulo mara kwa mara na kuzungumza naye.
27 But when two years were completed, Felix was relieved by Porcius Festus as his successor; and Felix, desirous to oblige the Jews, to acquire their favour, left Paul bound.
Baada ya miaka miwili, Porkio Festo alichukua nafasi ya Felisi, akawa mkuu wa Mkoa. Kwa kuwa alitaka kujipendekeza kwa Wayahudi, Felisi alimwacha Paulo kizuizini.
