Acts 25
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
Siku tatu baada ya Festo kuwasili Kaisaria kuchukua wajibu wake mpya, alipanda kwenda Yerusalemu,
2 And the chief priests, and principal men of the Jews, went unto him against Paul: and they besought him,
ambako viongozi wa makuhani na viongozi wa Wayahudi walikuja mbele yake na kuleta mashtaka yao dhidi ya Paulo.
3 Requesting favour against him, that he would command him to be brought to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him in the way.
Wakamsihi sana Festo, kama upendeleo kwao, aamuru Paulo ahamishiwe Yerusalemu, kwa kuwa walikuwa wanaandaa kumvizia ili wamuue akiwa njiani.
4 But Festus answered: That Paul was kept in Caesarea, and that he himself would very shortly depart thither.
Festo akawajibu, “Paulo amezuiliwa huko Kaisaria, nami mwenyewe ninakwenda huko hivi karibuni.
5 Let them, therefore, saith he, among you that are able, go down with me, and accuse him, if there be any crime in the man.
Baadhi ya viongozi wenu wafuatane nami na kutoa mashtaka dhidi ya mtu huyo huko, kama amekosa jambo lolote.”
6 And having tarried among them no more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he sat in the judgment seat; and commanded Paul to be brought.
Baada ya Festo kukaa miongoni mwao kwa karibu siku nane au kumi, akashuka kwenda Kaisaria na siku iliyofuata akaitisha mahakama, akaketi penye kiti chake cha hukumu, akaamuru Paulo aletwe mbele yake.
7 Who being brought, the Jews stood about him, who were come down from Jerusalem, objecting many and grievous causes, which they could not prove;
Paulo alipotokea, wale Wayahudi waliokuwa wameteremka toka Yerusalemu wakasimama wakiwa wamemzunguka, wakileta mashtaka mengi mazito dhidi yake ambayo hawakuweza kuyathibitisha.
8 Paul making answer for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any thing.
Ndipo Paulo akajitetea, akasema, “Mimi sikufanya jambo lolote kinyume cha sheria ya Wayahudi au dhidi ya Hekalu au kinyume cha Kaisari.”
9 But Festus, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, answering Paul, said: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
Festo, akitaka kuwapendeza Wayahudi, akamuuliza Paulo, “Je, ungependa kwenda Yerusalemu na kukabili mashtaka mbele yangu huko?”
10 Then Paul said: I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no injury, as thou very well knowest.
Paulo akasema, “Mimi sasa nimesimama mbele ya mahakama ya Kaisari, ambako ndiko ninakostahili kushtakiwa. Kama vile wewe mwenyewe ujuavyo vyema kabisa sijawatendea Wayahudi kosa lolote.
11 For if I have injured them, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them: I appeal to Caesar.
Basi kama mimi nina hatia ya kutenda kosa lolote linalostahili kifo, sikatai kufa. Lakini kama mashtaka yaliyoletwa dhidi yangu na hawa Wayahudi si kweli, hakuna yeyote aliye na haki ya kunikabidhi mikononi mwao. Naomba rufaa kwa Kaisari!”
12 Then Festus having conferred with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar shalt thou go.
Baada ya Festo kufanya shauri pamoja na baraza lake, akatangaza, “Wewe umeomba rufaa kwa Kaisari, nako kwa Kaisari utakwenda!”
13 And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus.
Baada ya siku kadhaa Mfalme Agripa na Bernike wakapanda kuja Kaisaria kumsalimu Festo.
14 And as they tarried there many days, Festus told the king of Paul, saying: A certain man was left prisoner by Felix.
Kwa kuwa walikuwa wakae huko Kaisaria kwa siku nyingi, Festo alijadili shauri la Paulo na mfalme, akisema, “Kuna mtu mmoja hapa ambaye Feliksi alimwacha gerezani.
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests, and the ancients of the Jews, came unto me, desiring condemnation against him.
Nilipokuwa huko Yerusalemu, viongozi wa makuhani na wazee wa Wayahudi walinijulisha habari zake na wakaomba hukumu dhidi yake.
16 To whom I answered: It is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before that he who is accused have his accusers present, and have liberty to make his answer, to clear himself of the things laid to his charge.
“Lakini mimi nikawaambia kwamba si desturi ya Kirumi kumtoa mtu yeyote auawe kabla mshtakiwa kuonana uso kwa uso na washtaki wake, naye awe amepewa nafasi ya kujitetea kuhusu mashtaka anayoshutumiwa.
17 When therefore they were come hither, without any delay, on the day following, sitting in the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought.
Hivyo walipokutana hapa, sikukawia, kesho yake niliitisha baraza, nikaketi penye kiti changu cha hukumu, nikaagiza huyo mtu aletwe.
18 Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of things which I thought ill of:
Washtaki wake waliposimama, hawakushtaki kwa uhalifu wowote niliokuwa ninatarajia.
19 But had certain questions of their own superstition against him, and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Badala yake walikuwa na vipengele fulani vya kutokukubaliana naye kuhusu dini yao na juu ya mtu mmoja aitwaye Yesu, ambaye alikufa, lakini yeye Paulo alidai kwamba yu hai.
20 I therefore being in a doubt of this manner of question, asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things.
Kwa kuwa sikujua jinsi ya kupeleleza jambo hili, nilimuuliza kama angependa kwenda Yerusalemu na kuhojiwa huko kuhusu mashtaka haya.
21 But Paul appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.
Lakini Paulo alipoomba afadhiliwe ili rufaa yake isikilizwe na Mfalme Agusto, nilimwamuru alindwe mpaka nitakapoweza kumpeleka kwa Kaisari.”
22 And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
Ndipo Agripa akamwambia Festo, “Ningependa kumsikiliza mtu huyo mimi mwenyewe.” Yeye akajibu, “Kesho utamsikia.”
23 And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice were come with great pomp, and had entered into the hall of audience, with the tribunes, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment, Paul was brought forth.
Siku iliyofuata Agripa na Bernike walifika kwa fahari kubwa wakaingia katika ukumbi wa mahakama, pamoja na majemadari wa jeshi na watu mashuhuri wa mji. Ndipo kwa amri ya Festo, Paulo akaletwa ndani.
24 And Festus saith: King Agrippa, and all ye men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews dealt with me at Jerusalem, requesting and crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
Festo akasema, “Mfalme Agripa, nanyi nyote mlio hapa pamoja nasi, mnamwona mtu huyu! Jumuiya yote ya Kiyahudi wamenilalamikia kuhusu mtu huyu huko Yerusalemu na hapa Kaisaria, wakipiga kelele kwamba haimpasi kuendelea kuishi.
25 Yet have I found nothing that he hath committed worthy of death. But forasmuch as he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
Sikuona kwamba ametenda jambo lolote linalostahili kifo, ila kwa kuwa alikuwa ameomba rufaa yake kwa mfalme, niliamua kumpeleka Rumi.
26 Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. For which cause I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that examination being made, I may have what to write.
Lakini mimi sina kitu maalum cha kumwandikia Bwana Mtukufu kumhusu mtu huyu. Kwa hiyo nimemleta mbele yenu ninyi nyote, hasa mbele yako, Mfalme Agripa, ili kutokana na matokeo ya uchunguzi huu, niweze kupata kitu cha kuandika.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to signify the things laid to his charge.
Kwa kuwa naona hakuna sababu ya kumpeleka mfungwa bila kuainisha mashtaka dhidi yake.”
