Acts 24
1 Now after fiue dayes, Ananias the hie Priest came downe with the Elders, and with Tertullus a certaine oratour, which appeared before the Gouernour against Paul.
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 when he was called foorth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that we haue obtained great quietnesse through thee, and that many worthy things are done vnto this nation through thy prouidence,
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 acknowledge it wholy, and in all places most noble Felix, with all thankes,
Tunalipokea jambo hili kwa furaha daima na kutoa shukrani nyingi kwako kila mahali.
4 But that I be not tedious vnto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest heare vs of thy courtesie a fewe wordes.
Lakini, bila kupoteza wakati wako zaidi, tunakusihi kwa wema wako, usikilize taarifa yetu fupi.
5 Certainely we haue found this man a pestilent fellowe, and a moouer of sedition among all the Iewes throughout the world, and a chiefe maintainer of the secte of the Nazarites:
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 And hath gone about to pollute the Temple: therefore wee tooke him, and woulde haue iudged him according to our Lawe:
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 the chiefe captaine Lysias came vpon vs, and with great violence tooke him out of our handes,
Lakini Lusia, mkuu wa jeshi, aliingilia kati, akamchukua kwa nguvu kutoka mikononi mwetu.
8 Commanding his accusers to come to thee: of whom thou mayest (if thou wilt inquire) know all these things whereof we accuse him.
Kisha akaamuru washtaki wake waje mbele yako.
9 And the Iewes likewise affirmed, saying that it was so.
Nao Wayahudi waliunga mkono mashtaka hayo wakisema kwamba hayo yote yalikuwa kweli.
10 Then Paul, after that the gouernour had beckened vnto him that hee shoulde speake, answered, I do the more gladly answere for my selfe, for as much as I knowe that thou hast bene of many yeres a iudge vnto this nation,
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 Seeing that thou mayest knowe, that there are but twelue dayes since I came vp to worship in Hierusalem.
Unaweza kujihakikishia kwamba si zaidi ya siku kumi na mbili tu zimepita tangu nilipokwenda kuabudu Yerusalemu.
12 And they neither found mee in the Temple disputing with any man, neither making vproare among the people, neither in the Synagogues, nor in the citie.
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 proue the things, whereof they now accuse me.
Wala hawawezi kuthibitisha mashtaka waliyotoa juu yangu.
14 But this I confesse vnto thee, that after the way (which they call heresie) so worship I the God of my fathers, beleeuing all things which are written in the Lawe and 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 And haue hope towardes God, that the resurrection of the dead, which they themselues looke for also, shalbe both of iust and vniust.
Mimi namtumainia Mungu, na wao wanalo tumaini hilo, kwamba watu, wema na wabaya, watafufuka.
16 And herein I endeuour my selfe to haue alway a cleare conscience towarde God, and toward men.
Kwa hiyo ninajitahidi daima kuwa na dhamiri njema mbele ya Mungu na mbele ya watu.
17 Now after many yeres, I came and brought almes to my nation and offerings.
“Baada ya kukaa mbali kwa miaka kadhaa, nilirudi Yerusalemu ili kuwapelekea wananchi wenzangu msaada na kutoa dhabihu.
18 At what time, certaine Iewes of Asia founde mee purified in the Temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
Wakati nilipokuwa nikifanya hayo ndipo waliponikuta Hekaluni, nilipokuwa nimekwisha fanya ile ibada ya kujitakasa. Hakukuwako kundi la watu wala ghasia.
19 Who ought to haue bene present before thee, and accuse me, if they had ought 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 themselues say, if they haue found any vniust thing in mee, while I stoode in the Council,
Au, waache hawa walio hapa waseme kosa waliloliona kwangu wakati niliposimama mbele ya Baraza lao kuu,
21 Except it be for this one voyce, that I cried standing among them, Of the resurrection of the dead am I accused of you this day.
isipokuwa tu maneno haya niliyosema niliposimama mbele yao: Mnanihukumu leo hii kwa sababu ya kushikilia kwamba wafu watafufuliwa!”
22 Nowe when Felix heard these things, he deferred them, and said, When I shall more perfectly know the things which concerne this way, by the comming of Lysias the chiefe Captaine, I will decise your matter.
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 Then hee commanded a Centurion to keepe Paul, and that he should haue ease, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister vnto him, or to come vnto him.
Kisha akamwamuru yule jemadari amweke Paulo kizuizini, lakini awe na uhuru kiasi, na rafiki zake wasizuiwe kumpatia mahitaji yake.
24 And after certaine dayes, came Felix with his wife Drusilla, which was a Iewesse, and he called foorth Paul, and heard him of 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 disputed of righteousnes and temperance, and of the iudgement to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time, and when I haue conuenient time, I will call 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 Hee hoped also that money shoulde haue bene giuen him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore hee sent for him the oftner, and communed with him.
Wakati huohuo alikuwa anatumaini kwamba Paulo angempa fedha. Kwa sababu hii alimwita Paulo mara kwa mara na kuzungumza naye.
27 When two yeeres were expired, Porcius Festus came into Felix roume: and Felix willing to get fauour of the Iewes, 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.
