Acts 24
1 And after five days the chief priest Ananias came down, with the elders, and a certain orator—Tertullus, and they disclosed to the governor [the things] against Paul;
Baada ya siku tano, kuhani mkuu Anania akashuka akiwa amefuatana na baadhi ya wazee pamoja na mwanasheria mmoja aitwaye Tertulo, nao wakaleta mashtaka yao dhidi ya Paulo mbele ya mtawala.
2 and he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse [him], saying, “Enjoying much peace through you, and worthy deeds being done to this nation through your forethought,
Paulo alipoitwa aingie ndani, Tertulo akaanza kutoa mashtaka akisema, “Mtukufu Feliksi, kwa muda mrefu tumefurahia amani na matengenezo mengi mazuri yamefanywa kwa ajili ya watu hawa kwa sababu ya upeo wako wa kuona mambo ya mbele.
3 always, also, and everywhere we receive it, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness;
Wakati wote na kila mahali, kwa namna yoyote, mtukufu sana Feliksi, tumeyapokea mambo haya yote kwa shukrani nyingi.
4 and that I may not be further tedious to you, I exhort you to hear us concisely in your gentleness;
Lakini nisije nikakuchosha zaidi, ningekuomba kwa hisani yako utusikilize kwa kifupi.
5 for having found this man a pestilence, and moving a dissension to all the Jews through the world—also a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes—
“Tumemwona mtu huyu kuwa ni msumbufu, anayechochea ghasia miongoni mwa Wayahudi duniani pote. Yeye ndiye kiongozi wa dhehebu la Wanazarayo,
6 who also tried to profane the temple, whom we also took, [[and wished to judge according to our law,
na hata amejaribu kulinajisi Hekalu, hivyo tukamkamata; [tukataka kumhukumu kufuatana na sheria zetu.
7 and Lysias the chief captain having come near, took away out of our hands with much violence,
Lakini jemadari Lisia alitujia na nguvu nyingi, akamwondoa mikononi mwetu,
8 having commanded his accusers to come to you, ]] from whom you may be able, yourself having examined, to know concerning all these things of which we accuse him”;
akiwaamuru washtaki wake waje mbele yako: ili] kwa kumchunguza wewe mwenyewe unaweza kujua kutoka kwake mambo yote tunayomshtaki kwayo.”
9 and the Jews also agreed, professing these things to be so.
Pia wale Wayahudi wakaunga mkono wakithibitisha kuwa mashtaka yote haya ni kweli.
10 And Paul—the governor having beckoned to him to speak—answered, “Knowing [that] for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I answer more cheerfully the things concerning myself;
Mtawala Feliksi alipompungia Paulo mkono ili ajitetee, yeye akajibu, “Najua kwamba wewe umekuwa hakimu katika taifa hili kwa miaka mingi, hivyo natoa utetezi wangu kwa furaha.
11 you being able to know that it is not more than twelve days to me since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,
Unaweza kuhakikisha kwa urahisi kuwa hazijapita zaidi ya siku kumi na mbili tangu nilipopanda kwenda Yerusalemu kuabudu.
12 and neither did they find me reasoning with anyone in the temple, or making a dissension of the multitude, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;
Hawa wanaonishtaki hawakunikuta nikibishana na mtu yeyote Hekaluni au kuchochea umati wa watu katika sinagogi au mahali pengine popote mjini.
13 nor are they able to prove against me the things concerning which they now accuse me.
Wala hawawezi kabisa kukuthibitishia mashtaka haya wanayonishtaki kwayo.
14 And I confess this to you, that, according to The Way that they call a sect, so I serve the God of the fathers, believing all things that have been written in the Law and the Prophets,
Lakini, ninakubali kwamba mimi namwabudu Mungu wa baba zetu, mfuasi wa Njia, ile ambayo wao wanaiita dhehebu. Ninaamini kila kitu kinachokubaliana na Sheria na kile kilichoandikwa katika Manabii,
15 having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be a resurrection of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous;
nami ninalo tumaini kwa Mungu, ambalo hata wao wenyewe wanalikubali kwamba kutakuwa na ufufuo wa wafu, kwa wenye haki na wasio na haki.
16 and in this I exercise myself, to always have a conscience void of offense toward God and men.
Kwa hiyo ninajitahidi siku zote kuwa na dhamiri safi mbele za Mungu na mbele za wanadamu.
17 And after many years I came, about to do kind acts to my nation, and offerings,
“Basi, baada ya kutokuwepo kwa miaka mingi nilikuja Yerusalemu ili kuwaletea watu wangu msaada kwa ajili ya maskini na kutoa dhabihu.
18 in which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with multitude, nor with tumult,
Nilikuwa nimeshatakaswa kwa taratibu za kiibada waliponikuta Hekaluni nikifanya mambo haya. Hapakuwa na umati wa watu, pamoja nami wala aliyehusika kwenye fujo yoyote.
19 whom it is necessary to be present before you, and to accuse, if they had anything against me,
Lakini kulikuwa na baadhi ya Wayahudi kutoka Asia, ambao wangelazimika wawepo hapa mbele yako ili watoe mashtaka kama wanalo jambo lolote dhidi yangu.
20 or let these same say if they found any unrighteousness in me in my standing before the Sanhedrin,
Au, watu hawa walioko hapa waseme ni uhalifu gani walioniona nao waliponisimamisha mbele ya baraza,
21 except concerning this one voice, in which I cried, standing among them—Concerning a resurrection of the dead I am judged by you today.”
isipokuwa ni kuhusu jambo hili moja nililopiga kelele mbele yao kwamba, ‘Mimi nashtakiwa mbele yenu leo kwa sababu ya ufufuo wa wafu.’”
22 And having heard these things, Felix delayed them—having known more exactly of the things concerning The Way—saying, “When Lysias the chief captain may come down, I will know fully the things concerning you”;
Basi Feliksi ambaye alikuwa anafahamu vizuri habari za Njia ile, akaahirisha shauri lile kwa maelezo yake akisema, “Wakati jemadari Lisia atakapoteremka huku, nitaamua shauri lako.”
23 having also given a direction to the centurion to keep Paul, to let [him] also have liberty, and to forbid none of his own friends to minister or to come near to him.
Ndipo akaamuru kiongozi wa askari amweke chini ya ulinzi lakini ampe uhuru na kuwaruhusu rafiki zake wamhudumie.
24 And after certain days, Felix having come with his wife Drusilla, being a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning faith toward Christ,
Baada ya siku kadhaa, Feliksi alikuja pamoja na Drusila mkewe, ambaye alikuwa Myahudi. Alituma aitiwe Paulo, naye akamsikiliza alipokuwa akinena juu ya imani katika Kristo Yesu.
25 and he reasoning concerning righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment that is about to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, “For the present be going, and having time, I will call for you”;
Naye Paulo alipokuwa akinena juu ya haki, kuwa na kiasi na juu ya hukumu ijayo, Feliksi aliingiwa na hofu na kusema, “Hiyo yatosha sasa! Waweza kuondoka. Nitakapokuwa na wasaa nitakuita.”
26 and at the same time also hoping that money will be given to him by Paul, that he may release him, therefore, also sending for him often, he was conversing with him;
Wakati huo Feliksi alitazamia kwamba Paulo angempa rushwa. Hivyo akawa anamwita mara kwa mara na kuzungumza naye.
27 and two years having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus; Felix also willing to lay a favor on the Jews, left Paul bound.
Baada ya miaka miwili kupita, Porkio Festo akaingia kwenye utawala mahali pa Feliksi, lakini kwa kuwa Feliksi alitaka kuwapendeza Wayahudi, akamwacha Paulo gerezani.
