< Acts 19 >
1 It happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples.
Ikawa kwamba Apolo alipokuwa Korintho, Paulo akapita nyanda za juu na kufika katika mji wa Efeso, na akakuta wanafunzi kadhaa huko.
2 He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They said to him, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
Paulo akawaambia, “Je, mlipokea Roho Mtakatifu mlipoamini?” Wakamwambia, “Hapana, hatukuweza hata kusikia kuhusu Roho Mtakatifu.”
3 He said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism."
Paul alisema, “Sasa ninyi mlibatizwaje?” Wakasema, “Katika ubatizo wa Yohana.
4 Paul said, "John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus."
Basi Paulo akajibu, “Yohana alibatiza kwa ubatizo wa toba. Akawaambia wale watu kwamba wanapaswa kumwamini yule ambaye angekuja baada yake, yaani, Yesu.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Watu waliposikia habari hii, wakabatizwa kwa jina la Bwana Yesu.
6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other tongues and prophesied.
Na ikawa Paulo alipoweka mikono yake juu yao, Roho Mtakatifu akaja juu yao na wakaanza kunena kwa lugha na kutabiri.
7 They were about twelve men in all.
Jumla yao walikuwa wanaume wapatao kumi na wawili.
8 He entered into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning the Kingdom of God.
Paulo alienda katika sinagogi akanena kwa ujasiri kwa muda wa miezi mitatu. Alikuwa akiongoza majadiliano na kuwavuta watu kuhusu mambo yanayohusu ufalme wa Mungu.
9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the crowd, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
Lakini Wayahudi wengine walikuwa wakaidi na wasiotii, walianza kusema mabaya kuhusu njia ya Kristo mbele ya umati. Basi Paulo aliachana nao na akawatenga waaminio mbali nao. Naye alianza kuongea kila siku katika ukumbi wa Tirano.
10 This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Hii iliendelea kwa miaka miwili, kwa hiyo wote waliokuwa wanaishi katika Asia walisikia neno la Bwana, wote Wayahudi na Wayunani.
11 God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul,
Mungu alikuwa akifanya matendo makuu kwa mikono ya Paulo,
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the evil spirits went out.
kwamba hata wagonjwa waliponywa, na roho chafu waliwatoka, wakati walipochukua leso na nguo zilizotoka mwilini mwa Paulo.
13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."
Lakini palikuwapo Wayahudi wapunga pepo wakisafiri kupitia eneo hilo, wakilitumia jina la Yesu kwa ajili ya matumizi yao wenyewe. Wakiwaambia wale walikuwa na pepo wachafu; Wakisema, “Ninawaamuru mtoke kwa jina la Yesu ambaye Paulo anamhubiri.”
14 There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.
Waliofanya haya walikuwa wana saba wa kuhani Mkuu wa Kiyahudi, Skewa.
15 The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"
Roho wachafu wakawajibu, “Yesu namjua, na Paulo namjua; lakini ninyi ni nani? “
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was, having leapt on them, having overpowered them all, prevailed against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.
Yule roho mchafu ndani ya mtu akawarukia wapunga pepo na akawashinda nguvu na kuwapiga. Ndipo wakakimbia kutoka ile nyumba wakiwa uchi na kujeruhiwa.
17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
Jambo hili likajulikana kwa wote, Wayahudi na Wayunani, ambao waliishi huko Efeso. Wakawa na hofu sana, na jina la Bwana likazidi kuheshimiwa.
18 Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.
Pia, wengi wa waumini walikuja na wakaungama na wakidhihirisha matendo mabaya waliyoyafanya.
19 Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Wengi waliokuwa wakifanya uganga wakakusanya vitabu vyao, wakavichoma mbele ya kila mtu. Wakati wao walipohesabu thamani ya vitu hivyo, ilikuwa vipande hamsini elfu vya fedha.
20 So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
Hivyo Neno la Bwana likaenea kwa upana sana katika nguvu.
21 Now after these things had ended, Paul determined in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."
ya Paulo kukamilisha huduma yake kule Efeso, Roho akamwongoza kwenda Yerusalemu kupitia Makedonia na Akaya; Akasema, “Baada ya kuwako huko, yanipasa kuiona Rumi pia.”
22 Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
Paul akawatuma Makedonia wanafunzi wake wawili, Timotheo na Erasto, ambao walikuwa wamemsaidia. Lakini yeye mwenyewe akabaki Asia kwa muda.
23 About that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.
Wakati huo kulitokea ghasia kubwa huko Efeso kuhusu ile Njia.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen,
Sonara mmoja jina lake Demetrio, ambaye aliyetengeneza visanamu vya fedha vya mungu Diana, alileta biashara kubwa kwa mafundi.
25 whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.
Hivyo akawakusanya mafundi wa kazi hiyo na kusema, “Waheshimiwa, mnajua kwamba katika biashara hii sisi tunaingiza pesa nyingi.
26 You see and hear, that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands.
Mnaona na kusikia kwamba, si tu hapa Efeso, bali karibia Asia yote, huyu Paulo amewashawishi na kuwageuza watu wengi. Anasema kwamba hakuna miungu ambayo imefanywa kwa mikono.
27 Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence, whom all Asia and the world worships."
Na si tu iko hatari kwamba biashara yetu itakuwa haihitajiki tena, lakini pia na hekalu la mungu mke aliye mkuu Diana anaweza kuchukuliwa kuwa hana maana. Tena angeweza hata kupoteza ukuu wake, yeye ambaye Asia na dunia humwabudu.”
28 When they heard this they were filled with anger, and began to shout, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians."
Waliposikia haya, walijawa na hasira na wakapiga kelele, wakisema, “Diana wa Waefeso ni mkuu.”
29 The city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's companions in travel.
Mji wote ukajaa ghasia, na watu wakakimbia pamoja ndani ya ukumbi wa michezo. wakawakamata wasafiri wenzake na Paulo, Gayo na Aristariko, waliotoka Makedonia.
30 When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples did not allow him.
Paulo alitaka kuingia katika umati wa watu, lakini wanafunzi walimzuia.
31 And also some of the Asiarchs, who were his friends, sent to him and urged him not to venture into the theater.
Pia, baadhi ya maafisa wa mkoa wa Asia ambao walikuwa marafiki zake wakampelekea ujumbe kwa nguvu kumwomba asiingie katika ukumbi wa michezo.
32 Some therefore shouted one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them did not know why they had come together.
Baadhi ya watu walikuwa wakisema kitu hiki na wengine jambo lile, kwa sababu umati wa watu ulikuwa umechanganyikiwa. Wengi wao hawakuweza hata kujua kwa nini walikuja pamoja.
33 They brought Alexander out of the crowd, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to the people.
Wayahudi wakamleta Iskanda nje ya umati wa watu na kumuweka juu mbele ya watu. Iskanda akatoa ishara kwa mkono wake kutoa maelezo kwa watu.
34 But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about two hours shouted, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians."
Lakini walipotambua kuwa yeye ni Myahudi, wote wakapiga kelele kwa sauti moja kwa muda wa saa mbili, “Diana ni mkuu wa Wafeso.”
35 When the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "You men of Ephesus, is there anyone who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
Baada ya karani wa mji kuunyamazisha umati, alisema, 'Enyi wanaume wa Efeso, ni nani asiyejua kwamba mji huu wa Efeso ni mtunzaji wa hekalu la Diana mkuu na ile picha ilivyoanguka kutoka mbinguni?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.
Kuona Basi kwamba mambo haya hayatawezekana, tunapaswa kuwa na utulivu na msifanye chochote kwa haraka.
37 For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
Kwa maana mmewaita watu hawa hapa mahakamani ambao si wezi wa hekalu wala si wenye kumkufuru mungu wetu mke.
38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another.
Kwa hiyo, kama Demetrio na mafundi waliopamoja naye wana mashtaka dhidi ya mtu yeyote, mahakama ziko wazi na maliwali wapo. Na waletwe mbele ya shauri.
39 But if you seek anything further, it will be settled in the regular assembly.
Lakini kama wewe ukitafuta chochote kuhusu mambo mengine, yatashughurikiwa katika kikao halali.
40 For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning this day's riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we would not be able to give an account of this commotion."
Kwa kweli tuko katika hatari ya kutuhumiwa kuhusu ghasia siku hii. Hakuna sababu ya machafuko haya, na hatutakuwa na uwezo wa kuyaeleza.
41 When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
Baada ya kusema haya, aliwatawanya makutano.