< Acts 22 >
1 Brethren and fathers, hear my defence, which I now make to you.
“Ndugu zangu na akina baba, nisikilizeni sasa nikijitetea mbele yenu!”
2 And on hearing him speak to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept the more silence. And he saith:
Waliposikia akiongea nao kwa Kiebrania wakazidi kukaa kimya zaidi kuliko hapo awali. Naye Paulo akaendelea kusema,
3 I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, hut brought up in this city, taught at the feet of Gamaliel in the strictness of the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God, as ye all are this day.
“Mimi ni Myahudi, mzaliwa wa Tarso katika Kilikia. Lakini nililelewa papa hapa mjini Yerusalemu chini ya mkufunzi Gamalieli. Nilifundishwa kufuata kwa uthabiti Sheria ya wazee wetu. Nilijitolea kwa moyo wote kwa Mungu kama ninyi wenyewe mlivyo hivi leo.
4 And I persecuted this way [[of belief]] even to death, binding and putting into prisons both men and women,
Niliwatesa hata kuwaua wale watu waliofuata Njia hii. Niliwatia nguvuni wanaume kwa wanawake na kuwafunga gerezani.
5 as also the high-priest beareth me witness, and all the elderhood; from whom I received letters to the brethren, and was on my way to Damascus to bring those also that were there, bound, to Jerusalem, that they might be punished.
Kuhani Mkuu na baraza lote la wazee wanaweza kushuhudia jambo hilo. Kutoka kwao nilipokea barua walioandikiwa wale ndugu Wayahudi waliokuwa huko Damasko. Nilikwenda Damasko ili niwatie nguvuni watu hao na kuwaleta wamefungwa mpaka Yerusalemu ili waadhibiwe.
6 But it came to pass, as I was on my way, and approaching Damascus, that about noon there suddenly shone around me a great light from heaven;
“Basi, nilipokuwa njiani karibu kufika Damasko, yapata saa sita mchana, mwangu mkubwa kutoka mbinguni ulitokea ghafla ukaniangazia pande zote.
7 and I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?
Hapo nilianguka chini, nikasikia sauti ikiniambia: Saulo, Saulo! Kwa nini unanitesa?
8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom thou persecutest.
Nami nikauliza: Nani wewe, Bwana? Naye akaniambia: Mimi ni Yesu wa Nazareti ambaye wewe unamtesa.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but the voice of him that spoke to me they did not hear.
Wale wenzangu waliuona ule mwanga lakini hawakusikia sauti ya yule aliyeongea nami.
10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there thou wilt be told of all which it hath been appointed thee to do.
Basi, mimi nikauliza: Nifanye nini Bwana? Naye Bwana akaniambia: Simama, nenda Damasko na huko utaambiwa yote ambayo umepangiwa kufanya.
11 And as I could not see by reason of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand of those that were with me, and came into Damascus.
Kutokana na ule mwanga mkali sikuweza kuona na hivyo iliwabidi wale wenzangu kuniongoza kwa kunishika mkono mpaka nikafika Damasko.
12 But one Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, well spoken of by all the Jews who dwelt there,
“Huko kulikuwa na mtu mmoja aitwaye Anania, mtu mcha Mungu, mwenye kuitii Sheria yetu na aliyeheshimika sana mbele ya Wayahudi waliokuwa wanaishi Damasko.
13 came to me, and standing over me said, Brother Saul, receive sight. And I immediately looked up upon him.
Yeye alikuja kuniona, akasimama karibu nami, akasema: Ndugu Saulo! Ona tena. Papo hapo nikaona tena, nikamwangalia.
14 And he said, The God of our fathers chose thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth;
Halafu Anania akasema: Mungu wa babu zetu amekuchagua upate kujua matakwa yake na kumwona yule mtumishi wake mwadilifu na kumsikia yeye mwenyewe akiongea.
15 for thou shalt be a witness for him to all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
Kwa maana utamshuhudia kwa watu wote ukiwaambia yale uliyoyaona na kuyasikia.
16 And now why dost thou delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.
Sasa basi, ya nini kukawia zaidi? Simama ubatizwe na uondolewe dhambi zako kwa kuliungama jina lake.
17 And it came to pass after my return to Jerusalem, while I was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,
“Basi, nilirudi Yerusalemu, na nilipokuwa nikisali Hekaluni, niliona maono.
18 and saw him saying to me, Make haste, and go quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
Nilimwona Bwana akiniambia: Haraka! Ondoka Yerusalemu upesi kwa maana watu wa hapa binadamu hawataukubali ushuhuda wako juu yangu.
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned, and beat in every synagogue, those that believed in thee;
Nami nikamjibu: Bwana, wao wanajua wazi kwamba mimi ni yule aliyekuwa anapitapita katika masunagogi na kuwatia nguvuni na kuwapiga wale waliokuwa wanakuamini.
20 and when the blood of Stephen, thy witness, was shed, I myself was standing by and consenting, and keeping the garments of those who slew him.
Na kwamba wakati shahidi wako Stefano alipouawa, mimi binafsi nilikuwako pale nikakubaliana na kitendo hicho na kuyalinda makoti ya wale waliokuwa wanamuua.
21 And he said to me, Depart; for I will send thee far hence to the gentiles.
Naye Bwana akaniambia: Nenda; ninakutuma mbali kwa mataifa mengine.”
22 And they listened to him as far as this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth! for it was not fit that he should live.
Mpaka hapa, wale watu walikuwa wanamsikiza, lakini aliposema maneno haya, walianza kusema kwa sauti kubwa, “Mwondoe duniani! Mtu wa namna hiyo hastahili kuishi.”
23 And as they were crying out, and shaking their garments, and throwing dust into the air,
Waliendelea kupayukapayuka huku wakitikisa makoti yao na kurusha vumbi angani.
24 the chief captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might ascertain for what cause they were thus crying out against him.
Mkuu wa jeshi aliwaamuru watu wake wampeleke Paulo ndani ya ngome, akawaambia wamchape viboko ili wapate kujua kisa cha Wayahudi kumpigia kelele.
25 But when they had stretched him out with the cords, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
Lakini walipokwisha mfunga ili wamchape viboko, Paulo alimwuliza jemadari mmoja aliyesimama hapo, “Je, ni halali kwenu kumpiga viboko raia wa Roma kabla hajahukumiwa?”
26 When the centurion heard this, he went and told the chief captain, saying, What art thou about to do? For this man is a Roman.
Yule jemadari aliposikia hayo, alimpasha habari mkuu wa jeshi akisema, “Unataka kufanya nini? Mtu huyu ni raia wa Roma!”
27 Then the chief captain came and said to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yes.
Basi, mkuu wa jeshi alimwendea Paulo, akamwambia, “Niambie; je, wewe ni raia wa Roma?” Paulo akamjibu, “Naam.”
28 The chief captain answered, For a great sum I obtained this citizenship. And Paul said, But I was born a Roman.
Mkuu wa jeshi akasema, “Mimi nami nimekuwa raia wa Roma kwa kulipa gharama kubwa.” Paulo akasema, “Lakini mimi ni raia wa Roma kwa kuzaliwa.”
29 They therefore who were about to examine him left him immediately. And the chief captain also was alarmed when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
Wale watu ambao walikuwa tayari kumchunguza Paulo walitoweka mara. Hata yule mkuu wa jeshi aliogopa alipojua kwamba Paulo ni raia wa Roma na kwamba alikuwa amekwisha mfunga minyororo.
30 On the morrow, wishing to have certain knowledge why he was accused by the Jews, he released him, and ordered the chief priests and all the council to assemble; and bringing Paul down, he set him before them.
Kesho yake, mkuu wa jeshi alitaka kujua mashtaka kamili ambayo Wayahudi walikuwa wamemwekea Paulo. Hivyo, alimfungua Paulo minyororo, akaamuru makuhani wakuu na Baraza lote wafanye kikao. Kisha alimleta Paulo, akamsimamisha mbele ya Baraza.