Acts 21
1 [After] we said goodbye to the elders [from Ephesus], we [got on the ship and] sailed to Cos [Island, where the ship stopped for the night]. The next day we sailed from Cos to Rhodes [Island, where the ship stopped again. The day after] that we sailed to Patara [town, where the ship stopped. This was on Patara Island].
Wakati tulipokua tumeachana nao, na tunasafiri baharini, tukafika moja kwa moja kwenye mji wa Kosi, na kesho yake tukafika mji wa Rodo, na kutoka huko tukafika mji wa Patara.
2 [At Patara we left that ship, and someone told us that] there was a ship that would be going to Phoenicia [region. So] we got on that ship, and it left.
Tulipopata meli inayovuka kwenda Foinike, tulipanda tukasafiri.
3 [We sailed until] we could see Cyprus [Island]. We passed to the south of the island and continued sailing until we arrived at [Phoenicia region, in] Syria [province]. We arrived at Tyre [city. The ship was going to stay there several days, because its workers] had to unload the cargo.
Tulipofika mbele ya kisiwa cha Kipro, tukaiacha upande wa kushoto, tukasafiri hadi Siria, tukaweka nanga katika mji wa Tiro, kwa sababu huko ndiko meli ilikuwa ipakuliwe shehena yake.
4 [Someone told us] where the believers in Tyre lived, so we [(exc) went and] stayed with them for seven days. Because [God’s] Spirit revealed to them ([that people would cause Paul to suffer/Paul would suffer]) [in Jerusalem], they told Paul that he should not go there.
Baada ya kuwaona wanafunzi, tukakaa huko siku saba. Wanafunzi hawa wakamwambia Paulo kupitia kwa Roho kwamba yeye asikanyage Yerusalemu.
5 But when it was time [for the ship to leave again], we [prepared to] continue going [to Jerusalem]. When we left [Tyre], all the believers, including their wives and children, went with us [to the edge of the sea]. We all knelt down there on the sand/shore and prayed.
Hata tulipotimiza siku zile, sisi tukaondoka tukaenda zetu. Wote pamoja, na wanawake zao na watoto wao, walitusindikiza katika njia zetu hadi tulipotoka nje ya mji. Kisha tukapiga magoti pwani, tukaomba, tukaagana kila mmoja.
6 After we all said goodbye, Paul and we [his companions] got on the ship, and the [other] believers returned to their own homes.
Tukapanda meli, huku nao wakarudi nyumbani kwao tena.
7 After we [(exc)] left Tyre, we continued on [that ship] to Ptolemais [city]. There were believers there, and we greeted them and stayed with them that night.
Hata tulipomaliza safari yetu kutoka Tiro, tukafika Tolemai. Pale tulisalimia ndugu, na kukakaa nao kwa siku moja.
8 The next day we left [Ptolemais] and sailed to Caesarea [city], where we stayed in the home of Philip, who [spent his days] telling others how to become disciples of Jesus. He was one of the seven [men whom the believers in Jerusalem had chosen to care for the widows].
Kesho yake tuliondoka tukaenda Kaisaria. Sisi tukaingia nyumbani mwa Filipo, mhubiri wa injili, aliyekuwa mmoja wa wale saba, nasi tukakaa pamoja naye.
9 He had four daughters who were not married. Each of them [frequently] spoke messages that the Holy Spirit had revealed to them.
Mtu huyu alikuwa na mabinti wanne mabikira ambao walitabiri.
10 After [we(exc) had been in Philip’s house for] several days, a believer whose name was Agabus came down from Judea [district] and arrived [in Caesarea]. He [frequently] spoke messages that the Holy Spirit had told him.
Baada ya kukaa huko kwa siku kadhaa, akashuka kutoka Uyahudi nabii mmoja aitwaye Agabo.
11 Coming over to where we were, he took off Paul’s belt. Then he tied his own feet and hands with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] in Jerusalem will tie up [the hands and feet of] the owner of this belt, like this, and they will hand him over to non-Jewish people [as a prisoner].’”
Yeye alikuja kwetu na akautwaa mkanda wa Paulo. kwa huo alijifunga miguu na mikono yake mwenyewe na kusema, “Roho Mtakatifu asema hivi,” “Wayahudi wa Yerusalemu watamfunga mtu anayemiliki mkanda huu, nao watamkabidhi mikononi mwa watu wa mataifa.”
12 When [the rest of] us heard that, we and [other] believers there repeatedly pled with Paul, “Please do not go up to Jerusalem!”
Tuliposikia mambo hayo, sisi na watu waliokuwa wakiishi mahali pale tulimsihi Paulo asipande kwende Yerusalemu.
13 But Paul replied, “(Please stop crying and trying to discourage me [IDM] [from going!]/Why are you crying and trying to discourage me [IDM] [from going]?) [RHQ] I am willing to be put {[for people] to put me} in prison and also to be killed {[for them] to kill me} in Jerusalem because I [serve] [MTY] the Lord Jesus.”
Ndipo Paulo alijibu, “Mnafanya nini, mnalia na kunivunja moyo wangu? Kwa maana niko tayari, siyo tu kufungwa, lakini pia kufia huko Yerusalemu kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana Yesu.”
14 When [we(exc) realized that] he was determined [to go to Jerusalem], we did not try [any longer] to persuade him [not to go]. We said, “May (the Lord [God] do what he wants/the Lord’s will be done)!”
Kwa vile Paulo hakutaka kushawishiwa, tuliacha na kusema, “Basi mapenzi ya Bwana yafanyike.”
15 After those days [in Caesarea], we [(exc)] prepared [our things] and [left to] go [by land] up to Jerusalem.
Baada ya siku hizi, tulichukua mifuko yetu na tukapanda Yerusalemu.
16 Some of the believers from Caesarea also went with us. [On the way to Jerusalem], we stayed [one night] in the house of [a man whose name was] Mnason. He was from Cyprus [Island], and he had believed [in Jesus] when people were first beginning to hear the message [about him].
Baadhi ya wanafunzi kutoka Kaisaria pia walifuatana nasi. Wakamleta mtu mmoja aitwaye Mnasoni, mtu wa Kipro, mwanafunzi wa zamani, ambaye tulikaa naye.
17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, [a group of] the believers greeted us happily.
Tulipofika Yerusalemu, ndugu walitukaribisha kwa furaha.
18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to speak with James, [who was the leader of the congregation there]. All of the [other] leaders/elders [of the congregation in Jerusalem] were also there.
Kesho yake Paulo alienda pamoja nasi kwa Yakobo, na wazee wote walikuwepo.
19 Paul greeted them, and then he reported all of the things that God had enabled him to do among the non-Jewish people.
Baada ya kuwasalimu, aliwapa taarifa moja baada ya nyingine ya mambo ambayo Mungu aliyotenda miongoni mwa mataifa kwa kupitia huduma yake.
20 When they heard that, James and the other elders said, “Praise the Lord!” Then [one of] them said to Paul, “Brother/Friend, you [(sg)] know that there are very many thousands of us [(inc)] Jewish people [here] who have believed [in the Lord Jesus]. Also, you know that we [(inc)] all continue very carefully to obey the laws [that Moses gave us].
Wakati waliposikia hayo, wakamsifu Mungu, na wakamwambia, “Unaona, ndugu, kuna maelfu wangapi wameamini miongoni mwa Wayahudi. Wao wote wana nia ya kushika sheria.
21 [But our fellow Jewish believers] have been told {have heard [people say]} that when you are among non-Jews, you tell the Jewish believers who live there that they should stop obeying [the laws] [MTY] ([of] Moses/[that] Moses [received from God]). [People say that] you tell [those Jewish believers] not to circumcise their sons and not to practice our [other] customs. [We(exc) do not believe that this is true].
Wameambiwa kuhusu wewe, kwamba unafundisha Wayahudi wanaoishi kati ya mataifa kuachana na Musa, na kwamba unawaambia wasiwatahiri watoto wao, na wasifuate desturi za zamani.
22 But our fellow [Jewish] believers will certainly hear that you have arrived, [and they will be angry with you]. So [you] need to do something [RHQ] [to show them that what they heard about you is not true].
Tunapaswa tufanye nini? Bila shaka watasikia kwamba wewe umekuja.
23 So you should do what we suggest to you. There are four men among us who have strongly promised [to God] about [something].
Hivyo fanya kile sisi tunachokuambia sasa: tunao watu wanne ambao wameweka nadhiri.
24 Go with these men [to the Temple] and [ritually] purify yourself along with them. Then, [when it is time for them to offer the sacrifices for that ritual], pay for what they offer [as sacrifices]. After that, they can shave their heads [to show that they have done what they promised to do. And when people see you in the courts of the Temple with those men], they will know that what they have been told {what people have told them} about you is not true. Instead, all of them will know that you obey all our Jewish laws [and rituals].
Wachukue watu hawa na ujitakase mwenyewe pamoja nao, na uwalipie gharama zao, ili waweze kunyoa vichwa vyao. Hivyo kila mmoja apate kujua kwamba mambo waliyoambiwa kuhusu wewe ni ya uongo. Watajifunza kwamba wewe pia unafuata sheria.
25 As for the non-Jewish believers, [we elders here in Jerusalem have talked] about [which of our laws] they [should obey, and] we [(exc)] wrote them [a letter, telling them] what we decided. [We wrote] that they should not eat meat that people have offered as a sacrifice to any idol, [that they should not eat] blood [from animals], and that [they should not eat] meat from animals [that people have killed by] strangling [them. We also told them that] they should not have sex with someone to whom they are not married.”
Lakini kwa habari za mataifa ambao wamekuwa waumini, tuliandika na kutoa maagizo kwamba wanapaswa kujiepusha na vitu vilivyotolewa dhabihu kwa sanamu, na damu, kutokana na kile kilichonyongwa, na wajiepushe na uasherati.”
26 So Paul [agreed to do what they asked], and the next day he took the [four] men, and together they ritually purified themselves. After that, Paul went to the Temple [courts and] told [the priest] what day they would [finish] purifying themselves [ritually] and when [they] would offer [the animals as sacrifices] for each of them.
Ndipo, Paulo aliwatwaa wanaume, na siku ya pili, akajitakasa mwenyewe pamoja nao, akaingia Hekaluni, kutangaza kipindi cha siku za kujitakasa, hadi sadaka itolewa kwa ajili ya kila mmoja wao.
27 When the seven days [for purifying themselves] were nearly finished, Paul [returned] to the Temple [courtyard]. Some Jews from Asia [province] saw him there, [and they were very angry at him]. On another day they had seen Paul [walking around] in Jerusalem with Trophimus, who was a non-Jew. Their laws did not permit non-Jews to be in the Temple, and they thought that Paul had brought Trophimus into the Temple [courtyard that day. So] they called out to many other Jews [who were in the Temple courtyard] to [help them] seize [MTY] Paul. They shouted, “Fellow Israelites, come and help [us punish this] man! This is the one who is [constantly] teaching people wherever [he goes that they] should despise the [Jewish] people. [He teaches people that they should no longer obey] the laws [of Moses] nor respect this holy [Temple]. He has even brought non-Jews here into [the court of] our Temple, causing God to consider it no longer holy!”
Siku hizo saba zilipokaribia kumalizika, baadhi ya Wayahudi kutoka Asia wakamuona Paulo Hekaluni, na makutano wakakasirika, na wakamnyoshea mikono.
Walikuwa wanapiga kelele, “Watu wa Israeli, tusaidieni. Huyu ni yule mtu anayewafundisha watu kila mahali mambo ambayo ni kinyume na watu, sheria, na mahali hapa. Pia amewaleta Wayunani katika Hekalu na kupanajisi mahali hapa patakatifu.”
Kwa kuwa mwanzoni walikuwa wamemwona Trofimo Muefeso akiwa pamoja naye mjini, nao walidhani kwamba Paulo alimleta hekaluni.
30 [People] throughout [MTY] the city heard that there was trouble [at the Temple courtyard], and they came running there. They grabbed Paul and dragged him outside of the Temple [area]. The gates [to the Temple courtyard were shut] {[The Temple guards] shut the doors [to the Temple courts]} immediately, [so that the people would not riot inside the Temple area].
Mji wote ulikuwa na taharuki, na watu wakakimbia pamoja na kumkamata Paulo. Wakamtoa nje ya Hekalu, na milango mara ikafungwa.
31 While they were trying to kill Paul, someone [ran to the fort near the Temple] and told the Roman commander that many [HYP] people [MTY] in Jerusalem were rioting [at the Temple].
Walipokuwa wakijaribu kumuua, habari zilimfikia mkuu wa jeshi la walinzi kuwa Yerusalemu yote ilikuwa imejaa ghasia.
32 The commander quickly took some officers and [a large group of] soldiers and ran to [the Temple area where] the crowd was. When the crowd of people [who were yelling and beating Paul] saw the commander and the soldiers [coming], they stopped beating him.
Mara hiyo akawachukua askari na jemadari akaukimbilia umati. Wakati Watu walipomwona mkuu wa jeshi na askari, wakaacha kumpiga Paulo.
33 The commander came to [where Paul was and] seized him. He [commanded soldiers] to fasten a chain to [each of] Paul’s [arms]. Then he asked [the people in the crowd], “Who is this man, and what has he done?”
Kisha mkuu wa jeshi alimkaribia na akamshika Paulo, na akaamuru afungwe minyororo miwili. Akamuuliza yeye ni nani na amefanya nini.
34 Some of the many people there were shouting one thing, [and] some were shouting something else. Because they continued shouting so loudly, the commander could not understand [what they were shouting. So] he [commanded] that Paul be taken {[the soldiers] to take Paul} into the barracks [so that he could question him there].
Baadhi ya watu kwenye umati walikuwa wanapayuka kitu hiki na wengine kingine. Kwa kuwa jemadari hakuweza kuwaambia chochote kwa sababu ya zile kelele, akaamuru Paulo aletwe ndani ya ngome.
35 [The soldiers] led Paul to the steps [of the barracks], but many people continued to follow them, trying to kill [Paul. So the commander told] the soldiers to carry Paul [up the steps into the barracks].
Basi alipofika kwenye ngazi, akachukuliwa na askari kwa sababu ya ghasia za umati.
36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Kill him! Kill him!”
Maana umati wa watu walimfuata na waliendelea kupiga kelele, “Mwondoeni huyu!”
37 As Paul was about to be taken {[the soldiers] were about to take Paul} into the barracks, he said [in Greek] to the commander, “May I speak to you?” The commander said, “(I am surprised that you can speak the Greek [language]!/Can you [(sg)] speak the Greek [language]?)” [RHQ]
Paulo alipokuwa analetwa ndani ya ngome, alimwambia mkuu wa jeshi, “Naweza kukwambia kitu?” Yule mkuu wa jeshi akasema, “Je unaongea Kiyunani?
38 “(I [thought] that you [(sg)] were that fellow/Are you not that fellow) from Egypt [RHQ] who wanted to rebel [against the government not long ago], and who took 4,000 violent terrorists [with him] out into the desert, [so that we could not catch him]?”
Je, wewe si yule Mmisri ambaye awali aliongoza uasi na alichukua magaidi elfu nne nyikani?”
39 Paul answered, “[No, I am not!] I am a Jew. I [was born] in Tarsus, which is an important [LIT] city in Cilicia [province]. I ask that you [(sg)] let me speak to the people.”
Paulo akasema, “Mimi ni Myahudi, kutoka mji wa Tarso ya Kilikia. Mimi ni raia wa mji maarufu. Nawaomba, mniruhusu nizungumze na watu.”
40 Then the commander permitted Paul [to speak. So] Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand [for the crowd to be quiet. And after] the people in the crowd became quiet, Paul spoke to them in [their own] Hebrew language [MTY].
Wakati jemadari alipompa ruhusa, Paulo akasimama penye ngazi na akatoa ishara kwa watu kwa mkono wake. Wakati kulipokuwa na ukimya sana, akaongea nao kwa Kihebrania. Akasema,
