Acts 17
1 Now when they had passed through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to the city of Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
Kwa kupitia Amfipoli na Apolonia, walisafiri mpaka Thesalonika ambako kulikuwa na sunagogi la Wayahudi.
2 Paul, as his custom was, went to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures.
Paulo alijiunga nao kama ilivyokuwa desturi yake akajadiliana nao Sabato tatu mfululizo, akatumia Maandiko Matakatifu.
3 He was opening the scriptures and explaining that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead. He said, “This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.”
Aliyaeleza na kuonyesha kwamba ilimbidi Kristo kuteswa na kufufuka kutoka wafu. Akawaambia, “Yesu ambaye mimi namhubiri kwenu ndiye Kristo.”
4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women.
Baadhi yao walikubali wakajiunga na Paulo na Sila. Kadhalika, idadi kubwa ya Wagiriki waliomcha Mungu pamoja na wanawake wengi wa tabaka la juu, walijiunga nao.
5 But the unbelieving Jews, being moved with jealousy, took certain wicked men from the marketplace, gathered a crowd together, and set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they wanted to bring Paul and Silas out to the people.
Lakini Wayahudi wakaona wivu; wakawakodi wafidhuli sokoni, wakafanya kikundi na kuzusha fujo mjini kote. Wakaivamia nyumba ya Yasoni wakitumaini kuwapata humo Paulo na Sila ili wawalete hadharani.
6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and certain other brothers before the officials of the city, crying, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.
Lakini hawakuwapata na hivyo walimburuta Yasoni pamoja na ndugu wengine mpaka kwa wakuu wa mji, wakapiga kelele: “Watu hawa wamekuwa wakivuruga dunia yote na sasa wako hapa mjini.
7 These men whom Jason has welcomed act against the decrees of Caesar; they say that there is another king—Jesus.”
Yasoni amewakaribisha nyumbani kwake. Wote wanafanya kinyume cha amri ya Kaisari wakisema eti Kuna mfalme mwingine aitwaye Yesu.”
8 The crowd and the officials of the city were disturbed when they heard these things.
Kwa maneno hayo waliwatia wasiwasi wakuu wa mji na kundi la watu.
9 But after the officials made Jason and the rest pay money as security, then they let them go.
Wakawafanya Yasoni na wenzake watoe dhamana, kisha wakawaacha waende zao.
10 That night the brothers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
Usiku, wale ndugu waliwahimiza Paulo na Sila waende Berea. Mara tu walipofika huko, walikwenda katika sunagogi la Wayahudi.
11 Now these people were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Watu wa huko walikuwa wasikivu zaidi kuliko wale wa Thesalonika. Waliupokea ule ujumbe kwa hamu kubwa, wakawa wanayachunguza Maandiko Matakatifu kila siku, ili kuona kama yale waliyosema Paulo na Sila yalikuwa kweli.
12 Therefore many of them believed, including some influential Greek women and many men.
Wengi wao waliamini na pia wanawake wa Kigiriki wa tabaka la juu na wanaume pia.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God at Berea, they went there and stirred up and troubled the crowds.
Lakini, Wayahudi wa Thesalonika walipogundua kwamba Paulo alikuwa anahubiri neno la Mungu huko Berea, walikwenda huko, wakaanza kufanya fujo na kuchochea makundi ya watu.
14 Then immediately, the brothers sent Paul to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed there.
Wale ndugu wakamsindikiza haraka aende pwani lakini Sila na Timotheo walibaki Berea.
15 Those who were leading Paul took him as far as the city of Athens. As they left Paul there, they received from him instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible.
Wale ndugu waliomsindikiza Paulo walikwenda pamoja naye mpaka Athene. Kisha, wakarudi pamoja na maagizo kutoka kwa Paulo kwamba Sila na Timotheo wamfuate upesi iwezekanavyo.
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
Paulo alipokuwa anawasubiri Sila na Timotheo huko Athene, moyo wake ulighadhibika sana alipoona jinsi mji huo ulivyokuwa umejaa sanamu za miungu.
17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and others who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace with those who happened to be there.
Alijadiliana na Wayahudi na watu wengine waliomcha Mungu katika sunagogi; na kila siku alikuwa na majadiliano sokoni pamoja na wowote wale waliojitokeza.
18 But also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. Some said, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be one who calls people to follow strange gods,” because he was proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection.
Wengine waliofuata falsafa ya Epikuro na Stoiki walibishana naye. Wengine walisema, “Anataka kusema nini huyu bwanamaneno?” Kwa kuwa Paulo alikuwa anahubiri juu ya Yesu na juu ya ufufuo, wengine walisema, “Inaonekana kama anahubiri juu ya miungu ya kigeni.”
19 They took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know this new teaching which you were speaking?
Hivyo walimchukua Paulo, wakampeleka Areopago, wakasema, “Tunataka kujua jambo hili jipya ulilokuwa unazungumzia.
20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. Therefore, we want to know what these things mean.”
Vitu vingine tulivyosikia kwa masikio yetu vinaonekana kuwa viroja kwetu. Tungependa kujua mambo haya yana maana gani.”
21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing but either telling or listening about something new.)
Wananchi wa Athene na wakazi wengine wa huko walikuwa wanatumia wakati wao wote kuhadithiana na kusikiliza habari mpyampya.
22 So Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “You men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way.
Basi, Paulo alisimama mbele ya baraza la Areopago, akasema, “Wananchi wa Athene! Ninaona kwamba ninyi, kwa vyovyote, ni watu wa dini sana.
23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found an altar with this inscription, “To an Unknown God.” What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.
Sababu yenyewe ni kwamba katika pitapita yangu niliangalia sanamu zenu za ibada nikakuta madhabahu moja ambayo imeandikwa: Kwa ajili ya Mungu yule Asiyejulikana. Basi, huyo mnayemwabudu bila kujua, ndiye ninayemhubiri kwenu.
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, since he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples built with hands.
Mungu, aliyeumba ulimwengu na vyote vilivyomo, ni Bwana wa mbingu na nchi; yeye hakai katika hekalu zilizojengwa na watu.
25 Neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives people life and breath and everything else.
Wala hatumikiwi kwa mikono ya watu kana kwamba anahitaji chochote kile, kwa maana yeye mwenyewe ndiye anayewapa watu uhai, anawawezesha kupumua na anawapa kila kitu.
26 From one man he made every nation of people to live on the surface of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons and the boundaries of their living areas,
Kutokana na mtu mmoja aliumba mataifa yote na kuyawezesha kuishi duniani kote. Aliamua na kupanga kabla kabisa lini na wapi mataifa hayo yangeishi.
27 so that they should search for God and perhaps they may feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us.
Alifanya hivyo, ili mataifa hayo yapate kumfuata, na kama vile kwa kupapasapapasa, yapate kumfikia. Hata hivyo lakini, Mungu hayuko mbali na kila mmoja wetu.
28 For in him we live and move and have our being, just as one of your own poets has said, 'For we also are his offspring.'
Kama alivyosema mtu mmoja: Ndani yake yeye sisi tunaishi, tunajimudu, na tuko! Ni kama washairi wenu wengine walivyosema: Sisi ni watoto wake.
29 Therefore, since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the qualities of deity are like gold, or silver, or stone—images created by the art and imagination of man.
Ikiwa basi, sisi ni watoto wa Mungu, haifai kumfikiria Mungu kuwa kama dhahabu, fedha au hata jiwe lililochongwa na kutiwa nakshi na binadamu.
30 Therefore God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent.
Mungu alifanya kama kwamba haoni nyakati zile watu walipokuwa wajinga. Lakini sasa, anaamuru watu wote kila mahali watubu.
31 This is because he has set a day when he will judge the world in righteousness by the man he has chosen. God has given proof of this man to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Kwa maana amekwisha weka siku ambayo atauhukumu ulimwengu kwa haki kwa njia ya mtu mmoja aliyemteua. Mungu amewathibitishia wote jambo hili kwa kumfufua mtu huyo kutoka wafu!”
32 Now when the men of Athens heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked Paul; but others said, “We will listen to you again about this matter.”
Walipomsikia Paulo anasema juu ya jambo la kufufuka kwa wafu, wengine wao waliangua kicheko; lakini wengine walisema, “Tunataka kukusikia tena juu ya jambo hili!”
33 After that, Paul left them.
Hivyo, Paulo aliwaacha, akatoka barazani.
34 But certain men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Lakini watu kadhaa waliandamana naye, wakawa waumini. Miongoni mwao walikuwa Dionisio wa Areopago, mwanamke mmoja aitwaye Damari na wengineo.
