Matendo 15
1 Baadhi ya watu wakashuka Antiokia kutoka Uyahudi, nao wakawa wanawafundisha wandugu: “Msipotahiriwa kufuatana na desturi aliyofundisha Mose, hamwezi kuokoka.”
Then some men arrived from Judea who started teaching the believers, “Unless you're circumcised according to the rules set down by Moses, you can't be saved.”
2 Baada ya Paulo na Barnaba kutokubaliana nao kukawa na mabishano makali, Paulo na Barnaba na baadhi ya wengine miongoni mwao wakachaguliwa kwenda Yerusalemu ili kujadiliana jambo hili na mitume na wazee.
Paul and Barnabas had many arguments and debates with them. So Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go to Jerusalem and talk to the apostles and leaders there about this issue.
3 Hivyo wakasafirishwa na kanisa, wakiwa njiani wakapitia nchi ya Foinike na Samaria, wakawaeleza jinsi watu wa Mataifa walivyookoka. Habari hizi zikaleta furaha kubwa kwa ndugu wote.
The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they explained how foreigners were being converted, which made all the believers very happy.
4 Walipofika Yerusalemu, walipokelewa na kanisa na mitume pamoja na wazee, ndipo Paulo na Barnaba wakawaarifu kila kitu Mungu alichokuwa amefanya kupitia kwao.
When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church members, the apostles, and the elders. They explained everything God had done through them.
5 Ndipo baadhi ya walioamini wa madhehebu ya Mafarisayo wakasimama na kusema, “Hao watu wa Mataifa lazima watahiriwe na waagizwe kutii sheria ya Mose.”
But they were opposed by some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisee faction. They said, “These converts have to be circumcised, and instructed to observe the law of Moses.”
6 Mitume na wazee wakakutana pamoja ili kufikiri jambo hili.
The apostles and elders met together to discuss the issue.
7 Baada ya majadiliano mengi, Petro akasimama na kusema, “Ndugu zangu, mnajua kwamba siku za kwanza Mungu alinichagua ili kwa midomo yangu watu wa Mataifa wapate kusikia ujumbe wa Injili na kuamini.
After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me from among you so that the foreigners could hear the message of good news and trust in Jesus.
8 Mungu, yeye ajuaye mioyo, alionyesha kwamba anawakubali kwa kuwapa Roho Mtakatifu kama vile alivyotupa sisi.
God, who knows thewhat we're thinking, has shown that he accepts them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us.
9 Mungu hakutofautisha kati yetu na wao, bali alitakasa mioyo yao kwa imani.
He doesn't make any distinction between us and them—he cleansed their thoughts as they trusted in him.
10 Sasa basi, mbona mnataka kumjaribu Mungu kwa kuweka kongwa shingoni mwa wanafunzi ambalo baba zetu wala sisi hatukuweza kulibeba?
So why do you want to oppose God and put a burden on the believers that our fathers weren't able to bear, and we can't either?
11 Lakini sisi tunaamini ya kuwa tunaokolewa kwa neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo, kama wao wanavyookolewa.”
We're convinced that we're saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are.”
12 Kusanyiko lote likakaa kimya, wakawasikiliza Paulo na Barnaba wakieleza jinsi Mungu alivyowatumia kutenda ishara na maajabu kwa watu wa Mataifa.
Everyone listened attentively to Barnabas and Paul as they explained the miraculous signs that God had performed through them among the foreigners.
13 Walipomaliza kunena, Yakobo akasema, “Ndugu zangu, nisikilizeni.
After they had finished speaking, James spoke up, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 Simoni amekwisha kutueleza jinsi Mungu, kwa mara ya kwanza alivyoonyesha kuhusika kwa kujichagulia watu kutoka watu wa Mataifa kwa ajili ya Jina lake.
Simon has described how God first revealed his concern for the foreigners by taking from them a people committed to him.
15 Maneno ya manabii yanakubaliana na jambo hili, kama ilivyoandikwa:
This is in accordance with the words of the prophets, as it's written,
16 “‘Baada ya mambo haya nitarudi, nami nitajenga upya nyumba ya Daudi iliyoanguka. Nitajenga tena magofu yake na kuisimamisha,
‘In the future I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen house of David; I will rebuild its ruins and set it straight.
17 ili wanadamu wengine wote wapate kumtafuta Bwana, hata wale watu wa Mataifa wote ambao wanaitwa kwa Jina langu, asema Bwana, afanyaye mambo haya’
I will do this so that those who are left may come to the Lord, including the foreigners who call on my name.
This is what the Lord says, who revealed these things long ago.’ (aiōn g165)
19 “Kwa hivyo uamuzi wangu ni kwamba, tusiwataabishe watu wa Mataifa wanaomgeukia Mungu.
So my decision is that we shouldn't make it difficult for foreigners who turn to God.
20 Badala yake, tuwaandikie kwamba wajiepushe na vyakula vilivyonajisiwa kwa kutolewa sanamu, wajiepushe na uasherati, au kula mnyama aliyenyongwa, na damu.
We should write to them and tell them to avoid food sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality, meat of animals that have been strangled, and from consuming blood.
21 Kwa maana katika kila mji kwa vizazi vilivyopita, Mose amekuwa na wale wanaotangaza sheria yake kwa kuwa imekuwa ikisomwa kwa sauti kubwa katika masinagogi kila Sabato.”
For the law of Moses has been taught in every town for a long, long time—it's read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Mitume na wazee pamoja na kanisa lote, wakaamua kuwachagua baadhi ya watu wao na kuwatuma Antiokia pamoja na Paulo na Barnaba. Wakamchagua Yuda aitwaye Barsaba pamoja na Sila, watu wawili waliokuwa viongozi miongoni mwa ndugu.
Then the apostles and elders, together with the whole church, decided it would be good to choose some representatives and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers,
23 Wakatumwa na barua ifuatayo: Sisi mitume na wazee, ndugu zenu, Kwa ndugu Mataifa mlioamini mlioko Antiokia, Shamu na Kilikia: Salamu.
and sent them with this letter: “Greetings from us, the apostles and elders and brothers, to the non-Jewish brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
24 Tumesikia kwamba kuna baadhi ya watu waliokuja huko kutoka kwetu bila ruhusa yetu na kuwasumbua, wakiyataabisha mawazo yenu.
We have heard that some from our group have confused you with their teachings, causing you trouble. We certainly didn't tell them to do this!
25 Hivyo tumekubaliana wote kuwachagua baadhi ya watu na kuwatuma kwenu pamoja na wapendwa wetu Barnaba na Paulo,
So we have agreed to choose some representatives and send them to you together with our much-loved brothers Barnabas and Paul,
26 watu ambao wamehatarisha maisha yao kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Kwa hiyo tunawatuma Yuda na Sila, kuthibitisha kwa maneno ya mdomo mambo haya tunayowaandikia.
So we are sending to you Judas and Silas who can verbally confirm what we're saying.
28 Kwa maana imempendeza Roho Mtakatifu na sisi tusiwatwike mzigo wowote mkubwa zaidi ya mambo haya yafuatayo ambayo ni ya lazima:
It seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any heavier burden than these important requirements.
29 Kwamba mjiepushe na vyakula vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu, na damu, au kula nyama ya mnyama aliyenyongwa, na mjiepushe na uasherati. Mkiyaepuka mambo haya, mtakuwa mmefanya vyema. Kwaherini.
You should avoid: anything sacrificed to idols; blood; meat from strangled animals; and sexual immorality. You will do well to observe these requirements. God bless you.”
30 Hivyo wakaagwa, wakashuka kwenda Antiokia. Baada ya kulikusanya kanisa pamoja, wakawapa ile barua.
The men were sent on their way to Antioch. When they arrived they called everybody together and delivered the letter.
31 Nao hao watu wakiisha kuisoma, wakafurahishwa sana kwa ujumbe wake wa kutia moyo.
After they had read it, the people were so happy for the encouraging message.
32 Yuda na Sila, ambao wenyewe walikuwa manabii, wakanena maneno mengi ya kuwatia moyo na kuwajenga katika imani wale ndugu walioamini.
Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, encouraged the brothers, explaining many things, and strengthening them.
33 Baada ya kukaa huko Antiokia kwa muda, wakaagwa kwa amani na wale ndugu ili waende kwa wale waliowatuma. [
After spending some time there they were sent back by the brothers with their blessing to the believers in Jerusalem.
34 Lakini Sila bado akaendelea kukaa huko.]
35 Lakini Paulo na Barnaba walibaki Antiokia ambako wao pamoja na wengine wengi walifundisha na kuhubiri neno la Bwana.
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of God along with many others.
36 Baada ya muda, Paulo akamwambia Barnaba, “Turudi tukawatembelee ndugu katika miji yote tuliyohubiri neno la Bwana tuone jinsi wanavyoendelea.”
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's go back and visit the believers in every town where we shared the word of the Lord, and see how they're doing.”
37 Barnaba alitaka wamchukue Yohana aitwaye Marko waende naye.
Barnabas planned to take along John Mark too.
38 Lakini Paulo aliona si vyema kwa sababu aliwahi kuwaacha walipokuwa huko Pamfilia, hakutaka kuendelea kufanya kazi naye.
But Paul didn't think it was a good idea to take him with them, since he'd left them in Pamphylia and hadn't continued working with them.
39 Pakatokea ubishi mkali kati ya Paulo na Barnaba kuhusu jambo hili, hivyo wakagawanyika. Barnaba akamchukua Yohana Marko wakasafiri baharini kwenda Kipro.
They had such a strong disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus.
40 Lakini Paulo akamchagua Sila na akaondoka baada ya ndugu kuwatakia neema ya Bwana.
Paul chose Silas, and as they left, the believers committed them to the grace of the Lord.
41 Akapitia Shamu na Kilikia, akiimarisha makanisa ya huko.
Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches there.
