Matendo 15
1 Baadhi ya watu wakashuka Antiokia kutoka Uyahudi, nao wakawa wanawafundisha wandugu: “Msipotahiriwa kufuatana na desturi aliyofundisha Mose, hamwezi kuokoka.”
And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, [saying], Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot 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.
And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, [the brethren] appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
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.
They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 Walipofika Yerusalemu, walipokelewa na kanisa na mitume pamoja na wazee, ndipo Paulo na Barnaba wakawaarifu kila kitu Mungu alichokuwa amefanya kupitia kwao.
And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with 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 there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.
6 Mitume na wazee wakakutana pamoja ili kufikiri jambo hili.
And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.
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.
And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 Mungu, yeye ajuaye mioyo, alionyesha kwamba anawakubali kwa kuwapa Roho Mtakatifu kama vile alivyotupa sisi.
And God, which knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 Mungu hakutofautisha kati yetu na wao, bali alitakasa mioyo yao kwa imani.
and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
10 Sasa basi, mbona mnataka kumjaribu Mungu kwa kuweka kongwa shingoni mwa wanafunzi ambalo baba zetu wala sisi hatukuweza kulibeba?
Now therefore why tempt ye God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 Lakini sisi tunaamini ya kuwa tunaokolewa kwa neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo, kama wao wanavyookolewa.”
But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.
12 Kusanyiko lote likakaa kimya, wakawasikiliza Paulo na Barnaba wakieleza jinsi Mungu alivyowatumia kutenda ishara na maajabu kwa watu wa Mataifa.
And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 Walipomaliza kunena, Yakobo akasema, “Ndugu zangu, nisikilizeni.
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto 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.
Symeon hath rehearsed how first God did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 Maneno ya manabii yanakubaliana na jambo hili, kama ilivyoandikwa:
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 “‘Baada ya mambo haya nitarudi, nami nitajenga upya nyumba ya Daudi iliyoanguka. Nitajenga tena magofu yake na kuisimamisha,
After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up:
17 ili wanadamu wengine wote wapate kumtafuta Bwana, hata wale watu wa Mataifa wote ambao wanaitwa kwa Jina langu, asema Bwana, afanyaye mambo haya’
That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,
Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from the beginning of the world. (aiōn g165)
19 “Kwa hivyo uamuzi wangu ni kwamba, tusiwataabishe watu wa Mataifa wanaomgeukia Mungu.
Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles turn to God;
20 Badala yake, tuwaandikie kwamba wajiepushe na vyakula vilivyonajisiwa kwa kutolewa sanamu, wajiepushe na uasherati, au kula mnyama aliyenyongwa, na damu.
but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from 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 Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being 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 it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23 Wakatumwa na barua ifuatayo: Sisi mitume na wazee, ndugu zenu, Kwa ndugu Mataifa mlioamini mlioko Antiokia, Shamu na Kilikia: Salamu.
and they wrote [thus] by them, The apostles and the elder brethren unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:
24 Tumesikia kwamba kuna baadhi ya watu waliokuja huko kutoka kwetu bila ruhusa yetu na kuwasumbua, wakiyataabisha mawazo yenu.
Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;
25 Hivyo tumekubaliana wote kuwachagua baadhi ya watu na kuwatuma kwenu pamoja na wapendwa wetu Barnaba na Paulo,
it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 watu ambao wamehatarisha maisha yao kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.
men that have hazarded 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.
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.
28 Kwa maana imempendeza Roho Mtakatifu na sisi tusiwatwike mzigo wowote mkubwa zaidi ya mambo haya yafuatayo ambayo ni ya lazima:
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
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.
that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.
30 Hivyo wakaagwa, wakashuka kwenda Antiokia. Baada ya kulikusanya kanisa pamoja, wakawapa ile barua.
So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.
31 Nao hao watu wakiisha kuisoma, wakafurahishwa sana kwa ujumbe wake wa kutia moyo.
And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 Yuda na Sila, ambao wenyewe walikuwa manabii, wakanena maneno mengi ya kuwatia moyo na kuwajenga katika imani wale ndugu walioamini.
And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33 Baada ya kukaa huko Antiokia kwa muda, wakaagwa kwa amani na wale ndugu ili waende kwa wale waliowatuma. [
And after they had spent some time [there], they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.
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 tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 Baada ya muda, Paulo akamwambia Barnaba, “Turudi tukawatembelee ndugu katika miji yote tuliyohubiri neno la Bwana tuone jinsi wanavyoendelea.”
And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [and see] how they fare.
37 Barnaba alitaka wamchukue Yohana aitwaye Marko waende naye.
And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.
38 Lakini Paulo aliona si vyema kwa sababu aliwahi kuwaacha walipokuwa huko Pamfilia, hakutaka kuendelea kufanya kazi naye.
But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39 Pakatokea ubishi mkali kati ya Paulo na Barnaba kuhusu jambo hili, hivyo wakagawanyika. Barnaba akamchukua Yohana Marko wakasafiri baharini kwenda Kipro.
And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus;
40 Lakini Paulo akamchagua Sila na akaondoka baada ya ndugu kuwatakia neema ya Bwana.
but Paul chose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
41 Akapitia Shamu na Kilikia, akiimarisha makanisa ya huko.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
