Matendo 15
1 Baadhi ya watu wakashuka Antiokia kutoka Uyahudi, nao wakawa wanawafundisha wandugu: “Msipotahiriwa kufuatana na desturi aliyofundisha Mose, hamwezi kuokoka.”
Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and taught the brothers, saying, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you 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.
This brought Paul and Barnabas into a sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas along with some others from among them were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to meet with 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 sent by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria and announced the conversion of the Gentiles. They brought great joy to all the brothers.
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 came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all the 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 certain men who believed, who belonged to the group of Pharisees, stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 Mitume na wazee wakakutana pamoja ili kufikiri jambo hili.
So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider 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.
After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a 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.
God, who knows the heart, witnesses to 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.
and he made no distinction between us and them, making their hearts clean 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 do you test God, that you 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, just as they were.”
12 Kusanyiko lote likakaa kimya, wakawasikiliza Paulo na Barnaba wakieleza jinsi Mungu alivyowatumia kutenda ishara na maajabu kwa watu wa Mataifa.
All the multitude kept silent while they listened to Barnabas and Paul report the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.
13 Walipomaliza kunena, Yakobo akasema, “Ndugu zangu, nisikilizeni.
After they stopped speaking, James answered, 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 told how God first graciously helped the Gentiles in order to take from them a people for his name.
15 Maneno ya manabii yanakubaliana na jambo hili, kama ilivyoandikwa:
The words of the prophets agree with this, 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 tent of David, which has fallen down; I will set up and restore its ruins again,
17 ili wanadamu wengine wote wapate kumtafuta Bwana, hata wale watu wa Mataifa wote ambao wanaitwa kwa Jina langu, asema Bwana, afanyaye mambo haya’
so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, including all the Gentiles called by my name.'
This is what the Lord says, who has done these things that have been known from ancient times. (aiōn g165)
19 “Kwa hivyo uamuzi wangu ni kwamba, tusiwataabishe watu wa Mataifa wanaomgeukia Mungu.
Therefore, my opinion is, that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles 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.
But we will write to them that they must keep away from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, and from the meat of strangled animals, 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 has been proclaimed in every city from the ancient times and he is 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 Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders of the church, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
23 Wakatumwa na barua ifuatayo: Sisi mitume na wazee, ndugu zenu, Kwa ndugu Mataifa mlioamini mlioko Antiokia, Shamu na Kilikia: Salamu.
They wrote this: “From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings!
24 Tumesikia kwamba kuna baadhi ya watu waliokuja huko kutoka kwetu bila ruhusa yetu na kuwasumbua, wakiyataabisha mawazo yenu.
We have heard that certain men have gone out from us, with no orders from us, and have disturbed you with teachings that upset your souls.
25 Hivyo tumekubaliana wote kuwachagua baadhi ya watu na kuwatuma kwenu pamoja na wapendwa wetu Barnaba na Paulo,
This being so, all of us have agreed to choose men and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 watu ambao wamehatarisha maisha yao kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.
men 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.
Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same thing themselves in their own words.
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 Spirit 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 you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, it shall be well with you. Farewell.”
30 Hivyo wakaagwa, wakashuka kwenda Antiokia. Baada ya kulikusanya kanisa pamoja, wakawapa ile barua.
So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; after they gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31 Nao hao watu wakiisha kuisoma, wakafurahishwa sana kwa ujumbe wake wa kutia moyo.
When they had read it, they rejoiced because of the encouragement.
32 Yuda na Sila, ambao wenyewe walikuwa manabii, wakanena maneno mengi ya kuwatia moyo na kuwajenga katika imani wale ndugu walioamini.
Judas and Silas, also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
33 Baada ya kukaa huko Antiokia kwa muda, wakaagwa kwa amani na wale ndugu ili waende kwa wale waliowatuma. [
After they had spent some time there, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.
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 along with many others, where they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord.
36 Baada ya muda, Paulo akamwambia Barnaba, “Turudi tukawatembelee ndugu katika miji yote tuliyohubiri neno la Bwana tuone jinsi wanavyoendelea.”
After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return now and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
37 Barnaba alitaka wamchukue Yohana aitwaye Marko waende naye.
Barnabas wanted to also take with them John 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 it was not good to take Mark, who had left them in Pamphylia and did not go further with them in the work.
39 Pakatokea ubishi mkali kati ya Paulo na Barnaba kuhusu jambo hili, hivyo wakagawanyika. Barnaba akamchukua Yohana Marko wakasafiri baharini kwenda Kipro.
Then there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.
40 Lakini Paulo akamchagua Sila na akaondoka baada ya ndugu kuwatakia neema ya Bwana.
But Paul chose Silas and left, after he was entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41 Akapitia Shamu na Kilikia, akiimarisha makanisa ya huko.
Then he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
