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 who came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner 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.
When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go to Jerusalem to 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.
And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy to 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 had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders, and they declared 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 certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 Mitume na wazee wakakutana pamoja ili kufikiri jambo hili.
And the apostles and elders came 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 disputing, Peter rose, and said to them, Men, brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth 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, who knoweth the hearts, bore them witness, giving to them the Holy Spirit, even as he did to us;
9 Mungu hakutofautisha kati yetu na wao, bali alitakasa mioyo yao kwa imani.
And put no difference between us and them, purifying 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, to 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 through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12 Kusanyiko lote likakaa kimya, wakawasikiliza Paulo na Barnaba wakieleza jinsi Mungu alivyowatumia kutenda ishara na maajabu kwa watu wa Mataifa.
Then all the multitude kept silence, and hearkened to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought by them among the Gentiles.
13 Walipomaliza kunena, Yakobo akasema, “Ndugu zangu, nisikilizeni.
And after they held their peace, James answered, saying, Men, brethren, hearken 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.
Simeon hath declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles, to take from among 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 this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again its ruins, 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 rest of men may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (aiōn g165)
19 “Kwa hivyo uamuzi wangu ni kwamba, tusiwataabishe watu wa Mataifa wanaomgeukia Mungu.
Therefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them, who from among the Gentiles are turned 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 to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from immorality, and from things 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 of old time 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 pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, 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 letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
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 who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 Hivyo tumekubaliana wote kuwachagua baadhi ya watu na kuwatuma kwenu pamoja na wapendwa wetu Barnaba na Paulo,
It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to 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 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.
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by 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 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 ye abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from immorality: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 Hivyo wakaagwa, wakashuka kwenda Antiokia. Baada ya kulikusanya kanisa pamoja, wakawapa ile barua.
So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31 Nao hao watu wakiisha kuisoma, wakafurahishwa sana kwa ujumbe wake wa kutia moyo.
Which when they had read, 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 prophets also themselves, 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 tarried there a time, they were sent away in peace from the brethren to the apostles.
34 Lakini Sila bado akaendelea kukaa huko.]
However it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35 Lakini Paulo na Barnaba walibaki Antiokia ambako wao pamoja na wengine wengi walifundisha na kuhubiri neno la Bwana.
Paul also and Barnabas continued 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 some days after Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
37 Barnaba alitaka wamchukue Yohana aitwaye Marko waende naye.
And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was 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 him with them, who departed 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 the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus;
40 Lakini Paulo akamchagua Sila na akaondoka baada ya ndugu kuwatakia neema ya Bwana.
And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.
41 Akapitia Shamu na Kilikia, akiimarisha makanisa ya huko.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
