Matendo 19
1 Apolo alipokuwa huko Korintho, Paulo alisafiri sehemu za bara, akafika Efeso. Huko akawakuta wanafunzi kadhaa,
Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, after passing through the hinterland, came to Ephesus, where he found a few disciples.
2 akawauliza, “Je, mlipokea Roho Mtakatifu mlipoamini?” Wakajibu, “Hapana, hata hatukusikia kuwa kuna Roho Mtakatifu.”
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" he asked them. "No" said they, "we did not even hear that there is a Holy Spirit."
3 Ndipo Paulo akawauliza, “Je, mlibatizwa kwa ubatizo gani?” Wakajibu, “Kwa ubatizo wa Yohana.”
"Into what, then, were you baptized?" he asked. And they said, "Into the baptism of John."
4 Paulo akasema, “Ubatizo wa Yohana ulikuwa wa toba, aliwaambia watu wamwamini yeye atakayekuja baada yake, yaani, Yesu.”
"John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance," answered Paul, "telling the people to believe on One who was coming after him, namely, on Jesus."
5 Waliposikia haya, wakabatizwa katika jina la Bwana Yesu.
When they heard this they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus;
6 Paulo alipoweka mikono yake juu yao, Roho Mtakatifu akawashukia, nao wakanena kwa lugha mpya na kutabiri.
and after Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak with tongues, and to prophesy.
7 Walikuwa kama wanaume kumi na wawili.
They were in all about twelve men.
8 Paulo akaingia katika sinagogi na kunena humo kwa ujasiri kwa muda wa miezi mitatu, akijadiliana na watu na kuwashawishi katika mambo ya Ufalme wa Mungu.
Then Paul went into the synagogue, and there continued to preach fearlessly for about three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
9 Lakini baadhi yao walikaidi. Walikataa kuamini, na wakakashifu ujumbe wake mbele ya umati wa watu. Basi Paulo aliachana nao. Akawachukua wanafunzi naye, akahojiana nao kila siku katika darasa la Tirano.
But when some grew hardened and disobedient, and spoke evil of the Way before the crowd, he left them, withdrew the disciples, and continued to hold discussions daily in the lecture-hall of Tyrannus.
10 Jambo hili likaendelea kwa muda wa miaka miwili, kiasi kwamba Wayahudi na Wayunani wote walioishi huko Asia wakawa wamesikia neno la Bwana.
This went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of Asia heard the Lord’s message, Jews as well as Greeks.
11 Mungu akafanya miujiza mingi isiyo ya kawaida kwa mkono wa Paulo,
God also wrought extraordinary miracles by the hand of Paul;
12 hivi kwamba leso au vitambaa vilivyokuwa vimegusa mwili wa Paulo viliwekwa juu ya wagonjwa, nao wakapona magonjwa yao, na pepo wachafu wakawatoka.
so much so, that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick; and their diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
13 Basi baadhi ya Wayahudi wenye kutangatanga huku na huko wakitoa pepo wachafu wakajaribu kutumia jina la Bwana Yesu wale wenye pepo wakisema, “Kwa jina la Yesu, yule anayehubiriwa na Paulo, nakuamuru utoke.”
But there were also some strolling Jewish exorcists, who took it upon them to invoke the name of Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by that Jesus whom Paul preaches."
14 Wana saba wa Skewa, Myahudi aliyekuwa kiongozi wa makuhani, walikuwa wanafanya hivyo.
There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish high priest who used to do this.
15 Lakini pepo mchafu akawajibu, “Yesu namjua na Paulo pia namjua, lakini ninyi ni nani?”
But the evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I have heard of, but who are you?"
16 Kisha yule mtu aliyekuwa na pepo mchafu akawarukia, akawashambulia vikali, akawashinda nguvu wote, wakatoka ndani ya ile nyumba wakikimbia wakiwa uchi na wenye majeraha.
And the man in whom the evil spirit was sprang on two of them, overpowered them and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded.
17 Habari hii ikajulikana kwa Wayahudi wote na Wayunani waliokaa Efeso, hofu ikawajaa wote, nalo jina la Bwana Yesu likaheshimiwa sana.
And this became known to all the people of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. Awe fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus began to be held in honor.
18 Wengi wa wale waliokuwa wameamini wakati huu wakaja na kutubu waziwazi kuhusu matendo yao maovu.
Many also of those who became believers used to come to confess and to declare their deeds.
19 Idadi kubwa ya wale waliofanya mambo ya uganga wakaleta vitabu vyao na kuviteketeza kwa moto hadharani. Walipofanya hesabu ya thamani ya vitabu vilivyoteketezwa ilikuwa drakma 50,000 za fedha.
And some of them who had practised magic arts, collected their books, and burned them in the presence of all. And they counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand silver coins.
20 Hivyo neno la Bwana likaenea sana na kuwa na nguvu.
So mightily the word of the Lord continued to grow and to prevail.
21 Baada ya mambo haya kutukia, Paulo akakusudia rohoni kwenda Yerusalemu kupitia Makedonia na Akaya. Akasema, “Baada ya kufika huko, yanipasa pia kwenda Rumi.”
Now after these things were ended, Paul resolved in his spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. "After I get there," he said, "I must see Rome, too."
22 Hivyo akatuma wasaidizi wake wawili, Timotheo na Erasto, waende Makedonia, wakati yeye mwenyewe alibaki kwa muda kidogo huko Asia.
So he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, while he himself kept back for a time on his way into Asia.
23 Wakati huo huo pakatokea dhiki kubwa kwa sababu ya Njia ile ya Bwana.
Now just at this time, there arose no small commotion concerning the Way.
24 Mtu mmoja jina lake Demetrio mfua fedha aliyekuwa akitengeneza vinyago vya fedha vya Artemi na kuwapatia mafundi wake biashara kubwa,
There was a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, and brought rich profit to his workmen.
25 aliwaita pamoja watu wengine waliofanya kazi ya ufundi kama yake na kusema, “Enyi watu, mnajua ya kuwa utajiri wetu unatokana na biashara hii!
He gathered them together with others of like occupation, and said. "Men, you know that by this business we make our money.
26 Pia ninyi mmeona na kusikia jinsi ambavyo si huku Efeso peke yake lakini ni karibu Asia yote, huyu Paulo amewashawishi na kuvuta idadi kubwa ya watu kwa kusema kuwa miungu iliyotengenezwa na watu si miungu.
"And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but almost throughout all of Asia, this fellow Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, by telling them that they are no gods at all who are made with hands.
27 Kwa hiyo kuna hatari si kwa kazi yetu kudharauliwa tu, bali pia hata hekalu la mungu mke Artemi, aliye mkuu, anayeabudiwa Asia yote na ulimwengu wote, litakuwa limepokonywa fahari yake ya kiungu.”
"So there is danger not only that our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be brought into disrepute, and that she herself may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world now worships."
28 Waliposikia maneno haya, wakaghadhibika, wakaanza kupiga kelele, “Artemi wa Waefeso ni mkuu!”
After listening to this they were filled with rage, and cried out again and again, saying,
29 Mara mji wote ukajaa ghasia. Wakawakamata Gayo na Aristarko, watu wa Makedonia waliokuwa wakisafiri pamoja na Paulo, na watu wakakimbilia katika ukumbi wa michezo kama mtu mmoja.
The city was filled with commotion. They rushed like one man into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s companions in travel.
30 Paulo akataka kuingia katikati ya umati huo, lakini wanafunzi hawakumruhusu.
When Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not let him,
31 Hata baadhi ya viongozi wa sehemu ile, waliokuwa rafiki zake Paulo, wakatuma watu wakitamani asiingie katika ule ukumbi.
and some of the Asiarchs, too, who were his friends, sent word to him repeatedly, entreating him not to venture into the theater.
32 Ule umati ulikuwa na taharuki. Wengine walikuwa wakipiga kelele, hawa wakisema hili na wengine lile. Idadi kubwa ya watu hawakujua hata ni kwa nini walikuwa wamekusanyika huko.
Now some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in an uproar, and the majority had no idea why they were come together.
33 Wayahudi wakamsukumia Aleksanda mbele na baadhi ya watu kwenye ule umati wakampa maelekezo. Akawaashiria kwa mkono ili watulie aweze kujitetea mbele ya watu.
And they brought Alexander out of the crowd, whom the Jews had pushed forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, would have made a defense to the people,
34 Lakini walipotambua kwamba alikuwa Myahudi, wote wakapiga kelele kwa sauti moja kwa karibu muda wa saa mbili, wakisema, “Artemi wa Efeso ni mkuu!”
but when they saw that he was a Jew they all, with one voice, for about two hours, shouted,
35 Baadaye karani wa mji akaunyamazisha ule umati wa watu na kusema, “Enyi watu wa Efeso, je, ulimwengu wote haujui ya kuwa mji wa Efeso ndio unaotunza hekalu la Artemi aliye mkuu na ile sanamu yake iliyoanguka kutoka mbinguni?
At length the recorder got them quiet. "Men of Ephesus," he said, "who here does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple- guardian of the great Diana and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Kwa hiyo, kwa kuwa mambo haya hayakanushiki, inawapasa mnyamaze na wala msifanye lolote kwa haraka.
"Since these facts cannot be gainsaid, you ought to be calm and do nothing reckless.
37 Kwa kuwa mmewaleta hawa watu hapa, ingawa hawajaiba hekaluni wala kumkufuru huyu mungu wetu wa kike.
"For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38 Basi, ikiwa Demetrio na mafundi wenzake wana jambo zito dhidi ya mtu yeyote, mahakama ziko wazi na wasaidizi wa mwakilishi wa mtawala. Wanaweza kufungua mashtaka.
If then Demetrius and his craftsmen have a grievance against any one, the courts are open and there are the proconsuls; let them accuse one another.
39 Lakini kama kuna jambo jingine lolote zaidi mnalotaka kulileta, itabidi lisuluhishwe katika kusanyiko halali.
But if you desire anything further, it must be settled in the regular assembly.
40 Kama ilivyo sasa, tuko hatarini kushtakiwa kwa kufanya ghasia kwa sababu ya tukio la leo. Kwa kuwa hakuna sababu tutakayoweza kutoa kuhalalisha msukosuko huu.”
For indeed we are in danger of being accused in regard to this day’s riot, since there is no cause for it, nor shall we be able to give account for this disorderly gathering."
41 Baada ya kusema haya akavunja mkutano.
With these words he dismissed the assembly.
