Matendo 19
1 Apolo alipokuwa huko Korintho, Paulo alisafiri sehemu za bara, akafika Efeso. Huko akawakuta wanafunzi kadhaa,
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus and found certain disciples.
2 akawauliza, “Je, mlipokea Roho Mtakatifu mlipoamini?” Wakajibu, “Hapana, hata hatukusikia kuwa kuna Roho Mtakatifu.”
He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 Ndipo Paulo akawauliza, “Je, mlibatizwa kwa ubatizo gani?” Wakajibu, “Kwa ubatizo wa Yohana.”
He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Paulo akasema, “Ubatizo wa Yohana ulikuwa wa toba, aliwaambia watu wamwamini yeye atakayekuja baada yake, yaani, Yesu.”
Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus.”
5 Waliposikia haya, wakabatizwa katika jina la Bwana Yesu.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 Paulo alipoweka mikono yake juu yao, Roho Mtakatifu akawashukia, nao wakanena kwa lugha mpya na kutabiri.
When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.
7 Walikuwa kama wanaume kumi na wawili.
They were about twelve men in all.
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.
He entered into the synagogue and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning God’s Kingdom.
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 were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school 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 continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
11 Mungu akafanya miujiza mingi isiyo ya kawaida kwa mkono wa Paulo,
God worked special miracles by the hands 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 that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the 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 some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by 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 chief priest, who did this.
15 Lakini pepo mchafu akawajibu, “Yesu namjua na Paulo pia namjua, lakini ninyi ni nani?”
The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, 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.
The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that 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.
This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 Wengi wa wale waliokuwa wameamini wakati huu wakaja na kutubu waziwazi kuhusu matendo yao maovu.
Many also of those who had believed came, confessing and declaring 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.
Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 Hivyo neno la Bwana likaenea sana na kuwa na nguvu.
So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
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 had ended, Paul determined in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
22 Hivyo akatuma wasaidizi wake wawili, Timotheo na Erasto, waende Makedonia, wakati yeye mwenyewe alibaki kwa muda kidogo huko Asia.
Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
23 Wakati huo huo pakatokea dhiki kubwa kwa sababu ya Njia ile ya Bwana.
About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way.
24 Mtu mmoja jina lake Demetrio mfua fedha aliyekuwa akitengeneza vinyago vya fedha vya Artemi na kuwapatia mafundi wake biashara kubwa,
For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen,
25 aliwaita pamoja watu wengine waliofanya kazi ya ufundi kama yake na kusema, “Enyi watu, mnajua ya kuwa utajiri wetu unatokana na biashara hii!
whom he gathered together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.
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.
You see and hear that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods that 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.”
Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.”
28 Waliposikia maneno haya, wakaghadhibika, wakaanza kupiga kelele, “Artemi wa Waefeso ni mkuu!”
When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
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 whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.
30 Paulo akataka kuingia katikati ya umati huo, lakini wanafunzi hawakumruhusu.
When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples didn’t allow him.
31 Hata baadhi ya viongozi wa sehemu ile, waliokuwa rafiki zake Paulo, wakatuma watu wakitamani asiingie katika ule ukumbi.
Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged 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.
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them didn’t know why they had 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.
They brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and 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 perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about two hours cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
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?
When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
36 Kwa hiyo, kwa kuwa mambo haya hayakanushiki, inawapasa mnyamaze na wala msifanye lolote kwa haraka.
Seeing then that these things can’t be denied, you ought to be quiet and to do nothing rash.
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 your 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 therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another.
39 Lakini kama kuna jambo jingine lolote zaidi mnalotaka kulileta, itabidi lisuluhishwe katika kusanyiko halali.
But if you seek anything about other matters, it will 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 concerning today’s riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn’t be able to give an account of this commotion.”
41 Baada ya kusema haya akavunja mkutano.
When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
