< Matendo 21 >
1 Tulipokwisha kujitenga nao, tukaanza safari kwa njia ya bahari moja kwa moja mpaka Kosi. Siku ya pili yake tukafika Rodo na kutoka huko tukaenda Patara.
And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the [day] following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
2 Hapo tukapata meli iliyokuwa inavuka kwenda Foinike tukapanda tukasafiri nayo.
And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3 Tulipokiona kisiwa cha Kipro, tukakizunguka tukakiacha upande wetu wa kushoto, tukasafiri mpaka Shamu, tukatia nanga katika bandari ya Tiro ambapo meli yetu ilikuwa ipakue shehena yake.
Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
4 Baada ya kuwatafuta wanafunzi wa huko, tukakaa nao kwa siku saba. Wale wanafunzi wakiongozwa na Roho wakamwambia Paulo asiende Yerusalemu.
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 Lakini muda wetu ulipokwisha, tukaondoka tukaendelea na safari yetu. Wale wanafunzi pamoja na wake zao na watoto wakatusindikiza hadi nje ya mji. Wote tukapiga magoti pale pwani tukaomba.
And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till [we were] out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
6 Baada ya kuagana, tukapanda melini, nao wakarudi majumbani mwao.
And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
7 Tukaendelea na safari yetu toka Tiro tukafika Tolemai, tukawasalimu ndugu wa huko, tukakaa nao kwa siku moja.
And when we had finished [our] course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
8 Siku iliyofuata tukaondoka, tukafika Kaisaria. Huko tukaenda nyumbani kwa mwinjilisti mmoja jina lake Filipo, aliyekuwa mmoja wa wale Saba, tukakaa kwake.
And the next [day] we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was [one] of the seven; and abode with him.
9 Filipo alikuwa na binti wanne mabikira waliokuwa wanatoa unabii.
And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10 Baada ya kukaa kwa siku kadhaa, akateremka nabii mmoja kutoka Uyahudi jina lake Agabo.
And as we tarried [there] many days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 Alipotufikia akachukua mshipi wa Paulo akajifunga, akautumia kufunga mikono na miguu yake mwenyewe akasema, “Roho Mtakatifu anasema: ‘Hivi ndivyo Wayahudi wa Yerusalemu watakavyomfunga mwenye mshipi huu na kumkabidhi kwa watu wa Mataifa.’”
And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 Tuliposikia maneno haya sisi na ndugu wengine tukamsihi Paulo asiende Yerusalemu.
And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Lakini Paulo akajibu, “Kwa nini mnalia na kunivunja moyo? Mimi niko tayari si kufungwa tu, bali hata kufa huko Yerusalemu kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana Yesu.”
Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 Alipokuwa hashawishiki, tukaacha kumsihi, tukasema, “Mapenzi ya Bwana na yatendeke.”
And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
15 Baada ya haya, tukajiandaa, tukaondoka kwenda Yerusalemu.
And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
16 Baadhi ya wanafunzi kutoka Kaisaria wakafuatana nasi na kutupeleka nyumbani kwa Mnasoni, ambaye tungekaa kwake. Yeye alikuwa mtu wa Kipro, mmoja wa wanafunzi wa zamani.
There went with us also [certain] of the disciples of Cæsarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
17 Tulipofika Yerusalemu ndugu wakatukaribisha kwa furaha.
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18 Kesho yake Paulo pamoja na wengine wetu tulikwenda kumwona Yakobo, na wazee wote walikuwepo.
And the [day] following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19 Baada ya kuwasalimu, Paulo akatoa taarifa kamili ya mambo yote ambayo Mungu alikuwa amefanya miongoni mwa watu wa Mataifa kupitia huduma yake.
And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 Baada ya kusikia mambo haya wakamwadhimisha Mungu. Ndipo wakamwambia Paulo, “Ndugu, unaona kulivyo na maelfu ya Wayahudi walioamini, nao wote wana juhudi kwa ajili ya sheria.
And when they heard [it], they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
21 Lakini wameambiwa habari zako kwamba unafundisha Wayahudi wote waishio miongoni mwa watu wa Mataifa kumkataa Mose, na kwamba unawaambia wasiwatahiri watoto wao wala kufuata desturi zetu.
And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise [their] children, neither to walk after the customs.
22 Sasa tufanyeje? Bila shaka watasikia kwamba umekuja Yerusalemu.
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23 Kwa hiyo fanya lile tunalokuambia. Tunao watu wanne hapa ambao wameweka nadhiri.
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Jiunge na watu hawa, mfanye utaratibu wa ibada ya kujitakasa pamoja nao, na ulipe gharama ili wanyoe nywele zao. Kwa njia hii kila mtu atafahamu ya kuwa mambo waliyosikia si ya kweli na kwamba wewe unaishika sheria.
Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave [their] heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but [that] thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
25 Lakini kuhusu wale watu wa Mataifa walioamini, tumewaandikia uamuzi wetu: kwamba wajitenge na vyakula vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu, na damu, au kula nyama ya mnyama aliyenyongwa, na wajiepushe na uasherati.”
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written [and] concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from [things] offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
26 Ndipo kesho yake Paulo akawachukua wale watu na akajitakasa pamoja nao. Akaingia ndani ya hekalu ili atoe taarifa ya tarehe ambayo siku zao za utakaso zingemalizika na sadaka ingetolewa kwa ajili ya kila mmoja wao.
Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
27 Zile siku saba zilipokaribia kumalizika, baadhi ya Wayahudi kutoka sehemu za Asia waliokuwa wamemwona Paulo ndani ya Hekalu, wakachochea umati wote wa watu, nao wakamkamata.
And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
28 Wakapiga kelele wakisema, “Waisraeli wenzetu, tusaidieni! Huyu ndiye yule mtu anayefundisha kila mtu na kila mahali, kinyume na watu wetu, sheria zetu na hata Hekalu hili. Zaidi ya hayo amewaleta Wayunani ndani ya Hekalu na kupanajisi mahali hapa patakatifu.”
Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all [men] every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
29 (Walikuwa wamemwona Trofimo, mwenyeji wa Efeso, akiwa mjini pamoja na Paulo wakadhani kuwa Paulo alikuwa amemwingiza Hekaluni.)
(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 Mji wote ukataharuki, watu wakaja wakikimbia kutoka pande zote wakamkamata Paulo, wakamburuta kutoka Hekaluni. Milango ya Hekalu ikafungwa.
And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
31 Walipokuwa wakitaka kumuua, habari zikamfikia jemadari wa jeshi la askari wa Kirumi kwamba mji wa Yerusalemu wote ulikuwa katika machafuko.
And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 Mara yule jemadari akachukua maafisa wengine wa jeshi pamoja na askari wakakimbilia kwenye ile ghasia, wale watu waliokuwa wakifanya ghasia walipomwona yule jemadari na askari wakija, wakaacha kumpiga Paulo.
Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.
33 Yule jemadari akaja, akamkamata Paulo akaamuru afungwe kwa minyororo miwili. Akauliza yeye ni nani, na alikuwa amefanya nini.
Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded [him] to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
34 Baadhi ya watu katika ule umati wakapiga kelele, hawa wakisema hili na wengine lile. Yule jemadari alipoona kuwa hawezi kupata hakika ya habari kwa sababu ya zile kelele, akaamuru Paulo apelekwe katika ngome ya jeshi.
And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
35 Paulo alipofika penye ngazi, ilibidi askari wambebe juu juu kwa sababu fujo za ule umati wa watu zilikuwa kubwa.
And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
36 Umati wa watu ulikuwa ukifuata ukiendelea kupiga kelele ukisema, “Mwondoe huyu!”
For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
37 Mara tu Paulo alipokaribia kuingizwa kwenye ngome ya jeshi, akamwambia yule jemadari, “Je, naweza kukuambia jambo moja?” Yule jemadari akamjibu, “Je, unajua Kiyunani?
And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?
38 Je, wewe si yule Mmisri ambaye siku hizi za karibuni alianzisha uasi akaongoza kundi la magaidi 4,000 wenye silaha jangwani?”
Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
39 Paulo akajibu, “Mimi ni Myahudi, mzaliwa wa Tarso, huko Kilikia, raiya wa mji maarufu. Tafadhali niruhusu nizungumze na hawa watu.”
But Paul said, I am a man [which am] a Jew of Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
40 Akiisha kupata ruhusa ya yule jemadari, Paulo akasimama penye ngazi akawapungia watu mkono ili wanyamaze. Wote waliponyamaza kimya, Paulo akazungumza nao kwa lugha ya Kiebrania, akasema:
And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto [them] in the Hebrew tongue, saying,