Matendo 22
1 “Ndugu zangu na baba zangu, sikilizeni utetezi wangu.”
"Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make in your presence."
2 Waliposikia akisema kwa lugha ya Kiebrania, wakanyamaza kimya kabisa. Ndipo Paulo akasema,
When they heard him speaking in Hebrew they became the more quiet.
3 “Mimi ni Myahudi, niliyezaliwa Tarso huko Kilikia, lakini nimelelewa katika mji huu. Miguuni mwa Gamalieli, nilifundishwa kikamilifu katika sheria ya baba zetu, na nikawa mwenye juhudi kwa ajili ya Mungu kama kila mmoja wenu alivyo leo.
"I am a Jew," he said, "born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strict manner of the Law of our forefathers, ardent for God, even as you all are this day.
4 Niliwatesa watu wa Njia hii hadi kufa, nikiwakamata waume kwa wake na kuwatupa gerezani,
"I persecuted to the death this way, continually binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women.
5 kama kuhani mkuu na baraza zima la wazee wanavyoweza kushuhudia kunihusu. Hata nilipokea barua kutoka kwao kwenda kwa ndugu wale wa Dameski, nami nikaenda huko ili kuwaleta watu hawa Yerusalemu kama wafungwa ili waadhibiwe.
"To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment.
6 “Nilipokuwa njiani kuelekea Dameski, yapata saa sita mchana, ghafula nuru kubwa kutoka mbinguni ikanimulika kotekote.
"But when, on my journey, I was nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone round about me.
7 Nikaanguka chini, nikasikia sauti ikiniambia, ‘Sauli, Sauli! Mbona unanitesa?’
"I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "‘Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?’
8 “Nikajibu, ‘Wewe ni nani Bwana?’ “Naye akaniambia, ‘Mimi ni Yesu wa Nazareti unayemtesa.’
"‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. "‘I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,’ he answered me.
9 Basi wale watu waliokuwa pamoja nami waliiona ile nuru, lakini hawakuisikia sauti ya yule aliyekuwa akisema nami.
"Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me.
10 “Nikauliza, ‘Nifanye nini Bwana?’ “Naye Bwana akaniambia, ‘Inuka uingie Dameski, huko utaambiwa yote yakupasayo kufanya.’
"And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ and the Lord said to me, ‘Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.’
11 Kwa kuwa nilikuwa siwezi kuona kwa ajili ya mngʼao wa ile nuru, wenzangu wakanishika mkono wakaniongoza kuingia Dameski.
"And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus.
12 “Mtu mmoja mcha Mungu, jina lake Anania, alikuja kuniona. Alizishika sana sheria zetu, na aliheshimiwa sana na Wayahudi waliokuwa wakiishi huko Dameski.
"And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there,
13 Akasimama karibu nami, akasema, ‘Ndugu Sauli, pata kuona tena!’ Saa ile ile nikapata kuona tena, nami nikaweza kumwona.
"came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "‘Brother Saul, receive your sight’ "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him.
14 “Akasema, ‘Mungu wa baba zetu amekuchagua wewe ili ujue mapenzi yake, umwone yeye Aliye Mwenye Haki na upate kusikia maneno kutoka kinywani mwake.
"Then he said. "‘The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.
15 Kwa kuwa utakuwa shahidi wake kwa watu kuhusu kile ulichokiona na kukisikia.
"‘For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard.
16 Sasa basi, mbona unakawia? Inuka, ukabatizwe na dhambi zako zikasafishwe, ukiliita Jina lake.’
"‘And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.’
17 “Baada ya kurudi Yerusalemu, nilipokuwa ninaomba Hekaluni, nilipitiwa na usingizi wa ghafula
"After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple,
18 nikamwona Bwana akiniambia, ‘Harakisha utoke Yerusalemu upesi, maana hawataukubali ushuhuda wako kunihusu mimi.’
"I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "‘Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.’
19 “Nami nikasema, ‘Bwana, wao wenyewe wanajua jinsi nilivyokwenda kwenye kila sinagogi ili kuwatupa gerezani na kuwapiga wale waliokuamini.
"‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you,
20 Wakati damu ya shahidi wako Stefano ilipomwagwa, mimi mwenyewe nilikuwa nimesimama kando, nikikubaliana na kitendo hicho na kutunza mavazi ya wale waliomuua.’
"‘and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.’
21 “Ndipo Bwana akaniambia, ‘Nenda, kwa maana nitakutuma mbali, kwa watu wa Mataifa.’”
"‘Depart,’ he said to me, ‘for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.’"
22 Ule umati wa watu wakamsikiliza Paulo mpaka aliposema neno hilo, ndipo wakapaza sauti zao na kupiga kelele wakisema, “Mwondoeni duniani, hafai kuishi!”
Until they heard this last statement, the people were listening to Paul, but now they roared out. "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He is not fit to live!"
23 Walipokuwa wakipiga kelele na kutoa mavazi yao huku wakirusha mavumbi juu hewani,
When they continued to shout, throwing their clothes into the air, and flinging dust around,
24 yule jemadari akaamuru Paulo aingizwe kwenye ngome. Akaelekeza kwamba achapwe viboko na aulizwe ili kujua kwa nini watu walikuwa wanampigia kelele namna hiyo.
the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and examined under the lash, to learn for what reason the people were thus crying out against him.
25 Lakini walipokwisha kumfunga kwa kamba za ngozi ili wamchape viboko, Paulo akamwambia kiongozi wa askari aliyekuwa amesimama pale karibu naye, “Je, ni halali kwenu kwa mujibu wa sheria kumchapa mtu ambaye ni raiya wa Rumi hata kabla hajapatikana na hatia?”
But when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing near, "If a man is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned, is it lawful for you to scourge him?"
26 Yule kiongozi aliposikia maneno haya, alimwendea yule jemadari na kumwambia, “Unataka kufanya nini? Kwa maana huyu mtu ni raiya wa Rumi.”
When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him. "What are you intending to do? This man is a Roman citizen."
27 Yule jemadari akaja akamuuliza Paulo, “Niambie, wewe ni raiya wa Rumi?” Paulo akajibu, “Naam, hakika ndiyo.”
So the tribune came to Paul and asked him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," he said.
28 Ndipo yule jemadari akasema, “Mimi ilinigharimu kiasi kikubwa cha fedha kupata uraia wangu.” Paulo akasema “Lakini mimi ni raiya wa Rumi kwa kuzaliwa.”
"I paid a large sum to get this citizenship," said the tribune. "But I was citizen-born," said Paul.
29 Mara wale waliokuwa wanataka kumhoji wakajiondoa haraka, naye yule jemadari akaingiwa na hofu alipotambua ya kuwa amemfunga Paulo, ambaye ni raia wa Rumi, kwa minyororo.
Then those who were about to scourge him, immediately left him. And the tribune too, was afraid, when he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen, for he had had him bound.
30 Kesho yake, kwa kuwa yule jemadari alitaka kujua hakika kwa nini Paulo alikuwa anashutumiwa na Wayahudi, alimfungua, na akawaagiza viongozi wa makuhani na baraza lote likutane. Kisha akamleta Paulo, akamsimamisha mbele yao.
The next day, as he wished to learn the real reason why the Jews accused Paul, he unbound him, and commanded the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to come together, and brought Paul down, and placed him before them.
