Matendo 22
1 “Ndugu zangu na baba zangu, sikilizeni utetezi wangu.”
“Brothers and Father, listen to the defence which I am about to make.”
2 Waliposikia akisema kwa lugha ya Kiebrania, wakanyamaza kimya kabisa. Ndipo Paulo akasema,
When they heard that he was speaking to them in Hebrew, they were still more quiet; and Paul went on:
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, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, but I was brought up in this city under the teaching of Gamaliel, and educated in accordance with the strict system of our ancestral Law. I was as zealous in God’s service as any of you who are here to-day.
4 Niliwatesa watu wa Njia hii hadi kufa, nikiwakamata waume kwa wake na kuwatupa gerezani,
In my persecution of this Cause I did not stop even at the taking of life. I put in chains, and imprisoned, men and women alike —
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.
And to that the High Priest himself and all the Council can testify. For I had letters of introduction from them to our fellow Jews at Damascus, and I was on my way to that place, to bring those whom I might find there prisoners to Jerusalem for punishment.
6 “Nilipokuwa njiani kuelekea Dameski, yapata saa sita mchana, ghafula nuru kubwa kutoka mbinguni ikanimulika kotekote.
While I was still on my way, just as I was getting close to Damascus, about mid-day, suddenly there flashed from the heavens a great light all round 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 replied. Then the voice said ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’
9 Basi wale watu waliokuwa pamoja nami waliiona ile nuru, lakini hawakuisikia sauti ya yule aliyekuwa akisema nami.
The men with me saw the light, but did not hear the speaker’s voice.
10 “Nikauliza, ‘Nifanye nini Bwana?’ “Naye Bwana akaniambia, ‘Inuka uingie Dameski, huko utaambiwa yote yakupasayo kufanya.’
Then I said ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ The Lord said to me, ‘and there you shall be told all that you have been appointed to do.’
11 Kwa kuwa nilikuwa siwezi kuona kwa ajili ya mngʼao wa ile nuru, wenzangu wakanishika mkono wakaniongoza kuingia Dameski.
In consequence of that dazzling light I could not see, but my companions held me by the hand, till I reached Damascus.
12 “Mtu mmoja mcha Mungu, jina lake Anania, alikuja kuniona. Alizishika sana sheria zetu, na aliheshimiwa sana na Wayahudi waliokuwa wakiishi huko Dameski.
There a man named Ananias, a strict observer of our Law, well spoken of by all the Jewish inhabitants, came to see me.
13 Akasimama karibu nami, akasema, ‘Ndugu Sauli, pata kuona tena!’ Saa ile ile nikapata kuona tena, nami nikaweza kumwona.
Standing close to me, he said ‘Saul, my Brother, recover your sight.’ And then and there I recovered 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 ancestors has appointed you to learn his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear words from his lips;
15 Kwa kuwa utakuwa shahidi wake kwa watu kuhusu kile ulichokiona na kukisikia.
for you shall be a witness for him to all the world of what you have just seen and heard.
16 Sasa basi, mbona unakawia? Inuka, ukabatizwe na dhambi zako zikasafishwe, ukiliita Jina lake.’
And now why wait any longer: Be baptized at once, wash away your sins, and invoke his Name.
17 “Baada ya kurudi Yerusalemu, nilipokuwa ninaomba Hekaluni, nilipitiwa na usingizi wa ghafula
After my return to Jerusalem, while I was praying one day in the Temple, I fell into a trance,
18 nikamwona Bwana akiniambia, ‘Harakisha utoke Yerusalemu upesi, maana hawataukubali ushuhuda wako kunihusu mimi.’
and saw Jesus saying to me ‘Make haste and leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’
19 “Nami nikasema, ‘Bwana, wao wenyewe wanajua jinsi nilivyokwenda kwenye kila sinagogi ili kuwatupa gerezani na kuwapiga wale waliokuamini.
‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘these people know that I used to imprison and scourge, 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 being shed, I was myself standing by, approving of his death, and took charge of the clothes of those who were murdering him.
21 “Ndipo Bwana akaniambia, ‘Nenda, kwa maana nitakutuma mbali, kwa watu wa Mataifa.’”
But Jesus said to me ‘Go; for I will send you to the Gentiles far away’.”
22 Ule umati wa watu wakamsikiliza Paulo mpaka aliposema neno hilo, ndipo wakapaza sauti zao na kupiga kelele wakisema, “Mwondoeni duniani, hafai kuishi!”
Up to this point the people had been listening to Paul, but at these words they called out: “Kill him! A fellow like this ought not to have been allowed to live!”
23 Walipokuwa wakipiga kelele na kutoa mavazi yao huku wakirusha mavumbi juu hewani,
As they were shouting, tearing off their clothes, and throwing dust in the air,
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 Commanding Officer ordered Paul to be taken into the Fort, and directed that he should be examined under the lash, that he might find out the reason for their outcry 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 just as they had tied him up to be scourged, Paul said to the Captain standing near: “Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman citizen, unconvicted?”
26 Yule kiongozi aliposikia maneno haya, alimwendea yule jemadari na kumwambia, “Unataka kufanya nini? Kwa maana huyu mtu ni raiya wa Rumi.”
On hearing this, the Captain went and reported it to the Commanding Officer. “Do you know what you are doing?” he said. “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 Commanding Officer went up to Paul and said: “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” replied Paul.
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 had to pay a heavy price for my position as citizen,” said the Officer. “I am one by birth,” rejoined 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.
The men who were to have examined Paul immediately drew back, and the Officer, finding that Paul was a Roman citizen, was alarmed at having put him in chains.
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.
On the next day the Commanding Officer, wishing to find out the real reason why Paul was denounced by the Jews, had his chains taken off, and directed the Chief Priests and the whole of the High Council to assemble, and then took Paul down and brought him before them.
