Matendo 22
1 “Ndugu zangu na baba zangu, sikilizeni utetezi wangu.”
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense [which I make] now to you.
2 Waliposikia akisema kwa lugha ya Kiebrania, wakanyamaza kimya kabisa. Ndipo Paulo akasema,
(And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept the more silence: and he saith, )
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 verily a man [who am] a Jew, born in Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, [and] taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, being zealous towards God, as ye all are this day.
4 Niliwatesa watu wa Njia hii hadi kufa, nikiwakamata waume kwa wake na kuwatupa gerezani,
And I persecuted this way even to death, binding and delivering into 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.
As also the high priest doth bear me testimony, and all the estate of the elders; from whom also I received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them who were there bound to Jerusalem, to be punished.
6 “Nilipokuwa njiani kuelekea Dameski, yapata saa sita mchana, ghafula nuru kubwa kutoka mbinguni ikanimulika kotekote.
And it came to pass, that as I was passing on my journey, and had come nigh to Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light around me.
7 Nikaanguka chini, nikasikia sauti ikiniambia, ‘Sauli, Sauli! Mbona unanitesa?’
And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 “Nikajibu, ‘Wewe ni nani Bwana?’ “Naye akaniambia, ‘Mimi ni Yesu wa Nazareti unayemtesa.’
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 Basi wale watu waliokuwa pamoja nami waliiona ile nuru, lakini hawakuisikia sauti ya yule aliyekuwa akisema nami.
And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that 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, Arise, and go into Damascus, and there it shall be told thee concerning all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11 Kwa kuwa nilikuwa siwezi kuona kwa ajili ya mngʼao wa ile nuru, wenzangu wakanishika mkono wakaniongoza kuingia Dameski.
And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I 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 one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews who dwelt [there],
13 Akasimama karibu nami, akasema, ‘Ndugu Sauli, pata kuona tena!’ Saa ile ile nikapata kuona tena, nami nikaweza kumwona.
Came to me, and stood, and said to me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon 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.
And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldst know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldst hear the voice of his mouth.
15 Kwa kuwa utakuwa shahidi wake kwa watu kuhusu kile ulichokiona na kukisikia.
For thou shalt be his witness to all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 Sasa basi, mbona unakawia? Inuka, ukabatizwe na dhambi zako zikasafishwe, ukiliita Jina lake.’
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
17 “Baada ya kurudi Yerusalemu, nilipokuwa ninaomba Hekaluni, nilipitiwa na usingizi wa ghafula
And it came to pass, that when I had come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
18 nikamwona Bwana akiniambia, ‘Harakisha utoke Yerusalemu upesi, maana hawataukubali ushuhuda wako kunihusu mimi.’
And saw him saying to me, Make haste, and depart quickly from Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 “Nami nikasema, ‘Bwana, wao wenyewe wanajua jinsi nilivyokwenda kwenye kila sinagogi ili kuwatupa gerezani na kuwapiga wale waliokuamini.
And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned, and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
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 thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
21 “Ndipo Bwana akaniambia, ‘Nenda, kwa maana nitakutuma mbali, kwa watu wa Mataifa.’”
And he said to me, Depart: for I will send thee 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!”
And they gave him audience to this word, and [then] lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a [man] from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
23 Walipokuwa wakipiga kelele na kutoa mavazi yao huku wakirusha mavumbi juu hewani,
And as they cried out, and cast off [their] clothes, and threw dust into 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 chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know for what cause they cried so 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?”
And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
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 and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest; for this man is a Roman.
27 Yule jemadari akaja akamuuliza Paulo, “Niambie, wewe ni raiya wa Rumi?” Paulo akajibu, “Naam, hakika ndiyo.”
Then the chief captain came, and said to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yes.
28 Ndipo yule jemadari akasema, “Mimi ilinigharimu kiasi kikubwa cha fedha kupata uraia wangu.” Paulo akasema “Lakini mimi ni raiya wa Rumi kwa kuzaliwa.”
And the chief captain answered, With a great sum I obtained this freedom. And Paul said, But I was [free] born.
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 forthwith they departed from him who were about to examine him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
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 morrow, because he would have known the certainty why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him from [his] bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
