Matendo 23
1 Paulo akawakazia macho wale wajumbe wa baraza, akasema, “Ndugu zangu, nimetimiza wajibu wangu kwa Mungu kwa dhamiri safi kabisa hadi leo.”
And Paul behelde earnestly the Councill, and sayde, Men and brethren, I haue in all good conscience serued God vntill this day.
2 Kwa ajili ya jambo hili kuhani mkuu Anania akaamuru wale waliokuwa karibu na Paulo wampige kofi kinywani.
Then the hie Priest Ananias commanded them that stood by, to smite him on the mouth.
3 Ndipo Paulo akamwambia, “Mungu atakupiga wewe, ewe ukuta uliopakwa chokaa! Wewe umeketi hapo ili kunihukumu kwa mujibu wa sheria, lakini wewe mwenyewe unakiuka sheria kwa kuamuru kwamba nipigwe kinyume cha sheria!”
Then sayd Paul to him, God will smite thee, thou whited wall: for thou sittest to iudge me according to the Lawe, and transgressing the Lawe, commaundest thou me to be smitten?
4 Wale watu waliokuwa wamesimama karibu na Paulo wakamwambia, “Je, wewe wathubutu kumtukana kuhani mkuu wa Mungu?”
And they that stood by, sayd, Reuilest thou Gods hie Priest?
5 Paulo akajibu, “Ndugu zangu, sikujua kwamba yeye alikuwa kuhani mkuu. Kwa maana imeandikwa, ‘Usimnenee mabaya kiongozi wa watu wako.’”
Then sayd Paul, I knewe not, brethren, that he was the hie Priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speake euill of the ruler of thy people.
6 Paulo alipotambua ya kuwa baadhi yao walikuwa Masadukayo na wengine ni Mafarisayo, akapaza sauti kwenye baraza, “Ndugu zangu, mimi ni Farisayo, mwana Farisayo. Hapa nimeshtakiwa kuhusu tumaini langu katika ufufuo wa wafu.”
But when Paul perceiued that the one part were of the Sadduces, and the other of the Pharises, hee cried in the Council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharise, the sonne of a Pharise: I am accused of the hope and resurrection of the dead.
7 Aliposema haya, farakano likaanza kati ya Mafarisayo na Masadukayo na baraza lote likagawanyika.
And when hee had saide this, there was a dissension betweene the Pharises and the Sadduces, so that the multitude was deuided.
8 (Kwa maana Masadukayo wanasema kwamba hakuna ufufuo, wala hakuna malaika au roho, lakini Mafarisayo wanaamini haya yote.)
For the Sadduces say that there is no resurrection, neither Angel, nor spirit: but the Pharises confesse both.
9 Kukawa na ghasia kubwa, nao baadhi ya walimu wa sheria ambao ni Mafarisayo, wakasimama wakapinga kwa nguvu wakisema, “Hatuoni kosa lolote la mtu huyu! Huenda ikawa roho au malaika amezungumza naye”
Then there was a great crye: and the Scribes of the Pharises part rose vp, and stroue, saying, Wee finde none euill in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let vs not fight against God.
10 Ugomvi ukawa mkubwa kiasi kwamba yule jemadari akahofu kuwa wangemrarua Paulo vipande vipande, akaamuru vikosi vya askari vishuke na kumwondoa Paulo katikati yao kwa nguvu na kumleta ndani ya ngome ya jeshi.
And when there was a great dissension, the chiefe captaine, fearing lest Paul should haue bene pulled in pieces of them, commanded the souldiers to go downe, and take him from among them, and to bring him into the castel.
11 Usiku uliofuata, Bwana akasimama karibu naye akamwambia, “Jipe moyo! Kama vile ulivyonishuhudia hapa Yerusalemu, hivyo imekupasa kunishuhudia huko Rumi pia.”
Nowe the night folowing, the Lord stoode by him, and saide, Be of good courage, Paul: for as thou hast testified of mee in Hierusalem, so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome.
12 Kulipopambazuka Wayahudi wakafanya shauri pamoja na kujifunga kwa kiapo kwamba hawatakula wala kunywa mpaka wawe wamemuua Paulo.
And when the day was come, certaine of the Iewes made an assemblie, and bounde themselues with a curse, saying, that they woulde neither eate nor drinke, till they had killed Paul.
13 Waliofanya mpango huo walikuwa zaidi ya watu arobaini.
And they were more then fourtie, which had made this conspiracie.
14 Wakawaendea viongozi wa makuhani na wazee na kusema, “Tumejifunga pamoja kwa kiapo kwamba hatutakula wala kunywa mpaka tuwe tumemuua Paulo.
And they came to the chiefe Priestes and Elders, and said, We haue bound our selues with a solemne curse, that wee will eate nothing, vntill we haue slaine Paul.
15 Hivyo basi, wewe pamoja na baraza, inawapasa mkamjulishe jemadari ili amteremshe Paulo kwenu, mjifanye kama mnataka kufanya uchunguzi wa kina zaidi wa shauri lake. Nasi tuko tayari kumuua kabla hajafika hapa.”
Nowe therefore, ye and the Council signifie to the chiefe captaine, that hee bring him foorth vnto you to morow: as though you would know some thing more perfectly of him, and we, or euer he come neere, will be readie to kill him.
16 Lakini mtoto wa dada yake Paulo aliposikia juu ya shauri hilo baya, alikwenda kule kwenye ngome ya askari na kumweleza Paulo.
But when Pauls sisters sonne heard of their laying awaite, he went, and entred into the castel, and tolde Paul.
17 Ndipo Paulo akamwita mmoja wa viongozi wa askari, akamwambia, “Mpeleke huyu kijana kwa jemadari, analo jambo la kumweleza.”
And Paul called one of the Centurions vnto him, and said, Take this yong man hence vnto the chiefe captaine: for he hath a certaine thing to shewe him.
18 Hivyo yule kiongozi wa askari akampeleka yule kijana kwa jemadari, akamwambia, “Paulo yule mfungwa aliniita na kuniomba nimlete huyu kijana kwako, kwa sababu ana neno la kukueleza.”
So hee tooke him, and brought him to the chiefe captaine, and saide, Paul the prisoner called mee vnto him, and prayed mee to bring this yong man vnto thee, which hath some thing to say vnto thee.
19 Yule jemadari akamshika yule kijana mkono, akampeleka kando na kumuuliza, “Unataka kuniambia nini?”
Then the chiefe captaine tooke him by the hande, and went apart with him alone, and asked him, What hast thou to shewe me?
20 Yule kijana akasema, “Wayahudi wamekubaliana wakuombe umpeleke Paulo kwenye baraza lao kesho kwa kisingizio kwamba wanataka kufanya uchunguzi wa kina wa shauri lake.
And he saide, The Iewes haue conspired to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring foorth Paul to morow into the Council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly:
21 Lakini usishawishiwe nao kwa maana zaidi ya watu arobaini wanamvizia. Wamejifunga kwa kiapo kwamba hawatakula wala kunywa mpaka wawe wamemuua Paulo. Sasa wako tayari, wanangoja idhini yako kwa ajili ya ombi lao.”
But let them not perswade thee: for there lie in waite for him of them, more then fourtie men, which haue bound themselues with a curse, that they will neither eate nor drinke, till they haue killed him: and nowe are they readie, and waite for thy promise.
22 Yule jemadari akamruhusu yule kijana aende na akamwonya, akisema, “Usimwambie mtu yeyote kwamba umenieleza habari hizi.”
The chiefe captaine then let the yong man depart, after hee had charged him to vtter it to no man, that he had shewed him these things.
23 Kisha yule jemadari akawaita viongozi wake wawili wa askari akawaambia, “Jiandaeni kuondoka saa tatu usiku huu kuelekea Kaisaria pamoja na askari 200, wapanda farasi sabini na watu 200 wenye mikuki.
And he called vnto him two certaine Centurions, saying, Make readie two hundred souldiers, that they may go to Cæsarea, and horsemen three score and ten, and two hundred with dartes, at the thirde houre of the night.
24 Pia tayarisheni na farasi watakaotumiwa na Paulo, mkampeleke salama kwa mtawala Feliksi.”
And let them make readie an horse, that Paul being set on, may be brought safe vnto Felix the Gouernour.
25 Kisha akaandika barua kwa Feliksi kama ifuatavyo:
And he wrote an epistle in this maner:
26 Klaudio Lisia, Kwa Mtawala, Mtukufu Feliksi: Salamu.
Claudius Lysias vnto the most noble Gouernour Felix sendeth greeting.
27 Mtu huyu alikamatwa na Wayahudi wakakaribia kumuua, lakini nikaja na vikosi vyangu vya askari nikamwokoa, kwa kuwa nilipata habari kwamba yeye ni raiya wa Rumi.
As this man was taken of the Iewes, and shoulde haue bene killed of them, I came vpon them with the garison, and rescued him, perceiuing that he was a Romane.
28 Nilitaka kujua kwa nini walikuwa wanamshutumu, hivyo nikamleta mbele ya baraza lao.
And when I would haue knowen the cause, wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their Council.
29 Ndipo nikaona kuwa alikuwa anashutumiwa kwa mambo yanayohusu sheria yao, lakini hakuwa ameshtakiwa kwa jambo lolote linalostahili kifo au kifungo.
There I perceiued that hee was accused of questions of their Lawe, but had no crime worthy of death, or of bondes.
30 Nilipoarifiwa kuwa kulikuwa na shauri baya dhidi ya mtu huyu, nilimtuma kwako mara moja. Niliwaagiza washtaki wake pia waeleze mashtaka yao dhidi yake mbele yako.
And when it was shewed me, how that the Iewes layd waite for the man, I sent him straightway to thee, and commanded his accusers to speake before thee the thinges that they had against him. Farewell.
31 Hivyo askari, kwa kufuata maelekezo waliyopewa, wakamchukua Paulo wakati wa usiku na kumleta mpaka Antipatri.
Then the souldiers as it was commanded them, tooke Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 Kesho yake wakawaacha wale wapanda farasi waendelee na safari wakiwa na Paulo, wao wakarudi kwenye ngome ya askari.
And the next day, they left the horsemen to goe with him, and returned vnto the Castel.
33 Askari walipofika Kaisaria, walimpa mtawala ile barua, na kumkabidhi Paulo kwake.
Now when they came to Cæsarea, they deliuered the epistle to the Gouernour, and presented Paul also vnto him.
34 Mtawala alipokwisha kuisoma ile barua alimuuliza Paulo alikuwa mtu wa jimbo gani. Alipojua kuwa anatoka Kilikia,
So when the Gouernour had read it, hee asked of what prouince he was: and when he vnderstoode that he was of Cilicia,
35 alisema, “Nitasikiliza shauri lako washtaki wako watakapofika hapa.” Kisha akaamuru Paulo awekwe chini ya ulinzi kwenye jumba la kifalme la Herode.
I will heare thee, said he, when thine accusers also are come, and commanded him to bee kept in Herods iudgement hall.
