Matendo 23
1 Paulo akawakazia macho wale wajumbe wa baraza, akasema, “Ndugu zangu, nimetimiza wajibu wangu kwa Mungu kwa dhamiri safi kabisa hadi leo.”
With a stedfast gaze at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived with a good conscience before God to this day."
2 Kwa ajili ya jambo hili kuhani mkuu Anania akaamuru wale waliokuwa karibu na Paulo wampige kofi kinywani.
Then the High Priest Ananias ordered those who stood near Paul to strike 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!”
"You whited sepulcher," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you! You are sitting there to judge me according to the law, are you? And do you command me to be struck, contrary to the Law?"
4 Wale watu waliokuwa wamesimama karibu na Paulo wakamwambia, “Je, wewe wathubutu kumtukana kuhani mkuu wa Mungu?”
"Do you rail at God’s high priest?" said the bystanders.
5 Paulo akajibu, “Ndugu zangu, sikujua kwamba yeye alikuwa kuhani mkuu. Kwa maana imeandikwa, ‘Usimnenee mabaya kiongozi wa watu wako.’”
"Brothers, I did not know that he was the high priest," exclaimed Paul, "for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of my 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.”
Then perceiving that half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisee, he cried out in the Sanhedrin. "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!"
7 Aliposema haya, farakano likaanza kati ya Mafarisayo na Masadukayo na baraza lote likagawanyika.
When he said this, there arose a quarrel between the Pharisees and Sadducees; the meeting was divided.
8 (Kwa maana Masadukayo wanasema kwamba hakuna ufufuo, wala hakuna malaika au roho, lakini Mafarisayo wanaamini haya yote.)
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit; the Pharisees affirm them all.
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 a great clamor arose; some of the scribes who belonged to the Pharisaic party stood up, and contended. "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?"
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.
But when the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul in pieces, ordered the troops to march down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
11 Usiku uliofuata, Bwana akasimama karibu naye akamwambia, “Jipe moyo! Kama vile ulivyonishuhudia hapa Yerusalemu, hivyo imekupasa kunishuhudia huko Rumi pia.”
And the following night the Lord stood by him and said. "Be of good courage; for as you have borne faithful witness concerning me at Jerusalem, so you must testify at Rome also."
12 Kulipopambazuka Wayahudi wakafanya shauri pamoja na kujifunga kwa kiapo kwamba hawatakula wala kunywa mpaka wawe wamemuua Paulo.
When day dawned the Jews made a conspiracy, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 Waliofanya mpango huo walikuwa zaidi ya watu arobaini.
And there were more than forty who had sworn this oath.
14 Wakawaendea viongozi wa makuhani na wazee na kusema, “Tumejifunga pamoja kwa kiapo kwamba hatutakula wala kunywa mpaka tuwe tumemuua Paulo.
They went to the high priests and elders, and said to them. "We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath to eat nothing until we have killed 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.”
"Now do you and the Sanhedrin ask the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you would judge his case more exactly; and we are ready to kill him, before he comes near the place."
16 Lakini mtoto wa dada yake Paulo aliposikia juu ya shauri hilo baya, alikwenda kule kwenye ngome ya askari na kumweleza Paulo.
But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their intended attack, and he went and got into the barracks, and told 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, and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell 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 he took him, and brought his to the tribune, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, called me to him, and begged me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you."
19 Yule jemadari akamshika yule kijana mkono, akampeleka kando na kumuuliza, “Unataka kuniambia nini?”
And the tribune took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell 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.
"The Jews," he answered, "have agreed to ask you to bring down Paul tomorrow to the Sanhedrin, as though they wish to examine his case in detail.
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.”
"Now do not let them persuade, for more than forty men are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse, not to eat nor drink until they have killed him; even now they are all ready, awaiting your consent."
22 Yule jemadari akamruhusu yule kijana aende na akamwonya, akisema, “Usimwambie mtu yeyote kwamba umenieleza habari hizi.”
So the tribune sent the young man home with the injunction, "Tell no man that you have given me this information."
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.
Then he called two centurions to him and said. "Get ready by nine o’clock tonight two hundred infantry to march as far as Caesarea, and also seventy troopers and two hundred spearmen."
24 Pia tayarisheni na farasi watakaotumiwa na Paulo, mkampeleke salama kwa mtawala Feliksi.”
He further ordered them to provide horses on which to mount Paul, so as to bring him safely to Felix, the governor.
25 Kisha akaandika barua kwa Feliksi kama ifuatavyo:
He also wrote a letter in the following terms.
26 Klaudio Lisia, Kwa Mtawala, Mtukufu Feliksi: Salamu.
"Claudius Lysais unto the Most Excellent Governor Felix, 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.
"This man Paul had been seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with the troops, and rescued him, as I had learned that he was a Roman citizen.
28 Nilitaka kujua kwa nini walikuwa wanamshutumu, hivyo nikamleta mbele ya baraza lao.
"Anxious to find out why they had accused him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
29 Ndipo nikaona kuwa alikuwa anashutumiwa kwa mambo yanayohusu sheria yao, lakini hakuwa ameshtakiwa kwa jambo lolote linalostahili kifo au kifungo.
"Here I learned that he was accused about questions of their law, but was not charged with anything worthy of death or imprisonment.
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.
"Now when I received information that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him at once to you, charging his accusers also to speak against him before you."
31 Hivyo askari, kwa kufuata maelekezo waliyopewa, wakamchukua Paulo wakati wa usiku na kumleta mpaka Antipatri.
So the soldiers took Paul, as they were bid, 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.
Next day the infantry returned to the barracks, leaving the troopers to ride on with him.
33 Askari walipofika Kaisaria, walimpa mtawala ile barua, na kumkabidhi Paulo kwake.
They reached Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, and also presented Paul before him.
34 Mtawala alipokwisha kuisoma ile barua alimuuliza Paulo alikuwa mtu wa jimbo gani. Alipojua kuwa anatoka Kilikia,
After reading the letter, he asked to what province he belonged, and when he understood that he was of Cilicia, he said,
35 alisema, “Nitasikiliza shauri lako washtaki wako watakapofika hapa.” Kisha akaamuru Paulo awekwe chini ya ulinzi kwenye jumba la kifalme la Herode.
"I will hear your case when your accusers also are come." And he ordered him to be kept in custody in Herod’s palace.
