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, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men, brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 Kwa ajili ya jambo hili kuhani mkuu Anania akaamuru wale waliokuwa karibu na Paulo wampige kofi kinywani.
And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him, 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!”
Then said Paul to him, God shall smite thee, [thou] whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 Wale watu waliokuwa wamesimama karibu na Paulo wakamwambia, “Je, wewe wathubutu kumtukana kuhani mkuu wa Mungu?”
And they that stood by, said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5 Paulo akajibu, “Ndugu zangu, sikujua kwamba yeye alikuwa kuhani mkuu. Kwa maana imeandikwa, ‘Usimnenee mabaya kiongozi wa watu wako.’”
Then said Paul, I knew not, brethren, that he is the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil 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 perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 Aliposema haya, farakano likaanza kati ya Mafarisayo na Masadukayo na baraza lote likagawanyika.
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude 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: but the Pharisees confess 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”
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees' part arose, and contended, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us 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 arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul would have been pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.
11 Usiku uliofuata, Bwana akasimama karibu naye akamwambia, “Jipe moyo! Kama vile ulivyonishuhudia hapa Yerusalemu, hivyo imekupasa kunishuhudia huko Rumi pia.”
And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified concerning me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear testimony also at Rome.
12 Kulipopambazuka Wayahudi wakafanya shauri pamoja na kujifunga kwa kiapo kwamba hawatakula wala kunywa mpaka wawe wamemuua Paulo.
And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, 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 they were more than forty who had made this conspiracy.
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 chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain 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 therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain, that he bring him down to you to-morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, before he shall come near, are ready 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.
And when the son of Paul's sister heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
17 Ndipo Paulo akamwita mmoja wa viongozi wa askari, akamwambia, “Mpeleke huyu kijana kwa jemadari, analo jambo la kumweleza.”
Then Paul called one of the centurions to [him], and said, Bring this young man to the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing 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 [him] to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me to [him], and prayed me to bring this young man to thee, who hath something to say to thee.
19 Yule jemadari akamshika yule kijana mkono, akampeleka kando na kumuuliza, “Unataka kuniambia nini?”
Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went [with him] aside privately, and asked [him], What is that thou hast 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.
And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldst bring down Paul to-morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat concerning 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 do not thou yield to them: for there are of them who lie in wait for him more than forty men, who have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now they are ready, looking for a promise from thee.
22 Yule jemadari akamruhusu yule kijana aende na akamwonya, akisema, “Usimwambie mtu yeyote kwamba umenieleza habari hizi.”
So the chief captain [then] let the young man depart, and charged [him], [See thou] tell no man that thou hast shown these things to me.
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 to [him] two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and seventy horsemen, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
24 Pia tayarisheni na farasi watakaotumiwa na Paulo, mkampeleke salama kwa mtawala Feliksi.”
And provide [for them] beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring [him] safe to Felix the governor.
25 Kisha akaandika barua kwa Feliksi kama ifuatavyo:
And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 Klaudio Lisia, Kwa Mtawala, Mtukufu Feliksi: Salamu.
Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor 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.
This man was taken by the Jews, and would have been killed by them: then I came with a body of soldiers, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.
28 Nilitaka kujua kwa nini walikuwa wanamshutumu, hivyo nikamleta mbele ya baraza lao.
And when I would have known the cause for which 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.
Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death, or of bonds.
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 told to me that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent forthwith to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also, to say before thee what [they had] against him. Farewell.
31 Hivyo askari, kwa kufuata maelekezo waliyopewa, wakamchukua Paulo wakati wa usiku na kumleta mpaka Antipatri.
Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took 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.
On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 Askari walipofika Kaisaria, walimpa mtawala ile barua, na kumkabidhi Paulo kwake.
Who, when they came to Cesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 Mtawala alipokwisha kuisoma ile barua alimuuliza Paulo alikuwa mtu wa jimbo gani. Alipojua kuwa anatoka Kilikia,
And when the governor had read [the letter], he asked of what province he was. And when he understood 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 hear thee, said he, when thy accusers also have come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment-hall.
