Matendo 24
1 Baada ya siku tano, kuhani mkuu Anania akashuka akiwa amefuatana na baadhi ya wazee pamoja na mwanasheria mmoja aitwaye Tertulo, nao wakaleta mashtaka yao dhidi ya Paulo mbele ya mtawala.
And after five days, Ananias the chief priest came down with the elders and a certain orator, Tertullus; and they informed the governor against Paul.
2 Paulo alipoitwa aingie ndani, Tertulo akaanza kutoa mashtaka akisema, “Mtukufu Feliksi, kwa muda mrefu tumefurahia amani na matengenezo mengi mazuri yamefanywa kwa ajili ya watu hawa kwa sababu ya upeo wako wa kuona mambo ya mbele.
And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:
3 Wakati wote na kila mahali, kwa namna yoyote, mtukufu sana Feliksi, tumeyapokea mambo haya yote kwa shukrani nyingi.
Since through you we enjoy great quietness, and since whatever has been undertaken for this nation has been conducted to a successful issue by your foresight at all times and in all places, we accept it, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 Lakini nisije nikakuchosha zaidi, ningekuomba kwa hisani yako utusikilize kwa kifupi.
But that I may not detain you longer, I beseech you to hear us, in your clemency, a few words.
5 “Tumemwona mtu huyu kuwa ni msumbufu, anayechochea ghasia miongoni mwa Wayahudi duniani pote. Yeye ndiye kiongozi wa dhehebu la Wanazarayo,
For we have found this man a pest and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
6 na hata amejaribu kulinajisi Hekalu, hivyo tukamkamata; [tukataka kumhukumu kufuatana na sheria zetu.
He also attempted to profane the temple; and we took him, and wished to judge him according to our law.
7 Lakini jemadari Lisia alitujia na nguvu nyingi, akamwondoa mikononi mwetu,
But Lysias the officer came, and, with much violence, took him out of our hands,
8 akiwaamuru washtaki wake waje mbele yako: ili] kwa kumchunguza wewe mwenyewe unaweza kujua kutoka kwake mambo yote tunayomshtaki kwayo.”
and commanded his accusers to come before you. From him you may be able yourself, by examination, to gain a knowledge of all these tilings of which we accuse him.
9 Pia wale Wayahudi wakaunga mkono wakithibitisha kuwa mashtaka yote haya ni kweli.
And the Jews united in accusing him, saying that these things were so.
10 Mtawala Feliksi alipompungia Paulo mkono ili ajitetee, yeye akajibu, “Najua kwamba wewe umekuwa hakimu katika taifa hili kwa miaka mingi, hivyo natoa utetezi wangu kwa furaha.
Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: Knowing that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully offer a defense for myself:
11 Unaweza kuhakikisha kwa urahisi kuwa hazijapita zaidi ya siku kumi na mbili tangu nilipopanda kwenda Yerusalemu kuabudu.
for you can understand that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12 Hawa wanaonishtaki hawakunikuta nikibishana na mtu yeyote Hekaluni au kuchochea umati wa watu katika sinagogi au mahali pengine popote mjini.
And they found me neither disputing with any one in the temple, nor exciting the multitude in the synagogue, or in the city:
13 Wala hawawezi kabisa kukuthibitishia mashtaka haya wanayonishtaki kwayo.
nor are they able to prove the things of which they now accuse me.
14 Lakini, ninakubali kwamba mimi namwabudu Mungu wa baba zetu, mfuasi wa Njia, ile ambayo wao wanaiita dhehebu. Ninaamini kila kitu kinachokubaliana na Sheria na kile kilichoandikwa katika Manabii,
But this I confess to you, that after the way which they call sect, so do I worship the God of my fathers; believing all things that are written in the law and in the prophets;
15 nami ninalo tumaini kwa Mungu, ambalo hata wao wenyewe wanalikubali kwamba kutakuwa na ufufuo wa wafu, kwa wenye haki na wasio na haki.
having hope in God, which they themselves also admit, that I there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust.
16 Kwa hiyo ninajitahidi siku zote kuwa na dhamiri safi mbele za Mungu na mbele za wanadamu.
And I do exercise myself in this, always to have a conscience void of offense toward God and man.
17 “Basi, baada ya kutokuwepo kwa miaka mingi nilikuja Yerusalemu ili kuwaletea watu wangu msaada kwa ajili ya maskini na kutoa dhabihu.
But, after many years, I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation, and offerings.
18 Nilikuwa nimeshatakaswa kwa taratibu za kiibada waliponikuta Hekaluni nikifanya mambo haya. Hapakuwa na umati wa watu, pamoja nami wala aliyehusika kwenye fujo yoyote.
While engaged in these things, certain Jews from Asia found me fulfilling my vow of abstinence in the temple, not with a multitude, nor with tumult.
19 Lakini kulikuwa na baadhi ya Wayahudi kutoka Asia, ambao wangelazimika wawepo hapa mbele yako ili watoe mashtaka kama wanalo jambo lolote dhidi yangu.
These ought to be here before you, and bring their charge, if they have any, against me.
20 Au, watu hawa walioko hapa waseme ni uhalifu gani walioniona nao waliponisimamisha mbele ya baraza,
Or let these persons here say, what offensive conduct they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrim,
21 isipokuwa ni kuhusu jambo hili moja nililopiga kelele mbele yao kwamba, ‘Mimi nashtakiwa mbele yenu leo kwa sababu ya ufufuo wa wafu.’”
except in this one expression, which I uttered while standing among them: With respect to the resurrection I of the dead, I am judged by you this day.
22 Basi Feliksi ambaye alikuwa anafahamu vizuri habari za Njia ile, akaahirisha shauri lile kwa maelezo yake akisema, “Wakati jemadari Lisia atakapoteremka huku, nitaamua shauri lako.”
But Felix, having a more accurate knowledge of this way, put them off, and said: When Lysias the officer comes down, I will inquire fully into your matters.
23 Ndipo akaamuru kiongozi wa askari amweke chini ya ulinzi lakini ampe uhuru na kuwaruhusu rafiki zake wamhudumie.
And he commanded the centurion to keep him under guard, and to relax the rigor of his confinement, and to forbid no one of his friends to minister or to come to him.
24 Baada ya siku kadhaa, Feliksi alikuja pamoja na Drusila mkewe, ambaye alikuwa Myahudi. Alituma aitiwe Paulo, naye akamsikiliza alipokuwa akinena juu ya imani katika Kristo Yesu.
And, after some days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess; and he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25 Naye Paulo alipokuwa akinena juu ya haki, kuwa na kiasi na juu ya hukumu ijayo, Feliksi aliingiwa na hofu na kusema, “Hiyo yatosha sasa! Waweza kuondoka. Nitakapokuwa na wasaa nitakuita.”
And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and the judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered: For the present withdraw; when I have a convenient season, I will call for you.
26 Wakati huo Feliksi alitazamia kwamba Paulo angempa rushwa. Hivyo akawa anamwita mara kwa mara na kuzungumza naye.
He hoped, at the same time, that money would have been given him by Paul, to release him. For this reason, he sent for him very frequently, and conversed with him.
27 Baada ya miaka miwili kupita, Porkio Festo akaingia kwenye utawala mahali pa Feliksi, lakini kwa kuwa Feliksi alitaka kuwapendeza Wayahudi, akamwacha Paulo gerezani.
But, after two years, Felix received Portius Festus as his successor; and Felix, wishing to confer a favor on the Jews, left Paul bound.
