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.
After five days, Ananias the chief priest, certain elders, and an orator named Tertullus went there. These men brought charges against Paul before the governor.
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.
When Paul stood before the governor, Tertullus began to accuse him and said to the governor, “Because of you we have great peace, and your foresight brings good reform to our nation;
3 Wakati wote na kila mahali, kwa namna yoyote, mtukufu sana Feliksi, tumeyapokea mambo haya yote kwa shukrani nyingi.
so with all thankfulness we welcome everything that you do, most excellent Felix.
4 Lakini nisije nikakuchosha zaidi, ningekuomba kwa hisani yako utusikilize kwa kifupi.
So that I detain you no more, I ask you to briefly listen to me with kindness.
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 to be a pest and one who causes all the Jews throughout the world to rebel. He is a leader of the Nazarene sect.
6 na hata amejaribu kulinajisi Hekalu, hivyo tukamkamata; [tukataka kumhukumu kufuatana na sheria zetu.
He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him.
7 Lakini jemadari Lisia alitujia na nguvu nyingi, akamwondoa mikononi mwetu,
8 akiwaamuru washtaki wake waje mbele yako: ili] kwa kumchunguza wewe mwenyewe unaweza kujua kutoka kwake mambo yote tunayomshtaki kwayo.”
When you question Paul about all these matters, you will be able to learn about these charges we are bringing against him.”
9 Pia wale Wayahudi wakaunga mkono wakithibitisha kuwa mashtaka yote haya ni kweli.
The Jews also joined in the accusation, affirming that these charges were true.
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.
But when the governor motioned for Paul to speak, Paul answered, “I understand that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, and so I gladly explain myself to you.
11 Unaweza kuhakikisha kwa urahisi kuwa hazijapita zaidi ya siku kumi na mbili tangu nilipopanda kwenda Yerusalemu kuabudu.
You will be able to find out that it has not been more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
12 Hawa wanaonishtaki hawakunikuta nikibishana na mtu yeyote Hekaluni au kuchochea umati wa watu katika sinagogi au mahali pengine popote mjini.
When they found me in the temple, I did not argue with anyone, and I did not stir up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city.
13 Wala hawawezi kabisa kukuthibitishia mashtaka haya wanayonishtaki kwayo.
They cannot prove to you the accusations they are now making against 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 I admit this to you, that according to the Way that they call a sect, in that same way I serve the God of our fathers. I am faithful to all that is in the law and the writings of 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.
I have the same confident hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
16 Kwa hiyo ninajitahidi siku zote kuwa na dhamiri safi mbele za Mungu na mbele za wanadamu.
So I always strive to have a clear conscience before God and human beings.
17 “Basi, baada ya kutokuwepo kwa miaka mingi nilikuja Yerusalemu ili kuwaletea watu wangu msaada kwa ajili ya maskini na kutoa dhabihu.
Now after many years I came to bring help to my nation and gifts of money.
18 Nilikuwa nimeshatakaswa kwa taratibu za kiibada waliponikuta Hekaluni nikifanya mambo haya. Hapakuwa na umati wa watu, pamoja nami wala aliyehusika kwenye fujo yoyote.
When I did this, certain Jews from Asia found me in a purification ceremony in the temple, not with a crowd or an uproar.
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 men ought to be before you now and say what they have against me, if they have anything.
20 Au, watu hawa walioko hapa waseme ni uhalifu gani walioniona nao waliponisimamisha mbele ya baraza,
Or else, these same men should say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the Jewish council,
21 isipokuwa ni kuhusu jambo hili moja nililopiga kelele mbele yao kwamba, ‘Mimi nashtakiwa mbele yenu leo kwa sababu ya ufufuo wa wafu.’”
unless it is about this one thing that I shouted out when I stood among them, 'It is concerning the resurrection of those who have died that I am on trial before you today.'”
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.”
Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, ajourned the hearing. He said, “When Lysias the commander comes down from Jerusalem, I will decide your case.”
23 Ndipo akaamuru kiongozi wa askari amweke chini ya ulinzi lakini ampe uhuru na kuwaruhusu rafiki zake wamhudumie.
Then he commanded the centurion that Paul should be kept under guard, but to have some freedom so that none of his friends would be prevented from attending to his needs.
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.
After some days, Felix returned with Drusilla his wife, a Jewess, and he sent for Paul and he heard from him about faith in Christ Jesus.
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.”
But when Paul reasoned with him about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now. But when I have the opportunity later on, I will send for you.”
26 Wakati huo Feliksi alitazamia kwamba Paulo angempa rushwa. Hivyo akawa anamwita mara kwa mara na kuzungumza naye.
At the same time he wanted Paul to give money to him, so he often sent for him and spoke 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 when two years passed, Porcius Festus became the governor after Felix, but Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jews, so he left Paul to continue under guard.
