Matendo 25
1 Siku tatu baada ya Festo kuwasili Kaisaria kuchukua wajibu wake mpya, alipanda kwenda Yerusalemu,
Festus therefore, being come into the province, after three days went up from Cesarea to Jerusalem.
2 ambako viongozi wa makuhani na viongozi wa Wayahudi walikuja mbele yake na kuleta mashtaka yao dhidi ya Paulo.
And the high-priest and principal men among the Jews, appeared before him against Paul, and made application to him,
3 Wakamsihi sana Festo, kama upendeleo kwao, aamuru Paulo ahamishiwe Yerusalemu, kwa kuwa walikuwa wanaandaa kumvizia ili wamuue akiwa njiani.
begging the favor of him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; for they were preparing an ambush to kill him by the way.
4 Festo akawajibu, “Paulo amezuiliwa huko Kaisaria, nami mwenyewe ninakwenda huko hivi karibuni.
But Festus answered, that Paul was in custody at Cesarea, and that he himself should go thither soon.
5 Baadhi ya viongozi wenu wafuatane nami na kutoa mashtaka dhidi ya mtu huyo huko, kama amekosa jambo lolote.”
Therefore, said he, let those of you who are able, go down with me, and if there be any thing bad in this man, let them accuse him.
6 Baada ya Festo kukaa miongoni mwao kwa karibu siku nane au kumi, akashuka kwenda Kaisaria na siku iliyofuata akaitisha mahakama, akaketi penye kiti chake cha hukumu, akaamuru Paulo aletwe mbele yake.
And when he had staid among them more than ten days, he went down to Cesarea, and the next day sitting on the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought before him.
7 Paulo alipotokea, wale Wayahudi waliokuwa wameteremka toka Yerusalemu wakasimama wakiwa wamemzunguka, wakileta mashtaka mengi mazito dhidi yake ambayo hawakuweza kuyathibitisha.
And when he was come, the Jews that came down from Jerusalem, stood round about, bringing many heavy charges against Paul, which they were not able to prove:
8 Ndipo Paulo akajitetea, akasema, “Mimi sikufanya jambo lolote kinyume cha sheria ya Wayahudi au dhidi ya Hekalu au kinyume cha Kaisari.”
he answering in his own defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cesar have I committed any offence.
9 Festo, akitaka kuwapendeza Wayahudi, akamuuliza Paulo, “Je, ungependa kwenda Yerusalemu na kukabili mashtaka mbele yangu huko?”
But Festus, being desirous to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there to be tried concerning these things before me?
10 Paulo akasema, “Mimi sasa nimesimama mbele ya mahakama ya Kaisari, ambako ndiko ninakostahili kushtakiwa. Kama vile wewe mwenyewe ujuavyo vyema kabisa sijawatendea Wayahudi kosa lolote.
Then said Paul, I stand at Cesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried: I have done no wrong to the Jews, as thou very well knowest.
11 Basi kama mimi nina hatia ya kutenda kosa lolote linalostahili kifo, sikatai kufa. Lakini kama mashtaka yaliyoletwa dhidi yangu na hawa Wayahudi si kweli, hakuna yeyote aliye na haki ya kunikabidhi mikononi mwao. Naomba rufaa kwa Kaisari!”
For if I am indeed doing them wrong, and have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be nothing in what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them.
12 Baada ya Festo kufanya shauri pamoja na baraza lake, akatangaza, “Wewe umeomba rufaa kwa Kaisari, nako kwa Kaisari utakwenda!”
I appeal to Cesar. Then Festus, conferring with his council, answered, Hast thou appealed to Cesar? to Cesar thou shalt go.
13 Baada ya siku kadhaa Mfalme Agripa na Bernike wakapanda kuja Kaisaria kumsalimu Festo.
And some days after king Agrippa and Bernice came to Cesarea to salute Festus.
14 Kwa kuwa walikuwa wakae huko Kaisaria kwa siku nyingi, Festo alijadili shauri la Paulo na mfalme, akisema, “Kuna mtu mmoja hapa ambaye Feliksi alimwacha gerezani.
And as they spent several days there, Festus related Paul's case to the king, saying, There is a man left in custody by Felix: concerning whom,
15 Nilipokuwa huko Yerusalemu, viongozi wa makuhani na wazee wa Wayahudi walinijulisha habari zake na wakaomba hukumu dhidi yake.
when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews appeared in court, desiring judgement against him.
16 “Lakini mimi nikawaambia kwamba si desturi ya Kirumi kumtoa mtu yeyote auawe kabla mshtakiwa kuonana uso kwa uso na washtaki wake, naye awe amepewa nafasi ya kujitetea kuhusu mashtaka anayoshutumiwa.
To whom I answered, it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction, till he that is accused have the accusers face to face, and have an opportunity of making his defence concerning the accusation.
17 Hivyo walipokutana hapa, sikukawia, kesho yake niliitisha baraza, nikaketi penye kiti changu cha hukumu, nikaagiza huyo mtu aletwe.
Therefore when they were come hither, making no delay, I sat on the tribunal the next day, and ordered the man to be brought before me.
18 Washtaki wake waliposimama, hawakushtaki kwa uhalifu wowote niliokuwa ninatarajia.
Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed they would:
19 Badala yake walikuwa na vipengele fulani vya kutokukubaliana naye kuhusu dini yao na juu ya mtu mmoja aitwaye Yesu, ambaye alikufa, lakini yeye Paulo alidai kwamba yu hai.
but had certain questions against him concerning their own religion; and of one Jesus that was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 Kwa kuwa sikujua jinsi ya kupeleleza jambo hili, nilimuuliza kama angependa kwenda Yerusalemu na kuhojiwa huko kuhusu mashtaka haya.
But I being in doubt as to the dispute concerning these matters, asked him, if he would go to Jerusalem, and there be tried concerning these things.
21 Lakini Paulo alipoomba afadhiliwe ili rufaa yake isikilizwe na Mfalme Agusto, nilimwamuru alindwe mpaka nitakapoweza kumpeleka kwa Kaisari.”
But when Paul appealed, to be reserved to the hearing of our sovereign, I ordered him to be kept till I could send him to Cesar.
22 Ndipo Agripa akamwambia Festo, “Ningependa kumsikiliza mtu huyo mimi mwenyewe.” Yeye akajibu, “Kesho utamsikia.”
Then Agrippa said to Festus, I should be willing to hear the man myself. And he said, thou shalt hear him to-morrow.
23 Siku iliyofuata Agripa na Bernike walifika kwa fahari kubwa wakaingia katika ukumbi wa mahakama, pamoja na majemadari wa jeshi na watu mashuhuri wa mji. Ndipo kwa amri ya Festo, Paulo akaletwa ndani.
The next day therefore, Agrippa and Bernice coming with much pomp, and entering into the court, together with the chief officers, and men of greatest eminence in the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.
24 Festo akasema, “Mfalme Agripa, nanyi nyote mlio hapa pamoja nasi, mnamwona mtu huyu! Jumuiya yote ya Kiyahudi wamenilalamikia kuhusu mtu huyu huko Yerusalemu na hapa Kaisaria, wakipiga kelele kwamba haimpasi kuendelea kuishi.
And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all that are here present with us, ye see this man, concerning whom all the Jews have applied to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out, that he ought not to live.
25 Sikuona kwamba ametenda jambo lolote linalostahili kifo, ila kwa kuwa alikuwa ameomba rufaa yake kwa mfalme, niliamua kumpeleka Rumi.
But when I found that he had done nothing worthy of death, and as he himself has appealed to the emperor, I have determined to send him.
26 Lakini mimi sina kitu maalum cha kumwandikia Bwana Mtukufu kumhusu mtu huyu. Kwa hiyo nimemleta mbele yenu ninyi nyote, hasa mbele yako, Mfalme Agripa, ili kutokana na matokeo ya uchunguzi huu, niweze kupata kitu cha kuandika.
Concerning whom I have nothing certain to write to our sovereign: wherefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that after examination is made I may have somewhat to write.
27 Kwa kuwa naona hakuna sababu ya kumpeleka mfungwa bila kuainisha mashtaka dhidi yake.”
For it seems to me absurd, to send a prisoner and not to signify the crimes laid against him."
