Matendo 7
1 Ndipo kuhani mkuu akamuuliza Stefano, “Je, mashtaka haya ni ya kweli?”
And the high priest said, "Are these things so?"
2 Stefano akajibu, “Ndugu zangu na baba zangu, nisikilizeni! Mungu wa utukufu alimtokea baba yetu Abrahamu, alipokuwa bado yuko Mesopotamia, kabla hajaishi Harani,
Stephen answered. "Listen, brothers and fathers. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
3 akamwambia, ‘Ondoka kutoka nchi yako na kutoka kwa jamii yako, uende hadi nchi nitakayokuonyesha.’
and said to him, "Leave your country and your kindred, and come to whatever land I will show you.
4 “Hivyo aliondoka katika nchi ya Wakaldayo akaenda kukaa Harani. Baada ya kifo cha baba yake, Mungu akamtoa huko akamleta katika nchi hii ambayo mnaishi sasa.
"So he left Chaldea and settled in Haran, and from there, after his father’s death, God moved him to this land which you inhabit.
5 Mungu hakumpa urithi wowote katika nchi hii, hakumpa hata mahali pa kuweka wayo mmoja. Bali Mungu alimwahidi kuwa yeye na uzao wake baada yake wangeirithi hii nchi, ingawa wakati huo Abrahamu hakuwa na mtoto.
"But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground; yet he promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity - he at that time being childless.
6 Mungu akasema naye hivi: ‘Wazao wako watakuwa wageni kwenye nchi ambayo si yao, nao watafanywa watumwa na kuteswa kwa miaka mia nne.’
"What God said was this. "‘His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.
7 Mungu akasema, ‘Lakini mimi nitaliadhibu taifa watakalolitumikia kama watumwa, na baadaye watatoka katika nchi hiyo na wataniabudu mahali hapa.’
"‘And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them I will judge, said God, ‘and after ward they shall come out, and they shall worship me in this place.
8 Ndipo akampa Abrahamu Agano la tohara. Naye Abrahamu akamzaa Isaki na kumtahiri siku ya nane. Baadaye Isaki akamzaa Yakobo, naye Yakobo akawazaa wale wazee wetu kumi na wawili.
"Then he gave him a covenant of circumcision, and under this covenant he became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs.
9 “Kwa sababu wazee wetu walimwonea wivu Yosefu ndugu yao, walimuuza kama mtumwa huko Misri. Lakini Mungu alikuwa pamoja naye.
"The patriarchs out of jealousy sold Joseph into Egypt.
10 Akamwokoa kutoka mateso yote yaliyompata, tena akampa kibali na hekima aliposimama mbele ya Farao, mfalme wa Misri, ambaye alimweka kuwa mtawala juu ya Misri na juu ya jumba lote la kifalme.
"But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the royal household.
11 “Basi kukawa na njaa katika nchi yote ya Misri na Kanaani, ikasababisha dhiki kubwa, nao baba zetu wakawa hawana chakula.
"Then there came a famine over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, so that our ancestors could not find food.
12 Lakini Yakobo aliposikia kwamba kuna nafaka huko Misri, aliwatuma baba zetu, wakaenda huko kwa mara yao ya kwanza.
"But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, and sent our ancestors there on their first visit.
13 Walipokwenda mara ya pili, Yosefu alijitambulisha kwa ndugu zake, nao ndugu zake Yosefu wakajulishwa kwa Farao.
"On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph’s parentage.
14 Ndipo Yosefu akawatuma kumleta Yakobo baba yake pamoja na jamaa yake yote, jumla yao walikuwa watu sabini na watano.
"Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his family, numbering seventy-five souls, to come to him;
15 Hivyo Yakobo akaenda Misri ambako yeye na baba zetu walifia.
"and Jacob went down into Egypt.
16 Miili yao ilirudishwa Shekemu na kuzikwa katika kaburi ambalo Abrahamu alinunua kutoka kwa wana wa Hamori kwa kiasi fulani cha fedha.
"There he died, and our ancestors also, and they were carried across to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
17 “Lakini wakati ulipokuwa unakaribia wa kutimizwa kwa ile ahadi ambayo Mungu alikuwa amempa Abrahamu, watu wetu walizidi kuongezeka sana huko Misri.
"but as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God made to Abraham, the people multiplied and increased in Egypt;
18 Ndipo mfalme mwingine ambaye hakujua lolote kuhusu Yosefu akatawala Misri.
"until there arose a king who knew not Joseph.
19 Huyu mfalme akawatendea watu wetu hila na kuwatesa baba zetu kwa kuwalazimisha wawatupe watoto wao wachanga ili wafe.
"He dealt craftily with our race, and oppressed our forefathers, by making them expose their infants so that they should not live.
20 “Wakati huo Mose alizaliwa, naye hakuwa mtoto wa kawaida. Akalelewa nyumbani kwa baba yake kwa muda wa miezi mitatu.
"In this time Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up for three months in his father’s house.
21 Waliposhindwa kumficha zaidi, wakamweka nje mtoni na binti Farao akamchukua akamtunza kama mtoto wake mwenyewe.
"When he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and brought him up as her own son.
22 Mose akafundishwa hekima yote ya Wamisri, akawa mtu hodari kwa maneno na matendo.
"So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works.
23 “Mose alipokuwa na umri wa miaka arobaini aliamua kuwatembelea ndugu zake Waisraeli.
"And when he was forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel;
24 Aliona mmoja wao akidhulumiwa na Mmisri, akamtetea yule aliyeonewa, akampiga yule Mmisri akamuua kulipiza kisasi.
"and when he saw one of them wronged he wrought redress for the one overpowered, by striking down the Egyptian.
25 Mose alidhani kuwa ndugu zake wangetambua kwamba Mungu anamtumia ili kuwaokoa, lakini wao hawakuelewa.
"(Now he supposed that his brothers would understand how God by his hand was bringing them deliverance; but they did not.)
26 Siku iliyofuata Mose aliwakuta Waisraeli wawili wakigombana, akajaribu kuwapatanisha kwa kuwaambia, ‘Enyi watu, ninyi ni ndugu, mbona mnataka kudhulumiana?’
"Next day he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to make peace between them. "‘Sirs,’ he said, ‘you are brothers. Why are you wronging each other?’
27 “Lakini yule mtu aliyekuwa akimdhulumu mwenzake akamsukuma Mose kando, akamuuliza, ‘Ni nani aliyekufanya mtawala na mwamuzi juu yetu?
"But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "‘Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us?
28 Je, unataka kuniua kama ulivyomuua yule Mmisri jana?’
"‘Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 Mose aliposikia maneno haya, alikimbilia huko Midiani alikokaa kama mgeni, naye akapata watoto wawili wa kiume.
"Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the land, and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.
30 “Basi baada ya miaka arobaini kupita, malaika wa Mungu akamtokea Mose jangwani karibu na Mlima Sinai katika kichaka kilichokuwa kinawaka moto.
"But at the end of forty years there appeared to him, in the desert of Mt. Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush.
31 Alipoona mambo haya, alishangaa yale maono. Aliposogea ili aangalie kwa karibu, akaisikia sauti ya Bwana, ikisema:
"When Moses saw it he was astonished at the sight. But when he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord said,
32 ‘Mimi ndimi Mungu wa baba zako, Mungu wa Abrahamu, Isaki na Yakobo.’ Mose alitetemeka kwa hofu na hakuthubutu kutazama.
"I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "And Moses trembled and dared not gaze.
33 “Ndipo Bwana akamwambia, ‘Vua viatu vyako kwa maana mahali unaposimama ni patakatifu.
"And the Lord said. "Take off your sandals, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.
34 Hakika nimeona mateso ya watu wangu huko Misri. Nimesikia kilio chao cha uchungu, nami nimeshuka ili niwaokoe. Basi sasa njoo, nami nitakutuma Misri.’
"Truly I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans, and am come down to rescue them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt.
35 “Huyu ndiye Mose yule waliyemkataa wakisema, ‘Ni nani aliyekufanya mtawala na mwamuzi juu yetu?’ Alikuwa ametumwa na Mungu mwenyewe kuwa mtawala na mkombozi wao, kwa njia ya yule malaika aliyemtokea katika kile kichaka.
"This Moses whom they refused when they said, Who made you to be a ruler and a judge? that same Moses we find God sending as a ruler and a redeemer by the hand in the bush.
36 Aliwaongoza wana wa Israeli kutoka Misri, baada ya kufanya ishara na maajabu mengi huko Misri, katika Bahari ya Shamu, na katika jangwa kwa muda wa miaka arobaini.
"This was he who brought them out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the wilderness, for forty years.
37 “Huyu ndiye yule Mose aliyewaambia Waisraeli, ‘Mungu atawainulia nabii kama mimi kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zenu wenyewe.’
"It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me.
38 Huyu ndiye yule Mose aliyekuwa katika kusanyiko huko jangwani, ambaye malaika alisema naye pamoja na baba zetu kwenye Mlima Sinai, naye akapokea maneno yaliyo hai ili atupatie.
"This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom he gave living words to hand down to us.
39 “Lakini baba zetu walikataa kumtii Mose, badala yake wakamkataa na kuielekeza mioyo yao Misri tena.
"To him our ancestors would not be obedient, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt.
40 Wakamwambia Aroni, ‘Tufanyie miungu watakaotuongoza, kwa maana mtu huyu Mose aliyetutoa nchi ya Misri, hatujui yaliyompata.’
"Said they to Aaron. "Make Gods for us who shall march in front of us! As for this Moses who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has happened to him.
41 Huu ni ule wakati walitengeneza sanamu katika umbo la ndama, wakailetea sadaka kufanya maadhimisho kwa ajili ya kile kitu walichokitengeneza kwa mikono yao wenyewe.
"And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to this idol, and began to rejoice over what they had made with their hands.
42 Ndipo Mungu akageuka, akawaacha waabudu jeshi lote la mbinguni, kama ilivyoandikwa katika Kitabu cha Manabii: “‘Je, mliniletea dhabihu na sadaka kwa miaka arobaini kule jangwani, ee nyumba ya Israeli?
"So God turned from them, and gave them up to the worship of the heavenly host, as it is written in the book of the Prophets. "Did you offer unto me slain beasts as sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness, O House of Israel?
43 La, ninyi mliinua madhabahu ya Moleki, na nyota ya mungu wenu Refani, vinyago mlivyotengeneza ili kuviabudu. Kwa hiyo nitawapeleka mbali’ kuliko Babeli.
No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted up - the images which you made in order to worship them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
44 “Baba zetu walikuwa na lile Hema la Ushuhuda huko jangwani. Lilikuwa limetengenezwa kama Mungu alivyokuwa amemwelekeza Mose, kulingana na kielelezo alichoona.
"In the wilderness our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Testimony built, as he appointed who told Moses to make it according to the pattern he had seen.
45 Baba zetu wakiisha kulipokea hema kwa kupokezana wakiongozwa na Yoshua katika milki ya nchi kutoka kwa yale mataifa ambayo Mungu aliyafukuza mbele yao, nalo likadumu katika nchi mpaka wakati wa Daudi,
"That tabernacle was brought in by our ancestors, in their turn, when they under Joshua entered on the possession of the nations whom God thrust out before them, until the days of David.
46 ambaye alipata kibali kwa Mungu, naye akaomba kwamba ampatie Mungu wa Yakobo maskani.
"David obtained favor with God, and asked permission to find a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob.
47 Lakini alikuwa Solomoni ndiye alimjengea Mungu nyumba.
"But it was Solomon who built him a house.
48 “Hata hivyo, Yeye Aliye Juu Sana hakai kwenye nyumba zilizojengwa kwa mikono ya wanadamu. Kama nabii alivyosema:
"Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as said the prophet.
49 “‘Mbingu ni kiti changu cha enzi, nayo dunia ni mahali pa kuweka miguu yangu. Mtanijengea nyumba ya namna gani? asema Bwana. Au mahali pangu pa kupumzikia patakuwa wapi?
"The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet; What kind of house will you build for me? saith the Lord. Or what resting-place shall I have?
50 Je, mkono wangu haukufanya vitu hivi vyote?’
Did not my hand make this universe?
51 “Enyi watu wenye shingo ngumu, msiotahiriwa mioyo wala masikio, daima hamwachi kumpinga Roho Mtakatifu, kama walivyofanya baba zenu.
"Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you.
52 Je, kuna nabii gani ambaye baba zenu hawakumtesa? Waliwaua wale waliotabiri habari za kuja kwake yule Mwenye Haki. Nanyi sasa mmekuwa wasaliti wake na wauaji.
"Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become -
53 Ninyi ndio mlipokea sheria zilizoletwa kwenu na malaika, lakini hamkuzitii.”
"you who received the law, given through angels, and obeyed it not."
54 Waliposikia haya wakaghadhibika, wakamsagia meno.
As they heard these words they became furious and gnashed their teeth at him.
55 Lakini yeye Stefano, akiwa amejaa Roho Mtakatifu, alikaza macho mbinguni, akaona utukufu wa Mungu, na Yesu akiwa amesimama mkono wa kuume wa Mungu.
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56 Akasema, “Tazameni! Naona mbingu zimefunguka, na Mwana wa Adamu amesimama upande wa kuume wa Mungu.”
"Look, I see heaven open," he said, "And the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."
57 Lakini wao wakapiga kelele kwa sauti kubwa, wakaziba masikio yao, wakamrukia kwa nia moja.
With a loud outcry they stopped their ears, and rushed upon Stephen in a body,
58 Wakamtupa nje ya mji, wakampiga kwa mawe. Nao mashahidi wakaweka mavazi yao miguuni mwa kijana mmoja ambaye jina lake aliitwa Sauli.
dragged him outside the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 Walipokuwa wakimpiga mawe, Stefano aliomba, “Bwana Yesu, pokea roho yangu.”
So they stoned Stephen while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
60 Kisha akapiga magoti, akalia kwa sauti kubwa akasema, “Bwana usiwahesabie dhambi hii.” Baada ya kusema hayo, akalala.
Then he knelt down and cried aloud, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."
