Matendo 7
1 Ndipo kuhani mkuu akamuuliza Stefano, “Je, mashtaka haya ni ya kweli?”
Then the High Priest asked him, "Are these statements true?"
2 Stefano akajibu, “Ndugu zangu na baba zangu, nisikilizeni! Mungu wa utukufu alimtokea baba yetu Abrahamu, alipokuwa bado yuko Mesopotamia, kabla hajaishi Harani,
The reply of Stephen was, "Sirs--brethren and fathers--listen to me. God Most Glorious appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was living in Mesopotamia, before he settled 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 relatives, and go into whatever land I point out to 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.
"Thereupon he left Chaldaea and settled in Haran till after the death of his father, when God caused him to remove into this country where you now live.
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. And yet He promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity after him--and promised this at a time when Abraham was childless.
6 Mungu akasema naye hivi: ‘Wazao wako watakuwa wageni kwenye nchi ambayo si yao, nao watafanywa watumwa na kuteswa kwa miaka mia nne.’
And God declared that Abraham's posterity should for four hundred years make their home in a country not their own, and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed.
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 afterwards 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 the Covenant of circumcision, and under this Covenant he became the father of Isaac--whom he circumcised on the eighth day. 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 were jealous of Joseph and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But God was with him
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.
and delivered him from all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him governor over Egypt and 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.
But there came a famine throughout the whole of Egypt and Canaan--and great distress--so that our forefathers could find no food.
12 Lakini Yakobo aliposikia kwamba kuna nafaka huko Misri, aliwatuma baba zetu, wakaenda huko kwa mara yao ya kwanza.
When, however, Jacob heard that there was wheat to be had, he sent our forefathers into Egypt; that was the first time.
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 his father Jacob and all his family, numbering seventy-five persons, to come to him,
15 Hivyo Yakobo akaenda Misri ambako yeye na baba zetu walifia.
and Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and so did our forefathers,
16 Miili yao ilirudishwa Shekemu na kuzikwa katika kaburi ambalo Abrahamu alinunua kutoka kwa wana wa Hamori kwa kiasi fulani cha fedha.
and they were taken to Shechem and were laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a sum of money paid in silver.
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 had made to Abraham, the people became many times more numerous in Egypt,
18 Ndipo mfalme mwingine ambaye hakujua lolote kuhusu Yosefu akatawala Misri.
until there arose a foreign king over Egypt who knew nothing of Joseph.
19 Huyu mfalme akawatendea watu wetu hila na kuwatesa baba zetu kwa kuwalazimisha wawatupe watoto wao wachanga ili wafe.
He adopted a crafty policy towards our race, and oppressed our forefathers, making them cast out their infants so that they might not be permitted to live.
20 “Wakati huo Mose alizaliwa, naye hakuwa mtoto wa kawaida. Akalelewa nyumbani kwa baba yake kwa muda wa miezi mitatu.
At this time Moses was born--a wonderfully beautiful child; and for three months he was cared for in his father's house.
21 Waliposhindwa kumficha zaidi, wakamweka nje mtoni na binti Farao akamchukua akamtunza kama mtoto wake mwenyewe.
At length he was cast out, but Pharaoh's daughter adopted him, 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 learning of the Egyptians, and possessed great influence through his eloquence and his achievements.
23 “Mose alipokuwa na umri wa miaka arobaini aliamua kuwatembelea ndugu zake Waisraeli.
"And when he was just forty years old, it occurred to him to visit his brethren the descendants of Israel.
24 Aliona mmoja wao akidhulumiwa na Mmisri, akamtetea yule aliyeonewa, akampiga yule Mmisri akamuua kulipiza kisasi.
Seeing one of them wrongfully treated he took his part, and secured justice for the ill-treated man by striking down the Egyptian.
25 Mose alidhani kuwa ndugu zake wangetambua kwamba Mungu anamtumia ili kuwaokoa, lakini wao hawakuelewa.
He supposed his brethren to be aware that by him God was sending them deliverance; this, however, they did not understand.
26 Siku iliyofuata Mose aliwakuta Waisraeli wawili wakigombana, akajaribu kuwapatanisha kwa kuwaambia, ‘Enyi watu, ninyi ni ndugu, mbona mnataka kudhulumiana?’
The next day, also, he came and found two of them fighting, and he endeavoured to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging one another?'
27 “Lakini yule mtu aliyekuwa akimdhulumu mwenzake akamsukuma Mose kando, akamuuliza, ‘Ni nani aliyekufanya mtawala na mwamuzi juu yetu?
"But the man who was doing the wrong resented his interference, and asked, "'Who appointed you magistrate and judge over us?
28 Je, unataka kuniua kama ulivyomuua yule Mmisri jana?’
Do you mean 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 country 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 Mount Sinai an angel in the middle of 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 this he wondered at the sight; but on his going up to look further, the voice of the Lord was heard, saying,
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 forefathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.' "Quaking with fear Moses did not dare gaze.
33 “Ndipo Bwana akamwambia, ‘Vua viatu vyako kwa maana mahali unaposimama ni patakatifu.
"'Take off your shoes,' said the Lord, 'for the spot 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.’
I have seen, yes, I have seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. And now I will send you to 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.
"The Moses whom they rejected, asking him, 'Who appointed you magistrate and judge?' --that same Moses we find God sending as a magistrate and a deliverer by the help of the angel who appeared to him 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 performing marvels and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea, and in the Desert for forty years.
37 “Huyu ndiye yule Mose aliyewaambia Waisraeli, ‘Mungu atawainulia nabii kama mimi kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zenu wenyewe.’
This is the Moses who said to the descendants of Israel, "'God will raise up a Prophet for you, from among your brethren, just as He raised me up.'
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 he who was among the Congregation in the Desert, together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our forefathers, who received ever-living utterances to hand on to us.
39 “Lakini baba zetu walikataa kumtii Mose, badala yake wakamkataa na kuielekeza mioyo yao Misri tena.
"Our forefathers, however, would not submit to him, but spurned his authority and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40 Wakamwambia Aroni, ‘Tufanyie miungu watakaotuongoza, kwa maana mtu huyu Mose aliyetutoa nchi ya Misri, hatujui yaliyompata.’
They said to Aaron, "'Make gods for us, to march in front of us; for as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of 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.
"Moreover they made a calf at that time, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and kept rejoicing in the gods which their own hands had made.
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 Host of Heaven, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets, "'Were they victims and sacrifices which you offered Me, forty years in the Desert, 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.
Yes, you lifted up Moloch's tent and the Star of the God Rephan--the images which you made in order to worship them; and I will remove you beyond Babylon.'
44 “Baba zetu walikuwa na lile Hema la Ushuhuda huko jangwani. Lilikuwa limetengenezwa kama Mungu alivyokuwa amemwelekeza Mose, kulingana na kielelezo alichoona.
"Our forefathers had the Tent of the Testimony in the Desert, built as He who spoke to Moses had instructed him to make it in imitation of the model which 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 Tent was bequeathed to the next generation of our forefathers. Under Joshua they brought it with them when they were taking possession of the land of the Gentile nations, whom God drove out before them. So it continued till David's time.
46 ambaye alipata kibali kwa Mungu, naye akaomba kwamba ampatie Mungu wa Yakobo maskani.
David obtained favour with God, and asked leave to provide a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob.
47 Lakini alikuwa Solomoni ndiye alimjengea Mungu nyumba.
But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.
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 buildings erected by men's hands. But, as the Prophet declares,
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 sky is My throne, and earth is the footstool for My feet. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or what resting place shall I have?
50 Je, mkono wangu haukufanya vitu hivi vyote?’
Did not My hand form this universe.'
51 “Enyi watu wenye shingo ngumu, msiotahiriwa mioyo wala masikio, daima hamwachi kumpinga Roho Mtakatifu, kama walivyofanya baba zenu.
"O stiff-necked men, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you also are continually at strife with the Holy Spirit--just as your forefathers were.
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 forefathers persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent 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 yet have not obeyed it."
54 Waliposikia haya wakaghadhibika, wakamsagia meno.
As they listened to these words, they became infuriated 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, full of the Holy Spirit and looking up to Heaven, Stephen saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand.
56 Akasema, “Tazameni! Naona mbingu zimefunguka, na Mwana wa Adamu amesimama upande wa kuume wa Mungu.”
"I can see Heaven wide open," he said, "and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand."
57 Lakini wao wakapiga kelele kwa sauti kubwa, wakaziba masikio yao, wakamrukia kwa nia moja.
Upon this, with a loud outcry they stopped their ears, 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 out of the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care of a young man called 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, rising on his knees, he cried aloud, "Lord, do not reckon this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep.
