Matendo 7
1 Ndipo kuhani mkuu akamuuliza Stefano, “Je, mashtaka haya ni ya kweli?”
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,
He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
3 akamwambia, ‘Ondoka kutoka nchi yako na kutoka kwa jamii yako, uende hadi nchi nitakayokuonyesha.’
and said to him, ‘Get out of your land and away from your relatives, and come into a land which 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.
Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land where you are now living.
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.
He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring after him, when he still had no child.
6 Mungu akasema naye hivi: ‘Wazao wako watakuwa wageni kwenye nchi ambayo si yao, nao watafanywa watumwa na kuteswa kwa miaka mia nne.’
God spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years.
7 Mungu akasema, ‘Lakini mimi nitaliadhibu taifa watakalolitumikia kama watumwa, na baadaye watatoka katika nchi hiyo na wataniabudu mahali hapa.’
‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out and serve 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.
He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him 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, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. 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 out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
11 “Basi kukawa na njaa katika nchi yote ya Misri na Kanaani, ikasababisha dhiki kubwa, nao baba zetu wakawa hawana chakula.
Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food.
12 Lakini Yakobo aliposikia kwamba kuna nafaka huko Misri, aliwatuma baba zetu, wakaenda huko kwa mara yao ya kwanza.
But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time.
13 Walipokwenda mara ya pili, Yosefu alijitambulisha kwa ndugu zake, nao ndugu zake Yosefu wakajulishwa kwa Farao.
On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was revealed to Pharaoh.
14 Ndipo Yosefu akawatuma kumleta Yakobo baba yake pamoja na jamaa yake yote, jumla yao walikuwa watu sabini na watano.
Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his relatives, seventy-five souls.
15 Hivyo Yakobo akaenda Misri ambako yeye na baba zetu walifia.
Jacob went down into Egypt and he died, himself and our fathers;
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 brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of 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 of the promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
18 Ndipo mfalme mwingine ambaye hakujua lolote kuhusu Yosefu akatawala Misri.
until there arose a different king who didn’t know Joseph.
19 Huyu mfalme akawatendea watu wetu hila na kuwatesa baba zetu kwa kuwalazimisha wawatupe watoto wao wachanga ili wafe.
The same took advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to abandon their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive.
20 “Wakati huo Mose alizaliwa, naye hakuwa mtoto wa kawaida. Akalelewa nyumbani kwa baba yake kwa muda wa miezi mitatu.
At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome to God. He was nourished 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 abandoned, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and reared him as her own son.
22 Mose akafundishwa hekima yote ya Wamisri, akawa mtu hodari kwa maneno na matendo.
Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works.
23 “Mose alipokuwa na umri wa miaka arobaini aliamua kuwatembelea ndugu zake Waisraeli.
But 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.
Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian.
25 Mose alidhani kuwa ndugu zake wangetambua kwamba Mungu anamtumia ili kuwaokoa, lakini wao hawakuelewa.
He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn’t understand.
26 Siku iliyofuata Mose aliwakuta Waisraeli wawili wakigombana, akajaribu kuwapatanisha kwa kuwaambia, ‘Enyi watu, ninyi ni ndugu, mbona mnataka kudhulumiana?’
“The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’
27 “Lakini yule mtu aliyekuwa akimdhulumu mwenzake akamsukuma Mose kando, akamuuliza, ‘Ni nani aliyekufanya mtawala na mwamuzi juu yetu?
But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge 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.
Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where 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.
“When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, 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 wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, the voice of the Lord came to him,
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, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled and dared not look.
33 “Ndipo Bwana akamwambia, ‘Vua viatu vyako kwa maana mahali unaposimama ni patakatifu.
The Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you stand 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 surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. 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, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand 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 man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.
37 “Huyu ndiye yule Mose aliyewaambia Waisraeli, ‘Mungu atawainulia nabii kama mimi kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zenu wenyewe.’
This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like 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 he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to give to us,
39 “Lakini baba zetu walikataa kumtii Mose, badala yake wakamkataa na kuielekeza mioyo yao Misri tena.
to whom our fathers wouldn’t be obedient, but rejected him and turned back in their hearts to Egypt,
40 Wakamwambia Aroni, ‘Tufanyie miungu watakaotuongoza, kwa maana mtu huyu Mose aliyetutoa nchi ya Misri, hatujui yaliyompata.’
saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t 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.
They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of 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?
But God turned away and gave them up to serve the army of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices 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.
You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the star of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship, 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.
“Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that 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,
which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations whom God drove out before the face of our fathers to the days of David,
46 ambaye alipata kibali kwa Mungu, naye akaomba kwamba ampatie Mungu wa Yakobo maskani.
who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob.
47 Lakini alikuwa Solomoni ndiye alimjengea Mungu nyumba.
But Solomon built him a house.
48 “Hata hivyo, Yeye Aliye Juu Sana hakai kwenye nyumba zilizojengwa kwa mikono ya wanadamu. Kama nabii alivyosema:
However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,
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?
‘heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?’ says the Lord. ‘Or what is the place of my rest?
50 Je, mkono wangu haukufanya vitu hivi vyote?’
Didn’t my hand make all these things?’
51 “Enyi watu wenye shingo ngumu, msiotahiriwa mioyo wala masikio, daima hamwachi kumpinga Roho Mtakatifu, kama walivyofanya baba zenu.
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do.
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 didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.
53 Ninyi ndio mlipokea sheria zilizoletwa kwenu na malaika, lakini hamkuzitii.”
You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!”
54 Waliposikia haya wakaghadhibika, wakamsagia meno.
Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
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, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 Akasema, “Tazameni! Naona mbingu zimefunguka, na Mwana wa Adamu amesimama upande wa kuume wa Mungu.”
and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened 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.
But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears, then rushed at him with one accord.
58 Wakamtupa nje ya mji, wakampiga kwa mawe. Nao mashahidi wakaweka mavazi yao miguuni mwa kijana mmoja ambaye jina lake aliitwa Sauli.
They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 Walipokuwa wakimpiga mawe, Stefano aliomba, “Bwana Yesu, pokea roho yangu.”
They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
60 Kisha akapiga magoti, akalia kwa sauti kubwa akasema, “Bwana usiwahesabie dhambi hii.” Baada ya kusema hayo, akalala.
He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
