Matendo 8
1 Naye Sauli alikuwepo pale, akiridhia kuuawa kwa Stefano. Siku ile kukatukia mateso makuu dhidi ya kanisa huko Yerusalemu, waumini wote isipokuwa mitume wakatawanyika, wakakimbilia Uyahudi na Samaria.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 Watu wacha Mungu wakamzika Stefano na kumwombolezea sana.
And devout men carried Stephen [to his burial], and made great lamentation over him.
3 Lakini kwa habari ya Sauli alikuwa analiharibu kanisa, akiingia nyumba kwa nyumba, akiwaburuta wanawake na wanaume na kuwatupa gerezani.
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed [them] to prison.
4 Kwa hiyo wale waliotawanyika wakalihubiri neno la Mungu kila mahali walipokwenda.
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5 Filipo akateremkia mji mmoja wa Samaria akawahubiria habari za Kristo
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 Watu walipomsikia Filipo na kuona ishara na miujiza aliyofanya, wakasikiliza kwa bidii yale aliyosema.
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 Pepo wachafu wakawa wakiwatoka watu wengi huku wakipiga kelele na wengi waliopooza na viwete wakaponywa.
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed [with them]: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 Hivyo pakawa na furaha kuu katika mji huo.
And there was great joy in that city.
9 Basi mtu mmoja jina lake Simoni alikuwa amefanya uchawi kwa muda mrefu katika mji huo akiwashangaza watu wote wa Samaria. Alijitapa kwamba yeye ni mtu mkuu,
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 nao watu wote wakubwa kwa wadogo wakamsikiliza na kumaka, wakisema “Mtu huyu ndiye uweza wa Mungu ujulikanao kama ‘Uweza Mkuu.’”
To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 Wakamfuata kwa sababu kwa muda mrefu alikuwa amewashangaza kwa uchawi wake.
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 Lakini watu walipomwamini Filipo alipohubiri habari njema za Ufalme wa Mungu na jina la Yesu Kristo, wakabatizwa wanaume na wanawake.
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Simoni naye akaamini na akabatizwa. Akamfuata Filipo kila mahali, akistaajabishwa na ishara kuu na miujiza aliyoiona.
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Basi mitume waliokuwa Yerusalemu waliposikia kuwa Samaria wamelipokea neno la Mungu, wakawatuma Petro na Yohana waende huko.
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Nao walipofika wakawaombea ili wampokee Roho Mtakatifu,
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 kwa sababu Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa bado hajawashukia hata mmoja ila wamebatizwa tu katika jina la Bwana Yesu.
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Ndipo Petro na Yohana wakaweka mikono yao juu ya wale waliobatizwa, nao wakapokea Roho Mtakatifu.
Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18 Simoni alipoona kuwa watu wanapokea Roho Mtakatifu mitume walipoweka mikono juu yao, akataka kuwapa fedha
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 akisema, “Nipeni na mimi uwezo huu ili kila mtu nitakayeweka mikono yangu juu yake apate kupokea Roho Mtakatifu.”
Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 Petro akamjibu, “Fedha yako na iangamie pamoja nawe, kwa sababu ulidhani unaweza kununua karama ya Mungu kwa fedha!
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Wewe huna sehemu wala fungu katika huduma hii kwa kuwa moyo wako si mnyofu mbele za Mungu.
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Kwa hiyo tubu kwa uovu huu wako na umwombe Bwana. Yamkini aweza kukusamehe mawazo uliyo nayo moyoni mwako.
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 Kwa maana ninaona kwamba wewe umejawa na uchungu na ni mfungwa wa dhambi.”
For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and [in] the bond of iniquity.
24 Ndipo Simoni akajibu, “Niombeeni kwa Bwana, ili hayo mliyosema lolote yasinitukie.”
Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25 Nao walipokwisha kutoa ushuhuda na kuhubiri neno la Bwana, wakarudi Yerusalemu wakihubiri Injili katika vijiji vingi vya Samaria.
And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
26 Basi malaika wa Bwana akamwambia Filipo, “Nenda upande wa kusini kwenye ile barabara itokayo Yerusalemu kuelekea Gaza ambayo ni jangwa.”
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 Hivyo akaondoka. Akiwa njiani akakutana na towashi wa Kushi, aliyekuwa afisa mkuu, mwenye mamlaka juu ya hazina zote za Kandake, Malkia wa Kushi. Huyu towashi alikuwa amekwenda Yerusalemu ili kuabudu,
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 naye akiwa njiani kurudi nyumbani alikuwa ameketi garini mwake akisoma kitabu cha nabii Isaya.
Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Roho Mtakatifu akamwambia Filipo, “Nenda kwenye lile gari ukae karibu nalo.”
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 Ndipo Filipo akakimbilia lile gari na kumsikia yule mtu anasoma kitabu cha nabii Isaya. Filipo akamuuliza, “Je, unaelewa hayo usomayo?”
And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 Yule towashi akasema, “Nitawezaje kuelewa mtu asiponifafanulia?” Hivyo akamkaribisha Filipo ili apande na kuketi pamoja naye.
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 Huyu towashi alikuwa anasoma fungu hili la Maandiko: “Aliongozwa kama kondoo aendaye machinjoni, kama mwana-kondoo anyamazavyo mbele yake yule amkataye manyoya, hivyo hakufungua kinywa chake.
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 Katika kufedheheshwa kwake alinyimwa haki yake. Nani awezaye kueleza juu ya kizazi chake? Kwa maana maisha yake yaliondolewa kutoka duniani.”
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 Yule towashi akamuuliza Filipo, “Tafadhali niambie, nabii huyu anena habari zake mwenyewe au habari za mtu mwingine?”
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Ndipo Filipo akaanza kutumia fungu lile la Maandiko, akamweleza habari njema za Yesu.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 Walipokuwa wakiendelea na safari wakafika mahali palipokuwa na maji, yule towashi akamuuliza Filipo, “Tazama, hapa kuna maji. Kitu gani kitanizuia nisibatizwe?” [
And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 Filipo akamwambia, “Kama ukiamini kwa moyo wako wote unaweza kubatizwa.” Akajibu, “Naamini kuwa Yesu Kristo ni Mwana wa Mungu.”]
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 Naye akaamuru lile gari lisimamishwe. Wakateremka kwenye maji wote wawili, yule towashi na Filipo, naye Filipo akambatiza.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 Nao walipopanda kutoka kwenye maji, ghafula Roho wa Bwana akamnyakua Filipo, naye towashi hakumwona tena, lakini akaenda zake akifurahi.
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 Filipo akajikuta yuko Azoto, akasafiri akihubiri Injili katika miji yote mpaka alipofika Kaisaria.
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.
