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.
With these words he fell asleep. And Saul fully approved of his murder. On this very day there broke out a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostle were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
2 Watu wacha Mungu wakamzika Stefano na kumwombolezea sana.
Devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentations over him.
3 Lakini kwa habari ya Sauli alikuwa analiharibu kanisa, akiingia nyumba kwa nyumba, akiwaburuta wanawake na wanaume na kuwatupa gerezani.
But Saul was laying waste the church. He was wont to enter into every house, and to drag off men and women, and to commit them to prison.
4 Kwa hiyo wale waliotawanyika wakalihubiri neno la Mungu kila mahali walipokwenda.
So those who were scattered abroad were going everywhere preaching the word.
5 Filipo akateremkia mji mmoja wa Samaria akawahubiria habari za Kristo
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and began to preach Christ there.
6 Watu walipomsikia Filipo na kuona ishara na miujiza aliyofanya, wakasikiliza kwa bidii yale aliyosema.
The crowd with one accord were giving heed to what he said, when they heard and saw the signs that he did.
7 Pepo wachafu wakawa wakiwatoka watu wengi huku wakipiga kelele na wengi waliopooza na viwete wakaponywa.
For with a loud cry unclean spirits would come out of many possessed by them, and many that were palsied and lame were healed.
8 Hivyo pakawa na furaha kuu katika mji huo.
There began to be 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,
Now for some time a man named Simon had been practising sorcery in that city, and had amazed the people of Samaria. He gave himself out to be some great person.
10 nao watu wote wakubwa kwa wadogo wakamsikiliza na kumaka, wakisema “Mtu huyu ndiye uweza wa Mungu ujulikanao kama ‘Uweza Mkuu.’”
Many from all classes would give heed to him, declaring, "This man is the Power of God, known as the Great Power."
11 Wakamfuata kwa sababu kwa muda mrefu alikuwa amewashangaza kwa uchawi wake.
They were giving heed to him because, for a long time, he had amazed them with his 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, who was preaching glad tidings about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women.
13 Simoni naye akaamini na akabatizwa. Akamfuata Filipo kila mahali, akistaajabishwa na ishara kuu na miujiza aliyoiona.
And Simon himself also believed, and after his baptism he remained with Philip, and was full of amazement as he beheld the signs and striking miracles which were performed.
14 Basi mitume waliokuwa Yerusalemu waliposikia kuwa Samaria wamelipokea neno la Mungu, wakawatuma Petro na Yohana waende huko.
The apostle at Jerusalem, when they heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, sent to them Peter and John.
15 Nao walipofika wakawaombea ili wampokee Roho Mtakatifu,
Who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16 kwa sababu Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa bado hajawashukia hata mmoja ila wamebatizwa tu katika jina la Bwana Yesu.
For he had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been 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 the apostles laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Simoni alipoona kuwa watu wanapokea Roho Mtakatifu mitume walipoweka mikono juu yao, akataka kuwapa fedha
But when Simon perceived that, by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, the Spirit was given, he offered them money saying,
19 akisema, “Nipeni na mimi uwezo huu ili kila mtu nitakayeweka mikono yangu juu yake apate kupokea Roho Mtakatifu.”
"Give me, too, this power, so that on whomever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit."
20 Petro akamjibu, “Fedha yako na iangamie pamoja nawe, kwa sababu ulidhani unaweza kununua karama ya Mungu kwa fedha!
But Peter said to him. "Your money perish with you, because you have supposed that with money you can obtain God’s free gift!"
21 Wewe huna sehemu wala fungu katika huduma hii kwa kuwa moyo wako si mnyofu mbele za Mungu.
"You have no part or lot in this matter." Your 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 then of this your wickedness, and beseech the Lord to forgive you this purpose of your heart.
23 Kwa maana ninaona kwamba wewe umejawa na uchungu na ni mfungwa wa dhambi.”
"For I perceive that you still stand in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness."
24 Ndipo Simoni akajibu, “Niombeeni kwa Bwana, ili hayo mliyosema lolote yasinitukie.”
And Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me, both of you, that nothing which you have said may happen to me."
25 Nao walipokwisha kutoa ushuhuda na kuhubiri neno la Bwana, wakarudi Yerusalemu wakihubiri Injili katika vijiji vingi vya Samaria.
So the apostles, after bearing solemn witness, and declaring the message of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, evangelizing many Samaritan villages as they went.
26 Basi malaika wa Bwana akamwambia Filipo, “Nenda upande wa kusini kwenye ile barabara itokayo Yerusalemu kuelekea Gaza ambayo ni jangwa.”
And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go on your way south, along the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert way."
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,
So he arose and went. And behold an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, who was a high official (a chief treasurer) of Candace, the queen of Ethiopia, who had come to Jerusalem to worship
28 naye akiwa njiani kurudi nyumbani alikuwa ameketi garini mwake akisoma kitabu cha nabii Isaya.
Was now on his way home, and was reading the Prophet Isaiah as he sat in his chariot.
29 Roho Mtakatifu akamwambia Filipo, “Nenda kwenye lile gari ukae karibu nalo.”
And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join that chariot."
30 Ndipo Filipo akakimbilia lile gari na kumsikia yule mtu anasoma kitabu cha nabii Isaya. Filipo akamuuliza, “Je, unaelewa hayo usomayo?”
So Philip ran up, and heard him reading Isaiah the Prophet, and said to him. "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31 Yule towashi akasema, “Nitawezaje kuelewa mtu asiponifafanulia?” Hivyo akamkaribisha Filipo ili apande na kuketi pamoja naye.
The eunuch answered, "Why, how can I unless someone shall show me the way?" And he begged Philip to get 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.
Now the portion of Scripture which he was reading was as follows. He was led a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, So he opened 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 justice was denied him. Who will declare his posterity? For his life is cut off from the earth.
34 Yule towashi akamuuliza Filipo, “Tafadhali niambie, nabii huyu anena habari zake mwenyewe au habari za mtu mwingine?”
"Pray," asked the eunuch of Philip, "of whom is the prophet speaking? Of himself, or of some one else?"
35 Ndipo Filipo akaanza kutumia fungu lile la Maandiko, akamweleza habari njema za Yesu.
Then Philip opened his lips, and beginning from that same scripture, he preached the gospel of Jesus to him.
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 were going on their way they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said. "See, here is water! What hinders my being 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 you believe with your whole heart, you may." The eunuch answered, "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 ordered the chariot to stop; and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip 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 had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing.
40 Filipo akajikuta yuko Azoto, akasafiri akihubiri Injili katika miji yote mpaka alipofika Kaisaria.
Philip found himself at Ashdod. Then visiting town after town, he kept preaching the good news in all the cities until he reached Caesarea.
