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.
Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the church which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
2 Watu wacha Mungu wakamzika Stefano na kumwombolezea sana.
Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.
3 Lakini kwa habari ya Sauli alikuwa analiharibu kanisa, akiingia nyumba kwa nyumba, akiwaburuta wanawake na wanaume na kuwatupa gerezani.
But Saul ravaged the church, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
4 Kwa hiyo wale waliotawanyika wakalihubiri neno la Mungu kila mahali walipokwenda.
Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around proclaiming the word.
5 Filipo akateremkia mji mmoja wa Samaria akawahubiria habari za Kristo
And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
6 Watu walipomsikia Filipo na kuona ishara na miujiza aliyofanya, wakasikiliza kwa bidii yale aliyosema.
The crowds listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did.
7 Pepo wachafu wakawa wakiwatoka watu wengi huku wakipiga kelele na wengi waliopooza na viwete wakaponywa.
For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 Hivyo pakawa na furaha kuu katika mji huo.
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, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be 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 listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that power of God which is called Great."
11 Wakamfuata kwa sababu kwa muda mrefu alikuwa amewashangaza kwa uchawi wake.
They listened 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 as he preached good news 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.
Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
14 Basi mitume waliokuwa Yerusalemu waliposikia kuwa Samaria wamelipokea neno la Mungu, wakawatuma Petro na Yohana waende huko.
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 Nao walipofika wakawaombea ili wampokee Roho Mtakatifu,
who, when they had come down, 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 only 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 they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Simoni alipoona kuwa watu wanapokea Roho Mtakatifu mitume walipoweka mikono juu yao, akataka kuwapa fedha
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, 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 whomever I lay my hands on 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, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money.
21 Wewe huna sehemu wala fungu katika huduma hii kwa kuwa moyo wako si mnyofu mbele za Mungu.
You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
22 Kwa hiyo tubu kwa uovu huu wako na umwombe Bwana. Yamkini aweza kukusamehe mawazo uliyo nayo moyoni mwako.
Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask the Lord if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 Kwa maana ninaona kwamba wewe umejawa na uchungu na ni mfungwa wa dhambi.”
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
24 Ndipo Simoni akajibu, “Niombeeni kwa Bwana, ili hayo mliyosema lolote yasinitukie.”
Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me."
25 Nao walipokwisha kutoa ushuhuda na kuhubiri neno la Bwana, wakarudi Yerusalemu wakihubiri Injili katika vijiji vingi vya Samaria.
They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to 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.”
But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a 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 look, there was a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Kandake, the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge over all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 naye akiwa njiani kurudi nyumbani alikuwa ameketi garini mwake akisoma kitabu cha nabii Isaya.
and he was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 Roho Mtakatifu akamwambia Filipo, “Nenda kwenye lile gari ukae karibu nalo.”
And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go and join up with that chariot."
30 Ndipo Filipo akakimbilia lile gari na kumsikia yule mtu anasoma kitabu cha nabii Isaya. Filipo akamuuliza, “Je, unaelewa hayo usomayo?”
And running near, Philip heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31 Yule towashi akasema, “Nitawezaje kuelewa mtu asiponifafanulia?” Hivyo akamkaribisha Filipo ili apande na kuketi pamoja naye.
He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to 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.
Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he does not open 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 justice was taken away. Who will 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?”
The eunuch answered Philip, "Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?"
35 Ndipo Filipo akaanza kutumia fungu lile la Maandiko, akamweleza habari njema za Yesu.
Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
36 Walipokuwa wakiendelea na safari wakafika mahali palipokuwa na maji, yule towashi akamuuliza Filipo, “Tazama, hapa kuna maji. Kitu gani kitanizuia nisibatizwe?” [
As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?"
37 Filipo akamwambia, “Kama ukiamini kwa moyo wako wote unaweza kubatizwa.” Akajibu, “Naamini kuwa Yesu Kristo ni Mwana wa Mungu.”]
And he said to him, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." 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.
He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down 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.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, for 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. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
