Matendo 9
1 Wakati ule ule, Sauli alikuwa bado anazidisha vitisho vya kuua wanafunzi wa Bwana, akamwendea kuhani mkuu,
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 naye akamwomba kuhani mkuu ampe barua za kwenda kwenye masinagogi huko Dameski, ili akimkuta mtu yeyote wa Njia Ile, akiwa mwanaume au mwanamke, aweze kuwafunga na kuwaleta Yerusalemu.
and begged of him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any that were of the Way, either men or women, he could bind them and bring them to Jerusalem.
3 Basi akiwa katika safari yake, alipokaribia Dameski, ghafula nuru kutoka mbinguni ikamwangaza kotekote.
And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him.
4 Akaanguka chini, akasikia sauti ikimwambia, “Sauli, Sauli, mbona unanitesa?”
He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
5 Sauli akajibu, “U nani wewe, Bwana?” Ile sauti ikajibu, “Mimi ni Yesu unayemtesa.
And he said, "Who are you Lord?"
6 Sasa inuka uingie mjini, nawe utaambiwa yakupasayo kutenda.”
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he said. "Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall be told what you must do."
7 Watu waliokuwa wakisafiri pamoja na Sauli wakasimama bila kuwa na la kusema, kwa sababu walisikia sauti lakini hawakumwona aliyekuwa akizungumza.
Meanwhile the men who were his fellow travelers stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one.
8 Sauli akainuka kutoka pale chini na alipojaribu kufungua macho yake hakuweza kuona kitu chochote. Basi wakamshika mkono wakamwongoza mpaka Dameski.
And Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he continued to perceive nothing; so they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.
9 Naye kwa muda wa siku tatu alikuwa kipofu naye hakula wala kunywa chochote.
And he remained there three days, seeing nothing, and without eating or drinking.
10 Huko Dameski alikuwepo mwanafunzi mmoja jina lake Anania. Bwana alimwita katika maono, “Anania!” Akajibu, “Mimi hapa Bwana.”
Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Lo, I am here, Lord."
11 Bwana akamwambia, “Ondoka uende katika barabara iitwayo Nyofu ukaulize katika nyumba ya Yuda mtu kutoka Tarso, jina lake Sauli, kwa maana wakati huu anaomba,
And the Lord said to him. "Arise, go into the street named ‘Straight,’ and make inquiries in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus, one Saul.
12 katika maono amemwona mtu aitwaye Anania akija na kuweka mikono juu yake ili apate kuona tena.”
He is now praying, and has seen a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him to restore his sight."
13 Anania akajibu, “Bwana, nimesikia kutoka kwa watu wengi habari nyingi kuhusu mtu huyu na madhara yote aliyowatendea watakatifu wako huko Yerusalemu.
"But, Lord," said Ananias, "I have heard from many about that man, and how much evil he did to the saints at Jerusalem!
14 Naye amekuja hapa Dameski akiwa na mamlaka kutoka kwa viongozi wa makuhani ili awakamate wote wanaotaja jina lako.”
"In this city, too, he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those who call upon thy name."
15 Lakini Bwana akamwambia Anania, “Nenda! Mtu huyu ni chombo changu kiteule nilichokichagua, apate kulichukua Jina langu kwa watu wa Mataifa na wafalme wao na mbele ya watu wa Israeli.
"Go," answered the Lord, "this man is chosen instrument of mine to bear my name before the nations and their kings, and before the Children of Israel also;
16 Nami nitamwonyesha jinsi impasavyo kuteseka kwa ajili ya Jina langu.”
"for I am going to show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my name."
17 Kisha Anania akaenda kwenye ile nyumba, akaingia ndani. Akaweka mikono yake juu ya Sauli akasema, “Ndugu Sauli, Bwana Yesu aliyekutokea njiani amenituma kwako ili upate kuona tena na ujazwe Roho Mtakatifu.”
And so Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 Ghafula vitu kama magamba vikaanguka chini, kutoka machoni mwa Sauli, akapata kuona tena. Akasimama, akabatizwa.
Instantly something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.
19 Baada ya kula chakula, akapata nguvu tena. Sauli akakaa siku kadhaa pamoja na wanafunzi huko Dameski.
Afterward he took food and was strengthened. And he remained for some time with the disciples at Damascus.
20 Papo hapo akaanza kuhubiri kwenye masinagogi kwamba “Yesu Kristo ni Mwana wa Mungu”
And he began at once to proclaim in the synagogues Jesus as the Son of God.
21 Watu wote waliomsikia Sauli walishangaa na kuuliza, “Huyu si yule mtu aliyesababisha maangamizi makuu huko Yerusalemu miongoni mwa watu waliolitaja jina hili? Naye si amekuja hapa kwa kusudi la kuwakamata na kuwapeleka wakiwa wafungwa mbele ya viongozi wa makuhani?”
His hearers were all astonished, and began to say. "Is not this the very man who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called upon the Name? Did he not come hither for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?"
22 Sauli akazidi kuwa hodari na kuwashangaza Wayahudi walioishi Dameski kwa kuthibitisha kuwa Yesu ndiye Kristo.
But Saul gained more and more influence, and kept putting the Jews who lived in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ.
23 Baada ya siku nyingi kupita, Wayahudi wakafanya shauri kumuua Sauli.
And when many days were fulfilled the Jews made a plot to kill Saul;
24 Lakini shauri lao likajulikana kwa Sauli. Wayahudi wakawa wanalinda malango yote ya mji, usiku na mchana ili wapate kumuua.
but information of their plot was given Saul, and although they kept watch day and night on the gates, in order to make away with him,
25 Lakini wafuasi wake wakamchukua usiku wakamshusha akiwa ndani ya kapu kupitia mahali penye nafasi ukutani.
his disciples took him by night, and let him down over the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 Sauli alipofika Yerusalemu akajaribu kujiunga na wanafunzi lakini wote walimwogopa, kwa maana hawakuamini kwamba kweli naye alikuwa mwanafunzi.
So he came to Jerusalem, and attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 Lakini Barnaba akamchukua, akampeleka kwa wale mitume. Akawaeleza jinsi Sauli akiwa njiani alivyomwona Bwana, jinsi Bwana alivyosema naye na jinsi alivyohubiri kwa ujasiri kwa jina la Yesu huko Dameski.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and told them how Saul had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him; and also how he had preached the Name of the Lord Jesus boldly at Damascus.
28 Kwa hiyo Sauli akakaa nao akitembea kwa uhuru kila mahali huko Yerusalemu, akihubiri kwa ujasiri katika jina la Bwana.
Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city, and speaking fearlessly in the Name of the Lord.
29 Alinena na kuhojiana na Wayahudi wenye asili ya Kiyunani lakini wao walijaribu kumuua.
He also used to hold conversations and debates with the Grecian Jews, but they kept trying to kill him.
30 Wale ndugu walipopata habari wakampeleka hadi Kaisaria, wakamsafirisha kwenda Tarso.
When they learned this the brothers took him down to Caesarea, and then sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 Ndipo kanisa katika Uyahudi wote, Galilaya na Samaria likafurahia wakati wa amani. Likatiwa nguvu, na kwa faraja ya Roho Mtakatifu, idadi yake ikazidi kuongezeka, na likaendelea kudumu katika kumcha Bwana.
Now throughout the whole of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria the Church continued to enjoy peace and to be spiritually built up. It was increasing in members also, as it kept walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
32 Petro alipokuwa akisafiri sehemu mbalimbali, alikwenda kuwatembelea watakatifu walioishi huko Lida.
Now Peter, as he was going from town to town, came down also to the saints who lived in Lydda.
33 Huko alimkuta mtu mmoja aitwaye Ainea, ambaye alikuwa amepooza na kwa muda wa miaka minane alikuwa hajaondoka kitandani.
Here he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, a paralytic.
34 Petro akamwambia, “Ainea, Yesu Kristo anakuponya, inuka utandike kitanda chako.” Mara Ainea akainuka.
Peter said to him. "Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you! Rise and make your own bed!"
35 Watu wote wa Lida na Sharoni walipomwona Ainea akitembea wakamgeukia Bwana.
At once he rose to his feet. All the people of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Huko Yafa palikuwa na mwanafunzi jina lake Tabitha (ambalo kwa Kiyunani ni Dorkasi). Huyu alikuwa mkarimu sana, akitenda mema na kuwasaidia maskini.
Among the disciples at Joppa was a woman named Tabitha - which may be translated Dorcas or "Gazelle" - a woman whose life was full of good works and almsgiving, which she was doing continually.
37 Wakati huo akaugua, akafa na wakiisha kuuosha mwili wake wakauweka katika chumba cha ghorofani.
She, as it happened, was taken ill just at that time, and died. After washing her body, they laid it in an upper room.
38 Kwa kuwa Yafa hapakuwa mbali sana na Lida, wanafunzi waliposikia kwamba Petro yuko huko waliwatuma watu wawili kwake ili kumwomba, “Tafadhali njoo huku pasipo kukawia.”
And as Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, when they heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the entreaty, "Delay not to come to us."
39 Kwa hiyo Petro akainuka akaenda nao, naye alipowasili, wakampeleka hadi kwenye chumba cha ghorofani alipokuwa amelazwa. Wajane wengi walisimama karibu naye wakilia na kuonyesha majoho na nguo nyingine ambazo Dorkasi alikuwa amewashonea alipokuwa pamoja nao.
So Peter arose and went with them. On his arrival they took him up- stairs, and all the widows stood near him, weeping, and showing him the cloaks and garments which Dorcas used to make, while she was still with them.
40 Petro akawatoa wote nje ya kile chumba, kisha akapiga magoti akaomba, akaugeukia ule mwili akasema, “Tabitha, inuka.” Akafumbua macho yake na alipomwona Petro, akaketi.
But Peter put them all out, and kneeled down, and prayed; and then turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise!" She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.
41 Petro akamshika mkono akamwinua, ndipo akawaita wale watakatifu na wajane akamkabidhi kwao akiwa hai.
Then he gave her his hand and raised her up, and after calling the saints and the widows, he gave her back to them alive.
42 Habari hizi zikajulikana sehemu zote za Yafa na watu wengi wakamwamini Bwana.
This incident became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43 Petro akakaa Yafa kwa siku nyingi akiishi na Simoni mtengenezaji ngozi.
Peter stayed for some time in Joppa, lodging in the house of Simon, the tanner.
