Matendo 15
1 Watu fulani walishuka kutoka Uyahudi na kuwafundisha ndugu, wakisema, “msipotahiriwa kama desturi ya Musa, hamwezi kuokolewa.”
Then some men came down from Judea and started teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 Wakati Paulo na Barnaba walipokuwa na mapambano na mjadala pamoja nao, ndugu waliamua kwamba Paulo, Barnaba, na wengine kadhaa waende Yerusalem kwa mitume na wazee kwa ajili ya swali hili.
Well this provoked serious dissension and argument between Paul and Barnabas and them, so Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with certain others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
3 Kwa hiyo, kwa kutumwa kwao na kanisa, walipitia Foinike na Samaria wakitangaza kugeuzwa nia kwa wamataifa. Walileta furaha kuu kwa ndugu wote,
So being sent on their way by the congregation, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brothers.
4 Walipokuja Yerusalem, walikaribishwa na Kanisa na mitume na wazee, na waliwasilisha taarifa ya mambo yote ambayo Mungu amefanya pamoja nao.
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, they were received by the congregation and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
5 Lakini watu fulani walioamini, waliokuwa katika kundi la Mafarisayo, walisimama nakusema, “ni muhimu kuwatahiri na kuwaamuru waishike sheria ya Musa.”
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”
6 Hivyo mitume na wazee walisimama pamoja kulifikiria hili swala.
So the apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter.
7 Baada ya majadiliano marefu, Petro alisimama na kusema kwao, “Ndugu mwatambua kwamba kitambo kizuri kilichopita Mungu alifanya chaguo kati yenu, kwamba kwa mdomo wangu Mataifa wasikie neno la injili, na kuamini.
When there had been plenty of discussion, Peter got up and said to them: “Men, brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of the Gospel and believe.
8 Mungu, anayefahamu mioyo, anashuhudia kwao, anawapa Roho mtakatifu, kama alivyofanya kwetu;
And the heart-knowing God acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us;
9 na hakutengeneza utofauti kati yetu na wao, akiifanya mioyo yao safi kwa imani.
and He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Kwa hiyo, kwa nini mnamjaribu Mungu kwamba muweke nira juu ya shingo za wanafunzi ambayo hata baba zetu wala sisi hatukuweza kustahimili?
Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 Lakini twaamini kwamba tutaokolewa kwa neema ya Bwana Yesu, kama walivyokuwa.”
Rather, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same manner as they.”
12 Kusanyiko lote lilinyamaza walipokua wakimsikiliza Barnaba na Paulo walipokuwa wakitoa taarifa ya ishara na maajabu ambayo Mungu alifanya pamoja nao kati ya watu wa mataifa.
Then the whole assembly kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the ethnic nations through them.
13 Walipoacha kuongea, Yakobo alijibu akisema, “Ndugu nisikilizeni.
Now when they finished, James reacted saying: “Men, brothers, listen to me.
14 Simoni ameelezea jinsi kwanza Mungu kwa neema aliwasaidia Mataifa ili kwamba ajipatie kutoka kwao watu kwa ajili ya jina lake.
Simeon has described how God first intervened to extract from the Gentiles a people for His name.
15 Maneno ya manabii yanakubaliana na hili kama lilivyoandikwa.
And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 'Baada ya mambo haya nitarudi na kuijenga tena hema ya Daudi, iliyoanguka chini; nitainua na kuhuisha uhararibifu wake,
‘After these things I will return, and I will rebuild David's tent, the fallen one; yes, I will rebuild its ruins and restore it;
17 ili kwamba watu waliobaki wamtafute Bwana, pamoja na watu wa Mataifa walioitwa kwa jina langu.'
so that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles—the ones, that is, upon whom my name has been called—says the Lord who does all these things.’
All His works are known to God from eternity. (aiōn g165)
19 Hivyo basi, ushauri wangu ni, kwamba tusiwapatie shida watu wa Mataifa wamgeukiao Mungu;
Therefore I judge that we should not create difficulty for those who are turning to God from among the ethnic nations,
20 lakini tuandike kwao kwamba wajiepushe mbali na uharibifu wa sanamu, tamaa za uasherati, na vilivyonyongwa, na damu.
but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from what is strangled, and from blood.
21 Kutoka vizazi vya wazee kuna watu katika kila mji wahubirio na kumsoma Musa katika masinagogi kila Sabato.”
For from ancient generations Moses has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Kwa hiyo ikaonekana kuwa imewapendeza mitume na wazee, pamoja na kanisa lote, kumchagua Yuda aliyeitwa Barsaba, na Silas, waliokuwa viongozi wa kanisa, na kuwatuma Antiokia pamoja na Paulo na Barnaba.
Then it pleased the apostles and the elders, with the whole congregation, to send chosen men from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas (the one called Barsabas) and Silas, leading men among the brothers.
23 Waliandika hivi, “Mitume, wazee na ndugu, kwa ndugu wa Mataifa walioko Antiokia, Shamu na Kilikia, salamu.
They wrote by their hand the following: “The apostles and the elders and the brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 Tulisika kwamba watu fulani ambao hatukuwapatia amri hiyo, walitoka kwetu na wamewataabisha kwa mafundisho yaletayo shida nafsini mwenu.
Since we have heard that some who went out from among us have disturbed you with words, unsettling your souls, saying that you must be circumcised and keep the Law—to whom we gave no such authorization—
25 Kwa hiyo imeonekana vyema kwetu sote kuchagua watu na kuwatuma kwenu pamoja na wapendwa wetu Barnaba na Paulo,
it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 watu walio hatarisha maisha yao kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana Yesu Kristo.
men who have risked their lives for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Kwa hiyo tumemtuma Yuda na Sila, watawaambia mambo yayo hayo.
So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also confirm these things by word of mouth.
28 Kwa kuwa ilionekana vyema kwa Roho Mtakatifu na kwetu, kutoweka juu yenu mzigo mkubwa kuliko mambo haya yaliyo ya lazima:
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to place no greater burden upon you than these necessary things:
29 kwamba mgeuke kutoka kwenye vitu vitolewavyo kwa sanamu, damu, vitu vya kunyongwa, na uasherati. Kama mtajiweka mbali na hivi, itakuwa vyema kwenu. Kwa herini.”
to abstain from things offered to idols, from ‘blood’, from anything strangled and from fornication; it will be in your own best interest to keep away from these things. Farewell.”
30 Hivyo basi, walivyotawanyishwa, waliteremkia Antiokia; baada ya kukusanya kusanyiko pamoja, waliwasilisha barua.
So when they were sent off they came to Antioch, and gathering the crowd they delivered the letter.
31 Walipokua wameisoma, walifurahi kwa sababu ya kutiwa moyo.
When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
32 Yuda na Sila, na manabii, waliwatia moyo ndugu kwa maneno mengi na kuwatia nguvu.
Both Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
33 Baada ya kukaa muda fulani huko, walitawanyishwa kwa amani kutoka kwa ndugu kwa wale waliowatuma.
After some time, they were released with peace from the brothers to the apostles.
34 [ Lakini ilionekana vyema Sila kubaki huko ]
35 Lakini Paulo na wengine walikaa Antiokia pamoja na wengine wengi, ambapo walifundisha na kuhubiri neno la Bwana.
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 Baada ya siku kadhaa Paulo alisema kwa Barnaba, “Na turudi sasa na kuwatembelea ndugu katika kila mji tulipohubiri neno la Bwana, na kuwaona walivyo.
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return now and visit our brothers in each city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37 Barnaba alihitaji pia kumchukua pamoja nao Yohana aliyeitwa Marko.
Now Barnabas resolved to take John (the one called Mark) along as well.
38 Lakini Paulo alifikiria haikuwa vizuri kumchukua Marko, aliyewaacha huko Pamfilia na hakuendelea nao katika kazi.
But Paul insisted on not taking someone who had deserted them in Pamphilia and not gone with them to the work.
39 Kisha hapo kukatokea mabishano makubwa kwa hiyo walitengana, na Barnaba alimchukua Marko na kusafiri kwa meli mpaka Kipro,
Well the contention became so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
40 Lakini Paulo alimchagua Sila na kuondoka, baada ya kukabidhiwa na ndugu katika neema ya Bwana.
while Paul chose Silas and set out, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 Na alienda kupitia Shamu na Kilikia, akiimarisha makanisa.
He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the congregations.
