Matendo 15
1 Watu fulani walishuka kutoka Uyahudi na kuwafundisha ndugu, wakisema, “msipotahiriwa kama desturi ya Musa, hamwezi kuokolewa.”
[Then] some [Jewish] believers went down from Judea [province] to Antioch. They started teaching the [non-Jewish] believers [there, and said], “[You] ([must] be circumcised/must have God’s mark put on you) [to indicate you belong to God], as Moses [commanded] in the laws that [he received from God]. If you do not do that, you will not be saved {[God] will not save you}.”
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.
Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed with those Jews and started arguing [with them. So the believers at Antioch] appointed Paul and Barnabas and some of the other believers to go to Jerusalem, in order that they would/could discuss this matter with the apostles and [other spiritual] leaders.
3 Kwa hiyo, kwa kutumwa kwao na kanisa, walipitia Foinike na Samaria wakitangaza kugeuzwa nia kwa wamataifa. Walileta furaha kuu kwa ndugu wote,
After Paul, Barnabas, and the others were given things for their trip by the congregation [at Antioch] {After the congregation [at Antioch] gave Paul, Barnabas, and the others things for their trip}, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria [provinces. When they stopped at different places in those provinces], they reported [to the believers] that [many] non-Jews [in Antioch] had become believers. As a result, all the believers [in those places] rejoiced greatly.
4 Walipokuja Yerusalem, walikaribishwa na Kanisa na mitume na wazee, na waliwasilisha taarifa ya mambo yote ambayo Mungu amefanya pamoja nao.
And when Paul, Barnabas, and the others arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the apostles, the [other] elders, and the [other members of the] congregation [there] {the apostles, the [other] elders, and the [other members of the] congregation [there] welcomed them}. Then Paul and Barnabas reported the things that God had enabled them to do [among non-Jewish people].
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 [Jewish] believers who belonged to the Pharisee sect stood up [among the other believers and] said to them, “The non-Jews [who have believed in Jesus] must be circumcised, and they must be told to obey the laws [that God gave to] Moses.”
6 Hivyo mitume na wazee walisimama pamoja kulifikiria hili swala.
Then the apostles and [the other] elders met together in order to talk about 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.
After they had discussed it for a long time, Peter stood up and spoke to them. He said, “Fellow believers, you [all] know that a long time ago God chose me from among you [other apostles, in order that] the non-Jewish people might [also] hear me [SYN] tell [them] the good message [about the Lord Jesus], so that they could hear [it] and believe [in him. So Paul and Barnabas are not the first ones to tell non-Jews about Jesus].
8 Mungu, anayefahamu mioyo, anashuhudia kwao, anawapa Roho mtakatifu, kama alivyofanya kwetu;
God knows [and judges] people according to what they think, [not according to who their ancestors were]. By sending the Holy Spirit to [the non-Jews], just like [he had] also done for us [(inc)] Jews, he showed [me and others] that he had accepted them [also to be his people].
9 na hakutengeneza utofauti kati yetu na wao, akiifanya mioyo yao safi kwa imani.
[God] saved us [Jews] and those [non-Jews] similarly, making them clean spiritually simply as a result of their believing [in the Lord Jesus. That was exactly how he has forgiven us].
10 Kwa hiyo, kwa nini mnamjaribu Mungu kwamba muweke nira juu ya shingo za wanafunzi ambayo hata baba zetu wala sisi hatukuweza kustahimili?
[You are wanting to force the non-Jewish believers to obey our Jewish rituals and laws]—laws that God has shown that he does not require them to obey [MET]. [Your doing that is like] putting a heavy burden on them! So then, (stop making God angry by doing that!/why are you making God angry by doing that?) [RHQ] Our ancestors and we [(inc) Jews] have never been able to bear [the burden of obeying those laws]!
11 Lakini twaamini kwamba tutaokolewa kwa neema ya Bwana Yesu, kama walivyokuwa.”
But we [(inc) know that it is not because] we [(inc) try to obey those laws that God saves us(inc) Jews. On the contrary], we [(inc)] know that it is because of what the Lord Jesus did for us [(inc)] that we did not deserve that we [(inc)] are saved {that [God] saves us} [from the guilt of our sins. God saves non-Jews who believe in the Lord Jesus] exactly like [he saves] us Jews.”
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.
All the people [there] became silent [after Peter had spoken]. Then they [all] listened to Barnabas and Paul, [as the two of] them told about the many great miracles that God had enabled them to do among the non-Jewish people, [miracles that showed that God had accepted the non-Jews].
13 Walipoacha kuongea, Yakobo alijibu akisema, “Ndugu nisikilizeni.
When Barnabas and Paul had finished speaking, James, [the leader of the group of believers there in Jerusalem], spoke to all of them. [He said], “Fellow believers, listen to me.
14 Simoni ameelezea jinsi kwanza Mungu kwa neema aliwasaidia Mataifa ili kwamba ajipatie kutoka kwao watu kwa ajili ya jina lake.
Simon [Peter] has told you how God previously blessed the non-Jews. God did that by choosing from among them a people who would belong to him [MTY].
15 Maneno ya manabii yanakubaliana na hili kama lilivyoandikwa.
[These] words that [God spoke], words that were written by [one of] the prophets {that one of the prophets wrote} [long ago], agree with that:
16 'Baada ya mambo haya nitarudi na kuijenga tena hema ya Daudi, iliyoanguka chini; nitainua na kuhuisha uhararibifu wake,
Later on I will return and I will re-establish the kingdom [MET] that David [ruled] and that has been {that [people] have} destroyed. My [doing that will be like] rebuilding [a house] that has been {that [people] have} torn down.
17 ili kwamba watu waliobaki wamtafute Bwana, pamoja na watu wa Mataifa walioitwa kwa jina langu.'
I will do that in order that all other people might seek [me], the Lord [God. I will do that in order that] all the non-Jews whom I have called [to belong] to me [MTY] might seek me. [You can be certain that this will happen because I] the Lord [God], who will do those things, have spoken [these words].
I [caused my people to know about them] long ago.” (aiōn g165)
19 Hivyo basi, ushauri wangu ni, kwamba tusiwapatie shida watu wa Mataifa wamgeukiao Mungu;
[James continued by saying], “Therefore I have decided [that we(inc)] should stop bothering the non-Jewish people who are turning [away from their sins and turning] to God. [That is, we should stop demanding that they obey] all [our laws] and rituals.
20 lakini tuandike kwao kwamba wajiepushe mbali na uharibifu wa sanamu, tamaa za uasherati, na vilivyonyongwa, na damu.
Instead, we should write [a letter] to them [requiring only four things: They should] not eat [meat/food that people] have offered to idols, they should not have sex with someone to whom they are not married, they should not [eat meat from animals that have been killed by] being strangled {[people have strangled]}, and [they should not eat] the blood [of animals].
21 Kutoka vizazi vya wazee kuna watu katika kila mji wahubirio na kumsoma Musa katika masinagogi kila Sabato.”
In many cities, for a very long time people have been proclaiming [the laws that] Moses [wrote] [MTY], [laws prohibiting those things]. And every (Sabbath/Jewish day of rest) [those laws] are read {someone reads [those laws]} in the Jewish meeting places. [So if the non-Jews want to know more about those laws, they can find out in our meeting houses].”
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.
The apostles and the [other] elders, along with all the [other] members of the congregation, accepted [what James had said]. Then they decided that they should choose men from among themselves and that they should send them, along with Paul and Barnabas, to Antioch, to [let the believers there know what the leaders] at Jerusalem had decided. So they chose Judas, who was also called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the believers [at Jerusalem].
23 Waliandika hivi, “Mitume, wazee na ndugu, kwa ndugu wa Mataifa walioko Antiokia, Shamu na Kilikia, salamu.
Then they wrote the following letter [that they asked Judas and Silas to take to the believers at Antioch]: “[We(exc)] apostles and [other] leaders who are your fellow believers [send our greetings to you as we write this to you] non-Jewish believers [who live] in Antioch and [other places in] Syria and Cilicia [provinces].
24 Tulisika kwamba watu fulani ambao hatukuwapatia amri hiyo, walitoka kwetu na wamewataabisha kwa mafundisho yaletayo shida nafsini mwenu.
People have told us that some men from among us went [to you], although we had not told [them to do that]. They troubled/distressed you [SYN] [by telling you things] that confused your thinking.
25 Kwa hiyo imeonekana vyema kwetu sote kuchagua watu na kuwatuma kwenu pamoja na wapendwa wetu Barnaba na Paulo,
So [while we(exc) met together here], we decided to choose some men and ask them to go to you, along with Barnabas and Paul, whom we [(exc)] love very much.
26 watu walio hatarisha maisha yao kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana Yesu Kristo.
Those two have put their lives in danger because of their [serving] our Lord [MTY] Jesus Christ.
27 Kwa hiyo tumemtuma Yuda na Sila, watawaambia mambo yayo hayo.
We [(exc) have also chosen] Judas and Silas to go to you. They will tell you the same things [that we are writing].
28 Kwa kuwa ilionekana vyema kwa Roho Mtakatifu na kwetu, kutoweka juu yenu mzigo mkubwa kuliko mambo haya yaliyo ya lazima:
The Holy Spirit and [also] we decided that you should not be required {that we should not require you} to obey a lot of burdensome [Jewish] laws. Instead, [we] only [require you to obey] the following instructions,
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.”
You should not eat food that people have sacrificed to idols. You should not eat blood from animals, and you should not eat meat from animals that people have killed by strangling them. Also, you should not have sex with someone to whom you are not married. Those things [especially offend Jewish believers. So if] you avoid doing them, you will be doing what is right. That is all.”
30 Hivyo basi, walivyotawanyishwa, waliteremkia Antiokia; baada ya kukusanya kusanyiko pamoja, waliwasilisha barua.
The [four] men whom [they] had chosen went [from Jerusalem] to Antioch [city. When] all the believers [there] had assembled together, [Judas and Silas] gave the letter to them.
31 Walipokua wameisoma, walifurahi kwa sababu ya kutiwa moyo.
When the believers there read the letter, they rejoiced, [because its message] encouraged them.
32 Yuda na Sila, na manabii, waliwatia moyo ndugu kwa maneno mengi na kuwatia nguvu.
[Just like Paul and Barnabas were] ([prophets/men who spoke messages from God]), Judas and Silas were also prophets. They spoke for a long time and encouraged the believers [there], and helped them to trust more strongly [in the Lord Jesus].
33 Baada ya kukaa muda fulani huko, walitawanyishwa kwa amani kutoka kwa ndugu kwa wale waliowatuma.
After [Judas and Silas] had stayed in Antioch for some time [and were ready to return to Jerusalem], the believers [there] wished them well, and the believers [prayed that God] would protect [them as they traveled. So the two men] started to go back to the leaders [in Jerusalem] who had asked them to go [to Antioch].
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.
However, Paul and Barnabas continued to stay in Antioch. [While they were there], they, along with many others, were teaching [people] and preaching to them the message about the Lord [Jesus].
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.
After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the fellow believers in every city where we [previously] proclaimed the message about the Lord [Jesus. In that way, we will know] how [well] they are continuing [to believe in the Lord Jesus].”
37 Barnaba alihitaji pia kumchukua pamoja nao Yohana aliyeitwa Marko.
Barnabas [agreed with Paul, and said that he] wanted to take John, whose other name was Mark, along with them [again].
38 Lakini Paulo alifikiria haikuwa vizuri kumchukua Marko, aliyewaacha huko Pamfilia na hakuendelea nao katika kazi.
However, Paul [told Barnabas that he] thought that it would not be good to take Mark [with them, because] Mark had deserted them when they were previously in Pamphylia [region], and had not continued to work with them.
39 Kisha hapo kukatokea mabishano makubwa kwa hiyo walitengana, na Barnaba alimchukua Marko na kusafiri kwa meli mpaka Kipro,
Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed [with each other about that], so they separated. Barnabas took Mark [along with him and they got] on a ship and went to Cyprus.
40 Lakini Paulo alimchagua Sila na kuondoka, baada ya kukabidhiwa na ndugu katika neema ya Bwana.
Paul chose Silas, [who had returned to Antioch, to work with him]. The believers [there] asked the Lord [God] to graciously help [Paul and Silas. Then] the two of them departed [from Antioch].
41 Na alienda kupitia Shamu na Kilikia, akiimarisha makanisa.
Paul continued traveling [with Silas] through Syria and Cilicia [provinces]. In those places he was helping the congregations to trust strongly [in the Lord Jesus].
