Matendo 17
1 Na walipopita katika miji ya Amfipoli na Apolonia, walikuja mpaka mji wa Thesalonike ambao kulikuwa na sinagogi la Wayahudi.
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
2 Kama ilivyo kawaida ya Paulo, alienda kwao, na kwa muda wa siku tatu za Sabato alijadiliana nao juu ya maandiko.
Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 Alikuwa akiwafungulia maandiko na kuwaeleza kuwa, ilimpasa Kristo ateseke na kisha kufufuka tena kutoka kwa wafu. Aliwaambia, “Huyu Yesu ninayewaambia habari zake ndiye Kristo”
explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."
4 Baadhi ya Wayahudi walishawishika na kuungana na Paulo na Sila, pamoja na Wagiriki wachamungu, akinamama wengi waongofu na kundi kubwa la watu.
Some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the prominent women.
5 Lakini baadhi ya Wayahudi wasioamini, waliojawa na wivu, walienda sokoni na kuwachukuwa baadhi ya watu waovu, wakakusanya umati wa watu pamoja, na kusababisha ghasia mjini, kisha wakaivamia nyumba ya Jason, wakitaka kuwakamata Paulo na Sila ilikuwaleta mbele za watu.
But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.
6 Lakini walipowakosa, walimkamata Yasoni na baadhi ya ndugu wengine na kuwapeleka mbele ya maofisa wa mji, wakipiga kelele, “Hawa wanaume walioupindua ulimwengu wamefika mpaka huku pia,
When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
7 Wanaume hawa waliokaribishwa na Yasoni wanaihalifu sheria ya Kaisari, wanasema kuna mfalme mwingine anayeitwa Yesu”
whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."
8 Umati na maofisa wa mji waliposikia mambo hayo, waliingiwa na wasiwasi.
The crowd and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things.
9 Baada ya kuwa wamekwisha kuchukua fedha ya thamani ya ulinzi kutoka kwa Yason na wengine, waliwaachia waende.
When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
10 Usiku ule ndugu walimtuma Paulo na Sila Beroya. Na walipofika kule walikwenda katika sinagogi la Wayahudi.
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
11 Watu wale walikuwa wenye werevu mkubwa kuliko wale watu wa Thesalonike, kwa sababu walikuwa na utayari wa kulipokea neno kwa akili zao, na kuchunguza maandiko kila siku ili kuona kama maneno yaliyonenwa ndivyo yalivyo.
Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
12 Kwa hiyo wengi wao waliamini, wakiwemo wanawake wenye ushawishi mkubwa wa Kigiriki na wanaume wengi.
Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men.
13 Lakini Wayahudi wa Thesalonike walipogundua kwamba Paulo anatangaza neno la Mungu huko Beroya, walienda huko na kuchochea na kisha kuanzisha ghasia kwa watu.
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, inciting and disturbing the crowds.
14 Kwa haraka, ndugu wakampeleka Paulo kwa njia ya ziwa, lakini Sila na Timotheo wakabaki pale.
Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there.
15 Wale ndugu waliompeleka Paulo walienda naye hadi Athene, walipomwacha Paulo huko, walipokea maagizo kutoka kwake kuwa, Sila na Timotheo waje kwake kwa haraka iwezeanavyo.
But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.
16 Na wakati akiwasubiri huko Athene, roho yake ilikasirishwa ndani yake kwa jinsi alivyouona mji ulivyojaa sanamu nyingi.
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
17 Hivyo akajadiliana katika sinagogi na wayahudi wale waliomcha Mungu na kwa wale wote aliokutana nao kila siku sokoni.
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.
18 Lakini baathi ya Wanafalsafa wa Waepikureo na Wastoiko wakamkabili. Na wengine wakasema, “Ni nini anachokisema huyu mwongeaji mchanga? Wengine wakasema, “inaonekana anahubiri habari ya mungu mgeni,” kwasababu anahubiri habari ya Yesu na ufufuo.
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be advocating foreign deities," because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
19 Wakamchukua Paulo na kumleta Areopago, wakisema, “Twaweza kujua haya mafundisho mapya unayoyaongea?
They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you?
20 Kwasababu unaleta mambo mapya katika masikio yetu. Kwahivyo tunataka kujua haya mambo yana maana gani?”
For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean."
21 (Na watu wote wa Athene pamoja na wageni waliopo kwao, hutumia muda wao aidha katika kuongea na kusikiliza juu ya jambo jipya.)
Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
22 Kwa hiyo Paulo akasimama katikati ya watu wa Areopago na kusema, “Enyi watu wa Athene, naona kuwa ninyi ni watu wa dini kwa kila namna,
Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, "You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.
23 Kwani katika kupita kwangu na kuangalia vitu vyenu vya kuabudu, nimeona maneno yalioandikwa kwenye moja ya madhabahu yenu, ikisema “KWA MUNGU ASIYEJULIKANA”. Hivyo basi, huyo mnayemwabudu pasipokujua, ndiye ninayewajulisha ninyi.
For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.
24 Mungu aliyeumba dunia na kila kitu kilichoko ndani, kwa kuwa ni Bwana wa mbingu na nchi, hawezi kukaa katika mahekalu yaliyotengenezwa na mikono.
The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands,
25 Na pia hatumikiwi na mikono ya wanadamu kana kwamba anahitaji kitu kwao, kwani yeye mwenyewe huwapa watu uzima na pumzi na vitu vingine vyote.
neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.
26 Kupitia mtu mmoja, alifanya mataifa yote ya watu waishio juu ya uso wa dunia, na akawawekea nyakati na mipaka katika maeneo wanaoishi.
He made from one blood every nation of the human race to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,
27 Kwa hiyo, wanatakiwa kumtafuta Mungu, na yamkini wamfikie na kumpata, na kwa uhakika hayupo mbali na kila mmoja wetu.
that they should seek God, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
28 Kwake tunaishi, tunatembea na kuwa na uzima wetu, kama vile mtunzi wenu mmoja wa shairi aliposema 'tu wazaliwa wake.'
'For in him we live, and move, and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also his offspring.'
29 Kwa hiyo, ikiwa sisi ni wazaliwa wa Mungu, hatupaswi kufikiri kuwa uungu ni kama dhahabu, au shaba, au mawe, sanamu iliyochongwa kwa ustadi na mawazo ya watu.
Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by human art and design.
30 Kwa hiyo, Mungu alinyamazia nyakati zile za ujinga, lakini sasa anaamuru watu wote kila mahali wapate kutubu.
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,
31 Hii ni kwa sababu ameweka siku atakayo ihukumu dunia kwa haki kwa mtu ambaye alimchagua. Mungu alitoa uhakika wa mtu huyu kwa kila mtu pale alipomfufua katoka kwa wafu.
because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to everyone by raising him from the dead."
32 Na watu wa Athene waliposikia habari ya kufufuliwa kwa wafu, baadhi yao wakamdhihaki Paulo, ila wengine wakasema “Tutakusikiliza tena kwa habari ya jambo hili”
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, "We want to hear you again concerning this."
33 Baada ya hapo, Paulo akawaacha.
Thus Paul went out from among them.
34 Lakini baadhi ya watu waliungana naye wakaamini, akiwemo Dionisio Mwareopago, na Mwanamke anaitwa Damari na wengine pamoja nao.
But some people joined with him, and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
