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 was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Kama ilivyo kawaida ya Paulo, alienda kwao, na kwa muda wa siku tatu za Sabato alijadiliana nao juu ya maandiko.
And Paul, as his manner was, went in to them, and on three sabbaths reasoned with them out of 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”
Opening and alledging, that it was needful that Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ.
4 Baadhi ya Wayahudi walishawishika na kuungana na Paulo na Sila, pamoja na Wagiriki wachamungu, akinamama wengi waongofu na kundi kubwa la watu.
And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas: and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
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 who believed not, moved with envy, took to them certain vile fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and 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,
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren to the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down, have come hither also;
7 Wanaume hawa waliokaribishwa na Yasoni wanaihalifu sheria ya Kaisari, wanasema kuna mfalme mwingine anayeitwa Yesu”
Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying, That there is another king, [one] Jesus.
8 Umati na maofisa wa mji waliposikia mambo hayo, waliingiwa na wasiwasi.
And they troubled the people, and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 Baada ya kuwa wamekwisha kuchukua fedha ya thamani ya ulinzi kutoka kwa Yason na wengine, waliwaachia waende.
And when they had taken security of Jason and of the other, they let them go.
10 Usiku ule ndugu walimtuma Paulo na Sila Beroya. Na walipofika kule walikwenda katika sinagogi la Wayahudi.
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea: who coming [thither], went into the synagogue of the Jews.
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.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Kwa hiyo wengi wao waliamini, wakiwemo wanawake wenye ushawishi mkubwa wa Kigiriki na wanaume wengi.
Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women who were Greeks, and of men not a few.
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 preached by Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
14 Kwa haraka, ndugu wakampeleka Paulo kwa njia ya ziwa, lakini Sila na Timotheo wakabaki pale.
And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul, to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timothy abode there still.
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.
And they that conducted Paul brought him to Athens: and receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, 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 stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
17 Hivyo akajadiliana katika sinagogi na wayahudi wale waliomcha Mungu na kwa wale wote aliokutana nao kila siku sokoni.
Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with 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.
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? some others, He seemeth to be a setter-forth of strange gods: because he preached to them Jesus, and the resurrection.
19 Wakamchukua Paulo na kumleta Areopago, wakisema, “Twaweza kujua haya mafundisho mapya unayoyaongea?
And they took him, and brought him to Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine [is], of which thou speakest?
20 Kwasababu unaleta mambo mapya katika masikio yetu. Kwahivyo tunataka kujua haya mambo yana maana gani?”
For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears; we would 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.)
(For all the Athenians and strangers who were 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,
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars-hill, and said, [Ye] men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
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 by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I 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.
God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not 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 worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth 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.
And hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 Kwa hiyo, wanatakiwa kumtafuta Mungu, na yamkini wamfikie na kumpata, na kwa uhakika hayupo mbali na kila mmoja wetu.
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he is not far from every 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 certain also 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 Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone graven by art and man's device.
30 Kwa hiyo, Mungu alinyamazia nyakati zile za ujinga, lakini sasa anaamuru watu wote kila mahali wapate kutubu.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to 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 hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness, by [that] man whom he hath ordained: [of which] he hath given assurance to all [men], in that he hath raised 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”
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again concerning this [matter].
33 Baada ya hapo, Paulo akawaacha.
So Paul departed from among them.
34 Lakini baadhi ya watu waliungana naye wakaamini, akiwemo Dionisio Mwareopago, na Mwanamke anaitwa Damari na wengine pamoja nao.
But certain men adhered to him, and believed: among whom [was] Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
