Matendo 19
1 Ikawa kwamba Apolo alipokuwa Korintho, Paulo akapita nyanda za juu na kufika katika mji wa Efeso, na akakuta wanafunzi kadhaa huko.
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul took the inland route and arrived in Ephesus where he found some believers.
2 Paulo akawaambia, “Je, mlipokea Roho Mtakatifu mlipoamini?” Wakamwambia, “Hapana, hatukuweza hata kusikia kuhusu Roho Mtakatifu.”
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No, we haven't heard anything about a Holy Spirit,” they told him.
3 Paul alisema, “Sasa ninyi mlibatizwaje?” Wakasema, “Katika ubatizo wa Yohana.
“So what baptism did you receive?” he asked. “John's baptism,” they replied.
4 Basi Paulo akajibu, “Yohana alibatiza kwa ubatizo wa toba. Akawaambia wale watu kwamba wanapaswa kumwamini yule ambaye angekuja baada yake, yaani, Yesu.”
“John baptized with the baptism of repentance,” said Paul. He told the people that they should trust in the one who would come after him—that is, they should trust in Jesus.
5 Watu waliposikia habari hii, wakabatizwa kwa jina la Bwana Yesu.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 Na ikawa Paulo alipoweka mikono yake juu yao, Roho Mtakatifu akaja juu yao na wakaanza kunena kwa lugha na kutabiri.
After Paul had placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
7 Jumla yao walikuwa wanaume wapatao kumi na wawili.
There were about twelve of them in total.
8 Paulo alienda katika sinagogi akanena kwa ujasiri kwa muda wa miezi mitatu. Alikuwa akiongoza majadiliano na kuwavuta watu kuhusu mambo yanayohusu ufalme wa Mungu.
Paul went to the synagogue and over the course of the next three months spoke boldly to those who were there, discussing with them and trying to convince them about the kingdom of God.
9 Lakini Wayahudi wengine walikuwa wakaidi na wasiotii, walianza kusema mabaya kuhusu njia ya Kristo mbele ya umati. Basi Paulo aliachana nao na akawatenga waaminio mbali nao. Naye alianza kuongea kila siku katika ukumbi wa Tirano.
But some of them were stubborn, and refused to accept. They denounced the Way to the crowd. So Paul gave up on them and left the synagogue, taking the believers with him. Then he had discussions every day at the hall of Tyrannus.
10 Hii iliendelea kwa miaka miwili, kwa hiyo wote waliokuwa wanaishi katika Asia walisikia neno la Bwana, wote Wayahudi na Wayunani.
This went on for the next two years, with the result that everyone who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
11 Mungu alikuwa akifanya matendo makuu kwa mikono ya Paulo,
God performed unusual miracles through Paul,
12 kwamba hata wagonjwa waliponywa, na roho chafu waliwatoka, wakati walipochukua leso na nguo zilizotoka mwilini mwa Paulo.
so much so that they took handkerchiefs or aprons Paul had touched to heal the sick and to drive out evil spirits.
13 Lakini palikuwapo Wayahudi wapunga pepo wakisafiri kupitia eneo hilo, wakilitumia jina la Yesu kwa ajili ya matumizi yao wenyewe. Wakiwaambia wale walikuwa na pepo wachafu; Wakisema, “Ninawaamuru mtoke kwa jina la Yesu ambaye Paulo anamhubiri.”
Some Jews who were going around exorcising decided to use the name of the Lord Jesus when they drove out evil spirits. They'd say, “I command you to leave in the name of the Jesus that Paul talks about.”
14 Waliofanya haya walikuwa wana saba wa kuhani Mkuu wa Kiyahudi, Skewa.
The ones doing this were the seven sons of Sceva, a Jew and a chief priest.
15 Roho wachafu wakawajibu, “Yesu namjua, na Paulo namjua; lakini ninyi ni nani? “
But one day an evil spirit responded, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”
16 Yule roho mchafu ndani ya mtu akawarukia wapunga pepo na akawashinda nguvu na kuwapiga. Ndipo wakakimbia kutoka ile nyumba wakiwa uchi na kujeruhiwa.
The man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered all of them. He beat them so severely that they ran out of the house, naked and badly injured.
17 Jambo hili likajulikana kwa wote, Wayahudi na Wayunani, ambao waliishi huko Efeso. Wakawa na hofu sana, na jina la Bwana likazidi kuheshimiwa.
People living in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, heard about this. They were all in awe at what had happened, and the name of the Lord Jesus gained great respect.
18 Pia, wengi wa waumini walikuja na wakaungama na wakidhihirisha matendo mabaya waliyoyafanya.
Many came to trust in the Lord and confessed their sins, openly admitting their evil practices.
19 Wengi waliokuwa wakifanya uganga wakakusanya vitabu vyao, wakavichoma mbele ya kila mtu. Wakati wao walipohesabu thamani ya vitu hivyo, ilikuwa vipande hamsini elfu vya fedha.
A number of those who used to practice sorcery collected their books on magic and brought them to be burned publicly. They worked out how much the books were worth, and the total was fifty thousand silver coins.
20 Hivyo Neno la Bwana likaenea kwa upana sana katika nguvu.
In this way the word of the Lord grew strong and spread widely.
21 ya Paulo kukamilisha huduma yake kule Efeso, Roho akamwongoza kwenda Yerusalemu kupitia Makedonia na Akaya; Akasema, “Baada ya kuwako huko, yanipasa kuiona Rumi pia.”
Some time after this Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing first through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I've been there, I'll have to go to Rome,” he said.
22 Paul akawatuma Makedonia wanafunzi wake wawili, Timotheo na Erasto, ambao walikuwa wamemsaidia. Lakini yeye mwenyewe akabaki Asia kwa muda.
He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.
23 Wakati huo kulitokea ghasia kubwa huko Efeso kuhusu ile Njia.
It was about this time that serious problems occurred regarding the Way.
24 Sonara mmoja jina lake Demetrio, ambaye aliyetengeneza visanamu vya fedha vya mungu Diana, alileta biashara kubwa kwa mafundi.
A man called Demetrius, a silversmith, was producing small silver replicas of the temple of the goddess Artemis. This business brought in a great deal of work for such craftsmen.
25 Hivyo akawakusanya mafundi wa kazi hiyo na kusema, “Waheshimiwa, mnajua kwamba katika biashara hii sisi tunaingiza pesa nyingi.
Demetrius called them together, along with others who worked in similar trades, and said, “Fellow-workers, you know that it's through this business we make our money.
26 Mnaona na kusikia kwamba, si tu hapa Efeso, bali karibia Asia yote, huyu Paulo amewashawishi na kuwageuza watu wengi. Anasema kwamba hakuna miungu ambayo imefanywa kwa mikono.
As you're no doubt aware from what you've seen and heard—not just here in Ephesus, but throughout almost the whole of Asia—this man Paul has convinced and misled many people, telling them that there are no such things as gods made by human hands.
27 Na si tu iko hatari kwamba biashara yetu itakuwa haihitajiki tena, lakini pia na hekalu la mungu mke aliye mkuu Diana anaweza kuchukuliwa kuwa hana maana. Tena angeweza hata kupoteza ukuu wake, yeye ambaye Asia na dunia humwabudu.”
It's not just a question that our business will be in danger of losing respect, but that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be considered worthless. Artemis herself would be dethroned from her high position as the one whom everyone in Asia and the whole world worships.”
28 Waliposikia haya, walijawa na hasira na wakapiga kelele, wakisema, “Diana wa Waefeso ni mkuu.”
When they heard this they became furious, and shouted out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
29 Mji wote ukajaa ghasia, na watu wakakimbia pamoja ndani ya ukumbi wa michezo. wakawakamata wasafiri wenzake na Paulo, Gayo na Aristariko, waliotoka Makedonia.
The city was in complete chaos. People rushed towards the amphitheatre, dragging along with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions who were from Macedonia.
30 Paulo alitaka kuingia katika umati wa watu, lakini wanafunzi walimzuia.
Paul thought he should confront the mob, but the other believers would not let him.
31 Pia, baadhi ya maafisa wa mkoa wa Asia ambao walikuwa marafiki zake wakampelekea ujumbe kwa nguvu kumwomba asiingie katika ukumbi wa michezo.
Some of the provincial officials, who were Paul's friends, also sent a message begging him not to go into the amphitheatre.
32 Baadhi ya watu walikuwa wakisema kitu hiki na wengine jambo lile, kwa sababu umati wa watu ulikuwa umechanganyikiwa. Wengi wao hawakuweza hata kujua kwa nini walikuja pamoja.
Some were shouting one thing, and some something else, for the crowd that had gathered was in total confusion—most of them had no idea why they were there.
33 Wayahudi wakamleta Iskanda nje ya umati wa watu na kumuweka juu mbele ya watu. Iskanda akatoa ishara kwa mkono wake kutoa maelezo kwa watu.
The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front. Alexander motioned with his hand for them to be quiet, wanting to explain things to the people.
34 Lakini walipotambua kuwa yeye ni Myahudi, wote wakapiga kelele kwa sauti moja kwa muda wa saa mbili, “Diana ni mkuu wa Wafeso.”
But when they realized he was a Jew, they all took up a chant that lasted for about two hours, shouting “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 Baada ya karani wa mji kuunyamazisha umati, alisema, 'Enyi wanaume wa Efeso, ni nani asiyejua kwamba mji huu wa Efeso ni mtunzaji wa hekalu la Diana mkuu na ile picha ilivyoanguka kutoka mbinguni?
After the town clerk had managed to quiet the mob down, he told them, “People of Ephesus, who doesn't know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from heaven?
36 Kuona Basi kwamba mambo haya hayatawezekana, tunapaswa kuwa na utulivu na msifanye chochote kwa haraka.
Since these facts can't be denied, you should stay calm—don't do anything rash.
37 Kwa maana mmewaita watu hawa hapa mahakamani ambao si wezi wa hekalu wala si wenye kumkufuru mungu wetu mke.
You have brought these men here, but they haven't robbed any temples or blasphemed against our goddess.
38 Kwa hiyo, kama Demetrio na mafundi waliopamoja naye wana mashtaka dhidi ya mtu yeyote, mahakama ziko wazi na maliwali wapo. Na waletwe mbele ya shauri.
So if Demetrius and the other craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, then go to the authorities and the courts. They can press charges there.
39 Lakini kama wewe ukitafuta chochote kuhusu mambo mengine, yatashughurikiwa katika kikao halali.
If there's anything else, it can be taken to the legal assembly.
40 Kwa kweli tuko katika hatari ya kutuhumiwa kuhusu ghasia siku hii. Hakuna sababu ya machafuko haya, na hatutakuwa na uwezo wa kuyaeleza.
In fact we ourselves are in danger of being accused of being responsible for this riot today, since there was no reason for it, and we can't justify why it happened.”
41 Baada ya kusema haya, aliwatawanya makutano.
When he had finished speaking, he dismissed the crowd.
