Matendo 21
1 Wakati tulipokua tumeachana nao, na tunasafiri baharini, tukafika moja kwa moja kwenye mji wa Kosi, na kesho yake tukafika mji wa Rodo, na kutoka huko tukafika mji wa Patara.
When at least we had torn ourselves away, and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos, and next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
2 Tulipopata meli inayovuka kwenda Foinike, tulipanda tukasafiri.
And when we had found a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.
3 Tulipofika mbele ya kisiwa cha Kipro, tukaiacha upande wa kushoto, tukasafiri hadi Siria, tukaweka nanga katika mji wa Tiro, kwa sababu huko ndiko meli ilikuwa ipakuliwe shehena yake.
After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on the left hand, we sailed for Syria, and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo.
4 Baada ya kuwaona wanafunzi, tukakaa huko siku saba. Wanafunzi hawa wakamwambia Paulo kupitia kwa Roho kwamba yeye asikanyage Yerusalemu.
We looked up the local disciples and remained there seven days; and these disciples kept telling Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.
5 Hata tulipotimiza siku zile, sisi tukaondoka tukaenda zetu. Wote pamoja, na wanawake zao na watoto wao, walitusindikiza katika njia zetu hadi tulipotoka nje ya mji. Kisha tukapiga magoti pwani, tukaomba, tukaagana kila mmoja.
When, however, our time was up, we left and started on our journey; and all of them, with wives and children, were escorting us on our way until we were out of the city; then, kneeling down on the beach, we prayed,
6 Tukapanda meli, huku nao wakarudi nyumbani kwao tena.
and said good-bye, and went on board the ship, while they returned home again.
7 Hata tulipomaliza safari yetu kutoka Tiro, tukafika Tolemai. Pale tulisalimia ndugu, na kukakaa nao kwa siku moja.
And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we reached Ptolemais, and greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day.
8 Kesho yake tuliondoka tukaenda Kaisaria. Sisi tukaingia nyumbani mwa Filipo, mhubiri wa injili, aliyekuwa mmoja wa wale saba, nasi tukakaa pamoja naye.
On the morrow we started for Caesarea, where we went into the house of Philip, the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9 Mtu huyu alikuwa na mabinti wanne mabikira ambao walitabiri.
Now Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied,
10 Baada ya kukaa huko kwa siku kadhaa, akashuka kutoka Uyahudi nabii mmoja aitwaye Agabo.
and while we remained there many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 Yeye alikuja kwetu na akautwaa mkanda wa Paulo. kwa huo alijifunga miguu na mikono yake mwenyewe na kusema, “Roho Mtakatifu asema hivi,” “Wayahudi wa Yerusalemu watamfunga mtu anayemiliki mkanda huu, nao watamkabidhi mikononi mwa watu wa mataifa.”
He came to us, and taking Paul’s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, saying, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘so will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the owner of this girdle, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’"
12 Tuliposikia mambo hayo, sisi na watu waliokuwa wakiishi mahali pale tulimsihi Paulo asipande kwende Yerusalemu.
As soon as we heard these words, both we and those who were standing near entreated Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Ndipo Paulo alijibu, “Mnafanya nini, mnalia na kunivunja moyo wangu? Kwa maana niko tayari, siyo tu kufungwa, lakini pia kufia huko Yerusalemu kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana Yesu.”
"What do you mean by thus breaking my heart with your grief?" answered Paul. "For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus."
14 Kwa vile Paulo hakutaka kushawishiwa, tuliacha na kusema, “Basi mapenzi ya Bwana yafanyike.”
And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."
15 Baada ya siku hizi, tulichukua mifuko yetu na tukapanda Yerusalemu.
A few days after this we took up our luggage and went up to Jerusalem.
16 Baadhi ya wanafunzi kutoka Kaisaria pia walifuatana nasi. Wakamleta mtu mmoja aitwaye Mnasoni, mtu wa Kipro, mwanafunzi wa zamani, ambaye tulikaa naye.
And some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us. They led us to the house of Mnason, a Cypriote, a disciple of long standing, with whom we were to lodge.
17 Tulipofika Yerusalemu, ndugu walitukaribisha kwa furaha.
At length we reached Jerusalem, and the brothers there received us gladly.
18 Kesho yake Paulo alienda pamoja nasi kwa Yakobo, na wazee wote walikuwepo.
On the following day we went with Paul to call on James, and all the elders were present.
19 Baada ya kuwasalimu, aliwapa taarifa moja baada ya nyingine ya mambo ambayo Mungu aliyotenda miongoni mwa mataifa kwa kupitia huduma yake.
After saluting them Paul rehearsed, one by one, the things that God had done among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 Wakati waliposikia hayo, wakamsifu Mungu, na wakamwambia, “Unaona, ndugu, kuna maelfu wangapi wameamini miongoni mwa Wayahudi. Wao wote wana nia ya kushika sheria.
And they, when they heard it, glorified God, and said to him. "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews, of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law.
21 Wameambiwa kuhusu wewe, kwamba unafundisha Wayahudi wanaoishi kati ya mataifa kuachana na Musa, na kwamba unawaambia wasiwatahiri watoto wao, na wasifuate desturi za zamani.
"Now what they have been told about you, again and again, is that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles, to forsake Moses, and not to circumcise their children, nor to follow the old customs.
22 Tunapaswa tufanye nini? Bila shaka watasikia kwamba wewe umekuja.
"What then ought to be done? They will certainly hear that you are come.
23 Hivyo fanya kile sisi tunachokuambia sasa: tunao watu wanne ambao wameweka nadhiri.
"So do this that we tell you.
24 Wachukue watu hawa na ujitakase mwenyewe pamoja nao, na uwalipie gharama zao, ili waweze kunyoa vichwa vyao. Hivyo kila mmoja apate kujua kwamba mambo waliyoambiwa kuhusu wewe ni ya uongo. Watajifunza kwamba wewe pia unafuata sheria.
"We have four men here under a vow; associate yourself with them, purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so that they may have their heads shaved; then every one will know that there is no truth in the rumors that they have heard about you; but that you yourself walk orderly obeying the law.
25 Lakini kwa habari za mataifa ambao wamekuwa waumini, tuliandika na kutoa maagizo kwamba wanapaswa kujiepusha na vitu vilivyotolewa dhabihu kwa sanamu, na damu, kutokana na kile kilichonyongwa, na wajiepushe na uasherati.”
"As for the Gentile believers, we wrote giving judgment that they should abstain from anything sacrificed to an idol, from blood, from what is strangled, and from fornication."
26 Ndipo, Paulo aliwatwaa wanaume, na siku ya pili, akajitakasa mwenyewe pamoja nao, akaingia Hekaluni, kutangaza kipindi cha siku za kujitakasa, hadi sadaka itolewa kwa ajili ya kila mmoja wao.
Then Paul took the men, and after purifying himself with them next day, went into the temple to declare the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.
27 Siku hizo saba zilipokaribia kumalizika, baadhi ya Wayahudi kutoka Asia wakamuona Paulo Hekaluni, na makutano wakakasirika, na wakamnyoshea mikono.
But when the seven days were almost over, the Asiatic Jews caught sight of him in the temple, and began to stir up all the crowd, and laid hands on him, shouting.
28 Walikuwa wanapiga kelele, “Watu wa Israeli, tusaidieni. Huyu ni yule mtu anayewafundisha watu kila mahali mambo ambayo ni kinyume na watu, sheria, na mahali hapa. Pia amewaleta Wayunani katika Hekalu na kupanajisi mahali hapa patakatifu.”
"Men of Israel, help! This is the man who goes everywhere preaching to everybody against the people, and the Law, and this place. And he has actually brought Gentiles even into the temple, and has desecrated the holy place."
29 Kwa kuwa mwanzoni walikuwa wamemwona Trofimo Muefeso akiwa pamoja naye mjini, nao walidhani kwamba Paulo alimleta hekaluni.
(For they had formerly seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)
30 Mji wote ulikuwa na taharuki, na watu wakakimbia pamoja na kumkamata Paulo. Wakamtoa nje ya Hekalu, na milango mara ikafungwa.
The whole city was thrown into uproar. The mob surged together, seized Paul, and began to drag him outside the temple. Whereupon the doors were at once shut.
31 Walipokuwa wakijaribu kumuua, habari zilimfikia mkuu wa jeshi la walinzi kuwa Yerusalemu yote ilikuwa imejaa ghasia.
While they were attempting to kill him, news came to the tribune commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 Mara hiyo akawachukua askari na jemadari akaukimbilia umati. Wakati Watu walipomwona mkuu wa jeshi na askari, wakaacha kumpiga Paulo.
At once he took soldiers and centurions, and rushed down upon them. When they saw the tribune and the troops, they left off beating Paul.
33 Kisha mkuu wa jeshi alimkaribia na akamshika Paulo, na akaamuru afungwe minyororo miwili. Akamuuliza yeye ni nani na amefanya nini.
Then the tribune came up and seized him, and ordered that he be bound with two chains. "Who is he?" he began asking, "and what has he done?"
34 Baadhi ya watu kwenye umati walikuwa wanapayuka kitu hiki na wengine kingine. Kwa kuwa jemadari hakuweza kuwaambia chochote kwa sababu ya zile kelele, akaamuru Paulo aletwe ndani ya ngome.
Some among the crowd kept shouting one thing, some another; and when the tribune could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered Paul into the barracks.
35 Basi alipofika kwenye ngazi, akachukuliwa na askari kwa sababu ya ghasia za umati.
When was going up the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers, because of the violence of the mob,
36 Maana umati wa watu walimfuata na waliendelea kupiga kelele, “Mwondoeni huyu!”
for the whole mass of the people were following him, shouting, "Away with him!"
37 Paulo alipokuwa analetwa ndani ya ngome, alimwambia mkuu wa jeshi, “Naweza kukwambia kitu?” Yule mkuu wa jeshi akasema, “Je unaongea Kiyunani?
Just as he was about to be taken into the barracks, Paul said to the tribune, "May I speak to you?"
38 Je, wewe si yule Mmisri ambaye awali aliongoza uasi na alichukua magaidi elfu nne nyikani?”
"Do you know Greek?" said the tribune; "Are you not, then, the Egyptian who in days gone by stirred up to sedition, and let into the wilderness the four thousand cutthroats?"
39 Paulo akasema, “Mimi ni Myahudi, kutoka mji wa Tarso ya Kilikia. Mimi ni raia wa mji maarufu. Nawaomba, mniruhusu nizungumze na watu.”
"I am a Jew," answered Paul, "a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. And I pray you, give me permission to speak to the people."
40 Wakati jemadari alipompa ruhusa, Paulo akasimama penye ngazi na akatoa ishara kwa watu kwa mkono wake. Wakati kulipokuwa na ukimya sana, akaongea nao kwa Kihebrania. Akasema,
So when he had given leave, Paul stood on the stairs, beckoning with his hands to the people. There came a great hush, and he spoke to them as follows, in Hebrew.
