Matendo 22
1 “Ndugu na baba zangu, sikilizeni utetezi wangu nitakaofanya kwenu sasa.”
Brethren and fathers, hear my apology, which I make to you now.
2 Makutano walipo sikia Paulo akiongea nao kwa kiebrania, wakanyamaza. Akasema,
And when they heard, that he addressed them in the Hebrew dialect, they rather kept silence;
3 “Mimi ni myahudi, nimezaliwa mji wa Tarso eneo la Kilikia, ila nilipata elimu katika mji huu, miguuni pa Gamalieli. Nilifundishwa kulingana na njia sahihi za sheria za baba zetu. Mimi ninabidii ya Mungu, kama ninyi nyote mlivyo leo.
and he said, I am, indeed, a Jew, born at Tarsus, in Cilicia, but educated in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, accurately instructed in the law of our fathers; being zealous for God, as you all are at this day:
4 Niliwatesa kwa njia hii hadi kufa; nikawafunga wanaume na wanawake na kuwatupa gerezani.
who persecuted this way to the death; binding both men and women, and delivering them into prisons:
5 Hata kuhani mkuu na wazee wote wanaweza kutoa ushahidi kwamba nilipokea barua kutoka kwao kwa ajili ya ndugu walio Dameski, kwangu mimi kusafiri kwenda huko. Ilikuwa niwalete watu Yerusalemu wa njia ile ili wafungwe na kuadhibiwa.
as also the high priest is my witness, and all the national senate: from whom also having received letters to the brethren, I went to Damascus; to bring those that were there bound, to Jerusalem, that they might be punished.
6 Ilitokea kwamba pale nilipokua nikisafiri nakaribia Dameski, majira ya mchana ghafla nuru kuu ikatokea mbinguni ikaanza kuniangaza.
And it came to pass, that as I was on my journey, and was come nigh to Damascus, about noon, on a sudden a great light from heaven shone about me;
7 Nikaanguka chini na kusikia sauti ikiniambia, 'Sauli, Sauli kwanini unaniudhi?'
and I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
8 Nikajibu, 'wewe ni nani, Bwana?' Akaniambia, 'Mini ni Yesu Mnazareti, ambaye wewe unaniudhi.'
But I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you persecute.
9 Wale waliokuwa na mimi waliiona nuru, ila hawakusikia sauti ya yule alie ongea na mimi.
And they that were with me saw the light, indeed, and were terrified; but they did not distinctly hear the voice of him that spoke to me.
10 Nikasema, 'Nifanye nini, Bwana?' Bwana akaniambia, 'Simama na uingie Dameski; huko utaambiwa kila kitu unachopaswa kufanya.'
And I said, Lord, what shall I do? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go to Damascus, and there it shall be told you of all things, which are appointed for you to do.
11 Sikuweza kuona kwa sababu ya muangaza wa nuru ile, ndipo nikaenda Dameski kwa kuongozwa na mikono ya wale waliokuwa na mimi.
And as I could not see, by reason of the glory of that light; being led by those that were with me, I came to Damascus.
12 Huko nikakutana na mtu aitwaye Anania, alikuwa mtu aliyeshika sheria na mwenye kuheshimika mbele ya Wayahudi wote walioishi huko.
And one Ananias, a pious man according to the law, who had an honorable character amongst all the Jews at Damascus,
13 Akaja kwangu, akasimama mbele yangu, na kusema, 'Ndugu yangu Sauli, upate kuona.'Kwa muda ule ule nikamuona.
coming to me, and standing by me, said to me, Brother Saul, look up. And in that very hour, I looked up on him.
14 Akasema, 'Mungu wa baba zetu amekuchagua wewe upate kujua mapenzi yake, kumuona yule mwenyehaki, na kusikia sauti itokayo kwenye kinywa chake.
And he said, The God of our fathers, has chosen you to know his will, and to see that righteous person, and to hear a voice from his mouth:
15 Kwa sababu utakuwa shahidi kwake kwa watu wote juu ya uliyoyaona na kusikia.
because you shall be his witness, to all men, of those things, which you have seen and heard.
16 Basi sasa kwa nini unasubiri? Amka, ubatizwe, ukaoshe dhambi zako, ukiliita jina lake.'
And now, why do you delay? Arise, and be immersed, and wash away your sins, invoking his name.
17 Baada ya kurejea Yerusalemu, na nilipokuwa nikisali ndani ya hekalu, ikatokea kwamba nikapewa maono.
And it came to pass, that when I was returned to Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, I was in a trance:
18 Nikamuona akiniambia, 'Hima na utoke Yerusalemu haraka, kwa sababu hawatakubali ushuhuda wako kuhusu mimi.'
and I saw him, saying to me, Make haste, and depart quickly from Jerusalem; for they will not receive your testimony concerning me.
19 Nikasema, 'Bwana, wao wenyewe wanajua niliwafunga gerezani na kuwapiga wale waliokuamini katika kila sinagogi.
And I said, Lord, they know I was imprisoning, and scourging in the synagogues, them that believed in thee;
20 Na damu ya Stefano shahidi wako ilipomwagwa, Mimi pia nilikuwa nimesimama karibu na kukubali na nilikuwa nalinda nguo za wale waliomwua.'
and when the blood of Stephen thy martyr was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and kept the garments of those who slew him.
21 Lakini aliniambia, 'Enenda, kwa sababu mimi nitakutuma uende mbali kwa watu wa mataifa.”'
And he said to me, Go your way, for I will send you afar off to the Gentiles--
22 Watu wakamruhusu aongee juu ya neno hili. Lakini baadaye walipaza sauti na kusema, “mwondoe mtu huyu katika nchi: kwa sababu sio sahihi aishi.”
And they heard him to this word, and they lifted up their voices, saying, Away with this fellow from the earth, for it is not fit that he should live.
23 Walipokuwa wakipaza sauti, na kutupa mavazi yao na kutupa mavumbi juu,
And as they were crying out, and were rending their garments, and casting dust into the air,
24 jemedari mkuu akaamuru Paulo aletwe ngomeni. Akaamuru aulizwe huku anapigwa mijeledi, ili yeye mwenyewe ajue kwa nini walikuwa wanampigia kelele namna ile.
the commander ordered that he should be brought into the castle, saying, that he should be put to the question by scourging, that he might know for what cause, they raised such an outcry against him.
25 Hata walipokuwa wamemfunga kwa kamba, Paulo akamwambia yule akida aliye simama karibu naye, “Je! ni haki kwenu kumpiga mtu aliye Mrumi na bado hajahukumiwa?”
And as they binding him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion, who stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man, who is Roman, and uncondemned.
26 Yule akida aliposikia maneno haya, akaenda kwa jemedari mkuu na kumwambia, akisema, “Unataka kufanya nini? Kwa maana mtu huyu ni mrumi.”
And the centurion hearing this, went and addressed the commander, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.
27 Jemedari mkuu akaja na kumwambia, “Niambie, je wewe ni raia wa Rumi?” Paulo akasema, “Ndiyo.”
And the commander came, and said to him, Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes.
28 Jemedari akamjibu, “Ni kupitia kiasi kikubwa cha pesa ndipo nilipata uraia.” Lakini Paulo akamwambia, “Mimi ni mrumi wa kuzaliwa.”
And the commander answered, I obtained this freedom with a considerable sum of money. And Paul replied, But I was free born.
29 Basi wale waliokuwa tayari kwenda kumuuliza wakaondoka na kumwacha wakati huo huo. Na jemedari naye akaogopa, alipojua kuwa Paulo ni Mrumi, na kwa sababu amemfunga.
They, therefore, who were about to have put him to the question, immediately departed from him: and the commander was afraid, when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
30 Siku iliyofuatayo, jemedari mkuu alitaka kujua ukweli kuhusu mashtaka ya Wayahudi dhidi ya Paulo. Hivyo akamfungua vifungo vyake akaamuru wakuu wa makuhani na baraza lote wakutane. Akamleta Paulo chini, na kumweka katikati yao.
And on the next day, desiring to know certainly of what he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him; and commanded the chief priests, and all the Sanhedrim, to come together; and bringing Paul down, he set him before them.
