Matendo 22
1 “Ndugu na baba zangu, sikilizeni utetezi wangu nitakaofanya kwenu sasa.”
‘Brothers and fathers, listen to the defence which I am about to make.’
2 Makutano walipo sikia Paulo akiongea nao kwa kiebrania, wakanyamaza. Akasema,
When they heard that he was speaking to them in Hebrew, they were still more quiet; and Paul went on:
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.
‘I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, but I was brought up in this city under the teaching of Gamaliel, and educated in accordance with the strict system of our ancestral Law. I was as zealous in God’s service as any of you who are here today.
4 Niliwatesa kwa njia hii hadi kufa; nikawafunga wanaume na wanawake na kuwatupa gerezani.
In my persecution of this Way I did not stop even at the taking of life. I put in chains, and imprisoned, men and women alike –
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.
And to that the high priest himself and all the council of elders can testify. For I had letters of introduction from them to our fellow Jews at Damascus, and I was on my way to that place, to bring those whom I might find there prisoners to Jerusalem for punishment.
6 Ilitokea kwamba pale nilipokua nikisafiri nakaribia Dameski, majira ya mchana ghafla nuru kuu ikatokea mbinguni ikaanza kuniangaza.
While I was still on my way, just as I was getting close to Damascus, about midday, suddenly there flashed from the heavens a great light all round me.
7 Nikaanguka chini na kusikia sauti ikiniambia, 'Sauli, Sauli kwanini unaniudhi?'
I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
8 Nikajibu, 'wewe ni nani, Bwana?' Akaniambia, 'Mini ni Yesu Mnazareti, ambaye wewe unaniudhi.'
“Who are you, Lord?” I replied. Then the voice said “I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.”
9 Wale waliokuwa na mimi waliiona nuru, ila hawakusikia sauti ya yule alie ongea na mimi.
The men with me saw the light, but did not hear the speaker’s voice.
10 Nikasema, 'Nifanye nini, Bwana?' Bwana akaniambia, 'Simama na uingie Dameski; huko utaambiwa kila kitu unachopaswa kufanya.'
Then I said “What am I to do, Lord?” “Get up and go into Damascus,” The Lord said to me, “and there you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.”
11 Sikuweza kuona kwa sababu ya muangaza wa nuru ile, ndipo nikaenda Dameski kwa kuongozwa na mikono ya wale waliokuwa na mimi.
In consequence of that dazzling light I could not see, but my companions held me by the hand, until I reached Damascus.
12 Huko nikakutana na mtu aitwaye Anania, alikuwa mtu aliyeshika sheria na mwenye kuheshimika mbele ya Wayahudi wote walioishi huko.
There a man named Ananias, a strict observer of our Law, well spoken of by all the Jewish inhabitants, came to see me.
13 Akaja kwangu, akasimama mbele yangu, na kusema, 'Ndugu yangu Sauli, upate kuona.'Kwa muda ule ule nikamuona.
Standing close to me, he said “Saul, my brother, recover your sight.” And then and there I recovered my sight and looked up at him.
14 Akasema, 'Mungu wa baba zetu amekuchagua wewe upate kujua mapenzi yake, kumuona yule mwenyehaki, na kusikia sauti itokayo kwenye kinywa chake.
Then he said “The God of our ancestors has appointed you to learn his will, and to see the righteous one, and to hear words from his lips;
15 Kwa sababu utakuwa shahidi kwake kwa watu wote juu ya uliyoyaona na kusikia.
for you will be a witness for him to all the world of what you have just seen and heard.
16 Basi sasa kwa nini unasubiri? Amka, ubatizwe, ukaoshe dhambi zako, ukiliita jina lake.'
And now why wait any longer, Be baptized at once, wash away your sins, and invoke his name.”
17 Baada ya kurejea Yerusalemu, na nilipokuwa nikisali ndani ya hekalu, ikatokea kwamba nikapewa maono.
After my return to Jerusalem, while I was praying one day in the Temple, I fell into a trance,
18 Nikamuona akiniambia, 'Hima na utoke Yerusalemu haraka, kwa sababu hawatakubali ushuhuda wako kuhusu mimi.'
and saw Jesus saying to me “Make haste and leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about me.”
19 Nikasema, 'Bwana, wao wenyewe wanajua niliwafunga gerezani na kuwapiga wale waliokuamini katika kila sinagogi.
“Lord,” I answered, “these people know that I used to imprison and scourge, in synagogue after synagogue, those who believed in you;
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 your martyr, Stephen, was being shed, I was myself standing by, approving of his death, and took charge of the clothes of those who were murdering him.”
21 Lakini aliniambia, 'Enenda, kwa sababu mimi nitakutuma uende mbali kwa watu wa mataifa.”'
But Jesus said to me “Go; for I will send you to the Gentiles far away”.’
22 Watu wakamruhusu aongee juu ya neno hili. Lakini baadaye walipaza sauti na kusema, “mwondoe mtu huyu katika nchi: kwa sababu sio sahihi aishi.”
Up to this point the people had been listening to Paul, but at these words they called out, ‘Kill him! A fellow like this ought not to have been allowed to live!’
23 Walipokuwa wakipaza sauti, na kutupa mavazi yao na kutupa mavumbi juu,
As they were shouting, tearing off their clothes, and throwing dust in 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 commanding officer ordered Paul to be taken into the Fort, and directed that he should be examined under the lash so that he might find out the reason for their 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?”
But just as they had tied him up to be scourged, Paul said to the centurion standing near, ‘Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman citizen, unconvicted?’
26 Yule akida aliposikia maneno haya, akaenda kwa jemedari mkuu na kumwambia, akisema, “Unataka kufanya nini? Kwa maana mtu huyu ni mrumi.”
On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commanding officer. ‘Do you know what you are doing?’ he said. ‘This man is a Roman citizen.’
27 Jemedari mkuu akaja na kumwambia, “Niambie, je wewe ni raia wa Rumi?” Paulo akasema, “Ndiyo.”
So the commanding officer went up to Paul and said, ‘Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?’ ‘Yes,’ replied Paul.
28 Jemedari akamjibu, “Ni kupitia kiasi kikubwa cha pesa ndipo nilipata uraia.” Lakini Paulo akamwambia, “Mimi ni mrumi wa kuzaliwa.”
‘I had to pay a heavy price for my position as citizen,’ said the officer. ‘I am one by birth,’ rejoined Paul.
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.
The men who were to have examined Paul immediately drew back, and the officer, finding that Paul was a Roman citizen, was alarmed at having put him in chains.
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.
On the next day the commanding officer, wishing to find out the real reason why Paul was denounced by the Jewish leaders, had his chains taken off, and directed the chief priests and the whole of the High Council to assemble, and then took Paul down and brought him before them.
