Matendo 22
1 “Ndugu na baba zangu, sikilizeni utetezi wangu nitakaofanya kwenu sasa.”
“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defence which I now make to you.”
2 Makutano walipo sikia Paulo akiongea nao kwa kiebrania, wakanyamaza. Akasema,
When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,
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 indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today.
4 Niliwatesa kwa njia hii hadi kufa; nikawafunga wanaume na wanawake na kuwatupa gerezani.
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,
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 and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and travelled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
6 Ilitokea kwamba pale nilipokua nikisafiri nakaribia Dameski, majira ya mchana ghafla nuru kuu ikatokea mbinguni ikaanza kuniangaza.
“As I made my journey and came close to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.
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.'
I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Yeshua of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’
9 Wale waliokuwa na mimi waliiona nuru, ila hawakusikia sauti ya yule alie ongea na mimi.
“Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of him who spoke to me.
10 Nikasema, 'Nifanye nini, Bwana?' Bwana akaniambia, 'Simama na uingie Dameski; huko utaambiwa kila kitu unachopaswa kufanya.'
I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about 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.
When I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 Huko nikakutana na mtu aitwaye Anania, alikuwa mtu aliyeshika sheria na mwenye kuheshimika mbele ya Wayahudi wote walioishi huko.
“One Hananiah, a devout man according to the Torah, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
13 Akaja kwangu, akasimama mbele yangu, na kusema, 'Ndugu yangu Sauli, upate kuona.'Kwa muda ule ule nikamuona.
came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I 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.
He said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.
15 Kwa sababu utakuwa shahidi kwake kwa watu wote juu ya uliyoyaona na kusikia.
For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
16 Basi sasa kwa nini unasubiri? Amka, ubatizwe, ukaoshe dhambi zako, ukiliita jina lake.'
Now why do you wait? Arise, be immersed, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
17 Baada ya kurejea Yerusalemu, na nilipokuwa nikisali ndani ya hekalu, ikatokea kwamba nikapewa maono.
“When I had returned to Jerusalem and while I prayed 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 him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.’
19 Nikasema, 'Bwana, wao wenyewe wanajua niliwafunga gerezani na kuwapiga wale waliokuamini katika kila sinagogi.
I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every 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.'
When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’
21 Lakini aliniambia, 'Enenda, kwa sababu mimi nitakutuma uende mbali kwa watu wa mataifa.”'
“He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here 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.”
They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn’t fit to live!”
23 Walipokuwa wakipaza sauti, na kutupa mavazi yao na kutupa mavumbi juu,
As they cried out, threw off their cloaks, and threw 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 commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.
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?”
When they had tied him up with straps, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?”
26 Yule akida aliposikia maneno haya, akaenda kwa jemedari mkuu na kumwambia, akisema, “Unataka kufanya nini? Kwa maana mtu huyu ni mrumi.”
When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are 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.”
The commanding officer came and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”
28 Jemedari akamjibu, “Ni kupitia kiasi kikubwa cha pesa ndipo nilipata uraia.” Lakini Paulo akamwambia, “Mimi ni mrumi wa kuzaliwa.”
The commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.”
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.
Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realised that he was a Roman, 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.
But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Judeans, he freed him from the bonds and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
