< Matendo 23 >

1 Paulo akawaangalia moja kwa moja watu wa baraza na kusema, “Ndugu zangu, nimeishi mbele za Mungu kwa dhamira nzuri hadi hivi leo.”
and Paul looking earnestly at the sanhedrim, said, "Brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God even to this day:"
2 Kuhani mkuu Anania akawaamuru wale waliosimama karibu naye wampige kinywa chake.
but the high priest Ananias ordered those that stood next him, to smite him on the mouth.
3 Ndipo Paulo akamwambia, “Mungu atakupiga wewe, ukuta uliopakwa chokaa. Umekaa ukinihukumu kwa sheria, nawe unaamuru nipigwe kinyume cha sheria?”
Then said Paul to him, "God will smite thee, thou whited wall: dost thou sit to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be smitten?"
4 Wale waliokuwa wamesimama karibu naye wakasema, “Hivi ndivyo unavyomtukana kuhani mkuu wa Mungu?”
But they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high-priest?
5 Paulo akasema, “ndugu zangu, mimi sikujua kwamba huyu ni kuhani mkuu. Kwa kuwa imeandikwa, hutazungumza vibaya juu ya mtawala wa watu wako.”
And Paul said, I was not aware, brethren, that it was the high-priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 Paulo alipoona ya kwamba upande mmoja wa baraza ni Masadukayo na wengine Mafarisayo, akapaza sauti na kusema, “ndugu zangu, mimi ni Mfarisayo, mwana wa Mfarisayo. Ni kwa sababu hii nategemea kwa ujasiri ufufuo wa wafu ninao hukumiwa nao.”
But Paul, knowing that the one part were sadducees, and the other pharisees, cried out in the sanhedrim, "Brethren, I am a pharisee, the son of a pharisee: for the hope of a resurrection of the dead I am now prosecuted."
7 Alipoyasema haya, malumbano makubwa yakatokea baina ya Mafarisayo na Masadukayo, na mkutano ukagawanyika.
Upon his saying this, there rose a contention between the pharisees and the sadducees; and the people were divided.
8 Kwani Masadukayo husema hakuna ufufuo, malaika wala hakuna roho, ila Mafarisayo husema haya yote yapo.
For the sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the pharisees acknowledge both.
9 Ghasia kubwa ikatokea na baadhi ya waandishi waliokuwa upande wa Mafarisayo wakasimama na kujadili, wakisema, “hatujaona chochote kibaya dhidi ya mtu huyu. Vipi kama roho au malaika ameongea na yeye?”
So there was a great clamor: and the scribes that were of the party of the pharisees rose up and contended, saying, We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10 Wakati kulitokea hoja kubwa, mkuu wa majeshi aliogopa kwamba Paulo angeraruliwa vipande vipande na wao, hivyo akaamuru wanajeshi washuke chini na kumchukua kwa nguvu kutoka kwa wajumbe wa baraza, na kumleta katika ngome.
But as there arose much contention, the tribune fearing least Paul should be torn in pieces by them, ordered a party of soldiers to go down, and take him by force out of the midst of them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 Usiku uliofuata Bwana alisimama karibu naye na kusema, “Usiogope, kwa kuwa umenishuhudia katika Yerusalemu, hivyo utatoa ushahidi pia katika Roma.”
And the following night, the Lord standing by him said, Paul, be of good courage; for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou also bear testimony at Rome.
12 Kulipokucha, baadhi ya Wayahudi walifanya agano na kuita laana juu yao wenyewe: walisema ya kwamba hawatakula wala kunywa chochote mpaka watakapomuua Paulo.
And when it was day, some of the Jews, having formed a conspiracy, bound themselves with a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 Kulikuwa na watu zaidi ya arobaini ambao walifanya njama hii.
And they were more than forty that had made this oath:
14 wakaenda kwa wakuu wa makuhani na wazee na kusema, “Tumejiweka wenyewe kwenye laana kuu, tusile chochote hadi tutakapomwua Paulo.
who came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves by a curse to eat nothing till we have killed Paul.
15 Hivyo sasa, baraza limwambie jemadari mkuu amlete kwenu, kana kwamba mnaamua kesi yake kwa usahihi. Kwetu sisi tuko tayari kumwua kabla hajaja hapa.”
Now therefore do ye with the rest of the sanhedrim signify to the tribune, that he would bring him down to you to-morrow, as if you would examine more accurately some things concerning him: and we are ready to dispatch him before he come near you."
16 Lakini mtoto wa dada yake na Paulo akasikia kwamba kulikuwa na njama, akaenda akaingia ndani ya ngome na kumwambia Paulo.
But Paul's sister's son, hearing of the ambush, came and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
17 Paulo akamwita akida mmoja akasema, “Mchukue kijana huyu kwa jemadari; maana ana neno la kumwambia.”
Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said, Introduce this young man to the tribune; for he hath something to tell him.
18 Basi akida akamchukua yule kijana akampeleka kwa jemedari mkuu akamwambia, “Paulo yule mfungwa aliniita akataka nikuletee kijana huyu kwako. Ana neno la kukuambia.”
So he took him and brought him to the tribune, and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him, and desired me to introduce this young man unto thee, as having something to say to thee.
19 Yule jemadari mkuu akamshika kwa mkono akajitenga naye kando, na akamwuliza, “Ni kitu gani unachotaka kuniambia?”
And the tribune took him by the hand, and retiring into a private apartment asked him, What is it which thou hast to tell me?
20 Kijana yule akasema, “Wayahudi wamepatana kukuomba umlete Paulo kesho kwenye baraza kana kwamba wanataka kupata habari zake kwa usahili zaidi.
And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring down Paul to-morrow to the council, as if they would inquire something more strictly concerning him.
21 Basi wewe usikubali kwa maana watu zaidi ya arobaini wanamvizia. Wamejifunga kwa laana, wasile wala wasinywe hata watakapomwua. Hata sasa wako tayari, wakisubiria kibali toka kwako.”
But do not thou comply with them: for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves with a curse neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him: and they are now ready, waiting for an order from thee.
22 Basi yule jemadari mkuu akamwacha kijana aende zake, baada ya kumwagiza “usimwambie mtu yeyote ya kwamba umeniarifu haya.”
Then the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, Tell no one that thou hast discovered these things to me.
23 Akawaita maakida wawili akasema watayarisheni askari mia mbili kwenda Kaisaria na askari wapanda farasi sabini, na wenye mikuki mia mbili, mtaondoka zamu ya tatu ya usiku.
And he called two of the centurions to him, and said, Get ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, by the third hour of the night.
24 Akawaambia kuweka wanyama tayari ambaye Paulo atamtumia na kumchukua salama kwa Feliki Gavana.
And provide beasts, that they may set Paul on and bring him safe to Felix the governor.
25 Akaandika barua kwa namna hii,
And he wrote a letter to this effect:
26 Klaudio Lisia kwa Liwali mtukufu Feliki, salamu.
Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
27 Mtu huyu alikamatwa na wayahudi wakawa karibu kumwua, ndipo nikaenda pamoja na kikosi cha askari nikamwokoa, nilipopata habari ya kuwa yeye ni raia wa kirumi.
This man being seized by the Jews, and about to be killed by them, I came upon them with some soldiers and rescued him: for I understand that he is a Roman.
28 Nilitaka kujua kwa nini wamemshtaki, hivyo nikampeleka kwenye baraza.
But desiring to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down into their council:
29 Nikaona kwamba alikuwa ameshitakiwa kwa ajili ya maswali ya sheria yao, wala hakushitakiwa neno lolote la kustahili kuuawa wala kufungwa.
and I found he was accused about questions of their law, but had no charge against him deserving death or bonds.
30 Kisha ikajulikana kwangu kwamba kuna njama dhidi yake, hivyo kwa haraka nikamtuma kwako, na kuwaagiza wanaomshitaki pia walete mashitaka dhidi yake mbele yako. Wakaagana.”
But an ambush, which was going to be laid for the man by the Jews, being discovered to me, immediately I sent him to thee, telling his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
31 Basi wale askari wakatii amri: wakamchukua Paulo wakampeleka hata Antipatri usiku.
The soldiers therefore, according to the orders given them, took up Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 Siku iliyofuata, maaskari wengi wakawaacha wale wapanda farasi waende pamoja naye, nao wakarudi zao ngomeni.
And the next day they returned to the castle, leaving the horsemen to go with him;
33 Na wapanda farasi walipofika Kaisaria, na kumpa liwali ile barua, wakamweka Paulo mbele yake.
who, when they came into Cesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 Naye liwali alipoisoma barua, alimuuliza Paulo alitokea jimbo gani; alipojua ya kwamba ni mtu wa Kilikia,
And when the governor had read the letter, and asked of what province he was; being informed that he was of Cilicia, he said,
35 akasema, “Nitakusikia wewe watakapo kuja wale waliokushitaki,” akaamuru awekwe katika ikulu ya Herode.
I will hear thee, when thine accusers are also come. And he ordered him to be kept in Herod's palace.

< Matendo 23 >