Matendo 24

1 Baada ya siku tano, Anania kuhani mkuu, baadhi ya wazee na msemaji mmoja aitwaye Tertulo, wakaenda pale. Watu hawa wameleta mashtaka dhidi ya Paulo kwa gavana.

And after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders, and a certain orator, Tertullus, who appeared to the governor against Paul.

2 Paulo alipo simama mbele ya gavana, Tertulo akaanza kumshitaki na kusema kwa gavana, “kwa sababu yako tuna amani kuu; na kwa maono yako yanaleta mageuzi mazuri katika taifa letu;

And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Experiencing much peace because of thee, and worthy deeds happening to this nation because of thy foresight,

3 basi kwa shukurani yote tunapokea kila kitu ukifanyacho, Wasalam mheshimiwa Feliki.

we welcome, both always and everywhere, eminent Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 Lakini nisikuchoshe zaidi, nakusihi unisikilize maneno machache kwa fadhili zako.

But, that I may not detain thee on more, I entreat thee in thy clemency to hear us briefly.

5 Kwa maana tumempata mtu huyu mkorofi, na anasababisha Wayahudi wote kuasi duniani. Tena ni kiongozi wa madhehebu ya Wanazorayo. (Zingatia: Sehemu ya maneno ya mstari huu 24: 6

For we have found this man a plague, who even instigates sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

6 Na tena alijaribu kulitia hekalu unajisi hivyo tukamkamata., haumo kwenye nakala bora za kale). (Zingatia: Mstari huu

who also attempted to profane the temple, whom also we took,

7 Lisiasi, afisa, alikuja na akamchukua kwa nguvu mikononi mwetu., haumo kwenye nakala bora za maandiko ya kale).

[This verse is not in the majority of the Greek manuscripts.]

8 Ukimwuliza Paulo kuhusu mambo haya, hata utaweza kujifunza ni kitu gani tumemshtakia.”

from whom thou will be able, having examined him, to learn about all these things of which we accuse him.

9 Wayahudi nao wakamshtaki Paulo, wakisema kwamba haya mambo yalikuwa kweli.

And the Jews also agreed, claiming to have these things this way.

10 Liwali alipompungia mkono ili Paulo aongee, Paulo alijibu, “Ninajua ya kwamba kwa miaka mingi umekua mwamuzi wa taifa hili, na nina furaha kujieleza mwenyewe kwako.

And when the governor gestured to him to speak, Paul answered, Knowing for many years thou being a judge to this nation, I gladly make a defense of these things about myself,

11 Waweza kuhakikisha kuwa hazijapita siku zaidi ya kumi na mbili tangu nilipopanda kwenda kuabudu Yerusalemu.

thou being able to learn that there are for me not more than twelve days from which I went up to worship in Jerusalem.

12 Na waliponikuta katika hekalu, sikubishana na mtu yeyote, na sikufanya fujo katika mkutano, wala katika masinagogi wala ndani ya mji;

And they found me neither in the temple disputing against any man, nor making a gang of a group, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.

13 na wala hawawezi kuhakikisha kwako mashitaka wanayoyashitaki dhidi yangu.

Neither can they prove against me of which things they now accuse me.

14 Ila nakiri hili kwako, ya kwamba kwa njia ile ambayo wanaiita dhehebu, kwa njia iyo hiyo ninamtumikia Mungu wa baba zetu. Mimi ni mwaminifu kwa yote yaliyoko kwenye sheria na maandiko ya manabii.

But this I confess to thee, that according to the Way that they call a sect, so serve I the paternal God, believing all things written according to the law and the prophets,

15 Nina ujasiri ule ule kwa Mungu ambao hata hao nao wanaungojea, kuja kwa ufufuo wa wafu, kwa wote wenye haki na wasio na haki pia;

having hope toward God, which they themselves also await, to come to be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

16 na kwa hili, ninafanya kazi ili niwe na dhamira isiyo na hatia mbele za Mungu na mbele ya watu kupitia mambo yote.

And in this I fashion myself, having a conscience always non-stumbling before God and men.

17 Sasa Baada ya miaka mingi nimekuja kuleta msaada kwa taifa langu na zawadi ya fedha.

Now after more years I came, going to make donations to my nation, and offerings,

18 Nilipofanya hivi, Wayahudi fulani wa Asia wakanikuta ndani ya sherehe ya utakaso ndani ya hekalu, bila kundi la watu wala ghasia.

during which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd or with a tumult,

19 Watu hawa ambao imewapasa kuwapo mbele yako sasa hivi na waseme kile walichonacho juu yangu kama wana neno lo lote.

who ought to be here before thee, and to accuse, if they would have anything against me.

20 Au watu hawa wenyewe na waseme ni kosa gani waliloliona kwangu niliposimama mbele za baraza la kiyahudi;

Or let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found in me, having stood before the council,

21 isipokuwa kwa ajili ya kitu kimoja nilichokisema kwa sauti niliposimama katikati yao, ' ni kwa sababu ya ufufuo wa wafu ninyi mnanihukumu.”'

or about this one voice that I cried out standing among them: About a resurrection of the dead I am judged by you this day.

22 Feliki alikuwa ametaarifiwa vizuri kuhusu njia, na akauahirisha mkutano. Akasema, “Lisia jemedari atakapokuja chini kutoka Yerusalemu nitatoa maamuzi dhidi ya mashitaka yenu.”

Now Felix, having heard these things, having known more precisely the things about the Way, he deferred them, having said, When Lysias the chief captain comes down, I will determine the things toward you.

23 Ndipo akamwamuru akida amlinde Paulo, ila awe na nafasi na hata asiwepo mtu wakuwakataza marafiki zake wasimsaidie wala wasimtembelee.

He also arranged for the centurion to guard Paul, and to have reduced confinement, and to forbid none of his own men to serve or to come to him.

24 Baada ya siku kadhaa, Feliki akarudi na Drusila mkewe aliyekuwa Myahudi, akatuma kumwita Paulo na akasikiliza toka kwake habari za imani ndani ya Kristo Yesu.

And after some days, Felix having arrived with Drusilla, his wife being Jewish, he summoned Paul, and heard him about the faith in Christ.

25 Ila Paulo alipokuwa akijadiliana naye kuhusu haki, kuwa na kiasi na hukumu itakayokuja, Feliki akapata hofu akajibu, “nenda mbali kwa sasa, ila nikipata muda tena, nitakuita.”

And as he discoursed about righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment going to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, Go now, and having a convenient time, I will summon thee.

26 Muda uo huo, alitegemea kwamba Paulo atampa fedha kwa hiyo alimwita mara nyingi akaongea naye.

He also hoped simultaneously that money would be given him by Paul so that he might free him. And so, summoning him more frequently, he conversed with him.

27 Ila miaka miwili ilipopita, Porkio Festo akawa Liwali baada ya Feliki, ila Feliki alitaka kujipendekeza kwa Wayahudi, hivyo akamwacha Paulo chini ya uangalizi.

But two years having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus. And wanting to lay down favors to the Jews, Felix left behind Paul bound.