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.
Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case 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;
When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation.
3 basi kwa shukurani yote tunapokea kila kitu ukifanyacho, Wasalam mheshimiwa Feliki.
In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.
4 Lakini nisikuchoshe zaidi, nakusihi unisikilize maneno machache kwa fadhili zako.
But in order not to burden you any further, I beg your indulgence 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
We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is 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
and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.
7 Lisiasi, afisa, alikuja na akamchukua kwa nguvu mikononi mwetu., haumo kwenye nakala bora za maandiko ya kale).
8 Ukimwuliza Paulo kuhusu mambo haya, hata utaweza kujifunza ni kitu gani tumemshtakia.”
By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all our charges against him.”
9 Wayahudi nao wakamshtaki Paulo, wakisema kwamba haya mambo yalikuwa kweli.
The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true.
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.
When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.
11 Waweza kuhakikisha kuwa hazijapita siku zaidi ya kumi na mbili tangu nilipopanda kwenda kuabudu Yerusalemu.
You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12 Na waliponikuta katika hekalu, sikubishana na mtu yeyote, na sikufanya fujo katika mkutano, wala katika masinagogi wala ndani ya mji;
Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.
13 na wala hawawezi kuhakikisha kwako mashitaka wanayoyashitaki dhidi yangu.
Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against 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.
I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in 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;
and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
16 na kwa hili, ninafanya kazi ili niwe na dhamira isiyo na hatia mbele za Mungu na mbele ya watu kupitia mambo yote.
In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
17 Sasa Baada ya miaka mingi nimekuja kuleta msaada kwa taifa langu na zawadi ya fedha.
After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.
18 Nilipofanya hivi, Wayahudi fulani wa Asia wakanikuta ndani ya sherehe ya utakaso ndani ya hekalu, bila kundi la watu wala ghasia.
At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia
19 Watu hawa ambao imewapasa kuwapo mbele yako sasa hivi na waseme kile walichonacho juu yangu kama wana neno lo lote.
who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.
20 Au watu hawa wenyewe na waseme ni kosa gani waliloliona kwangu niliposimama mbele za baraza la kiyahudi;
Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
21 isipokuwa kwa ajili ya kitu kimoja nilichokisema kwa sauti niliposimama katikati yao, ' ni kwa sababu ya ufufuo wa wafu ninyi mnanihukumu.”'
unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”
22 Feliki alikuwa ametaarifiwa vizuri kuhusu njia, na akauahirisha mkutano. Akasema, “Lisia jemedari atakapokuja chini kutoka Yerusalemu nitatoa maamuzi dhidi ya mashitaka yenu.”
Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.”
23 Ndipo akamwamuru akida amlinde Paulo, ila awe na nafasi na hata asiwepo mtu wakuwakataza marafiki zake wasimsaidie wala wasimtembelee.
He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.
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.
After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
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.”
As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”
26 Muda uo huo, alitegemea kwamba Paulo atampa fedha kwa hiyo alimwita mara nyingi akaongea naye.
At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked 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.
After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
