Matendo 25
1 Ndipo Festo alipoingia katika jimbo hilo na baada ya siku tatu alienda toka Kaisaria hadi Yerusalemu.
When Festus, having entered upon his government, after three days went up from Cæsarea to Jerusalem.
2 Kuhani mkuu na Wayahudi mashuhuri walileta shutuma dhidi ya Paulo kwa Festo, na walizungumza kwa nguvu kwa Festo.
And the chief priest and first men of the Jews informed him against Paul,
3 Na walimwomba Festo fadhili juu ya habari za Paulo apate kumwita Yerusalemu ili waweze kumwua njiani.
and, asking a favor against him, besought him that he would send and have him brought to Jerusalem, laying a plot to kill him on the road.
4 Lakini Festo alijibu kwamba Paulo alikuwa mfungwa katika Kaisaria, na kwamba yeye mwenyewe atarudi huko haraka.
Then Festus answered, that Paul was under guard in Cæsarea, and that he himself would soon depart thither.
5 Alisema “Kwa hiyo, wale ambao wanaweza, wanaweza kwenda huko na sisi. Kama kuna kitu kibaya kwa mtu huyu, mnapaswa kumshtaki.”
Therefore, said he, let those among you who are men of influence, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness in him.
6 Baada ya kukaa siku nane au kumi zaidi, akarudi Kaisaria. Na siku iliyofuata akakaa katika kiti cha hukumu na kuamuru Paulo aletwe kwake.
And he remained among them not more than eight or ten days, and then went down to Cæsarea And, on the next day, he sat upon the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 Alipofika, Wayahudi kutoka Yerusalemu wakasimama karibu, Wakatoa mashtaka mengi mazito ambayo hawakuweza kuyathibitisha.
And when he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around, and brought many and heavy accusations against Paul, which they were not able to prove,
8 Paulo alijitetea na kusema, 'Si dhidi ya jina la Wayahudi, si juu ya hekalu, na si juu ya Kaisari, nimefanya mabaya.'
he answering for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I committed any offense.
9 Lakini Festo alitaka kujipendekeza kwa Wayahudi, na hivyo akamjibu Paulo kwa kusema, 'Je, unataka kwenda Yerusalemu na kuhukumiwa na mimi kuhusu mambo haya huko?'
But Festus, willing to confer a favor on the Jews, answered Paul, and said: Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged before me concerning these things?
10 Paulo alisema, 'ninasimama mbele ya kiti cha hukumu cha Kaisari ambapo napaswa kuhukumiwa. Sijawakosea Wayahudi, kama wewe ujuavyo vema.
And Paul answered: I am standing at the judgment-seat of Cæsar, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.
11 Ikiwa nimekosa na kama nimefanya kinachostahili kifo, sikatai kufa. Lakini kama shutuma zao si kitu, hakuna mtu anaweza kunikabidhi kwao. Ninamwomba Kaisari. '
If, however, I be an offender, and have done any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if the things of which these men accuse me are nothing, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Cæsar.
12 Baada ya Festo kuongea na baraza akajibu, “unamwomba Kaisari; utaenda kwa Kaisari.”
Then Festus, after conferring with the council, answered: To Cæsar have you appealed? To Cæsar you shall go.
13 Baada ya siku kadhaa, mfalme Agripa na Bernike walifika Kaisaria kufanya ziara rasmi kwa Festo.
And after some days, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Cæsarea, to salute Festus.
14 Baada ya kukaa hapo kwa siku nyingi, Festo aliwasilisha kesi ya Paulo kwa mfalme; Akasema, 'Mtu mmoja aliachwa hapa na Feliki kama mfungwa.
And as they remained there many days, Festus made known to the king the facts concerning Paul, saying: There is a certain man, who was left in bonds by Felix,
15 Nilipokuwa Yerusalemu makuhani wakuu na wazee wa Wayahudi walileta mashtaka juu ya mtu huyu kwangu, nao waliuliza juu ya hukumu dhidi yake.
concerning whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews informed me, asking for judgment against him.
16 Kwa hili mimi niliwajibu kwamba si desturi ya Waroma kumtoa mtu kwa upendeleo badala yake, mtuhumiwa anapaswa kuwa na nafasi ya kuwakabili washitaki wake na kujitetea dhidi ya tuhuma hizo.
I replied to them, that it is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man up to death, before the accused has had his accusers face to face, and has had an opportunity to answer concerning the charge that is against him.
17 Kwa hiyo, walipokuja pamoja hapa, sikuweza kusubiri, lakini siku iliyofuata niliketi katika kiti cha hukumu na kuamuru mtu huyo aletwe ndani.
Therefore, when they had come hither with me, I made no delay; but, on the next day, sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 Wakati washitaki waliposimama na kumshtaki, nilifikiri kwamba hakuna mashtaka makubwa yaliyoletwa dhidi yake.
And when his accusers stood up, they brought no such charge against him as I expected;
19 Badala yake, walikuwa na mabishano fulani pamoja naye kuhusu dini yao na kuhusu Yesu ambaye alikuwa amekufa, lakini Paulo anadai kuwa yu hai.
but they had certain questions against him, about their own religion, and about a certain Jesus that had died, who, Paul affirmed, was alive.
20 Nilikuwa nimefumbwa jinsi ya kuchunguza suala hili, na nikamwuliza kama angeenda Yerusalemu kuhukumiwa kuhusu mambo haya.
But, being in doubt about the question concerning this man, I asked him if he would go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged with respect to these matters.
21 Lakini Paulo alipoitwa awekwe chini ya ulinzi kwa ajili ya uamuzi wa Mfalme, niliamuru awekwe hata nitakapompeleka kwa Kaisari. '
But when Paul made his appeal, that he should be kept for the judgment of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I could send him to Cæsar
22 Agripa alizungumza na Festo, “ningependa pia kumsikiliza mtu huyu.” “Festo, akasema, “kesho utamsikiliza.”
And Agrippa said to Festus: I could wish to have heard the man myself. He replied: To-morrow you shall hear him.
23 Hivyo kesho yake, Agripa na Bernike walifika na sherehe nyingi; walifika katika ukumbi na maafisa wa kijeshi, na watu mashuhuri wa mji. Na Festo alipotoa amri, Paulo aliletwa kwao.
Therefore, on the morrow, when Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and entered the place of audience, with the officers and principal men of the city, Paul, at the command of Festus, was brought forth.
24 Festo akasema, “Mfalme Agripa, na watu wote ambao wapo hapa pamoja nasi, mnamwona mtu huyu; jumuiya yote ya Wayahudi huko Yerusalemu na hapa pia wametaka niwashauri, na wao wakapiga kelele kwangu kwamba asiishi.
And Festus said: King Agrippa, and all men here present, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews, both in Jerusalem and in this place, have entreated me, crying out, that he ought to live no longer.
25 Naliona kwamba hakufanya lolote linalostahili kifo; lakini kwa sababu amemwita Mfalme, niliamua kumpeleka kwake.
But finding that he had done nothing worthy of death, and as he himself has appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26 Lakini sina kitu dhahiri cha kuandika kwa Mfalme. Kwa sababu hii, nimemleta kwako, hasa kwako wewe, Mfalme Agripa, ili nipate kuwa na kitu cha kuandika kuhusu kesi.
Concerning him I have nothing certain to write to my Lord. For this reason, I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after the examination has been held, I may have something to write.
27 kwa kuwa naona haina maana kumpeleka mfungwa na bila kuonyesha mashitaka yanayomkabili.
For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to make known the charges that are against him.
