Matendo 25
1 Ndipo Festo alipoingia katika jimbo hilo na baada ya siku tatu alienda toka Kaisaria hadi Yerusalemu.
Festus, [who was now the governor] of the province, arrived in Caesarea, and three days later he went up to Jerusalem.
2 Kuhani mkuu na Wayahudi mashuhuri walileta shutuma dhidi ya Paulo kwa Festo, na walizungumza kwa nguvu kwa Festo.
In Jerusalem, the chief priests and [other] Jewish leaders formally told [Festus] about [the things that they said] that Paul [had done that were wrong].
3 Na walimwomba Festo fadhili juu ya habari za Paulo apate kumwita Yerusalemu ili waweze kumwua njiani.
They urgently asked Festus to do something for them. [They asked him to command soldiers] to bring Paul to Jerusalem, [so that Festus could put him on trial there]. But they were planning that some [of them] would hide [near the road] and wait [for Paul] and kill him when he was traveling [to Jerusalem].
4 Lakini Festo alijibu kwamba Paulo alikuwa mfungwa katika Kaisaria, na kwamba yeye mwenyewe atarudi huko haraka.
But Festus replied, “Paul is in Caesarea, and is being guarded {[soldiers] are guarding him} [there]. I myself will go down to Caesarea in a few days.
5 Alisema “Kwa hiyo, wale ambao wanaweza, wanaweza kwenda huko na sisi. Kama kuna kitu kibaya kwa mtu huyu, mnapaswa kumshtaki.”
Choose some of your leaders to go there with me. [While they are there], they can accuse Paul of the wrong things that you say that he has done.”
6 Baada ya kukaa siku nane au kumi zaidi, akarudi Kaisaria. Na siku iliyofuata akakaa katika kiti cha hukumu na kuamuru Paulo aletwe kwake.
After Festus had been [in Jerusalem] eight or ten days, he went back down to Caesarea. [Several of the Jewish leaders also went there]. The next day Festus [commanded] that Paul be brought {someone to bring Paul} to him [in the assembly hall] so that he could judge him.
7 Alipofika, Wayahudi kutoka Yerusalemu wakasimama karibu, Wakatoa mashtaka mengi mazito ambayo hawakuweza kuyathibitisha.
[After] Paul was brought to [the assembly hall], the Jewish [leaders] from Jerusalem gathered around him [to accuse him]. They told [Festus] that Paul had committed many crimes. But they could not prove [that Paul had done the things about which they accused him].
8 Paulo alijitetea na kusema, 'Si dhidi ya jina la Wayahudi, si juu ya hekalu, na si juu ya Kaisari, nimefanya mabaya.'
Then Paul [spoke] to defend himself. He said to Festus, “I have done nothing wrong against the laws of us [(exc)] Jews, and I have not disobeyed the rules concerning our Temple. I have also done nothing wrong against your government [MTY].”
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 wanted to please the Jewish [leaders, so] he asked Paul, “Are you [(sg)] willing to go up to Jerusalem so that I can listen as these men accuse you [there]?”
10 Paulo alisema, 'ninasimama mbele ya kiti cha hukumu cha Kaisari ambapo napaswa kuhukumiwa. Sijawakosea Wayahudi, kama wewe ujuavyo vema.
But Paul [did not want to do that. So] he said [to Festus], “[No], I [am not willing to go to Jerusalem]! I am [now] standing before you, and you [(sg)] are the judge [whom the Roman] Emperor [MTY] [has authorized. This is the place] where I should be judged {where you should judge me}. I have not wronged the Jewish people [at all], as you know very well.
11 Ikiwa nimekosa na kama nimefanya kinachostahili kifo, sikatai kufa. Lakini kama shutuma zao si kitu, hakuna mtu anaweza kunikabidhi kwao. Ninamwomba Kaisari. '
If I had done something bad [for which I] should be executed {[concerning which the law said that they] should execute me}, I would not plead [with them that they] not kill me. But none of these things about which they accuse me is [true, so] no one can [legally] surrender me to [these Jews]. So I formally request that the emperor [MTY] [should judge me at Rome].”
12 Baada ya Festo kuongea na baraza akajibu, “unamwomba Kaisari; utaenda kwa Kaisari.”
Then after Festus conferred with the [men who regularly] advised him, he replied to Paul, “You [(sg)] have formally requested [that I should send you] to the emperor [in Rome. So I will arrange for] you to go there [in order that he can judge you].”
13 Baada ya siku kadhaa, mfalme Agripa na Bernike walifika Kaisaria kufanya ziara rasmi kwa Festo.
After several days, King [Herod] Agrippa arrived at Caesarea, along with [his younger sister] Bernice. They had come to [formally] welcome Festus [as the new Governor of the province].
14 Baada ya kukaa hapo kwa siku nyingi, Festo aliwasilisha kesi ya Paulo kwa mfalme; Akasema, 'Mtu mmoja aliachwa hapa na Feliki kama mfungwa.
King Agrippa and Bernice stayed many days in Caesarea. While [they were] there, Festus told Agrippa about Paul. He said to the king, “There is a man here whom Felix kept in prison [while he was governor]. He left him [there when his time as governor ended].
15 Nilipokuwa Yerusalemu makuhani wakuu na wazee wa Wayahudi walileta mashtaka juu ya mtu huyu kwangu, nao waliuliza juu ya hukumu dhidi yake.
When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and [the other] Jewish elders told me that this man had done many things [against their laws]. They asked me to condemn him [to be executed] {judge him [so that people could kill 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.
But I told them that when someone has been accused [of a crime, we] Romans do not immediately (condemn that person/declare that person to be guilty). First, we [command] him to stand before the people who are accusing him and to say whether or not he has done those things. [After that, the judge will decide what to do with] him.
17 Kwa hiyo, walipokuja pamoja hapa, sikuweza kusubiri, lakini siku iliyofuata niliketi katika kiti cha hukumu na kuamuru mtu huyo aletwe ndani.
So those Jews came [here to Caesarea] when I came. I did not delay. The day after [we(exc) arrived], after I sat down at the place where I make decisions, I [commanded] that Paul be brought {[soldiers] to bring Paul} into [the courtroom].
18 Wakati washitaki waliposimama na kumshtaki, nilifikiri kwamba hakuna mashtaka makubwa yaliyoletwa dhidi yake.
The Jewish leaders did accuse him, but the things about which they accused him were not any of the [evil] crimes about which I thought [they would accuse him].
19 Badala yake, walikuwa na mabishano fulani pamoja naye kuhusu dini yao na kuhusu Yesu ambaye alikuwa amekufa, lakini Paulo anadai kuwa yu hai.
Instead, what they argued about with him were some teachings that [some] Jews believe [and others do not believe. They argued] about a man whose name was Jesus who had died, [but the man they were accusing, whose name is] Paul, kept saying, ‘Jesus is alive again.’
20 Nilikuwa nimefumbwa jinsi ya kuchunguza suala hili, na nikamwuliza kama angeenda Yerusalemu kuhukumiwa kuhusu mambo haya.
I did not know what questions to ask [them, and I did not know how to judge] concerning their dispute. So I asked Paul, ‘Are you [(sg)] willing to go [back] to Jerusalem and have the dispute [between you and these Jews] judged there {and [let me] judge there the dispute [between you and these Jews]}?’
21 Lakini Paulo alipoitwa awekwe chini ya ulinzi kwa ajili ya uamuzi wa Mfalme, niliamuru awekwe hata nitakapompeleka kwa Kaisari. '
But Paul answered, ‘[No]. I [am not willing to go to Jerusalem]!
22 Agripa alizungumza na Festo, “ningependa pia kumsikiliza mtu huyu.” “Festo, akasema, “kesho utamsikiliza.”
Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.”
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.
The next day Agrippa and Bernice came very ceremoniously to the assembly hall. Some [Roman] commanders and prominent men in [Caesarea] came with them. Then, Festus told an officer to bring Paul. So after the officer [went to the prison and] brought him,
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.
Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all [the rest of you] who are here, you see this man. Many [HYP] Jews in Jerusalem and also those here [in Caesarea] appealed to me, screaming that we [(exc)] should not let him live any longer.
25 Naliona kwamba hakufanya lolote linalostahili kifo; lakini kwa sababu amemwita Mfalme, niliamua kumpeleka kwake.
But [when I asked them to tell me what he had done, and they told me], I found out that he had not done anything for which he should be executed {[anyone should] execute him}. However, he has asked that our emperor [should judge his case], so I have decided to send him to Rome.
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.
But I do not know what specifically I should write to the emperor concerning him. That is why I have brought him here. I [want] you all [to hear him speak], and I especially want you [(sg)], King Agrippa, to hear him. Then, after we [(inc)] have questioned him, I may know what I should write [to the emperor about him].
27 kwa kuwa naona haina maana kumpeleka mfungwa na bila kuonyesha mashitaka yanayomkabili.
It seems to me [that it would be] unreasonable to send a prisoner [to the emperor in Rome without my] specifying the [things about which people] are accusing him.”
