< Matendo 5 >

1 Hivyo, mtu mmoja aliyeitwa Anania, na Safira mkewe, waliuza sehemu ya mali,
Now a man called Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property.
2 na akaficha sehemu ya fedha waliyouza (mke wake pia alilijua hili), na akaleta sehemu iliyobakia na kuiweka kwenye miguu ya mitume.
He kept back some of the money he received for himself, and brought the rest to present to the apostles. His wife knew what he was doing.
3 Lakini Petro akasema, “Anania, kwa nini shetani ameujaza moyo wako kusema uongo kwa Roho Mtakatifu na kuficha sehemu ya mali ya shamba?
Then Peter asked him, “Ananias, why did you let Satan convince you to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back some of the money from the land you sold?
4 Wakati lilipokuwa halijauzwa, halikuwa ni mali yako? Na baada ya kuuzwa, halikuwa chini ya uamuzi wako? Ilikuwaje uwaze jambo hili moyoni mwako? Hujawadanganya wanadamu, bali umemdanganya Mungu.”
While you had the land, didn't it belong to you? And after you sold it, didn't you still have control over what you did with the money? Why did you decide to do this? You haven't lied to human beings, but to God!”
5 Katika kusikia maneno haya, Anania alidondoka chini na akakata roho. Na hofu kubwa iliwajia wote waliolisikia hili.
Hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. Everyone who heard what happened was terrified.
6 Vijana wakaja mbele na kumtia katika sanda, na kumpeleka nje na kumzika.
Some of the young men got up and wrapped him in a shroud. Then they carried him out and buried him.
7 Baada ya masaa matatu hivi, mke wake aliingia ndani, asijue ni nini kilichokuwa kimetokea.
About three hours later his wife arrived, not knowing what had happened.
8 Petro akamwambia, “Niambie, kama mliuza shamba kwa thamani hiyo.” Akasema, “Ndiyo, kwa thamani hiyo.”
Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes, that was the price,” she replied.
9 Kisha Petro akamwambia, “Inakuwaje kwamba mmepatana kwa pamoja kumjaribu Roho wa Bwana? Angalia, miguu ya wale waliomzika mme wako iko mlangoni, na watakubeba na kukupeleka nje.”
Then Peter told her, “How could you agree together to swindle the Spirit of the Lord? Look, those who buried your husband are just returning, and they'll carry you out too!”
10 Ghafla akadondoka miguuni pa Petro, akakata roho, na wale vijana wakaja ndani wakamkuta ameshakufa. Wakambeba kumpeleka nje, na kumzika karibu na mmewe.
Immediately she fell down dead at his feet. The young men came back in and found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 Hofu kubwa ikaja juu ya kanisa zima, na juu ya wote walioyasikia mambo haya.
Great fear spread through the whole church, as well as among everyone who heard what had happened.
12 Ishara nyingi na maajabu vilikuwa vinatokea miongoni mwa watu kupitia mikono ya mitume. Walikuwa pamoja katika ukumbi wa Sulemani.
Many miraculous signs were performed among the people by the apostles. All the believers used to meet together in Solomon's porch.
13 Lakini, hakuna mtu mwingine tofauti aliyekuwa na ujasiri wa kuambatana nao; hata hivyo, walipewa heshima ya juu na watu.
Nobody else dared to join them even though they were greatly respected.
14 Na pia, waamini wengi walikuwa wakiongezeka kwa Bwana, idadi kubwa ya wanaume na wanawake,
However, many men and women came to believe in the Lord.
15 kiasi kwamba hata waliwabeba wagonjwa mitaani, na kuwalaza vitandani na kwenye makochi, ili kwamba Petro akiwa anapita, kivuli chake kiweze kushuka juu yao.
As a result, people brought those who were sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that as Peter passed by his shadow might fall on them.
16 Hapo pia, idadi kubwa ya watu walikuja kutoka miji iliyozunguka Yerusalem, wakiwaleta wagonjwa na wote waliopagawa na roho wachafu, na wote waliponywa.
Crowds from the towns around Jerusalem brought their sick and those afflicted by evil spirits. They were all healed.
17 Lakini kuhani mkuu aliinuka, na wote waliokuwa pamoja naye (ambao ni wa dhehebu la masadukayo); na walijawa na wivu
However, the high priest and those with him (who were Sadducees) became very jealous and decided to intervene.
18 wakanyosha mikono yao kuwakamata mitume na kuwaweka ndani ya gereza la jumla.
They arrested the apostles and threw them in the public jail.
19 Na wakati wa usiku malaika wa Bwana akaifungua milango ya gereza na kuwaongoza nje na kusema,
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and led them out.
20 “Nendeni, mkasimame hekaluni na kuwaambia watu maneno yote ya Uzima huu.”
“Go to the Temple and tell the people everything about this new way of life!” he told them.
21 Waliposikia hili, waliingia hekaluni wakati wa kupambazuka na kufundisha. Lakini, kuhani mkuu alikuja na wote waliokuwa naye, na kuitisha baraza lote kwa pamoja, na wazee wote wa watu wa Israeli, na kuwatuma gerezani ili kuwaleta mitume.
They did as they were told and went into the Temple at around dawn and began teaching. Then the high priest and his followers called a council meeting with all the leaders of Israel. He sent for the apostles to be brought from prison.
22 Lakini watumishi waliokwenda, hawakuwakuta gerezani, walirudi na kutoa taarifa,
But when the officials went to the prison they couldn't find the apostles so they went back and told the council,
23 “Tumekuta gereza limefungwa vizuri salama, na walinzi wamesimama langoni, lakini tulipokuwa tukifungua, hatukuona mtu ndani.”
“We found the prison all locked up, with guards at the doors. But when we had them open up, we couldn't find anyone inside.”
24 Sasa wakati jemedari wa hekalu na makuhani wakuu waliposikia maneno haya, waliingiwa na shaka kubwa kwa ajili yao wakiwaza litakuwaje jambo hili.
Now when the captain of the Temple guards and the chief priests heard this they were totally baffled, and wondered what was going on.
25 Kisha mmoja akaja na kuwaambia, “Watu mliowaweka gerezani wamesimama hekaluni na wanafundisha watu.”
Then someone came in and said, “Look, the men you put in prison are right there in the Temple teaching people!”
26 Hivyo jemedari alienda pamoja na watumishi, na wakawaleta, lakini bila ya kufanya vurugu, kwa sababu waliwaogopa watu wangeweza kuwapiga kwa mawe.
So the captain went with his guards and brought them in, but did not use force because they were afraid that the people would stone them.
27 Walipokwisha kuwaleta, waliwaweka mbele ya baraza. Kuhani mkuu aliwahoji
The apostles were brought in and made to stand in front of the council.
28 akisema, “Tuliwaamuru msifundishe kwa jina hili, na bado mmeijaza Yerusalemu kwa fundisho lenu, na kutamani kuleta damu ya mtu huyu juu yetu.”
“Didn't we order you not to teach in this name?” the high priest demanded to know. “Now look—you've filled the whole of Jerusalem with your teaching, and you're trying to blame us for his death!”
29 Lakini Petro na mitume wakajibu, “Lazima tumtii Mungu kuliko watu.
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We have to obey God rather than men.
30 Mungu wa baba zetu alimfufua Yesu, mliyemuua, kwa kumtundika juu ya mti.
The God of our forefathers raised Jesus from the dead—the one you killed by hanging him on a cross.
31 Mungu alimtukuza katika mkono wake wa kuume, na kumfanya kuwa Mkuu na mwokozi, kutoa toba kwa Israeli, na msamaha wa dhambi.
God exalted him to a position of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior, as a way to bring repentance to Israel, and for the forgiveness of sins.
32 Sisi ni mashahidi wa mambo haya, na Roho Mtakatifu, ambaye Mungu amemtoa kwa wale wanaomtii.”
We are witnesses of what happened, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 Wajumbe wa baraza waliposikia hivi, walishikwa na hasira wakataka kuwaua mitume.
When the council heard this they were furious and wanted to kill them.
34 Lakini pharisayo aliyeitwa Gamalieli, mwalimu wa sheria, aliyeheshimiwa na watu wote, alisimama na kuwaamuru mitume wachukuliwe nje kwa muda mfupi.
But then one of the council members stood up to speak. He was Gamaliel, a Pharisee and a doctor of law who was respected by everyone. He ordered the apostles sent out for a short while.
35 Kisha akawaambia, “Wanaume wa Israeli, iweni makini sana na kile mnachopendekeza kuwafanyia watu hawa.
Gamaliel addressed the council: “Leaders of Israel, be careful what you plan to do to these men.
36 Kwa sababu, zamani zilizopita, Theuda aliinuka na kujidai kuwa mtu mkuu, na idadi ya watu, wapata mia nne walimfuata. Aliuawa, na wote waliokuwa wanamtii walitawanyika na kupotea.
Some time ago Theudas tried to make a name for himself, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed and all who followed him were scattered and it came to nothing.
37 Baada ya mtu huyu, Yuda mgalilaya, aliinuka siku zile za kuandikwa sensa, akavuta watu wengi nyuma yake. Naye pia alipotea na wote waliokuwa wakimtii walitawanyika.
Then after him Judas of Galilee came along at the time of the census, and he attracted some followers. He also died, and those who listened to him were dispersed.
38 Sasa nawaambia, jiepusheni na watu hawa na muwaache wenyewe, kwa sababu, kama mpango huu au kazi hii ni ya watu itatupwa.
So in the current case I recommend that you leave these men alone, and just let them go. If what they are planning or what they are doing comes from their own human thinking, then it will be defeated.
39 Lakini kama ni ya Mungu, hamtaweza kuwazuia; mnaweza mkajikuta hata mnashindana na Mungu.” Hivyo, walishawishika na maneno yake.
But if it comes from God, you won't be able to defeat them. You could even find yourselves fighting against God!”
40 Kisha, waliwaita mitume ndani na kuwachapa na kuwaamuru wasinene kwa jina la Yesu, na wakawaacha waende zao.
They were convinced by what he said. So they called the apostles back in, had them whipped, and ordered them not to say anything in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go.
41 Waliondoka mbele ya baraza wakifurahi kwa sababu wamehesabiwa kuwa wamestahili kuteseka na kutoheshimiwa kwa ajili ya Jina hilo.
The apostles left the council, happy to be considered worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.
42 Kwa hiyo, kila siku, ndani ya hekalu na kutoka nyumba hadi nyumba waliendelea kufundisha na kuhubiri Yesu kuwa ni Masihi.
Every day they continued to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, in the Temple and from house to house.

< Matendo 5 >