Matendo 7
1 Kuhani mkuu akasema,”mambo haya ni ya kweli”?
“Are these allegations true?” the high priest asked.
2 Stephano akasema, “Ndugu na mababa zangu, nisikilizeni mimi: Mungu wa utukufu alimtokea baba yetu Abrahamu wakati alipokuwa Mesopotamia, kabla hajaishi Harani,'
“Brothers and fathers, listen to me!” Stephen replied. “God in his glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was living in Mesopotamia, before he moved to Haran.
3 akamwambia,' Ondoka katika nchi yako na jamaa zako na uende katika nchi nitakayokuonyesha'.
God told him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and go to the country that I'm going to show you.’
4 Kisha akaondoka katika nchi ya Ukaldayo akaishi Harani, kutoka hapo, baada ya baba yake kufa, Mungu akamleta kwenye nchi hii, wanayoishi sasa.
So he left the country of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. After his father's death, God sent him here to this country where you now live.
5 Hakumpa chochote kama urithi wake, hapakuwa na sehemu hata ya kuweka mguu. Lakini Abrahamu aliahidiwa hata kabla hajapata mtoto kuwa atapewa nchi kama miliki yake na uzao wake.
God didn't give Abraham an inheritance here, not even one square foot. But God did promise Abraham that he would give him and his descendants possession of the land, even though he had no children.
6 Mungu alinena naye hivi, ya kwamba wazao wake wangeishi katika nchi ya ugeni, na kwamba wenyeji wa huko watawafanya kuwa watumwa wao na kuwatenda vibaya kwa muda wa miaka mia nne.
God also told him that his descendants would live in a foreign country, and that they would be enslaved there, and would be mistreated for four hundred years.
7 Na Mungu akasema, nitalihukumu taifa ambalo litawafanya mateka, na baada ya hapo watatoka na kuniabudu katika sehemu hii.'
God said, ‘I will punish the nation that enslaves them. Eventually they will leave and come here to worship me.’
8 Na akampa Abrahamu agano la tohara, hivyo Abrahamu akawa baba wa Isaka akamtahiri siku ya nane; Isaka akawa baba wa Yakobo, na Yakobo akawa baba wa mababu zetu kumi na wawili.
God also gave Abraham the agreement regarding circumcision, and so when Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him on the eighth day. Isaac was the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of the twelve patriarchs.
9 Mababu zetu wakamwonea wivu Yusufu wakamuuza katika nchi ya Misri, na Mungu alikuwa pamoja naye,
The patriarchs, who were jealous of Joseph, sold him into slavery in Egypt. But God was with him,
10 na akamwokoa katika mateso yake, na akampa fadhili na hekima mbele ya Farao mfalme wa Misri. Farao akamfanya awe mtawala juu ya Misri na juu ya nyumba yake yote.
and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave him wisdom and helped him gain the favor of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and the royal household.
11 Basi kukawa na njaa kuu na mateso mengi katika nchi ya Misri na Kanani, na baba zetu hawakupata chakula.
Now a famine occurred throughout Egypt and Canaan. It caused terrible misery, and our forefathers had no food.
12 Lakini Yakobo aliposikia kuna nafaka Misri, aliwatuma baba zetu kwa mara ya kwanza.
When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt he sent our forefathers down on their first visit.
13 Katika safari ya pili Yusufu akajionyesha kwa ndugu zake, familia ya Yusufu ikajulikana kwa Farao.
During their second visit, Joseph revealed to his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh discovered Joseph's family background.
14 Yusufu akawatuma ndugu zake kwenda kumwambia Yakobo baba yao aje Misri, pamoja na jamaa yake, jumla ya watu wote ni sabini na tano.
Joseph sent for his father and all his relatives—seventy-five in total.
15 Hivyo Yakobo akashuka Misri; kisha akafa yeye pamoja na baba zetu.
Jacob traveled to Egypt, and died there—as did our forefathers.
16 Wakachukuliwa hata Shekemu wakazikwa katika kaburi ambalo Abrahamu alilinunua kwa vipande vya fedha kutoka kwa wana wa Hamori huko Shekemu.
Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought with silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
17 Wakati wa ile ahadi ambayo Mungu alimwahidi Abrahamu ulipokaribia, watu wakiwa wameongezeka huko Misri,
As the time approached regarding the promise that God had made to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt increased.
18 wakati huo aliinuka mfalme mwingine juu ya Misri, mfalme asiyejua kuhusu Yusufu.
A new king came to the throne in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph.
19 Huyo mfalme mwingine akawadanganya watu wetu na kuwatenda mabaya baba zetu, na kuwatupa watoto wao wachanga ili wasiishi.
He took advantage of our people and treated our ancestors badly, forcing them to abandon their babies so they would die.
20 Katika kipindi kile Musa alizaliwa; alikuwa mzuri mbele za Mungu, akalelewa miezi mitatu katika nyumba ya baba yake.
It was at this time that Moses was born. He was a handsome child, and for three months he was looked after in his father's home.
21 Wakati alipotupwa, binti wa Farao alimchukua akamlea kama mwanaye.
When he had to be abandoned, Pharaoh's daughter rescued him and took care of him as her own son.
22 Musa alifundishwa mafundisho yote ya Kimisri; alikuwa na nguvu katika maneno na matendo.
Moses received instruction in all areas of Egyptian knowledge, and he became a powerful speaker and leader.
23 Lakini baada ya kutimiza miaka arobaini, ikamjia katika moyo wake kuwatembelea ndugu zake, wana wa Israeli.
However, when he was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the Israelites.
24 Alipomwona Mwisraeli akitendewa mabaya, Musa alimtetea na kulipiza kisasi aliyekuwa akimwonea kwa kumpiga Mmisiri:
He saw one of them being mistreated, so he intervened to defend him. On behalf of the man he took revenge and killed the Egyptian.
25 akifikiri kuwa ndugu zake watafahamu kwamba Mungu anawaokoa kwa mkono wake, lakini hawakufahamu.
Moses thought his fellow Israelites would see that God was rescuing them through him, but they didn't.
26 Siku iliyofuata akaenda kwa baadhi ya Waisraeli waliokuwa wanagombana; akajaribu kuwapatanisha; akisema,' Mabwana, Ninyi ni ndugu; mbona mnakoseana ninyi kwa ninyi?
The next day when he arrived, two Israelites were fighting one another. He tried to reconcile them and stop the fight. ‘Men! You are brothers!’ he told them. ‘Why are you attacking each other?’
27 Lakini aliyemkosea jirani yake akamsukumia mbali, na kusema, 'Nani kakufanya mtawala na muhukumu wetu?
But the man who had started the fight pushed Moses away. ‘Who put you in charge over us? Are you our judge now?’ he asked.
28 Wewe unataka kuniua, kama ulivyomuua Mmisri jana?”
‘Are you going to kill me like you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 Musa akakimbia baada ya kusikia hivyo; akawa mgeni katika nchi ya Midiani, ambapo akawa baba wa wana wawili.
When he heard this, Moses ran away. He went and lived in exile in the land of Midian, where two sons were born to him.
30 Baada ya miaka arobaini kupita, malaika akamtokea katika jangwa la mlima Sinai, katika mwali wa moto ndani ya kichaka.
Forty years later, in the desert of Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to him in the flames of a burning bush.
31 Wakati Musa alipoona moto, alishangaa na kustaajabia kile alichokiona, na alipojaribu kukisogelea ili kukitazama, sauti ya Bwana ikamjia Ikisema,
When Moses saw this, he was amazed at the sight, and went over to take a closer look. The voice of the Lord spoke to him:
32 'Mimi ni Mungu wa baba zako, Mungu wa Abrahamu, na wa Isaka, na wa Yakobo'. Musa alitetemeka na hakuthubutu kuangalia.
‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses shook with fear and didn't dare look up.
33 Bwana akamwambia, 'Vua viatu vyako, sehemu uliposimama ni mahali patakatifu.
The Lord told him, ‘Take off your sandals, because where you are standing is holy ground.
34 Nimeona mateso ya watu wangu waliopo Misri; Nimesikia kuugua kwao, nami nimeshuka ili niwaokoe; sasa njoo, nitakutuma wewe Misri.'
I have closely observed the suffering of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans. I have come down to rescue them. Now come over here, for I'm sending you to Egypt.’
35 Huyu Musa ambaye waliyemkataa, wakati waliposema, 'nani kakufanya kuwa mtawala na mwamuzi wetu?' alikuwa ndiye ambaye Mungu alimtuma awe mtawala na mkombozi. Mungu alimtuma kwa mkono wa malaika ambaye alimtokea Musa kichakani.
This was the same Moses that the people had rejected when they said, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’ God sent him to be both a ruler and a liberator, by means of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
36 Musa aliwaongoza kutoka Misri baada ya kufanya miujiza na ishara katika Misri na katika bahari ya Shamu, na katika jangwa kwa kipindi cha miaka arobaini.
Moses led them out after performing miraculous signs in Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and continued to do so in the desert for forty years.
37 Ni Musa huyu ndiye aliyewambia watu wa Isiraeli kuwa, 'Mungu atawainulieni nabii kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zenu, nabii kama mimi'.
This is the same Moses who promised the Israelites, ‘God will send you a prophet like me from among your people.’
38 Huyu ni mtu ambaye alikuwa katika mkutano jangwani na malaika ambaye aliongea naye katika mlima Sinai. Huyu ndiye mtu ambaye alikuwa na baba zetu, huyu ni mtu ambaye alipokea neno lililo hai na kutupatia sisi.
Moses was with God's assembled people in the desert when the angel spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and there with our forefathers he received God's living word to give to us.
39 Huyu ni mtu ambaye baba zetu walikataa kumtii; walimsukumia mbali, na katika mioyo yao waligeukia Misri.
He was the one our fathers wouldn't listen to. They rejected him and decided to return to Egypt.
40 Katika kipindi hicho walimwambia Haruni.'tutengenezee miungu itakayotuongoza. Huyo Musa, aliyekuwa akituongoza kutoka katika nchi ya Misri, hatujui kilichompata.'
They told Aaron, ‘Make gods for us to lead us, because we don't know what's happened to this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt.’
41 Hivyo wakatengeneza ndama kwa siku hizo na wakatoa sadaka kwa hiyo sananmu na wakafurahi kwa sababu ya kazi ya mikono yao.
Then they made an idol in the shape of a calf, sacrificed to it, and celebrated what they themselves had made!
42 Lakini Mungu aliwageuza na kuwapa waabudu nyota wa angani, kama ilivyoandikwa kwenye kitabu cha manabii, 'Je Mmenitolea mimi sadaka za wanyama mliowachinja jangwani kwa muda wa miaka arobaini, nyumba ya Israeli?
So God gave up on them. He left them to their worship of the stars in the sky. This is what the prophets wrote, ‘Were you giving offerings or making sacrifices to me during the forty years in the desert, you Israelites?
43 Mmekubali hema ya kukutania ya Moleki na nyota ya mungu refani, na picha mliyoitengeneza na kuwaabudu wao: na nitawapeleka mbali zaidi ya Babeli.'
No, you carried the Tabernacle of the god Moloch and the image of the god Rephan's star, images that you made so you could worship them. So I will banish you in exile beyond Babylon.’
44 Baba zetu walikuwa na hema ya kukutania ya ushuhuda jangwani, kama Mungu alivyoamuru alipoongea na Musa, kwamba angeitengeneza kwa mfano wa ule aliouona.
Our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Testimony in the desert. God had told Moses how he should make it following the blueprint he had seen.
45 Hili ni hema ambalo baba zetu, kwa wakati wao, waliletwa katika nchi na Joshua. Hii ilitokea wakati walipoingia kumiliki taifa ambalo Mungu aliwafukuza kabla ya uwepo wa baba zetu. Hii ilikuwa hivi hadi siku za Daudi,
Later on, our forefathers carried it with them when they went in with Joshua to occupy the land taken from the nations the Lord drove out before them. It stayed there until the time of David.
46 ambaye alipata kibali machoni pa Mungu,' na akaomba kutafuta makao kwa Mungu wa Yakobo.
David found favor with God and asked to make a more permanent home for the God of Jacob.
47 Lakini Selemani alimjengea nyumba ya Mungu.
But it was Solomon who built a Temple for him.
48 Hata hivyo Aliye Juu haishi kwenye nyumba zilizojengwa kwa mikono; hii ni kama nabii alivyosema,
Of course the Almighty doesn't live in temples we make. As the prophet said,
49 Mbingu ni kiti changu cha enzi, na dunia ni sehemu ya kuwekea miguu yangu. Nyumba ya aina gani mtanijengea?, asema Bwana: au ni wapi sehemu yangu ya kupumzikia?
‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth the place I put my feet. What kind of dwelling could you build for me?’ the Lord asks. ‘What bed could you make for me to rest in?
50 Siyo mkono wangu uliofanya hivi vitu vyote?'
Didn't I make everything?’
51 Enyi watu wenye shingo ngumu msiotahiriwa mioyo na masikio, kila mara mnampinga Roho Mtakatifu,' mnatenda kama baba zenu walivyotenda.
You arrogant, hard-hearted people! You never listen! You always fight against the Holy Spirit! You act just like your fathers did!
52 Ni nabii gani katika manabii ambaye baba zenu hawakumtesa? Waliwaua manabii wote waliotokea kabla ya ujio wa Mmoja mwenye Haki,'na sasa mmekuwa wasaliti na wauaji wake pia,
Was there ever a prophet your fathers didn't persecute? They killed those who prophesied about the coming of the one who is truly good and right. He is the one you betrayed and murdered—
53 enyi watu mliopokea sheria ile iliyoagizwa na malaika lakini hamkuishika.”
you who received the law by means of the angels, but refused to keep it.”
54 Kisha wajumbe wa baraza waliposikia mambo haya, walichomwa mioyo yao, wakamsagia meno Stefano.
When they heard this, the council members became mad with rage, and snarled at him, grinding their teeth.
55 Lakini yeye, akiwa amejaa Roho Mtakatifu, alitazama mbinguni kwa makini na akauona utukufu wa Mungu,' na kumwona Yesu amesimama mkono wa kuume wa Mungu.
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed up into heaven and saw God's glory, with Jesus standing at God's right hand.
56 Stefano akasema, “Angalia nimeona mbingu zimefunguka, na Mwana wa Adam amesimama mkono wa kuume wa Mungu.”
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open, and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand.”
57 Lakini wajumbe wa baraza wakapiga kelele kwa sauti za juu, wakaziba masikio yao, wakamkimbilia kwa pamoja,
But they held their hands over their ears and shouted as loudly as they could. They rushed together at him,
58 wakamtupa nje ya mji na wakampiga mawe: na mashahidi wakavua nguo zao za nje na kuweka chini karibu na miguu ya kijana aliyeitwa Sauli.
dragged him out of the city, and began to stone him. His accusers laid their coats down beside a young man called Saul.
59 Walipokuwa wakimpiga mawe Stefano, aliendelea kumwita Bwana na kusema, “Bwana Yesu, pokea roho yangu,”.
As they went on stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 Akapiga magoti na kuita kwa sauti kubwa, “Bwana, usiwahesabie dhambi hii. “Aliposema haya, akakata roho.
He kneeled down, calling out, “Lord, please don't hold this sin against them!” And after he said this, he died.
