Matendo 7
1 Kuhani mkuu akasema,”mambo haya ni ya kweli”?
And the high priests said; Are these things so?
2 Stephano akasema, “Ndugu na mababa zangu, nisikilizeni mimi: Mungu wa utukufu alimtokea baba yetu Abrahamu wakati alipokuwa Mesopotamia, kabla hajaishi Harani,'
And he said, Men, brothers and fathers, hear ye; The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, while he was in Mesopotamia, before he migrated into Haran, and He said to him;
3 akamwambia,' Ondoka katika nchi yako na jamaa zako na uende katika nchi nitakayokuonyesha'.
Come out from thy country and from thy kindred, and come hither into the land which I will show unto thee.
4 Kisha akaondoka katika nchi ya Ukaldayo akaishi Harani, kutoka hapo, baada ya baba yake kufa, Mungu akamleta kwenye nchi hii, wanayoishi sasa.
And after his father died he migrated himself thence into this country in which you now dwell,
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.
and God gave him no inheritance in it, not the step of his foot; and he promised to give it to him, and his seed after him, for an inheritance, there being no child to him.
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.
And thus God spoke, that his seed shall sojourn in a strange land, and they will enslave it and oppress it four hundred years.
7 Na Mungu akasema, nitalihukumu taifa ambalo litawafanya mateka, na baada ya hapo watatoka na kuniabudu katika sehemu hii.'
And the nation whom they shall serve I will judge, says God, and after these things they shall come out and serve me in this place.
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.
And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac, Jacob; and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs.
9 Mababu zetu wakamwonea wivu Yusufu wakamuuza katika nchi ya Misri, na Mungu alikuwa pamoja naye,
And the patriarchs, envying Joseph, sold him into Egypt:
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 God was with him, and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him grace and wisdom before Pharaoh the king of Egypt; and he placed him governor over Egypt and all his house.
11 Basi kukawa na njaa kuu na mateso mengi katika nchi ya Misri na Kanani, na baba zetu hawakupata chakula.
And the famine came into all the land and Canaan, and great distress: and our fathers found no sustenance.
12 Lakini Yakobo aliposikia kuna nafaka Misri, aliwatuma baba zetu kwa mara ya kwanza.
And Jacob hearing that there is food in Egypt, sent away our fathers first.
13 Katika safari ya pili Yusufu akajionyesha kwa ndugu zake, familia ya Yusufu ikajulikana kwa Farao.
And the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren, and his race became manifest to Pharaoh.
14 Yusufu akawatuma ndugu zake kwenda kumwambia Yakobo baba yao aje Misri, pamoja na jamaa yake, jumla ya watu wote ni sabini na tano.
And Joseph sending, called to him Jacob his father, and all the family, seventy-five souls.
15 Hivyo Yakobo akashuka Misri; kisha akafa yeye pamoja na baba zetu.
And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he and our fathers died there.
16 Wakachukuliwa hata Shekemu wakazikwa katika kaburi ambalo Abrahamu alilinunua kwa vipande vya fedha kutoka kwa wana wa Hamori huko Shekemu.
And they were carried over into Shechem, and buried in a tomb which Abraham purchased from the sons of Emmor in Shechem with a sum of money.
17 Wakati wa ile ahadi ambayo Mungu alimwahidi Abrahamu ulipokaribia, watu wakiwa wameongezeka huko Misri,
When the time of the promise which God made with Abraham drew nigh, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt,
18 wakati huo aliinuka mfalme mwingine juu ya Misri, mfalme asiyejua kuhusu Yusufu.
until another king arose over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.
19 Huyo mfalme mwingine akawadanganya watu wetu na kuwatenda mabaya baba zetu, na kuwatupa watoto wao wachanga ili wasiishi.
He dealing fraudulently with our race, afflicted our fathers, that they should expose their infants, so that they should not live.
20 Katika kipindi kile Musa alizaliwa; alikuwa mzuri mbele za Mungu, akalelewa miezi mitatu katika nyumba ya baba yake.
During which time Moses was born, and was beautiful to God; who was kept three months in the house of his father.
21 Wakati alipotupwa, binti wa Farao alimchukua akamlea kama mwanaye.
And he being exposed, the daughter of Pharaoh took him, and adopted him for a son to herself.
22 Musa alifundishwa mafundisho yote ya Kimisri; alikuwa na nguvu katika maneno na matendo.
And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and was mighty in his words and works.
23 Lakini baada ya kutimiza miaka arobaini, ikamjia katika moyo wake kuwatembelea ndugu zake, wana wa Israeli.
And when the time of the fortieth year was fulfilled to him, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.
24 Alipomwona Mwisraeli akitendewa mabaya, Musa alimtetea na kulipiza kisasi aliyekuwa akimwonea kwa kumpiga Mmisiri:
And seeing a certain one suffering affliction, he interposed, and executed vengeance in behalf of the oppressed one, slaying the Egyptian.
25 akifikiri kuwa ndugu zake watafahamu kwamba Mungu anawaokoa kwa mkono wake, lakini hawakufahamu.
And he supposed that his brethren would understand that God through his hand is giving them salvation: but they did not recognize it.
26 Siku iliyofuata akaenda kwa baadhi ya Waisraeli waliokuwa wanagombana; akajaribu kuwapatanisha; akisema,' Mabwana, Ninyi ni ndugu; mbona mnakoseana ninyi kwa ninyi?
On the following day, he appeared to them fighting, and undertook to reduce them to peace, saying, Men, you are brethren; therefore do not injure one another.
27 Lakini aliyemkosea jirani yake akamsukumia mbali, na kusema, 'Nani kakufanya mtawala na muhukumu wetu?
And the one injuring his neighbor thrust him away, saying, Who appointeth you a leader and a judge over us?
28 Wewe unataka kuniua, kama ulivyomuua Mmisri jana?”
whether do you wish to kill me, in the manner in which you slew the Egyptian yesterday?
29 Musa akakimbia baada ya kusikia hivyo; akawa mgeni katika nchi ya Midiani, ambapo akawa baba wa wana wawili.
And at this word Moses fled, and became a sojourner in the land of Midia, where he begat two sons.
30 Baada ya miaka arobaini kupita, malaika akamtokea katika jangwa la mlima Sinai, katika mwali wa moto ndani ya kichaka.
And forty years having passed away, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai in the flame of fire of the bramble bush.
31 Wakati Musa alipoona moto, alishangaa na kustaajabia kile alichokiona, na alipojaribu kukisogelea ili kukitazama, sauti ya Bwana ikamjia Ikisema,
And Moses, seeing the sight, was astonished: and he coming nigh to investigate, the voice of the Lord came:
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 thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. And Moses trembling, did not dare to investigate.
33 Bwana akamwambia, 'Vua viatu vyako, sehemu uliposimama ni mahali patakatifu.
And the Lord said to him, Loose the sandal of thy feet: for the place on which thou standest is holy ground.
34 Nimeona mateso ya watu wangu waliopo Misri; Nimesikia kuugua kwao, nami nimeshuka ili niwaokoe; sasa njoo, nitakutuma wewe Misri.'
Seeing, I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and heard their groaning, and have come down to deliver them. And come now, I will send thee into 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.
And this Moses whom they denied, saying, Who hath established thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent a ruler and deliverer, with the hand of an angel having appeared unto him in a 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.
He led them out, doing wonders and miracles in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
37 Ni Musa huyu ndiye aliyewambia watu wa Isiraeli kuwa, 'Mungu atawainulieni nabii kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zenu, nabii kama mimi'.
This Moses is the one having said to the sons of Israel, A prophet will God raise up to you of your brethren, like unto me.
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.
And this is the one being in the church in the wilderness with the angel speaking to him in Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the living oracles to give unto us;
39 Huyu ni mtu ambaye baba zetu walikataa kumtii; walimsukumia mbali, na katika mioyo yao waligeukia Misri.
to whom our fathers were not willing to be obedient, but thrust him away, and turned back in their hearts towards Egypt,
40 Katika kipindi hicho walimwambia Haruni.'tutengenezee miungu itakayotuongoza. Huyo Musa, aliyekuwa akituongoza kutoka katika nchi ya Misri, hatujui kilichompata.'
saying to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us: for this Moses, who led us out from the land of Egypt, we know not what happened to him.
41 Hivyo wakatengeneza ndama kwa siku hizo na wakatoa sadaka kwa hiyo sananmu na wakafurahi kwa sababu ya kazi ya mikono yao.
And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
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?
And God turned away, and gave them up to serve the host of the heaven; as has been written in the book of the prophets: Slain victims and sacrifices you have not brought unto me forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel.
43 Mmekubali hema ya kukutania ya Moleki na nyota ya mungu refani, na picha mliyoitengeneza na kuwaabudu wao: na nitawapeleka mbali zaidi ya Babeli.'
And ye took up the shrine of Moloch, and the star of the god Remphan, images which you made to worship them; and I will transport you 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.
And the tabernacle of testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, as the one speaking to Moses commanded him to make it according to the example 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,
which our fathers receiving, brought in along with Joshua in the dispossession of the nations, whom God drove out, from the face of our fathers, until the days of David,
46 ambaye alipata kibali machoni pa Mungu,' na akaomba kutafuta makao kwa Mungu wa Yakobo.
who found favor before God, and asked that he should build a tabernacle for the house of Jacob.
47 Lakini Selemani alimjengea nyumba ya Mungu.
But Solomon built a house for him.
48 Hata hivyo Aliye Juu haishi kwenye nyumba zilizojengwa kwa mikono; hii ni kama nabii alivyosema,
But the Most High dwelleth not in houses built with hands, as the prophet says,
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 earth the footstool of my feet: What house will you build for me? says the Lord; Or what shall be the place of my rest?
50 Siyo mkono wangu uliofanya hivi vitu vyote?'
Hath not my hand made all of these things?
51 Enyi watu wenye shingo ngumu msiotahiriwa mioyo na masikio, kila mara mnampinga Roho Mtakatifu,' mnatenda kama baba zenu walivyotenda.
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost; as your fathers did, so do ye.
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,
Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? and they slew those proclaiming concerning the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you became:
53 enyi watu mliopokea sheria ile iliyoagizwa na malaika lakini hamkuishika.”
who received the law in the administrations of angels, and did not keep it.
54 Kisha wajumbe wa baraza waliposikia mambo haya, walichomwa mioyo yao, wakamsagia meno Stefano.
And hearing these words, they were cut through their hearts and gnashed their teeth at him.
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 he, being full of the Holy Ghost, and looking up to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 Stefano akasema, “Angalia nimeona mbingu zimefunguka, na Mwana wa Adam amesimama mkono wa kuume wa Mungu.”
and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Lakini wajumbe wa baraza wakapiga kelele kwa sauti za juu, wakaziba masikio yao, wakamkimbilia kwa pamoja,
And crying out with a loud voice, they stopped their ears, and unanimously rushed on 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.
and casting him out from the city, they began to stone him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, called Saul:
59 Walipokuwa wakimpiga mawe Stefano, aliendelea kumwita Bwana na kusema, “Bwana Yesu, pokea roho yangu,”.
and continued to stone Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 Akapiga magoti na kuita kwa sauti kubwa, “Bwana, usiwahesabie dhambi hii. “Aliposema haya, akakata roho.
And putting down his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, do not impute this sin to them. And saying this, he fell asleep.
