Matendo 7
1 Kuhani mkuu akasema,”mambo haya ni ya kweli”?
THEN said the high-priest, 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,'
He replied, Men, brethren, and fathers, hear me: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
3 akamwambia,' Ondoka katika nchi yako na jamaa zako na uende katika nchi nitakayokuonyesha'.
and said to him, Go forth out of thy country, and from among thy relations, and come hither to a land which I will shew thee.
4 Kisha akaondoka katika nchi ya Ukaldayo akaishi Harani, kutoka hapo, baada ya baba yake kufa, Mungu akamleta kwenye nchi hii, wanayoishi sasa.
Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans, and, dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father was dead, God removed him as a sojourner into this very country, in which we 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.
Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not so much as the print of his foot: yet he promised to give it for a possession to him and to his seed after him, when he had no son.
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.
Then spake God to him thus, That his seed should sojourn in a foreign land: and that they should enslave it, and grievously afflict 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 by which they shall be enslaved will I judge, said God: and after these things they shall come out, and shall worship 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, envious, sold Joseph into Egypt: yet 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 delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he appointed 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.
Then came a famine upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress: and our fathers found no provisions.
12 Lakini Yakobo aliposikia kuna nafaka Misri, aliwatuma baba zetu kwa mara ya kwanza.
But when Jacob heard that there were provisions in Egypt, he sent our fathers, the first time.
13 Katika safari ya pili Yusufu akajionyesha kwa ndugu zake, familia ya Yusufu ikajulikana kwa Farao.
And the second time Joseph was made known unto his brethren; and Joseph’s family was made known unto 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.
Then sent Joseph, and invited his father Jacob to come to him, and all his kindred, consisting of seventy-five persons.
15 Hivyo Yakobo akashuka Misri; kisha akafa yeye pamoja na baba zetu.
So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, himself, and our fathers,
16 Wakachukuliwa hata Shekemu wakazikwa katika kaburi ambalo Abrahamu alilinunua kwa vipande vya fedha kutoka kwa wana wa Hamori huko Shekemu.
and they removed him to Sychem, and laid him in the sepulchre which Abraham had bought, at a price paid in silver, of the sons of Emmor, the father of Shechem.
17 Wakati wa ile ahadi ambayo Mungu alimwahidi Abrahamu ulipokaribia, watu wakiwa wameongezeka huko Misri,
But as the time of the promise which God had with an oath confirmed unto 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, who knew not Joseph.
19 Huyo mfalme mwingine akawadanganya watu wetu na kuwatenda mabaya baba zetu, na kuwatupa watoto wao wachanga ili wasiishi.
This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race.
20 Katika kipindi kile Musa alizaliwa; alikuwa mzuri mbele za Mungu, akalelewa miezi mitatu katika nyumba ya baba yake.
At which time Moses was born, and was endued with singular beauty from God, who was brought up three months in the house of his father:
21 Wakati alipotupwa, binti wa Farao alimchukua akamlea kama mwanaye.
and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter took him home, and brought him up for herself, as a son.
22 Musa alifundishwa mafundisho yote ya Kimisri; alikuwa na nguvu katika maneno na matendo.
And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was mighty in words and actions.
23 Lakini baada ya kutimiza miaka arobaini, ikamjia katika moyo wake kuwatembelea ndugu zake, wana wa Israeli.
But when he had completed his fortieth year, 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 one of them treated injuriously, he defended him, and executed vengeance for him who had suffered the outrage, smiting the Egyptian.
25 akifikiri kuwa ndugu zake watafahamu kwamba Mungu anawaokoa kwa mkono wake, lakini hawakufahamu.
For he thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand would give them deliverance: but they understood not.
26 Siku iliyofuata akaenda kwa baadhi ya Waisraeli waliokuwa wanagombana; akajaribu kuwapatanisha; akisema,' Mabwana, Ninyi ni ndugu; mbona mnakoseana ninyi kwa ninyi?
And the following day he shewed himself to them as they were fighting, and urged them to peace, saying, My friends, ye are brethren; wherefore do ye ill treat one another?
27 Lakini aliyemkosea jirani yake akamsukumia mbali, na kusema, 'Nani kakufanya mtawala na muhukumu wetu?
Then he who did his neighbour wrong thrust him from him, saying, Who appointed thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28 Wewe unataka kuniua, kama ulivyomuua Mmisri jana?”
Wilt thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?
29 Musa akakimbia baada ya kusikia hivyo; akawa mgeni katika nchi ya Midiani, ambapo akawa baba wa wana wawili.
Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a sojourner in the land of Midian, 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 when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the desert of mount Sinai the angel of the Lord, in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 Wakati Musa alipoona moto, alishangaa na kustaajabia kile alichokiona, na alipojaribu kukisogelea ili kukitazama, sauti ya Bwana ikamjia Ikisema,
But when Moses saw it, he marvelled at the sight: and as he was drawing nearer to observe it, a voice from the Lord came 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 thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses trembling, dared not to look farther.
33 Bwana akamwambia, 'Vua viatu vyako, sehemu uliposimama ni mahali patakatifu.
Then the Lord said unto him, “Loose the sandal from thy feet: for the place whereon 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.'
Attentive I have beheld the evil treatment of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them. And now come hither, 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.
This very Moses whom they had rejected, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and redeemer by the hand 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.
He brought them forth, after performing miracles and signs 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 is the Moses who said unto the children of Israel, “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up for you from among your brethren, as myself; him shall ye hear.”
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.
This is he, who was with the church in the wilderness with the angel who spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the oracles of life 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 would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto 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 brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what hath 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 brought a sacrifice for 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?
Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Have ye offered me slain beasts and sacrifices 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.'
Yet have ye taken up the tabernacle of Moloc, and the star of your god Remphan, those figures which ye made to pay adoration to 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.
The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, as he that spake to Moses commanded, that he should make it according to the model which 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 also our fathers having received, brought in with Joshua into the place possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out from before the presence of our fathers, unto the days of David;
46 ambaye alipata kibali machoni pa Mungu,' na akaomba kutafuta makao kwa Mungu wa Yakobo.
who found favour before God, and sought to procure an habitation for the God of Jacob.
47 Lakini Selemani alimjengea nyumba ya Mungu.
But Solomon built an house for him.
48 Hata hivyo Aliye Juu haishi kwenye nyumba zilizojengwa kwa mikono; hii ni kama nabii alivyosema,
Though the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as the prophet saith,
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 for my feet: what kind of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what place is there for my repose?
50 Siyo mkono wangu uliofanya hivi vitu vyote?'
hath not my hand made all these things?”
51 Enyi watu wenye shingo ngumu msiotahiriwa mioyo na masikio, kila mara mnampinga Roho Mtakatifu,' mnatenda kama baba zenu walivyotenda.
Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears, ye do always oppose yourselves against the Holy Ghost: as your fathers, so are 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 of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they killed those who before published the tidings of the coming of that Righteous Person; of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers:
53 enyi watu mliopokea sheria ile iliyoagizwa na malaika lakini hamkuishika.”
who have received the law through arrangements of angels, yet have not observed it.
54 Kisha wajumbe wa baraza waliposikia mambo haya, walichomwa mioyo yao, wakamsagia meno Stefano.
Now when they heard these things, they were cut through their hearts as with a saw, and gnashed upon him with 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 he being full of the Holy Ghost, and looking up stedfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
56 Stefano akasema, “Angalia nimeona mbingu zimefunguka, na Mwana wa Adam amesimama mkono wa kuume wa Mungu.”
and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.
57 Lakini wajumbe wa baraza wakapiga kelele kwa sauti za juu, wakaziba masikio yao, wakamkimbilia kwa pamoja,
Then they screamed out with a great cry, and stopped their ears, and rushed all together upon 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 dragging him out of the city, stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, named Saul.
59 Walipokuwa wakimpiga mawe Stefano, aliendelea kumwita Bwana na kusema, “Bwana Yesu, pokea roho yangu,”.
And they stoned Stephen, in the act of prayer, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!
60 Akapiga magoti na kuita kwa sauti kubwa, “Bwana, usiwahesabie dhambi hii. “Aliposema haya, akakata roho.
Then falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, impute not to them this sin! And thus speaking, fell asleep.
