Matendo 17
1 Kwa kupitia Amfipoli na Apolonia, walisafiri mpaka Thesalonika ambako kulikuwa na sunagogi la Wayahudi.
And having traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came into Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Paulo alijiunga nao kama ilivyokuwa desturi yake akajadiliana nao Sabato tatu mfululizo, akatumia Maandiko Matakatifu.
And according to custom to Paul, he came in unto them, and for three Sabbaths he expounded unto them from the scriptures,
3 Aliyaeleza na kuonyesha kwamba ilimbidi Kristo kuteswa na kufufuka kutoka wafu. Akawaambia, “Yesu ambaye mimi namhubiri kwenu ndiye Kristo.”
opening and proving, that it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead, and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is the Christ.
4 Baadhi yao walikubali wakajiunga na Paulo na Sila. Kadhalika, idadi kubwa ya Wagiriki waliomcha Mungu pamoja na wanawake wengi wa tabaka la juu, walijiunga nao.
And certain ones of them were persuaded, and identified themselves with Paul and Silas, and of the pious Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5 Lakini Wayahudi wakaona wivu; wakawakodi wafidhuli sokoni, wakafanya kikundi na kuzusha fujo mjini kote. Wakaivamia nyumba ya Yasoni wakitumaini kuwapata humo Paulo na Sila ili wawalete hadharani.
But the Jews giving away to jealousy, and receiving to themselves certain wicked men of those around the forum, and raising a mob, continued to put the city in an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they were seeking to lead them out to the people:
6 Lakini hawakuwapata na hivyo walimburuta Yasoni pamoja na ndugu wengine mpaka kwa wakuu wa mji, wakapiga kelele: “Watu hawa wamekuwa wakivuruga dunia yote na sasa wako hapa mjini.
but not finding them, they dragged Jason and certain brethren to the rulers of the city, roaring that, These who have turned the world upside down are also come hither;
7 Yasoni amewakaribisha nyumbani kwake. Wote wanafanya kinyume cha amri ya Kaisari wakisema eti Kuna mfalme mwingine aitwaye Yesu.”
whom Jason has received: and all these are doing contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another King, Jesus.
8 Kwa maneno hayo waliwatia wasiwasi wakuu wa mji na kundi la watu.
And they excited the rabble and the city rulers hearing these things;
9 Wakawafanya Yasoni na wenzake watoe dhamana, kisha wakawaacha waende zao.
and having received satisfaction from Jason and the others they sent them away.
10 Usiku, wale ndugu waliwahimiza Paulo na Sila waende Berea. Mara tu walipofika huko, walikwenda katika sunagogi la Wayahudi.
But the brethren immediately sent away both Paul and Silas to Berea by night, who coming into the synagogue of the Jews departed;
11 Watu wa huko walikuwa wasikivu zaidi kuliko wale wa Thesalonika. Waliupokea ule ujumbe kwa hamu kubwa, wakawa wanayachunguza Maandiko Matakatifu kila siku, ili kuona kama yale waliyosema Paulo na Sila yalikuwa kweli.
but these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all enthusiasm, searching the scriptures daily, if these things are so.
12 Wengi wao waliamini na pia wanawake wa Kigiriki wa tabaka la juu na wanaume pia.
Then indeed many of them believed, and of the noble Greek women and men, not a few;
13 Lakini, Wayahudi wa Thesalonika walipogundua kwamba Paulo alikuwa anahubiri neno la Mungu huko Berea, walikwenda huko, wakaanza kufanya fujo na kuchochea makundi ya watu.
but when the Jews from Thessalonica knew that the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea, they came thither also, agitating and stirring up the rabbles.
14 Wale ndugu wakamsindikiza haraka aende pwani lakini Sila na Timotheo walibaki Berea.
But immediately at that time the brethren sent away Paul to travel even to the sea: and Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 Wale ndugu waliomsindikiza Paulo walikwenda pamoja naye mpaka Athene. Kisha, wakarudi pamoja na maagizo kutoka kwa Paulo kwamba Sila na Timotheo wamfuate upesi iwezekanavyo.
But having embarked Paul, they led him even to Athens: and receiving commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they departed from him.
16 Paulo alipokuwa anawasubiri Sila na Timotheo huko Athene, moyo wake ulighadhibika sana alipoona jinsi mji huo ulivyokuwa umejaa sanamu za miungu.
But Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, seeing the city devoted to idolatry.
17 Alijadiliana na Wayahudi na watu wengine waliomcha Mungu katika sunagogi; na kila siku alikuwa na majadiliano sokoni pamoja na wowote wale waliojitokeza.
Then indeed he spoke to the Jews, and to the worshipers in the synagogue, and to those incidentally meeting him every day in the forum.
18 Wengine waliofuata falsafa ya Epikuro na Stoiki walibishana naye. Wengine walisema, “Anataka kusema nini huyu bwanamaneno?” Kwa kuwa Paulo alikuwa anahubiri juu ya Yesu na juu ya ufufuo, wengine walisema, “Inaonekana kama anahubiri juu ya miungu ya kigeni.”
And certain ones of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers interviewed him, and some continued to say, What would this babbler wish to say? and others said, He seems to be the propagator of strange divinities: because he was preaching the gospel of Jesus, and the resurrection.
19 Hivyo walimchukua Paulo, wakampeleka Areopago, wakasema, “Tunataka kujua jambo hili jipya ulilokuwa unazungumzia.
And taking him, they led him to the Areopagus, saying; Are we able to know what is this new teaching, spoken by thee?
20 Vitu vingine tulivyosikia kwa masikio yetu vinaonekana kuwa viroja kwetu. Tungependa kujua mambo haya yana maana gani.”
For you bring certain strange things to our hearing: therefore we desire to know what these things wish to be.
21 Wananchi wa Athene na wakazi wengine wa huko walikuwa wanatumia wakati wao wote kuhadithiana na kusikiliza habari mpyampya.
But all the Athenians and itinerant strangers were accustomed to devote their time to nothing else, than to tell something new, or to hear something.
22 Basi, Paulo alisimama mbele ya baraza la Areopago, akasema, “Wananchi wa Athene! Ninaona kwamba ninyi, kwa vyovyote, ni watu wa dini sana.
And Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said, Athenian men, I perceive that in all things you are very religious.
23 Sababu yenyewe ni kwamba katika pitapita yangu niliangalia sanamu zenu za ibada nikakuta madhabahu moja ambayo imeandikwa: Kwa ajili ya Mungu yule Asiyejulikana. Basi, huyo mnayemwabudu bila kujua, ndiye ninayemhubiri kwenu.
For going through, and seeing your devotions, I also found an altar on which it was superscribed, To THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore I now preach unto you Him whom you are ignorantly worshiping.
24 Mungu, aliyeumba ulimwengu na vyote vilivyomo, ni Bwana wa mbingu na nchi; yeye hakai katika hekalu zilizojengwa na watu.
God having made the world and all things which are in it, being himself Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;
25 Wala hatumikiwi kwa mikono ya watu kana kwamba anahitaji chochote kile, kwa maana yeye mwenyewe ndiye anayewapa watu uhai, anawawezesha kupumua na anawapa kila kitu.
neither is he worshiped by human hands, as if needing something, Himself having given life, and breath, and all things to all;
26 Kutokana na mtu mmoja aliumba mataifa yote na kuyawezesha kuishi duniani kote. Aliamua na kupanga kabla kabisa lini na wapi mataifa hayo yangeishi.
and of (one) man he created every nation of men to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, having determined their predestinated times, and the boundaries of their habitation;
27 Alifanya hivyo, ili mataifa hayo yapate kumfuata, na kama vile kwa kupapasapapasa, yapate kumfikia. Hata hivyo lakini, Mungu hayuko mbali na kila mmoja wetu.
that they should seek God, if perhaps indeed they might feel after him, and find him, though not being far from each one of you.
28 Kama alivyosema mtu mmoja: Ndani yake yeye sisi tunaishi, tunajimudu, na tuko! Ni kama washairi wenu wengine walivyosema: Sisi ni watoto wake.
For in him we live and move and have our being, as indeed certain ones of your own poets have said, For we are truly his offspring.
29 Ikiwa basi, sisi ni watoto wa Mungu, haifai kumfikiria Mungu kuwa kama dhahabu, fedha au hata jiwe lililochongwa na kutiwa nakshi na binadamu.
Then being the offspring of God, we ought not to think that divinity is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, the invention of art and the device of man.
30 Mungu alifanya kama kwamba haoni nyakati zile watu walipokuwa wajinga. Lakini sasa, anaamuru watu wote kila mahali watubu.
Then indeed God winking at the times of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to repent:
31 Kwa maana amekwisha weka siku ambayo atauhukumu ulimwengu kwa haki kwa njia ya mtu mmoja aliyemteua. Mungu amewathibitishia wote jambo hili kwa kumfufua mtu huyo kutoka wafu!”
as He has appointed a day, in which he is about to judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; giving faith to all, having raised Him from the dead.
32 Walipomsikia Paulo anasema juu ya jambo la kufufuka kwa wafu, wengine wao waliangua kicheko; lakini wengine walisema, “Tunataka kukusikia tena juu ya jambo hili!”
And having heard the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: others said; We will hear thee concerning this even again.
33 Hivyo, Paulo aliwaacha, akatoka barazani.
So Paul went out from their midst.
34 Lakini watu kadhaa waliandamana naye, wakawa waumini. Miongoni mwao walikuwa Dionisio wa Areopago, mwanamke mmoja aitwaye Damari na wengineo.
But certain men, having adhered to him, believed; among whom was also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman Damarias by name, and others along with them.
