Matendo 19
1 Wakati Apolo alipokuwa Korintho, Paulo alisafiri sehemu za bara, akafika Efeso ambako aliwakuta wanafunzi kadhaa.
And it came to pass, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, after passing through the upper districts, came to Ephesus, and finding certain disciples,
2 Akauliza, “Je, mlipopata kuwa waumini mlipokea Roho Mtakatifu?” Nao wakamjibu, “La! Hata kusikia kwamba kuna Roho Mtakatifu hatujasikia.”
said to them: Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? They said to him: We have not only not received it, but we have not even heard whether the Holy Spirit is given.
3 Naye akasema, “Sasa mlipata ubatizo wa namna gani?” Wakamjibu, “Ubatizo wa Yohane.”
And he said to them: Into what, then, were you immersed? They replied: Into John’s immersion.
4 Naye Paulo akasema, “Ubatizo wa Yohane ulikuwa wa kuonyesha kwamba watu wametubu. Yohane aliwaambia watu wamwamini yule ambaye alikuwa anakuja baada yake, yaani Yesu.”
And Paul said: John immersed with the immersion of repentance, saying to the people, that they must believe on him who should come after him, that is, on the Christ, Jesus.
5 Baada ya kusikia hayo, walibatizwa kwa jina la Bwana Yesu.
And when they heard this, they were immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 Basi, Paulo akawawekea mikono, na Roho Mtakatifu akawashukia, wakaanza kusema lugha mbalimbali na kutangaza ujumbe wa Mungu.
And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.
7 Wote jumla, walikuwa watu wapatao kumi na wawili.
And all the men were about twelve.
8 Kwa muda wa miezi mitatu Paulo alikuwa akienda katika sunagogi, akawa na majadiliano ya kuvutia sana juu ya Ufalme wa Mungu.
And he entered the synagogue, and spoke boldly, reasoning, and persuading them for three months, with respect to the things of the kingdom of God.
9 Lakini wengine walikuwa wakaidi, wakakataa kuamini, wakaanza kuongea vibaya hadharani juu ya Njia ya Bwana. Hapo Paulo alivunja uhusiano nao, akawachukua pembeni wale wanafunzi wake, akawa anazungumza nao kila siku katika jumba la masomo la Turano.
But as some were hardened, and did not believe, and spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he withdrew from them, and separated the disciples, and discoursed daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
10 Aliendelea kufanya hivyo kwa muda wa miaka miwili hata wakazi wote wa Asia, Wayahudi na watu wa mataifa mengine, wakaweza kusikia neno la Bwana.
This continued for two years; so that all that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
11 Mungu alifanya miujiza ya ajabu kwa mikono ya Paulo.
Mighty deeds, also, that were unusual, did God perform by the hands of Paul;
12 Watu walikuwa wakichukua leso na nguo nyingine za kazi ambazo Paulo alikuwa amezitumia, wakazipeleka kwa wagonjwa, nao wakaponywa magonjwa yao; na wale waliokuwa na pepo wabaya wakatokwa na pepo hao.
so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried from his body to the sick, and diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits came out of them.
13 Wayahudi kadhaa wenye kupunga pepo wabaya, walisafiri huko na huko, wakijaribu kulitumia jina la Bwana Yesu kwa wale waliokuwa wamepagawa na pepo wabaya. Walikuwa wakisema: “Ninawaamuru kwa jina la Yesu ambaye Paulo anamhubiri.”
And some of the roving Jews, who were exorcists, undertook to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying: I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.
14 Watoto saba wa Skewa, Kuhani Mkuu wa Kiyahudi, walikuwa miongoni mwa hao waliokuwa wanafanya hivyo.
And there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.
15 Lakini pepo mbaya aliwajibu, “Ninamfahamu Yesu, ninamjua pia Paulo, lakini ninyi ni nani?”
But the evil spirit answered and said: Jesus I acknowledge, and Paul I know; but who are you?
16 Kisha yule mtu aliyepagawa aliwarukia wote kwa kishindo, akawashinda nguvu. Na hao watoto wa Skewa wakakimbia kutoka ile nyumba wakiwa uchi na wamejaa majeraha.
And the man in whom the evil spirit was, leaped on them, and overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled from that house, naked and wounded.
17 Kila mtu huko Efeso, Myahudi na asiye Myahudi, alisikia juu ya tukio hilo. Wote waliingiwa na hofu, wakalitukuza jina la Bwana Yesu.
And this became known to all the Greeks and Jews that dwelt in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 Waumini wengi walijitokeza wakakiri hadharani mambo waliyokuwa wametenda.
And many of those who believed came and confessed, and made known their practices.
19 Wengine waliokuwa wameshughulikia mambo ya uchawi hapo awali, walikusanya vitabu vyao, wakavichoma mbele ya wote. Walikisia gharama ya vitabu hivyo, wakaona yafikia vipande vya fedha elfu hamsini.
And many of those who practiced magic, brought together their books, and burned them, in the presence of all. And they computed their value, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 Kwa namna hiyo, neno la Bwana lilizidi kuenea na kuwa na nguvu zaidi.
So mightily did the word of the Lord grow and prevail.
21 Baada ya mambo hayo, Paulo aliamua kwenda Yerusalemu kwa kupitia Makedonia na Akaya. Alisema, “Baada ya kufika huko, itanilazimu kuona Roma pia.”
When these things had been accomplished, Paul purposed in spirit to go to Jerusalem, after he should pass through Macedonia and Achaia, saying: After I have been there, I must see Rome also.
22 Hivyo, aliwatuma wawili wa wasaidizi wake, Timotheo na Erasto, wamtangulie kwenda Makedonia, naye akabaki kwa muda huko Asia.
So, having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he remained for a time in Asia.
23 Wakati huo ndipo kulipotokea ghasia kubwa huko Efeso kwa sababu ya hiyo Njia ya Bwana.
And at that time there was no little excitement about that way.
24 Kulikuwa na mfua fedha mmoja aitwaye Demetrio, ambaye alikuwa na kazi ya kutengeneza sanamu za nyumba ya mungu wa kike aitwaye Artemi. Shughuli hiyo iliwapatia mafundi faida kubwa.
For a certain man, named Demetrius, a silversmith, by making silver shrines for Diana, furnished no little trade to the artists.
25 Demetrio aliwakusanya hao wafanyakazi pamoja na wengine waliokuwa na kazi kama hiyo, akawaambia, “Wananchi, mnafahamu kwamba kipato chetu kinatokana na biashara hii.
These he called together, with the workmen employed about such things, and said: Men, you know that our wealth arises from this trade:
26 Sasa, mnaweza kusikia na kujionea wenyewe mambo Paulo anayofanya, si tu hapa Efeso, ila pia kote katika Asia. Yeye amewashawishi na kuwageuza watu wakakubali kwamba miungu ile iliyotengenezwa na watu si miungu hata kidogo.
and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost the whole of Asia, this Paul, by his persuasions, has drawn away a great multitude, saying, that they which are made with hands are not gods.
27 Hivyo iko hatari kwamba biashara yetu itakuwa na jina baya. Si hivyo tu, bali pia jambo hilo linaweza kuifanya nyumba ya mungu Artemi kuwa si kitu cha maana. Hatimaye sifa zake huyo ambaye Asia na dunia yote inamwabudu, zitakwisha.”
Now there is danger, not only that this our calling will come into disgrace, but that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be despised, and that the majesty of her whom all Asia and the world worships, will be destroyed.
28 Waliposikia hayo, waliwaka hasira, wakaanza kupiga kelele: “Mkuu ni Artemi, wa Efeso!”
When they heard this, they were full of anger, and cried out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians!
29 Mji wote ukajaa ghasia. Wakawavamia Gayo na Aristarko, wenyeji wa Makedonia, ambao walikuwa wasafiri wenzake Paulo, wakakimbia nao mpaka kwenye ukumbi wa michezo.
And the whole city was filled with confusion. And they seized Gains and Aristarchus, who were Macedonians, Paul’s fellow-travelers, and, with one consent, rushed into the theater.
30 Paulo mwenyewe alitaka kuukabili huo umati wa watu, lakini wale waumini walimzuia.
And when Paul wished to go in among the people, the disciples did not permit him.
31 Maofisa wengine wa huo mkoa wa Asia, waliokuwa rafiki zake, walimtumia Paulo ujumbe wakimsihi asijihatarishe kwa kwenda kwenye ukumbi wa michezo.
Some of the Asiarchs also, who were friendly to him, sent to him, and besought him not to trust himself into the theater.
32 Wakati huo, kila mtu alikuwa anapayuka; wengine hili na wengine lile, mpaka hata ule mkutano ukavurugika. Wengi hawakujua hata sababu ya kukutana kwao.
Some, therefore, were crying one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what they had come together.
33 Kwa vile Wayahudi walimfanya Aleksanda ajitokeze mbele, baadhi ya watu katika ule umati walidhani kuwa ndiye. Basi, Aleksanda aliwaashiria watu kwa mkono akitaka kujitetea mbele ya ule umati wa watu.
And some of the multitude put Alexander forward, the Jews urging him on. And Alexander waved his hand, and wished to make a defense to the people.
34 Lakini walipotambua kuwa yeye ni Myahudi, wote kwa sauti moja walipiga kelele: “Mkuu ni Artemi wa Efeso!” Wakaendelea kupayukapayuka hivyo kwa muda wa saa mbili.
But perceiving that he was a Jew, they all cried out, with one voice, for about two hours: Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35 Hatimaye karani wa mji alifaulu kuwanyamazisha, akawaambia, “Wananchi wa Efeso, kila mtu anajua kwamba mji huu wa Efeso ni mlinzi wa nyumba ya mungu Artemi na mlinzi wa ile sanamu iliyoanguka kutoka mbinguni.
But the town-clerk quieted the multitude, and said: Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great Diana, and of the image that fell down from Jupiter?
36 Hakuna anayeweza kukana mambo haya. Hivyo basi, tulieni; msifanye chochote bila hadhari.
As these things, then, can not be contradicted, you ought to be quiet, and do nothing rashly.
37 Mmewaita watu hawa hapa ingawaje hawakuikufuru nyumba ya mungu wala kumtukana mungu wetu wa kike.
For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples, nor revilers of your goddess.
38 Kama, basi Demetrio na wafanyakazi wake wana mashtaka yao kuhusu watu hawa, yapo mahakama na wakuu wa mikoa; wanaweza kushtakiana huko.
Therefore, if Demetrius, and the artists who are with him, have a charge against any one, the courts are in session, and the proconsuls are there; let them accuse each other.
39 Kama mna matatizo mengine, yapelekeni katika kikao halali.
But if you have any inquiries to make about other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40 Kwa maana tungaliweza kushtakiwa kwa kusababisha ghasia kutokana na vituko vya leo. Ghasia hii haina msingi halali na hatungeweza kutoa sababu za kuridhisha za ghasia hiyo.”
For we are in danger of being called to answer for this day’s tumult, since there is no cause by which we shall be able to account for this concourse.
41 Baada ya kusema hayo aliuvunja mkutano.
And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
