Matendo 19
1 Wakati Apolo alipokuwa Korintho, Paulo alisafiri sehemu za bara, akafika Efeso ambako aliwakuta wanafunzi kadhaa.
Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, after passing through the hinterland, came to Ephesus, where he found a few disciples.
2 Akauliza, “Je, mlipopata kuwa waumini mlipokea Roho Mtakatifu?” Nao wakamjibu, “La! Hata kusikia kwamba kuna Roho Mtakatifu hatujasikia.”
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" he asked them. "No" said they, "we did not even hear that there is a Holy Spirit."
3 Naye akasema, “Sasa mlipata ubatizo wa namna gani?” Wakamjibu, “Ubatizo wa Yohane.”
"Into what, then, were you baptized?" he asked. And they said, "Into the baptism of John."
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.”
"John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance," answered Paul, "telling the people to believe on One who was coming after him, namely, on Jesus."
5 Baada ya kusikia hayo, walibatizwa kwa jina la Bwana Yesu.
When they heard this they were baptized 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 after Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak with tongues, and to prophesy.
7 Wote jumla, walikuwa watu wapatao kumi na wawili.
They were in all about twelve men.
8 Kwa muda wa miezi mitatu Paulo alikuwa akienda katika sunagogi, akawa na majadiliano ya kuvutia sana juu ya Ufalme wa Mungu.
Then Paul went into the synagogue, and there continued to preach fearlessly for about three months, reasoning and persuading them about 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 when some grew hardened and disobedient, and spoke evil of the Way before the crowd, he left them, withdrew the disciples, and continued to hold discussions daily in the lecture-hall of 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 went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of Asia heard the Lord’s message, Jews as well as Greeks.
11 Mungu alifanya miujiza ya ajabu kwa mikono ya Paulo.
God also wrought extraordinary miracles by the hand 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 much so, that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick; and their diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
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.”
But there were also some strolling Jewish exorcists, who took it upon them to invoke the name of Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by that Jesus whom Paul preaches."
14 Watoto saba wa Skewa, Kuhani Mkuu wa Kiyahudi, walikuwa miongoni mwa hao waliokuwa wanafanya hivyo.
There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish high priest who used to do this.
15 Lakini pepo mbaya aliwajibu, “Ninamfahamu Yesu, ninamjua pia Paulo, lakini ninyi ni nani?”
But the evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I have heard of, 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 sprang on two of them, overpowered them and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of the 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 people of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. Awe fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus began to be held in honor.
18 Waumini wengi walijitokeza wakakiri hadharani mambo waliyokuwa wametenda.
Many also of those who became believers used to come to confess and to declare their deeds.
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 some of them who had practised magic arts, collected their books, and burned them in the presence of all. And they counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand silver coins.
20 Kwa namna hiyo, neno la Bwana lilizidi kuenea na kuwa na nguvu zaidi.
So mightily the word of the Lord continued to grow and to prevail.
21 Baada ya mambo hayo, Paulo aliamua kwenda Yerusalemu kwa kupitia Makedonia na Akaya. Alisema, “Baada ya kufika huko, itanilazimu kuona Roma pia.”
Now after these things were ended, Paul resolved in his spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. "After I get there," he said, "I must see Rome, too."
22 Hivyo, aliwatuma wawili wa wasaidizi wake, Timotheo na Erasto, wamtangulie kwenda Makedonia, naye akabaki kwa muda huko Asia.
So he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, while he himself kept back for a time on his way into Asia.
23 Wakati huo ndipo kulipotokea ghasia kubwa huko Efeso kwa sababu ya hiyo Njia ya Bwana.
Now just at this time, there arose no small commotion concerning the 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.
There was a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, and brought rich profit to his workmen.
25 Demetrio aliwakusanya hao wafanyakazi pamoja na wengine waliokuwa na kazi kama hiyo, akawaambia, “Wananchi, mnafahamu kwamba kipato chetu kinatokana na biashara hii.
He gathered them together with others of like occupation, and said. "Men, you know that by this business we make our money.
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 in Ephesus, but almost throughout all of Asia, this fellow Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, by telling them that they are no gods at all who are made with hands.
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.”
"So there is danger not only that our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be brought into disrepute, and that she herself may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world now worships."
28 Waliposikia hayo, waliwaka hasira, wakaanza kupiga kelele: “Mkuu ni Artemi, wa Efeso!”
After listening to this they were filled with rage, and cried out again and again, saying,
29 Mji wote ukajaa ghasia. Wakawavamia Gayo na Aristarko, wenyeji wa Makedonia, ambao walikuwa wasafiri wenzake Paulo, wakakimbia nao mpaka kwenye ukumbi wa michezo.
The city was filled with commotion. They rushed like one man into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s companions in travel.
30 Paulo mwenyewe alitaka kuukabili huo umati wa watu, lakini wale waumini walimzuia.
When Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not let him,
31 Maofisa wengine wa huo mkoa wa Asia, waliokuwa rafiki zake, walimtumia Paulo ujumbe wakimsihi asijihatarishe kwa kwenda kwenye ukumbi wa michezo.
and some of the Asiarchs, too, who were his friends, sent word to him repeatedly, entreating him not to venture 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.
Now some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in an uproar, and the majority had no idea why they were 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 they brought Alexander out of the crowd, whom the Jews had pushed forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, would have made 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 when they saw that he was a Jew they all, with one voice, for about two hours, shouted,
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.
At length the recorder got them quiet. "Men of Ephesus," he said, "who here does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple- guardian of the great Diana and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Hakuna anayeweza kukana mambo haya. Hivyo basi, tulieni; msifanye chochote bila hadhari.
"Since these facts cannot be gainsaid, you ought to be calm and do nothing reckless.
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 blasphemers of our goddess.
38 Kama, basi Demetrio na wafanyakazi wake wana mashtaka yao kuhusu watu hawa, yapo mahakama na wakuu wa mikoa; wanaweza kushtakiana huko.
If then Demetrius and his craftsmen have a grievance against any one, the courts are open and there are the proconsuls; let them accuse one another.
39 Kama mna matatizo mengine, yapelekeni katika kikao halali.
But if you desire anything further, it must be settled in the regular 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 indeed we are in danger of being accused in regard to this day’s riot, since there is no cause for it, nor shall we be able to give account for this disorderly gathering."
41 Baada ya kusema hayo aliuvunja mkutano.
With these words he dismissed the assembly.
