< Matendo 19 >
1 Wakati Apolo alipokuwa Korintho, Paulo alisafiri sehemu za bara, akafika Efeso ambako aliwakuta wanafunzi kadhaa.
It happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain talmidim.
2 Akauliza, “Je, mlipopata kuwa waumini mlipokea Roho Mtakatifu?” Nao wakamjibu, “La! Hata kusikia kwamba kuna Roho Mtakatifu hatujasikia.”
He said to them, "Did you receive the Ruach ha-Kodesh when you believed?" They said to him, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Ruach ha-Kodesh."
3 Naye akasema, “Sasa mlipata ubatizo wa namna gani?” Wakamjibu, “Ubatizo wa Yohane.”
He said, "Into what then were you immersed?" They said, "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.”
Paul said, "John indeed immersed with the immersion of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Yeshua."
5 Baada ya kusikia hayo, walibatizwa kwa jina la Bwana Yesu.
When they heard this, they were immersed in the name of the Lord Yeshua.
6 Basi, Paulo akawawekea mikono, na Roho Mtakatifu akawashukia, wakaanza kusema lugha mbalimbali na kutangaza ujumbe wa Mungu.
When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Ruach ha-Kodesh came on them, and they spoke with other tongues and prophesied.
7 Wote jumla, walikuwa watu wapatao kumi na wawili.
They were about twelve men in all.
8 Kwa muda wa miezi mitatu Paulo alikuwa akienda katika sunagogi, akawa na majadiliano ya kuvutia sana juu ya Ufalme wa Mungu.
He entered into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning 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 were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the crowd, he departed from them, and separated the talmidim, reasoning daily in the school 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 continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Yeshua, both Jews and Greeks.
11 Mungu alifanya miujiza ya ajabu kwa mikono ya Paulo.
God worked special miracles 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 even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, 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 some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Yeshua, saying, "I adjure you by Yeshua 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 cohen hagadol, who did this.
15 Lakini pepo mbaya aliwajibu, “Ninamfahamu Yesu, ninamjua pia Paulo, lakini ninyi ni nani?”
The evil spirit answered, "Yeshua I know, 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, having leapt on them, having overpowered them all, 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.
This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Yeshua was magnified.
18 Waumini wengi walijitokeza wakakiri hadharani mambo waliyokuwa wametenda.
Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring 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.
Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 Kwa namna hiyo, neno la Bwana lilizidi kuenea na kuwa na nguvu zaidi.
So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
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 had ended, Paul determined in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."
22 Hivyo, aliwatuma wawili wa wasaidizi wake, Timotheo na Erasto, wamtangulie kwenda Makedonia, naye akabaki kwa muda huko Asia.
Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
23 Wakati huo ndipo kulipotokea ghasia kubwa huko Efeso kwa sababu ya hiyo Njia ya Bwana.
About that time there arose no small stir 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.
For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen,
25 Demetrio aliwakusanya hao wafanyakazi pamoja na wengine waliokuwa na kazi kama hiyo, akawaambia, “Wananchi, mnafahamu kwamba kipato chetu kinatokana na biashara hii.
whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.
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.
You see and hear, that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods, that 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.”
Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence, whom all Asia and the world worships."
28 Waliposikia hayo, waliwaka hasira, wakaanza kupiga kelele: “Mkuu ni Artemi, wa Efeso!”
When they heard this they were filled with anger, and began to shout, saying, "Great is Artemis 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.
The city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized 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 enter in to the people, the talmidim did not allow him.
31 Maofisa wengine wa huo mkoa wa Asia, waliokuwa rafiki zake, walimtumia Paulo ujumbe wakimsihi asijihatarishe kwa kwenda kwenye ukumbi wa michezo.
And also some of the Asiarchs, who were his friends, sent to him and urged 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.
Some therefore shouted one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them did not know why 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.
They brought Alexander out of the crowd, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and 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 perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about two hours shouted, "Great is Artemis 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.
When the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "You men of Ephesus, is there anyone who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
36 Hakuna anayeweza kukana mambo haya. Hivyo basi, tulieni; msifanye chochote bila hadhari.
Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.
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 therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another.
39 Kama mna matatizo mengine, yapelekeni katika kikao halali.
But if you seek anything further, it will 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 concerning this day's riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we would not be able to give an account of this commotion."
41 Baada ya kusema hayo aliuvunja mkutano.
When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.