Matendo 21
1 Tulipokwisha agana nao, tulipanda meli tukaenda moja kwa moja mpaka Kosi. Kesho yake tulifika Rodo, na kutoka huko tulikwenda Patara.
When we had torn ourselves away and had set sail, we ran before the wind to Cos; the next day we came to Rhodes, and from there to Patara,
2 Huko, tulikuta meli iliyokuwa inakwenda Foinike, hivyo tulipanda, tukasafiri.
where we found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, and went on board and set sail.
3 Baada ya kufika mahali ambapo tuliweza kuona Kupro, tulipitia upande wake wa kusini tukaelekea Siria. Tulitia nanga katika mji wa Tiro ambapo ile meli ilikuwa ipakuliwe shehena yake.
After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria, and put into Tyre, where the ship was to discharge her cargo.
4 Tulikuta waumini huko, tukakaa pamoja nao kwa muda wa juma moja. Waumini hao wakawa waongea kwa nguvu ya Roho, wakamwambia Paulo asiende Yerusalemu.
There we found the disciples and stayed a week with them. Speaking under the influence of the Spirit, they warned Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem.
5 Lakini muda wetu ulipokwisha tuliondoka. Wote pamoja na wanawake na watoto wao walitusindikiza mpaka nje ya mji. Tulipofika pwani, sote tulipiga magoti tukasali.
However, when we had come to the end of our visit, we went on our way, all the disciples with their wives and children escorting us out of the city. We knelt down on the beach, and prayed,
6 Kisha tuliagana; sisi tukapanda meli nao wakarudi makwao.
and then said good-bye to one another; after which we went on board, and they returned home.
7 Sisi tuliendelea na safari yetu kutoka Tiro tukafika Tolemai ambapo tuliwasalimu ndugu zetu, tukakaa nao siku moja.
After we had made the run from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, and exchanged greetings with the Brethren there, and spent a day with them.
8 Kesho yake tuliondoka tukaenda Kaisarea. Huko Kaisarea tulikwenda nyumbani kwa mhubiri Filipo. Yeye alikuwa mmoja wa wale saba waliochaguliwa kule Yerusalemu.
The next day we left, and reached Caesarea, where we went to the house of Philip, the Missionary, who was one of ‘the Seven,’ and stayed with him.
9 Alikuwa na binti watatu ambao walikuwa na kipaji cha unabii.
He had four unmarried daughters, who had the gift of prophecy.
10 Baada ya kukaa huko siku kadhaa, nabii mmoja aitwaye Agabo alifika kutoka Yudea.
During our visit, which lasted several days, a Prophet, named Agabus, came down from Judea.
11 Alitujia, akachukua mkanda wa Paulo, akajifunga mikono na miguu, akasema “Roho Mtakatifu asema hivi: Wayahudi kule Yerusalemu watamfunga namna hii mtu mwenye ukanda na kumtia mikononi mwa watu wa mataifa.”
He came to see us, and, taking Paul’s girdle, and binding his own feet and hands with it, said: “This is what the Holy Spirit says — ‘The man to whom this girdle belongs will be bound like this at Jerusalem by the Jews, and they will give him up to the Gentiles’.”
12 Tuliposikia hayo, sisi na wale watu wengine waliokuwa hapo tulimsihi Paulo asiende Yerusalemu.
When we heard that, we and the people of the place began to entreat Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Lakini yeye alijibu, “Mnataka kufanya nini? Mnataka kuvunja moyo wangu kwa machozi? Niko tayari siyo tu kutiwa ndani kule Yerusalemu, ila hata kufa kwa ajili ya Bwana Yesu.”
It was then that Paul made the reply: “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart like this? For my part, I am ready not only to be bound, but even to suffer death at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 Tuliposhindwa kumshawishi tulinyamaza, tukasema tu: “Mapenzi ya Bwana yafanyike”
So, as he would not be persuaded, we said no more to him, only adding — “The Lord’s will be done.”
15 Baada ya kukaa pale kwa muda, tulifunga mizigo yetu, tukaendelea na safari kwenda Yerusalemu.
At the end of our visit, we made our preparations, and started on our way up to Jerusalem.
16 Wengine kati ya wale wafuasi wa Kaisarea walienda pamoja nasi, wakatupeleka nyumbani kwa Mnasoni ambaye tulikuwa tunakwenda kukaa naye kwa muda. Mnasoni alikuwa mwenyeji wa Kupro na alikuwa amekuwa muumini kwa siku nyingi.
Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, and brought Mnason with them, a Cypriot disciple of long standing, with whom we were to stay.
17 Tulipofika Yerusalemu, ndugu waumini walitupokea vizuri sana.
On our arrival at Jerusalem, the Brethren there gave us a hearty welcome;
18 Kesho yake Paulo alikwenda pamoja nasi kumwamkia Yakobo, na wazee wote wa kanisa walikuwako pia.
and the next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the Officers of the Church were present.
19 Baada ya kuwasalimu, Paulo aliwapa taarifa kamili kuhusu yote Mungu aliyokuwa ametenda kati ya mataifa kwa njia ya utumishi wake.
After greeting them, Paul related in detail all that God had done among the Gentiles through his efforts;
20 Waliposikia hayo, walimtukuza Mungu. Kisha wakamwambia Paulo, “Ndugu, unaweza kuona kwamba kuna maelfu ya Wayahudi ambao sasa wamekuwa waumini na wote hao wanashika kwa makini Sheria ya Mose.
and, when they had heard it, they began praising God, and said to Paul: “You see, Brother, that the Jews who have become believers in Christ may be numbered by tens of thousands, and they are all naturally earnest in upholding the Jewish Law.
21 Wamepata habari zako kwamba umekuwa ukiwafundisha Wayahudi wanaoishi kati ya mataifa mengine kuwa wasiijali Sheria ya Mose, wasiwatahiri watoto wao na kwamba wasizifuate mila za Wayahudi.
Now they have heard it said about you, that you teach all Jews in foreign countries to forsake Moses, for you tell them not to circumcise their children or even to observe Jewish customs.
22 Sasa, mambo yatakuwaje? Ni dhahiri kuwa watapata habari kwamba umekwisha wasili hapa.
Well now, as they are certain to hear of your arrival, do what we are going to suggest.
23 Basi, fanya kama tunavyokushauri. Tunao hapa watu wanne ambao wameweka nadhiri.
We have four men here, who have of their own accord put themselves under a vow.
24 Jiunge nao katika ibada ya kujitakasa, ukalipe na gharama zinazohusika, kisha wanyolewe nywele zao. Hivyo watu wote watatambua kwamba habari zile walizoambiwa juu yako hazina msingi wowote, na kwamba wewe binafsi bado unaishi kufuatana na maagizo ya Sheria za Mose.
Join these men, share their purification, and bear their expenses, so that they may shave their heads; and then all will see that there is no truth in what they have been told about you, but that, on the contrary, you yourself rule your life in obedience to the Jewish Law.
25 Kuhusu wale watu wa mataifa mengine ambao wamekuwa waumini, tumekwisha wapelekea barua tukiwaambia mambo tuliyoamua: wasile chochote kilichotambikiwa miungu ya uongo, wasinywe damu, wasile nyama ya mnyama aliyenyongwa, na wajiepushe na uasherati.”
As to the Gentiles who have become believers in Christ, we have sent our decision that they should avoid food offered to idols, and blood, and the flesh of strangled animals, and impurity.”
26 Basi, kesho yake Paulo aliwachukua wale watu akafanya ibada ya kujitakasa pamoja nao. Kisha akaingia Hekaluni kutoa taarifa kuhusu mwisho wa siku za kujitakasa na kuhusu dhabihu itakayotolewa kwa ajili ya kila mmoja wao.
On this, Paul joined the men, and the next day shared their purification, and went into the Temple, and gave notice of the expiration of the period of purification when the usual offering should have been made on behalf of each of them.
27 Wakati siku hizo saba zilipokaribia kuisha, Wayahudi waliokuwa wametoka katika mkoa wa Asia walimwona Paulo Hekaluni. Wakachochea hasira kati ya kundi lote la watu, wakamtia nguvuni
But, just as the seven days were drawing to a close, the Jews from Roman Asia caught sight of Paul in the Temple, and caused great excitement among all the people present, by seizing Paul and shouting:
28 wakipiga kelele: “Wananchi wa Israeli, msaada, msaada! Huyu ndiye yule mtu anayewafundisha watu kila mahali mambo yanayopinga watu wa Israeli, yanayopinga Sheria ya Mose na mahali hapa patakatifu. Hata sasa amewaingiza watu wa mataifa mengine Hekaluni na kupatia najisi mahali hapa patakatifu.”
“Men of Israel! help! This is the man who teaches every one everywhere against our People, our Law, and this Place; and, what is more, he has actually brought Greeks into the Temple and defiled this sacred place.”
29 Sababu ya kusema hivyo ni kwamba walikuwa wamemwona Trofimo mwenyeji, wa Efeso, akiwa pamoja na Paulo mjini, wakadhani kwamba Paulo alikuwa amemwingiza Hekaluni.
(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in Paul’s company in the city, and were under the belief that Paul had taken him into the Temple.)
30 Mji wote ulienea ghasia; watu wakaja kutoka pande zote, wakamkamata Paulo, wakamburuta, wakamtoa nje ya Hekalu na papo hapo milango ya Hekalu ikafungwa.
The whole city was stirred, and the people quickly collected, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple, when the doors were immediately shut.
31 Walikuwa tayari kumuua, lakini habari zilimfikia mkuu wa jeshi la Kiroma kuwa Yerusalemu yote ilikuwa imejaa ghasia.
They were bent upon killing him, when it was reported to the Officer commanding the garrison, that all Jerusalem was in commotion.
32 Mara, mkuu wa jeshi akawachukua askari na jemadari, akalikabili lile kundi la watu. Nao walipomwona mkuu wa jeshi na askari, wakaacha kumpiga Paulo.
He instantly got together some officers and men, and charged down upon the crowd, who, when they saw the Commanding Officer and his men, stopped beating Paul.
33 Mkuu wa jeshi alimwendea Paulo, akamtia nguvuni na kuamuru afungwe minyororo miwili. Kisha akauliza, “Ni mtu gani huyu, na amefanya nini?”
Then he went up to Paul, arrested him, ordered him to be doubly chained, and proceeded to inquire who he was, and what he had been doing.
34 Wengine katika lile kundi la watu walikuwa wanapayuka kitu hiki na wengine kitu kingine. Kwa sababu ya ghasia hiyo, mkuu wa jeshi hakufaulu kujua kisa kamili. Hivyo, aliamuru watu wake wampeleke Paulo ndani ya ngome.
Some of the crowd said one thing, and some another; and, as he could get no definite reply on account of the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks.
35 Paulo alipofika kwenye ngazi, askari walilazimika kumbeba kwa sababu ya fujo za watu.
When Paul reached the steps, he was actually being carried by the soldiers, owing to the violence of the mob;
36 Kwa maana kundi kubwa la watu walimfuata wakipiga kelele, “Muulie mbali!”
for the people were following in a mass, shouting out: “Kill him!”
37 Walipokuwa wanamwingiza ndani ya ngome, Paulo alimwomba mkuu wa jeshi akisema, “Naweza kukwambia kitu?” Yule mkuu wa jeshi akamjibu, “Je unajua Kigiriki?
Just as he was about to be taken into the Fort, Paul said to the Commanding Officer: “May I speak to you?” “Do you know Greek?” asked the Commanding Officer.
38 Kwani wewe si yule Mmisri ambaye hivi majuzi alianzisha uasi na kuwaongoza majahili elfu nne hadi jangwani?”
“Are not you, then, the Egyptian who some time ago raised an insurrection and led the four thousand Bandits out into the Wilderness?”
39 Paulo akajibu, “Mimi ni Myahudi, mzaliwa wa Tarso katika Kilikia; mimi ni raia wa mji maarufu. Tafadhali, niruhusu niongee na watu.
“No,” said Paul, “I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a city of some note; and I beg you to give me permission to speak to the people.”
40 Yule mkuu wa jeshi akamruhusu. Hivyo Paulo alisimama juu ya ngazi, akawapungia mkono wale watu na walipokaa kimya, akaanza kuongea nao kwa Kiebrania.
The Commanding Officer gave his permission, and Paul, standing on the steps, made signs with his hand to the people, and, when comparative silence had been obtained, he spoke to them in Hebrew, as follows:
