Matendo 22
1 “Ndugu zangu na akina baba, nisikilizeni sasa nikijitetea mbele yenu!”
Brethren and fathers, hear my defense, which I now make before you.
2 Waliposikia akiongea nao kwa Kiebrania wakazidi kukaa kimya zaidi kuliko hapo awali. Naye Paulo akaendelea kusema,
When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept the greater silence. And he said:
3 “Mimi ni Myahudi, mzaliwa wa Tarso katika Kilikia. Lakini nililelewa papa hapa mjini Yerusalemu chini ya mkufunzi Gamalieli. Nilifundishwa kufuata kwa uthabiti Sheria ya wazee wetu. Nilijitolea kwa moyo wote kwa Mungu kama ninyi wenyewe mlivyo hivi leo.
I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, yet educated in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, and instructed according to the strict discipline of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, as you all are this day.
4 Niliwatesa hata kuwaua wale watu waliofuata Njia hii. Niliwatia nguvuni wanaume kwa wanawake na kuwafunga gerezani.
And I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering into prison both men and women,
5 Kuhani Mkuu na baraza lote la wazee wanaweza kushuhudia jambo hilo. Kutoka kwao nilipokea barua walioandikiwa wale ndugu Wayahudi waliokuwa huko Damasko. Nilikwenda Damasko ili niwatie nguvuni watu hao na kuwaleta wamefungwa mpaka Yerusalemu ili waadhibiwe.
as the chief priest and the whole body of elders will testify for me. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring those, also, who were there, bound to Jerusalem, that they might be punished.
6 “Basi, nilipokuwa njiani karibu kufika Damasko, yapata saa sita mchana, mwangu mkubwa kutoka mbinguni ulitokea ghafla ukaniangazia pande zote.
But it came to pass, that, as I was on my journey, and was drawing near to Damascus, about midday, there suddenly shone from heaven a great light round about me;
7 Hapo nilianguka chini, nikasikia sauti ikiniambia: Saulo, Saulo! Kwa nini unanitesa?
and I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
8 Nami nikauliza: Nani wewe, Bwana? Naye akaniambia: Mimi ni Yesu wa Nazareti ambaye wewe unamtesa.
And I answered, Who art thou Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you persecute.
9 Wale wenzangu waliuona ule mwanga lakini hawakusikia sauti ya yule aliyeongea nami.
They who were with me saw the light, and were afraid, but did not understand the voice of him who spoke to me.
10 Basi, mimi nikauliza: Nifanye nini Bwana? Naye Bwana akaniambia: Simama, nenda Damasko na huko utaambiwa yote ambayo umepangiwa kufanya.
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go into Damascus, and there you shall be told of all things that are appointed for you to do.
11 Kutokana na ule mwanga mkali sikuweza kuona na hivyo iliwabidi wale wenzangu kuniongoza kwa kunishika mkono mpaka nikafika Damasko.
And as I could not see for the glory of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus.
12 “Huko kulikuwa na mtu mmoja aitwaye Anania, mtu mcha Mungu, mwenye kuitii Sheria yetu na aliyeheshimika sana mbele ya Wayahudi waliokuwa wanaishi Damasko.
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good report from all the Jews that dwelt there,
13 Yeye alikuja kuniona, akasimama karibu nami, akasema: Ndugu Saulo! Ona tena. Papo hapo nikaona tena, nikamwangalia.
came to me, and standing by me, said, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And the same hour I looked upon him.
14 Halafu Anania akasema: Mungu wa babu zetu amekuchagua upate kujua matakwa yake na kumwona yule mtumishi wake mwadilifu na kumsikia yeye mwenyewe akiongea.
And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know his will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of his mouth;
15 Kwa maana utamshuhudia kwa watu wote ukiwaambia yale uliyoyaona na kuyasikia.
for you shall be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
16 Sasa basi, ya nini kukawia zaidi? Simama ubatizwe na uondolewe dhambi zako kwa kuliungama jina lake.
And now, why do you delay? Arise, and be immersed, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
17 “Basi, nilirudi Yerusalemu, na nilipokuwa nikisali Hekaluni, niliona maono.
And it came to pass, after I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance,
18 Nilimwona Bwana akiniambia: Haraka! Ondoka Yerusalemu upesi kwa maana watu wa hapa binadamu hawataukubali ushuhuda wako juu yangu.
and saw him saying to me, Make haste, and depart quickly from Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony concerning me.
19 Nami nikamjibu: Bwana, wao wanajua wazi kwamba mimi ni yule aliyekuwa anapitapita katika masunagogi na kuwatia nguvuni na kuwapiga wale waliokuwa wanakuamini.
And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I threw into prison, and scourged, in every synagogue, those who believed on thee;
20 Na kwamba wakati shahidi wako Stefano alipouawa, mimi binafsi nilikuwako pale nikakubaliana na kitendo hicho na kuyalinda makoti ya wale waliokuwa wanamuua.
and that when the blood of Stephen, thy witness, was shed, I also stood by and approved, and kept the clothing of those who slew him.
21 Naye Bwana akaniambia: Nenda; ninakutuma mbali kwa mataifa mengine.”
And he said to me, Depart, for I will send you far off to the Gentiles.
22 Mpaka hapa, wale watu walikuwa wanamsikiza, lakini aliposema maneno haya, walianza kusema kwa sauti kubwa, “Mwondoe duniani! Mtu wa namna hiyo hastahili kuishi.”
And they heard him to this word, and lifted up their voice, saying: Away with such a man from the earth! for it is not fit that he should live.
23 Waliendelea kupayukapayuka huku wakitikisa makoti yao na kurusha vumbi angani.
And as they were crying out, and tossing off their clothes, and throwing dust into the air,
24 Mkuu wa jeshi aliwaamuru watu wake wampeleke Paulo ndani ya ngome, akawaambia wamchape viboko ili wapate kujua kisa cha Wayahudi kumpigia kelele.
the officer commanded him to be led into the fortress, and gave orders that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so cried out against him.
25 Lakini walipokwisha mfunga ili wamchape viboko, Paulo alimwuliza jemadari mmoja aliyesimama hapo, “Je, ni halali kwenu kumpiga viboko raia wa Roma kabla hajahukumiwa?”
But Paul said to the centurion who stood by, as he caused him to be bent forward to the straps: Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?
26 Yule jemadari aliposikia hayo, alimpasha habari mkuu wa jeshi akisema, “Unataka kufanya nini? Mtu huyu ni raia wa Roma!”
And when the centurion heard that, he went out and told it to the officer, saying: What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.
27 Basi, mkuu wa jeshi alimwendea Paulo, akamwambia, “Niambie; je, wewe ni raia wa Roma?” Paulo akamjibu, “Naam.”
And the officer came and said to him: Tell me, are you a Roman? He answered: Yes.
28 Mkuu wa jeshi akasema, “Mimi nami nimekuwa raia wa Roma kwa kulipa gharama kubwa.” Paulo akasema, “Lakini mimi ni raia wa Roma kwa kuzaliwa.”
And the officer answered: With a great Bum did I purchase this citizenship. And Paul replied: But I was born a citizen.
29 Wale watu ambao walikuwa tayari kumchunguza Paulo walitoweka mara. Hata yule mkuu wa jeshi aliogopa alipojua kwamba Paulo ni raia wa Roma na kwamba alikuwa amekwisha mfunga minyororo.
Then, those who were about to examine him, immediately departed from him. And the officer was afraid, when he learned that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
30 Kesho yake, mkuu wa jeshi alitaka kujua mashtaka kamili ambayo Wayahudi walikuwa wamemwekea Paulo. Hivyo, alimfungua Paulo minyororo, akaamuru makuhani wakuu na Baraza lote wafanye kikao. Kisha alimleta Paulo, akamsimamisha mbele ya Baraza.
And, on the next day, wishing to know certainly why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the Sanhedrim to meet together. And he brought Paul down, and placed him before them.
