Matendo 22
1 “Ndugu zangu na akina baba, nisikilizeni sasa nikijitetea mbele yenu!”
"Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to 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 were even more quiet. 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 indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.
4 Niliwatesa hata kuwaua wale watu waliofuata Njia hii. Niliwatia nguvuni wanaume kwa wanawake na kuwafunga gerezani.
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons 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 also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
6 “Basi, nilipokuwa njiani karibu kufika Damasko, yapata saa sita mchana, mwangu mkubwa kutoka mbinguni ulitokea ghafla ukaniangazia pande zote.
It happened that, as I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from the sky a great light around me.
7 Hapo nilianguka chini, nikasikia sauti ikiniambia: Saulo, Saulo! Kwa nini unanitesa?
I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
8 Nami nikauliza: Nani wewe, Bwana? Naye akaniambia: Mimi ni Yesu wa Nazareti ambaye wewe unamtesa.
I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazorean, whom you persecute.'
9 Wale wenzangu waliuona ule mwanga lakini hawakusikia sauti ya yule aliyeongea nami.
"Those who were with me indeed saw the light, and were afraid, but they 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.
I said, 'What should I do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which 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.
When I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came 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.
One Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
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 to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' In that very hour I looked up at 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.
He said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.
15 Kwa maana utamshuhudia kwa watu wote ukiwaambia yale uliyoyaona na kuyasikia.
For you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard.
16 Sasa basi, ya nini kukawia zaidi? Simama ubatizwe na uondolewe dhambi zako kwa kuliungama jina lake.
Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'
17 “Basi, nilirudi Yerusalemu, na nilipokuwa nikisali Hekaluni, niliona maono.
"It happened that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into 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, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.'
19 Nami nikamjibu: Bwana, wao wanajua wazi kwamba mimi ni yule aliyekuwa anapitapita katika masunagogi na kuwatia nguvuni na kuwapiga wale waliokuwa wanakuamini.
I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.
20 Na kwamba wakati shahidi wako Stefano alipouawa, mimi binafsi nilikuwako pale nikakubaliana na kitendo hicho na kuyalinda makoti ya wale waliokuwa wanamuua.
When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.'
21 Naye Bwana akaniambia: Nenda; ninakutuma mbali kwa mataifa mengine.”
"He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you out far from here to non-Jewish people.'"
22 Mpaka hapa, wale watu walikuwa wanamsikiza, lakini aliposema maneno haya, walianza kusema kwa sauti kubwa, “Mwondoe duniani! Mtu wa namna hiyo hastahili kuishi.”
They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, "Rid the earth of this fellow, for he is not fit to live."
23 Waliendelea kupayukapayuka huku wakitikisa makoti yao na kurusha vumbi angani.
As they yelled, and threw off their cloaks, and threw 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 commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they yelled at him like that.
25 Lakini walipokwisha mfunga ili wamchape viboko, Paulo alimwuliza jemadari mmoja aliyesimama hapo, “Je, ni halali kwenu kumpiga viboko raia wa Roma kabla hajahukumiwa?”
When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?"
26 Yule jemadari aliposikia hayo, alimpasha habari mkuu wa jeshi akisema, “Unataka kufanya nini? Mtu huyu ni raia wa Roma!”
When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, "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.”
The commanding officer came and asked him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He said, "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.”
The commanding officer answered, "I bought my citizenship for a great price." Paul said, "But I was born a Roman."
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.
Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, 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.
But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
