Matendo 23
1 Paulo aliwakodolea macho wale wanabaraza, halafu akaanza kusema, “Ndugu zangu, mpaka hivi leo nimekuwa nikiishi na dhamiri njema mbele ya Mungu.”
Paul fixed his eyes on the Council, and began: ‘Brothers, for my part, I have always ordered my life before God, with a clear conscience, up to this very day.’
2 Hapo Kuhani Mkuu Anania akaamuru wale waliokuwa wamesimama karibu na Paulo wampige kofi mdomoni.
At this, the high priest Ananias ordered the men standing near to strike him on the mouth;
3 Basi, Paulo akamwambia, “Mungu mwenyewe atakupiga kofi wewe uliye kama ukuta uliopakwa chokaa! Unawezaje kukaa hapo ili unihukumu kisheria na huku wewe mwenyewe unaivunja Sheria kwa kuamuru nipigwe?”
Paul turned to him and said: ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to try me in accordance with law, and yet, in defiance of law, order me to be struck?’
4 Watu waliokuwa wamesimama pale wakamwambia Paulo, “Unamtukana Kuhani Mkuu wa Mungu!”
The people standing near said to Paul, ‘Do you know that you are insulting God’s high priest?’
5 Paulo akajibu, “Ndugu zangu, sikujua kama yeye ni Kuhani Mkuu. Maana Maandiko yasema hivi: Usiseme vibaya juu ya mtawala wa watu wako.”
‘I did not know, brothers, that it was the high priest,’ said Paul, ‘for scripture says – “Of the ruler of your people you should speak no ill”.’
6 Wakati huo Paulo alikwisha tambua kwamba sehemu moja ya wanabaraza wale ilikuwa ni Masadukayo na nyingine Mafarisayo. Basi, alipaaza sauti yake mbele ya Baraza: “Ndugu zangu, mimi ni Mfarisayo, mwana wa Mfarisayo. Mimi nimeletwa mahakamani kwa kuwa ninatumaini kwamba wafu watafufuka.”
Noticing that some of those present were Sadducees and others Pharisees, Paul called out in the Council, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee and a son of Pharisees. It is on the question of hope for the dead and of their resurrection that I am on my trial.’
7 Baada ya kusema hivyo, mzozo mkali ulitokea kati ya Mafarisayo na Masadukayo na mkutano ukagawanyika sehemu mbili.
As soon as he said this, a dispute arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and there was a sharp division of opinion among those present.
8 Kisa chenyewe kilikuwa hiki: Masadukayo hushikilia kwamba wafu hawafufuki, hakuna malaika, na roho nazo hazipo. Lakini Mafarisayo husadiki hayo yote matatu.
(For Sadducees say there is no such thing as a resurrection, and that there is neither angel nor spirit, while Pharisees believe in both.)
9 Kelele ziliongezeka na baadhi ya walimu wa Sheria wa kikundi cha Mafarisayo walisimama na kutoa malalamiko yao kwa nguvu: “Hatuoni chochote kilicho kiovu katika mtu huyu; huenda ikawa kwamba roho au malaika ameongea naye.”
So a great uproar ensued, and some of the Teachers of the Law belonging to the Pharisees’ party stood up and hotly protested, ‘We find nothing whatever wrong in this man. Suppose a spirit did speak to him, or an angel…’
10 Mzozo ulizidi kuwa mwingi hata mkuu wa jeshi akaogopa kwamba Paulo angeraruliwa vipandevipande. Kwa hiyo, aliwaamuru askari wake kuingia kati ya lile kundi, wamtoe Paulo na kumrudisha ndani ya ngome.
The dispute was becoming so violent, that the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces between them, ordered the Guard to go down and rescue him from them, and take him into the Fort.
11 Usiku uliofuata, Bwana alisimama karibu na Paulo, akamwambia, “Jipe moyo! Umenishuhudia katika Yerusalemu, utafanya vivyo hivyo mjini Roma.”
That night the Lord came and stood by Paul, and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem and you must bear witness in Rome also.’
12 Kulipokucha, Wayahudi walifanya kikao cha faragha. Wakala kiapo: “Hatutakula wala kunywa mpaka tutakapokuwa tumekwisha muua Paulo.”
In the morning some Jewish men combined together, and took an oath that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13 Watu zaidi ya arobaini ndio waliokula njama kufanya hivyo.
There were more than forty in the plot;
14 Basi, walikwenda kwa makuhani wakuu na wazee, wakasema, “Sisi tumeapa kwamba hatutaonja chochote kwa vinywa vyetu mpaka hapo tutakapokuwa tumemuua Paulo.
and they went to the chief priests and the elders, and said, ‘We have taken a solemn oath not to touch food until we have killed Paul.
15 Sasa basi, ninyi pamoja na Baraza tumeni ujumbe kwa mkuu wa jeshi ili amlete Paulo kwenu mkijisingizia kwamba mnataka kupata habari kamili zaidi juu yake. Tuko tayari kumuua hata kabla hajafika karibu.”
So we want you now, with the consent of the Council, to suggest to the commanding officer that he should bring Paul down before you, as though you intended to go more fully into his case; but, before he comes here, we will be ready to make away with him.’
16 Lakini mtoto wa kiume wa dada yake Paulo alisikia juu ya mpango huo; hivyo akaenda ndani ya ngome, akamjulisha Paulo juu ya njama hiyo.
However, the son of Paul’s sister, hearing of the plot, went to the Fort, and on being admitted, told Paul about it.
17 Hapo Paulo akamwita mmoja wa askari, akamwambia, “Mchukue kijana huyu kwa mkuu wa jeshi; ana kitu cha kumwambia.”
Paul called one of the garrison centurion and asked him to take the young man to the commanding officer, as he had something to tell him.
18 Askari akamchukua huyo kijana, akamwongoza mpaka kwa mkuu wa jeshi, akasema, “Yule mfungwa Paulo ameniita akaniomba nimlete kijana huyu kwako kwa maana ana jambo la kukwambia.”
The centurion went with him to the commanding officer, and said, ‘The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to tell you.’
19 Mkuu wa jeshi alimshika huyo kijana mkono, akampeleka mahali pa faragha, akamwuliza, “Una nini cha kuniambia?”
The commanding officer took the young man by the hand, and, stepping aside, asked what it was he had to tell him.
20 Yeye akasema, “Wayahudi wamepatana wakuombe umpeleke Paulo Barazani wakijisingizia kwamba Baraza lingependa kupata habari kamili zaidi juu yake.
‘Some men have agreed,’ he answered, ‘to ask you to bring Paul down before the Council tomorrow, on the plea of your making further inquiry into his case.
21 Lakini wewe usikubali kwa maana kuna watu zaidi ya arobaini walio tayari kumvamia. Wameapa kutokula wala kunywa mpaka watakapokuwa wamemuua. Sasa wako tayari, wanangojea tu uamuzi wako.”
But do not let them persuade you, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, who have taken an oath that they will not eat or drink, until they have made away with him; and they are at this very moment in readiness, counting on your promise.’
22 Mkuu wa jeshi alimwacha aende zake akimwonya asimwambie mtu yeyote kwamba amemletea habari hizo.
The commanding officer then dismissed the young man, cautioning him not to mention to anybody that he had given him that information.
23 Basi, mkuu wa jeshi aliwaita askari wawili akawaambia, “Wekeni tayari askari mia mbili, wapanda farasi sabini na askari mia mbili wa mikuki, waende Kaisarea; muwe tayari kuondoka kabla ya saa tatu leo usiku.
Then he called two Captains, and ordered them to have two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea, as well as seventy troopers and two hundred lancers, by nine o’clock that night,
24 Wekeni farasi kadhaa kwa ajili ya Paulo; mfikisheni salama kwa Felisi, mkuu wa mkoa.”
and to have horses ready for Paul to ride, so that they might take him safely to Felix, the Governor.
25 Halafu mkuu huyo wa jeshi akaandika barua hivi:
He also wrote a letter along these lines:
26 “Mimi Klaudio Lusia ninakuandikia wewe Mheshimiwa Felisi, mkuu wa mkoa. Salamu!
“Claudius Lysias sends his compliments to His Excellency Felix the Governor.
27 “Wayahudi walimkamata mtu huyu na karibu wangemuua kama nisingalifahamishwa kwamba yeye ni raia wa Roma na hivyo nikaenda pamoja na askari nikamwokoa.
The man whom I send with this had been seized by some Jews, and was on the point of being killed by them, when I came upon them with the force under my command, and rescued him, as I learned that he was a Roman citizen.
28 Nilimpeleka mbele ya Baraza lao kuu nikitaka kujua kisa cha mashtaka yao.
Wanting to know exactly the ground of the charges they made against him, I brought him before their Council,
29 Niligundua kwamba mashtaka yenyewe yalihusu ubishi juu ya sehemu kadha wa kadha za Sheria yao na hivyo sikuona kwamba amefanya chochote kinachostahili auawe au afungwe gerezani.
when I found that their charges were connected with questions of their own Law, and that there was nothing alleged involving either death or imprisonment.
30 Nilipofahamishwa kwamba Wayahudi walikuwa wamefanya njama za kumuua, niliamua kumleta kwako. Nikamwambia washtaki wake walete mashtaka yao mbele yako.”
Having, however, information of a plot against the man, which was about to be put into execution, I am sending him to you at once, and I have also directed his accusers to prosecute him before you.”
31 Basi, hao askari walimchukua Paulo kama walivyoamriwa; wakampeleka usiku uleule mpaka Antipatri.
The soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took charge of Paul and conducted him by night to Antipatris;
32 Kesho yake askari wa miguu walirudi ngomeni, wakawaacha wale askari wapanda farasi waendelee na safari pamoja na Paulo.
and on the next day, leaving the troopers to go on with him, they returned to the Fort.
33 Walipofika Kaisarea walimpa mkuu wa mkoa ile barua na kumweka Paulo chini ya mamlaka yake.
On arriving at Caesarea, the troopers delivered the letter to the Governor, and brought Paul before him.
34 Felisi alipoisoma hiyo barua aliwauliza Paulo ametoka mkoa gani. Alipofahamishwa kwamba alikuwa ametoka mkoa wa Kilikia,
As soon as Felix had read the letter, he enquired to what province Paul belonged, and, learning that he came from Cilicia, he said,
35 akasema, “Nitasikiliza kesi yako baada ya washtaki wako kufika.” Kisha akaamuru Paulo awekwe chini ya ulinzi ndani ya ukumbi wa Herode.
‘I will hear all you have to say as soon as your accusers have arrived.’ And he ordered Paul to be kept under guard in Herod’s Government house.
