Matendo 8
1 Saulo naye alikiona kitendo hicho cha kumwua Stefano kuwa sawa. Siku hiyo kanisa la Yerusalemu lilianza kuteswa vibaya. Waumini wote, isipokuwa tu wale mitume, walilazimika kutawanyika katika sehemu za mashambani za Yudea na Samaria.
And Saul was well pleased with his execution. For at that time there was a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 Watu wamchao Mungu, walimzika Stefano na kumfanyia maombolezo makubwa.
And some pious men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation for him.
3 Wakati huohuo, Saulo alijaribu kuliangamiza kanisa. Alikwenda katika kila nyumba, akawatoa nje waumini, wanaume kwa wanawake, akawatia gerezani.
But Saul made havock of the church, entring into the houses, and dragging out men and women, committed them to prison.
4 Wale waumini waliotawanyika, walikwenda kila mahali wakihubiri ule ujumbe.
Now they that were dispersed went about preaching the word.
5 Naye Filipo aliingia katika mji wa Samaria na kumhubiri Kristo kwa wenyeji wa hapo.
And Philip coming to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them.
6 Watu walijiunga kusikiliza kwa makini ule ujumbe wa Filipo na kuona ile miujiza aliyoifanya.
And the people unanimously attended to the things which were spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he wrought:
7 Maana pepo wachafu waliokuwa wamewapagaa watu wengi waliwatoka wakipiga kelele kubwa; na pia watu wengi waliokuwa wamepooza viungo na waliolemaa waliponywa.
for impure spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many that were possessed by them; and many paralytic and lame persons were cured.
8 Kukawa na furaha kubwa katika mji ule.
And there was great joy in that city.
9 Basi, kulikuwa na mtu mmoja aitwaye Simoni ambaye alikuwa amekwisha fanya uchawi wake katika mji huo kwa muda na kuwashangaza watu wa Samaria, akijiona kuwa yeye ni mtu maarufu.
But there was before in the city a man named Simon practising magic and bewitching the people of Samaria, giving out that he was some great person.
10 Watu wote, wadogo na wakubwa, walimsikiliza kwa makini wakisema, “Simoni ndiye ile nguvu ya kimungu inayoitwa Nguvu Kubwa.”
Whom they all greatly regarded, from the lest to the greatest, saying, This man is as the great power of God.
11 Walivutiwa sana naye kwa vile alikuwa amewashangaza kwa uchawi wake kwa muda mrefu.
And they were attentive to him, because he had for a considerable time astonished them by his magic arts.
12 Lakini walipouamini ujumbe wa Filipo juu ya Habari Njema ya Ufalme wa Mungu na jina la Yesu Kristo, walibatizwa, wanawake na wanaume.
But as they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women;
13 Hata Simoni aliamini; baada ya kubatizwa ilikuwa akiandamana na Filipo, akastaajabia maajabu na miujiza iliyokuwa inafanyika.
and Simon himself also believed, and was baptized, and kept constantly with Philip: and beholding the signs and miracles that were wrought, he was amazed.
14 Wale mitume waliokuwa kule Yerusalemu walipopata habari kwamba wenyeji wa Samaria nao wamelipokea neno la Mungu, waliwatuma kwao Petro na Yohane.
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John:
15 Walipofika waliwaombea hao waumini ili wampokee Roho Mtakatifu;
who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the holy Spirit: (for He was not yet fallen upon any of them,
16 maana wakati huo Roho Mtakatifu hakuwa ameshukia yeyote kati yao; walikuwa wamebatizwa tu kwa jina la Bwana Yesu.
only they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus: ) and then they laid their hands on them,
17 Basi, Petro na Yohane wakawawekea mikono hao waumini, nao wakampokea Roho Mtakatifu.
and they received the holy Spirit.
18 Hapo Simoni aling'amua kwamba kwa kuwekewa mikono ya mitume waumini walipewa Roho Mtakatifu. Hivyo aliwapa Petro na Yohane fedha akisema,
And when Simon saw that the holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, he offered them money,
19 “Nipeni na mimi uwezo huo ili yeyote nitakayemwekea mikono, apokee Roho Mtakatifu.”
saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the holy Spirit.
20 Lakini Petro akamjibu, “Potelea mbali na fedha zako kwa vile unafikiri kwamba unaweza kununua karama ya Mungu kwa fedha!
But Peter said unto him, Let thy money perish with thee, since thou thoughtest to purchase the gift of God with money.
21 Huna sehemu yoyote wala haki katika kazi hiyo kwa maana moyo wako hauko sawa mbele ya macho ya Mungu.
Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Kwa hiyo, tubu ubaya wako huu na umwombe Bwana naye anaweza kukusamehe fikira kama hizo.
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray to God, if so be the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee:
23 Ni dhahiri kwangu kwamba umejaa wivu mkali na mfungwa wa dhambi!”
for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity.
24 Simoni akajibu, “Tafadhali, niombeeni kwa Bwana lisije likanipata lolote kati ya hayo mliyosema.”
And Simon answered, and said, Do ye pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which ye have spoken may come upon me.
25 Baada ya Petro na Yohane kutoa ushuhuda wao na kuutangaza ujumbe wa Bwana, walirudi Yerusalemu. Walipokuwa wanarudi walihubiri Habari Njema katika vijiji vingi vya Samaria.
And they having testified and declared the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
26 Malaika wa Bwana alimwambia Filipo, “Jitayarishe uende kusini kupitia njia inayotoka Yerusalemu kwenda Gaza.” (Njia hiyo hupita jangwani.)
And an angel of the Lord spake to Philip, saying, Arise and go southward to the way that leads down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert.
27 Basi, Filipo akajiweka tayari, akaanza safari. Wakati huohuo kulikuwa na Mwethiopia mmoja, towashi, ambaye alikuwa anasafiri kuelekea nyumbani. Huyo mtu alikuwa ofisa maarufu wa hazina ya Kandake, malkia wa Ethiopia. Alikuwa amekwenda huko Yerusalemu kuabudu na wakati huo alikuwa anarudi akiwa amepanda gari la kukokotwa.
And he arose and went; and behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, and her high-treasurer, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 Alipokuwa anasafiri, alikuwa akijisomea kitabu cha nabii Isaya.
was returning, and as he sat in his chariot, was reading the prophet Esaias:
29 Basi, Roho Mtakatifu akamwambia Filipo, “Nenda karibu na gari hilo ukafuatane nalo.”
and the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip running up to him,
30 Filipo akakimbilia karibu na gari, akamsikia huyo mtu akisoma katika kitabu cha nabii Isaya. Hapo Filipo akamwuliza, “Je, unaelewa hayo unayosoma?”
heard him reading the prophet Esaias, and said, Dost thou understand what thou readest?
31 Huyo mtu akamjibu, “Ninawezaje kuelewa bila mtu kunielewesha?” Hapo akamwalika Filipo apande juu, aketi pamoja naye.
And he said, How can I, unless some one guide me? and he desired Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Basi, sehemu ya Maandiko Matakatifu aliyokuwa anasoma ilikuwa hii: “Alikuwa kama kondoo anayepelekwa kuchinjwa; kimya kama vile mwana kondoo anaponyolewa manyoya, yeye naye hakutoa sauti hata kidogo.
And the portion of scripture, which he was reading, was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before it's shearer is dumb, so He opened not his mouth:
33 Alifedheheshwa na kunyimwa haki. Hakuna atakayeweza kuongea juu ya kizazi chake, kwa maana maisha yake yameondolewa duniani.”
in his humiliation his judgement was taken away, and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken away from the earth."
34 Huyo Mwethiopia akamwambia Filipo, “Niambie, huyu nabii anasema juu ya nani? Anasema mambo haya juu yake yeye mwenyewe au juu ya mtu mwingine?”
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom doth the prophet say this? of himself, or of some other person?
35 Basi, Filipo akianzia na sehemu hiyo ya Maandiko Matakatifu, akamweleza Habari Njema juu ya Yesu.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.
36 Walipokuwa bado wanaendelea na safari walifika mahali penye maji na huyo ofisa akasema, “Mahali hapa pana maji; je, kuna chochote cha kunizuia nisibatizwe?”
And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See here is water, what hindereth me from being baptized?
37 Filipo akasema, “Kama unaamini kwa moyo wako wote unaweza kubatizwa.” Naye akajibu, “Naam, ninaamini kwamba Yesu Kristo ni Mwana wa Mungu.”
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 Basi, huyo ofisa akaamuru lile gari lisimame; na wote wawili, Filipo na huyo ofisa wakashuka majini, naye Filipo akambatiza.
And he ordered the chariot to stop: and they both went down to the water, Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 Walipotoka majini Roho wa Bwana akamfanya Filipo atoweke. Na huyo Mwethiopia hakumwona tena; lakini akaendelea na safari yake akiwa amejaa furaha.
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more: but went on his way rejoicing.
40 Filipo akajikuta yuko Azoto, akapita katika miji yote akihubiri Habari Njema mpaka alipofika Kaisarea.
But Philip was found at Azotus; and as he passed along, he preached the gospel in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.
