Acts 23
1 Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”
Paulo akawaangalia moja kwa moja watu wa baraza na kusema, “Ndugu zangu, nimeishi mbele za Mungu kwa dhamira nzuri hadi hivi leo.”
2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
Kuhani mkuu Anania akawaamuru wale waliosimama karibu naye wampige kinywa chake.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
Ndipo Paulo akamwambia, “Mungu atakupiga wewe, ukuta uliopakwa chokaa. Umekaa ukinihukumu kwa sheria, nawe unaamuru nipigwe kinyume cha sheria?”
4 Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?”
Wale waliokuwa wamesimama karibu naye wakasema, “Hivi ndivyo unavyomtukana kuhani mkuu wa Mungu?”
5 Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
Paulo akasema, “ndugu zangu, mimi sikujua kwamba huyu ni kuhani mkuu. Kwa kuwa imeandikwa, hutazungumza vibaya juu ya mtawala wa watu wako.”
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
Paulo alipoona ya kwamba upande mmoja wa baraza ni Masadukayo na wengine Mafarisayo, akapaza sauti na kusema, “ndugu zangu, mimi ni Mfarisayo, mwana wa Mfarisayo. Ni kwa sababu hii nategemea kwa ujasiri ufufuo wa wafu ninao hukumiwa nao.”
7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.
Alipoyasema haya, malumbano makubwa yakatokea baina ya Mafarisayo na Masadukayo, na mkutano ukagawanyika.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.
Kwani Masadukayo husema hakuna ufufuo, malaika wala hakuna roho, ila Mafarisayo husema haya yote yapo.
9 A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!”
Ghasia kubwa ikatokea na baadhi ya waandishi waliokuwa upande wa Mafarisayo wakasimama na kujadili, wakisema, “hatujaona chochote kibaya dhidi ya mtu huyu. Vipi kama roho au malaika ameongea na yeye?”
10 When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks.
Wakati kulitokea hoja kubwa, mkuu wa majeshi aliogopa kwamba Paulo angeraruliwa vipande vipande na wao, hivyo akaamuru wanajeshi washuke chini na kumchukua kwa nguvu kutoka kwa wajumbe wa baraza, na kumleta katika ngome.
11 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”
Usiku uliofuata Bwana alisimama karibu naye na kusema, “Usiogope, kwa kuwa umenishuhudia katika Yerusalemu, hivyo utatoa ushahidi pia katika Roma.”
12 When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
Kulipokucha, baadhi ya Wayahudi walifanya agano na kuita laana juu yao wenyewe: walisema ya kwamba hawatakula wala kunywa chochote mpaka watakapomuua Paulo.
13 There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.
Kulikuwa na watu zaidi ya arobaini ambao walifanya njama hii.
14 They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
wakaenda kwa wakuu wa makuhani na wazee na kusema, “Tumejiweka wenyewe kwenye laana kuu, tusile chochote hadi tutakapomwua Paulo.
15 Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
Hivyo sasa, baraza limwambie jemadari mkuu amlete kwenu, kana kwamba mnaamua kesi yake kwa usahihi. Kwetu sisi tuko tayari kumwua kabla hajaja hapa.”
16 But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.
Lakini mtoto wa dada yake na Paulo akasikia kwamba kulikuwa na njama, akaenda akaingia ndani ya ngome na kumwambia Paulo.
17 Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”
Paulo akamwita akida mmoja akasema, “Mchukue kijana huyu kwa jemadari; maana ana neno la kumwambia.”
18 So he took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
Basi akida akamchukua yule kijana akampeleka kwa jemedari mkuu akamwambia, “Paulo yule mfungwa aliniita akataka nikuletee kijana huyu kwako. Ana neno la kukuambia.”
19 The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
Yule jemadari mkuu akamshika kwa mkono akajitenga naye kando, na akamwuliza, “Ni kitu gani unachotaka kuniambia?”
20 He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.
Kijana yule akasema, “Wayahudi wamepatana kukuomba umlete Paulo kesho kwenye baraza kana kwamba wanataka kupata habari zake kwa usahili zaidi.
21 Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”
Basi wewe usikubali kwa maana watu zaidi ya arobaini wanamvizia. Wamejifunga kwa laana, wasile wala wasinywe hata watakapomwua. Hata sasa wako tayari, wakisubiria kibali toka kwako.”
22 So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
Basi yule jemadari mkuu akamwacha kijana aende zake, baada ya kumwagiza “usimwambie mtu yeyote ya kwamba umeniarifu haya.”
23 He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night.”
Akawaita maakida wawili akasema watayarisheni askari mia mbili kwenda Kaisaria na askari wapanda farasi sabini, na wenye mikuki mia mbili, mtaondoka zamu ya tatu ya usiku.
24 He asked them to provide mounts, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
Akawaambia kuweka wanyama tayari ambaye Paulo atamtumia na kumchukua salama kwa Feliki Gavana.
25 He wrote a letter like this:
Akaandika barua kwa namna hii,
26 “Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
Klaudio Lisia kwa Liwali mtukufu Feliki, salamu.
27 “This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
Mtu huyu alikamatwa na wayahudi wakawa karibu kumwua, ndipo nikaenda pamoja na kikosi cha askari nikamwokoa, nilipopata habari ya kuwa yeye ni raia wa kirumi.
28 Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.
Nilitaka kujua kwa nini wamemshtaki, hivyo nikampeleka kwenye baraza.
29 I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.
Nikaona kwamba alikuwa ameshitakiwa kwa ajili ya maswali ya sheria yao, wala hakushitakiwa neno lolote la kustahili kuuawa wala kufungwa.
30 When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”
Kisha ikajulikana kwangu kwamba kuna njama dhidi yake, hivyo kwa haraka nikamtuma kwako, na kuwaagiza wanaomshitaki pia walete mashitaka dhidi yake mbele yako. Wakaagana.”
31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
Basi wale askari wakatii amri: wakamchukua Paulo wakampeleka hata Antipatri usiku.
32 But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.
Siku iliyofuata, maaskari wengi wakawaacha wale wapanda farasi waende pamoja naye, nao wakarudi zao ngomeni.
33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
Na wapanda farasi walipofika Kaisaria, na kumpa liwali ile barua, wakamweka Paulo mbele yake.
34 When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,
Naye liwali alipoisoma barua, alimuuliza Paulo alitokea jimbo gani; alipojua ya kwamba ni mtu wa Kilikia,
35 “I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.
akasema, “Nitakusikia wewe watakapo kuja wale waliokushitaki,” akaamuru awekwe katika ikulu ya Herode.
