Acts 23
1 Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”
Paulo aliwakodolea macho wale wanabaraza, halafu akaanza kusema, “Ndugu zangu, mpaka hivi leo nimekuwa nikiishi na dhamiri njema mbele ya Mungu.”
2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
Hapo Kuhani Mkuu Anania akaamuru wale waliokuwa wamesimama karibu na Paulo wampige kofi mdomoni.
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?”
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?”
4 Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?”
Watu waliokuwa wamesimama pale wakamwambia Paulo, “Unamtukana 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 akajibu, “Ndugu zangu, sikujua kama yeye ni Kuhani Mkuu. Maana Maandiko yasema hivi: Usiseme 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!”
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.”
7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.
Baada ya kusema hivyo, mzozo mkali ulitokea kati ya Mafarisayo na Masadukayo na mkutano ukagawanyika sehemu mbili.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.
Kisa chenyewe kilikuwa hiki: Masadukayo hushikilia kwamba wafu hawafufuki, hakuna malaika, na roho nazo hazipo. Lakini Mafarisayo husadiki hayo yote matatu.
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!”
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.”
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.
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.
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 na Paulo, akamwambia, “Jipe moyo! Umenishuhudia katika Yerusalemu, utafanya vivyo hivyo mjini 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, Wayahudi walifanya kikao cha faragha. Wakala kiapo: “Hatutakula wala kunywa mpaka tutakapokuwa tumekwisha muua Paulo.”
13 There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.
Watu zaidi ya arobaini ndio waliokula njama kufanya hivyo.
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.
Basi, walikwenda kwa makuhani wakuu na wazee, wakasema, “Sisi tumeapa kwamba hatutaonja chochote kwa vinywa vyetu mpaka hapo tutakapokuwa tumemuua 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.”
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.”
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 kiume wa dada yake Paulo alisikia juu ya mpango huo; hivyo akaenda ndani ya ngome, akamjulisha Paulo juu ya njama hiyo.
17 Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”
Hapo Paulo akamwita mmoja wa askari, akamwambia, “Mchukue kijana huyu kwa mkuu wa jeshi; ana kitu cha 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.”
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.”
19 The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
Mkuu wa jeshi alimshika huyo kijana mkono, akampeleka mahali pa faragha, akamwuliza, “Una nini cha 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.
Yeye akasema, “Wayahudi wamepatana wakuombe umpeleke Paulo Barazani wakijisingizia kwamba Baraza lingependa kupata habari kamili zaidi juu yake.
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.”
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.”
22 So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
Mkuu wa jeshi alimwacha aende zake akimwonya asimwambie mtu yeyote kwamba amemletea habari hizo.
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.”
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.
24 He asked them to provide mounts, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
Wekeni farasi kadhaa kwa ajili ya Paulo; mfikisheni salama kwa Felisi, mkuu wa mkoa.”
25 He wrote a letter like this:
Halafu mkuu huyo wa jeshi akaandika barua hivi:
26 “Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
“Mimi Klaudio Lusia ninakuandikia wewe Mheshimiwa Felisi, mkuu wa mkoa. 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.
“Wayahudi walimkamata mtu huyu na karibu wangemuua kama nisingalifahamishwa kwamba yeye ni raia wa Roma na hivyo nikaenda pamoja na askari nikamwokoa.
28 Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.
Nilimpeleka mbele ya Baraza lao kuu nikitaka kujua kisa cha mashtaka yao.
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.
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.
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.”
Nilipofahamishwa kwamba Wayahudi walikuwa wamefanya njama za kumuua, niliamua kumleta kwako. Nikamwambia washtaki wake walete mashtaka yao mbele yako.”
31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
Basi, hao askari walimchukua Paulo kama walivyoamriwa; wakampeleka usiku uleule mpaka Antipatri.
32 But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.
Kesho yake askari wa miguu walirudi ngomeni, wakawaacha wale askari wapanda farasi waendelee na safari pamoja na Paulo.
33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
Walipofika Kaisarea walimpa mkuu wa mkoa ile barua na kumweka Paulo chini ya mamlaka 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,
Felisi alipoisoma hiyo barua aliwauliza Paulo ametoka mkoa gani. Alipofahamishwa kwamba alikuwa ametoka mkoa wa Kilikia,
35 “I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.
akasema, “Nitasikiliza kesi yako baada ya washtaki wako kufika.” Kisha akaamuru Paulo awekwe chini ya ulinzi ndani ya ukumbi wa Herode.
