Matendo 10
1 Katika mji wa Kaisaria palikuwa na mtu jina lake Kornelio, ambaye alikuwa jemadari wa kile kilichojulikana kama kikosi cha Kiitalia.
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in the regiment known as the “Italian Regiment,”
2 Yeye alikuwa mcha Mungu pamoja na wote wa nyumbani mwake. Aliwapa watu sadaka nyingi na kumwomba Mungu daima.
A religious man and one who reverenced God, with all his household. He was liberal in his charities to the people, and prayed to God constantly.
3 Siku moja alasiri, yapata saa tisa, aliona maono waziwazi, malaika wa Mungu akimjia na kumwambia, “Kornelio!”
One afternoon, about three o’clock, he distinctly saw in a vision an angel from God come to him, and call him by name.
4 Kornelio akamkazia macho kwa hofu akasema, “Kuna nini, Bwana?” Malaika akamwambia, “Sala zako na sadaka zako kwa maskini zimefika juu na kuwa ukumbusho mbele za Mungu.
Cornelius fixed his eyes on him and, in great alarm, said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ ‘Your prayers and your charities,’ the angel answered, ‘have been an acceptable offering to God.
5 Sasa tuma watu waende Yafa wakamwite mtu mmoja jina lake Simoni aitwaye Petro.
And now, send messengers to Joppa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter.
6 Yeye anaishi na Simoni mtengenezaji ngozi ambaye nyumba yake iko kando ya bahari.”
He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea.’
7 Yule malaika aliyekuwa akizungumza naye alipoondoka, Kornelio akawaita watumishi wake wawili pamoja na askari mmoja mcha Mungu aliyekuwa miongoni mwa wale waliomtumikia.
When the angel, who had spoken to him, had gone, Cornelius called two servants and a religious soldier, who was one of his constant attendants,
8 Akawaambia mambo yote yaliyotukia, kisha akawatuma waende Yafa.
and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
9 Siku ya pili yake, walipokuwa wameukaribia mji, wakati wa adhuhuri, Petro alipanda juu ya nyumba kuomba.
On the next day, while these men were on their way, just as they were nearing the town, Peter went up on the housetop about midday to pray.
10 Alipokuwa akiomba akahisi njaa, akatamani kupata chakula. Lakini wakati walikuwa wakiandaa chakula, akalala usingizi mzito sana.
He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance,
11 Akaona mbingu zimefunguka na kitu kama nguo kubwa kikishushwa duniani kwa ncha zake nne.
and saw that the heavens were open, and that something like a great sail was descending, let down by its four corners towards the earth.
12 Ndani yake walikuwepo aina zote za wanyama wenye miguu minne, nao watambaao nchini, na ndege wa angani.
In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.
13 Ndipo sauti ikamwambia “Petro, ondoka, uchinje na ule.”
Then he was aware of a voice which said – ‘Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat.’
14 Petro akajibu, “La hasha Bwana! Sijawahi kamwe kula kitu chochote kilicho najisi.”
‘No, Lord, I cannot,’ answered Peter, ‘for I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.’
15 Ile sauti ikasema naye mara ya pili, “Usikiite najisi kitu chochote Mungu alichokitakasa.”
Again he was aware of a voice which said – ‘What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.’
16 Jambo hili lilitokea mara tatu na ghafula ile nguo ikarudishwa mbinguni.
This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.
17 Wakati Petro akiwa bado anajiuliza kuhusu maana ya maono haya, wale watu waliokuwa wametumwa na Kornelio wakaipata nyumba ya Simoni mtengenezaji wa ngozi wakawa wamesimama mbele ya lango.
While Peter was still perplexed as to the meaning of the vision that he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius, having enquired the way to Simon’s house, came up to the gate,
18 Wakabisha hodi na kuuliza kama Simoni aliyeitwa Petro alikuwa anaishi hapo.
and called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there.
19 Wakati Petro akiwa anafikiria juu ya yale maono, Roho Mtakatifu akamwambia, “Simoni, wako watu watatu wanaokutafuta.
Peter was still pondering over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, ‘There are two men looking for you at this moment.
20 Inuka na ushuke, usisite kwenda nao kwa kuwa mimi nimewatuma.”
Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.’
21 Petro akashuka na kuwaambia wale watu waliokuwa wametumwa kutoka kwa Kornelio, “Mimi ndiye mnayenitafuta. Mmekuja kwa sababu gani?”
Peter went down to the men and said, ‘I am the person you are looking for. What is your reason for coming?’
22 Wale watu wakamjibu, “Tumetumwa na Kornelio yule jemadari. Yeye ni mtu mwema anayemcha Mungu, na anaheshimiwa na Wayahudi wote. Yeye ameagizwa na malaika mtakatifu akukaribishe nyumbani kwake, ili asikilize maneno utakayomwambia.”
The men replied, ‘Our centurion, Cornelius, a pious man who reverences God and is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, has been instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house, and to listen to what you have to say.’
23 Basi Petro akawakaribisha wakafuatana naye ndani, akawapa pa kulala. Kesho yake akaondoka pamoja nao, na baadhi ya ndugu kutoka Yafa wakafuatana naye.
So Peter invited them in and entertained them. The next day he lost no time in setting out with them, accompanied by some of the Lord’s followers from Joppa;
24 Siku iliyofuata wakawasili Kaisaria. Kornelio alikuwa akiwangoja pamoja na jamaa yake na marafiki zake wa karibu.
and the day following he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them, and had invited his relatives and intimate friends to meet them.
25 Petro alipokuwa akiingia ndani, Kornelio alikuja kumlaki, akaanguka miguuni pake kwa heshima.
So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius met him, and, throwing himself at Peter’s feet, bowed to the ground.
26 Lakini Petro akamwinua akamwambia, “Simama, mimi ni mwanadamu tu.”
Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so, ‘Stand up, I am only human like yourself.’
27 Petro alipokuwa akizungumza naye akaingia ndani na kukuta watu wengi wamekusanyika.
Talking with him as he went, Peter entered the house, where he found a large gathering of people, to whom he said,
28 Akawaambia, “Mnajua kabisa kwamba ni kinyume cha sheria yetu Myahudi kuchangamana na mtu wa Mataifa au kumtembelea. Lakini Mungu amenionyesha kwamba nisimwite mtu yeyote kuwa najisi au asiye safi.
‘You are doubtless aware that it is forbidden for a Jew to be intimate with a foreigner, or even to enter his house; and yet God has shown me that I ought not to call anyone defiled or unclean.
29 Ndiyo sababu ulipotuma niitwe nilikuja bila kupinga lolote. Basi sasa naomba unieleze kwa nini umeniita?”
That was why I came, when I was sent for, without raising any objection. And now I ask your reason for sending for me.’
30 Kornelio akajibu, “Siku nne zilizopita, nilikuwa nyumbani nikisali saa kama hii, saa tisa alasiri. Ghafula mtu aliyevaa nguo zilizongʼaa akasimama mbele yangu,
‘Just three days ago this very hour,’ Cornelius said, ‘I was in my house, saying the Afternoon Prayers, when a man in dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me.
31 akasema, ‘Kornelio, maombi yako yamesikiwa na sadaka zako kwa maskini zimekumbukwa mbele za Mungu.
“Cornelius,” he said, “your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God.
32 Basi tuma watu waende Yafa wakaulize mtu mmoja Simoni aitwaye Petro, yeye ni mgeni katika nyumba ya Simoni mtengenezaji ngozi, ambaye nyumba yake iko kando ya bahari.’
Therefore send to Joppa, and invite the Simon, who is also known as Peter, to come here. He is lodging in the house of Simon the tanner, near the sea.”
33 Nilituma watu kwako mara moja, nawe umefanya vyema kuja. Basi sasa sisi sote tuko hapa mbele za Mungu kuyasikiliza yote ambayo Bwana amekuamuru kutuambia.”
Accordingly I sent to you at once, and you have been so good as to come. And now we are all here in the presence of God, to listen to all that you have been instructed by the Lord to say.’
34 Ndipo Petro akafungua kinywa chake akasema, “Mungu hana upendeleo,
Then Peter began. ‘I see, beyond all doubt,’ he said, ‘that God does not show partiality,
35 Lakini katika kila taifa, kila mtu amchaye na kutenda yaliyo haki hukubaliwa naye.
but that in every nation he who reverences him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
36 Ninyi mnajua ule ujumbe uliotumwa kwa Israeli, ukitangaza habari njema za amani kwa Yesu Kristo. Yeye ni Bwana wa wote.
God has sent his message to the Israelites and told them, through Jesus Christ, the good news of peace – and Jesus is Lord of all!
37 Mnajua yale yaliyotukia katika Uyahudi wote kuanzia Galilaya baada ya mahubiri ya Yohana Mbatizaji:
You yourselves know the story which spread through all Judea, how, beginning form Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed –
38 Jinsi Mungu alivyomtia Yesu wa Nazareti mafuta katika Roho Mtakatifu na jinsi alivyokwenda huku na huko akitenda mema na kuponya wote waliokuwa wameonewa na nguvu za ibilisi, kwa sababu Mungu alikuwa pamoja naye.
the story, I mean, of Jesus of Nazareth, and how God consecrated him his Christ by enduing him with the Holy Spirit and with power; and how he went about doing good and curing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 “Sisi ni mashahidi wa mambo yote aliyoyafanya katika Uyahudi na Yerusalemu. Wakamuua kwa kumtundika msalabani.
We are ourselves, too, witnesses to all that he did in Judea and in Jerusalem; yet they put him to death by hanging him on a cross!
40 Lakini Mungu alimfufua kutoka kwa wafu siku ya tatu na akamwezesha kuonekana na watu.
This Jesus God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear,
41 Hakuonekana kwa watu wote, lakini kwetu sisi tuliochaguliwa na Mungu kuwa mashahidi, ambao tulikula na kunywa naye baada ya kufufuka kwake kutoka kwa wafu.
not indeed to everyone, but to witnesses chosen beforehand by God – to us, who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from the dead.
42 Naye alituamuru kuhubiri kwa watu wote na kushuhudia kwamba ndiye alitiwa mafuta na Mungu kuwa hakimu wa walio hai na wafu.
Further, God charged us to proclaim to the people, and solemnly affirm, that it is Jesus who has been appointed by God judge of the living and the dead.
43 Manabii wote walishuhudia juu yake kwamba kila mtu amwaminiye hupokea msamaha wa dhambi katika Jina lake.”
To him it is that all the prophets bear witness, when they say that everyone who believes in him receives through his name forgiveness of sins.’
44 Wakati Petro alikuwa akisema maneno haya, Roho Mtakatifu aliwashukia wote waliokuwa wakisikiliza ule ujumbe.
Before Peter had finished saying these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
45 Wale wa tohara walioamini waliokuja na Petro walishangaa kwa kuona kuwa kipawa cha Roho Mtakatifu kimemwagwa juu ya watu wa Mataifa.
Those converts from Judaism, who had come with Peter, were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed even on the Gentiles;
46 Kwa kuwa waliwasikia wakinena kwa lugha mpya na kumwadhimisha Mungu. Ndipo Petro akasema,
for they heard them speaking in different languages and extolling God. At this Peter asked,
47 “Je, kuna mtu yeyote anayeweza kuzuia watu hawa wasibatizwe kwa maji? Wamempokea Roho Mtakatifu kama sisi tulivyompokea.”
‘Can anyone refuse the water for the baptism of these people, now that they have received the Holy Spirit as we did ourselves?’
48 Kwa hiyo akaamuru wabatizwe kwa jina la Yesu Kristo. Wakamsihi Petro akae nao kwa siku chache.
And he directed that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; after which they asked him to stay there a few days longer.
