Matendo 8
1 Naye Sauli alikuwepo pale, akiridhia kuuawa kwa Stefano. Siku ile kukatukia mateso makuu dhidi ya kanisa huko Yerusalemu, waumini wote isipokuwa mitume wakatawanyika, wakakimbilia Uyahudi na Samaria.
Saul approved of his being put to death. On that very day a great persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and its members, with the exception of the apostles, were all scattered over the districts of Judea and Samaria.
2 Watu wacha Mungu wakamzika Stefano na kumwombolezea sana.
Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him.
3 Lakini kwa habari ya Sauli alikuwa analiharibu kanisa, akiingia nyumba kwa nyumba, akiwaburuta wanawake na wanaume na kuwatupa gerezani.
But Saul began to devastate the church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison.
4 Kwa hiyo wale waliotawanyika wakalihubiri neno la Mungu kila mahali walipokwenda.
Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the good news.
5 Filipo akateremkia mji mmoja wa Samaria akawahubiria habari za Kristo
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ.
6 Watu walipomsikia Filipo na kuona ishara na miujiza aliyofanya, wakasikiliza kwa bidii yale aliyosema.
The people, one and all, listened attentively to what Philip told them, when they heard of, and saw, the miracles which he was working.
7 Pepo wachafu wakawa wakiwatoka watu wengi huku wakipiga kelele na wengi waliopooza na viwete wakaponywa.
For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them; and many who were paralysed or lame were cured,
8 Hivyo pakawa na furaha kuu katika mji huo.
so that there was great rejoicing throughout that city.
9 Basi mtu mmoja jina lake Simoni alikuwa amefanya uchawi kwa muda mrefu katika mji huo akiwashangaza watu wote wa Samaria. Alijitapa kwamba yeye ni mtu mkuu,
There was staying in the city a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic there and mystifying the Samaritan people, giving himself out to be some great being.
10 nao watu wote wakubwa kwa wadogo wakamsikiliza na kumaka, wakisema “Mtu huyu ndiye uweza wa Mungu ujulikanao kama ‘Uweza Mkuu.’”
Everyone, high and low, paid attention to him. “This man,” they used to say, “must be that power of God which people call ‘The Great Power.’”
11 Wakamfuata kwa sababu kwa muda mrefu alikuwa amewashangaza kwa uchawi wake.
And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts.
12 Lakini watu walipomwamini Filipo alipohubiri habari njema za Ufalme wa Mungu na jina la Yesu Kristo, wakabatizwa wanaume na wanawake.
However, when they came to believe Philip, as he told them the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Simoni naye akaamini na akabatizwa. Akamfuata Filipo kila mahali, akistaajabishwa na ishara kuu na miujiza aliyoiona.
Even Simon believed, and after his baptism attached himself to Philip, and was in his turn mystified at seeing signs and great miracles constantly occurring.
14 Basi mitume waliokuwa Yerusalemu waliposikia kuwa Samaria wamelipokea neno la Mungu, wakawatuma Petro na Yohana waende huko.
When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them;
15 Nao walipofika wakawaombea ili wampokee Roho Mtakatifu,
and they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 kwa sababu Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa bado hajawashukia hata mmoja ila wamebatizwa tu katika jina la Bwana Yesu.
(As yet the Spirit had not descended on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).
17 Ndipo Petro na Yohana wakaweka mikono yao juu ya wale waliobatizwa, nao wakapokea Roho Mtakatifu.
Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Simoni alipoona kuwa watu wanapokea Roho Mtakatifu mitume walipoweka mikono juu yao, akataka kuwapa fedha
When Simon saw that it was through the placing of the apostles’ hands on them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of money and said,
19 akisema, “Nipeni na mimi uwezo huu ili kila mtu nitakayeweka mikono yangu juu yake apate kupokea Roho Mtakatifu.”
‘Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands on anyone, he may receive the Holy Spirit.’
20 Petro akamjibu, “Fedha yako na iangamie pamoja nawe, kwa sababu ulidhani unaweza kununua karama ya Mungu kwa fedha!
‘A curse on you and on your silver,’ Peter exclaimed, ‘for thinking that God’s free gift can be bought with money!
21 Wewe huna sehemu wala fungu katika huduma hii kwa kuwa moyo wako si mnyofu mbele za Mungu.
You have no share or part in our message, for your heart is not right with God.
22 Kwa hiyo tubu kwa uovu huu wako na umwombe Bwana. Yamkini aweza kukusamehe mawazo uliyo nayo moyoni mwako.
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible, you may be forgiven for such a thought;
23 Kwa maana ninaona kwamba wewe umejawa na uchungu na ni mfungwa wa dhambi.”
for I see that you have fallen into the bitterness of envy and the fetters of sin.’
24 Ndipo Simoni akajibu, “Niombeeni kwa Bwana, ili hayo mliyosema lolote yasinitukie.”
‘Pray to the Lord for me, all of you,’ Simon answered, ‘so that none of the things you have spoken of may happen to me.’
25 Nao walipokwisha kutoa ushuhuda na kuhubiri neno la Bwana, wakarudi Yerusalemu wakihubiri Injili katika vijiji vingi vya Samaria.
Peter and John, having borne their testimony and delivered the Lord’s message, returned to Jerusalem, telling the good news, as they went, in many Samaritan villages.
26 Basi malaika wa Bwana akamwambia Filipo, “Nenda upande wa kusini kwenye ile barabara itokayo Yerusalemu kuelekea Gaza ambayo ni jangwa.”
Meanwhile an angel of the Lord had said to Philip, ‘Set out on a journey southwards, along the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (It is now deserted).
27 Hivyo akaondoka. Akiwa njiani akakutana na towashi wa Kushi, aliyekuwa afisa mkuu, mwenye mamlaka juu ya hazina zote za Kandake, Malkia wa Kushi. Huyu towashi alikuwa amekwenda Yerusalemu ili kuabudu,
So Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came on an official of high rank, in the service of Candace, Queen of the Abyssinians. He was her treasurer, and had been to Jerusalem to worship,
28 naye akiwa njiani kurudi nyumbani alikuwa ameketi garini mwake akisoma kitabu cha nabii Isaya.
and was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 Roho Mtakatifu akamwambia Filipo, “Nenda kwenye lile gari ukae karibu nalo.”
The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up to the carriage over there and keep close to it.’
30 Ndipo Filipo akakimbilia lile gari na kumsikia yule mtu anasoma kitabu cha nabii Isaya. Filipo akamuuliza, “Je, unaelewa hayo usomayo?”
So Philip ran up, and he heard the Abyssinian reading the prophet Isaiah. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ he asked.
31 Yule towashi akasema, “Nitawezaje kuelewa mtu asiponifafanulia?” Hivyo akamkaribisha Filipo ili apande na kuketi pamoja naye.
‘How can I,’ the other answered, ‘unless someone will explain it to me?’ and he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side.
32 Huyu towashi alikuwa anasoma fungu hili la Maandiko: “Aliongozwa kama kondoo aendaye machinjoni, kama mwana-kondoo anyamazavyo mbele yake yule amkataye manyoya, hivyo hakufungua kinywa chake.
The passage of scripture which he was reading was this – “Like a sheep, he was led away to slaughter, and as a lamb is dumb in the hands of its shearer, so he refrains from opening his lips.
33 Katika kufedheheshwa kwake alinyimwa haki yake. Nani awezaye kueleza juu ya kizazi chake? Kwa maana maisha yake yaliondolewa kutoka duniani.”
He was humiliated and justice was denied him. Who will tell the story of his generation? For his life is cut off from earth.”
34 Yule towashi akamuuliza Filipo, “Tafadhali niambie, nabii huyu anena habari zake mwenyewe au habari za mtu mwingine?”
‘Now,’ said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, ‘tell me, of whom is the prophet speaking? Of himself, or of someone else?’
35 Ndipo Filipo akaanza kutumia fungu lile la Maandiko, akamweleza habari njema za Yesu.
Then Philip began, and, taking this passage as his text, told him the good news about Jesus.
36 Walipokuwa wakiendelea na safari wakafika mahali palipokuwa na maji, yule towashi akamuuliza Filipo, “Tazama, hapa kuna maji. Kitu gani kitanizuia nisibatizwe?” [
Presently, as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the Treasurer exclaimed, ‘Look! Here is water; what is to prevent my being baptized?’
37 Filipo akamwambia, “Kama ukiamini kwa moyo wako wote unaweza kubatizwa.” Akajibu, “Naamini kuwa Yesu Kristo ni Mwana wa Mungu.”]
38 Naye akaamuru lile gari lisimamishwe. Wakateremka kwenye maji wote wawili, yule towashi na Filipo, naye Filipo akambatiza.
So he ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water – both Philip and the Treasurer – and Philip baptized him.
39 Nao walipopanda kutoka kwenye maji, ghafula Roho wa Bwana akamnyakua Filipo, naye towashi hakumwona tena, lakini akaenda zake akifurahi.
But, when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the Treasurer saw no more of him; for he continued his journey with a joyful heart.
40 Filipo akajikuta yuko Azoto, akasafiri akihubiri Injili katika miji yote mpaka alipofika Kaisaria.
But Philip was found at Ashdod, and, as he went on his way, he told the good news in all the towns through which he passed, until he came to Caesarea.
