Acts 19
1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus and found certain disciples.
Apolo alipokuwa huko Korintho, Paulo alisafiri sehemu za bara, akafika Efeso. Huko akawakuta wanafunzi kadhaa,
2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
akawauliza, “Je, mlipokea Roho Mtakatifu mlipoamini?” Wakajibu, “Hapana, hata hatukusikia kuwa kuna Roho Mtakatifu.”
3 He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”
Ndipo Paulo akawauliza, “Je, mlibatizwa kwa ubatizo gani?” Wakajibu, “Kwa ubatizo wa Yohana.”
4 Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus.”
Paulo akasema, “Ubatizo wa Yohana ulikuwa wa toba, aliwaambia watu wamwamini yeye atakayekuja baada yake, yaani, Yesu.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Waliposikia haya, wakabatizwa katika jina la Bwana Yesu.
6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.
Paulo alipoweka mikono yake juu yao, Roho Mtakatifu akawashukia, nao wakanena kwa lugha mpya na kutabiri.
7 They were about twelve men in all.
Walikuwa kama wanaume kumi na wawili.
8 He entered into the synagogue and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning God’s Kingdom.
Paulo akaingia katika sinagogi na kunena humo kwa ujasiri kwa muda wa miezi mitatu, akijadiliana na watu na kuwashawishi katika mambo ya Ufalme wa Mungu.
9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
Lakini baadhi yao walikaidi. Walikataa kuamini, na wakakashifu ujumbe wake mbele ya umati wa watu. Basi Paulo aliachana nao. Akawachukua wanafunzi naye, akahojiana nao kila siku katika darasa la Tirano.
10 This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Jambo hili likaendelea kwa muda wa miaka miwili, kiasi kwamba Wayahudi na Wayunani wote walioishi huko Asia wakawa wamesikia neno la Bwana.
11 God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul,
Mungu akafanya miujiza mingi isiyo ya kawaida kwa mkono wa Paulo,
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
hivi kwamba leso au vitambaa vilivyokuwa vimegusa mwili wa Paulo viliwekwa juu ya wagonjwa, nao wakapona magonjwa yao, na pepo wachafu wakawatoka.
13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
Basi baadhi ya Wayahudi wenye kutangatanga huku na huko wakitoa pepo wachafu wakajaribu kutumia jina la Bwana Yesu wale wenye pepo wakisema, “Kwa jina la Yesu, yule anayehubiriwa na Paulo, nakuamuru utoke.”
14 There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.
Wana saba wa Skewa, Myahudi aliyekuwa kiongozi wa makuhani, walikuwa wanafanya hivyo.
15 The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?”
Lakini pepo mchafu akawajibu, “Yesu namjua na Paulo pia namjua, lakini ninyi ni nani?”
16 The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Kisha yule mtu aliyekuwa na pepo mchafu akawarukia, akawashambulia vikali, akawashinda nguvu wote, wakatoka ndani ya ile nyumba wakikimbia wakiwa uchi na wenye majeraha.
17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
Habari hii ikajulikana kwa Wayahudi wote na Wayunani waliokaa Efeso, hofu ikawajaa wote, nalo jina la Bwana Yesu likaheshimiwa sana.
18 Many also of those who had believed came, confessing and declaring their deeds.
Wengi wa wale waliokuwa wameamini wakati huu wakaja na kutubu waziwazi kuhusu matendo yao maovu.
19 Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Idadi kubwa ya wale waliofanya mambo ya uganga wakaleta vitabu vyao na kuviteketeza kwa moto hadharani. Walipofanya hesabu ya thamani ya vitabu vilivyoteketezwa ilikuwa drakma 50,000 za fedha.
20 So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
Hivyo neno la Bwana likaenea sana na kuwa na nguvu.
21 Now after these things had ended, Paul determined in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
Baada ya mambo haya kutukia, Paulo akakusudia rohoni kwenda Yerusalemu kupitia Makedonia na Akaya. Akasema, “Baada ya kufika huko, yanipasa pia kwenda Rumi.”
22 Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
Hivyo akatuma wasaidizi wake wawili, Timotheo na Erasto, waende Makedonia, wakati yeye mwenyewe alibaki kwa muda kidogo huko Asia.
23 About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way.
Wakati huo huo pakatokea dhiki kubwa kwa sababu ya Njia ile ya Bwana.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen,
Mtu mmoja jina lake Demetrio mfua fedha aliyekuwa akitengeneza vinyago vya fedha vya Artemi na kuwapatia mafundi wake biashara kubwa,
25 whom he gathered together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.
aliwaita pamoja watu wengine waliofanya kazi ya ufundi kama yake na kusema, “Enyi watu, mnajua ya kuwa utajiri wetu unatokana na biashara hii!
26 You see and hear that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods that are made with hands.
Pia ninyi mmeona na kusikia jinsi ambavyo si huku Efeso peke yake lakini ni karibu Asia yote, huyu Paulo amewashawishi na kuvuta idadi kubwa ya watu kwa kusema kuwa miungu iliyotengenezwa na watu si miungu.
27 Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.”
Kwa hiyo kuna hatari si kwa kazi yetu kudharauliwa tu, bali pia hata hekalu la mungu mke Artemi, aliye mkuu, anayeabudiwa Asia yote na ulimwengu wote, litakuwa limepokonywa fahari yake ya kiungu.”
28 When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Waliposikia maneno haya, wakaghadhibika, wakaanza kupiga kelele, “Artemi wa Waefeso ni mkuu!”
29 The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.
Mara mji wote ukajaa ghasia. Wakawakamata Gayo na Aristarko, watu wa Makedonia waliokuwa wakisafiri pamoja na Paulo, na watu wakakimbilia katika ukumbi wa michezo kama mtu mmoja.
30 When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples didn’t allow him.
Paulo akataka kuingia katikati ya umati huo, lakini wanafunzi hawakumruhusu.
31 Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.
Hata baadhi ya viongozi wa sehemu ile, waliokuwa rafiki zake Paulo, wakatuma watu wakitamani asiingie katika ule ukumbi.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them didn’t know why they had come together.
Ule umati ulikuwa na taharuki. Wengine walikuwa wakipiga kelele, hawa wakisema hili na wengine lile. Idadi kubwa ya watu hawakujua hata ni kwa nini walikuwa wamekusanyika huko.
33 They brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to the people.
Wayahudi wakamsukumia Aleksanda mbele na baadhi ya watu kwenye ule umati wakampa maelekezo. Akawaashiria kwa mkono ili watulie aweze kujitetea mbele ya watu.
34 But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about two hours cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Lakini walipotambua kwamba alikuwa Myahudi, wote wakapiga kelele kwa sauti moja kwa karibu muda wa saa mbili, wakisema, “Artemi wa Efeso ni mkuu!”
35 When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
Baadaye karani wa mji akaunyamazisha ule umati wa watu na kusema, “Enyi watu wa Efeso, je, ulimwengu wote haujui ya kuwa mji wa Efeso ndio unaotunza hekalu la Artemi aliye mkuu na ile sanamu yake iliyoanguka kutoka mbinguni?
36 Seeing then that these things can’t be denied, you ought to be quiet and to do nothing rash.
Kwa hiyo, kwa kuwa mambo haya hayakanushiki, inawapasa mnyamaze na wala msifanye lolote kwa haraka.
37 For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.
Kwa kuwa mmewaleta hawa watu hapa, ingawa hawajaiba hekaluni wala kumkufuru huyu mungu wetu wa kike.
38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another.
Basi, ikiwa Demetrio na mafundi wenzake wana jambo zito dhidi ya mtu yeyote, mahakama ziko wazi na wasaidizi wa mwakilishi wa mtawala. Wanaweza kufungua mashtaka.
39 But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly.
Lakini kama kuna jambo jingine lolote zaidi mnalotaka kulileta, itabidi lisuluhishwe katika kusanyiko halali.
40 For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning today’s riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn’t be able to give an account of this commotion.”
Kama ilivyo sasa, tuko hatarini kushtakiwa kwa kufanya ghasia kwa sababu ya tukio la leo. Kwa kuwa hakuna sababu tutakayoweza kutoa kuhalalisha msukosuko huu.”
41 When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
Baada ya kusema haya akavunja mkutano.
