Acts 22
1 “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”
“Ndugu zangu na baba zangu, sikilizeni utetezi wangu.”
2 When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,
Waliposikia akisema kwa lugha ya Kiebrania, wakanyamaza kimya kabisa. Ndipo Paulo akasema,
3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today.
“Mimi ni Myahudi, niliyezaliwa Tarso huko Kilikia, lakini nimelelewa katika mji huu. Miguuni mwa Gamalieli, nilifundishwa kikamilifu katika sheria ya baba zetu, na nikawa mwenye juhudi kwa ajili ya Mungu kama kila mmoja wenu alivyo leo.
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,
Niliwatesa watu wa Njia hii hadi kufa, nikiwakamata waume kwa wake na kuwatupa gerezani,
5 as also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
kama kuhani mkuu na baraza zima la wazee wanavyoweza kushuhudia kunihusu. Hata nilipokea barua kutoka kwao kwenda kwa ndugu wale wa Dameski, nami nikaenda huko ili kuwaleta watu hawa Yerusalemu kama wafungwa ili waadhibiwe.
6 “As I made my journey and came close to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.
“Nilipokuwa njiani kuelekea Dameski, yapata saa sita mchana, ghafula nuru kubwa kutoka mbinguni ikanimulika kotekote.
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
Nikaanguka chini, nikasikia sauti ikiniambia, ‘Sauli, Sauli! Mbona unanitesa?’
8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’
“Nikajibu, ‘Wewe ni nani Bwana?’ “Naye akaniambia, ‘Mimi ni Yesu wa Nazareti unayemtesa.’
9 “Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of him who spoke to me.
Basi wale watu waliokuwa pamoja nami waliiona ile nuru, lakini hawakuisikia sauti ya yule aliyekuwa akisema nami.
10 I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.’
“Nikauliza, ‘Nifanye nini Bwana?’ “Naye Bwana akaniambia, ‘Inuka uingie Dameski, huko utaambiwa yote yakupasayo kufanya.’
11 When I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
Kwa kuwa nilikuwa siwezi kuona kwa ajili ya mngʼao wa ile nuru, wenzangu wakanishika mkono wakaniongoza kuingia Dameski.
12 “One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
“Mtu mmoja mcha Mungu, jina lake Anania, alikuja kuniona. Alizishika sana sheria zetu, na aliheshimiwa sana na Wayahudi waliokuwa wakiishi huko Dameski.
13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I looked up at him.
Akasimama karibu nami, akasema, ‘Ndugu Sauli, pata kuona tena!’ Saa ile ile nikapata kuona tena, nami nikaweza kumwona.
14 He said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.
“Akasema, ‘Mungu wa baba zetu amekuchagua wewe ili ujue mapenzi yake, umwone yeye Aliye Mwenye Haki na upate kusikia maneno kutoka kinywani mwake.
15 For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
Kwa kuwa utakuwa shahidi wake kwa watu kuhusu kile ulichokiona na kukisikia.
16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
Sasa basi, mbona unakawia? Inuka, ukabatizwe na dhambi zako zikasafishwe, ukiliita Jina lake.’
17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance
“Baada ya kurudi Yerusalemu, nilipokuwa ninaomba Hekaluni, nilipitiwa na usingizi wa ghafula
18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.’
nikamwona Bwana akiniambia, ‘Harakisha utoke Yerusalemu upesi, maana hawataukubali ushuhuda wako kunihusu mimi.’
19 I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.
“Nami nikasema, ‘Bwana, wao wenyewe wanajua jinsi nilivyokwenda kwenye kila sinagogi ili kuwatupa gerezani na kuwapiga wale waliokuamini.
20 When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’
Wakati damu ya shahidi wako Stefano ilipomwagwa, mimi mwenyewe nilikuwa nimesimama kando, nikikubaliana na kitendo hicho na kutunza mavazi ya wale waliomuua.’
21 “He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.’”
“Ndipo Bwana akaniambia, ‘Nenda, kwa maana nitakutuma mbali, kwa watu wa Mataifa.’”
22 They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn’t fit to live!”
Ule umati wa watu wakamsikiliza Paulo mpaka aliposema neno hilo, ndipo wakapaza sauti zao na kupiga kelele wakisema, “Mwondoeni duniani, hafai kuishi!”
23 As they cried out, threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,
Walipokuwa wakipiga kelele na kutoa mavazi yao huku wakirusha mavumbi juu hewani,
24 the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.
yule jemadari akaamuru Paulo aingizwe kwenye ngome. Akaelekeza kwamba achapwe viboko na aulizwe ili kujua kwa nini watu walikuwa wanampigia kelele namna hiyo.
25 When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?”
Lakini walipokwisha kumfunga kwa kamba za ngozi ili wamchape viboko, Paulo akamwambia kiongozi wa askari aliyekuwa amesimama pale karibu naye, “Je, ni halali kwenu kwa mujibu wa sheria kumchapa mtu ambaye ni raiya wa Rumi hata kabla hajapatikana na hatia?”
26 When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!”
Yule kiongozi aliposikia maneno haya, alimwendea yule jemadari na kumwambia, “Unataka kufanya nini? Kwa maana huyu mtu ni raiya wa Rumi.”
27 The commanding officer came and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”
Yule jemadari akaja akamuuliza Paulo, “Niambie, wewe ni raiya wa Rumi?” Paulo akajibu, “Naam, hakika ndiyo.”
28 The commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.”
Ndipo yule jemadari akasema, “Mimi ilinigharimu kiasi kikubwa cha fedha kupata uraia wangu.” Paulo akasema “Lakini mimi ni raiya wa Rumi kwa kuzaliwa.”
29 Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
Mara wale waliokuwa wanataka kumhoji wakajiondoa haraka, naye yule jemadari akaingiwa na hofu alipotambua ya kuwa amemfunga Paulo, ambaye ni raia wa Rumi, kwa minyororo.
30 But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
Kesho yake, kwa kuwa yule jemadari alitaka kujua hakika kwa nini Paulo alikuwa anashutumiwa na Wayahudi, alimfungua, na akawaagiza viongozi wa makuhani na baraza lote likutane. Kisha akamleta Paulo, akamsimamisha mbele yao.
