Matendo 21
1 Tulipokwisha kujitenga nao, tukaanza safari kwa njia ya bahari moja kwa moja mpaka Kosi. Siku ya pili yake tukafika Rodo na kutoka huko tukaenda Patara.
When, at last, we had torn ourselves away and had set sail, we ran in a straight course to Cos; the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
2 Hapo tukapata meli iliyokuwa inavuka kwenda Foinike tukapanda tukasafiri nayo.
Finding a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and put to sea.
3 Tulipokiona kisiwa cha Kipro, tukakizunguka tukakiacha upande wetu wa kushoto, tukasafiri mpaka Shamu, tukatia nanga katika bandari ya Tiro ambapo meli yetu ilikuwa ipakue shehena yake.
After sighting Cyprus and leaving that island on our left, we continued our voyage to Syria and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo.
4 Baada ya kuwatafuta wanafunzi wa huko, tukakaa nao kwa siku saba. Wale wanafunzi wakiongozwa na Roho wakamwambia Paulo asiende Yerusalemu.
Having searched for the disciples and found them, we stayed at Tyre for seven days; and, taught by the Spirit, they repeatedly urged Paul not to proceed to Jerusalem.
5 Lakini muda wetu ulipokwisha, tukaondoka tukaendelea na safari yetu. Wale wanafunzi pamoja na wake zao na watoto wakatusindikiza hadi nje ya mji. Wote tukapiga magoti pale pwani tukaomba.
When, however, our time was up, we left and went on our way, all the disciples and their wives and children coming to see us off. Then, after kneeling down on the beach and praying,
6 Baada ya kuagana, tukapanda melini, nao wakarudi majumbani mwao.
we took leave of one another; and we went on board, while they returned home.
7 Tukaendelea na safari yetu toka Tiro tukafika Tolemai, tukawasalimu ndugu wa huko, tukakaa nao kwa siku moja.
As for us, our voyage was over when having sailed from Tyre we reached Ptolemais. here we inquired after the welfare of the brethren, and remained a day with them.
8 Siku iliyofuata tukaondoka, tukafika Kaisaria. Huko tukaenda nyumbani kwa mwinjilisti mmoja jina lake Filipo, aliyekuwa mmoja wa wale Saba, tukakaa kwake.
On the morrow we left Ptolemais and went on to Caesarea, where we came to the house of Philip the Evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9 Filipo alikuwa na binti wanne mabikira waliokuwa wanatoa unabii.
Now Philip had four unmarried daughters who were prophetesses;
10 Baada ya kukaa kwa siku kadhaa, akateremka nabii mmoja kutoka Uyahudi jina lake Agabo.
and during our somewhat lengthy stay a Prophet of the name of Agabus came down from Judaea.
11 Alipotufikia akachukua mshipi wa Paulo akajifunga, akautumia kufunga mikono na miguu yake mwenyewe akasema, “Roho Mtakatifu anasema: ‘Hivi ndivyo Wayahudi wa Yerusalemu watakavyomfunga mwenye mshipi huu na kumkabidhi kwa watu wa Mataifa.’”
When he arrived he took Paul's loincloth, and bound his own feet and arms with it, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So will the Jews in Jerusalem bind the owner of this loincloth, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'"
12 Tuliposikia maneno haya sisi na ndugu wengine tukamsihi Paulo asiende Yerusalemu.
As soon as we heard these words, both we and the brethren at Caesarea entreated Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Lakini Paulo akajibu, “Kwa nini mnalia na kunivunja moyo? Mimi niko tayari si kufungwa tu, bali hata kufa huko Yerusalemu kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana Yesu.”
His reply was, "What can you mean by thus breaking my heart with your grief? Why, as for me, I am ready not only to go to Jerusalem and be put in chains, but even to die there for the sake of the Lord Jesus."
14 Alipokuwa hashawishiki, tukaacha kumsihi, tukasema, “Mapenzi ya Bwana na yatendeke.”
So when he was not to be dissuaded, we ceased remonstrating with him and said, "The Lord's will be done!"
15 Baada ya haya, tukajiandaa, tukaondoka kwenda Yerusalemu.
A few days afterwards we loaded our baggage-cattle and continued our journey to Jerusalem.
16 Baadhi ya wanafunzi kutoka Kaisaria wakafuatana nasi na kutupeleka nyumbani kwa Mnasoni, ambaye tungekaa kwake. Yeye alikuwa mtu wa Kipro, mmoja wa wanafunzi wa zamani.
Some of the disciples from Caesarea also joined our party, and brought with them Mnason, a Cyprian, one of the early disciples, at whose house we were to lodge.
17 Tulipofika Yerusalemu ndugu wakatukaribisha kwa furaha.
At length we reached Jerusalem, and there the brethren gave us a hearty welcome.
18 Kesho yake Paulo pamoja na wengine wetu tulikwenda kumwona Yakobo, na wazee wote walikuwepo.
On the following day we went with Paul to call on James, and all the Elders of the Church came also.
19 Baada ya kuwasalimu, Paulo akatoa taarifa kamili ya mambo yote ambayo Mungu alikuwa amefanya miongoni mwa watu wa Mataifa kupitia huduma yake.
After exchanging friendly greetings, Paul told in detail all that God had done among the Gentiles through his instrumentality.
20 Baada ya kusikia mambo haya wakamwadhimisha Mungu. Ndipo wakamwambia Paulo, “Ndugu, unaona kulivyo na maelfu ya Wayahudi walioamini, nao wote wana juhudi kwa ajili ya sheria.
And they, when they had heard his statement, gave the glory to God. Then they said, "You see, brother, how many tens of thousands of Jews there are among those who have accepted the faith, and they are all zealous upholders of the Law.
21 Lakini wameambiwa habari zako kwamba unafundisha Wayahudi wote waishio miongoni mwa watu wa Mataifa kumkataa Mose, na kwamba unawaambia wasiwatahiri watoto wao wala kufuata desturi zetu.
Now what they have been repeatedly told about you is that you teach all the Jews among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, and that you forbid them to circumcise their children or observe old-established customs.
22 Sasa tufanyeje? Bila shaka watasikia kwamba umekuja Yerusalemu.
What then ought you to do? They are sure to hear that you have come to Jerusalem;
23 Kwa hiyo fanya lile tunalokuambia. Tunao watu wanne hapa ambao wameweka nadhiri.
so do this which we now tell you. We have four men here who have a vow resting on them.
24 Jiunge na watu hawa, mfanye utaratibu wa ibada ya kujitakasa pamoja nao, na ulipe gharama ili wanyoe nywele zao. Kwa njia hii kila mtu atafahamu ya kuwa mambo waliyosikia si ya kweli na kwamba wewe unaishika sheria.
Associate with these men and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so that they can shave their heads. Then everybody will know that there is no truth in these stories about you, but that in your own actions you yourself scrupulously obey the Law.
25 Lakini kuhusu wale watu wa Mataifa walioamini, tumewaandikia uamuzi wetu: kwamba wajitenge na vyakula vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu, na damu, au kula nyama ya mnyama aliyenyongwa, na wajiepushe na uasherati.”
But as for the Gentiles who have accepted the faith, we have communicated to them our decision that they are carefully to abstain from anything sacrificed to an idol, from blood, from what is strangled, and from fornication."
26 Ndipo kesho yake Paulo akawachukua wale watu na akajitakasa pamoja nao. Akaingia ndani ya hekalu ili atoe taarifa ya tarehe ambayo siku zao za utakaso zingemalizika na sadaka ingetolewa kwa ajili ya kila mmoja wao.
So Paul associated with the men; and the next day, having purified himself with them, he went into the Temple, giving every one to understand that the days of their purification were finished, and there he remained until the sacrifice for each of them was offered.
27 Zile siku saba zilipokaribia kumalizika, baadhi ya Wayahudi kutoka sehemu za Asia waliokuwa wamemwona Paulo ndani ya Hekalu, wakachochea umati wote wa watu, nao wakamkamata.
But, when the seven days were nearly over, the Jews from the province of Asia, having seen Paul in the Temple, set about rousing the fury of all the people against him.
28 Wakapiga kelele wakisema, “Waisraeli wenzetu, tusaidieni! Huyu ndiye yule mtu anayefundisha kila mtu na kila mahali, kinyume na watu wetu, sheria zetu na hata Hekalu hili. Zaidi ya hayo amewaleta Wayunani ndani ya Hekalu na kupanajisi mahali hapa patakatifu.”
They laid hands on him, crying out, "Men of Israel, help! help! This is the man who goes everywhere preaching to everybody against the Jewish people and the Law and this place. And besides, he has even brought Gentiles into the Temple and has desecrated this holy place."
29 (Walikuwa wamemwona Trofimo, mwenyeji wa Efeso, akiwa mjini pamoja na Paulo wakadhani kuwa Paulo alikuwa amemwingiza Hekaluni.)
(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and imagined that Paul had brought him into the Temple.)
30 Mji wote ukataharuki, watu wakaja wakikimbia kutoka pande zote wakamkamata Paulo, wakamburuta kutoka Hekaluni. Milango ya Hekalu ikafungwa.
The excitement spread through the whole city, and the people rushed in crowds to the Temple, and there laid hold of Paul and began to drag him out; and the Temple gates were immediately closed.
31 Walipokuwa wakitaka kumuua, habari zikamfikia jemadari wa jeshi la askari wa Kirumi kwamba mji wa Yerusalemu wote ulikuwa katika machafuko.
But while they were trying to kill Paul, word was taken up to the Tribune in command of the battalion, that all Jerusalem was in a ferment.
32 Mara yule jemadari akachukua maafisa wengine wa jeshi pamoja na askari wakakimbilia kwenye ile ghasia, wale watu waliokuwa wakifanya ghasia walipomwona yule jemadari na askari wakija, wakaacha kumpiga Paulo.
He instantly sent for a few soldiers and their officers, and came down among the people with all speed. At the sight of the Tribune and the troops they ceased beating Paul.
33 Yule jemadari akaja, akamkamata Paulo akaamuru afungwe kwa minyororo miwili. Akauliza yeye ni nani, na alikuwa amefanya nini.
Then the Tribune, making his way to him, arrested him, and, having ordered him to be secured with two chains, proceeded to ask who he was and what he had been doing.
34 Baadhi ya watu katika ule umati wakapiga kelele, hawa wakisema hili na wengine lile. Yule jemadari alipoona kuwa hawezi kupata hakika ya habari kwa sababu ya zile kelele, akaamuru Paulo apelekwe katika ngome ya jeshi.
Some of the crowd shouted one accusation against Paul and some another, until, as the uproar made it impossible for the truth to be ascertained with certainty, the Tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks.
35 Paulo alipofika penye ngazi, ilibidi askari wambebe juu juu kwa sababu fujo za ule umati wa watu zilikuwa kubwa.
When Paul was going up the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;
36 Umati wa watu ulikuwa ukifuata ukiendelea kupiga kelele ukisema, “Mwondoe huyu!”
for the whole mass of the people pressed on in the rear, shouting, "Away with him!"
37 Mara tu Paulo alipokaribia kuingizwa kwenye ngome ya jeshi, akamwambia yule jemadari, “Je, naweza kukuambia jambo moja?” Yule jemadari akamjibu, “Je, unajua Kiyunani?
When he was about to be taken into the barracks, Paul said to the Tribune, "May I speak to you?" "Do you know Greek?" the Tribune asked.
38 Je, wewe si yule Mmisri ambaye siku hizi za karibuni alianzisha uasi akaongoza kundi la magaidi 4,000 wenye silaha jangwani?”
"Are you not the Egyptian who some years ago excited the riot of the 4,000 cut-throats, and led them out into the Desert?"
39 Paulo akajibu, “Mimi ni Myahudi, mzaliwa wa Tarso, huko Kilikia, raiya wa mji maarufu. Tafadhali niruhusu nizungumze na hawa watu.”
"I am a Jew," replied Paul, "belonging to Tarsus in Cilicia, and am a citizen of no unimportant city. Give me leave, I pray you, to speak to the people."
40 Akiisha kupata ruhusa ya yule jemadari, Paulo akasimama penye ngazi akawapungia watu mkono ili wanyamaze. Wote waliponyamaza kimya, Paulo akazungumza nao kwa lugha ya Kiebrania, akasema:
So with his permission Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people to be quiet; and when there was perfect silence he addressed them in Hebrew.
