Matendo 9
1 Wakati ule ule, Sauli alikuwa bado anazidisha vitisho vya kuua wanafunzi wa Bwana, akamwendea kuhani mkuu,
Now Saul, whose every breath was a threat of destruction for the disciples of the Lord,
2 naye akamwomba kuhani mkuu ampe barua za kwenda kwenye masinagogi huko Dameski, ili akimkuta mtu yeyote wa Njia Ile, akiwa mwanaume au mwanamke, aweze kuwafunga na kuwaleta Yerusalemu.
went to the High Priest and begged from him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that if he found any believers there, either men or women, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.
3 Basi akiwa katika safari yake, alipokaribia Dameski, ghafula nuru kutoka mbinguni ikamwangaza kotekote.
But on the journey, as he was getting near Damascus, suddenly there flashed round him a light from Heaven;
4 Akaanguka chini, akasikia sauti ikimwambia, “Sauli, Sauli, mbona unanitesa?”
and falling to the ground he heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
5 Sauli akajibu, “U nani wewe, Bwana?” Ile sauti ikajibu, “Mimi ni Yesu unayemtesa.
"Who art thou, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," was the reply.
6 Sasa inuka uingie mjini, nawe utaambiwa yakupasayo kutenda.”
"But rise and go to the city, and you will be told what you are to do.
7 Watu waliokuwa wakisafiri pamoja na Sauli wakasimama bila kuwa na la kusema, kwa sababu walisikia sauti lakini hawakumwona aliyekuwa akizungumza.
Meanwhile the men who travelled with Saul were standing dumb with amazement, hearing a sound, but seeing no one.
8 Sauli akainuka kutoka pale chini na alipojaribu kufungua macho yake hakuweza kuona kitu chochote. Basi wakamshika mkono wakamwongoza mpaka Dameski.
Then he rose from the ground, but when he had opened his eyes, he could not see, and they led him by the arm and brought him to Damascus.
9 Naye kwa muda wa siku tatu alikuwa kipofu naye hakula wala kunywa chochote.
And for two days he remained without sight, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 Huko Dameski alikuwepo mwanafunzi mmoja jina lake Anania. Bwana alimwita katika maono, “Anania!” Akajibu, “Mimi hapa Bwana.”
Now in Damascus there was a disciple of the name of Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" "I am here, Lord," he answered.
11 Bwana akamwambia, “Ondoka uende katika barabara iitwayo Nyofu ukaulize katika nyumba ya Yuda mtu kutoka Tarso, jina lake Sauli, kwa maana wakati huu anaomba,
"Rise," said the Lord, "and go to Straight Street, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man called Saul, from Tarsus, for he is actually praying.
12 katika maono amemwona mtu aitwaye Anania akija na kuweka mikono juu yake ili apate kuona tena.”
He has seen a man called Ananias come and lay his hands upon him so that he may recover his sight."
13 Anania akajibu, “Bwana, nimesikia kutoka kwa watu wengi habari nyingi kuhusu mtu huyu na madhara yote aliyowatendea watakatifu wako huko Yerusalemu.
"Lord," answered Ananias, "I have heard about that man from many, and I have heard of the great mischief he has done to Thy people in Jerusalem;
14 Naye amekuja hapa Dameski akiwa na mamlaka kutoka kwa viongozi wa makuhani ili awakamate wote wanaotaja jina lako.”
and here he is authorized by the High Priests to arrest all who call upon Thy name."
15 Lakini Bwana akamwambia Anania, “Nenda! Mtu huyu ni chombo changu kiteule nilichokichagua, apate kulichukua Jina langu kwa watu wa Mataifa na wafalme wao na mbele ya watu wa Israeli.
"Go," replied the Lord; "he is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name to the Gentiles and to kings and to the descendants of Israel.
16 Nami nitamwonyesha jinsi impasavyo kuteseka kwa ajili ya Jina langu.”
For I will let him know the great sufferings which he must pass through for My sake."
17 Kisha Anania akaenda kwenye ile nyumba, akaingia ndani. Akaweka mikono yake juu ya Sauli akasema, “Ndugu Sauli, Bwana Yesu aliyekutokea njiani amenituma kwako ili upate kuona tena na ujazwe Roho Mtakatifu.”
So Ananias went and entered the house; and, laying his two hands upon Saul, said, "Saul, brother, the Lord--even Jesus who appeared to you on your journey--has sent me, that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 Ghafula vitu kama magamba vikaanguka chini, kutoka machoni mwa Sauli, akapata kuona tena. Akasimama, akabatizwa.
Instantly there dropped from his eyes what seemed to be scales, and he could see once more. Upon this he rose and received baptism;
19 Baada ya kula chakula, akapata nguvu tena. Sauli akakaa siku kadhaa pamoja na wanafunzi huko Dameski.
after which he took food and regained his strength. Then he remained some little time with the disciples in Damascus.
20 Papo hapo akaanza kuhubiri kwenye masinagogi kwamba “Yesu Kristo ni Mwana wa Mungu”
And in the synagogues he began at once to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God;
21 Watu wote waliomsikia Sauli walishangaa na kuuliza, “Huyu si yule mtu aliyesababisha maangamizi makuu huko Yerusalemu miongoni mwa watu waliolitaja jina hili? Naye si amekuja hapa kwa kusudi la kuwakamata na kuwapeleka wakiwa wafungwa mbele ya viongozi wa makuhani?”
and his hearers were all amazed, and began to ask one another, "Is not this the man who in Jerusalem tried to exterminate those who called upon that Name, and came here on purpose to carry them off in chains to the High Priests?"
22 Sauli akazidi kuwa hodari na kuwashangaza Wayahudi walioishi Dameski kwa kuthibitisha kuwa Yesu ndiye Kristo.
Saul, however, gained more and more influence, and as for the Jews living in Damascus, he bewildered them with his proofs that Jesus is the Christ.
23 Baada ya siku nyingi kupita, Wayahudi wakafanya shauri kumuua Sauli.
At length the Jews plotted to kill Saul;
24 Lakini shauri lao likajulikana kwa Sauli. Wayahudi wakawa wanalinda malango yote ya mji, usiku na mchana ili wapate kumuua.
but information of their intention was given to him. They even watched the gates, day and night, in order to murder him;
25 Lakini wafuasi wake wakamchukua usiku wakamshusha akiwa ndani ya kapu kupitia mahali penye nafasi ukutani.
but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a hamper.
26 Sauli alipofika Yerusalemu akajaribu kujiunga na wanafunzi lakini wote walimwogopa, kwa maana hawakuamini kwamba kweli naye alikuwa mwanafunzi.
So he came to Jerusalem and made several attempts to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, being in doubt as to whether he himself was a disciple.
27 Lakini Barnaba akamchukua, akampeleka kwa wale mitume. Akawaeleza jinsi Sauli akiwa njiani alivyomwona Bwana, jinsi Bwana alivyosema naye na jinsi alivyohubiri kwa ujasiri kwa jina la Yesu huko Dameski.
Barnabas, however, came to his assistance. He brought Saul to the Apostles, and related to them how, on his journey, he had seen the Lord, and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had fearlessly taught in the name of Jesus.
28 Kwa hiyo Sauli akakaa nao akitembea kwa uhuru kila mahali huko Yerusalemu, akihubiri kwa ujasiri katika jina la Bwana.
Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city,
29 Alinena na kuhojiana na Wayahudi wenye asili ya Kiyunani lakini wao walijaribu kumuua.
and speaking fearlessly in the name of the Lord. And he often talked with the Hellenists and had discussions with them.
30 Wale ndugu walipopata habari wakampeleka hadi Kaisaria, wakamsafirisha kwenda Tarso.
But they kept trying to take his life. On learning this, the brethren brought him down to Caesarea, and then sent him by sea to Tarsus.
31 Ndipo kanisa katika Uyahudi wote, Galilaya na Samaria likafurahia wakati wa amani. Likatiwa nguvu, na kwa faraja ya Roho Mtakatifu, idadi yake ikazidi kuongezeka, na likaendelea kudumu katika kumcha Bwana.
The Church, however, throughout the whole of Judaea, Galilee and Samaria, had peace and was spiritually built up; and grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and receiving encouragement from the Holy Spirit.
32 Petro alipokuwa akisafiri sehemu mbalimbali, alikwenda kuwatembelea watakatifu walioishi huko Lida.
Now Peter, as he went to town after town, came down also to God's people at Lud.
33 Huko alimkuta mtu mmoja aitwaye Ainea, ambaye alikuwa amepooza na kwa muda wa miaka minane alikuwa hajaondoka kitandani.
There he found a man of the name of Aeneas, who for eight years had kept his bed, through being paralysed.
34 Petro akamwambia, “Ainea, Yesu Kristo anakuponya, inuka utandike kitanda chako.” Mara Ainea akainuka.
Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you. Rise and make your own bed." He at once rose to his feet.
35 Watu wote wa Lida na Sharoni walipomwona Ainea akitembea wakamgeukia Bwana.
And all the people of Lud and Sharon saw him; and they turned to the Lord.
36 Huko Yafa palikuwa na mwanafunzi jina lake Tabitha (ambalo kwa Kiyunani ni Dorkasi). Huyu alikuwa mkarimu sana, akitenda mema na kuwasaidia maskini.
Among the disciples at Jaffa was a woman called Tabitha, or, as the name may be translated, 'Dorcas.' Her life was wholly devoted to the good and charitable actions which she was constantly doing.
37 Wakati huo akaugua, akafa na wakiisha kuuosha mwili wake wakauweka katika chumba cha ghorofani.
But, as it happened, just at that time she was taken ill and died. After washing her body they laid it out in a room upstairs.
38 Kwa kuwa Yafa hapakuwa mbali sana na Lida, wanafunzi waliposikia kwamba Petro yuko huko waliwatuma watu wawili kwake ili kumwomba, “Tafadhali njoo huku pasipo kukawia.”
Lud, however, being near Jaffa, the disciples, who had heard that Peter was at Lud, sent two men to him with an urgent request that he would come across to them without delay.
39 Kwa hiyo Petro akainuka akaenda nao, naye alipowasili, wakampeleka hadi kwenye chumba cha ghorofani alipokuwa amelazwa. Wajane wengi walisimama karibu naye wakilia na kuonyesha majoho na nguo nyingine ambazo Dorkasi alikuwa amewashonea alipokuwa pamoja nao.
So Peter rose and went with them. On his arrival they took him upstairs, and the widow women all came and stood by his side, weeping and showing him the underclothing and cloaks and garments of all kinds which Dorcas used to make while she was still with them.
40 Petro akawatoa wote nje ya kile chumba, kisha akapiga magoti akaomba, akaugeukia ule mwili akasema, “Tabitha, inuka.” Akafumbua macho yake na alipomwona Petro, akaketi.
Peter, however, putting every one out of the room, knelt down and prayed, and then turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise." Dorcas at once opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, sat up.
41 Petro akamshika mkono akamwinua, ndipo akawaita wale watakatifu na wajane akamkabidhi kwao akiwa hai.
Then, giving her his hand, he raised her to her feet and, calling to him God's people and the widows, he gave her back to them alive.
42 Habari hizi zikajulikana sehemu zote za Yafa na watu wengi wakamwamini Bwana.
This incident became known throughout Jaffa, and many believed in the Lord;
43 Petro akakaa Yafa kwa siku nyingi akiishi na Simoni mtengenezaji ngozi.
and Peter remained for a considerable time at Jaffa, staying at the house of a man called Simon, a tanner.
