1
Hata Festo alipokwisha kuingia katika uliwali, baada ya siku tatu akapanda kwenda Yerusalemu kutoka Kaisaria.
Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,
2
Kuhani Mkuu na wakuu wa Wayahudi wakampasha habari za Paulo, wakamsihi,
where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus
3
na kumwomba fadhili juu yake, kwamba atoe amri aletwe Yerusalemu, wapate kumwotea na kumwua njiani.
to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
4
Lakini Festo akajibu ya kwamba Paulo analindwa Kaisaria; naye mwenyewe yu tayari kwenda huko karibu.
But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.
5
Akasema, Wale walio na mamlaka kwenu na watelemke pamoja nami wakamshitaki, ikiwa liko neno baya katika mtu huyu.
So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”
6
Alipokwisha kukaa kwao siku nane au kumi si zaidi, akatelemkia Kaisaria; hata siku ya pili akaketi katika kiti cha hukumu akaamuru Paulo aletwe.
After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.
7
Alipokuja, wale Wayahudi walioshuka kutoka Yerusalemu wakasimama karibu yake wakaleta mashitaka mengi mazito juu yake, wasiyoweza kuyayakinisha.
When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.
8
Paulo akasema akijitetea, Mimi sikukosa neno juu ya sheria ya Wayahudi, wala juu ya hekalu, wala juu ya Kaisari.
Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
9
Lakini Festo akitaka kujipendekeza kwa Wayahudi akamjibu Paulo, akisema, Je! Wataka kwenda Yerusalemu, ukahukumiwe huko mbele yangu kwa ajili ya mambo hayo?
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”
10
Paulo akasema, Mimi ninasimama hapa mbele ya kiti cha hukumu cha Kaisari, ndipo panipasapo kuhukumiwa; sikuwakosa Wayahudi neno, kama wewe ujuavyo sana.
Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
11
Basi ikiwa ni mkosa au nimetenda neno la kustahili kufa, sikatai kufa; bali, kama si kweli neno hili wanalonishitaki, hapana awezaye kunitia mikononi mwao. Nataka rufani kwa Kaisari.
If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
12
Basi Festo alipokwisha kusema na watu wa baraza, akajibu, Umetaka rufani kwa Kaisari! Basi, utakwenda kwa Kaisari.
Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
13
Siku kadha wa kadha zilipokwisha kupita, Agripa mfalme na Bernike wakafika Kaisaria, wakimwamkia Festo.
After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
14
Na walipokuwa wakikaa huko siku nyingi, Festo akamweleza mfalme habari za Paulo, akisema, Yupo hapa mtu mmoja aliyeachwa na Feliki kifungoni;
Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.
15
ambaye nilipokuwa Yerusalemu wakuu wa makuhani na wazee wa Wayahudi wakaniarifu habari zake, wakinitaka hukumu juu yake.
While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.
16
Nikawajibu kwamba si desturi ya Warumi kumtoa mtu awaye yote, kabla mtu yule aliyeshitakiwa hajaonana na washitaki wake uso kwa uso, na kupewa nafasi ya kujitetea katika mashitaka yake.
I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
17
Basi walipokutanika hapa sikukawia; bali siku ya pili nikaketi katika kiti cha hukumu nikaamuru mtu huyo aletwe.
So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in.
18
Na wale waliomshitaki waliposimama hawakuleta neno lo lote baya, kama nilivyodhani,
But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.
19
bali walikuwa na maswali mengine mengine juu yake katika dini yao wenyewe, na katika habari ya mtu mmoja Yesu, aliyekuwa amekwisha kufa, ambaye Paulo alikaza kusema kwamba yu hai.
They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20
Nami nikaona shaka jinsi ya kutafuta hakika ya habari hii, nikamwuliza kama anataka kwenda Yerusalemu ahukumiwe huko katika mambo haya.
Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.
21
Lakini Paulo alipodai kuwekwa ahukumiwe na Kaisari, nikaamuru alindwe hata nitakapompeleka kwa Kaisari.
But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”
22
Agripa akamwambia Festo, Mimi nami nalikuwa nikitaka kumsikia mtu huyu. Akasema, Utamsikia kesho.
Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.
23
Hata asubuhi Agripa akaja pamoja na Bernike kwa fahari nyingi, wakaingia mahali pa kusikia maneno, pamoja na maakida wakuu na watu wakuu wa mji; Festo akatoa amri, Paulo akaletwa.
The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.
24
Festo akasema, Mfalme Agripa, na ninyi nyote mliopo hapa pamoja nasi, mnamwona mtu huyu, ambaye jamii yote ya Wayahudi huko Yerusalemu na hapa pia wamenitaka niwasaidie, wakipiga kelele kwamba haimpasi kuishi zaidi.
Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
25
Lakini mimi naliona kwamba hakutenda neno la kustahili kuuawa, na yeye mwenyewe alipotaka kuhukumiwa na Kaisari, nalikusudia kumpeleka kwake.
But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
26
Nami katika habari yake sina neno la hakika la kumwandikia bwana. Kwa hiyo nimemleta hapa mbele yenu, hasa mbele yako wewe, mfalme Agripa, ili akiisha kuulizwa-ulizwa nipate neno la kuandika.
I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write.
27
Kwa maana naona ni neno lisilo maana kumpeleka mfungwa, bila kuonyesha mashitaka yale aliyoshitakiwa.
For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”