1
Palikuwa na mtu Kaisaria, jina lake Kornelio, akida wa kikosi kilichoitwa Kiitalia,
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.
2
mtu mtauwa, mchaji wa Mungu, yeye na nyumba yake yote, naye alikuwa akiwapa watu sadaka nyingi, na kumwomba Mungu daima.
He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
3
Akaona katika maono waziwazi, kama saa tisa ya mchana, malaika wa Mungu, akimjia na kumwambia, Kornelio!
One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4
Akamtazama sana, akaogopa akasema, Kuna nini, Bwana? Akamwambia, Sala zako na sadaka zako zimefika juu na kuwa ukumbusho mbele za Mungu.
Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
5
Sasa basi, peleka watu Yafa, ukamwite Simoni, aitwaye Petro.
Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.
6
Yeye ni mgeni wa mtu mmoja, jina lake Simoni, mtengenezaji wa ngozi, ambaye nyumba yake iko pwani, atakuambia yakupasayo kutenda.
He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7
Na yule malaika aliyesema naye akiisha kuondoka, Kornelio akawaita wawili katika watumishi wake wa nyumbani, na askari mmoja, mtu mtauwa katika wale waliomhudumia daima;
When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.
8
na alipokwisha kuwaeleza mambo yote akawatuma kwenda Yafa.
He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.
9
Hata siku ya pili, walipokuwa wakisafiri na kuukaribia mji, Petro alipanda juu darini, kwenda kuomba, yapata saa sita ya mchana;
The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
10
akaumwa na njaa sana, akataka kula; lakini walipokuwa wakiandaa, roho yake ikazimia,
He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
11
akaona mbingu zimefunuka, na chombo kikishuka kama nguo kubwa, inatelemshwa kwa pembe zake nne hata nchi;
He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
12
ambayo ndani yake walikuwamo aina zote za wanyama wenye miguu minne, na hao watambaao, na ndege wa angani.
It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.
13
Kisha sauti ikamjia, kusema, Ondoka, Petro, uchinje ule.
Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”
14
Lakini Petro akasema, Hasha, Bwana, kwa maana sijakula kamwe kitu kilicho kichafu au najisi.
“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15
Sauti ikamjia mara ya pili, ikimwambia, Vilivyotakaswa na Mungu, usiviite wewe najisi.
The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16
Jambo hili likatendeka mara tatu; kisha kile chombo kikapokewa tena mbinguni.
This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.
17
Hata Petro alipokuwa akiona shaka ndani ya nafsi yake, maana yake ni nini maono hayo aliyoyaona, wale watu waliotumwa na Kornelio, wakiisha kuiulizia nyumba ya Simoni, wakasimama mbele ya mlango,
While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.
18
wakaita; wakauliza kwamba Simoni aitwaye Petro anakaa humo.
They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.
19
Na Petro alikuwa akiyafikiri yale maono. Roho akamwambia, Wako watu watatu wanakutafuta.
As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
20
Basi ondoka ushuke ufuatane nao, usione tashwishi, kwa maana ni mimi niliyewatuma.
So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”
21
Petro akawashukia wale watu, akanena, Mimi ndiye mnayemtafuta. Mmekuja kwa sababu gani?
So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22
Wakasema, Kornelio akida, mtu mwenye haki, mchaji wa Mungu, aliye na sifa njema kwa taifa lote la Wayahudi, alionywa na malaika mtakatifu kutuma watu kwako, uende nyumbani kwake, apate kusikiliza maneno kwako.
“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
23
Akawakaribisha wawe wageni wake. Hata siku ya pili, Petro akaondoka akatoka pamoja nao, na baadhi ya ndugu waliokaa Yafa wakafuatana naye.
So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
24
Siku ya pili yake wakaingia Kaisaria. Na Kornelio alikuwa akiwangojea, hali amekusanya jamaa zake na rafiki zake.
The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25
Petro alipokuwa akiingia Kornelio akatoka amlaki akamwangukia miguu, akamsujudia.
As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
26
Lakini Petro akamwinua, akasema, Simama, mimi nami ni mwanadamu.
But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27
Na katika kusema naye akaingia ndani, akaona watu wengi wamekusanyika.
As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.
28
Akawaambia, Ninyi mnajua ya kuwa si halali mtu aliye Myahudi ashikamane na mtu aliye wa taifa lingine wala kumwendea, lakini Mungu amenionya, nisimwite mtu awaye yote mchafu wala najisi.
He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
29
Kwa sababu hiyo nalikuja nilipoitwa, nisikatae; basi nawauliza, ni neno gani mliloniitia?
So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”
30
Kornelio akasema, Siku tatu zilizopita, katika saa ii hii, yaani saa tisa, nilikuwa nikisali nyumbani mwangu; nikamwona mtu amesimama mbele yangu, mwenye nguo zing'arazo,
Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me
31
akasema, Kornelio, kuomba kwako kumesikiwa, na sadaka zako zinakumbukwa mbele za Mungu.
and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.
32
Basi, tuma watu kwenda Yafa, ukamwite Simoni aitwaye Petro, anakaa katika nyumba ya Simoni, mtengenezaji wa ngozi, karibu na pwani; naye akija atasema nawe.
Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’
33
Mara nikatuma watu kwako, nawe umefanya vyema kuja. Basi sasa sisi sote tupo hapa mbele za Mungu, tupate kuyasikiliza maneno yote uliyoamriwa na Bwana.
So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”
34
Petro akafumbua kinywa chake, akasema, Hakika natambua ya kuwa Mungu hana upendeleo;
Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
35
bali katika kila taifa mtu amchaye na kutenda haki hukubaliwa na yeye.
but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
36
Neno lile alilowapelekea wana wa Israeli akihubiri habari njema ya amani kwa Yesu Kristo (ndiye Bwana wa wote),
He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37
jambo lile ninyi mmelijua, lililoenea katika Uyahudi wote likianzia Galilaya, baada ya ubatizo aliouhubiri Yohana;
You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed:
38
habari za Yesu wa Nazareti, jinsi Mungu alivyomtia mafuta kwa Roho Mtakatifu na nguvu naye akazunguka huko na huko, akitenda kazi njema na kuponya wote walioonewa na Ibilisi; kwa maana Mungu alikuwa pamoja naye.
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
39
Nasi tu mashahidi wa mambo yote aliyoyatenda katika nchi ya Wayahudi na katika Yerusalemu; ambaye walimwua wakamtundika mtini.
We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,
40
Huyo Mungu alimfufua siku ya tatu, akamjalia kudhihirika,
God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—
41
si kwa watu wote, bali kwa mashahidi waliokuwa wamekwisha kuchaguliwa na Mungu, ndio sisi, tuliokula na kunywa pamoja naye baada ya kufufuka kwake kutoka kwa wafu.
not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
42
Akatuagiza tuwahubiri watu na kushuhudia ya kuwa huyu ndiye aliyeamriwa na Mungu awe Mhukumu wa walio hai na wafu.
And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.
43
Huyo manabii wote humshuhudia, ya kwamba kwa jina lake kila amwaminiye atapata ondoleo la dhambi.
All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
44
Petro alipokuwa akisema maneno hayo Roho Mtakatifu akawashukia wote waliolisikia lile neno.
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message.
45
Na wale waliotahiriwa, walioamini, wakashangaa, watu wote waliokuja pamoja na Petro, kwa sababu Mataifa nao wamemwagiwa kipawa cha Roho Mtakatifu.
All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
46
Kwa maana waliwasikia wakisema kwa lugha, na kumwadhimisha Mungu. Ndipo Petro akajibu,
For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
47
Ni nani awezaye kuzuia maji, hawa wasibatizwe, watu waliopokea Roho Mtakatifu vile vile kama sisi?
“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”
48
Akaamuru wabatizwe kwa Jina lake Yesu Kristo. Ndipo wakamsihi azidi kukaa siku kadha wa kadha.
So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.