1
Enyi wanaume, ndugu zangu na baba zangu, nisikilizeni, nikijitetea mbele yenu sasa.
“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
2
Waliposikia kwamba anasema nao kwa lugha ya Kiebrania wakazidi kunyamaza; akasema,
When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul declared,
3
Mimi ni mtu wa Kiyahudi, nalizaliwa Tarso, mji wa Kilikia, ila nililelewa katika mji huu, miguuni pa Gamalieli, nikafundishwa sheria ya baba zetu kwa usahihi, nikawa mtu wa jitihadi kwa Mungu kama ninyi nyote mlivyo leo hivi;
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
4
nikawaudhi watu wa Njia hii hata kuwaua, nikawafunga, nikiwatia gerezani, wanaume na wanawake.
I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,
5
Kama Kuhani Mkuu naye anishuhudiavyo, na wazee wa baraza wote pia, ambao nalipokea barua kwao kuwapelekea ndugu wale, nikaenda Dameski, ili niwalete wale waliokuwa huko hata Yerusalemu, hali wamefungwa, ili waadhibiwe.
as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.
6
Ikawa nilipokuwa nikisafiri, nikikaribia Dameski, wakati wa adhuhuri, ghafula nuru kuu ilitoka mbinguni, ikanimulikia pande zote.
About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
7
Nikaanguka nchi, nikasikia sauti ikiniambia, Sauli, Sauli, mbona unaniudhi?
I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’
8
Nikajibu, Wewe u nani, Bwana? Akaniambia, Mimi ni Yesu Mnazareti, ambaye wewe unaniudhi.
‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.
9
Na wale waliokuwa pamoja nami waliiona ile nuru, lakini hawakuisikia ile sauti ya yule aliyesema nami.
My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.
10
Nikasema, Nifanye nini, Bwana? Bwana akaniambia, Simama, uingie Dameski, na huko utaambiwa habari za mambo yote yaliyoamriwa uyafanye.
Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’
11
Na nilipokuwa sioni kwa sababu ya fahari ya nuru ile, nikaongozwa na mikono yao waliokuwa pamoja nami, nikaingia Dameski.
Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.
12
Basi mtu mmoja, Anania, mtauwa kwa kuifuata sheria, aliyeshuhudiwa wema na Wayahudi wote waliokaa huko,
There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
13
Akanijia, akasimama karibu nami, akaniambia, Ndugu yangu Sauli, uone. Nikamwinulia macho yangu saa ile ile.
came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him.
14
Akasema, Mungu wa baba zetu amekuchagua wewe upate kujua mapenzi yake, na kumwona yule Mwenye haki, na kuisikia sauti itokayo katika kinywa chake.
Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear His voice.
15
Kwa maana utakuwa shahidi wake kwa watu wote, wa mambo hayo uliyoyaona na kuyasikia.
You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
16
Basi sasa, unakawilia nini? Simama, ubatizwe, ukaoshe dhambi zako, ukiliitia jina lake.
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
17
Ikawa nilipokwisha kurudi Yerusalemu, nilipokuwa nikisali ndani ya hekalu, nikawa hali ya kuzimia roho,
Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
18
nikamwona, naye akiniambia, Hima, utoke Yerusalemu upesi, kwa sababu hawatakubali ushuhuda wako katika habari zangu.
and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’
19
Nami nikasema, Bwana, wanajua hao ya kuwa mimi nalikuwa nikiwafunga gerezani wale wanaokuamini na kuwapiga katika kila sinagogi.
‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.
20
Na damu ya Stefano shahidi wako ilipomwagwa, mimi nami nilikuwa nikisimama karibu, nikikubali, na kuzitunza nguo zao waliomwua.
And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’
21
Naye akaniambia, Enenda zako; kwa kuwa mimi nitakutuma uende mbali kwa watu wa Mataifa.
Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
22
Wakamsikiliza mpaka neno lile, wakapaza sauti zao, wakisema, Mwondoe huyu katika nchi, kwa maana haifai aishi.
The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”
23
Walipokuwa wakipiga kelele na kutupa mavazi yao na kurusha-rusha mavumbi juu,
As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,
24
yule jemadari akaamuru aletwe ndani ya ngome, akisema aulizwe habari zake kwa kupigwa mijeledi, ili ajue sababu hata wakampigia kelele namna hii.
the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him.
25
Hata walipokwisha kumfunga kwa kamba, Paulo akamwambia yule akida aliyesimama karibu, Je! Ni halali ninyi kumpiga mtu aliye Mrumi naye hajakuhumiwa bado?
But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”
26
Yule akida aliposikia, akaenda akamwarifu yule jemadari, akisema, Unataka kufanya nini? Kwa maana mtu huyu ni Mrumi.
On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
27
Jemadari akaja, akamwuliza, Niambie, u Mrumi? Akasema, Ndiyo.
The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered.
28
Jemadari akajibu, Mimi nalipata wenyeji huu kwa mali nyingi. Paulo akasema, Na mimi ni Mrumi wa kuzaliwa.
“I paid a high price for my citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
29
Basi wale waliokuwa tayari kumwuliza wakaondoka wakamwacha. Na yule jemadari naye akaogopa, alipojua ya kuwa ni Mrumi, na kwa sababu amemfunga.
At once those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.
30
Siku ya pili yake akitaka kujua hakika, ni kwa sababu gani ameshitakiwa na Wayahudi, akamfungua, akawaamuru wakuu wa makuhani na baraza yote wakutane. Akamleta Paulo chini, akamweka mbele yao.
The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.