1
Paulo akawakazia macho watu wa baraza, akasema, Ndugu zangu, mimi kwa dhamiri safi kabisa nimeishi mbele za Mungu hata leo hivi.
Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
2
Kuhani Mkuu Anania akawaamuru wale waliosimama karibu naye wampige kinywa chake.
At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
3
Ndipo Paulo akamwambia, Mungu atakupiga wewe, ukuta uliopakwa chokaa. Wewe umeketi kunihukumu sawasawa na sheria, nawe unaamuru nipigwe kinyume cha sheria?
Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
4
Wale waliosimama karibu wakasema, Je! Unamtukana Kuhani Mkuu wa Mungu?
But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”
5
Paulo akasema, Sikujua, ndugu zangu, ya kuwa yeye ni Kuhani Mkuu; maana imeandikwa, Usimnenee mabaya mkuu wa watu wako.
“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
6
Paulo alipotambua ya kuwa sehemu moja ni Masadukayo, na sehemu ya pili ni Mafarisayo, akapaza sauti yake katika ile baraza, Ndugu zangu, mimi ni Farisayo mwana wa Farisayo; mimi ninahukumiwa kwa ajili ya tumaini la ufufuo wa wafu.
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
7
Alipokwisha kunena hayo palikuwa na mashindano baina ya Mafarisayo na Masadukayo, mkutano ukafarakana.
As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8
Kwa maana Masadukayo husema ya kwamba hakuna kiyama wala malaika wala roho; bali Mafarisayo hukiri yote.
For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
9
Pakawa na makelele mengi. Waandishi wengine wa upande wa Mafarisayo wakasimama, wakateta, wakisema, Hatuoni uovu wo wote katika mtu huyu; bali ikiwa roho au malaika amesema naye, ni nini?
A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
10
Ugomvi mkubwa ulipotokea, yule jemadari akachelea Paulo asije akararuliwa nao, akaamuru askari washuke na kumwondoa kwa nguvu mikononi mwao, na kumleta ndani ya ngome.
The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
11
Usiku ule Bwana akasimama karibu naye, akasema, Uwe na moyo mkuu; kwa sababu, kama ulivyonishuhudia habari zangu Yerusalemu, imekupasa kunishuhudia vivyo hivyo Rumi nako.
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
12
Kulipopambauka, Wayahudi wakafanya mapatano, wakajifunga kwa kiapo kwamba hawatakula wala hawatakunywa hata wamwue Paulo.
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13
Na hao walioapiana hivyo walipata zaidi ya watu arobaini.
More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
14
Nao wakaenda kwa wakuu wa makuhani na wazee, wakasema, Tumejifunga kwa kiapo tusionje kitu hata tumwue Paulo.
They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
15
Basi sasa ninyi pamoja na wazee wa baraza mwambieni jemadari amlete chini kwenu, kana kwamba mnataka kujua habari zake vizuri zaidi; na sisi tu tayari kumwua kabla hajakaribia.
Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”
16
Mjomba wake Paulo akasikia habari za kuotea kwao, akaenda akaingia ndani ya ngome akampasha Paulo habari.
But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17
Paulo akamwita akida mmoja, akasema, Mchukue kijana huyu kwa jemadari; maana ana neno la kumwarifu.
Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
18
Basi akamchukua, akampeleka kwa jemadari, akamwambia, Paulo, yule mfungwa, aliniita akataka nikuletee kijana huyu kwa kuwa ana neno la kukuambia.
So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
19
Yule jemadari akamshika mkono akajitenga pamoja naye kando, akamwuliza kwa faragha, Una neno gani utakalo kuniarifu?
The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”
20
Akasema Wayahudi wamepatana kukuomba umlete Paulo chini kesho, ukamweke mbele ya baraza, kana kwamba wanataka kupata habari zake kwa usahihi zaidi.
He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.
21
Basi wewe usikubali; kwa maana watu zaidi ya arobaini wanamwotea, wamejifunga kwa kiapo wasile wala wasinywe hata watakapomwua; nao sasa wako tayari, wakiitazamia ahadi kwako.
Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
22
Basi yule jemadari akamwacha kijana aende zake, akimwagiza, Usimwambie mtu awaye yote ya kwamba umeniarifu haya.
So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
23
Akawaita maakida wawili, akasema, Wekeni tayari askari mia mbili kwenda Kaisaria, na askari wapanda farasi sabini, na wenye mikuki mia mbili, kwa saa tatu ya usiku.
Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.
24
Akawaambia kuweka wanyama tayari wampandishe Paulo, na kumchukua salama kwa Feliki liwali.
Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”
25
Akaandika barua, kwa namna hii,
And he wrote the following letter:
26
Klaudio Lisia kwa liwali mtukufu Feliki, Salamu!
Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
27
Mtu huyu alikamatwa na Wayahudi, wakawa karibu kumwua, ndipo nikaenda pamoja na kikosi cha askari nikamwokoa, nilipopata habari ya kuwa yeye ni Mrumi.
This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,
28
Nami nikitaka kulijua lile neno walilomshitakia, nikamtelemsha nikamweka mbele ya baraza;
and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
29
nikaona kwamba ameshitakiwa kwa ajili ya maswali ya sheria yao, wala hakushitakiwa neno lo lote la kustahili kuuawa wala kufungwa.
I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
30
Hata nilipopewa habari kwamba patakuwa na vitimvi juu ya mtu huyu, mara nikampeleka kwako, nikawaagiza na wale waliomshitaki, wanene habari zake mbele yako. Wasalamu.
When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.
31
Basi, wale askari wakamchukua Paulo kama walivyoamriwa, wakampeleka hata Antipatri usiku;
So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.
32
hata asubuhi wakawaacha wale wapanda farasi waende pamoja naye, nao wakarudi zao ngomeni.
The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
33
Na wale walipofika Kaisaria, na kumpa liwali ile barua, wakamweka Paulo mbele yake.
When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.
34
Naye alipokwisha kuisoma, akawauliza, Mtu huyu ni wa jimbo gani? Alipoarifiwa ya kuwa ni mtu wa Kilikia,
The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
35
akasema, Nitakusikia wewe watakapokuja wale waliokushitaki; akaamuru alindwe katika nyumba ya uliwali ya Herode.
he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.