Acts 21

1 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we sailed directly to Cos, and the next day on to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

1 Tulipokwisha kujitenga nao, tukaanza safari kwa njia ya bahari moja kwa moja mpaka Kosi. Siku ya pili yake tukafika Rodo na kutoka huko tukaenda Patara.

2 Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded it and set sail.

2 Hapo tukapata meli iliyokuwa inavuka kwenda Foinike tukapanda tukasafiri nayo.

3 After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.

3 Tulipokiona kisiwa cha Kipro, tukakizunguka tukakiacha upande wetu wa kushoto, tukasafiri mpaka Shamu, tukatia nanga katika bandari ya Tiro ambapo meli yetu ilikuwa ipakue shehena yake.

4 We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

4 Baada ya kuwatafuta wanafunzi wa huko, tukakaa nao kwa siku saba. Wale wanafunzi wakiongozwa na Roho wakamwambia Paulo asiende Yerusalemu.

5 But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to pray with us.

5 Lakini muda wetu ulipokwisha, tukaondoka tukaendelea na safari yetu. Wale wanafunzi pamoja na wake zao na watoto wakatusindikiza hadi nje ya mji. Wote tukapiga magoti pale pwani tukaomba.

6 And after we had said our farewells, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

6 Baada ya kuagana, tukapanda melini, nao wakarudi majumbani mwao.

7 When we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day.

7 Tukaendelea na safari yetu toka Tiro tukafika Tolemai, tukawasalimu ndugu wa huko, tukakaa nao kwa siku moja.

8 Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven.

8 Siku iliyofuata tukaondoka, tukafika Kaisaria. Huko tukaenda nyumbani kwa mwinjilisti mmoja jina lake Filipo, aliyekuwa mmoja wa wale Saba, tukakaa kwake.

9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

9 Filipo alikuwa na binti wanne mabikira waliokuwa wanatoa unabii.

10 After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

10 Baada ya kukaa kwa siku kadhaa, akateremka nabii mmoja kutoka Uyahudi jina lake Agabo.

11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”

11 Alipotufikia akachukua mshipi wa Paulo akajifunga, akautumia kufunga mikono na miguu yake mwenyewe akasema, “Roho Mtakatifu anasema: ‘Hivi ndivyo Wayahudi wa Yerusalemu watakavyomfunga mwenye mshipi huu na kumkabidhi kwa watu wa Mataifa.’”

12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

12 Tuliposikia maneno haya sisi na ndugu wengine tukamsihi Paulo asiende Yerusalemu.

13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

13 Lakini Paulo akajibu, “Kwa nini mnalia na kunivunja moyo? Mimi niko tayari si kufungwa tu, bali hata kufa huko Yerusalemu kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana Yesu.”

14 When he would not be dissuaded, we quieted down and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

14 Alipokuwa hashawishiki, tukaacha kumsihi, tukasema, “Mapenzi ya Bwana na yatendeke.”

15 After these days, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem.

15 Baada ya haya, tukajiandaa, tukaondoka kwenda Yerusalemu.

16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.

16 Baadhi ya wanafunzi kutoka Kaisaria wakafuatana nasi na kutupeleka nyumbani kwa Mnasoni, ambaye tungekaa kwake. Yeye alikuwa mtu wa Kipro, mmoja wa wanafunzi wa zamani.

17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully.

17 Tulipofika Yerusalemu ndugu wakatukaribisha kwa furaha.

18 The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present.

18 Kesho yake Paulo pamoja na wengine wetu tulikwenda kumwona Yakobo, na wazee wote walikuwepo.

19 Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

19 Baada ya kuwasalimu, Paulo akatoa taarifa kamili ya mambo yote ambayo Mungu alikuwa amefanya miongoni mwa watu wa Mataifa kupitia huduma yake.

20 When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.

20 Baada ya kusikia mambo haya wakamwadhimisha Mungu. Ndipo wakamwambia Paulo, “Ndugu, unaona kulivyo na maelfu ya Wayahudi walioamini, nao wote wana juhudi kwa ajili ya sheria.

21 But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs.

21 Lakini wameambiwa habari zako kwamba unafundisha Wayahudi wote waishio miongoni mwa watu wa Mataifa kumkataa Mose, na kwamba unawaambia wasiwatahiri watoto wao wala kufuata desturi zetu.

22 What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

22 Sasa tufanyeje? Bila shaka watasikia kwamba umekuja Yerusalemu.

23 Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow.

23 Kwa hiyo fanya lile tunalokuambia. Tunao watu wanne hapa ambao wameweka nadhiri.

24 Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

24 Jiunge na watu hawa, mfanye utaratibu wa ibada ya kujitakasa pamoja nao, na ulipe gharama ili wanyoe nywele zao. Kwa njia hii kila mtu atafahamu ya kuwa mambo waliyosikia si ya kweli na kwamba wewe unaishika sheria.

25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

25 Lakini kuhusu wale watu wa Mataifa walioamini, tumewaandikia uamuzi wetu: kwamba wajitenge na vyakula vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu, na damu, au kula nyama ya mnyama aliyenyongwa, na wajiepushe na uasherati.”

26 So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.

26 Ndipo kesho yake Paulo akawachukua wale watu na akajitakasa pamoja nao. Akaingia ndani ya hekalu ili atoe taarifa ya tarehe ambayo siku zao za utakaso zingemalizika na sadaka ingetolewa kwa ajili ya kila mmoja wao.

27 When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,

27 Zile siku saba zilipokaribia kumalizika, baadhi ya Wayahudi kutoka sehemu za Asia waliokuwa wamemwona Paulo ndani ya Hekalu, wakachochea umati wote wa watu, nao wakamkamata.

28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”

28 Wakapiga kelele wakisema, “Waisraeli wenzetu, tusaidieni! Huyu ndiye yule mtu anayefundisha kila mtu na kila mahali, kinyume na watu wetu, sheria zetu na hata Hekalu hili. Zaidi ya hayo amewaleta Wayunani ndani ya Hekalu na kupanajisi mahali hapa patakatifu.”

29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

29 (Walikuwa wamemwona Trofimo, mwenyeji wa Efeso, akiwa mjini pamoja na Paulo wakadhani kuwa Paulo alikuwa amemwingiza Hekaluni.)

30 The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.

30 Mji wote ukataharuki, watu wakaja wakikimbia kutoka pande zote wakamkamata Paulo, wakamburuta kutoka Hekaluni. Milango ya Hekalu ikafungwa.

31 While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil.

31 Walipokuwa wakitaka kumuua, habari zikamfikia jemadari wa jeshi la askari wa Kirumi kwamba mji wa Yerusalemu wote ulikuwa katika machafuko.

32 Immediately he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

32 Mara yule jemadari akachukua maafisa wengine wa jeshi pamoja na askari wakakimbilia kwenye ile ghasia, wale watu waliokuwa wakifanya ghasia walipomwona yule jemadari na askari wakija, wakaacha kumpiga Paulo.

33 The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

33 Yule jemadari akaja, akamkamata Paulo akaamuru afungwe kwa minyororo miwili. Akauliza yeye ni nani, na alikuwa amefanya nini.

34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks.

34 Baadhi ya watu katika ule umati wakapiga kelele, hawa wakisema hili na wengine lile. Yule jemadari alipoona kuwa hawezi kupata hakika ya habari kwa sababu ya zile kelele, akaamuru Paulo apelekwe katika ngome ya jeshi.

35 When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.

35 Paulo alipofika penye ngazi, ilibidi askari wambebe juu juu kwa sababu fujo za ule umati wa watu zilikuwa kubwa.

36 For the crowd that followed him kept shouting, “Away with him!”

36 Umati wa watu ulikuwa ukifuata ukiendelea kupiga kelele ukisema, “Mwondoe huyu!”

37 As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.

37 Mara tu Paulo alipokaribia kuingizwa kwenye ngome ya jeshi, akamwambia yule jemadari, “Je, naweza kukuambia jambo moja?” Yule jemadari akamjibu, “Je, unajua Kiyunani?

38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the Assassins into the wilderness?”

38 Je, wewe si yule Mmisri ambaye siku hizi za karibuni alianzisha uasi akaongoza kundi la magaidi 4,000 wenye silaha jangwani?”

39 But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”

39 Paulo akajibu, “Mimi ni Myahudi, mzaliwa wa Tarso, huko Kilikia, raiya wa mji maarufu. Tafadhali niruhusu nizungumze na hawa watu.”

40 Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:

40 Akiisha kupata ruhusa ya yule jemadari, Paulo akasimama penye ngazi akawapungia watu mkono ili wanyamaze. Wote waliponyamaza kimya, Paulo akazungumza nao kwa lugha ya Kiebrania, akasema: