Acts 9

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest

1 Wakati ule ule, Sauli alikuwa bado anazidisha vitisho vya kuua wanafunzi wa Bwana, akamwendea kuhani mkuu,

2 and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

2 naye akamwomba kuhani mkuu ampe barua za kwenda kwenye masinagogi huko Dameski, ili akimkuta mtu yeyote wa Njia Ile, akiwa mwanaume au mwanamke, aweze kuwafunga na kuwaleta Yerusalemu.

3 As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

3 Basi akiwa katika safari yake, alipokaribia Dameski, ghafula nuru kutoka mbinguni ikamwangaza kotekote.

4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

4 Akaanguka chini, akasikia sauti ikimwambia, “Sauli, Sauli, mbona unanitesa?”

5 “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.

5 Sauli akajibu, “U nani wewe, Bwana?” Ile sauti ikajibu, “Mimi ni Yesu unayemtesa.

6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

6 Sasa inuka uingie mjini, nawe utaambiwa yakupasayo kutenda.”

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.

7 Watu waliokuwa wakisafiri pamoja na Sauli wakasimama bila kuwa na la kusema, kwa sababu walisikia sauti lakini hawakumwona aliyekuwa akizungumza.

8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

8 Sauli akainuka kutoka pale chini na alipojaribu kufungua macho yake hakuweza kuona kitu chochote. Basi wakamshika mkono wakamwongoza mpaka Dameski.

9 For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.

9 Naye kwa muda wa siku tatu alikuwa kipofu naye hakula wala kunywa chochote.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered.

10 Huko Dameski alikuwepo mwanafunzi mmoja jina lake Anania. Bwana alimwita katika maono, “Anania!” Akajibu, “Mimi hapa Bwana.”

11 “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

11 Bwana akamwambia, “Ondoka uende katika barabara iitwayo Nyofu ukaulize katika nyumba ya Yuda mtu kutoka Tarso, jina lake Sauli, kwa maana wakati huu anaomba,

12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

12 katika maono amemwona mtu aitwaye Anania akija na kuweka mikono juu yake ili apate kuona tena.”

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

13 Anania akajibu, “Bwana, nimesikia kutoka kwa watu wengi habari nyingi kuhusu mtu huyu na madhara yote aliyowatendea watakatifu wako huko Yerusalemu.

14 And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

14 Naye amekuja hapa Dameski akiwa na mamlaka kutoka kwa viongozi wa makuhani ili awakamate wote wanaotaja jina lako.”

15 “Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.

15 Lakini Bwana akamwambia Anania, “Nenda! Mtu huyu ni chombo changu kiteule nilichokichagua, apate kulichukua Jina langu kwa watu wa Mataifa na wafalme wao na mbele ya watu wa Israeli.

16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

16 Nami nitamwonyesha jinsi impasavyo kuteseka kwa ajili ya Jina langu.”

17 So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

17 Kisha Anania akaenda kwenye ile nyumba, akaingia ndani. Akaweka mikono yake juu ya Sauli akasema, “Ndugu Sauli, Bwana Yesu aliyekutokea njiani amenituma kwako ili upate kuona tena na ujazwe Roho Mtakatifu.”

18 At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,

18 Ghafula vitu kama magamba vikaanguka chini, kutoka machoni mwa Sauli, akapata kuona tena. Akasimama, akabatizwa.

19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

19 Baada ya kula chakula, akapata nguvu tena. Sauli akakaa siku kadhaa pamoja na wanafunzi huko Dameski.

20 Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”

20 Papo hapo akaanza kuhubiri kwenye masinagogi kwamba “Yesu Kristo ni Mwana wa Mungu”

21 All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

21 Watu wote waliomsikia Sauli walishangaa na kuuliza, “Huyu si yule mtu aliyesababisha maangamizi makuu huko Yerusalemu miongoni mwa watu waliolitaja jina hili? Naye si amekuja hapa kwa kusudi la kuwakamata na kuwapeleka wakiwa wafungwa mbele ya viongozi wa makuhani?”

22 But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

22 Sauli akazidi kuwa hodari na kuwashangaza Wayahudi walioishi Dameski kwa kuthibitisha kuwa Yesu ndiye Kristo.

23 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,

23 Baada ya siku nyingi kupita, Wayahudi wakafanya shauri kumuua Sauli.

24 but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.

24 Lakini shauri lao likajulikana kwa Sauli. Wayahudi wakawa wanalinda malango yote ya mji, usiku na mchana ili wapate kumuua.

25 One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.

25 Lakini wafuasi wake wakamchukua usiku wakamshusha akiwa ndani ya kapu kupitia mahali penye nafasi ukutani.

26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

26 Sauli alipofika Yerusalemu akajaribu kujiunga na wanafunzi lakini wote walimwogopa, kwa maana hawakuamini kwamba kweli naye alikuwa mwanafunzi.

27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.

27 Lakini Barnaba akamchukua, akampeleka kwa wale mitume. Akawaeleza jinsi Sauli akiwa njiani alivyomwona Bwana, jinsi Bwana alivyosema naye na jinsi alivyohubiri kwa ujasiri kwa jina la Yesu huko Dameski.

28 So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

28 Kwa hiyo Sauli akakaa nao akitembea kwa uhuru kila mahali huko Yerusalemu, akihubiri kwa ujasiri katika jina la Bwana.

29 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.

29 Alinena na kuhojiana na Wayahudi wenye asili ya Kiyunani lakini wao walijaribu kumuua.

30 When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

30 Wale ndugu walipopata habari wakampeleka hadi Kaisaria, wakamsafirisha kwenda Tarso.

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

31 Ndipo kanisa katika Uyahudi wote, Galilaya na Samaria likafurahia wakati wa amani. Likatiwa nguvu, na kwa faraja ya Roho Mtakatifu, idadi yake ikazidi kuongezeka, na likaendelea kudumu katika kumcha Bwana.

32 As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.

32 Petro alipokuwa akisafiri sehemu mbalimbali, alikwenda kuwatembelea watakatifu walioishi huko Lida.

33 There he found a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.

33 Huko alimkuta mtu mmoja aitwaye Ainea, ambaye alikuwa amepooza na kwa muda wa miaka minane alikuwa hajaondoka kitandani.

34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,

34 Petro akamwambia, “Ainea, Yesu Kristo anakuponya, inuka utandike kitanda chako.” Mara Ainea akainuka.

35 and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

35 Watu wote wa Lida na Sharoni walipomwona Ainea akitembea wakamgeukia Bwana.

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.

36 Huko Yafa palikuwa na mwanafunzi jina lake Tabitha (ambalo kwa Kiyunani ni Dorkasi ). Huyu alikuwa mkarimu sana, akitenda mema na kuwasaidia maskini.

37 At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.

37 Wakati huo akaugua, akafa na wakiisha kuuosha mwili wake wakauweka katika chumba cha ghorofani.

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”

38 Kwa kuwa Yafa hapakuwa mbali sana na Lida, wanafunzi waliposikia kwamba Petro yuko huko waliwatuma watu wawili kwake ili kumwomba, “Tafadhali njoo huku pasipo kukawia.”

39 So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

39 Kwa hiyo Petro akainuka akaenda nao, naye alipowasili, wakampeleka hadi kwenye chumba cha ghorofani alipokuwa amelazwa. Wajane wengi walisimama karibu naye wakilia na kuonyesha majoho na nguo nyingine ambazo Dorkasi alikuwa amewashonea alipokuwa pamoja nao.

40 Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

40 Petro akawatoa wote nje ya kile chumba, kisha akapiga magoti akaomba, akaugeukia ule mwili akasema, “Tabitha, inuka.” Akafumbua macho yake na alipomwona Petro, akaketi.

41 Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.

41 Petro akamshika mkono akamwinua, ndipo akawaita wale watakatifu na wajane akamkabidhi kwao akiwa hai.

42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

42 Habari hizi zikajulikana sehemu zote za Yafa na watu wengi wakamwamini Bwana.

43 And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

43 Petro akakaa Yafa kwa siku nyingi akiishi na Simoni mtengenezaji ngozi.