¹Wakati Apolo alipokuwa Korintho, Paulo alisafiri sehemu za bara, akafika Efeso ambako aliwakuta wanafunzi kadhaa.

¹And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples:

²Akauliza, "Je, mlipopata kuwa waumini mlipokea Roho Mtakatifu?" Nao wakamjibu, "La! Hata kusikia kwamba kuna Roho Mtakatifu hatujasikia."

²and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they [said] unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was [given].

³Naye akasema, "Sasa mlipata ubatizo wa namna gani?" Wakamjibu, "Ubatizo wa Yohane."

³And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John's baptism.

⁴Naye Paulo akasema, "Ubatizo wa Yohane ulikuwa wa kuonyesha kwamba watu wametubu. Yohane aliwaambia watu wamwamini yule ambaye alikuwa anakuja baada yake, yaani Yesu."

⁴And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus.

⁵Baada ya kusikia hayo, walibatizwa kwa jina la Bwana Yesu.

⁵And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

⁶Basi, Paulo akawawekea mikono, na Roho Mtakatifu akawashukia, wakaanza kusema lugha mbalimbali na kutangaza ujumbe wa Mungu.

⁶And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

⁷Wote jumla, walikuwa watu wapatao kumi na wawili.

⁷And they were in all about twelve men.

⁸Kwa muda wa miezi mitatu Paulo alikuwa akienda katika sunagogi, akawa na majadiliano ya kuvutia sana juu ya Ufalme wa Mungu.

⁸And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading [as to] the things concerning the kingdom of God.

⁹Lakini wengine walikuwa wakaidi, wakakataa kuamini, wakaanza kuongea vibaya hadharani juu ya Njia ya Bwana. Hapo Paulo alivunja uhusiano nao, akawachukua pembeni wale wanafunzi wake, akawa anazungumza nao kila siku katika jumba la masomo la Turano.

⁹But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

¹⁰Aliendelea kufanya hivyo kwa muda wa miaka miwili hata wakazi wote wa Asia, Wayahudi na watu wa mataifa mengine, wakaweza kusikia neno la Bwana.

¹⁰And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

¹¹Mungu alifanya miujiza ya ajabu kwa mikono ya Paulo.

¹¹And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

¹²Watu walikuwa wakichukua leso na nguo nyingine za kazi ambazo Paulo alikuwa amezitumia, wakazipeleka kwa wagonjwa, nao wakaponywa magonjwa yao; na wale waliokuwa na pepo wabaya wakatokwa na pepo hao.

¹²insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the evil spirits went out.

¹³Wayahudi kadhaa wenye kupunga pepo wabaya, walisafiri huko na huko, wakijaribu kulitumia jina la Bwana Yesu kwa wale waliokuwa wamepagawa na pepo wabaya. Walikuwa wakisema: "Ninawaamuru kwa jina la Yesu ambaye Paulo anamhubiri."

¹³But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

¹⁴Watoto saba wa Skewa, Kuhani Mkuu wa Kiyahudi, walikuwa miongoni mwa hao waliokuwa wanafanya hivyo.

¹⁴And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.

¹⁵Lakini pepo mbaya aliwajibu, "Ninamfahamu Yesu, ninamjua pia Paulo, lakini ninyi ni nani?"

¹⁵And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?

¹⁶Kisha yule mtu aliyepagawa aliwarukia wote kwa kishindo, akawashinda nguvu. Na hao watoto wa Skewa wakakimbia kutoka ile nyumba wakiwa uchi na wamejaa majeraha.

¹⁶And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

¹⁷Kila mtu huko Efeso, Myahudi na asiye Myahudi, alisikia juu ya tukio hilo. Wote waliingiwa na hofu, wakalitukuza jina la Bwana Yesu.

¹⁷And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

¹⁸Waumini wengi walijitokeza wakakiri hadharani mambo waliyokuwa wametenda.

¹⁸Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.

¹⁹Wengine waliokuwa wameshughulikia mambo ya uchawi hapo awali, walikusanya vitabu vyao, wakavichoma mbele ya wote. Walikisia gharama ya vitabu hivyo, wakaona yafikia vipande vya fedha elfu hamsini.

¹⁹And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

²⁰Kwa namna hiyo, neno la Bwana lilizidi kuenea na kuwa na nguvu zaidi.

²⁰So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.

²¹Baada ya mambo hayo, Paulo aliamua kwenda Yerusalemu kwa kupitia Makedonia na Akaya. Alisema, "Baada ya kufika huko, itanilazimu kuona Roma pia."

²¹Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

²²Hivyo, aliwatuma wawili wa wasaidizi wake, Timotheo na Erasto, wamtangulie kwenda Makedonia, naye akabaki kwa muda huko Asia.

²²And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

²³Wakati huo ndipo kulipotokea ghasia kubwa huko Efeso kwa sababu ya hiyo Njia ya Bwana.

²³And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.

²⁴Kulikuwa na mfua fedha mmoja aitwaye Demetrio, ambaye alikuwa na kazi ya kutengeneza sanamu za nyumba ya mungu wa kike aitwaye Artemi. Shughuli hiyo iliwapatia mafundi faida kubwa.

²⁴For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen;

²⁵Demetrio aliwakusanya hao wafanyakazi pamoja na wengine waliokuwa na kazi kama hiyo, akawaambia, "Wananchi, mnafahamu kwamba kipato chetu kinatokana na biashara hii.

²⁵whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.

²⁶Sasa, mnaweza kusikia na kujionea wenyewe mambo Paulo anayofanya, si tu hapa Efeso, ila pia kote katika Asia. Yeye amewashawishi na kuwageuza watu wakakubali kwamba miungu ile iliyotengenezwa na watu si miungu hata kidogo.

²⁶And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands:

²⁷Hivyo iko hatari kwamba biashara yetu itakuwa na jina baya. Si hivyo tu, bali pia jambo hilo linaweza kuifanya nyumba ya mungu Artemi kuwa si kitu cha maana. Hatimaye sifa zake huyo ambaye Asia na dunia yote inamwabudu, zitakwisha."

²⁷and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

²⁸Waliposikia hayo, waliwaka hasira, wakaanza kupiga kelele: "Mkuu ni Artemi, wa Efeso!"

²⁸And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesus.

²⁹Mji wote ukajaa ghasia. Wakawavamia Gayo na Aristarko, wenyeji wa Makedonia, ambao walikuwa wasafiri wenzake Paulo, wakakimbia nao mpaka kwenye ukumbi wa michezo.

²⁹And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel.

³⁰Paulo mwenyewe alitaka kuukabili huo umati wa watu, lakini wale waumini walimzuia.

³⁰And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

³¹Maofisa wengine wa huo mkoa wa Asia, waliokuwa rafiki zake, walimtumia Paulo ujumbe wakimsihi asijihatarishe kwa kwenda kwenye ukumbi wa michezo.

³¹And certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent unto him and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre.

³²Wakati huo, kila mtu alikuwa anapayuka; wengine hili na wengine lile, mpaka hata ule mkutano ukavurugika. Wengi hawakujua hata sababu ya kukutana kwao.

³²Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

³³Kwa vile Wayahudi walimfanya Aleksanda ajitokeze mbele, baadhi ya watu katika ule umati walidhani kuwa ndiye. Basi, Aleksanda aliwaashiria watu kwa mkono akitaka kujitetea mbele ya ule umati wa watu.

³³And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defense unto the people.

³⁴Lakini walipotambua kuwa yeye ni Myahudi, wote kwa sauti moja walipiga kelele: "Mkuu ni Artemi wa Efeso!" Wakaendelea kupayukapayuka hivyo kwa muda wa saa mbili.

³⁴But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

³⁵Hatimaye karani wa mji alifaulu kuwanyamazisha, akawaambia, "Wananchi wa Efeso, kila mtu anajua kwamba mji huu wa Efeso ni mlinzi wa nyumba ya mungu Artemi na mlinzi wa ile sanamu iliyoanguka kutoka mbinguni.

³⁵And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of the [image] which fell down from Jupiter?

³⁶Hakuna anayeweza kukana mambo haya. Hivyo basi, tulieni; msifanye chochote bila hadhari.

³⁶Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.

³⁷Mmewaita watu hawa hapa ingawaje hawakuikufuru nyumba ya mungu wala kumtukana mungu wetu wa kike.

³⁷For ye have brought [hither] these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.

³⁸Kama, basi Demetrio na wafanyakazi wake wana mashtaka yao kuhusu watu hawa, yapo mahakama na wakuu wa mikoa; wanaweza kushtakiana huko.

³⁸If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.

³⁹Kama mna matatizo mengine, yapelekeni katika kikao halali.

³⁹But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

⁴⁰Kwa maana tungaliweza kushtakiwa kwa kusababisha ghasia kutokana na vituko vya leo. Ghasia hii haina msingi halali na hatungeweza kutoa sababu za kuridhisha za ghasia hiyo."

⁴⁰For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day's riot, there being no cause [for it]: and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse.

⁴¹Baada ya kusema hayo aliuvunja mkutano.

⁴¹And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.