1Saulo naye alikiona kitendo hicho cha kumwua Stefano kuwa sawa. Siku hiyo kanisa la Yerusalemu lilianza kuteswa vibaya. Waumini wote, isipokuwa tu wale mitume, walilazimika kutawanyika katika sehemu za mashambani za Yudea na Samaria.
1And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2Watu wamchao Mungu, walimzika Stefano na kumfanyia maombolezo makubwa.
2And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.
3Wakati huohuo, Saulo alijaribu kuliangamiza kanisa. Alikwenda katika kila nyumba, akawatoa nje waumini, wanaume kwa wanawake, akawatia gerezani.
3But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.
4Wale waumini waliotawanyika, walikwenda kila mahali wakihubiri ule ujumbe.
4They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word.
5Naye Filipo aliingia katika mji wa Samaria na kumhubiri Kristo kwa wenyeji wa hapo.
5And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.
6Watu walijiunga kusikiliza kwa makini ule ujumbe wa Filipo na kuona ile miujiza aliyoifanya.
6And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.
7Maana pepo wachafu waliokuwa wamewapagaa watu wengi waliwatoka wakipiga kelele kubwa; na pia watu wengi waliokuwa wamepooza viungo na waliolemaa waliponywa.
7For [from] many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.
8Kukawa na furaha kubwa katika mji ule.
8And there was much joy in that city.
9Basi, kulikuwa na mtu mmoja aitwaye Simoni ambaye alikuwa amekwisha fanya uchawi wake katika mji huo kwa muda na kuwashangaza watu wa Samaria, akijiona kuwa yeye ni mtu maarufu.
9But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10Watu wote, wadogo na wakubwa, walimsikiliza kwa makini wakisema, "Simoni ndiye ile nguvu ya kimungu inayoitwa Nguvu Kubwa."
10to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.
11Walivutiwa sana naye kwa vile alikuwa amewashangaza kwa uchawi wake kwa muda mrefu.
11And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
12Lakini walipouamini ujumbe wa Filipo juu ya Habari Njema ya Ufalme wa Mungu na jina la Yesu Kristo, walibatizwa, wanawake na wanaume.
12But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13Hata Simoni aliamini; baada ya kubatizwa ilikuwa akiandamana na Filipo, akastaajabia maajabu na miujiza iliyokuwa inafanyika.
13And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.
14Wale mitume waliokuwa kule Yerusalemu walipopata habari kwamba wenyeji wa Samaria nao wamelipokea neno la Mungu, waliwatuma kwao Petro na Yohane.
14Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15Walipofika waliwaombea hao waumini ili wampokee Roho Mtakatifu;
15who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
16maana wakati huo Roho Mtakatifu hakuwa ameshukia yeyote kati yao; walikuwa wamebatizwa tu kwa jina la Bwana Yesu.
16for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17Basi, Petro na Yohane wakawawekea mikono hao waumini, nao wakampokea Roho Mtakatifu.
17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18Hapo Simoni aling'amua kwamba kwa kuwekewa mikono ya mitume waumini walipewa Roho Mtakatifu. Hivyo aliwapa Petro na Yohane fedha akisema,
18Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19"Nipeni na mimi uwezo huo ili yeyote nitakayemwekea mikono, apokee Roho Mtakatifu."
19saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.
20Lakini Petro akamjibu, "Potelea mbali na fedha zako kwa vile unafikiri kwamba unaweza kununua karama ya Mungu kwa fedha!
20But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.
21Huna sehemu yoyote wala haki katika kazi hiyo kwa maana moyo wako hauko sawa mbele ya macho ya Mungu.
21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.
22Kwa hiyo, tubu ubaya wako huu na umwombe Bwana naye anaweza kukusamehe fikira kama hizo.
22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.
23Ni dhahiri kwangu kwamba umejaa wivu mkali na mfungwa wa dhambi!"
23For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.
24Simoni akajibu, "Tafadhali, niombeeni kwa Bwana lisije likanipata lolote kati ya hayo mliyosema."
24And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25Baada ya Petro na Yohane kutoa ushuhuda wao na kuutangaza ujumbe wa Bwana, walirudi Yerusalemu. Walipokuwa wanarudi walihubiri Habari Njema katika vijiji vingi vya Samaria.
25They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
26Malaika wa Bwana alimwambia Filipo, "Jitayarishe uende kusini kupitia njia inayotoka Yerusalemu kwenda Gaza." (Njia hiyo hupita jangwani.)
26But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert.
27Basi, Filipo akajiweka tayari, akaanza safari. Wakati huohuo kulikuwa na Mwethiopia mmoja, towashi, ambaye alikuwa anasafiri kuelekea nyumbani. Huyo mtu alikuwa ofisa maarufu wa hazina ya Kandake, malkia wa Ethiopia. Alikuwa amekwenda huko Yerusalemu kuabudu na wakati huo alikuwa anarudi akiwa amepanda gari la kukokotwa.
27And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;
28Alipokuwa anasafiri, alikuwa akijisomea kitabu cha nabii Isaya.
28and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29Basi, Roho Mtakatifu akamwambia Filipo, "Nenda karibu na gari hilo ukafuatane nalo."
29And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30Filipo akakimbilia karibu na gari, akamsikia huyo mtu akisoma katika kitabu cha nabii Isaya. Hapo Filipo akamwuliza, "Je, unaelewa hayo unayosoma?"
30And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31Huyo mtu akamjibu, "Ninawezaje kuelewa bila mtu kunielewesha?" Hapo akamwalika Filipo apande juu, aketi pamoja naye.
31And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.
32Basi, sehemu ya Maandiko Matakatifu aliyokuwa anasoma ilikuwa hii: "Alikuwa kama kondoo anayepelekwa kuchinjwa; kimya kama vile mwana kondoo anaponyolewa manyoya, yeye naye hakutoa sauti hata kidogo.
32Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:
33Alifedheheshwa na kunyimwa haki. Hakuna atakayeweza kuongea juu ya kizazi chake, kwa maana maisha yake yameondolewa duniani."
33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth.
34Huyo Mwethiopia akamwambia Filipo, "Niambie, huyu nabii anasema juu ya nani? Anasema mambo haya juu yake yeye mwenyewe au juu ya mtu mwingine?"
34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other?
35Basi, Filipo akianzia na sehemu hiyo ya Maandiko Matakatifu, akamweleza Habari Njema juu ya Yesu.
35And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus.
36Walipokuwa bado wanaendelea na safari walifika mahali penye maji na huyo ofisa akasema, "Mahali hapa pana maji; je, kuna chochote cha kunizuia nisibatizwe?"
36And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37Filipo akasema, "Kama unaamini kwa moyo wako wote unaweza kubatizwa." Naye akajibu, "Naam, ninaamini kwamba Yesu Kristo ni Mwana wa Mungu."
37[And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.]
38Basi, huyo ofisa akaamuru lile gari lisimame; na wote wawili, Filipo na huyo ofisa wakashuka majini, naye Filipo akambatiza.
38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39Walipotoka majini Roho wa Bwana akamfanya Filipo atoweke. Na huyo Mwethiopia hakumwona tena; lakini akaendelea na safari yake akiwa amejaa furaha.
39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
40Filipo akajikuta yuko Azoto, akapita katika miji yote akihubiri Habari Njema mpaka alipofika Kaisarea.
40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.