1“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”
1"Ndugu zangu na akina baba, nisikilizeni sasa nikijitetea mbele yenu!"
2When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,
2Waliposikia akiongea nao kwa Kiebrania wakazidi kukaa kimya zaidi kuliko hapo awali. Naye Paulo akaendelea kusema,
3“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.
3"Mimi ni Myahudi, mzaliwa wa Tarso katika Kilikia. Lakini nililelewa papa hapa mjini Yerusalemu chini ya mkufunzi Gamalieli. Nilifundishwa kufuata kwa uthabiti Sheria ya wazee wetu. Nilijitolea kwa moyo wote kwa Mungu kama ninyi wenyewe mlivyo hivi leo.
4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
4Niliwatesa hata kuwaua wale watu waliofuata Njia hii. Niliwatia nguvuni wanaume kwa wanawake na kuwafunga gerezani.
5As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
5Kuhani Mkuu na baraza lote la wazee wanaweza kushuhudia jambo hilo. Kutoka kwao nilipokea barua walioandikiwa wale ndugu Wayahudi waliokuwa huko Damasko. Nilikwenda Damasko ili niwatie nguvuni watu hao na kuwaleta wamefungwa mpaka Yerusalemu ili waadhibiwe.
6It happened that, as I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from the sky a great light around me.
6"Basi, nilipokuwa njiani karibu kufika Damasko, yapata saa sita mchana, mwangu mkubwa kutoka mbinguni ulitokea ghafla ukaniangazia pande zote.
7I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
7Hapo nilianguka chini, nikasikia sauti ikiniambia: Saulo, Saulo! Kwa nini unanitesa?
8I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’
8Nami nikauliza: Nani wewe, Bwana? Naye akaniambia: Mimi ni Yesu wa Nazareti ambaye wewe unamtesa.
9“Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of him who spoke to me.
9Wale wenzangu waliuona ule mwanga lakini hawakusikia sauti ya yule aliyeongea nami.
10I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.’
10Basi, mimi nikauliza: Nifanye nini Bwana? Naye Bwana akaniambia: Simama, nenda Damasko na huko utaambiwa yote ambayo umepangiwa kufanya.
11When I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
11Kutokana na ule mwanga mkali sikuweza kuona na hivyo iliwabidi wale wenzangu kuniongoza kwa kunishika mkono mpaka nikafika Damasko.
12One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
12"Huko kulikuwa na mtu mmoja aitwaye Anania, mtu mcha Mungu, mwenye kuitii Sheria yetu na aliyeheshimika sana mbele ya Wayahudi waliokuwa wanaishi Damasko.
13came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I looked up at him.
13Yeye alikuja kuniona, akasimama karibu nami, akasema: Ndugu Saulo! Ona tena. Papo hapo nikaona tena, nikamwangalia.
14He said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.
14Halafu Anania akasema: Mungu wa babu zetu amekuchagua upate kujua matakwa yake na kumwona yule mtumishi wake mwadilifu na kumsikia yeye mwenyewe akiongea.
15For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
15Kwa maana utamshuhudia kwa watu wote ukiwaambia yale uliyoyaona na kuyasikia.
16Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
16Sasa basi, ya nini kukawia zaidi? Simama ubatizwe na uondolewe dhambi zako kwa kuliungama jina lake.
17“It happened that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,
17"Basi, nilirudi Yerusalemu, na nilipokuwa nikisali Hekaluni, niliona maono.
18and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.’
18Nilimwona Bwana akiniambia: Haraka! Ondoka Yerusalemu upesi kwa maana watu wa hapa binadamu hawataukubali ushuhuda wako juu yangu.
19I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.
19Nami nikamjibu: Bwana, wao wanajua wazi kwamba mimi ni yule aliyekuwa anapitapita katika masunagogi na kuwatia nguvuni na kuwapiga wale waliokuwa wanakuamini.
20When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’
20Na kwamba wakati shahidi wako Stefano alipouawa, mimi binafsi nilikuwako pale nikakubaliana na kitendo hicho na kuyalinda makoti ya wale waliokuwa wanamuua.
21“He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”
21Naye Bwana akaniambia: Nenda; ninakutuma mbali kwa mataifa mengine."
22They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn’t fit to live!”
22Mpaka hapa, wale watu walikuwa wanamsikiza, lakini aliposema maneno haya, walianza kusema kwa sauti kubwa, "Mwondoe duniani! Mtu wa namna hiyo hastahili kuishi."
23As they cried out, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,
23Waliendelea kupayukapayuka huku wakitikisa makoti yao na kurusha vumbi angani.
24the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.
24Mkuu wa jeshi aliwaamuru watu wake wampeleke Paulo ndani ya ngome, akawaambia wamchape viboko ili wapate kujua kisa cha Wayahudi kumpigia kelele.
25When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?”
25Lakini walipokwisha mfunga ili wamchape viboko, Paulo alimwuliza jemadari mmoja aliyesimama hapo, "Je, ni halali kwenu kumpiga viboko raia wa Roma kabla hajahukumiwa?"
26When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!”
26Yule jemadari aliposikia hayo, alimpasha habari mkuu wa jeshi akisema, "Unataka kufanya nini? Mtu huyu ni raia wa Roma!"
27The commanding officer came and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”
27Basi, mkuu wa jeshi alimwendea Paulo, akamwambia, "Niambie; je, wewe ni raia wa Roma?" Paulo akamjibu, "Naam."
28The commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.”
28Mkuu wa jeshi akasema, "Mimi nami nimekuwa raia wa Roma kwa kulipa gharama kubwa." Paulo akasema, "Lakini mimi ni raia wa Roma kwa kuzaliwa."
29Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
29Wale watu ambao walikuwa tayari kumchunguza Paulo walitoweka mara. Hata yule mkuu wa jeshi aliogopa alipojua kwamba Paulo ni raia wa Roma na kwamba alikuwa amekwisha mfunga minyororo.
30But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
30Kesho yake, mkuu wa jeshi alitaka kujua mashtaka kamili ambayo Wayahudi walikuwa wamemwekea Paulo. Hivyo, alimfungua Paulo minyororo, akaamuru makuhani wakuu na Baraza lote wafanye kikao. Kisha alimleta Paulo, akamsimamisha mbele ya Baraza.