Matendo Ya Mitume 15
Neno: Bibilia Takatifu
Wayahudi. 28 Wakakaa huko na wale wanafunzi kwa muda mrefu.
Baraza La Yerusalemu
15 Watu wengine walikuja Antiokia kutoka Yudea wakawa wakiwa fundisha ndugu walioamini kwamba, “Kama hamkutahiriwa kufuatana na desturi iliyofundishwa na Musa hamwezi kuokolewa.” 2 Paulo na Barnaba walikuwa na mabishano makali nao wakipinga mafundisho haya. Ikaamuliwa kwamba Paulo na Barnaba na waamini wengine waende Yerusalemu wakawaulize mitume na wazee juu ya jambo hili. 3 Kwa hiyo, wakiwa wametumwa na kanisa, njiani walipitia makanisa ya Foenike na Samaria wakatoa taarifa jinsi watu wa mataifa men gine walivyokuwa wakimgeukia Bwana. Habari hizi ziliwafurahisha sana hao ndugu. 4 Walipofika Yerusalemu walipokelewa na kanisa, mitume na wazee; nao wakatoa taarifa kuhusu mambo yote ambayo Mungu aliyafanya kwa kuwatumia wao. 5 Lakini baadhi ya waamini waliokuwa wakishikilia desturi za Mafarisayo wakasema, “Ni lazima watahiriwe na wafundishwe kushika sheria ya Musa.”
6 Mitume na wazee wa kanisa wakakutana kushauriana juu ya jambo hili. 7 Baada ya majadiliano marefu, Petro akasimama na kusema, “Ndugu zangu, mnajua kwamba siku za mwanzo Mungu alini chagua ili kwa midomo yangu watu wa mataifa mengine wapate kusi kia Habari Njema na kuamini. 8 Na Mungu ambaye anajua mioyo ya watu alishuhudia kwamba anawakubali watu wa mataifa kwa kuwapa Roho Mtakatifu kama alivyotupa na sisi. 9 Mungu hakutofautisha kati yetu na wao, bali alitakasa mioyo yao kwa sababu waliamini. 10 Sasa basi, mbona mnataka kumjaribu Mungu kwa kuwatwika hawa ndugu wanafunzi mzigo wa sheria ambao baba zetu na sisi tumesh indwa kuubeba? 11 Sisi tunaamini ya kuwa tunaokolewa kwa neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu, kama na wao wanavyookolewa.” 12 Baraza lote likakaa kimya; wakawasikiliza Paulo na Barnaba wakieleza jinsi Mungu alivyowatumia kutenda ishara na maajabu kwa watu wa mataifa. 13 Walipomaliza maelezo yao, Yakobo akasema, “Ndugu zangu, nisikilizeni. 14 Simoni amekwisha kutueleza jinsi, kwa mara ya kwanza, Mungu amejichagulia waamini kutoka kwa watu wa mataifa. 15 Hata maneno ya manabii yanakubaliana kabisa na jambo hili. Kama ilivyoandikwa: 16 ‘ Baada ya mambo haya nitarudi, nami nitajenga upya nyumba ya Daudi ambayo imeanguka. Nitajenga tena magofu yake na kuisimamisha, 17 ili binadamu wengine wote wamtafute Bwana, pamoja na watu wa mataifa yote ambao wanaitwa kwa jina langu; 18 asema Bwana, ambaye ametufahamisha mambo hayo tangu kale.’
19 “Kwa hiyo uamuzi wangu ni kwamba, tusiwasumbue watu wa mataifa wanaomgeukia Mungu kwa desturi zetu; 20 badala yake, tuwaandikie barua tuwaambie wajiepushe na uchafu wa ibada za sanamu, na zinaa na waache kula nyama ya wanyama walionyongwa au kunywa damu. 21 Kwa maana sheria za Musa zimekuwa zikihubiriwa katika kila mji na kusomwa katika masinagogi kila sabato tangu vizazi vya awali.”
Barua Kwa Waamini Wa Mataifa Mengine
22 Mitume na wazee na kanisa zima wakakubaliana. Wakachagua watu waongozane na Paulo na Barnaba kwenda Antiokia. Walimchagua Yuda aitwaye Barsaba na Sila. Hawa wawili walikuwa viongozi wal ioheshimiwa miongoni mwa ndugu wote. 23 Wakatumwa na barua ifu atayo: “Sisi mitume na wazee, ndugu zenu, tunawasalimu ninyi wa mataifa mlioamini huko Antiokia, Siria na Kilikia. 24 Kwa kuwa tumesikia kwamba kuna baadhi ya watu kati yetu waliokuja huko bila kibali chetu kutatanisha mawazo yenu kwa maneno yao, 25 tumeona ni vyema, kwa kauli moja, kuwachagua watu waje huko pamoja na wapendwa wetu Barnaba na Paulo, 26 ambao wamehatarisha maisha yao kwa ajili ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo. 27 Tumewatuma hawa ndugu, Yuda na Sila, wawaeleze kwa mdomo mambo haya tunayow aandikia. 28 Kwa maana Roho Mtakatifu ameona vyema na sisi tume kubaliana tusiwatwike mzigo mkubwa zaidi ya mambo yafuatayo ambayo ni ya lazima: 29 kwamba msile cho chote kilichotolewa sadaka katika ibada za sanamu, kunywa damu, nyama ya wanyama wal ionyongwa; na muepukane na uasherati. Mkijitenga na mambo haya mtakuwa mmefanya vyema. Kwaherini.”
30 Wale wajumbe walipokwisha kuagwa, wakaondoka wakaenda Antiokia, wakakusanya ushirika wote wa waamini, wakawapa ile barua. 31 Nao watu walipokwisha kuisoma, wakafurahishwa sana na ujumbe wake wa kutia moyo. 32 Yuda na Sila, ambao walikuwa mana bii wa kawapa ushauri mwingi wa kuwatia moyo na kuwajenga katika imani. 33 Wakakaa Antiokia kwa muda na kisha waamini wakawaaga. Wakarudi kwa amani kwa wale waliowatuma. [ 34 Lakini Sila aliona ni vema kukaa huko.] 35 Lakini Paulo na Barnaba walibaki Anti okia pamoja na wengine wengi wakifundisha na kuhubiri neno la
Paulo Na Barnaba Wanatengana
36 Baada ya siku chache Paulo alimwambia Barnaba, “Twende tukawatembelee ndugu katika miji yote ambamo tulihubiri neno la Bwana tuone jinsi waamini wanavyoendelea.” 37 Barnaba alitaka wamchukue Yohana Marko waende naye. 38 Lakini Paulo aliona si vizuri kumchukua kwa sababu aliwahi kuwakimbia walipokuwa huko Pamfilia, akakataa kuendelea kufanya kazi nao. 39 Pakatokea ubishi mkali kati ya Paulo na Barnaba juu ya jambo hili, wakaten gana. Barnaba akamchukua Yohana Marko akaenda naye Kipro. 40 Paulo akamchagua Sila akaondoka baada ya ndugu kuwatakia neema ya Bwana. 41 Naye akapitia Siria na Kilikia wakaimarisha makanisa ya huko.
Acts 15
King James Version
15 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
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