Matendo 19

Paulo anahubiri kule Efeso

1 Wakati Apolo alipokuwa Korintho, Paulo alisafiri sehemu za bara, akafika Efeso ambako aliwakuta wanafunzi kadhaa. 2 Akauliza, “Je, mlipopata kuwa waumini mlipokea Roho Mtakatifu?” Nao wakamjibu, “La! Hata hatujasikia kwamba kuna Roho Mtakatifu.” 3 Naye akasema, “Sasa mlipata ubatizo wa namna gani?” Wakamjibu, “Ubatizo wa Yohane.” 4 Naye Paulo akasema, “Ubatizo wa Yohane ulikuwa wa kuonesha kwamba watu wametubu. Yohane aliwaambia watu wamwamini yule ambaye alikuwa anakuja baada yake, yaani Yesu.” 5 Baada ya kusikia hayo, walibatizwa kwa jina la Bwana Yesu. 6 Basi, Paulo akawawekea mikono, na Roho Mtakatifu akawashukia, wakaanza kusema lugha ngeni na kutangaza ujumbe wa Mungu. 7 Wote jumla walikuwa watu wapatao kumi na wawili.

8 Kwa muda wa miezi mitatu Paulo alikuwa akienda katika sunagogi, akawa na majadiliano ya kuvutia sana juu ya ufalme wa Mungu. 9 Lakini wengine walikuwa wakaidi, wakakataa kuamini, wakaanza kuongea vibaya juu ya hiyo njia ya Bwana katika kusanyiko la watu. Hapo Paulo alivunja uhusiano nao, akawachukua pembeni wale wanafunzi wake, akawa anazungumza nao kila siku katika jumba la masomo la Turano. 10 Aliendelea kufanya hivyo kwa muda wa miaka miwili hata wakazi wote wa Asia, Wayahudi na watu wa mataifa mengine, wakaweza kusikia neno la Bwana.

Watoto wa Skewa wanajaribu kupunga pepo wabaya

11 Mungu alifanya miujiza ya ajabu kwa mikono ya Paulo. 12 Watu 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. 13 Wayahudi 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.” 14 Watoto saba wa Skewa, kuhani mkuu wa Kiyahudi, walikuwa miongoni mwa hao waliokuwa wanafanya hivyo. 15 Lakini pepo mbaya aliwajibu, “Ninamfahamu Yesu, ninamjua pia Paulo, lakini nyinyi ni nani?” 16 Kisha yule mtu aliyepagawa aliwarukia wote kwa kishindo, akawashinda nguvu. Na hao watoto wa Skewa wakakimbia kutoka ile nyumba wakiwa uchi na wamejaa majeraha. 17 Kila mtu huko Efeso, Myahudi na asiye Myahudi, alisikia juu ya tukio hilo. Wote waliingiwa na hofu, wakalitukuza jina la Bwana Yesu. 18 Waumini wengi walijitokeza wakakiri hadharani mambo waliyokuwa wametenda. 19 Wengine waliokuwa wameshughulikia mambo ya uchawi hapo awali, walikusanya vitabu vyao, wakavichoma mbele ya wote. Walikisia gharama ya vitabu hivyo, wakaona yafikia vipande 50,000 vya fedha. 20 Kwa namna hiyo, neno la Bwana lilizidi kuenea na kuwa na nguvu zaidi.

Ghasia Efeso

21 Baada ya mambo hayo, Paulo aliamua kwenda Yerusalemu kwa kupitia Makedonia na Akaya. Alisema, “Baada ya kufika huko, itanilazimu kuona Roma pia.” 22 Hivyo, aliwatuma wawili wa wasaidizi wake, Timotheo na Erasto, wamtangulie kwenda Makedonia, naye akabaki kwa muda huko Asia.

23 Wakati huo ndipo kulipotokea ghasia kubwa huko Efeso kwa sababu ya hiyo njia ya Bwana. 24 Kulikuwa 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 wake faida kubwa. 25 Demetrio aliwakusanya hao wafanyakazi pamoja na wengine waliokuwa na kazi kama hiyo, akawaambia, “Wananchi, mnafahamu kwamba kipato chetu kinatokana na biashara hii. 26 Sasa, mnaweza kusikia na kujionea wenyewe mambo Paulo anayofanya, si hapa Efeso tu, ila pia kote katika Asia. Yeye amewashawishi na kuwageuza watu wakakubali kwamba miungu ile iliyotengenezwa na watu si miungu hata kidogo. 27 Hivyo 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.”

28 Waliposikia hayo, waliwaka hasira, wakaanza kupiga kelele: “Mkuu ni Artemi wa Efeso!” 29 Mji wote ukajaa ghasia. Wakawavamia Gayo na Aristarko, wenyeji wa Makedonia, ambao walikuwa wasafiri wenzake Paulo, wakakimbia nao mpaka kwenye ukumbi wa michezo. 30 Paulo mwenyewe alitaka kuukabili huo umati wa watu, lakini wale waumini walimzuia. 31 Maofisa wengine wa huo mkoa wa Asia, waliokuwa rafiki zake, walimpelekea Paulo ujumbe wakimsihi asijihatarishe kwa kwenda kwenye ukumbi wa michezo. 32 Wakati huo, kila mtu alikuwa anapayuka; wengine hili na wengine lile, mpaka hata ule mkutano ukavurugika. Wengi hawakujua hata sababu ya kukutana kwao. 33 Kwa 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. 34 Lakini walipotambua kuwa yeye ni Myahudi, wote kwa sauti moja walipiga kelele: “Mkuu ni Artemi wa Efeso!” Wakaendelea kupayukapayuka hivyo kwa muda wa saa mbili. 35 Hatimaye 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. 36 Hakuna anayeweza kukana mambo hayo. Hivyo basi, tulieni; msifanye chochote bila hadhari. 37 Mmewaita watu hawa hapa ingawaje hawakuikufuru nyumba ya mungu wala kumtukana mungu wetu wa kike. 38 Kama, basi Demetrio na wafanyakazi wake wana mashtaka yao kuhusu watu hawa, yapo mahakama na wakuu wa mikoa; wanaweza kushtakiana huko. 39 Kama mna matatizo mengine, yapelekeni katika kikao halali. 40 Kwa 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.” 41 Baada ya kusema hayo, aliuvunja mkutano.

Acts 19

1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples:2 and 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.3 And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John’s baptism.4 And 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.5 And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.7 And they were in all about twelve men.8 And 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.9 But 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.10 And 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.11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:12 insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the evil spirits went out.13 But 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.14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.15 And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?16 And 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.17 And 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.18 Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.19 And 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.20 So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.21 Now 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.22 And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.23 And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen;25 whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.26 And 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:27 and 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.28 And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesus.29 And 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.30 And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.31 And certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent unto him and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre.32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.33 And 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.34 But 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.35 And 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?36 Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.37 For ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.38 If 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.39 But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.40 For 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.41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.