Matendo 5

Udanganyifu wa Anania na Safira

1 Mtu mmoja aitwaye Anania na mkewe Safira waliuza shamba lao vilevile. 2 Lakini, mkewe akiwa anajua, Anania akajiwekea sehemu ya fedha alizopata na ile sehemu nyingine akawakabidhi mitume. 3 Basi, Petro akamwuliza, “Anania, mbona Shetani ameuingia moyo wako na kukufanya umdanganye Roho Mtakatifu kwa kujiwekea sehemu ya fedha ulizopata kutokana na lile shamba? 4 Kabla ya kuliuza lilikuwa mali yako, na baada ya kuliuza, bado hizo fedha zilikuwa zako uzitumie utakavyo. Kwa nini basi, uliamua moyoni mwako kufanya jambo la namna hii? Hukumdanganya mtu; umemdanganya Mungu!” 5 Anania aliposikia hayo, akaanguka chini, akafa. Watu wote waliosikia habari za tukio hilo waliogopa sana. 6 Vijana wakafika, wakaufunika mwili wake, wakamtoa nje, wakamzika.

7 Baada ya muda wa saa tatu hivi, mke wake, bila kufahamu mambo yaliyotukia, akaingia mle ndani. 8 Petro akamwambia, “Niambie! Je, kiasi hiki cha fedha ndicho mlichopata kwa kuuza lile shamba?” Yeye akamjibu, “Naam, ni kiasi hicho.” 9 Naye Petro akamwambia, “Mbona mmekula njama kumjaribu Roho wa Bwana? Sikiliza! Wale watu waliokwenda kumzika mume wako, sasa wako mlangoni na watakuchukua wewe pia.” 10 Mara Safira akaanguka mbele ya miguu ya Petro, akafa. Wale vijana walipoingia, walimkuta amekwisha kufa; hivyo wakamtoa nje, wakamzika karibu na mume wake. 11 Hofu kubwa ikalikumba kanisa lote na wote waliosikia habari za tukio hilo.

Mitume wanafanya miujiza na maajabu mengi

12 Mitume walifanya miujiza na maajabu mengi kati ya watu. Waumini walikuwa wakikutana pamoja katika ukumbi wa Solomoni. 13 Mtu yeyote mwingine ambaye hakuwa mwaamini hakuthubutu kujiunga nao. Hata hivyo, watu wengine wasiokuwa wa imani hiyo waliwasifu. 14 Idadi ya watu waliomwamini Bwana, wanaume kwa wanawake, iliongezeka zaidi na zaidi. 15 Hata watu walikuwa wakipeleka wagonjwa barabarani na kuwalaza juu ya vitanda na mikeka ili Petro akipita, walau kivuli chake kiwaguse baadhi yao. 16 Watu wengi walifika kutoka katika miji ya kandokando ya Yerusalemu, wakiwaleta wagonjwa wao na wale waliokuwa na pepo wachafu, nao wote wakaponywa.

Mitume wanateswa

17 Kisha, kuhani mkuu na wenzake waliokuwa wa kikundi cha Masadukayo wa mahali hapo, wakawaonea mitume wivu. 18 Basi, wakawatia nguvuni, wakawafunga ndani ya gereza kuu. 19 Lakini usiku malaika wa Bwana aliifungua milango ya gereza, akawatoa nje, akawaambia, 20 “Nendeni mkasimame hekaluni mkawaambie watu maneno yote ya uhai huu.” 21 Mitume walitii, wakaingia hekaluni asubuhi na mapema, wakaanza kufundisha. Kuhani mkuu na wenzake walipofika, waliita mkutano wa Baraza kuu na halmashauri yote ya wazee wa Wayahudi, halafu wakawatuma watu gerezani wawalete wale mitume.

22 Lakini hao watumishi walipofika huko hawakuwakuta mle gerezani. Hivyo walirudi, wakatoa taarifa mkutanoni, 23 wakisema, “Tulikuta gereza limefungwa kila upande na walinzi wakilinda milango. Lakini tulipofungua hatukumkuta mtu yeyote ndani.” 24 Mkuu wa walinzi wa hekalu na makuhani wakuu waliposikia habari hiyo wakawa na wasiwasi, wasijue yaliyowapata. 25 Akafika mtu mmoja, akawaambia, “Wale watu mliowafunga gerezani, hivi sasa wamo hekaluni, wanawafundisha watu.” 26 Hapo mkuu wa walinzi wa hekalu pamoja na watu wake walikwenda hekaluni, akawaleta. Lakini hawakuwakamata kwa nguvu, maana waliogopa kwamba watu wangewapiga mawe.

27 Basi, wakawapeleka, wakawasimamisha mbele ya Baraza. Kuhani mkuu akawaambia, 28 “Tuliwakatazeni waziwazi kufundisha kwa jina la mtu huyu; sasa mmeyaeneza mafundisho yenu pote katika Yerusalemu na mnakusudia kutuwekea lawama ya kifo cha mtu huyo.”

29 Hapo Petro, akiwa pamoja na wale mitume wengine, akajibu, “Lazima tumtii Mungu, na siyo binadamu. 30 Mungu wa babu zetu alimfufua Yesu baada ya nyinyi kumuua kwa kumtundika msalabani. 31 Huyu ndiye yule aliyekwezwa na Mungu mpaka upande wake wa kulia, akawa kiongozi na Mwokozi, ili awawezeshe watu wa Israeli watubu, wapate kusamehewa dhambi zao. 32 Sisi ni mashahidi wa tukio hilo, naye Roho Mtakatifu ambaye Mungu amewapa wale wanaomtii, anashuhudia pia tukio hilo.”

33 Wajumbe wote wa lile Baraza waliposikia hayo, wakawaka hasira, hata wakaamua kuwaua. 34 Lakini Mfarisayo mmoja aitwaye Gamalieli ambaye alikuwa mwalimu wa sheria na aliyeheshimika sana mbele ya watu wote, alisimama mbele ya lile Baraza, akataka wale mitume watolewe nje kwa muda mfupi. 35 Kisha akawaambia wale wajumbe wa Baraza, “Wananchi wa Israeli, tahadhari kabla ya kutekeleza hicho mnachotaka kuwatenda watu hawa! 36 Zamani kidogo, kulitokea mtu mmoja jina lake Theuda, akajisema kuwa mtu wa maana na watu karibu 400 wakajiunga naye. Lakini aliuawa, kisha wafuasi wake wote wakatawanyika na kikundi chake kikafa. 37 Tena, baadaye, wakati ule wa kuhesabiwa watu, alitokea Yuda wa Galilaya. Huyu naye aliwavuta watu wakamfuata; lakini naye pia aliuawa, na wafuasi wake wakatawanyika. 38 Na sasa pia mimi nawaambieni, msiwachukulie watu hawa hatua yoyote; waacheni! Kwa maana, ikiwa mpango huu au shughuli yao hii imeanzishwa na binadamu, itatoweka yenyewe. 39 Lakini kama imeanzishwa na Mungu, siyo tu kwamba hamtaweza kuwashinda, bali mtajikuta mnampinga Mungu.” Basi, wakakubaliana naye.

40 Hivyo wakawaita wale mitume, wakaamuru wachapwe viboko na kuwaonya wasifundishe tena kwa jina la Yesu; kisha wakawaacha waende zao. 41 Basi, mitume wakatoka nje ya lile Baraza wakiwa wamejaa furaha, kwani walistahili kuaibishwa kwa ajili ya jina la Yesu. 42 Wakaendelea kila siku kufundisha na kuhubiri Habari Njema ya Kristo hekaluni na nyumbani kwa watu.

Acts 5

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?4 While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God.5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.6 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much.9 But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.11 And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.13 But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them;14 and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women;15 insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.16 And there also came together the multitudes from the cities round about Jerusalem, bring sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.17 But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy,18 and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward.19 But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said,20 Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.21 And when they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison-house to have them brought.22 But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told,23 saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow.25 And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people.26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, but without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,28 saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree.31 Him did God exalt with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and minded to slay them.34 But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while.35 And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do.36 For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nought.37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away some of the people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown:39 but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God.40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.42 And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.