Matendo 9

Kuongoka kwa Saulo

(Mate 22:6-16; 26:12-18)

1 Wakati huo Saulo alikuwa akizidisha vitisho vikali vya kuwaua wafuasi wa Bwana. Alikwenda kwa kuhani mkuu, 2 akaomba apatiwe barua za utambulisho kwa masunagogi ya Kiyahudi kule Damasko, ili akikuta huko wanaume au wanawake wanaofuata Njia hiyo, awakamate na kuwaleta Yerusalemu.

3 Lakini alipokuwa njiani karibu kufika Damasko, ghafla mwanga kutoka angani ulimwangazia pande zote. 4 Akaanguka chini na kusikia sauti ikimwambia: “Saulo, Saulo! Kwa nini unanitesa?” 5 Naye Saulo akauliza, “Ni nani wewe Bwana?” Na ile sauti ikajibu, “Mimi ni Yesu ambaye wewe unamtesa. 6 Lakini simama sasa, uingie mjini na huko utaambiwa unachopaswa kufanya.” 7 Wale watu waliokuwa wanasafiri pamoja na Saulo walisimama pale, wakiwa hawana la kusema; walisikia ile sauti lakini hawakumwona mtu. 8 Saulo aliinuka, na alipofumbua macho yake hakuweza kuona chochote; hivyo wale watu wakamwongoza kwa kumshika mkono mpaka mjini Damasko. 9 Saulo alikaa siku tatu bila kuona, na wakati huo hakula au kunywa chochote.

10 Basi, huko Damasko kulikuwa na mfuasi mmoja aitwaye Anania. Bwana akamwambia katika maono, “Anania!” Anania akaitika, “Niko hapa, Bwana.” 11 Naye Bwana akamwambia, “Jitayarishe uende kwenye barabara inayoitwa Barabara ya Moja kwa Moja, na katika nyumba ya Yuda umtake mtu mmoja kutoka Tarso aitwaye Saulo. Sasa anasali; 12 na katika maono ameona mtu aitwaye Anania akiingia ndani na kumwekea mikono ili apate kuona tena.” 13 Lakini Anania akajibu, “Bwana, nimesikia habari za mtu huyu kutoka kwa watu wengi; nimesikia juu ya mabaya aliyowatendea watu wako huko Yerusalemu. 14 Na amekuja hapa akiwa na mamlaka kutoka kwa makuhani wakuu kuwatia nguvuni wote wanaoomba kwa jina lako.” 15 Lakini Bwana akamwambia, “Nenda tu, kwa maana nimemchagua awe chombo changu, alitangaze jina langu kwa mataifa na wafalme wao na kwa watu wa Israeli. 16 Mimi mwenyewe nitamwonesha mengi yatakayomlazimu kuteswa kwa ajili ya jina langu.”

17 Basi, Anania akaenda, akaingia katika hiyo nyumba. Kisha akaweka mikono yake juu ya Saulo, akasema, “Ndugu Saulo, Bwana ambaye ndiye Yesu mwenyewe aliyekutokea ulipokuwa njiani kuja hapa, amenituma ili upate kuona tena na kujazwa Roho Mtakatifu.” 18 Mara vitu kama magamba vikaanguka kutoka machoni mwa Saulo, akaweza kuona tena. Akasimama, akabatizwa. 19 Na baada ya kula chakula, nguvu zake zikamrudia.

Saulo anahubiri huko Damasko

20 Mara alianza kuhubiri katika masunagogi kwamba Yesu ni Mwana wa Mungu. 21 Watu wote waliomsikia walishangaa, wakasema, “Je, mtu huyu si yuleyule aliyewaua wale waliokuwa wanaomba kwa jina hili kule Yerusalemu? Tena alikuja hapa akiwa na madhumuni ya kuwatia nguvuni watu hao na kuwapeleka kwa makuhani!”

22 Saulo alizidi kupata nguvu, na kwa jinsi alivyothibitisha wazi kwamba Yesu ndiye Kristo, Wayahudi wa huko Damasko walivurugika kabisa. 23 Baada ya siku nyingi kupita, Wayahudi walikusanyika na kufanya mpango wa kumuua Saulo. 24 Lakini Saulo alipata habari ya mpango huo. Usiku na mchana walilinda milango ya kuingia mjini ili wapate kumuua. 25 Lakini wakati wa usiku wanafunzi wake walimchukua, wakamteremsha chini ndani ya kapu kubwa kwa kupitia nafasi iliyokuwako ukutani.

Saulo anarudi Yerusalemu

26 Saulo alipofika Yerusalemu alijaribu kujiunga na wale wanafunzi. Lakini wote walimwogopa hawakuweza kuamini kwamba yeye amekuwa mfuasi. 27 Hapo, Barnaba alikuja akamchukua Saulo, akampeleka kwa mitume na kuwaeleza jinsi Saulo alivyomwona Bwana njiani na jinsi Bwana alivyoongea naye. Aliwaambia pia jinsi Saulo alivyokuwa amehubiri bila woga kule Damasko. 28 Basi, Saulo alikaa pamoja nao, akatembelea Yerusalemu yote akihubiri neno la Bwana bila hofu. 29 Pia aliongea na kubishana na Wayahudi wanaoongea Kigiriki, lakini wao walijaribu kumwua. 30 Wale ndugu walipogundua jambo hilo, walimchukua Saulo, wakampeleka Kaisarea, wakamwacha aende zake Tarso.

31 Wakati huo kanisa likawa na amani popote katika Yudea, Galilaya, na Samaria. Lilijengwa na kukua katika kumcha Bwana, na kuongezeka likitiwa moyo na Roho Mtakatifu.

Ainea anaponywa

32 Petro alipokuwa anasafirisafiri kila mahali alifika pia kwa watu wa Mungu waliokuwa wanaishi Luda. 33 Huko alimkuta mtu mmoja aitwaye Ainea ambaye kwa muda wa miaka minane alikuwa amelala kitandani kwa sababu alikuwa amepooza. 34 Basi, Petro akamwambia, “Ainea, Yesu Kristo anakuponya. Amka utandike kitanda chako.” Ainea akaamka mara. 35 Wakazi wote wa Luda na Saroni walimwona Ainea, na wote wakamgeukia Bwana.

Dorka anaponywa

36 Kulikuwa na mfuasi mmoja mwanamke mjini Yopa aitwaye Tabitha (kwa Kigiriki ni Dorka, maana yake, Paa). Huyo mwanamke alikuwa akitenda mema na kuwasaidia maskini daima. 37 Wakati huo ikawa kwamba aliugua, akafa. Watu wakauosha mwili wake, wakaulaza katika chumba ghorofani. 38 Yopa si mbali sana na Luda; kwa hiyo wafuasi waliposikia kwamba Petro alikuwa Luda, wakawatuma watu wawili kwake na ujumbe: “Njoo kwetu haraka iwezekanavyo.” 39 Basi, Petro akaenda pamoja nao. Alipofika alipelekwa ghorofani katika kile chumba. Huko wajane wengi walimzunguka Petro wakilia na kumwonesha makoti na nguo ambazo Dorka alikuwa akitengeneza wakati alipokuwa hai. 40 Petro aliwatoa nje wote, akapiga magoti, akasali. Kisha akaigeukia ile maiti, akasema, “Tabitha, amka.” Naye akafumbua macho yake, na alipomwona Petro, akaketi. 41 Petro akamsaidia kusimama, halafu akawaita wale watu wa Mungu na wale wajane, akamkabidhi kwao akiwa mzima. 42 Habari za tukio hili zilienea kila mahali huko Yopa, na watu wengi wakamwamini Bwana. 43 Petro alikaa siku kadhaa huko Yopa, akiishi kwa mtu mmoja mtengenezaji wa ngozi aitwaye Simoni.

Acts 9

1 But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,2 and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.3 And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven:4 and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:6 but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.7 And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man.8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.9 And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth;12 and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.18 And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;19 and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.20 And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.21 And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests.22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.23 And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him:24 but their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night that they might kill him:25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.26 And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.28 And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem,29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spake and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they were seeking to kill him.30 And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.31 So the church throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.32 And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda.33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years; for he was palsied.34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise and make thy bed. And straightway he arose.35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.37 And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber.38 And as Lydda was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, entreating him, Delay not to come on unto us.39 And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up.41 And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.42 And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord.43 And it came to pass, that he abode many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.