Mashtaka Ya Wayahudi Juu Ya Paulo

24 Baada ya siku tano, Kuhani Mkuu Anania akafika pamoja na baadhi ya wazee na wakili mmoja aitwaye Tertulo. Wakatoa mashtaka yao juu ya Paulo mbele ya Gavana. Na Paulo alipoitwa, Tertulo akaanza kutoa mashtaka akasema, “Mtukufu Feliksi, kutokana na uongozi wako wa busara tumekuwa na amani ya kudumu na tunatambua ya kuwa mabadiliko mengi muhimu yaliyotokea katika taifa letu yameletwa na uwezo wako wa kuona mbele. Wakati wote na kila mahali tunapokea mambo haya yote kwa shukrani za dhati. Lakini nisije nikakuchosha, nakuomba kwa hisani yako utusikilize kwa muda mfupi. Tumemwona mtu huyu kuwa ni mfanya fujo ambaye ana chochea maasi kati ya Wayahudi dunia nzima. Yeye ni kiongozi wa dhehebu la Wanazareti. Tena alijaribu kulichafua Hekalu letu lakini tulimkamata [tukataka kumhukumu kwa mujibu wa sheria zetu, lakini jemadari Lisia alikuja akamchukua kutoka kwetu kwa kutu mia nguvu akaamuru wanaomshtaki walete mashtaka yao mbele yako]. Wewe mwenyewe ukimwuliza maswali utathibitisha ukweli wa mashtaka yote tunayoleta mbele yako kumhusu yeye.” Wayahudi wakamwunga mkono wakithibitisha kwamba mashtaka yote yalikuwa ya kweli.

Paulo Ajitetea Mbele Ya Feliksi

10 Gavana Feliksi alipomruhusu Paulo ajitetee, yeye alisema, “Najua kwamba wewe umekuwa hakimu katika taifa hili kwa miaka mingi kwa hiyo natoa utetezi wangu bila wasi wasi. 11 Unaweza kuhakikisha kwa urahisi kuwa hazijapita zaidi ya siku kumi na mbili tangu nilipokwenda Yerusalemu kuabudu. 12 Hawa wanaonish taki hawakunikuta nikibishana na mtu ye yote au nikianzisha fujo katika Hekalu au katika sinagogi au mahali pengine po pote mjini. 13 Wala hawawezi kabisa kuthibitisha mambo haya wanayon ishtaki. 14 Lakini nakiri mbele yako kuwa mimi namwabudu Mungu wa baba zetu kwa kufuata ile ‘Njia’ ambayo wao wanaiita dhehebu. Ninaamini kila kitu kilichoandikwa katika Sheria ya Musa na Mana bii 15 na ninalo tumaini kwa Mungu ambalo hata na wao wanaliku bali, kwamba kutakuwa na ufufuo wa wote, walio na haki na wasio na haki. 16 Kwa hiyo ninafanya kila jitihada kuishi nikiwa na dhamiri safi mbele za Mungu na mbele za wanadamu. 17 Basi, baada ya kuwa nje ya Yerusalemu kwa miaka kadhaa nilikuja mjini kuwale tea watu wa taifa langu sadaka kwa ajili ya maskini na kutoa dha bihu. 18 Nilikuwa nimeshatakaswa waliponikuta Hekaluni nikifanya mambo haya, na hapakuwa na umati wa watu wala fujo yo yote. 19 Lakini kulikuwa na Wayahudi kutoka Asia, nadhani nao walista hili wawepo hapa mbele yako ili watoe mashtaka yao kama wanalo lo lote la kunishtaki. 20 La sivyo, watu hawa waseme ni kosa gani walilogundua nimefanya niliposhtakiwa mbele ya Baraza, 21 isipo kuwa lile jambo nililotangaza wazi wazi nilipojitetea mbele yao, kwamba, ‘Mimi nimeshtakiwa mbele yenu leo kuhusu ufufuo wa wafu.’

22 Ndipo Feliksi ambaye alikuwa anafahamu vizuri habari za Njia, akaamua kuahirishwa kwa kesi, akasema, “Mara jemadari Lisia atakapofika nitatoa hukumu yangu juu ya kesi hii.” 23 Akaamuru askari amweke Paulo kizuizini chini ya ulinzi lakini awe na uhuru kiasi, na marafiki zake wasizuiwe kumhudumia. 24 Baada ya siku chache Feliksi akaja na mkewe Drusila ambaye alikuwa Myahudi. Akatuma Paulo aitwe, wakamsikiliza akizungumza juu ya kumwamini Kristo Yesu. 25 Na Paulo alipokuwa akiwaeleza juu ya kuwa na kiasi na juu ya hukumu ya mwisho, Feliksi aliin giwa na hofu akasema, “Tafadhali sasa nenda, nitakuita tena nikipata nafasi.” 26 Wakati huo huo Feliksi alitazamia kwamba Paulo angempatia hongo, kwa hiyo akawa anamwita mara kwa mara kuzungumza naye. 27 Lakini baada ya miaka miwili kupita, Porkio Festo akachukua nafasi ya Feliksi kama Gavana; na kwa sababu Feliksi alitaka kujipendekeza kwa Wayahudi, akamwacha Paulo gere zani.

Paul’s Trial Before Felix

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias(A) went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges(B) against Paul before the governor.(C) When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent(D) Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

“We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots(E) among the Jews(F) all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene(G) sect(H) and even tried to desecrate the temple;(I) so we seized him. [7] [a] By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

The other Jews joined in the accusation,(J) asserting that these things were true.

10 When the governor(K) motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days(L) ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,(M) or stirring up a crowd(N) in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.(O) 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors(P) as a follower of the Way,(Q) which they call a sect.(R) I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,(S) 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection(T) of both the righteous and the wicked.(U) 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear(V) before God and man.

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor(W) and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean(X) when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.(Y) 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia,(Z) who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.(AA) 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”(AB)

22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way,(AC) adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard(AD) but to give him some freedom(AE) and permit his friends to take care of his needs.(AF)

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.(AG) 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control(AH) and the judgment(AI) to come, Felix was afraid(AJ) and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus,(AK) but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews,(AL) he left Paul in prison.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:7 Some manuscripts include here him, and we would have judged him in accordance with our law. But the commander Lysias came and took him from us with much violence, ordering his accusers to come before you.