Safari Ya Kwanza Ya Paulo Kueneza Injili
(13:1–14:28)
Barnaba Na Sauli Wanatumwa
113:1 Mdo 11:19, 27; Efe 4:11; Mdo 4:36; Mt 27:32; 14:1Katika kanisa huko Antiokia ya Shamu walikuwako manabii na walimu, yaani: Barnaba, Simeoni aitwaye Nigeri, Lukio Mkirene, Manaeni aliyekuwa amelelewa pamoja na Mfalme Herode Agripa, na Sauli. 213:2 Mdo 8:29; 14:26; 9:15; 22:21Walipokuwa wakimwabudu Bwana na kufunga, Roho Mtakatifu akasema, “Nitengeeni Sauli na Barnaba kwa kazi ile maalum niliyowaitia.” 313:3 Mdo 6:6; 14:26; 1Tim 4:14; 5:22Ndipo baada ya kufunga na kuomba, wakawawekea mikono yao na wakawatuma waende zao.
Barnaba Na Sauli Waenda Kipro
413:4 Mdo 13:2, 3; 4:36; 15:39Hivyo, wakiwa wametumwa na Roho Mtakatifu, wakashuka kwenda Seleukia na kutoka huko wakasafiri baharini mpaka kisiwa cha Kipro. 513:5 Ebr 4:12; 9:20; 12:12Walipowasili katika mji wa Salami, wakahubiri neno la Mungu katika sinagogi la Wayahudi. Pia walikuwa na Yohana Marko kuwa msaidizi wao.
613:6 Mdo 8:9; Mt 7:15Walipokwisha kupita katika nchi zote hizo wakafika Pafo, ambapo walikutana na Myahudi mmoja mchawi aliyekuwa nabii wa uongo, jina lake Bar-Yesu. 713:7 Mdo 13:8, 12; 18:12; 19:38Mtu huyu alikuwa pamoja na Sergio Paulo, mtu mwenye hekima aliyekuwa msaidizi wa mwakilishi wa mtawala wa kile kisiwa. Sergio Paulo akawaita Sauli na Barnaba akitaka kusikia neno la Mungu. 813:8 Mdo 8:9; Isa 30:11; Mdo 6:7; 2Tim 3:8Lakini Elima yule mchawi (hii ndiyo maana ya jina lake), aliwapinga Barnaba na Sauli na kujaribu kumpotosha yule mkuu wa kile kisiwa aiache imani. 913:9 Lk 1; 15Ndipo Sauli, ambaye pia aliitwa Paulo, akiwa amejawa na Roho Mtakatifu, akamkazia macho Elima huyo mchawi, 1013:10 Mt 13:38; Yn 8:44; Hos 14:9akamwambia, “Ewe mwana wa ibilisi, wewe ni adui wa kila kilicho haki! Umejaa kila aina ya udanganyifu na ulaghai. Je, hutaacha kuzipotosha njia za Bwana zilizonyooka? 1113:11 Kut 9:3; 1Sam 5:6, 7; Za 32:4; Mwa 19:10, 11Nawe sasa sikiliza, mkono wa Bwana u dhidi yako. Utakuwa kipofu, wala hutaona jua kwa muda.”
Mara ukungu na giza vikamfunika, naye akaenda huku na huko akitafuta mtu wa kumshika mkono ili amwonyeshe njia. 1213:12 Mdo 13:7Yule mkuu wa kile kisiwa alipoona yaliyotukia, akaamini kwa sababu alistaajabishwa na mafundisho kuhusu Bwana.
Paulo Na Barnaba Huko Antiokia Ya Pisidia
1313:13 Mdo 13:6; 2:10; 12:12Kisha Paulo na wenzake wakasafiri toka Pafo wakafika Perga huko Pamfilia. Lakini, Yohana Marko akawaacha huko, akarejea Yerusalemu. 1413:14 Mdo 14:19, 21; 13:27, 42, 44; 16:13; 18:4; 9:20Kutoka Perga wakaendelea hadi Antiokia ya Pisidia. Siku ya Sabato wakaingia ndani ya sinagogi, wakaketi. 1513:15 Mdo 15:21; Lk 4:16; Ebr 13:22Baada ya Sheria ya Mose na Kitabu cha Manabii kusomwa, viongozi wa sinagogi wakawatumia ujumbe wakisema, “Ndugu, kama mna neno la kuwafariji watu hawa, tafadhali lisemeni.”
1613:16 Mdo 12:17; 10:35Paulo akasimama, akawapungia mkono na kusema: “Enyi wanaume wa Israeli na ninyi nyote mnaomcha Mungu. 1713:17 Kut 6:6, 7; Kum 7:6-8Mungu wa watu hawa wa Israeli aliwachagua baba zetu, akawafanya kustawi walipokuwa huko Misri, kwa uwezo mwingi akawaongoza na kuwatoa katika nchi ile. 1813:18 Kum 1:31; Hes 14:33; Za 95:10; Mdo 7:36Kwa muda wa miaka arobaini alivumilia matendo yao walipokuwa jangwani. 1913:19 Kum 7:1; Yos 14:2; Za 78:55Naye baada ya kuyaangamiza mataifa saba waliokuwa wakiishi katika nchi ya Kanaani, akawapa Waisraeli nchi yao iwe urithi wao. 2013:20 Amu 2:17; 1Sam 3:19, 20; Mdo 3:24Haya yote yalichukua kama muda wa miaka 450.
“Baada ya haya, Mungu akawapa waamuzi mpaka wakati wa nabii Samweli. 2113:21 1Sam 8:5, 19; 10:1; 9:1, 2Ndipo watu wakaomba wapewe mfalme, naye Mungu akawapa Sauli mwana wa Kishi wa kabila la Benyamini, aliyetawala kwa miaka arobaini. 2213:22 1Sam 15:23, 26; 16:13; Za 89:20; Yer 3:15; Isa 44:28; 1Sam 13:14Baada ya kumwondoa Sauli katika ufalme, akawainulia Daudi kuwa mfalme wao. Mungu pia alimshuhudia, akisema, ‘Nimemwona Daudi mwana wa Yese, mtu anayeupendeza moyo wangu, atakayetimiza mapenzi yangu yote.’
2313:23 Mt 1:1; Lk 2:11; Mt 1:21; 2Sam 7:11; 22:51; Yer 30:9“Kutoka uzao wa mtu huyu, Mungu amewaletea Israeli Mwokozi Yesu, kama alivyoahidi. 2413:24 Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3Kabla ya kuja kwa Yesu, Yohana alihubiri toba na ubatizo kwa watu wote wa Israeli. 2513:25 Mdo 20:24; Yn 1:20; Mt 3:11; Yn 1:27Yohana alipokuwa anakamilisha kazi yake, alisema: ‘Ninyi mnadhani mimi ni nani? Mimi si yeye. La hasha, lakini yeye yuaja baada yangu, ambaye mimi sistahili kufungua kamba za viatu vya miguu yake.’
2613:26 Mdo 22:5; Lk 3:8; Mt 4:12; Mdo 28:28; Mt 10:6“Ndugu zangu, wana wa Abrahamu, nanyi watu wa Mataifa mnaomcha Mungu, ujumbe huu wa wokovu umeletwa kwetu. 2713:27 Mdo 3:17; Lk 24:27; Mt 1:22Kwa sababu wakaao Yerusalemu na viongozi wao hawakumtambua wala kuelewa maneno ya manabii yasomwayo kila Sabato, bali waliyatimiza maneno hayo kwa kumhukumu yeye. 2813:28 Mt 27:20-25; Mdo 3:13Ijapokuwa hawakupata sababu yoyote ya kumhukumu kifo, walimwomba Pilato aamuru auawe. 2913:29 Mt 1:22; Lk 8:31; Mdo 5:30; Lk 23:53Walipokwisha kufanya yale yote yaliyoandikwa kumhusu, walimshusha kutoka msalabani na kumzika kaburini. 3013:30 Mt 16:21; 28:6; Mdo 2:24Lakini Mungu alimfufua kutoka kwa wafu. 3113:31 Mt 28; 16; Lk 24:48Naye kwa siku nyingi akawatokea wale waliokuwa pamoja naye kuanzia Galilaya hadi Yerusalemu. Nao sasa wamekuwa mashahidi wake kwa watu wetu.
3213:32 Isa 40:9; 52:7; Mdo 5:42; 8:35; 10:36; Rum 12; 4:13; 9:4“Nasi tunawaletea habari njema, kwamba yale Mungu aliyowaahidi baba zetu 3313:33 Mdo 2:24; Za 2:7; Mt 3:17sasa ameyatimiza kwetu sisi watoto wao, kwa kumfufua Yesu, kama ilivyoandikwa katika Zaburi ya pili:
“ ‘Wewe ni Mwanangu;
leo mimi nimekuzaa.’
3413:34 Isa 55:6; 55:3Kwa kuwa Mungu alimfufua kutoka kwa wafu asioze kamwe, alitamka maneno haya:
“ ‘Nitakupa wewe baraka takatifu zilizo za hakika
nilizomwahidi Daudi.’
3513:35 Za 16; 10; Mdo 2:27Kama ilivyosemwa mahali pengine katika Zaburi,
“ ‘Hutamwacha Aliye Mtakatifu wako kuona uharibifu.’
3613:36 Mt 9:24; 2Sam 7:12; 1Fal 2:10; 2Nya 29:28; Mdo 2:29“Kwa maana Daudi akiisha kulitumikia kusudi la Mungu katika kizazi chake, alilala; akazikwa pamoja na baba zake na mwili wake ukaoza. 3713:37 Mdo 2:24Lakini yule ambaye Mungu alimfufua kutoka kwa wafu hakuona uharibifu.
3813:38 Lk 24:47; Mdo 2:38“Kwa hiyo ndugu zangu, nataka ninyi mjue kwamba kwa kupitia huyu Yesu msamaha wa dhambi unatangazwa kwenu. 3913:39 Yn 3:15; Rum 3:28; 10:4Kwa kupitia yeye, kila mtu amwaminiye anahesabiwa haki kwa kila kitu ambacho asingeweza kuhesabiwa haki kwa sheria ya Mose. 4013:40 Hab 1:4Kwa hiyo jihadharini ili yale waliyosema manabii yasiwapate:
4113:41 Hab 1:5“ ‘Angalieni, enyi wenye dhihaka,
mkastaajabu, mkaangamie,
kwa maana nitatenda jambo wakati wenu
ambalo hamtasadiki,
hata kama mtu akiwaambia.’ ”
4213:42 Mdo 13:14Paulo na Barnaba walipokuwa wakitoka nje ya sinagogi, watu wakawaomba wazungumze tena mambo hayo Sabato iliyofuata. 4313:43 Mdo 11:23; 14:22; Rum 3:24Baada ya kusanyiko la Sinagogi kutawanyika, wengi wa Wayahudi na waongofu wa dini ya Kiyahudi wakawafuata Paulo na Barnaba, wakazungumza nao na kuwahimiza wadumu katika neema ya Mungu.
44Sabato iliyofuata, karibu watu wote wa mji walikuja kusikiliza neno la Bwana. 4513:45 Mdo 18:6; 1Pet 4:4; 1The 2:16Lakini Wayahudi walipoona ule umati mkubwa wa watu walijawa na wivu, wakayakanusha maneno Paulo aliyokuwa akisema.
4613:46 Mdo 13:26; 3:26; 18:6; 22:21; 26:20; 28:28; Rum 11:11; Mt 21:41Ndipo Paulo na Barnaba wakawajibu kwa ujasiri, wakisema, “Ilitupasa kunena nanyi neno la Mungu kwanza. Lakini kwa kuwa mmelikataa, mkajihukumu wenyewe kuwa hamstahili uzima wa milele, sasa tunawageukia watu wa Mataifa. 4713:47 Lk 2:32; Isa 49:6Kwa maana hili ndilo Bwana alilotuamuru:
“ ‘Nimewafanya ninyi kuwa nuru kwa watu wa Mataifa,
ili mpate kuuleta wokovu hadi miisho ya dunia.’ ”
4813:48 Mdo 13:49; 8:25; Rum 8:29Watu wa Mataifa waliposikia haya wakafurahi na kulitukuza neno la Bwana; nao wote waliokuwa wamekusudiwa uzima wa milele wakaamini.
4913:49 Mdo 13:48Neno la Bwana likaenea katika eneo lile lote. 5013:50 1The 2:16Lakini Wayahudi wakawachochea wanawake wenye kumcha Mungu, wenye vyeo pamoja na watu maarufu katika mji, wakachochea mateso dhidi ya Paulo na Barnaba na kuwafukuza kutoka eneo hilo. 5113:51 Mt 10:14; Mdo 14:1; 19:21; 2Tim 3:11Hivyo Paulo na Barnaba wakakungʼuta mavumbi ya miguu yao ili kuwapinga, nao wakaenda Ikonio. 5213:52 Mdo 11:26; Lk 1:5Wanafunzi wakajawa na furaha na Roho Mtakatifu.
1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers. Among them were Barnabas, Simeon, and Lucius from Cyrene. Simeon was also called Niger. Another was Manaen. He had been brought up with Herod, the ruler of Galilee. Saul was among them too. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke. “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me,” he said. “I have appointed them to do special work.” 3The prophets and teachers fasted and prayed. They placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul. Then they sent them off.
Events on Cyprus
4Barnabas and Saul were sent on their way by the Holy Spirit. They went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. 5They arrived at Salamis. There they preached God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
6They traveled all across the island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jew named Bar-Jesus. He was an evil magician and a false prophet. 7He was an attendant of Sergius Paulus, the governor. Paulus was a man of understanding. He sent for Barnabas and Saul. He wanted to hear God’s word. 8But the evil magician named Elymas opposed them. The name Elymas means Magician. He tried to keep the governor from becoming a believer. 9Saul was also known as Paul. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas. He said to him, 10“You are a child of the devil! You are an enemy of everything that is right! You cheat people. You use all kinds of tricks. Won’t you ever stop twisting the right ways of the Lord? 11Now the Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to go blind. For a while you won’t even be able to see the light of the sun.”
Right away mist and darkness came over him. He tried to feel his way around. He wanted to find someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. He was amazed at what Paul was teaching about the Lord.
Paul Preaches in Pisidian Antioch
13From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15The Law and the Prophets were read aloud. Then the leaders of the synagogue sent word to Paul and his companions. They said, “Brothers, do you have any words of instruction for the people? If you do, please speak.”
16Paul stood up and motioned with his hand. Then he said, “Fellow Israelites, and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17The God of Israel chose our people who lived long ago. He blessed them greatly while they were in Egypt. With his mighty power he led them out of that country. 18He put up with their behavior for about 40 years in the desert. 19And he destroyed seven nations in Canaan. Then he gave the land to his people as their rightful share. 20All this took about 450 years.
“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21Then the people asked for a king. He gave them Saul, son of Kish. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He ruled for 40 years. 22God removed him and made David their king. Here is God’s witness about him. ‘David, son of Jesse, is a man dear to my heart,’ he said. ‘David will do everything I want him to do.’
23“From this man’s family line God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus. This is what he had promised. 24Before Jesus came, John preached that we should turn away from our sins and be baptized. He preached this to all Israel. 25John was coming to the end of his work. ‘Who do you suppose I am?’ he said. ‘I am not the one you are looking for. But there is someone coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.’
26“Listen, fellow children of Abraham! Listen, you Gentiles who worship God! This message of salvation has been sent to us. 27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus. By finding him guilty, they made the prophets’ words come true. These are read every Sabbath day. 28The people and their rulers had no reason at all for sentencing Jesus to death. But they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29They did everything that had been written about Jesus. Then they took him down from the cross. They laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead. 31For many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are telling our people about Jesus.
32“We are telling you the good news. What God promised our people long ago 33he has done for us, their children. He has raised up Jesus. This is what is written in the second Psalm. It says,
“ ‘You are my son.
Today I have become your father.’ (Psalm 2:7)
34God raised Jesus from the dead. He will never rot in the grave. As God has said,
“ ‘Holy and sure blessings were promised to David.
I will give them to you.’ (Isaiah 55:3)
35In another place it also says,
“ ‘You will not let your holy one rot away.’ (Psalm 16:10)
36“David carried out God’s purpose while he lived. Then he died. He was buried with his people. His body rotted away. 37But the one whom God raised from the dead did not rot away.
38“My friends, here is what I want you to know. I announce to you that your sins can be forgiven because of what Jesus has done. 39Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin. Moses’ law could not make you right in God’s eyes. 40Be careful! Don’t let what the prophets spoke about happen to you. They said,
41“ ‘Look, you who make fun of the truth!
Wonder and die!
I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe.
You wouldn’t believe it even if someone told you.’ ” (Habakkuk 1:5)
42Paul and Barnabas started to leave the synagogue. The people invited them to say more about these things on the next Sabbath day. 43The people were told they could leave the service. Many Jews followed Paul and Barnabas. Many Gentiles who faithfully worshiped the God of the Jews did the same. Paul and Barnabas talked with them. They tried to get them to keep living in God’s grace.
44On the next Sabbath day, almost the whole city gathered. They gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45When the Jews saw the crowds, they became very jealous. They began to disagree with what Paul was saying. They said evil things against him.
46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly. “We had to speak God’s word to you first,” they said. “But you don’t accept it. You don’t think you are good enough for eternal life. So now we are turning to the Gentiles. 47This is what the Lord has commanded us to do. He said,
“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles.
You will bring salvation to the whole earth.’ ” (Isaiah 49:6)
48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad. They honored the word of the Lord. All who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49The word of the Lord spread through the whole area. 50But the Jewish leaders stirred up the important women who worshiped God. They also stirred up the men who were leaders in the city. The Jewish leaders tried to get the women and men to attack Paul and Barnabas. They threw Paul and Barnabas out of that area. 51Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet. This was a warning to the people who had opposed them. Then Paul and Barnabas went on to Iconium. 52The believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
