Paulo Aenda Yerusalemu
121:1 Mdo 16:10Tulipokwisha kujitenga nao, tukaanza safari kwa njia ya bahari moja kwa moja mpaka Kosi. Siku ya pili yake tukafika Rodo na kutoka huko tukaenda Patara. 221:2 Mdo 11:19Hapo tukapata meli iliyokuwa inavuka kwenda Foinike tukapanda tukasafiri nayo. 321:3 Lk 2:2Tulipokiona kisiwa cha Kipro, tukakizunguka tukakiacha upande wetu wa kushoto, tukasafiri mpaka Shamu, tukatia nanga katika bandari ya Tiro ambapo meli yetu ilikuwa ipakue shehena yake. 421:4 Mdo 11:26; 20:23Baada ya kuwatafuta wanafunzi wa huko, tukakaa nao kwa siku saba. Wale wanafunzi wakiongozwa na Roho wakamwambia Paulo asiende Yerusalemu. 521:5 Mdo 20:36Lakini muda wetu ulipokwisha, tukaondoka tukaendelea na safari yetu. Wale wanafunzi pamoja na wake zao na watoto wakatusindikiza hadi nje ya mji. Wote tukapiga magoti pale pwani tukaomba. 621:6 Yn 1:11Baada ya kuagana, tukapanda melini, nao wakarudi majumbani mwao.
721:7 Mdo 12:20; 1:16Tukaendelea na safari yetu toka Tiro tukafika Tolemai, tukawasalimu ndugu wa huko, tukakaa nao kwa siku moja. 821:8 Efe 4:11; 2Tim 4:5; Mdo 6:5; 8:26, 40Siku iliyofuata tukaondoka, tukafika Kaisaria. Huko tukaenda nyumbani kwa mwinjilisti mmoja jina lake Filipo, aliyekuwa mmoja wa wale Saba, tukakaa kwake. 921:9 Yoe 2:28; Mdo 2:17; Kut 15:20Filipo alikuwa na binti wanne mabikira waliokuwa wanatoa unabii.
1021:10 Mdo 11:28Baada ya kukaa kwa siku kadhaa, akateremka nabii mmoja kutoka Uyahudi jina lake Agabo. 1121:11 Isa 20:2, 4Alipotufikia akachukua mshipi wa Paulo akajifunga, akautumia kufunga mikono na miguu yake mwenyewe akasema, “Roho Mtakatifu anasema: ‘Hivi ndivyo Wayahudi wa Yerusalemu watakavyomfunga mwenye mshipi huu na kumkabidhi kwa watu wa Mataifa.’ ”
12Tuliposikia maneno haya sisi na ndugu wengine tukamsihi Paulo asiende Yerusalemu. 1321:13 Mdo 20:24Lakini Paulo akajibu, “Kwa nini mnalia na kunivunja moyo? Mimi niko tayari si kufungwa tu, bali hata kufa huko Yerusalemu kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana Yesu.” 1421:14 Mt 6:10; 26:42; Lk 11:2; 22:42; Rum 1:18Alipokuwa hashawishiki, tukaacha kumsihi, tukasema, “Mapenzi ya Bwana na yatendeke.”
1521:15 Mdo 19:21Baada ya haya, tukajiandaa, tukaondoka kwenda Yerusalemu. 1621:16 Mdo 8:40Baadhi ya wanafunzi kutoka Kaisaria wakafuatana nasi na kutupeleka nyumbani kwa Mnasoni, ambaye tungekaa kwake. Yeye alikuwa mtu wa Kipro, mmoja wa wanafunzi wa zamani.
Kukamatwa Kwa Paulo, Na Safari Yake Kwenda Rumi
(21:17–28:31)
Paulo Awasili Yerusalemu
1721:17 Mdo 15:4Tulipofika Yerusalemu ndugu wakatukaribisha kwa furaha. 1821:18 Mdo 15; 13; 11:30Kesho yake Paulo pamoja na wengine wetu tulikwenda kumwona Yakobo, na wazee wote walikuwepo. 1921:19 Mdo 14:27; 1:17Baada ya kuwasalimu, Paulo akatoa taarifa kamili ya mambo yote ambayo Mungu alikuwa amefanya miongoni mwa watu wa Mataifa kupitia huduma yake.
2021:20 Gal 1:14; Flp 3:6Baada ya kusikia mambo haya wakamwadhimisha Mungu. Ndipo wakamwambia Paulo, “Ndugu, unaona kulivyo na maelfu ya Wayahudi walioamini, nao wote wana juhudi kwa ajili ya sheria. 2121:21 Mdo 15:19-21; 1Kor 7:18, 19; Mdo 6:14Lakini wameambiwa habari zako kwamba unafundisha Wayahudi wote waishio miongoni mwa watu wa Mataifa kumkataa Mose, na kwamba unawaambia wasiwatahiri watoto wao wala kufuata desturi zetu. 22Sasa tufanyeje? Bila shaka watasikia kwamba umekuja Yerusalemu. 2321:23 Mdo 18:18Kwa hiyo fanya lile tunalokuambia. Tunao watu wanne hapa ambao wameweka nadhiri. 2421:24 Mdo 24:18; 18:18Jiunge na watu hawa, mfanye utaratibu wa ibada ya kujitakasa pamoja nao, na ulipe gharama ili wanyoe nywele zao. Kwa njia hii kila mtu atafahamu ya kuwa mambo waliyosikia si ya kweli na kwamba wewe unaishika sheria. 2521:25 Mdo 15:20-29Lakini kuhusu wale watu wa Mataifa walioamini, tumewaandikia uamuzi wetu: kwamba wajitenge na vyakula vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu, na damu, au kula nyama ya mnyama aliyenyongwa, na wajiepushe na uasherati.”
2621:26 Hes 6:13, 20; Mdo 24:18Ndipo kesho yake Paulo akawachukua wale watu na akajitakasa pamoja nao. Akaingia ndani ya hekalu ili atoe taarifa ya tarehe ambayo siku zao za utakaso zingemalizika na sadaka ingetolewa kwa ajili ya kila mmoja wao.
Paulo Akamatwa
2721:27 Yer 26:8; 1The 2:16Zile siku saba zilipokaribia kumalizika, baadhi ya Wayahudi kutoka sehemu za Asia waliokuwa wamemwona Paulo ndani ya Hekalu, wakachochea umati wote wa watu, nao wakamkamata. 2821:28 Mt 24; 15; Mdo 6:13Wakapiga kelele wakisema, “Waisraeli wenzetu, tusaidieni! Huyu ndiye yule mtu anayefundisha kila mtu na kila mahali, kinyume na watu wetu, sheria zetu na hata Hekalu hili. Zaidi ya hayo amewaleta Wayunani ndani ya Hekalu na kupanajisi mahali hapa patakatifu.” 2921:29 Mdo 20:4; 18:19(Walikuwa wamemwona Trofimo, mwenyeji wa Efeso, akiwa mjini pamoja na Paulo wakadhani kuwa Paulo alikuwa amemwingiza Hekaluni.)
3021:30 Mdo 26:26; 16:19Mji wote ukataharuki, watu wakaja wakikimbia kutoka pande zote wakamkamata Paulo, wakamburuta kutoka Hekaluni. Milango ya Hekalu ikafungwa. 31Walipokuwa wakitaka kumuua, habari zikamfikia jemadari wa jeshi la askari wa Kirumi kwamba mji wa Yerusalemu wote ulikuwa katika machafuko. 3221:32 Mdo 23:27Mara yule jemadari akachukua maafisa wengine wa jeshi pamoja na askari wakakimbilia kwenye ile ghasia, wale watu waliokuwa wakifanya ghasia walipomwona yule jemadari na askari wakija, wakaacha kumpiga Paulo.
3321:33 Mdo 12:6; Efe 6:20; 2Tim 2:9Yule jemadari akaja, akamkamata Paulo akaamuru afungwe kwa minyororo miwili. Akauliza yeye ni nani, na alikuwa amefanya nini. 3421:34 Mdo 19:32; 22:24Baadhi ya watu katika ule umati wakapiga kelele, hawa wakisema hili na wengine lile. Yule jemadari alipoona kuwa hawezi kupata hakika ya habari kwa sababu ya zile kelele, akaamuru Paulo apelekwe katika ngome ya jeshi. 3521:35 Mdo 21:40Paulo alipofika penye ngazi, ilibidi askari wambebe juu juu kwa sababu fujo za ule umati wa watu zilikuwa kubwa. 3621:36 Lk 23:18; Yn 19:15Umati wa watu ulikuwa ukifuata ukiendelea kupiga kelele ukisema, “Mwondoe huyu!”
Paulo Anajitetea
3721:37 Mdo 21:34Mara tu Paulo alipokaribia kuingizwa kwenye ngome ya jeshi, akamwambia yule jemadari, “Je, naweza kukuambia jambo moja?”
Yule jemadari akamjibu, “Je, unajua Kiyunani? 3821:38 Mt 24:26; Mdo 5:36Je, wewe si yule Mmisri ambaye siku hizi za karibuni alianzisha uasi akaongoza kundi la magaidi 4,000 wenye silaha jangwani?”
3921:39 Mdo 9:11; 23:3Paulo akajibu, “Mimi ni Myahudi, mzaliwa wa Tarso, huko Kilikia, raiya wa mji maarufu. Tafadhali niruhusu nizungumze na hawa watu.”
4021:40 Mdo 12:17; Yn 5:2Akiisha kupata ruhusa ya yule jemadari, Paulo akasimama penye ngazi akawapungia watu mkono ili wanyamaze. Wote waliponyamaza kimya, Paulo akazungumza nao kwa lugha ya Kiebrania, akasema:
Paul Continues His Journey to Jerusalem
1After we had torn ourselves away from the Ephesian elders, we headed out to sea. We sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes. From there we continued on to Patara. 2We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia. So we went on board and headed out to sea. 3We came near Cyprus and passed to the south of it. Then we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre. There our ship was supposed to unload. 4We looked for the believers there and stayed with them for seven days. The believers tried to keep Paul from going on to Jerusalem. They were led by the Holy Spirit to do this. 5When it was time to leave, we continued on our way. All the believers, including their whole families, went with us out of the city. There on the beach we got down on our knees to pray. 6We said goodbye to each other. Then we went on board the ship. And they returned home.
7Continuing on from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais. There we greeted the brothers and sisters. We stayed with them for a day. 8The next day we left and arrived at Caesarea. We stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist. He was one of the seven deacons. 9He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10We stayed there several days. Then a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11He came over to us. Then he took Paul’s belt and tied his own hands and feet with it. He said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘This is how the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will tie up the owner of this belt. They will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”
12When we heard this, we all begged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13He asked, “Why are you crying? Why are you breaking my heart? I’m ready to be put in prison. In fact, I’m ready to die in Jerusalem for the Lord Jesus.” 14We couldn’t change his mind. So we gave up. We said, “May what the Lord wants to happen be done.”
15After this, we started on our way to Jerusalem. 16Some of the believers from Caesarea went with us. They brought us to Mnason’s home. We were supposed to stay there. Mnason was from Cyprus. He was one of the first believers.
Paul Arrives in Jerusalem
17When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters gave us a warm welcome. 18The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James. All the elders were there. 19Paul greeted them. Then he reported everything God had done among the Gentiles through his work.
20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they spoke to Paul. “Brother,” they said, “you see that thousands of Jews have become believers. All of them try very hard to obey the law. 21They have been told that you teach Jews to turn away from the Law of Moses. You teach this to the Jews who live among the Gentiles. They think that you teach those Jews not to circumcise their children. They think that you teach them to give up our Jewish ways. 22What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23So do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a promise to God. 24Take them with you. Join them in the Jewish practice that makes people pure and ‘clean.’ Pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that these reports about you are not true in any way. They will know that you yourself obey the law. 25We have already given written directions to the believers who are not Jews. They must not eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. They must not drink blood. They must not eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And they must not commit sexual sins.”
26The next day Paul took the men with him. They all made themselves pure and “clean” in the usual way. Then Paul went to the temple. There he reported the date when the days of cleansing would end. At that time the proper offering would be made for each of them.
Paul Is Arrested
27The seven days of cleansing were almost over. Some Jews from Asia Minor saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and grabbed Paul. 28“Fellow Israelites, help us!” they shouted. “This is the man who teaches everyone in all places against our people. He speaks against our law and against this holy place. Besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple. He has made this holy place ‘unclean.’ ” 29They said this because they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul. They thought Paul had brought him into the temple.
30The whole city was stirred up. People came running from all directions. They grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Right away the temple gates were shut. 31The people were trying to kill Paul. But news reached the commander of the Roman troops. He heard that people were making trouble in the whole city of Jerusalem. 32Right away he took some officers and soldiers with him. They ran down to the crowd. The people causing the trouble saw the commander and his soldiers. So they stopped beating Paul.
33The commander came up and arrested Paul. He ordered him to be held with two chains. Then he asked who Paul was and what he had done. 34Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another. But the commander couldn’t get the facts because of all the noise. So he ordered that Paul be taken into the fort. 35Paul reached the steps. But then the mob became so wild that he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”
Paul Speaks to the Crowd
37The soldiers were about to take Paul into the fort. Then he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”
“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38“Aren’t you the Egyptian who turned some of our people against their leaders? Didn’t you lead 4,000 terrorists out into the desert some time ago?”
39Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia. I am a citizen of an important city. Please let me speak to the people.”
40The commander told him he could. So Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When all of them were quiet, he spoke to them in the Aramaic language.
