Kuokoka Kwa Sauli
(Matendo 22:6-16; 26:12-18)
19:1 Mdo 8:3Wakati ule ule, Sauli alikuwa bado anazidisha vitisho vya kuua wanafunzi wa Bwana, akamwendea kuhani mkuu, 29:2 Mdo 22:4; 24:14, 22naye akamwomba kuhani mkuu ampe barua za kwenda kwenye masinagogi huko Dameski, ili akimkuta mtu yeyote wa Njia Ile, akiwa mwanaume au mwanamke, aweze kuwafunga na kuwaleta Yerusalemu. 39:3 1Kor 15:8Basi akiwa katika safari yake, alipokaribia Dameski, ghafula nuru kutoka mbinguni ikamwangaza kotekote. 49:4 Isa 6:8; Mt 25:40Akaanguka chini, akasikia sauti ikimwambia, “Sauli, Sauli, mbona unanitesa?”
59:5 Mdo 9:16Sauli akajibu, “U nani wewe, Bwana?”
Ile sauti ikajibu, “Mimi ni Yesu unayemtesa. 69:6 Eze 3:22Sasa inuka uingie mjini, nawe utaambiwa yakupasayo kutenda.”
79:7 Yn 12:29; Dan 10:7; Mdo 22:9Watu waliokuwa wakisafiri pamoja na Sauli wakasimama bila kuwa na la kusema, kwa sababu walisikia sauti lakini hawakumwona aliyekuwa akizungumza. 89:8 Mdo 9:18Sauli akainuka kutoka pale chini na alipojaribu kufungua macho yake hakuweza kuona kitu chochote. Basi wakamshika mkono wakamwongoza mpaka Dameski. 9Naye kwa muda wa siku tatu alikuwa kipofu naye hakula wala kunywa chochote.
109:10 Mdo 12:9; 18:9Huko Dameski alikuwepo mwanafunzi mmoja jina lake Anania. Bwana alimwita katika maono, “Anania!”
Akajibu, “Mimi hapa Bwana.”
119:11 Mdo 11:25; 21:39Bwana akamwambia, “Ondoka uende katika barabara iitwayo Nyofu ukaulize katika nyumba ya Yuda mtu kutoka Tarso, jina lake Sauli, kwa maana wakati huu anaomba, 129:12 Mk 5:23katika maono amemwona mtu aitwaye Anania akija na kuweka mikono juu yake ili apate kuona tena.”
139:13 Flp 1:1; Mdo 8:3Anania akajibu, “Bwana, nimesikia kutoka kwa watu wengi habari nyingi kuhusu mtu huyu na madhara yote aliyowatendea watakatifu wako huko Yerusalemu. 149:14 Mdo 2:21; 9:2, 21Naye amekuja hapa Dameski akiwa na mamlaka kutoka kwa viongozi wa makuhani ili awakamate wote wanaotaja jina lako.”
159:15 Gal 1:15-16; 1Tim 1:12; Efe 3:7-8; Mdo 25:22-23; 26:1Lakini Bwana akamwambia Anania, “Nenda! Mtu huyu ni chombo changu kiteule nilichokichagua, apate kulichukua Jina langu kwa watu wa Mataifa na wafalme wao na mbele ya watu wa Israeli. 169:16 2Kor 11:23-27; 2Tim 1:8Nami nitamwonyesha jinsi impasavyo kuteseka kwa ajili ya Jina langu.”
179:17 Mdo 6:6Kisha Anania akaenda kwenye ile nyumba, akaingia ndani. Akaweka mikono yake juu ya Sauli akasema, “Ndugu Sauli, Bwana Yesu aliyekutokea njiani amenituma kwako ili upate kuona tena na ujazwe Roho Mtakatifu.” 189:18 Mdo 2:38Ghafula vitu kama magamba vikaanguka chini, kutoka machoni mwa Sauli, akapata kuona tena. Akasimama, akabatizwa. 199:19 Mdo 11:26; 26:20Baada ya kula chakula, akapata nguvu tena. Sauli akakaa siku kadhaa pamoja na wanafunzi huko Dameski.
Sauli Ahubiri Dameski
209:20 Mdo 18:4, 19; 19:8; Mt 4:3Papo hapo akaanza kuhubiri kwenye masinagogi kwamba “Yesu Kristo ni Mwana wa Mungu” 219:21 Mdo 8:3; Gal 1:13, 23Watu wote waliomsikia Sauli walishangaa na kuuliza, “Huyu si yule mtu aliyesababisha maangamizi makuu huko Yerusalemu miongoni mwa watu waliolitaja jina hili? Naye si amekuja hapa kwa kusudi la kuwakamata na kuwapeleka wakiwa wafungwa mbele ya viongozi wa makuhani?” 229:22 Lk 2:11; Mdo 17:3Sauli akazidi kuwa hodari na kuwashangaza Wayahudi walioishi Dameski kwa kuthibitisha kuwa Yesu ndiye Kristo.9:22 Kristo maana yake ni Masiya, yaani Aliyetiwa mafuta.
239:23 Mdo 20:3; 23:12; 25:3Baada ya siku nyingi kupita, Wayahudi wakafanya shauri kumuua Sauli. 249:24 Mdo 20:3, 19; 23:16, 30Lakini shauri lao likajulikana kwa Sauli. Wayahudi wakawa wanalinda malango yote ya mji, usiku na mchana ili wapate kumuua. 259:25 1Sam 19:12; 2Kor 11:22-33Lakini wafuasi wake wakamchukua usiku wakamshusha akiwa ndani ya kapu kupitia mahali penye nafasi ukutani.
Sauli Huko Yerusalemu
269:26 Mdo 26:20; Gal 1:17-18Sauli alipofika Yerusalemu akajaribu kujiunga na wanafunzi lakini wote walimwogopa, kwa maana hawakuamini kwamba kweli naye alikuwa mwanafunzi. 279:27 Mdo 4:36; 13:2Lakini Barnaba akamchukua, akampeleka kwa wale mitume. Akawaeleza jinsi Sauli akiwa njiani alivyomwona Bwana, jinsi Bwana alivyosema naye na jinsi alivyohubiri kwa ujasiri kwa jina la Yesu huko Dameski. 289:28 Gal 1:18Kwa hiyo Sauli akakaa nao akitembea kwa uhuru kila mahali huko Yerusalemu, akihubiri kwa ujasiri katika jina la Bwana. 299:29 Mdo 6:1; 2Kor 11:26Alinena na kuhojiana na Wayahudi wenye asili ya Kiyunani lakini wao walijaribu kumuua. 309:30 Mdo 1:16; 8:40Wale ndugu walipopata habari wakampeleka hadi Kaisaria, wakamsafirisha kwenda Tarso.
319:31 Mdo 8:1Ndipo kanisa katika Uyahudi wote, Galilaya na Samaria likafurahia wakati wa amani. Likatiwa nguvu, na kwa faraja ya Roho Mtakatifu, idadi yake ikazidi kuongezeka, na likaendelea kudumu katika kumcha Bwana.
Matendo Ya Petro
(9:32–12:25)
Kuponywa Kwa Ainea
329:32 Mdo 9:13; 8:14Petro alipokuwa akisafiri sehemu mbalimbali, alikwenda kuwatembelea watakatifu walioishi huko Lida. 33Huko alimkuta mtu mmoja aitwaye Ainea, ambaye alikuwa amepooza na kwa muda wa miaka minane alikuwa hajaondoka kitandani. 349:34 Mdo 3:6, 16; 4:10Petro akamwambia, “Ainea, Yesu Kristo anakuponya, inuka utandike kitanda chako.” Mara Ainea akainuka. 359:35 Wim 2:1; Isa 65:10; Mdo 2:41; 11:21Watu wote wa Lida na Sharoni walipomwona Ainea akitembea wakamgeukia Bwana.
Petro Amfufua Dorkasi
369:36 Yn 1:3; Mdo 10:5; 1Tim 2:10; Tit 3:8Huko Yafa palikuwa na mwanafunzi jina lake Tabitha (ambalo kwa Kiyunani ni Dorkasi9:36 Tabitha kwa Kiaramu na Dorkasi kwa Kiaramu yote yamaanisha Paa.). Huyu alikuwa mkarimu sana, akitenda mema na kuwasaidia maskini. 379:37 Mdo 1:13; 20:8Wakati huo akaugua, akafa na wakiisha kuuosha mwili wake wakauweka katika chumba cha ghorofani. 389:38 Mdo 11:26Kwa kuwa Yafa hapakuwa mbali sana na Lida, wanafunzi waliposikia kwamba Petro yuko huko waliwatuma watu wawili kwake ili kumwomba, “Tafadhali njoo huku pasipo kukawia.”
399:39 Mdo 6:1; 1Tim 5:3Kwa hiyo Petro akainuka akaenda nao, naye alipowasili, wakampeleka hadi kwenye chumba cha ghorofani alipokuwa amelazwa. Wajane wengi walisimama karibu naye wakilia na kuonyesha majoho na nguo nyingine ambazo Dorkasi alikuwa amewashonea alipokuwa pamoja nao.
409:40 Mt 9:25; Lk 22:41; Mdo 7:60; Lk 7:14Petro akawatoa wote nje ya kile chumba, kisha akapiga magoti akaomba, akaugeukia ule mwili akasema, “Tabitha, inuka.” Akafumbua macho yake na alipomwona Petro, akaketi. 419:41 Mdo 9:32Petro akamshika mkono akamwinua, ndipo akawaita wale watakatifu na wajane akamkabidhi kwao akiwa hai. 429:42 Yn 11:45; 12:11Habari hizi zikajulikana sehemu zote za Yafa na watu wengi wakamwamini Bwana. 439:43 Mdo 10:6Petro akakaa Yafa kwa siku nyingi akiishi na Simoni mtengenezaji ngozi.
Saul Becomes a Believer
1Meanwhile, Saul continued to oppose the Lord’s followers. He said they would be put to death. He went to the high priest. 2He asked the priest for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. He wanted to find men and women who belonged to the Way of Jesus. The letters would allow him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3On his journey, Saul approached Damascus. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground. He heard a voice speak to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you opposing me?”
5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus,” he replied. “I am the one you are opposing. 6Now get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you must do.”
7The men traveling with Saul stood there. They weren’t able to speak. They had heard the sound. But they didn’t see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground. He opened his eyes, but he couldn’t see. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind. He didn’t eat or drink anything.
10In Damascus there was a believer named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision. “Ananias!” he said.
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. Ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. 12In a vision Saul has seen a man come and place his hands on him. That man’s name is Ananias. In the vision, Ananias placed his hands on Saul so he could see again.”
13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I’ve heard many reports about this man. They say he has done great harm to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14Now he has come here to arrest all those who worship you. The chief priests have given him authority to do this.”
15But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen this man to work for me. He will announce my name to the Gentiles and to their kings. He will also announce my name to the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for me.”
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. He placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “you saw the Lord Jesus. He appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He has sent me so that you will be able to see again. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Right away something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. And he could see again. He got up and was baptized. 19After eating some food, he got his strength back.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the believers in Damascus. 20Right away he began to preach in the synagogues. He taught that Jesus is the Son of God. 21All who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Isn’t he the man who caused great trouble in Jerusalem? Didn’t he make trouble for those who worship Jesus? Hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22But Saul grew more and more powerful. The Jews living in Damascus couldn’t believe what was happening. Saul proved to them that Jesus is the Messiah.
23After many days, the Jews had a meeting. They planned to kill Saul. 24But he learned about their plan. Day and night they watched the city gates closely in order to kill him. 25But his followers helped him escape by night. They lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26When Saul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the believers. But they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really one of Jesus’ followers. 27But Barnabas took him to the apostles. He told them about Saul’s journey. He said that Saul had seen the Lord. He told how the Lord had spoken to Saul. Barnabas also said that Saul had preached without fear in Jesus’ name in Damascus. 28So Saul stayed with the believers. He moved about freely in Jerusalem. He spoke boldly in the Lord’s name. 29He talked and argued with the Greek Jews. But they tried to kill him. 30The other believers heard about this. They took Saul down to Caesarea. From there they sent him off to Tarsus.
31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. The church was strengthened and grew larger. That’s because they worshiped the Lord and the Holy Spirit helped them.
Peter Heals Aeneas and Dorcas
32Peter traveled around the country. He went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33There he found a disabled man named Aeneas. For eight years the man had spent most of his time in bed. 34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up! Roll up your mat!” So Aeneas got up right away. 35Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him. They turned to the Lord.
36In Joppa there was a believer named Tabitha. Her name in the Greek language is Dorcas. She was always doing good and helping poor people. 37About that time she became sick and died. Her body was washed and placed in a room upstairs. 38Lydda was near Joppa. The believers heard that Peter was in Lydda. So they sent two men to him. They begged him, “Please come at once!”
39Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him crying. They showed him the robes and other clothes Dorcas had made before she died.
40Peter sent them all out of the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. He turned toward the dead woman. He said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and especially the widows. He brought her to them. They saw that she was alive. 42This became known all over Joppa. Many people believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time. He stayed with Simon, a man who worked with leather.
