Appeal to Cæsar
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem.
Hata Festo alipokwisha kuingia katika uliwali, baada ya siku tatu akapanda kwenda Yerusalemu kutoka Kaisaria.
2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
Kuhani Mkuu na wakuu wa Wayahudi wakampasha habari za Paulo, wakamsihi,
3 and desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
na kumwomba fadhili juu yake, kwamba atoe amri aletwe Yerusalemu, wapate kumwotea na kumwua njiani.
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither .
Lakini Festo akajibu ya kwamba Paulo analindwa Kaisaria; naye mwenyewe yu tayari kwenda huko karibu.
5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me , and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
Akasema, Wale walio na mamlaka kwenu na watelemke pamoja nami wakamshitaki, ikiwa liko neno baya katika mtu huyu.
6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
Alipokwisha kukaa kwao siku nane au kumi si zaidi, akatelemkia Kaisaria; hata siku ya pili akaketi katika kiti cha hukumu akaamuru Paulo aletwe.
7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
Alipokuja, wale Wayahudi walioshuka kutoka Yerusalemu wakasimama karibu yake wakaleta mashitaka mengi mazito juu yake, wasiyoweza kuyayakinisha.
8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all.
Paulo akasema akijitetea, Mimi sikukosa neno juu ya sheria ya Wayahudi, wala juu ya hekalu, wala juu ya Kaisari.
9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
Lakini Festo akitaka kujipendekeza kwa Wayahudi akamjibu Paulo, akisema, Je! Wataka kwenda Yerusalemu, ukahukumiwe huko mbele yangu kwa ajili ya mambo hayo?
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
Paulo akasema, Mimi ninasimama hapa mbele ya kiti cha hukumu cha Kaisari, ndipo panipasapo kuhukumiwa; sikuwakosa Wayahudi neno, kama wewe ujuavyo sana.
11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.
Basi ikiwa ni mkosa au nimetenda neno la kustahili kufa, sikatai kufa; bali, kama si kweli neno hili wanalonishitaki, hapana awezaye kunitia mikononi mwao. Nataka rufani kwa Kaisari.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.
Basi Festo alipokwisha kusema na watu wa baraza, akajibu, Umetaka rufani kwa Kaisari! Basi, utakwenda kwa Kaisari.
13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus.
Siku kadha wa kadha zilipokwisha kupita, Agripa mfalme na Bernike wakafika Kaisaria, wakimwamkia Festo.
14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
Na walipokuwa wakikaa huko siku nyingi, Festo akamweleza mfalme habari za Paulo, akisema, Yupo hapa mtu mmoja aliyeachwa na Feliki kifungoni;
15 about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me , desiring to have judgment against him.
ambaye nilipokuwa Yerusalemu wakuu wa makuhani na wazee wa Wayahudi wakaniarifu habari zake, wakinitaka hukumu juu yake.
16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
Nikawajibu kwamba si desturi ya Warumi kumtoa mtu awaye yote, kabla mtu yule aliyeshitakiwa hajaonana na washitaki wake uso kwa uso, na kupewa nafasi ya kujitetea katika mashitaka yake.
17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
Basi walipokutanika hapa sikukawia; bali siku ya pili nikaketi katika kiti cha hukumu nikaamuru mtu huyo aletwe.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
Na wale waliomshitaki waliposimama hawakuleta neno lo lote baya, kama nilivyodhani,
19 but had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
bali walikuwa na maswali mengine mengine juu yake katika dini yao wenyewe, na katika habari ya mtu mmoja Yesu, aliyekuwa amekwisha kufa, ambaye Paulo alikaza kusema kwamba yu hai.
20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
Nami nikaona shaka jinsi ya kutafuta hakika ya habari hii, nikamwuliza kama anataka kwenda Yerusalemu ahukumiwe huko katika mambo haya.
21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cæsar.
Lakini Paulo alipodai kuwekwa ahukumiwe na Kaisari, nikaamuru alindwe hata nitakapompeleka kwa Kaisari.
22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
Agripa akamwambia Festo, Mimi nami nalikuwa nikitaka kumsikia mtu huyu. Akasema, Utamsikia kesho.
Paul before Agrippa
23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.
Hata asubuhi Agripa akaja pamoja na Bernike kwa fahari nyingi, wakaingia mahali pa kusikia maneno, pamoja na maakida wakuu na watu wakuu wa mji; Festo akatoa amri, Paulo akaletwa.
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
Festo akasema, Mfalme Agripa, na ninyi nyote mliopo hapa pamoja nasi, mnamwona mtu huyu, ambaye jamii yote ya Wayahudi huko Yerusalemu na hapa pia wamenitaka niwasaidie, wakipiga kelele kwamba haimpasi kuishi zaidi.
25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
Lakini mimi naliona kwamba hakutenda neno la kustahili kuuawa, na yeye mwenyewe alipotaka kuhukumiwa na Kaisari, nalikusudia kumpeleka kwake.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
Nami katika habari yake sina neno la hakika la kumwandikia bwana. Kwa hiyo nimemleta hapa mbele yenu, hasa mbele yako wewe, mfalme Agripa, ili akiisha kuulizwa-ulizwa nipate neno la kuandika.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
Kwa maana naona ni neno lisilo maana kumpeleka mfungwa, bila kuonyesha mashitaka yale aliyoshitakiwa.
