MONDAY 18TH MARCH 2019
Acts 17:1-9 New International Version (NIV)
In Thessalonica
1 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,”he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’shouse in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.[a] 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
Footnotes:
- Acts 17:5 Or the assembly of the people
In his travels spreading the gospel, Apostle Paul and his followers passed through Thessalonica, a Greek city. Many received his message that Jesus is the Messiah, but some Jews did not like that Paul was gaining followers and tried to get him into trouble with the authorities. Similarly in our quest to spread the gospel, we will meet obstacle and in other places outright resistance. But we have to be strong in Jesus and he will provide a way just as he did for Apostle Paul and his followers.
JUMATATU TAHERE 18 MACHI 2019
MATENDO 17:1-9
1 Wakiisha kupita kati ya Amfipoli na Apolonia wakafika Thesalonike, ambapo palikuwa na sinagogi la Wayahudi.
2 Na Paulo, kama ilivyokuwa desturi yake, akaingia mle walimo, akahojiana nao kwa maneno ya maandiko sabato tatu,
3 akiyafunua na kuwaeleza ya kwamba ilimpasa Kristo kuteswa, na kufufuka katika wafu; na ya kwamba, Yesu huyu ninayewapasha ninyi habari zake ndiye Kristo.
4 Wengine miongoni mwao wakaamini, wakashikamana na Paulo na Sila; na Wayunani waliomcha Mungu, wengi sana, na wanawake wenye cheo si wachache.
5 Na Wayahudi wakaona wivu, wakajitwalia watu kadha wa kadha katika watu ovyo wasio na sifa njema, nao wakakutanisha mkutano, wakafanya ghasia mjini, wakawaendea watu wa nyumba ya Yasoni, wakataka kuwapeleka mbele ya watu wa mji;
6 na walipowakosa, wakamkokota Yasoni na baadhi ya ndugu mbele ya wakubwa wa mji, wakipiga kelele, wakisema, Watu hawa walioupindua ulimwengu wamefika huku nako,
7 na Yasoni amewakaribisha; na hawa wote wanatenda mambo yaliyo kinyume cha amri za Kaisari, wakisema na kwamba yupo mfalme mwingine, aitwaye Yesu.
8 Wakafadhaisha ule mkutano na wakubwa wa mji walipoyasikia hayo.
9 Nao walipokwisha kumtoza dhamana Yasoni na wenziwe wakawaacha waende zao.
Katika safari zake kueneza injili, Mtume Paulo na wafuasi wake walifika Thesalonike, mji wa Kigiriki. Wengi walipokea ujumbe wake kwamba Yesu ni Masihi, lakini Wayahudi wengine hawakupenda kwamba Paulo alikuwa akipata wafuasi na kujaribu kumtia shida na mamlaka. Vile vile katika jitihada zetu za kueneza injili, tutakutana na vikwazo na katika maeneo mengine upinzani mkali. Lakini tunapaswa kuwa na nguvu ndani ya Yesu naye atatupa njia kama vile alivyomfanyia Mtume Paulo na wafuasi wake.
