Acts 16
1 He came to Derbe and Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek.
Paulo alifika Derbe na Lustra, ambako aliishi mfuasi mmoja aitwaye Timotheo. Mama yake ambaye pia alikuwa mfuasi, alikuwa Myahudi; lakini baba yake alikuwa Mgiriki.
2 The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him.
Timotheo alikuwa na sifa kubwa kati ya wale ndugu wa Lustra na Ikonio.
3 Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Paulo alitaka Timotheo aandamane naye safarini, kwa hiyo alimtahiri. Alifanya hivyo kwa sababu Wayahudi wote walioishi sehemu hizo walijua kwamba baba yake Timotheo alikuwa Mgiriki.
4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
Walipokuwa wanapita katika ile miji waliwapa watu yale maagizo yaliyotolewa na mitume na wazee kule Yerusalemu, wakawaambia wayazingatie.
5 So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Hivyo, yale makanisa yalizidi kuwa imara katika imani, na idadi ya waumini ikaongezeka kila siku.
6 When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
Walipitia sehemu za Frugia na Galatia kwani Roho Mtakatifu hakuwaruhusu kuhubiri huo ujumbe mkoani Asia.
7 When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them.
Walipofika kwenye mipaka ya Musia, walijaribu kuingia mkoani Bithunia, lakini Roho wa Yesu hakuwaruhusu.
8 Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
Basi, walipitia Musia, wakaenda moja kwa moja mpaka Troa.
9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him and saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.”
Usiku huo, Paulo aliona ono ambalo alimwona mtu mmoja wa Makedonia amesimama pale na kumwomba: “Vuka, uje Makedonia ukatusaidie.”
10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.
Mara baada ya Paulo kuona ono hilo, tulijitayarisha kwenda Makedonia bila kukawia, tukiwa na hakika kwamba Mungu ametuita tuwapelekee Habari Njema.
11 Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;
Kutoka Troa, tulisafiri kwa meli moja kwa moja mpaka Samothrake, na kesho yake tukatia nanga Neapoli.
12 and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
Kutoka huko, tulikwenda mpaka Filipi, mji wa wilaya ya kwanza ya Makedonia, na ambao pia ni koloni la Waroma. Tulikaa katika mji huo siku kadhaa.
13 On the Sabbath day we went outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
Siku ya Sabato tulitoka nje ya mji, tukaenda kando ya mto ambapo tulidhani ya kuwa ni mahali pa kusali. Tuliketi, tukaongea na wanawake waliokusanyika mahali hapo.
14 A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.
Miongoni mwa wale waliotusikiliza alikuwa mwanamke mmoja mcha Mungu aitwaye Ludia mwenyeji wa Thuatira, ambaye alikuwa mfanyabiashara ya nguo za kitani za rangi ya zambarau. Bwana aliufungua moyo wake hata akayapokea yale maneno Paulo aliyokuwa anasema.
15 When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
Baada ya huyo mama pamoja na jamaa yake kubatizwa, alitualika akisema, “Kama kweli mmeona kwamba mimi namwamini Bwana, karibuni nyumbani kwangu mkakae.” Akatuhimiza twende.
16 As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling.
Siku moja, tulipokuwa tunakwenda mahali pa kusali, msichana mmoja aliyekuwa na pepo mwenye uwezo wa kuagua alikutana nasi. Msichana huyo alikuwa anawapatia matajiri wake fedha nyingi kwa uaguzi wake.
17 Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!”
Basi, huyo msichana alimfuata Paulo na sisi, akipiga kelele na kusema, “Hawa watu ni watumishi wa Mungu Mkuu. Wanawatangazieni njia ya wokovu.”
18 She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour.
Akawa anafanya hivyo kwa siku nyingi hata siku moja Paulo alikasirika, akamgeukia na kumwambia huyo pepo, “Nakuamuru kwa jina la Yesu Kristo, mtoke huyu!” Mara huyo pepo akamtoka.
19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
Matajiri wa yule msichana walipoona kwamba tumaini lao la kupata mali limekwisha, waliwakamata Paulo na Sila, wakawaburuta mpaka hadharani, mbele ya wakuu.
20 When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city
Wakawashtaki kwa mahakimu wakisema, “Watu hawa ni Wayahudi na wanafanya fujo katika mji wetu.
21 and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.”
Wanafundisha desturi ambazo sisi raia wa Roma haturuhusiwi kuzikubali wala kuzifuata.”
22 The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods.
Kundi la watu likajiunga nao, likawashambulia. Wale mahakimu wakawatatulia Paulo na Sila mavazi yao, wakaamuru wapigwe viboko.
23 When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
Baada ya kupigwa sana wakatiwa ndani, na askari wa gereza akaamriwa kuwaweka chini ya ulinzi mkali.
24 Having received such a command, he threw them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.
Kutokana na maagizo hayo, huyo askari aliwaweka katika chumba cha ndani kabisa cha gereza na kuifunga miguu yao kwenye nguzo.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Karibu na usiku wa manane Paulo na Sila walikuwa wakisali na kuimba nyimbo za kumsifu Mungu, huku wafungwa wengine wakiwa wanasikiliza.
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened.
Ghafla, kulitokea mtetemeko mkuu wa ardhi ambao uliitikisa misingi ya gereza. Mara, milango yote ikafunguka na minyororo iliyowafunga hao wafungwa ikaachana.
27 The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
Askari wa gereza alipoamka na kuiona milango ya gereza imefunguliwa, alidhani kwamba wafungwa wote walikuwa wametoroka na hivyo akauchomoa upanga wake, akataka kujiua.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!”
Lakini Paulo akaita kwa sauti kubwa: “Usijidhuru mwenyewe kwa maana sisi sote tuko hapa.”
29 He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,
Baada ya kumwita mtu alete taa, huyo askari wa gereza alikimbilia ndani, akajitupa mbele ya miguu ya Paulo na Sila huku akitetemeka kwa hofu.
30 brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Halafu aliwaongoza nje, akawauliza, “Waheshimiwa, nifanye nini nipate kuokoka?”
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Wao wakamjibu, “Mwamini Bwana Yesu nawe utaokolewa pamoja na jamaa yako yote.”
32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house.
Basi, wakamhubiria neno la Bwana yeye pamoja na jamaa yake.
33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.
Yule askari aliwachukua saa ileile ya usiku akawasafisha majeraha yao, kisha yeye na jamaa yake wakabatizwa papo hapo.
34 He brought them up into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly with all his household, having believed in God.
Halafu akawachukua Paulo na Sila nyumbani kwake, akawapa chakula. Yeye na jamaa yake yote wakafanya sherehe kwa vile sasa walikuwa wanamwamini Mungu.
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, “Let those men go.”
Kesho yake asubuhi, mahakimu waliwatuma maofisa wao wakisema, “Wafungueni wale watu.”
36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace.”
Yule askari wa gereza alimpasha habari Paulo: “Mahakimu wametuma ujumbe ili mfunguliwe. Sasa mnaweza kutoka na kwenda zenu kwa amani.”
37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!”
Lakini Paulo alimjibu, “Ati nini? Ingawa hatukuwa na kosa, walitupiga viboko hadharani hali sisi ni raia wa Roma. Tena, walitutia ndani na sasa wanataka kutufungulia kwa siri! Hata kidogo! Ni lazima wao wenyewe waje hapa watufungulie.”
38 The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,
Hao maofisa waliwapasha habari mahakimu juu ya jambo hilo, nao waliposikia kwamba Paulo na Sila walikuwa raia wa Roma, waliogopa.
39 and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city.
Hivyo, walikwenda kuwataka radhi na baada ya kuwatoa ndani waliwaomba watoke katika mji ule.
40 They went out of the prison and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, then departed.
Paulo na Sila walitoka gerezani, wakaenda nyumbani kwa Ludia. Huko walionana na ndugu waumini na baada ya kuwatia moyo wakaondoka.
