Acts 16
1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.
Paulo pia alipokuja Derbe na Lystra; na tazama, pale palikuwepo na mwanafunzi aitwaye Timotheo, ni Kijana aliyezaliwa na mama wa Kiyahudi ambaye ni muumini na baba yake ni Mgiriki.
2 The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
Watu wa Listra na Ikonia walimshudia vizuri.
3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Paulo alimtaka ili asafiri naye, hivyo akamchukua na kumtahiri kwa sababu ya Wayahudi waliokuwako huko kwani wote walimjua kuwa baba yake ni Mgiriki.
4 As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
Walipokuwa wakienda walipita kwenye miji na kutoa maagizo kwa makanisa ili kuyatii maagizo hayo yaliandikwa na mitume na wazee huko Yerusalemu.
5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Hivyo makanisa yakaimarishwa katika imani na walioamini wakaongezeka kwa idadi kila siku.
6 After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
Paulo na mwenzake wakaenda Firigia na Galatia, kwani Roho wa Mungu aliwakataza kuhubiri neno huko kwenye jimbo la Asia.
7 And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.
Walipokaribia Misia, walijaribu kwenda Bithinia, lakini Roho wa Yesu akawakataza.
8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
Kwa hiyo wakapita Misia wakaja mpaka Mji wa Troa.
9 During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Maono yalimtokea Paulo usiku, kulikuwa na mtu wa Makedonia amesimama, akimwita na kusema “Njoni mtusaidie huku Makedonia”.
10 As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Paulo alipoona maono, mara tukajiandaa kwenda Makedonia, akijua kwamba Mungu alituita kwenda kuwahubiria injili.
11 We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace, and the following day on to Neapolis.
Hivyo tukaondoka kutoka Troa, tukaenda moja kwa moja Samothrake, na siku iliyofuata tukafika mji wa Neapoli.
12 From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
Kutoka hapo tukaenda Filipi ambao ni moja ya mji wa Makedonia, mji muhimu katika wilaya na utawala wa Kirumi na tukakaa siku kadhaa.
13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.
Siku ya Sabato, tulikwenda nje ya lango kwa njia ya mto, sehemu ambayo tulidhania kutakuwa na mahali pa kufanyia maombi. Tulikaa chini na kuongea na akinamama waliokuja pamoja.
14 Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
Mwanamke mmoja aitwaye Lidia, muuzaji wa zambarau, kutoka katika mji wa Tiatira, mwenye kumwabudu Mungu, alitusikiliza. Bwana alimfungua moyo wake na kuweka maanani maneno yaliyosemwa na Paulo.
15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Baada ya kubatizwa, yeye na nyumba yake yote, alitusihi akisema “kama mmeniona kuwa mimi ni mwaminifu katika Bwana, basi nawasihi muingie na kukaa kwangu”. Akatusihi sana.
16 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.
Ikawa kwamba, tulipokuwa tunaenda mahali pa kuomba, msichana mmoja aliyekuwa na pepo la utambuzi akakutana nasi. Alimletea bwana wake faida nyingi kwa kubashiri.
17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
Mwanamke huyu alimfuata Paulo pamoja na sisi, akipiga kelele na kusema “Hawa wanaume ni watumishi wa Mungu aliye Mkuu, wanaowatangazia ninyi habari ya wokovu”.
18 She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.
Alifanya hivyo kwa siku nyingi, lakini Paulo akiwa amekasirishwa na tendo hilo, aligeuka nyuma na kumwambia pepo, “Nakuamuru kwa Jina la Yesu umtoke ndani yake.” Naye akatoka na kumwacha mara moja.
19 When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.
Mabwana zake walipoona ya kuwa tumaini la faida yao limeondoka, waliwakamata Paulo na Sila na kuwaburuza sokoni mbele ya wenye mamlaka.
20 They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil
Walipowafikisha kwa mahakimu, walisema, “Hawa wanaume ni Wayahudi na wanasababisha ghasia kubwa katika mji wetu.
21 by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”
Wanafundisha mambo ambayo siyo sheria sisi kuyapokea wala kuyafuata kama Warumi.”
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.
Umati ukawainukia kinyume Paulo na Sila, mahakimu wakararua nguo zao na kuwavua na kuamuru wachapwe viboko
23 And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.
Baada ya kuwachapa viboko vingi, waliwatupa gerezani na kumuamuru askari wa gereza kuwalinda vyema.
24 On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Baada ya kupokea amri hiyo, askari wa gereza aliwatupa katika chumba cha ndani ya gereza na kuwafunga miguu yao kwenye sehemu alipowahifadhi.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Wakati wa usiku wa manane, Paulo na Sila wakawa wakiomba na kuimba nyimbo za kumsifu Mungu, huku wafungwa wengine wakiwasikiliza,
26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.
Ghafla kukatokea tetemeko kuu na misingi ya gereza ikatikiswa, milango ya gereza ikafunguka, na minyororo ya wafungwa wote ikalegezwa.
27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.
Mlinzi wa Gereza aliamka kutoka usingizini na akaona milango yote ya gereza imefunguliwa; hivyo akachukua upanga wake maana alitaka kujiua kwa sababu alifikiri wafungwa wote walikwishatoroka,
28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”
Lakini, Paulo akapiga kelele kwa sauti kuu, akisema “usijidhuru kwa sababu wote tuko mahali hapa”.
29 Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
Mlinzi wa gereza aliomba taa ziletwe na akaingia ndani ya gereza kwa haraka, akitetemeka na kuogopa, akawaangukia Paulo na Sila,
30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
na kuwatoa nje ya gereza na kusema, “Waheshimiwa, nifanye nini ili nipate kuokoka?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Nao wakamwambia, “Mwamini Bwana Yesu nawe utaokoka pamoja na nyumba yako.”
32 Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
Walinena neno la Bwana kwake, pamoja na watu wote wa nyumbani kwake,
33 At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized.
Mlinzi wa gereza aliwachukua usiku ule na kuwaosha sehemu walizoumia, yeye pamoja na watu wa nyumbani mwake wakabatizwa mara.
34 Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.
Akawaleta Paulo na Sila nyumbani kwake na kuwatengea chakula. Naye akawa na furaha kuu pamoja na watu wa nyumbani mwake kwa sababu walimwamini Mungu.
35 When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”
Ilipokuwa mchana, mahakimu walituma ujumbe kwa yule mlinzi wa gereza wakisema, “Waruhusu wale watu waende”,
36 The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”
Mlinzi wa gereza akamjulisha Paulo juu ya maneno hayo ya kuwa, “Mahakimu walituma ujumbe niruhusu mwondoke: hivyo tokeni nje na mwende kwa amani.”
37 But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
Lakini Paulo akawaambia, “Walitupiga hadharani, watu ambao ni Warumi bila kutuhukumu na waliamua kututupa gerezani; halafu sasa wanataka kututoa kwa siri? Hapana, haitawezekana, wao wenyewe waje kututoa mahali hapa”.
38 So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
Walinzi wakawajulisha mahakimu juu ya maneno hayo, mahakimu wakaogopa sana pale walipojua kuwa Paulo na Sila ni Warumi.
39 They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.
Mahakimu wakaja na kuwasihi watoke, na walipowatoa nje ya gereza, waliwaomba Paulo na Sila watoke nje ya mji wao.
40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.
Kwa hiyo Paulo na Sila wakatoka nje ya gereza wakaja nyumbani kwa Lidia. Paulo na Sila walipowaona ndugu, waliwatia moyo na kisha kuondoka katika mji huo.
