Acts 16

1 And he came to Derbe and Lystra, and lo, a certain disciple was there, by name Timotheus son of a certain woman, a believing Jewess, but of a father, a Greek,

Paulo akafika Derbe na kisha Listra, ambako kulikuwa na mwanafunzi mmoja jina lake Timotheo, ambaye mama yake alikuwa Myahudi aliyeamini, lakini baba yake alikuwa Myunani.

2 who was well testified to by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium;

Alikuwa amesifiwa sana na wale ndugu waliokuwa wameamini huko Listra na Ikonio

3 this one did Paul wish to go forth with him, and having taken [him], he circumcised him, because of the Jews who are in those places, for they all knew his father — that he was a Greek.

Paulo alitaka Timotheo afuatane naye, hivyo akamchukua na kumtahiri kwa sababu ya Wayahudi waliokuwa wanaishi eneo lile kwa maana wote walimjua baba yake ni Myunani.

4 And as they were going on through the cities, they were delivering to them the decrees to keep, that have been judged by the apostles and the elders who [are] in Jerusalem,

Walipokuwa wakienda mji kwa mji, wakawa wanawapa maamuzi yaliyotolewa na mitume na wazee huko Yerusalemu ili wayafuate.

5 then, indeed, were the assemblies established in the faith, and were abounding in number every day;

Hivyo makanisa yakawa imara katika imani na kuongezeka kiidadi kila siku.

6 and having gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,

Paulo pamoja na wenzake wakasafiri sehemu za Frigia na Galatia, kwa kuwa Roho Mtakatifu hakuwaruhusu kulihubiri neno huko Asia.

7 having gone toward Mysia, they were trying to go on toward Bithynia, and the Spirit did not suffer them,

Walipofika mpaka wa Misia, wakajaribu kuingia Bithinia lakini Roho wa Yesu hakuwaruhusu.

8 and having passed by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

Kwa hiyo wakapita Misia, wakafika Troa.

9 And a vision through the night appeared to Paul — a certain man of Macedonia was standing, calling upon him, and saying, 'Having passed through to Macedonia, help us;' —

Wakati wa usiku Paulo akaona maono, mtu wa Makedonia amesimama akimsihi, “Vuka uje huku Makedonia utusaidie.”

10 and when he saw the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go forth to Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord hath called us to preach good news to them,

Baada ya Paulo kuona maono haya, tulijiandaa kwa haraka kuondoka kwenda Makedonia tukiwa tumesadiki kuwa Mungu alikuwa ametuita kuhubiri habari njema huko.

11 having set sail, therefore, from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, on the morrow also to Neapolis,

Tukasafiri kwa njia ya bahari kutoka Troa na kwenda moja kwa moja hadi Samothrake, kesho yake tukafika Neapoli.

12 thence also to Philippi, which is a principal city of the part of Macedonia — a colony. And we were in this city abiding certain days,

Kutoka huko tukasafiri hadi Filipi, mji mkuu wa jimbo hilo la Makedonia, uliokuwa koloni ya Warumi. Nasi tukakaa huko siku kadhaa.

13 on the sabbath-day also we went forth outside of the city, by a river, where there used to be prayer, and having sat down, we were speaking to the women who came together,

Siku ya Sabato tukaenda nje ya lango la mji kando ya mto, mahali ambapo tulitarajia tungepata mahali pa kufanyia maombi. Tukaketi, tukaanza kuongea na baadhi ya wanawake waliokuwa wamekusanyika huko.

14 and a certain woman, by name Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, worshipping God, was hearing, whose heart the Lord did open to attend to the things spoken by Paul;

Mmoja wa wale wanawake waliotusikiliza aliitwa Lidia, mfanyabiashara wa nguo za zambarau, mwenyeji wa mji wa Thiatira, aliyekuwa mcha Mungu. Bwana akaufungua moyo wake akaupokea ujumbe wa Paulo.

15 and when she was baptized, and her household, she did call upon us, saying, 'If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, having entered into my house, remain;' and she constrained us.

Basi alipokwisha kubatizwa yeye na watu wa nyumba yake, alitukaribisha nyumbani kwake akisema, “Kama mmeona kweli mimi nimemwamini Bwana, karibuni mkae nyumbani mwangu.” Naye akatushawishi.

16 And it came to pass in our going on to prayer, a certain maid, having a spirit of Python, did meet us, who brought much employment to her masters by soothsaying,

Siku moja, tulipokuwa tukienda mahali pa kusali, tulikutana na mtumwa mmoja wa kike ambaye alikuwa na pepo wa uaguzi. Naye alikuwa amewapa mabwana zake mapato makubwa ya fedha kwa ubashiri.

17 she having followed Paul and us, was crying, saying, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who declare to us a way of salvation;'

Huyu msichana alikuwa akimfuata Paulo na sisi akipiga kelele, “Watu hawa ni watumishi wa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana, wao wanawatangazieni njia ya wokovu.”

18 and this she was doing for many days, but Paul having been grieved, and having turned, said to the spirit, 'I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come forth from her;' and it came forth the same hour.

Akaendelea kufanya hivi kwa siku nyingi, lakini Paulo akiwa ameudhika sana, akageuka na kumwambia yule pepo mchafu, “Ninakuamuru katika jina la Yesu Kristo, umtoke!” Yule pepo mchafu akamtoka saa ile ile.

19 And her masters having seen that the hope of their employment was gone, having caught Paul and Silas, drew [them] to the market-place, unto the rulers,

Basi mabwana wa yule mtumwa wa kike walipoona kuwa tumaini lao la kuendelea kujipatia fedha limetoweka, wakawakamata Paulo na Sila wakawaburuta mpaka sokoni mbele ya viongozi wa mji.

20 and having brought them to the magistrates, they said, 'These men do exceedingly trouble our city, being Jews;

Baada ya kuwafikisha mbele ya mahakimu wakawashtaki wakisema, “Hawa watu wanaleta ghasia katika mji wetu, nao ni Wayahudi.

21 and they proclaim customs that are not lawful for us to receive nor to do, being Romans.'

Wanafundisha desturi ambazo sisi raiya wa Kirumi hatuwezi kuzikubali au kuzitimiza.”

22 And the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates having torn their garments from them, were commanding to beat [them] with rods,

Umati wa watu waliokuwepo wakajiunga katika kuwashambulia Paulo na Sila na wale mahakimu wakaamuru wavuliwe nguo zao na wachapwe viboko.

23 many blows also having laid upon them, they cast them to prison, having given charge to the jailor to keep them safely,

Baada ya kuwachapa sana, wakawatupa gerezani na kumwagiza mkuu wa gereza awalinde kikamilifu.

24 who such a charge having received, did put them to the inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks.

Kufuata maelekezo haya, yule mkuu wa gereza akawaweka katika chumba cha ndani sana mle gerezani, na akawafunga miguu yao kwa minyororo.

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas praying, were singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were hearing them,

Ilipokaribia usiku wa manane, Paulo na Sila walikuwa wakiomba na kuimba nyimbo za kumsifu Mungu, nao wafungwa wengine walikuwa wakiwasikiliza.

26 and suddenly a great earthquake came, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, opened also presently were all the doors, and of all — the bands were loosed;

Ghafula pakatokea tetemeko kubwa la ardhi, hata msingi wa gereza ukatikisika. Mara milango ya gereza ikafunguka na ile minyororo iliyowafunga kila mmoja ikafunguka.

27 and the jailor having come out of sleep, and having seen the doors of the prison open, having drawn a sword, was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to be fled,

Yule mkuu wa gereza alipoamka na kuona milango ya gereza iko wazi, akachomoa upanga wake akataka kujiua, akidhani ya kuwa wafungwa wote wametoroka.

28 and Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Thou mayest not do thyself any harm, for we are all here.'

Lakini Paulo akapiga kelele kwa sauti kubwa, akasema, “Usijidhuru kwa maana sisi sote tuko hapa!”

29 And, having asked for a light, he sprang in, and trembling he fell down before Paul and Silas,

Yule askari wa gereza akaagiza taa ziletwe, akaingia ndani ya kile chumba cha gereza, akapiga magoti akitetemeka mbele ya Paulo na Sila.

30 and having brought them forth, said, 'Sirs, what must I do — that I may be saved?'

Kisha akawaleta nje akisema, “Bwana zangu, nifanye nini nipate kuokoka?”

31 and they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved — thou and thy house;'

Wakamjibu, “Mwamini Bwana Yesu Kristo, nawe utaokoka, pamoja na watu wa nyumbani mwako.”

32 and they spake to him the word of the Lord, and to all those in his household;

Wakamwambia neno la Bwana yeye pamoja na wote waliokuwako nyumbani mwake.

33 and having taken them, in that hour of the night, he did bathe [them] from the blows, and was baptized, himself and all his presently,

Wakati ule ule, yule mkuu wa gereza akawachukua, akawaosha majeraha yao, kisha akabatizwa yeye pamoja na wote waliokuwa nyumbani mwake bila kuchelewa.

34 having brought them also into his house, he set food before [them], and was glad with all the household, he having believed in God.

Akawapandisha nyumbani mwake akawaandalia chakula, yeye pamoja na nyumba yake yote wakafurahi sana kwa kuwa sasa walikuwa wamemwamini Mungu.

35 And day having come, the magistrates sent the rod-bearers, saying, 'Let those men go;'

Kulipopambazuka wale mahakimu wakawatuma maafisa wao kwa mkuu wa gereza wakiwa na agizo linalosema, “Wafungue wale watu, waache waende zao.”

36 and the jailor told these words unto Paul — 'The magistrates have sent, that ye may be let go; now, therefore, having gone forth go on in peace;'

Mkuu wa gereza akamwambia Paulo “Mahakimu wameagiza niwaache huru, kwa hiyo tokeni na mwende zenu kwa amani.”

37 and Paul said to them, 'Having beaten us publicly uncondemned — men, Romans being — they did cast [us] to prison, and now privately do they cast us forth! why no! but having come themselves, let them bring us forth.'

Lakini Paulo akawaambia wale maafisa, “Wametupiga hadharani bila kutufanyia mashtaka na kutuhoji, nao wakatutupa gerezani, hata ingawa sisi ni raiya wa Rumi. Nao sasa wanataka kututoa gerezani kwa siri? Hapana! Wao na waje wenyewe watutoe humu gerezani.”

38 And the rod-bearers told to the magistrates these sayings, and they were afraid, having heard that they are Romans,

Wale maafisa wakarudi na kuwaambia wale mahakimu maneno haya, wakaogopa sana walipofahamu kuwa Paulo na Sila ni raiya wa Rumi.

39 and having come, they besought them, and having brought [them] forth, they were asking [them] to go forth from the city;

Kwa hiyo wakaja wakawaomba msamaha, wakawatoa gerezani, wakawaomba waondoke katika ule mji.

40 and they, having gone forth out of the prison, entered into [the house of] Lydia, and having seen the brethren, they comforted them, and went forth.

Baada ya Paulo na Sila kutoka gerezani walikwenda nyumbani kwa Lidia, ambapo walikutana na wale ndugu walioamini, wakawatia moyo, ndipo wakaondoka.