Matendo 12
1 Wakati huo huo Mfalme Herode Agripa aliwakamata baadhi ya watu wa kanisa.
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to afflict certain of the church.
2 Akaamuru Yakobo, ndugu yake Yohana, auawe kwa upanga.
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 Alipoona jambo hilo limewapendeza Wayahudi, akaendelea, akamkamata pia Petro. Hii ilitokea wakati wa Sikukuu ya Mikate Isiyotiwa Chachu.
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. ( Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 Baada ya kumkamata alimtia gerezani, chini ya ulinzi wa vikundi vinne vya askari, vyenye askari wanne kila kimoja. Herode alikuwa amekusudia kumtoa na kumfanyia mashtaka mbele ya watu baada ya Pasaka.
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.
5 Kwa hiyo Petro akawekwa gerezani, lakini kanisa lilikuwa likimwombea kwa Mungu kwa bidii.
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing by the church to God for him.
6 Usiku ule kabla ya siku ambayo Herode Agripa alikuwa amekusudia kumtoa na kumfanyia mashtaka, Petro alikuwa amelala kati ya askari wawili, akiwa amefungwa kwa minyororo miwili. Nao walinzi wa zamu walikuwa wakilinda penye lango la gereza.
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 Ghafula malaika wa Bwana akatokea na nuru ikamulika mle ndani ya gereza. Yule malaika akampiga Petro ubavuni na kumwamsha, akisema, “Ondoka upesi!” Mara ile minyororo ikaanguka kutoka mikononi mwa Petro.
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shone in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 Yule malaika akamwambia, “Vaa nguo zako na viatu vyako.” Petro akafanya hivyo. Kisha akamwambia, “Jifunge vazi lako na unifuate.”
And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith to him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 Petro akatoka mle gerezani akiwa amefuatana na yule malaika. Hakujua wakati huo kuwa yaliyokuwa yakitukia yalikuwa kweli. Alidhani kuwa anaona maono.
And he went out, and followed him; and knew not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 Wakapita lindo la kwanza na la pili, ndipo wakafika kwenye lango la chuma linaloelekea mjini. Lango likawafungukia lenyewe, nao wakapita hapo wakatoka nje. Baada ya kutembea umbali wa mtaa mmoja, ghafula yule malaika akamwacha Petro.
When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 Ndipo Petro akarudiwa na fahamu, akasema, “Sasa ninajua bila shaka yoyote kuwa Bwana amemtuma malaika wake na kuniokoa kutoka makucha ya Herode Agripa na kutoka matazamio yote ya Wayahudi.”
And when Peter had come to himself, he said, Now I know with certainty, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12 Mara Petro alipotambua hili alikwenda nyumbani kwa Maria, mama yake Yohana aliyeitwa pia Marko, ambako watu wengi walikuwa wamekutana kwa maombi.
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13 Petro alipobisha hodi kwenye lango la nje, mtumishi wa kike jina lake Roda, akaja kumfungulia.
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid came to answer, named Rhoda.
14 Alipoitambua sauti ya Petro, alifurahi mno akarudi bila kufungua na kuwaeleza kwamba, “Petro yuko langoni!”
And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told that Peter stood before the gate.
15 Wakamwambia yule mtumishi wa kike, “Umerukwa na akili.” Alipozidi kusisitiza kuwa ni kweli, wakasema, “Lazima awe ni malaika wake.”
And they said to her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then they said, It is his angel.
16 Lakini Petro aliendelea kugonga langoni, nao walipofungua lango na kumwona Petro, walistaajabu sana.
But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
17 Yeye akawaashiria kwa mkono wake wanyamaze kimya, akawaeleza jinsi Bwana alivyomtoa gerezani. Naye akaongeza kusema, “Waelezeni Yakobo na ndugu wengine habari hizi.” Kisha akaondoka akaenda sehemu nyingine.
But he, beckoning to them with the hand to hold their peace, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things to James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
18 Kulipokucha kukawa na fadhaa kubwa miongoni mwa wale askari kuhusu yaliyomtukia Petro.
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
19 Baada ya Herode kuamuru atafutwe kila mahali na bila kumpata, aliwahoji wale askari walinzi kisha akatoa amri wauawe. Basi Herode Agripa akatoka Uyahudi akaenda Kaisaria, akakaa huko kwa muda.
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
20 Basi Herode Agripa alikuwa amekasirishwa sana na watu wa Tiro na Sidoni. Hivyo watu wa miji hiyo miwili wakaungana pamoja wakatafuta kukutana naye. Wakiisha kuungwa mkono na Blasto, mtumishi maalum wa Mfalme Herode Agripa aliyeaminika, wakaomba mapatano ya amani maana nchi zao zilitegemea nchi ya huyo mfalme kwa mahitaji yao ya chakula.
And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country.
21 Katika siku iliyochaguliwa Herode Agripa akavaa mavazi yake ya kifalme, akaketi kwenye kiti chake cha enzi na kuwahutubia watu.
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration to them.
22 Watu waliokuwa wamekusanyika wakapiga kelele, wakisema, “Hii si sauti ya mwanadamu, bali ni ya Mungu.”
And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 Ghafula, kwa kuwa Herode hakumpa Mungu utukufu, malaika wa Bwana akampiga, naye akaliwa na chango, akafa.
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten by worms, and died.
24 Lakini neno la Mungu likaendelea mbele na kuenea, nao wengi wakaambatana nalo.
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25 Barnaba na Sauli walipomaliza ile huduma yao iliyowapeleka, wakarudi Yerusalemu wakiwa pamoja na Yohana aitwaye Marko.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
