Matendo 12
1 Wakati huo huo Mfalme Herode Agripa aliwakamata baadhi ya watu wa kanisa.
Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.
2 Akaamuru Yakobo, ndugu yake Yohana, auawe kwa upanga.
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.
When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during 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.
When he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
5 Kwa hiyo Petro akawekwa gerezani, lakini kanisa lilikuwa likimwombea kwa Mungu kwa bidii.
Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly 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.
The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of 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, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands.
8 Yule malaika akamwambia, “Vaa nguo zako na viatu vyako.” Petro akafanya hivyo. Kisha akamwambia, “Jifunge vazi lako na unifuate.”
The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak 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. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, 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 leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down 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.”
When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
12 Mara Petro alipotambua hili alikwenda nyumbani kwa Maria, mama yake Yohana aliyeitwa pia Marko, ambako watu wengi walikuwa wamekutana kwa maombi.
Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
13 Petro alipobisha hodi kwenye lango la nje, mtumishi wa kike jina lake Roda, akaja kumfungulia.
When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14 Alipoitambua sauti ya Petro, alifurahi mno akarudi bila kufungua na kuwaeleza kwamba, “Petro yuko langoni!”
When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
15 Wakamwambia yule mtumishi wa kike, “Umerukwa na akili.” Alipozidi kusisitiza kuwa ni kweli, wakasema, “Lazima awe ni malaika wake.”
They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”
16 Lakini Petro aliendelea kugonga langoni, nao walipofungua lango na kumwona Petro, walistaajabu sana.
But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed.
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 his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to 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 about what had 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.
When Herod had sought for him and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
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.
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
21 Katika siku iliyochaguliwa Herode Agripa akavaa mavazi yake ya kifalme, akaketi kwenye kiti chake cha enzi na kuwahutubia watu.
On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
22 Watu waliokuwa wamekusanyika wakapiga kelele, wakisema, “Hii si sauti ya mwanadamu, bali ni ya Mungu.”
The people shouted, “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.
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then 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.
Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.
