Matendo 16
1 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.
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father [was] a Greek:
2 Alikuwa amesifiwa sana na wale ndugu waliokuwa wameamini huko Listra na Ikonio
Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 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.
Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4 Walipokuwa wakienda mji kwa mji, wakawa wanawapa maamuzi yaliyotolewa na mitume na wazee huko Yerusalemu ili wayafuate.
And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5 Hivyo makanisa yakawa imara katika imani na kuongezeka kiidadi kila siku.
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 Paulo pamoja na wenzake wakasafiri sehemu za Frigia na Galatia, kwa kuwa Roho Mtakatifu hakuwaruhusu kulihubiri neno huko Asia.
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7 Walipofika mpaka wa Misia, wakajaribu kuingia Bithinia lakini Roho wa Yesu hakuwaruhusu.
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 Kwa hiyo wakapita Misia, wakafika Troa.
And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
9 Wakati wa usiku Paulo akaona maono, mtu wa Makedonia amesimama akimsihi, “Vuka uje huku Makedonia utusaidie.”
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 Baada ya Paulo kuona maono haya, tulijiandaa kwa haraka kuondoka kwenda Makedonia tukiwa tumesadiki kuwa Mungu alikuwa ametuita kuhubiri habari njema huko.
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
11 Tukasafiri kwa njia ya bahari kutoka Troa na kwenda moja kwa moja hadi Samothrake, kesho yake tukafika Neapoli.
Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next [day] to Neapolis;
12 Kutoka huko tukasafiri hadi Filipi, mji mkuu wa jimbo hilo la Makedonia, uliokuwa koloni ya Warumi. Nasi tukakaa huko siku kadhaa.
And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, [and] a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13 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.
And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted [thither.]
14 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.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard [us]: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15 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.
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought [us], saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us.
16 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.
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 Huyu msichana alikuwa akimfuata Paulo na sisi akipiga kelele, “Watu hawa ni watumishi wa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana, wao wanawatangazieni njia ya wokovu.”
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 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.
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19 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.
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew [them] into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 Baada ya kuwafikisha mbele ya mahakimu wakawashtaki wakisema, “Hawa watu wanaleta ghasia katika mji wetu, nao ni Wayahudi.
And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 Wanafundisha desturi ambazo sisi raiya wa Kirumi hatuwezi kuzikubali au kuzitimiza.”
And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 Umati wa watu waliokuwepo wakajiunga katika kuwashambulia Paulo na Sila na wale mahakimu wakaamuru wavuliwe nguo zao na wachapwe viboko.
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat [them].
23 Baada ya kuwachapa sana, wakawatupa gerezani na kumwagiza mkuu wa gereza awalinde kikamilifu.
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast [them] into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Kufuata maelekezo haya, yule mkuu wa gereza akawaweka katika chumba cha ndani sana mle gerezani, na akawafunga miguu yao kwa minyororo.
Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 Ilipokaribia usiku wa manane, Paulo na Sila walikuwa wakiomba na kuimba nyimbo za kumsifu Mungu, nao wafungwa wengine walikuwa wakiwasikiliza.
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 Ghafula pakatokea tetemeko kubwa la ardhi, hata msingi wa gereza ukatikisika. Mara milango ya gereza ikafunguka na ile minyororo iliyowafunga kila mmoja ikafunguka.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
27 Yule mkuu wa gereza alipoamka na kuona milango ya gereza iko wazi, akachomoa upanga wake akataka kujiua, akidhani ya kuwa wafungwa wote wametoroka.
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 Lakini Paulo akapiga kelele kwa sauti kubwa, akasema, “Usijidhuru kwa maana sisi sote tuko hapa!”
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Yule askari wa gereza akaagiza taa ziletwe, akaingia ndani ya kile chumba cha gereza, akapiga magoti akitetemeka mbele ya Paulo na Sila.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 Kisha akawaleta nje akisema, “Bwana zangu, nifanye nini nipate kuokoka?”
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 Wakamjibu, “Mwamini Bwana Yesu Kristo, nawe utaokoka, pamoja na watu wa nyumbani mwako.”
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 Wakamwambia neno la Bwana yeye pamoja na wote waliokuwako nyumbani mwake.
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 Wakati ule ule, yule mkuu wa gereza akawachukua, akawaosha majeraha yao, kisha akabatizwa yeye pamoja na wote waliokuwa nyumbani mwake bila kuchelewa.
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed [their] stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 Akawapandisha nyumbani mwake akawaandalia chakula, yeye pamoja na nyumba yake yote wakafurahi sana kwa kuwa sasa walikuwa wamemwamini Mungu.
And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
35 Kulipopambazuka wale mahakimu wakawatuma maafisa wao kwa mkuu wa gereza wakiwa na agizo linalosema, “Wafungue wale watu, waache waende zao.”
And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36 Mkuu wa gereza akamwambia Paulo “Mahakimu wameagiza niwaache huru, kwa hiyo tokeni na mwende zenu kwa amani.”
And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37 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.”
But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast [us] into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38 Wale maafisa wakarudi na kuwaambia wale mahakimu maneno haya, wakaogopa sana walipofahamu kuwa Paulo na Sila ni raiya wa Rumi.
And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39 Kwa hiyo wakaja wakawaomba msamaha, wakawatoa gerezani, wakawaomba waondoke katika ule mji.
And they came and besought them, and brought [them] out, and desired [them] to depart out of the city.
40 Baada ya Paulo na Sila kutoka gerezani walikwenda nyumbani kwa Lidia, ambapo walikutana na wale ndugu walioamini, wakawatia moyo, ndipo wakaondoka.
And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house of] Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
