Matendo 27
1 Ilipoamuliwa kwamba tungesafiri kwa njia ya bahari kwenda Italia, Paulo na wafungwa wengine wakakabidhiwa kwa kiongozi mmoja wa askari aliyeitwa Juliasi, aliyekuwa wa Kikosi cha Walinzi wa Kaisari.
When it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.
2 Tulipanda meli iliyotoka Adramitio, iliyokuwa inakaribia kusafiri kwenda kwenye bandari zilizopo pwani ya Asia, tukaanza safari yetu tukiwa pamoja na Aristarko, Mmakedonia kutoka Thesalonike.
Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica being with us.
3 Kesho yake tukatia nanga Sidoni, naye Juliasi akamfanyia wema Paulo, akamruhusu aende kwa rafiki zake ili wamtimizie mahitaji yake.
The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself.
4 Kutoka huko tukaingia baharini tena na tukapita upande wa chini wa kisiwa cha Kipro kwa sababu upepo ulikuwa wa mbisho.
Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5 Baada ya sisi kuvuka bahari iliyoko upande wa Kilikia na Pamfilia, tukafika Mira huko Likia.
When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6 Huko yule kiongozi wa askari akapata meli ya Iskanderia ikielekea Italia, akatupandisha humo.
There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us on board.
7 Tukasafiri polepole kwa siku nyingi na kwa shida, hatimaye tukafika karibu na Nido. Kwa kuwa upepo wa mbisho ulituzuia tusiweze kushika mwelekeo tuliokusudia, tukapita chini ya Krete mkabala na Salmone.
When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
8 Tukaambaa na pwani kwa shida, tukafika sehemu iitwayo Bandari Nzuri, karibu na mji wa Lasea.
With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
9 Muda mwingi ulikuwa umepotea na kusafiri baharini kulikuwa hatari kwa sababu wakati huu ulikuwa baada ya siku za kufunga. Hivyo Paulo akawaonya akasema,
When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them
10 “Mabwana, naona kuwa hii safari ni yenye maafa na ya kuleta hasara kubwa kwa meli na shehena, pia kwa maisha yetu.”
and said to them, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”
11 Lakini badala ya yule kiongozi wa askari kusikiliza yale Paulo aliyosema, akafuata zaidi ushauri wa nahodha na mwenye meli.
But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul.
12 Kwa kuwa ile bandari ilikuwa haifai kukaa wakati wa majira ya baridi, wengi wakashauri kwamba tuendelee na safari wakitarajia kufika Foinike na kukaa huko kwa majira ya baridi. Hii ilikuwa bandari iliyoko katika kisiwa cha Krete ikikabili upande wa kusini-magharibi na kaskazini-magharibi.
Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking southwest and northwest.
13 Upepo mtulivu ulipoanza kuvuma toka kusini, wakadhani kuwa wangeweza kufikia lengo lao, hivyo wakangʼoa nanga na kusafiri wakipita kandokando ya pwani ya kisiwa cha Krete.
When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore.
14 Lakini baada ya muda mfupi ikavuma tufani kubwa iitwayo “Eurakilo” toka kisiwa cha Krete.
But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon.
15 Meli ikapigwa na dhoruba na haikuweza kushindana na ule upepo, tukarudishwa baharini upepo ulikokuwa unaelekea.
When the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.
16 Hatimaye tukisafiri kupita chini ya kisiwa kidogo kiitwacho Kauda, ambapo kwa kuwa tulikuwa tumekingiwa upepo na hicho kisiwa, tuliweza kwa shida kuifunga mashua ya kuokolea watu.
Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat.
17 Watu walipokwisha kuivuta mashua hiyo na kuiingiza katika meli, waliifunga kwa kamba chini ya meli yenyewe ili kuzishikanisha pamoja. Wakiogopa kupelekwa kwenye mchanga karibu na pwani ya Sirti, wakashusha matanga wakaiacha meli isukumwe na huo upepo.
After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along.
18 Tulikuwa tunapigwa na dhoruba kwa nguvu, kiasi kwamba kesho yake walianza kutupa shehena toka melini.
As we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard.
19 Siku ya tatu, wakatupa vyombo vya meli baharini kwa mikono yao wenyewe.
On the third day, they threw out the ship’s tackle with their own hands.
20 Kulipokuwa hakuna kuonekana kwa jua wala nyota kwa siku nyingi, nayo dhoruba ikiwa inaendelea kuwa kali, hatimaye tulikata kabisa tamaa ya kuokoka.
When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small storm pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away.
21 Baada ya watu kukaa siku nyingi bila kula chakula, Paulo akasimama katikati yao akasema, “Enyi watu, iliwapasa kunisikiliza na kuacha kusafiri baharini kutoka Krete, ndipo ninyi mngekuwa mmejinusuru na uharibifu huu na hasara hii.
When they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the middle of them and said, “Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete and have gotten this injury and loss.
22 Sasa ninawasihi sana, jipeni moyo mkuu kwa kuwa hakuna hata mmoja wenu atakayepoteza maisha yake, ila meli itaangamia.
Now I exhort you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 Jana usiku, malaika wa Mungu yule ambaye mimi ni wake na ambaye ninamwabudu alisimama karibu nami,
For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve,
24 naye akasema, ‘Paulo usiogope, kwa kuwa ni lazima usimame mbele ya Kaisari, naye Mungu amekupa kwa neema uhai wa wote wanaosafiri pamoja nawe.
saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
25 Hivyo jipeni moyo, enyi watu, kwa kuwa ninamwamini Mungu kwamba yatakuwa kama vile alivyoniambia.’
Therefore, sirs, cheer up! For I believe God, that it will be just as it has been spoken to me.
26 Lakini hata hivyo meli yetu itakwama kwenye kisiwa fulani.”
But we must run aground on a certain island.”
27 Usiku wa kumi na nne ulipofika, tulikuwa bado tunasukumwa na upepo katika Bahari ya Adria. Ilipokuwa yapata usiku wa manane, mabaharia wakahisi kwamba walikuwa wanakaribia nchi kavu.
But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven back and forth in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some land.
28 Kwa hiyo wakapima kina cha maji na kukuta kilikuwa pima ishirini, baada ya kuendelea mbele kidogo wakapima tena wakapata kina cha pima kumi na tano.
They took soundings and found twenty fathoms. After a little while, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms.
29 Wakiogopa kwamba meli yetu ingegonga kwenye miamba, wakashusha nanga nne za nyuma ya meli, wakawa wanaomba kupambazuke.
Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight.
30 Katika jaribio la kutoroka kutoka kwenye meli, mabaharia wakashusha mashua ya kuokolea watu baharini, wakijifanya kwamba wanakwenda kushusha nanga za omo.
As the sailors were trying to flee out of the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they would lay out anchors from the bow,
31 Ndipo Paulo akamwambia yule jemadari na askari, “Hawa watu wasipobaki katika meli, hamtaweza kuokoka.”
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”
32 Hivyo basi wale askari wakakata kamba zilizoshikilia ile mashua ya kuokolea watu kwenye meli, wakaiacha ianguke humo baharini.
Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let it fall off.
33 Kabla ya mapambazuko, Paulo akawasihi watu wote wale chakula akisema, “Leo ni siku ya kumi na nne mmekuwa katika wasiwasi mkiwa mmefunga na bila kula chochote.
While the day was coming on, Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.
34 Kwa hiyo nawasihi mle chakula, kwa maana itawasaidia ili mweze kuishi. Kwa kuwa hakuna hata mmoja wenu atakayepoteza unywele hata mmoja kutoka kichwani mwake.”
Therefore I beg you to take some food, for this is for your safety; for not a hair will perish from any of your heads.”
35 Baada ya kusema maneno haya, Paulo akachukua mkate, akamshukuru Mungu mbele yao wote, akaumega akaanza kula.
When he had said this and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; then he broke it and began to eat.
36 Ndipo wote wakatiwa moyo, wakaanza kula chakula.
Then they all cheered up, and they also took food.
37 Ndani ya meli tulikuwa jumla ya watu 276.
In all, we were two hundred seventy-six souls on the ship.
38 Baada ya watu wote kula chakula cha kutosha, wakapunguza uzito wa meli kwa kutupa ngano baharini.
When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
39 Kulipopambazuka, mabaharia hawakuitambua ile nchi, lakini waliona ghuba yenye ufuko wa mchanga, ambako waliamua kuipweleza meli kama ingewezekana.
When it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay with a beach, and they decided to try to drive the ship onto it.
40 Kwa hiyo wakatupa nanga zote na kuziacha baharini, na wakati huo huo wakalegeza kamba zilizokuwa zikishikilia usukani wa meli. Kisha wakatweka tanga la mbele lishike upepo na kuisukuma meli kuelekea pwani.
Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time untying the rudder ropes. Hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.
41 Lakini wakafika mahali ambapo bahari mbili zinakutana, wakaipweleza meli ufuoni, omo ikakwama sana, ikawa haiwezi kuondolewa, lakini sehemu ya shetri ikavunjika vipande vipande kwa kule kupiga kwa mawimbi yenye nguvu.
But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.
42 Wale askari wakapanga kuwaua wale wafungwa ili kuzuia hata mmoja wao asiogelee na kutoroka.
The soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape.
43 Lakini yule jemadari alitaka kuokoa maisha ya Paulo, basi akawazuia askari wasitekeleze mpango wao. Akaamuru wale wanaoweza kuogelea wajitupe baharini kwanza, waogelee mpaka nchi kavu.
But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land;
44 Waliosalia wangefika nchi kavu kwa kutumia mbao au vipande vya meli iliyovunjika, hivyo ikatimia kwamba wote wakaokoka na kufika nchi kavu salama.
and the rest should follow, some on planks and some on other things from the ship. So they all escaped safely to the land.
