Matendo 16
1 Paulo pia alipokuja Derbe na Lystra; na tazama, pale palikuwepo na mwanafunzi aitwaye Timotheo, ni Kijana aliyezaliwa na mama wa Kiyahudi ambaye ni muumini na baba yake ni Mgiriki.
He came to Derbe and Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek.
2 Watu wa Listra na Ikonia walimshudia vizuri.
The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him.
3 Paulo alimtaka ili asafiri naye, hivyo akamchukua na kumtahiri kwa sababu ya Wayahudi waliokuwako huko kwani wote walimjua kuwa baba yake ni Mgiriki.
Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4 Walipokuwa wakienda walipita kwenye miji na kutoa maagizo kwa makanisa ili kuyatii maagizo hayo yaliandikwa na mitume na wazee huko Yerusalemu.
As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
5 Hivyo makanisa yakaimarishwa katika imani na walioamini wakaongezeka kwa idadi kila siku.
So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 Paulo na mwenzake wakaenda Firigia na Galatia, kwani Roho wa Mungu aliwakataza kuhubiri neno huko kwenye jimbo la Asia.
When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
7 Walipokaribia Misia, walijaribu kwenda Bithinia, lakini Roho wa Yesu akawakataza.
When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them.
8 Kwa hiyo wakapita Misia wakaja mpaka Mji wa Troa.
Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9 Maono yalimtokea Paulo usiku, kulikuwa na mtu wa Makedonia amesimama, akimwita na kusema “Njoni mtusaidie huku Makedonia”.
A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him and saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.”
10 Paulo alipoona maono, mara tukajiandaa kwenda Makedonia, akijua kwamba Mungu alituita kwenda kuwahubiria injili.
When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.
11 Hivyo tukaondoka kutoka Troa, tukaenda moja kwa moja Samothrake, na siku iliyofuata tukafika mji wa Neapoli.
Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;
12 Kutoka hapo tukaenda Filipi ambao ni moja ya mji wa Makedonia, mji muhimu katika wilaya na utawala wa Kirumi na tukakaa siku kadhaa.
and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
13 Siku ya Sabato, tulikwenda nje ya lango kwa njia ya mto, sehemu ambayo tulidhania kutakuwa na mahali pa kufanyia maombi. Tulikaa chini na kuongea na akinamama waliokuja pamoja.
On the Sabbath day we went outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
14 Mwanamke mmoja aitwaye Lidia, muuzaji wa zambarau, kutoka katika mji wa Tiatira, mwenye kumwabudu Mungu, alitusikiliza. Bwana alimfungua moyo wake na kuweka maanani maneno yaliyosemwa na Paulo.
A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.
15 Baada ya kubatizwa, yeye na nyumba yake yote, alitusihi akisema “kama mmeniona kuwa mimi ni mwaminifu katika Bwana, basi nawasihi muingie na kukaa kwangu”. Akatusihi sana.
When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
16 Ikawa kwamba, tulipokuwa tunaenda mahali pa kuomba, msichana mmoja aliyekuwa na pepo la utambuzi akakutana nasi. Alimletea bwana wake faida nyingi kwa kubashiri.
As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling.
17 Mwanamke huyu alimfuata Paulo pamoja na sisi, akipiga kelele na kusema “Hawa wanaume ni watumishi wa Mungu aliye Mkuu, wanaowatangazia ninyi habari ya wokovu”.
Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!”
18 Alifanya hivyo kwa siku nyingi, lakini Paulo akiwa amekasirishwa na tendo hilo, aligeuka nyuma na kumwambia pepo, “Nakuamuru kwa Jina la Yesu umtoke ndani yake.” Naye akatoka na kumwacha mara moja.
She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour.
19 Mabwana zake walipoona ya kuwa tumaini la faida yao limeondoka, waliwakamata Paulo na Sila na kuwaburuza sokoni mbele ya wenye mamlaka.
But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
20 Walipowafikisha kwa mahakimu, walisema, “Hawa wanaume ni Wayahudi na wanasababisha ghasia kubwa katika mji wetu.
When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city
21 Wanafundisha mambo ambayo siyo sheria sisi kuyapokea wala kuyafuata kama Warumi.”
and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.”
22 Umati ukawainukia kinyume Paulo na Sila, mahakimu wakararua nguo zao na kuwavua na kuamuru wachapwe viboko
The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23 Baada ya kuwachapa viboko vingi, waliwatupa gerezani na kumuamuru askari wa gereza kuwalinda vyema.
When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
24 Baada ya kupokea amri hiyo, askari wa gereza aliwatupa katika chumba cha ndani ya gereza na kuwafunga miguu yao kwenye sehemu alipowahifadhi.
Having received such a command, he threw them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.
25 Wakati wa usiku wa manane, Paulo na Sila wakawa wakiomba na kuimba nyimbo za kumsifu Mungu, huku wafungwa wengine wakiwasikiliza,
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
26 Ghafla kukatokea tetemeko kuu na misingi ya gereza ikatikiswa, milango ya gereza ikafunguka, na minyororo ya wafungwa wote ikalegezwa.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened.
27 Mlinzi wa Gereza aliamka kutoka usingizini na akaona milango yote ya gereza imefunguliwa; hivyo akachukua upanga wake maana alitaka kujiua kwa sababu alifikiri wafungwa wote walikwishatoroka,
The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28 Lakini, Paulo akapiga kelele kwa sauti kuu, akisema “usijidhuru kwa sababu wote tuko mahali hapa”.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!”
29 Mlinzi wa gereza aliomba taa ziletwe na akaingia ndani ya gereza kwa haraka, akitetemeka na kuogopa, akawaangukia Paulo na Sila,
He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,
30 na kuwatoa nje ya gereza na kusema, “Waheshimiwa, nifanye nini ili nipate kuokoka?”
brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 Nao wakamwambia, “Mwamini Bwana Yesu nawe utaokoka pamoja na nyumba yako.”
They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 Walinena neno la Bwana kwake, pamoja na watu wote wa nyumbani kwake,
They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house.
33 Mlinzi wa gereza aliwachukua usiku ule na kuwaosha sehemu walizoumia, yeye pamoja na watu wa nyumbani mwake wakabatizwa mara.
He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.
34 Akawaleta Paulo na Sila nyumbani kwake na kuwatengea chakula. Naye akawa na furaha kuu pamoja na watu wa nyumbani mwake kwa sababu walimwamini Mungu.
He brought them up into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly with all his household, having believed in God.
35 Ilipokuwa mchana, mahakimu walituma ujumbe kwa yule mlinzi wa gereza wakisema, “Waruhusu wale watu waende”,
But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, “Let those men go.”
36 Mlinzi wa gereza akamjulisha Paulo juu ya maneno hayo ya kuwa, “Mahakimu walituma ujumbe niruhusu mwondoke: hivyo tokeni nje na mwende kwa amani.”
The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace.”
37 Lakini Paulo akawaambia, “Walitupiga hadharani, watu ambao ni Warumi bila kutuhukumu na waliamua kututupa gerezani; halafu sasa wanataka kututoa kwa siri? Hapana, haitawezekana, wao wenyewe waje kututoa mahali hapa”.
But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!”
38 Walinzi wakawajulisha mahakimu juu ya maneno hayo, mahakimu wakaogopa sana pale walipojua kuwa Paulo na Sila ni Warumi.
The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,
39 Mahakimu wakaja na kuwasihi watoke, na walipowatoa nje ya gereza, waliwaomba Paulo na Sila watoke nje ya mji wao.
and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city.
40 Kwa hiyo Paulo na Sila wakatoka nje ya gereza wakaja nyumbani kwa Lidia. Paulo na Sila walipowaona ndugu, waliwatia moyo na kisha kuondoka katika mji huo.
They went out of the prison and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, then departed.
