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.
And he came also to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a certain disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, and of a Greek father.
2 Watu wa Listra na Ikonia walimshudia vizuri.
He was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconiun.
3 Paulo alimtaka ili asafiri naye, hivyo akamchukua na kumtahiri kwa sababu ya Wayahudi waliokuwako huko kwani wote walimjua kuwa baba yake ni Mgiriki.
Now Paul, wishing that this man should accompany him on his journey, took him and circumcised him because of the local Jews, who 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.
And as they went on their way through the cities they handed them the resolutions which the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem had ordained for them to keep.
5 Hivyo makanisa yakaimarishwa katika imani na walioamini wakaongezeka kwa idadi kila siku.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith and continued to increase in number daily.
6 Paulo na mwenzake wakaenda Firigia na Galatia, kwani Roho wa Mungu aliwakataza kuhubiri neno huko kwenye jimbo la Asia.
Then they went through Phrygia and Galatia, the Holy Spirit having forbidden them to proclaim the message in Asia.
7 Walipokaribia Misia, walijaribu kwenda Bithinia, lakini Roho wa Yesu akawakataza.
When they got as far as Mysia, they attempted to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit it;
8 Kwa hiyo wakapita Misia wakaja mpaka Mji wa Troa.
and so they passed by Mysia and went on down to Troas.
9 Maono yalimtokea Paulo usiku, kulikuwa na mtu wa Makedonia amesimama, akimwita na kusema “Njoni mtusaidie huku Makedonia”.
Here a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, entreating 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.
So when he had seen the vision, we sought at once to go forth into Macedonia, because we concluded that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 Hivyo tukaondoka kutoka Troa, tukaenda moja kwa moja Samothrake, na siku iliyofuata tukafika mji wa Neapoli.
So we set sail from Troas and ran a straight course to Samothrace. The next day we arrived in 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 thence came to Philippi, a city of Macedonia, the fore most in its district, a Roman colony. There we stayed for some time.
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 the city gate, to a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and talked to the women who had gathered there.
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.
Among them was a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, who belonged to the town of Thyatira. She, since she was a worshiper of God, listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what Paul said.
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 was baptized, and her household, she urged us, saying, "If in your judgment I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she compelled us to come.
16 Ikawa kwamba, tulipokuwa tunaenda mahali pa kuomba, msichana mmoja aliyekuwa na pepo la utambuzi akakutana nasi. Alimletea bwana wake faida nyingi kwa kubashiri.
Now as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave girl met us, who had a spirit of divination, and who brought her masters great 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”.
She used to follow after Paul and us, crying out again and again, "These men are servants of the most high God, who proclaimed to you the 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 persisted in this for many days, until Paul, worn out, turned round and said to the spirit, "I charge you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her." In that very hour it came out of her.
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 owners saw that their hopes of gain were gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them before the magistrates, into the market-place.
20 Walipowafikisha kwa mahakimu, walisema, “Hawa wanaume ni Wayahudi na wanasababisha ghasia kubwa katika mji wetu.
Then they brought them before the praetors, saying. "These fellows are Jews, who are making a great disturbance in our city.
21 Wanafundisha mambo ambayo siyo sheria sisi kuyapokea wala kuyafuata kama Warumi.”
"They are teaching customs which it is not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or practise."
22 Umati ukawainukia kinyume Paulo na Sila, mahakimu wakararua nguo zao na kuwavua na kuamuru wachapwe viboko
The crowd, too, rose up together against them, and the praetors, after having them stripped, and after ordering them to be flogged,
23 Baada ya kuwachapa viboko vingi, waliwatupa gerezani na kumuamuru askari wa gereza kuwalinda vyema.
had many lashes inflicted upon them, and put them in prison, with a charge to the jailer to keep them safe.
24 Baada ya kupokea amri hiyo, askari wa gereza aliwatupa katika chumba cha ndani ya gereza na kuwafunga miguu yao kwenye sehemu alipowahifadhi.
On receiving so strict an order he cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast 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 at midnight, while 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 very foundations of the prison-house were shaken; and instantly all the doors were opened, and every one’s chains fell off.
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, roused from sleep, and seeing the doors wide open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, because he thought that the prisoners had escaped.
28 Lakini, Paulo akapiga kelele kwa sauti kuu, akisema “usijidhuru kwa sababu wote tuko mahali hapa”.
But Paul shouted loudly to him. "Do yourself no harm; 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,
So he called for lights, and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 na kuwatoa nje ya gereza na kusema, “Waheshimiwa, nifanye nini ili nipate kuokoka?”
and brought them out, saying, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 Nao wakamwambia, “Mwamini Bwana Yesu nawe utaokoka pamoja na nyumba yako.”
"Believe on the Lord Jesus," they answered, "and you will be saved, you and all your household."
32 Walinena neno la Bwana kwake, pamoja na watu wote wa nyumbani kwake,
Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him, as well as 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.
And he took them, the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, he and all his.
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.
And after bringing them up into his house, he set food before them, overjoyed with all his household in having believed in God.
35 Ilipokuwa mchana, mahakimu walituma ujumbe kwa yule mlinzi wa gereza wakisema, “Waruhusu wale watu waende”,
But in the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order, "Let these 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 the words to Paul, saying. "The praetors have sent to release you; so 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. "They have flogged us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Roman citizens; and have thrown us into prison. Are they now going to get rid of us secretly? No, indeed! Let them come here, themselves and take us out."
38 Walinzi wakawajulisha mahakimu juu ya maneno hayo, mahakimu wakaogopa sana pale walipojua kuwa Paulo na Sila ni Warumi.
The lictors reported these words to the praetors, who were frightened 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.
So they came and conciliated them, and after taking them out of prison, begged them to leave the town.
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.
So Paul and Silas came out of the prison, and went to Lydia’s house; and after they had seen the brethren and encouraged them, they left Philippi.
