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 to Derbe and Lystra; and lo! a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, but whose father was a Greek;
2 Watu wa Listra na Ikonia walimshudia vizuri.
who was well a spoken of by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium.
3 Paulo alimtaka ili asafiri naye, hivyo akamchukua na kumtahiri kwa sababu ya Wayahudi waliokuwako huko kwani wote walimjua kuwa baba yake ni Mgiriki.
Him Paul wished to go forth with him, and took and circumcised him on account of the Jews who were in those places; 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.
And as they journeyed through the cities, they delivered to them for their observance the decrees which had been ordained by the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.
5 Hivyo makanisa yakaimarishwa katika imani na walioamini wakaongezeka kwa idadi kila siku.
The churches therefore were established 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.
And having gone through Phrygia and the Galatian country, on being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia,
7 Walipokaribia Misia, walijaribu kwenda Bithinia, lakini Roho wa Yesu akawakataza.
they came to Mysia, and were attempting to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
8 Kwa hiyo wakapita Misia wakaja mpaka Mji wa Troa.
And passing by Mysia, they came to Troas.
9 Maono yalimtokea Paulo usiku, kulikuwa na mtu wa Makedonia amesimama, akimwita na kusema “Njoni mtusaidie huku Makedonia”.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia beseeching 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.
And when he had seen the vision, we immediately endeavored to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to publish the glad tidings to them.
11 Hivyo tukaondoka kutoka Troa, tukaenda moja kwa moja Samothrake, na siku iliyofuata tukafika mji wa Neapoli.
And setting sail from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothrace, and on 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 thence to Philippi, which is a chief city of the province of Macedonia, a colony. And we remained in the city some days.
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.
And on the sabbath-day we went forth out of the gate to a river-side, where was wont to be a place of prayer, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who had assembled.
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.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, was listening; whose heart the Lord opened to attend 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.
And when she had been baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be a believer in the Lord, come into my house, and abide. And she constrained 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.
And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain bond-maid having a soothsaying spirit met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
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”.
This woman followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who announce 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.
And this she did for many days. But Paul, being much displeased, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out immediately.
19 Mabwana zake walipoona ya kuwa tumaini la faida yao limeondoka, waliwakamata Paulo na Sila na kuwaburuza sokoni mbele ya wenye mamlaka.
But her masters seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, laid hold of Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the market-place to the rulers;
20 Walipowafikisha kwa mahakimu, walisema, “Hawa wanaume ni Wayahudi na wanasababisha ghasia kubwa katika mji wetu.
and having brought them before the magistrates, said, These men are grievously disturbing our city, being Jews;
21 Wanafundisha mambo ambayo siyo sheria sisi kuyapokea wala kuyafuata kama Warumi.”
and they teach customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to receive or observe.
22 Umati ukawainukia kinyume Paulo na Sila, mahakimu wakararua nguo zao na kuwavua na kuamuru wachapwe viboko
And the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates, tearing off their clothes, commanded to beat them with rods;
23 Baada ya kuwachapa viboko vingi, waliwatupa gerezani na kumuamuru askari wa gereza kuwalinda vyema.
and when they had laid on them many stripes, they cast 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.
who having received such a charge, thrust 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 Paul and Silas praying, were singing praises 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.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and all the doors were immediately opened, and the bands of all were loosed.
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,
And the jailer awakening 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 thyself 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,
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas;
30 na kuwatoa nje ya gereza na kusema, “Waheshimiwa, nifanye nini ili nipate kuokoka?”
and having brought them out, he said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 Nao wakamwambia, “Mwamini Bwana Yesu nawe utaokoka pamoja na nyumba yako.”
And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou wilt be saved, and thy household.
32 Walinena neno la Bwana kwake, pamoja na watu wote wa nyumbani kwake,
And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, and to all that 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 with him at that hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and he was immediately baptized, himself and all that belonged to him.
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 when he had brought them up into his house, he set food before them, and rejoiced with all his house, having become a believer in God.
35 Ilipokuwa mchana, mahakimu walituma ujumbe kwa yule mlinzi wa gereza wakisema, “Waruhusu wale watu waende”,
And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Release those men.
36 Mlinzi wa gereza akamjulisha Paulo juu ya maneno hayo ya kuwa, “Mahakimu walituma ujumbe niruhusu mwondoke: hivyo tokeni nje na mwende kwa amani.”
And the jailer reported these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent to release you; 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 publicly beaten us uncondemned, although we are Romans, and have thrust us into prison; and now do they thrust us out secretly? No; 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.
And 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 besought them; and when they had brought them out, they entreated them to leave 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.
And when they had come out of the prison, they went into the house of Lydia; and when they saw the brethren, they exhorted them, and departed.
