Matendo 27
1 Ilipoamuliwa kwamba tunatakiwa tusafiri kwa maji kwenda Italia, walimkabidhi Paulo na wafungwa wengine kwa afisa mmoja wa jeshi la Kiroma aliyeitwa Julio, wa Kikosi cha Agustani.
As it was decided that we were to sail to Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were put in charge of a centurion of the Augustan Guard, named Julius.
2 Tukapanda meli kutoka Adramitamu, ambayo ilikuwa isafiri kandokando ya pwani ya Asia. Hivyo tukaingia baharini. Aristaka kutoka Thesolanike ya Makedonia akaenda pamoja nasi.
We went on board a ship from Adramyttium, which was on the point of sailing to the ports along the coast of Roman Asia, and put to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, went with us.
3 Siku iliyofuata tukatua nanga katika mji wa Sidoni, ambapo Julio alimtendea Paulo kwa ukarimu na akamruhusu kwenda kwa rafiki zake kupokea ukarimu wao.
The next day we put in to Sidon, where Julius treated Paul in a friendly manner, and allowed him to go to see his friends and receive their hospitality.
4 Kutoka hapo tukaenda baharini tukasafiri kuzunguka kisiwa cha Kipro ambacho kilikuwa kimeukinga upepo, kwa sababu upepo ulikuwa ukitukabili.
Putting to sea again, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the wind was against us;
5 Baada ya kuwa tumesafiri katika maji yaliyo karibu na Kilikia na Pamfilia, tukaja Mira, mji wa Lisia.
and, after crossing the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we reached Myra in Lycia.
6 Pale yule afisa wa jeshi la Kiroma, akaikuta meli kutoka Alexandria ambayo ilikuwa isafiri kuelekea Italia. Akatupandisha ndani yake.
There the Roman officer found an Alexandrian ship on her way to Italy, and put us on board of her.
7 Baada ya kuwa tumesafiri polepole kwa siku nyingi na hatimaye tukawa tumefika kwa taabu karibu na Kinidas, upepo haukuturuhusu tena kuelekea njia hiyo, hivyo tukasafiri kandokando ya kivuli cha Krete tukiukinga upepo, mkabala na Salmone.
For several days our progress was slow, and it was only with difficulty that we arrived off Cnidus. As the wind was still unfavorable when we came off Cape Salmone, we sailed under the lee of Crete,
8 Tukasafiri kandokando ya pwani kwa ugumu, mpaka tukafika mahali palipoitwa Fari Haveni ambayo iko karibu na mji wa Lasi.
and with difficulty, by keeping close in shore, we reached a place called ‘Fair Havens,’ near which was the town of Lasea.
9 Tulikuwa tumechukua muda mwingi sana, na muda wa mfungo wa Kiyahudi ulikuwa umepita pia, na sasa ilikuwa ni hatari kuendelea kusafiri. Hivyo Paulo akatuonya,
This had taken a considerable time, and sailing was already dangerous, for the Fast was already over; and so Paul gave this warning.
10 na kusema, “Wanaume, naona safari ambayo tunataka tuichukue itakuwa na madhara na hasara nyingi, siyo tu ya mizigo na meli, lakini pia ya maisha yetu.”
“My friends,” he said, “I see that this voyage will be attended with injury and much damage, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our own lives also.”
11 Lakini afisa wa jeshi la Kiroma akamsikiliza zaidi bwana wake na mmiliki wa meli, kuliko mambo yale ambayo yalizungumzwa na Paulo.
The Roman officer, however, was more influenced by the captain and the owner than by what was said by Paul.
12 Kwa sababu bandari haikuwa sehemu rahisi kukaa wakati wa baridi, mabaharia wengi wakashauri tusafiri kutoka pale, ili kwa namna yoyote tukiweza kuufikia mji wa Foinike, tukae pale wakati wa baridi. Foinike ni bandari huko Krete, na inatazama kaskazini mashariki na kusini mashariki.
And, as the harbor was not a suitable one to winter in, the majority were in favor of continuing the voyage, in hope of being able to reach Phoenix, and winter there. Phoenix was a Cretan harbor, open to the north-east and south-east.
13 Upepo wa kusini ulipoanza kuvuma polepole, mabaharia wakafikiri wamepata kile ambacho walikuwa wanakihitaji. Wakang'oa nanga na kusafiri kandokando ya Krete karibu na pwani.
So, when a light wind sprang up from the south, thinking that they had found their opportunity, they weighed anchor and kept along the coast of Crete, close in shore.
14 Lakini baada ya muda mfupi upepo mkali, ulioitwa Wa kaskazini mashariki, ukaanza kutupiga kutoka ng'ambo ya kisiwa.
But shortly afterward a hurricane came down on us off the land – a north-easter, as it is called.
15 Wakati meli ilipolemewa na kushindwa kuukabili upepo, tukakubaliana na hali hiyo, tukasafirishwa nao.
The ship was caught by it and was unable to keep her head to the wind, so we had to give way and let her drive before it.
16 Tukakimbia kupitia ule upande uliokuwa unaukinga upepo wa kisiwa kiitwacho Kauda; na kwa taabu sana tulifanikiwa kuuokoa mtumbwi.
Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we only just managed to secure the ship’s boat,
17 Baada ya kuwa wameivuta, walitumia kamba kuifunga meli. Waliogopa kwamba tungeweza kwenda kwenye eneo la mchanga mwingi la Syiti, hivyo wakashusha nanga na waliendeshwa kandokando.
and, after hoisting it on board, the men frapped the ship. But, afraid of being driven on to the Syrtis Sands, they lowered the yard, and then drifted.
18 Tulipigwa kwa nguvu sana na dhoruba, hivyo siku iliyofuata mabaharia wakaanza kutupa mizigo kutoka melini.
So violently were we tossed about by the storm, that the next day they began throwing the cargo overboard,
19 Siku ya tatu, mabaharia wakaanza kuyatoa maji kwa mikono yao wenyewe.
and, on the following day, threw out the ship’s tackle with their own hands.
20 Wakati ambapo jua na nyota hazikutuangazia kwa siku nyingi, bado dhoruba kubwa ilitupiga, na matumaini kwamba tungeokolewa yalitoweka.
As neither sun nor stars were visible for several days, and, as the gale still continued severe, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.
21 Baada ya kuwa wameenda muda mrefu bila chakula, hapo Paulo akasimama katikati ya mabaharia akasema, “Wanaume, mlipaswa mnisikilize, na tusingengo'a nanga kutoka Krete, ili kupata haya madhara na hasara.
It was then, when they had gone a long time without food, that Paul came forward, and said, “My friends, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and so incurred this injury and damage.
22 Na sasa nawafariji mjitie moyo, kwa sababu hakutakuwa upotevu maisha kati yenu, isipokuwa hasara ya meli tu.
Yet, even as things are, I beg you not to lose courage, for there will not be a single life lost among you – only the ship.
23 Kwa sababu usiku uliopita malaika wa Mungu, ambaye huyo Mungu mimi ni wake, na ambaye ninamwabudu pia - malaika wake alisimama pembeni mwangu
For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong, and whom I serve, stood by me, and said –
24 na kusema, “Usiogope Paulo. Lazima usimame mbele ya Kaisari, na tazama, Mungu katika wema wake amekupa hawa wote ambao wanasafiri pamoja nawe.
‘Have no fear, Paul; you must appear before the Emperor, and God himself has given you the lives of all your fellow voyagers.’
25 Hivyo, wanaume, jipeni moyo, kwa sababu namwamini Mungu, kwamba itakuwa kama nilivyoambiwa.
Therefore, courage, my friends! For I believe God, that everything will happen exactly as I have been told.
26 Lakini lazima tuumie kwa kupigwa katika baadhi ya visiwa.”
We will, however, have to be driven on some island.”
27 Ulipofika usiku wa kumi na nne, tulipokuwa tukiendeshwa huko na huko kwenye bahari ya Adratik, kama usiku wa manane hivi, mabaharia walifikiri kwamba wamekaribia nchi kavu.
It was now the fourteenth night of the storm, and we were drifting about in the Adriatic Sea, when, about midnight, the sailors began to suspect that they were drawing near land.
28 Walitumia milio kupima kina cha maji na wakapata mita thelathini na sita, baada ya muda mfupi wakapima tena wakapata mita ishirini na saba.
So they took soundings, and found twenty fathoms of water. After waiting a little, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms.
29 Waliogopa kwanza tunaweza kugonga miamba, hivyo wakashusha nanga nne kutoka katika sehemu ya kuwekea nanga na wakaomba kwamba asubuhi ingekuja mapema.
Then, as they were afraid of our being driven on some rocky coast, they let go four anchors from the stern, and longed for daylight.
30 Wale mabaharia walikuwa wanatafuta namna ya kuitelekeza ile meli na walizishusha majini boti ndogo ndogo za kuokolea maisha, na wakajifanya kwamba wanatupa nanga kutoka sehemu ya mbele ya boti.
The sailors wanted to leave the ship, and had lowered the boat, on pretense of running out anchors from the bows,
31 Lakini Paulo akamwambia yule askari wa jeshi la Kiroma na wale askari, “Hamuwezi kuokoka isipokuwa hawa watu wanabaki kwenye meli”.
when Paul said to the Roman officer and his men, “Unless the sailors remain on board, you cannot be saved.”
32 Kisha wale askari wakakata kamba za ile boti na ikaachwa ichukuliwe na maji.
So the soldiers cut the ropes which held the boat, and let her drift away.
33 Wakati mwanga wa asubuhi ulipokuwa unajitokeza, Paulo akawasihi wote angalau wale kidogo. Akasema, “Hii ni siku ya kumi na nne mnasuburi bila kula, hamjala kitu.
In the interval before daybreak Paul kept urging them all to take something to eat. “It is a fortnight today,” he said, “that, owing to your anxiety, you have gone without food, taking nothing.
34 Hivyo nawasihi mchukue chakula kidogo, kwa sababu hii ni kwa ajili ya kuishi kwenu; na hakuna hata unywele mmoja wa vichwa vyenu utakaopotea.
So I beg you to take something to eat; your safety depends on it, for not one of you will lose even a hair of his head.”
35 Alipokwisha kusema hayo, akachukua mkate akamshukuru Mungu mbele ya macho ya kila mtu. Kisha akaumega mkate akaanza kula.
With these words he took some bread, and, after saying the thanksgiving to God before them all, broke it in pieces, and began to eat;
36 Kisha wote wakatiwa moyo na wao wakachukua chakula.
and the men all felt cheered and had something to eat themselves.
37 Tulikuwa watu 276 ndani ya meli.
There were about seventy-six of us on board, all told.
38 Walipokwisha kula vya kutosha, waliifanya meli nyepesi kwa kutupa ngano ndani ya bahari.
After satisfying their hunger, they further lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
39 Ilipokuwa mchana, hawakuitambua nchi kavu, lakini wakaona sehemu ya nchi kavu iliyoingia majini iliyokuwa na mchanga mwingi. wakajadiliana kama wanaweza kuiendesha meli kuelekea hapo.
When daylight came, they could not make out what land it was, but, observing a creek in which there was a beach, they consulted as to whether they could run the ship safely into it.
40 Hivyo wakazilegeza nanga wakaziacha baharini. Katika muda huo huo wakazilegeza kamba za tanga na wakaiinua sehemu ya mbele kuelekea kwenye upepo, hivyo wakaelekea kwenye hiyo sehemu ya mchanga mwingi.
Then they cast off, and abandoned the anchors, and at the same time unlashed the gear of the steering oars, hoisted the foresail to the wind, and made for the beach.
41 Lakini wakaja mahali ambapo mikondo miwili ya maji inakutana, na meli ikaelekea mchangani. Na ile sehemu ya mbele ya meli ikakwama pale na haikuweza kutoka, lakini sehemu ya mbele ya meli ikaanza kuvunjika kwa sababu ya ukali wa mawimbi.
They got, however, into a kind of channel, and there ran the ship aground. The bows stuck fast and could not be moved, while the stern began breaking up under the strain.
42 Mpango wa wale askari ulikuwa ni kuwaua wafungwa, ili kwamba hakuna ambaye angeogelea na kutoroka.
The advice of the soldiers was that the prisoners should be killed, so that none of them could swim away and make their escape.
43 Lakini yule askari wa jeshi la Kiroma alitaka kumwokoa Paulo, hivyo akausimamisha mpango wao; na akawaamuru wale ambao wanaweza kuogelea, waruke kutoka melini kwanza na waende nchi kavu.
But the Roman officer, anxious to save Paul, prevented their carrying out their intention, and ordered that those who could swim should be the first to jump into the sea and try to reach the shore;
44 Kisha wanaume wengine watafuata, wengine juu ya vipande vya mbao na wengine juu ya vitu vingine kutoka kwenye meli. Kwa njia hii ikatokea kwamba wote tutafika salama nchi kavu.
and that the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on different pieces of the ship. In these various ways everyone managed to get safely ashore.
