Matendo 12
1 Karibu wakati huohuo, mfalme Herode alianza kuwatesa baadhi ya Wakristo.
At that time Herod the king undertook to afflict some of the church.
2 Alimwua kwa upanga Yakobo ndugu yake Yohane.
And he slew with the sword James the brother of John.
3 Alipoona kuwa kitendo hiki kiliwapendeza Wayahudi, aliendelea, akamkamata Petro. (Hiyo ilifanyika wakati wa sikukuu ya Mikate Isiyotiwa chachu.)
And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he apprehended Peter also. Those were the days of unleavened bread.
4 Baada ya kutiwa nguvuni, Petro alifungwa gerezani, akawekwa chini ya ulinzi wa vikundi vinne vya askari wannewanne. Herode alikusudia kumtoa hadharani baada ya sikukuu ya Pasaka.
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four tetrads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the passover.
5 Basi, Petro alipokuwa gerezani, kanisa lilikuwa linamwombea kwa Mungu kwa moyo.
Therefore, Peter was kept in prison; but fervent prayer to God was made for him by the church.
6 Usiku, kabla ya siku ile ambayo Herode angemtoa Petro hadharani, Petro alikuwa amelala kati ya askari wawili. Alikuwa amefungwa minyororo miwili, na walinzi walikuwa wanalinda lango la gereza.
When Herod was about to bring him out, on that night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers before the doors were guarding the prison.
7 Ghafla, malaika wa Bwana akasimama karibu naye na mwanga ukaangaza kile chumba cha gereza. Malaika akamgusa akisema, “Amka upesi!” Mara ile minyororo ikaanguka kutoka katika mikono yake.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison. And he gently struck Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying: Arise quickly; and his chains fell from his hands.
8 Malaika akamwambia, “Jifunge mshipi wako, vaa viatu vyako.” Akafanya hivyo. Kisha huyo malaika akamwambia, “Vaa koti lako, unifuate.”
And the angel said to him: Gird yourself, and bind on your sandals; and he did so. And he said to him: Throw your mantle around you, and follow me.
9 Petro akamfuata nje lakini hakujua kama hayo yaliyofanywa na huyo malaika yalikuwa ya kweli; alidhani alikuwa anaota ndoto.
And he went out, and followed him; and he knew not that what was done by the angel was real, but thought that he saw a vision.
10 Walipita kituo cha kwanza cha ulinzi na cha pili, halafu wakafika kwenye mlango wa chuma wa kuingilia mjini. Huo mlango ukawafungukia wenyewe, nao wakatoka nje. Wakawa wanatembea katika barabara moja na mara yule malaika akamwacha Petro peke yake.
And when they had passed through the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord. And they went out, and passed on through one street; and the angel immediately departed from him.
11 Hapo ndipo Petro alipotambua yaliyotukia, akasema, “Sasa najua kwa hakika kwamba Bwana amemtuma malaika wake akaniokoa kutoka katika mkono wa Herode na kutoka katika mambo yale yote watu wa Israeli waliyotazamia.”
And when Peter came to himself, he said: Now I know, in truth, that the Lord has sent his angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod, and from all that was expected by the Jewish people.
12 Alipotambua hivyo alikwenda moja kwa moja mpaka nyumbani kwa Maria mama yake Yohane aitwaye Marko. Humo watu wengi walikuwa wamekusanyika wakisali.
And being aware of his condition, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark, where many had met together, and were praying.
13 Petro alibisha mlango wa nje na mtumishi mmoja msichana aitwaye Roda, akaenda mlangoni kuitikia.
And when he knocked at the door of the entrance, a maid-servant, named Rhoda, came to listen.
14 Huyo msichana aliitambua sauti ya Petro akafurahi mno, hata badala ya kuufungua ule mlango, akakimbilia ndani na kuwaambia kwamba Petro alikuwa amesimama nje mlangoni.
And recognizing Peter’s voice, she did not open the entrance for joy, but ran in and told that Peter was standing before the entrance.
15 Wakamwambia yule msichana, “Una wazimu!” Lakini yeye akasisitiza kwamba ilikuwa kweli. Nao wakamwambia, “Huyo ni malaika wake.”
And they said to her: You are mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was even so. Then said hey: It is his angel.
16 Wakati huo Petro alikuwa anaendelea kupiga hodi. Mwishowe walifungua mlango, wakamwona, wakashangaa.
But Peter continued to knock; and when they had opened the door, they saw him, and were astonished.
17 Petro aliwaashiria kwa mkono wakae kimya, akawaeleza jinsi Bwana alivyomtoa gerezani. Kisha akawaambia watoe taarifa ya jambo hilo kwa Yakobo na wale ndugu wengine, halafu akatoka akaenda mahali pengine.
But, having made a sign to them with his hand, that they should keep silence, he made known to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, and he said: Tell this to James, and to the brethren. And he went out, and departed to another place.
18 Kulipokucha, ulitokea wasiwasi mkubwa kati ya wale askari kuhusu yaliyokuwa yamempata Petro.
And when it was day, there was no little confusion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
19 Herode aliamuru ufanywe msako lakini hawakuweza kumpata. Hivyo aliamuru wale askari wahojiwe, akatoa amri wauawe. Halafu akatoka huko Yudea akaenda Kaisarea ambako alikaa.
But Herod, when he had sought for him, and found him not, examined the keepers, and commanded them to be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Cesarean, and there he remained.
20 Herode alikasirishwa sana na watu wa Tiro na Sidoni. Lakini wao walimpelekea wajumbe. Nao wakafaulu kwanza kumpata Blasto awe upande wao. Blasto alikuwa msimamizi mkuu wa ikulu ya mfalme. Kisha, wakamwendea Herode wakamwomba kuwe na amani, kwa maana nchi yao ilitegemea nchi ya mfalme kwa chakula.
And he was intending to make war upon the Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came with one consent to him; and having made Blastus, who had charge of the king’s bed-chamber, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supported by that of the king.
21 Siku moja iliyochaguliwa, Herode akiwa amevaa mavazi rasmi na kuketi katika kiti cha kifalme aliwahutubia watu.
And on an appointed day, Herod, having arrayed himself in royal apparel, and seated himself on his throne, delivered an oration to them.
22 Wale watu walimpigia kelele za shangwe wakisema, “Hii ni sauti ya mungu, si ya mtu.”
And the people shouted: It is the voice of God, and not of man.
23 Papo hapo malaika wa Bwana akamwangusha Herode chini kwa sababu hakumpa Mungu hizo sifa. Akaliwa na wadudu, akafa.
And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give God the glory. And having been eaten by worms, he expired.
24 Neno la Mungu likazidi kuenea na kukua.
But the word of the Lord increased and multiplied.
25 Baada ya Barnaba na Saulo kutekeleza shughuli zao, walitoka tena Yerusalemu wakamchukua Yohane aitwaye pia Marko.
And Barnabas and Saul, after they had fulfilled their ministry, returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, whose surname was Mark.
