Matendo 12
1 Karibu wakati huohuo, mfalme Herode alianza kuwatesa baadhi ya Wakristo.
Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to oppress some of the church.
2 Alimwua kwa upanga Yakobo ndugu yake Yohane.
He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
3 Alipoona kuwa kitendo hiki kiliwapendeza Wayahudi, aliendelea, akamkamata Petro. (Hiyo ilifanyika wakati wa sikukuu ya Mikate Isiyotiwa chachu.)
When he saw that it pleased the Jewish people, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during 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.
When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each 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.
Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the church to God for him.
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.
The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept 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 look, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, "Stand up quickly." His chains fell off from his hands.
8 Malaika akamwambia, “Jifunge mshipi wako, vaa viatu vyako.” Akafanya hivyo. Kisha huyo malaika akamwambia, “Vaa koti lako, unifuate.”
The angel said to him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." He did so. He said to him, "Put on your cloak, 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. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought 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.
When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel 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.”
When Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting."
12 Alipotambua hivyo alikwenda moja kwa moja mpaka nyumbani kwa Maria mama yake Yohane aitwaye Marko. Humo watu wengi walikuwa wamekusanyika wakisali.
Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
13 Petro alibisha mlango wa nje na mtumishi mmoja msichana aitwaye Roda, akaenda mlangoni kuitikia.
And when Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
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.
When she recognized Peter's voice, she did not open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
15 Wakamwambia yule msichana, “Una wazimu!” Lakini yeye akasisitiza kwamba ilikuwa kweli. Nao wakamwambia, “Huyo ni malaika wake.”
They said to her, "You are crazy." But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel."
16 Wakati huo Petro alikuwa anaendelea kupiga hodi. Mwishowe walifungua mlango, wakamwona, wakashangaa.
But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.
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 he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell these things to James, and to the brothers." Then he departed, and went to another place.
18 Kulipokucha, ulitokea wasiwasi mkubwa kati ya wale askari kuhusu yaliyokuwa yamempata Petro.
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about 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.
When Herod had sought for him, and did not find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
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.
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king's personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.
21 Siku moja iliyochaguliwa, Herode akiwa amevaa mavazi rasmi na kuketi katika kiti cha kifalme aliwahutubia watu.
On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, and sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
22 Wale watu walimpigia kelele za shangwe wakisema, “Hii ni sauti ya mungu, si ya mtu.”
But the crowd shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a man."
23 Papo hapo malaika wa Bwana akamwangusha Herode chini kwa sababu hakumpa Mungu hizo sifa. Akaliwa na wadudu, akafa.
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
24 Neno la Mungu likazidi kuenea na kukua.
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25 Baada ya Barnaba na Saulo kutekeleza shughuli zao, walitoka tena Yerusalemu wakamchukua Yohane aitwaye pia Marko.
Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John whose surname was Mark.
