Matendo 16
1 Paulo alifika Derbe na Lustra, ambako aliishi mfuasi mmoja aitwaye Timotheo. Mama yake ambaye pia alikuwa mfuasi, alikuwa Myahudi; lakini baba yake alikuwa 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 Timotheo alikuwa na sifa kubwa kati ya wale ndugu wa Lustra na Ikonio.
He was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconiun.
3 Paulo alitaka Timotheo aandamane naye safarini, kwa hiyo alimtahiri. Alifanya hivyo kwa sababu Wayahudi wote walioishi sehemu hizo walijua kwamba baba yake Timotheo alikuwa 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 wanapita katika ile miji waliwapa watu yale maagizo yaliyotolewa na mitume na wazee kule Yerusalemu, wakawaambia wayazingatie.
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, yale makanisa yalizidi kuwa imara katika imani, na idadi ya waumini ikaongezeka kila siku.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith and continued to increase in number daily.
6 Walipitia sehemu za Frugia na Galatia kwani Roho Mtakatifu hakuwaruhusu kuhubiri huo ujumbe mkoani Asia.
Then they went through Phrygia and Galatia, the Holy Spirit having forbidden them to proclaim the message in Asia.
7 Walipofika kwenye mipaka ya Musia, walijaribu kuingia mkoani Bithunia, lakini Roho wa Yesu hakuwaruhusu.
When they got as far as Mysia, they attempted to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit it;
8 Basi, walipitia Musia, wakaenda moja kwa moja mpaka Troa.
and so they passed by Mysia and went on down to Troas.
9 Usiku huo, Paulo aliona ono ambalo alimwona mtu mmoja wa Makedonia amesimama pale na kumwomba: “Vuka, uje Makedonia ukatusaidie.”
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 Mara baada ya Paulo kuona ono hilo, tulijitayarisha kwenda Makedonia bila kukawia, tukiwa na hakika kwamba Mungu ametuita tuwapelekee Habari Njema.
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 Kutoka Troa, tulisafiri kwa meli moja kwa moja mpaka Samothrake, na kesho yake tukatia nanga Neapoli.
So we set sail from Troas and ran a straight course to Samothrace. The next day we arrived in Neapolis,
12 Kutoka huko, tulikwenda mpaka Filipi, mji wa wilaya ya kwanza ya Makedonia, na ambao pia ni koloni la Waroma. Tulikaa katika mji huo 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 tulitoka nje ya mji, tukaenda kando ya mto ambapo tulidhani ya kuwa ni mahali pa kusali. Tuliketi, tukaongea na wanawake waliokusanyika mahali hapo.
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 Miongoni mwa wale waliotusikiliza alikuwa mwanamke mmoja mcha Mungu aitwaye Ludia mwenyeji wa Thuatira, ambaye alikuwa mfanyabiashara ya nguo za kitani za rangi ya zambarau. Bwana aliufungua moyo wake hata akayapokea yale maneno Paulo aliyokuwa anasema.
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 huyo mama pamoja na jamaa yake kubatizwa, alitualika akisema, “Kama kweli mmeona kwamba mimi namwamini Bwana, karibuni nyumbani kwangu mkakae.” Akatuhimiza twende.
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 Siku moja, tulipokuwa tunakwenda mahali pa kusali, msichana mmoja aliyekuwa na pepo mwenye uwezo wa kuagua alikutana nasi. Msichana huyo alikuwa anawapatia matajiri wake fedha nyingi kwa uaguzi wake.
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 Basi, huyo msichana alimfuata Paulo na sisi, akipiga kelele na kusema, “Hawa watu ni watumishi wa Mungu Mkuu. Wanawatangazieni njia 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 Akawa anafanya hivyo kwa siku nyingi hata siku moja Paulo alikasirika, akamgeukia na kumwambia huyo pepo, “Nakuamuru kwa jina la Yesu Kristo, mtoke huyu!” Mara huyo pepo akamtoka.
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 Matajiri wa yule msichana walipoona kwamba tumaini lao la kupata mali limekwisha, waliwakamata Paulo na Sila, wakawaburuta mpaka hadharani, mbele ya wakuu.
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 Wakawashtaki kwa mahakimu wakisema, “Watu hawa ni Wayahudi na wanafanya fujo 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 desturi ambazo sisi raia wa Roma haturuhusiwi kuzikubali wala kuzifuata.”
"They are teaching customs which it is not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or practise."
22 Kundi la watu likajiunga nao, likawashambulia. Wale mahakimu wakawatatulia Paulo na Sila mavazi yao, wakaamuru wapigwe 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 kupigwa sana wakatiwa ndani, na askari wa gereza akaamriwa kuwaweka chini ya ulinzi mkali.
had many lashes inflicted upon them, and put them in prison, with a charge to the jailer to keep them safe.
24 Kutokana na maagizo hayo, huyo askari aliwaweka katika chumba cha ndani kabisa cha gereza na kuifunga miguu yao kwenye nguzo.
On receiving so strict an order he cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 Karibu na usiku wa manane Paulo na Sila walikuwa wakisali na kuimba nyimbo za kumsifu Mungu, huku wafungwa wengine wakiwa wanasikiliza.
But at midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
26 Ghafla, kulitokea mtetemeko mkuu wa ardhi ambao uliitikisa misingi ya gereza. Mara, milango yote ikafunguka na minyororo iliyowafunga hao wafungwa ikaachana.
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 Askari wa gereza alipoamka na kuiona milango ya gereza imefunguliwa, alidhani kwamba wafungwa wote walikuwa wametoroka na hivyo akauchomoa upanga wake, akataka kujiua.
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 akaita kwa sauti kubwa: “Usijidhuru mwenyewe kwa maana sisi sote tuko hapa.”
But Paul shouted loudly to him. "Do yourself no harm; for we are all here!"
29 Baada ya kumwita mtu alete taa, huyo askari wa gereza alikimbilia ndani, akajitupa mbele ya miguu ya Paulo na Sila huku akitetemeka kwa hofu.
So he called for lights, and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 Halafu aliwaongoza nje, akawauliza, “Waheshimiwa, nifanye nini nipate kuokoka?”
and brought them out, saying, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 Wao wakamjibu, “Mwamini Bwana Yesu nawe utaokolewa pamoja na jamaa yako yote.”
"Believe on the Lord Jesus," they answered, "and you will be saved, you and all your household."
32 Basi, wakamhubiria neno la Bwana yeye pamoja na jamaa yake.
Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him, as well as to all who were in his house.
33 Yule askari aliwachukua saa ileile ya usiku akawasafisha majeraha yao, kisha yeye na jamaa yake wakabatizwa papo hapo.
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 Halafu akawachukua Paulo na Sila nyumbani kwake, akawapa chakula. Yeye na jamaa yake yote wakafanya sherehe kwa vile sasa walikuwa wanamwamini 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 Kesho yake asubuhi, mahakimu waliwatuma maofisa wao wakisema, “Wafungueni wale watu.”
But in the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order, "Let these men go."
36 Yule askari wa gereza alimpasha habari Paulo: “Mahakimu wametuma ujumbe ili mfunguliwe. Sasa mnaweza kutoka na kwenda zenu 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 alimjibu, “Ati nini? Ingawa hatukuwa na kosa, walitupiga viboko hadharani hali sisi ni raia wa Roma. Tena, walitutia ndani na sasa wanataka kutufungulia kwa siri! Hata kidogo! Ni lazima wao wenyewe waje hapa watufungulie.”
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 Hao maofisa waliwapasha habari mahakimu juu ya jambo hilo, nao waliposikia kwamba Paulo na Sila walikuwa raia wa Roma, waliogopa.
The lictors reported these words to the praetors, who were frightened when they heard that they were Romans.
39 Hivyo, walikwenda kuwataka radhi na baada ya kuwatoa ndani waliwaomba watoke katika mji ule.
So they came and conciliated them, and after taking them out of prison, begged them to leave the town.
40 Paulo na Sila walitoka gerezani, wakaenda nyumbani kwa Ludia. Huko walionana na ndugu waumini na baada ya kuwatia moyo wakaondoka.
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.
