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.
He also came to Derbe and to Lystra. At Lystra he found a disciple, Timothy by name--the son of a Christian Jewess, though he had a Greek father.
2 Timotheo alikuwa na sifa kubwa kati ya wale ndugu wa Lustra na Ikonio.
Timothy was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium,
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.
and Paul desiring that he should accompany him on his journey, took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in those parts, for they 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.
As they journeyed on from town to town, they handed to the brethren for their observance the decisions which had been arrived at by the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem.
5 Hivyo, yale makanisa yalizidi kuwa imara katika imani, na idadi ya waumini ikaongezeka kila siku.
So the Churches went on gaining a stronger faith and growing in numbers from day to day.
6 Walipitia sehemu za Frugia na Galatia kwani Roho Mtakatifu hakuwaruhusu kuhubiri huo ujumbe mkoani Asia.
Then Paul and his companions passed through Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Message in the province of Asia.
7 Walipofika kwenye mipaka ya Musia, walijaribu kuingia mkoani Bithunia, lakini Roho wa Yesu hakuwaruhusu.
When they reached the frontier of Mysia, they were about to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit this.
8 Basi, walipitia Musia, wakaenda moja kwa moja mpaka Troa.
So, passing along Mysia, they came to Troas.
9 Usiku huo, Paulo aliona ono ambalo alimwona mtu mmoja wa Makedonia amesimama pale na kumwomba: “Vuka, uje Makedonia ukatusaidie.”
Here, one night, Paul saw a vision. There was a Macedonian who was standing, 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 immediately looked out for an opportunity of passing on into Macedonia, confidently inferring that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to the people there.
11 Kutoka Troa, tulisafiri kwa meli moja kwa moja mpaka Samothrake, na kesho yake tukatia nanga Neapoli.
Accordingly we put out to sea from Troas, and ran a straight course to Samothrace. The next day we came to 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 to Philippi, which is a city in Macedonia, the first in its district, a Roman colony. And there we stayed some little 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 we went beyond the city gate to the riverside, where we had reason to believe that there was a place for prayer; and sitting down we talked with the women who had come together.
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 our hearers was one named Lydia, a dealer in purple goods. She belonged to the city of Thyateira, and was a worshipper of the true God. The Lord opened her heart, so that she gave attention to what Paul was saying.
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 and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If in your judgement I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she made us go there.
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.
One day, as we were on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who claimed to be inspired and was accustomed to bring her owners large profits by telling fortunes.
17 Basi, huyo msichana alimfuata Paulo na sisi, akipiga kelele na kusema, “Hawa watu ni watumishi wa Mungu Mkuu. Wanawatangazieni njia ya wokovu.”
She kept following close behind Paul and the rest of us, crying aloud, "These men are the bondservants of the Most High God, and are proclaiming 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.
This she persisted in for a considerable time, until Paul, wearied out, turned round and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out immediately.
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 off to the magistrates in the public square.
20 Wakawashtaki kwa mahakimu wakisema, “Watu hawa ni Wayahudi na wanafanya fujo katika mji wetu.
Then they brought them before the praetors. "These men," they said, "are creating a great disturbance in our city.
21 Wanafundisha desturi ambazo sisi raia wa Roma haturuhusiwi kuzikubali wala kuzifuata.”
They are Jews, and are teaching customs which we, as Romans, are not permitted 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, joined in the outcry against them, till at length the praetors ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods;
23 Baada ya kupigwa sana wakatiwa ndani, na askari wa gereza akaamriwa kuwaweka chini ya ulinzi mkali.
and, after severely flogging them, they threw them into jail and bade the jailer keep them safely.
24 Kutokana na maagizo hayo, huyo askari aliwaweka katika chumba cha ndani kabisa cha gereza na kuifunga miguu yao kwenye nguzo.
He, having received an order like that, lodged them in the inner prison, and secured their feet 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.
About midnight 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.
when suddenly there was such a violent shock of earthquake that the prison shook to its foundations. Instantly the doors all flew open, and the chains fell off from every prisoner.
27 Askari wa gereza alipoamka na kuiona milango ya gereza imefunguliwa, alidhani kwamba wafungwa wote walikuwa wametoroka na hivyo akauchomoa upanga wake, akataka kujiua.
Starting up from sleep and seeing the doors of the jail wide open, the jailer drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing 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, saying, "Do yourself no injury: 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.
Then, calling for lights, he sprang in and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas;
30 Halafu aliwaongoza nje, akawauliza, “Waheshimiwa, nifanye nini nipate kuokoka?”
and, bringing them out of the prison, he exclaimed, "O 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 replied, "and both you and your household will be saved."
32 Basi, wakamhubiria neno la Bwana yeye pamoja na jamaa yake.
And they told the Lord's Message 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.
Then he took them, even at that time of night, washed their wounds, and he and all his household were immediately baptized;
34 Halafu akawachukua Paulo na Sila nyumbani kwake, akawapa chakula. Yeye na jamaa yake yote wakafanya sherehe kwa vile sasa walikuwa wanamwamini Mungu.
and bringing the Apostles up into his house, he spread a meal for them, and was filled with gladness, with his whole household, his faith resting on God.
35 Kesho yake asubuhi, mahakimu waliwatuma maofisa wao wakisema, “Wafungueni wale watu.”
In the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order, "Release those men."
36 Yule askari wa gereza alimpasha habari Paulo: “Mahakimu wametuma ujumbe ili mfunguliwe. Sasa mnaweza kutoka na kwenda zenu kwa amani.”
So the jailer brought Paul word, saying, "The praetors have sent orders for you to be released. Now therefore you can go, and proceed on your way 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 to them, "After cruelly beating us in public, without trial, Roman citizens though we are, they have thrown us into prison, and are they now going to send us away privately? No, indeed! Let them come in person and fetch us out."
38 Hao maofisa waliwapasha habari mahakimu juu ya jambo hilo, nao waliposikia kwamba Paulo na Sila walikuwa raia wa Roma, waliogopa.
This answer the lictors took back to the praetors, who were alarmed when they were told that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
39 Hivyo, walikwenda kuwataka radhi na baada ya kuwatoa ndani waliwaomba watoke katika mji ule.
Accordingly they came and apologized to them; and, bringing them out, asked them to leave the city.
40 Paulo na Sila walitoka gerezani, wakaenda nyumbani kwa Ludia. Huko walionana na ndugu waumini na baada ya kuwatia moyo wakaondoka.
Then Paul and Silas, having come out of the prison, went to Lydia's house; and, after seeing the brethren and encouraging them, they left Philippi.
