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 came to Derbe and Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek.
2 Timotheo alikuwa na sifa kubwa kati ya wale ndugu wa Lustra na Ikonio.
The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him.
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.
Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were 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 went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
5 Hivyo, yale makanisa yalizidi kuwa imara katika imani, na idadi ya waumini ikaongezeka kila siku.
So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 Walipitia sehemu za Frugia na Galatia kwani Roho Mtakatifu hakuwaruhusu kuhubiri huo ujumbe mkoani Asia.
When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
7 Walipofika kwenye mipaka ya Musia, walijaribu kuingia mkoani Bithunia, lakini Roho wa Yesu hakuwaruhusu.
When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn’t allow them.
8 Basi, walipitia Musia, wakaenda moja kwa moja mpaka Troa.
Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9 Usiku huo, Paulo aliona ono ambalo alimwona mtu mmoja wa Makedonia amesimama pale na kumwomba: “Vuka, uje Makedonia ukatusaidie.”
A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging 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.
When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.
11 Kutoka Troa, tulisafiri kwa meli moja kwa moja mpaka Samothrake, na kesho yake tukatia nanga Neapoli.
Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following 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 from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
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 of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to 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.
A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.
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 were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
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.
As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much 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.”
Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a 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 was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour.
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 masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
20 Wakawashtaki kwa mahakimu wakisema, “Watu hawa ni Wayahudi na wanafanya fujo katika mji wetu.
When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city
21 Wanafundisha desturi ambazo sisi raia wa Roma haturuhusiwi kuzikubali wala kuzifuata.”
and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.”
22 Kundi la watu likajiunga nao, likawashambulia. Wale mahakimu wakawatatulia Paulo na Sila mavazi yao, wakaamuru wapigwe viboko.
The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23 Baada ya kupigwa sana wakatiwa ndani, na askari wa gereza akaamriwa kuwaweka chini ya ulinzi mkali.
When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
24 Kutokana na maagizo hayo, huyo askari aliwaweka katika chumba cha ndani kabisa cha gereza na kuifunga miguu yao kwenye nguzo.
Having received such a command, he threw them into 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.
But 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.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened.
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, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28 Lakini Paulo akaita kwa sauti kubwa: “Usijidhuru mwenyewe kwa maana sisi sote tuko hapa.”
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, 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.
He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,
30 Halafu aliwaongoza nje, akawauliza, “Waheshimiwa, nifanye nini nipate kuokoka?”
brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 Wao wakamjibu, “Mwamini Bwana Yesu nawe utaokolewa pamoja na jamaa yako yote.”
They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 Basi, wakamhubiria neno la Bwana yeye pamoja na jamaa yake.
They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and 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.
He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.
34 Halafu akawachukua Paulo na Sila nyumbani kwake, akawapa chakula. Yeye na jamaa yake yote wakafanya sherehe kwa vile sasa walikuwa wanamwamini Mungu.
He brought them up into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly with all his household, having believed in God.
35 Kesho yake asubuhi, mahakimu waliwatuma maofisa wao wakisema, “Wafungueni wale watu.”
But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, “Let those 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 these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore 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 to them, “They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!”
38 Hao maofisa waliwapasha habari mahakimu juu ya jambo hilo, nao waliposikia kwamba Paulo na Sila walikuwa raia wa Roma, waliogopa.
The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,
39 Hivyo, walikwenda kuwataka radhi na baada ya kuwatoa ndani waliwaomba watoke katika mji ule.
and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city.
40 Paulo na Sila walitoka gerezani, wakaenda nyumbani kwa Ludia. Huko walionana na ndugu waumini na baada ya kuwatia moyo wakaondoka.
They went out of the prison and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, then departed.
