Matendo 27
1 Ilipoamuliwa kwamba tungesafiri kwa njia ya bahari kwenda Italia, Paulo na wafungwa wengine wakakabidhiwa kwa kiongozi mmoja wa askari aliyeitwa Juliasi, aliyekuwa wa Kikosi cha Walinzi wa Kaisari.
Now when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they handed over Paul and a few other prisoners into the custody of Julius, a Captain of the Augustan battalion;
2 Tulipanda meli iliyotoka Adramitio, iliyokuwa inakaribia kusafiri kwenda kwenye bandari zilizopo pwani ya Asia, tukaanza safari yetu tukiwa pamoja na Aristarko, Mmakedonia kutoka Thesalonike.
and going on board a ship of Adramyttium which was about to sail to the ports of the province of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, the Macedonian, from Thessalonica, forming one of our party.
3 Kesho yake tukatia nanga Sidoni, naye Juliasi akamfanyia wema Paulo, akamruhusu aende kwa rafiki zake ili wamtimizie mahitaji yake.
The next day we put in at Sidon. There Julius treated Paul with thoughtful kindness and allowed him to visit his friends and profit by their generous care.
4 Kutoka huko tukaingia baharini tena na tukapita upande wa chini wa kisiwa cha Kipro kwa sababu upepo ulikuwa wa mbisho.
Putting to sea again, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us;
5 Baada ya sisi kuvuka bahari iliyoko upande wa Kilikia na Pamfilia, tukafika Mira huko Likia.
and, sailing the whole length of the sea that lies off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we reached Myra in Lycia.
6 Huko yule kiongozi wa askari akapata meli ya Iskanderia ikielekea Italia, akatupandisha humo.
There Julius found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy, and put us on board of her.
7 Tukasafiri polepole kwa siku nyingi na kwa shida, hatimaye tukafika karibu na Nido. Kwa kuwa upepo wa mbisho ulituzuia tusiweze kushika mwelekeo tuliokusudia, tukapita chini ya Krete mkabala na Salmone.
It took several days of slow sailing for us to come with difficulty off Cnidus; from which point, as the wind did not allow us to get on in the direct course, we ran under the lee of Crete by Salmone.
8 Tukaambaa na pwani kwa shida, tukafika sehemu iitwayo Bandari Nzuri, karibu na mji wa Lasea.
Then, coasting along with difficulty, we reached a place called 'Fair Havens,' near the town of Lasea.
9 Muda mwingi ulikuwa umepotea na kusafiri baharini kulikuwa hatari kwa sababu wakati huu ulikuwa baada ya siku za kufunga. Hivyo Paulo akawaonya akasema,
Our voyage thus far had occupied a considerable time, and the navigation being now unsafe and the Fast also already over, Paul warned them.
10 “Mabwana, naona kuwa hii safari ni yenye maafa na ya kuleta hasara kubwa kwa meli na shehena, pia kwa maisha yetu.”
"Sirs," he said, "I perceive that before long the voyage will be attended with danger and heavy loss, not only to the cargo and the ship but to our own lives also."
11 Lakini badala ya yule kiongozi wa askari kusikiliza yale Paulo aliyosema, akafuata zaidi ushauri wa nahodha na mwenye meli.
But Julius let himself be persuaded by the pilot and by the owner rather than by Paul's arguments;
12 Kwa kuwa ile bandari ilikuwa haifai kukaa wakati wa majira ya baridi, wengi wakashauri kwamba tuendelee na safari wakitarajia kufika Foinike na kukaa huko kwa majira ya baridi. Hii ilikuwa bandari iliyoko katika kisiwa cha Krete ikikabili upande wa kusini-magharibi na kaskazini-magharibi.
and as the harbour was inconvenient for wintering in, the majority were in favour of putting out to sea, to try whether they could get to Phoenix--a harbour on the coast of Crete facing north-east and south-east--to winter there.
13 Upepo mtulivu ulipoanza kuvuma toka kusini, wakadhani kuwa wangeweza kufikia lengo lao, hivyo wakangʼoa nanga na kusafiri wakipita kandokando ya pwani ya kisiwa cha Krete.
And a light breeze from the south sprang up, so that they supposed they were now sure of their purpose. So weighing anchor they ran along the coast of Crete, hugging the shore.
14 Lakini baada ya muda mfupi ikavuma tufani kubwa iitwayo “Eurakilo” toka kisiwa cha Krete.
But it was not long before a furious north-east wind, coming down from the mountains, burst upon us and carried the ship out of her course.
15 Meli ikapigwa na dhoruba na haikuweza kushindana na ule upepo, tukarudishwa baharini upepo ulikokuwa unaelekea.
She was unable to make headway against the gale; so we gave up and let her drive.
16 Hatimaye tukisafiri kupita chini ya kisiwa kidogo kiitwacho Kauda, ambapo kwa kuwa tulikuwa tumekingiwa upepo na hicho kisiwa, tuliweza kwa shida kuifunga mashua ya kuokolea watu.
Then we ran under the lee of a little island called Cauda, where we managed with great difficulty to secure the boat;
17 Watu walipokwisha kuivuta mashua hiyo na kuiingiza katika meli, waliifunga kwa kamba chini ya meli yenyewe ili kuzishikanisha pamoja. Wakiogopa kupelekwa kwenye mchanga karibu na pwani ya Sirti, wakashusha matanga wakaiacha meli isukumwe na huo upepo.
and, after hoisting it on board, they used frapping-cables to undergird the ship, and, as they were afraid of being driven on the Syrtis quicksands, they lowered the gear and lay to.
18 Tulikuwa tunapigwa na dhoruba kwa nguvu, kiasi kwamba kesho yake walianza kutupa shehena toka melini.
But, as the storm was still violent, the next day they began to lighten the ship;
19 Siku ya tatu, wakatupa vyombo vya meli baharini kwa mikono yao wenyewe.
and, on the third day, with their own hands they threw the ship's spare gear overboard.
20 Kulipokuwa hakuna kuonekana kwa jua wala nyota kwa siku nyingi, nayo dhoruba ikiwa inaendelea kuwa kali, hatimaye tulikata kabisa tamaa ya kuokoka.
Then, when for several days neither sun nor stars were seen and the terrific gale still harassed us, the last ray of hope was now vanishing.
21 Baada ya watu kukaa siku nyingi bila kula chakula, Paulo akasimama katikati yao akasema, “Enyi watu, iliwapasa kunisikiliza na kuacha kusafiri baharini kutoka Krete, ndipo ninyi mngekuwa mmejinusuru na uharibifu huu na hasara hii.
When for a long time they had taken but little food, Paul, standing up among them, said, "Sirs, you ought to have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete. You would then have escaped this suffering and loss.
22 Sasa ninawasihi sana, jipeni moyo mkuu kwa kuwa hakuna hata mmoja wenu atakayepoteza maisha yake, ila meli itaangamia.
But now take courage, for there will be no destruction of life among you, but of the ship only.
23 Jana usiku, malaika wa Mungu yule ambaye mimi ni wake na ambaye ninamwabudu alisimama karibu nami,
For there stood by my side, last night, an angel of the God to whom I belong, and whom also I worship,
24 naye akasema, ‘Paulo usiogope, kwa kuwa ni lazima usimame mbele ya Kaisari, naye Mungu amekupa kwa neema uhai wa wote wanaosafiri pamoja nawe.
and he said, "'Dismiss all fear, Paul, for you must stand before Caesar; and God has granted you the lives of all who are sailing with you.'
25 Hivyo jipeni moyo, enyi watu, kwa kuwa ninamwamini Mungu kwamba yatakuwa kama vile alivyoniambia.’
"Therefore, Sirs, take courage; for I believe God, and am convinced that things will happen exactly as I have been told.
26 Lakini hata hivyo meli yetu itakwama kwenye kisiwa fulani.”
But we are to be stranded on a certain island."
27 Usiku wa kumi na nne ulipofika, tulikuwa bado tunasukumwa na upepo katika Bahari ya Adria. Ilipokuwa yapata usiku wa manane, mabaharia wakahisi kwamba walikuwa wanakaribia nchi kavu.
It was now the fourteenth night, and we were drifting through the Sea of Adria, when, about midnight, the sailors suspected that land was close at hand.
28 Kwa hiyo wakapima kina cha maji na kukuta kilikuwa pima ishirini, baada ya kuendelea mbele kidogo wakapima tena wakapata kina cha pima kumi na tano.
So they hove the lead and found twenty fathoms of water; and after a short time they hove again and found fifteen fathoms.
29 Wakiogopa kwamba meli yetu ingegonga kwenye miamba, wakashusha nanga nne za nyuma ya meli, wakawa wanaomba kupambazuke.
Then for fear of possibly running on rocks, they threw out four anchors from the stern and waited impatiently for daylight.
30 Katika jaribio la kutoroka kutoka kwenye meli, mabaharia wakashusha mashua ya kuokolea watu baharini, wakijifanya kwamba wanakwenda kushusha nanga za omo.
The sailors, however, wanted to make their escape from the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow.
31 Ndipo Paulo akamwambia yule jemadari na askari, “Hawa watu wasipobaki katika meli, hamtaweza kuokoka.”
But Paul, addressing Julius and the soldiers, said, "Your lives will be sacrificed, unless these men remain on board."
32 Hivyo basi wale askari wakakata kamba zilizoshikilia ile mashua ya kuokolea watu kwenye meli, wakaiacha ianguke humo baharini.
Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship's boat and let her fall off.
33 Kabla ya mapambazuko, Paulo akawasihi watu wote wale chakula akisema, “Leo ni siku ya kumi na nne mmekuwa katika wasiwasi mkiwa mmefunga na bila kula chochote.
And continually, up till daybreak, Paul kept urging all on board to take some food. "This is the fourteenth day," he said, "that you have been anxiously waiting for the storm to cease, and have fasted, eating little or nothing.
34 Kwa hiyo nawasihi mle chakula, kwa maana itawasaidia ili mweze kuishi. Kwa kuwa hakuna hata mmoja wenu atakayepoteza unywele hata mmoja kutoka kichwani mwake.”
I therefore strongly advise you to take some food. This is essential for your safety. For not a hair will perish from the head of any one of you."
35 Baada ya kusema maneno haya, Paulo akachukua mkate, akamshukuru Mungu mbele yao wote, akaumega akaanza kula.
Having said this he took some bread, and, after giving thanks to God for it before them all, he broke it in pieces and began to eat it.
36 Ndipo wote wakatiwa moyo, wakaanza kula chakula.
This raised the spirits of all, and they too took food.
37 Ndani ya meli tulikuwa jumla ya watu 276.
There were 276 of us, crew and passengers, all told.
38 Baada ya watu wote kula chakula cha kutosha, wakapunguza uzito wa meli kwa kutupa ngano baharini.
After eating a hearty meal they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat overboard.
39 Kulipopambazuka, mabaharia hawakuitambua ile nchi, lakini waliona ghuba yenye ufuko wa mchanga, ambako waliamua kuipweleza meli kama ingewezekana.
When daylight came, they tried in vain to recognise the coast. But an inlet with a sandy beach attracted their attention, and now their object was, if possible, to run the ship aground in this inlet.
40 Kwa hiyo wakatupa nanga zote na kuziacha baharini, na wakati huo huo wakalegeza kamba zilizokuwa zikishikilia usukani wa meli. Kisha wakatweka tanga la mbele lishike upepo na kuisukuma meli kuelekea pwani.
So they cut away the anchors and left them in the sea, unloosing at the same time the bands which secured the paddle-rudders. Then, hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.
41 Lakini wakafika mahali ambapo bahari mbili zinakutana, wakaipweleza meli ufuoni, omo ikakwama sana, ikawa haiwezi kuondolewa, lakini sehemu ya shetri ikavunjika vipande vipande kwa kule kupiga kwa mawimbi yenye nguvu.
But coming to a place where two seas met, they stranded the ship, and her bow sticking fast remained immovable, while the stern began to go to pieces under the heavy hammering of the sea.
42 Wale askari wakapanga kuwaua wale wafungwa ili kuzuia hata mmoja wao asiogelee na kutoroka.
Now the soldiers recommended that the prisoners should be killed, for fear some one of them might swim ashore and effect his escape.
43 Lakini yule jemadari alitaka kuokoa maisha ya Paulo, basi akawazuia askari wasitekeleze mpango wao. Akaamuru wale wanaoweza kuogelea wajitupe baharini kwanza, waogelee mpaka nchi kavu.
But their Captain, bent on securing Paul's safety, kept them from their purpose and gave orders that those who could swim should first jump overboard and get to land;
44 Waliosalia wangefika nchi kavu kwa kutumia mbao au vipande vya meli iliyovunjika, hivyo ikatimia kwamba wote wakaokoka na kufika nchi kavu salama.
and that the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. In this way they all got safely to land.
