Matendo 16
1 Paulo pia alipokuja Derbe na Lystra; na tazama, pale palikuwepo na mwanafunzi aitwaye Timotheo, ni Kijana aliyezaliwa na mama wa Kiyahudi ambaye ni muumini na baba yake ni Mgiriki.
And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess that believed; but his father was a Greek.
2 Watu wa Listra na Ikonia walimshudia vizuri.
The same was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Paulo alimtaka ili asafiri naye, hivyo akamchukua na kumtahiri kwa sababu ya Wayahudi waliokuwako huko kwani wote walimjua kuwa baba yake ni Mgiriki.
Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4 Walipokuwa wakienda walipita kwenye miji na kutoa maagizo kwa makanisa ili kuyatii maagizo hayo yaliandikwa na mitume na wazee huko Yerusalemu.
And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.
5 Hivyo makanisa yakaimarishwa katika imani na walioamini wakaongezeka kwa idadi kila siku.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 Paulo na mwenzake wakaenda Firigia na Galatia, kwani Roho wa Mungu aliwakataza kuhubiri neno huko kwenye jimbo la Asia.
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
7 Walipokaribia Misia, walijaribu kwenda Bithinia, lakini Roho wa Yesu akawakataza.
and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not;
8 Kwa hiyo wakapita Misia wakaja mpaka Mji wa Troa.
and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9 Maono yalimtokea Paulo usiku, kulikuwa na mtu wa Makedonia amesimama, akimwita na kusema “Njoni mtusaidie huku Makedonia”.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 Paulo alipoona maono, mara tukajiandaa kwenda Makedonia, akijua kwamba Mungu alituita kwenda kuwahubiria injili.
And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel unto them.
11 Hivyo tukaondoka kutoka Troa, tukaenda moja kwa moja Samothrake, na siku iliyofuata tukafika mji wa Neapoli.
Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;
12 Kutoka hapo tukaenda Filipi ambao ni moja ya mji wa Makedonia, mji muhimu katika wilaya na utawala wa Kirumi na tukakaa siku kadhaa.
and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a [Roman] colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days.
13 Siku ya Sabato, tulikwenda nje ya lango kwa njia ya mto, sehemu ambayo tulidhania kutakuwa na mahali pa kufanyia maombi. Tulikaa chini na kuongea na akinamama waliokuja pamoja.
And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together.
14 Mwanamke mmoja aitwaye Lidia, muuzaji wa zambarau, kutoka katika mji wa Tiatira, mwenye kumwabudu Mungu, alitusikiliza. Bwana alimfungua moyo wake na kuweka maanani maneno yaliyosemwa na Paulo.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.
15 Baada ya kubatizwa, yeye na nyumba yake yote, alitusihi akisema “kama mmeniona kuwa mimi ni mwaminifu katika Bwana, basi nawasihi muingie na kukaa kwangu”. Akatusihi sana.
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us.
16 Ikawa kwamba, tulipokuwa tunaenda mahali pa kuomba, msichana mmoja aliyekuwa na pepo la utambuzi akakutana nasi. Alimletea bwana wake faida nyingi kwa kubashiri.
And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
17 Mwanamke huyu alimfuata Paulo pamoja na sisi, akipiga kelele na kusema “Hawa wanaume ni watumishi wa Mungu aliye Mkuu, wanaowatangazia ninyi habari ya wokovu”.
The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto you the way of salvation.
18 Alifanya hivyo kwa siku nyingi, lakini Paulo akiwa amekasirishwa na tendo hilo, aligeuka nyuma na kumwambia pepo, “Nakuamuru kwa Jina la Yesu umtoke ndani yake.” Naye akatoka na kumwacha mara moja.
And this she did for many days. But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.
19 Mabwana zake walipoona ya kuwa tumaini la faida yao limeondoka, waliwakamata Paulo na Sila na kuwaburuza sokoni mbele ya wenye mamlaka.
But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,
20 Walipowafikisha kwa mahakimu, walisema, “Hawa wanaume ni Wayahudi na wanasababisha ghasia kubwa katika mji wetu.
and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 Wanafundisha mambo ambayo siyo sheria sisi kuyapokea wala kuyafuata kama Warumi.”
and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans.
22 Umati ukawainukia kinyume Paulo na Sila, mahakimu wakararua nguo zao na kuwavua na kuamuru wachapwe viboko
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.
23 Baada ya kuwachapa viboko vingi, waliwatupa gerezani na kumuamuru askari wa gereza kuwalinda vyema.
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Baada ya kupokea amri hiyo, askari wa gereza aliwatupa katika chumba cha ndani ya gereza na kuwafunga miguu yao kwenye sehemu alipowahifadhi.
who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 Wakati wa usiku wa manane, Paulo na Sila wakawa wakiomba na kuimba nyimbo za kumsifu Mungu, huku wafungwa wengine wakiwasikiliza,
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
26 Ghafla kukatokea tetemeko kuu na misingi ya gereza ikatikiswa, milango ya gereza ikafunguka, na minyororo ya wafungwa wote ikalegezwa.
and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened; and every one’s bands were loosed.
27 Mlinzi wa Gereza aliamka kutoka usingizini na akaona milango yote ya gereza imefunguliwa; hivyo akachukua upanga wake maana alitaka kujiua kwa sababu alifikiri wafungwa wote walikwishatoroka,
And the jailor, 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 akapiga kelele kwa sauti kuu, akisema “usijidhuru kwa sababu wote tuko mahali hapa”.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Mlinzi wa gereza aliomba taa ziletwe na akaingia ndani ya gereza kwa haraka, akitetemeka na kuogopa, akawaangukia Paulo na Sila,
And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 na kuwatoa nje ya gereza na kusema, “Waheshimiwa, nifanye nini ili nipate kuokoka?”
and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 Nao wakamwambia, “Mwamini Bwana Yesu nawe utaokoka pamoja na nyumba yako.”
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.
32 Walinena neno la Bwana kwake, pamoja na watu wote wa nyumbani kwake,
And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house.
33 Mlinzi wa gereza aliwachukua usiku ule na kuwaosha sehemu walizoumia, yeye pamoja na watu wa nyumbani mwake wakabatizwa mara.
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.
34 Akawaleta Paulo na Sila nyumbani kwake na kuwatengea chakula. Naye akawa na furaha kuu pamoja na watu wa nyumbani mwake kwa sababu walimwamini Mungu.
And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.
35 Ilipokuwa mchana, mahakimu walituma ujumbe kwa yule mlinzi wa gereza wakisema, “Waruhusu wale watu waende”,
But when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36 Mlinzi wa gereza akamjulisha Paulo juu ya maneno hayo ya kuwa, “Mahakimu walituma ujumbe niruhusu mwondoke: hivyo tokeni nje na mwende kwa amani.”
And the jailor reported the words to Paul, [saying], The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore come forth, and go in peace.
37 Lakini Paulo akawaambia, “Walitupiga hadharani, watu ambao ni Warumi bila kutuhukumu na waliamua kututupa gerezani; halafu sasa wanataka kututoa kwa siri? Hapana, haitawezekana, wao wenyewe waje kututoa mahali hapa”.
But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and do they now cast us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out.
38 Walinzi wakawajulisha mahakimu juu ya maneno hayo, mahakimu wakaogopa sana pale walipojua kuwa Paulo na Sila ni Warumi.
And the serjeants reported these words unto the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;
39 Mahakimu wakaja na kuwasihi watoke, na walipowatoa nje ya gereza, waliwaomba Paulo na Sila watoke nje ya mji wao.
and they came and besought them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city.
40 Kwa hiyo Paulo na Sila wakatoka nje ya gereza wakaja nyumbani kwa Lidia. Paulo na Sila walipowaona ndugu, waliwatia moyo na kisha kuondoka katika mji huo.
And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house of] Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
