1
Basi ilipoamriwa tuabiri hata Italia, wakamtia Paulo na wafungwa wengine katika mikono ya akida mmoja, jina lake Yulio, wa kikosi cha Augusto.
When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.
2
Tukapanda katika merikebu ya Adramitio iliyokuwa tayari kusafiri mpaka miji ya pwani za Asia, tukatweka; Aristarko, Mmakedonia wa Thesalonike, akiwa pamoja nasi.
We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
3
Siku ya pili tukawasili Sidoni; Yulio akamfadhili sana Paulo akampa ruhusa kwenda kwa rafiki zake, apate kutunzwa.
The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care.
4
Kutoka huko tukatweka, tukasafiri chini ya Kipro ili kuukinga upepo, kwa maana pepo zilikuwa za mbisho.
After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.
5
Tulipopita bahari ya upande wa Kilikia na Pamfilia, tukafika Mira, mji wa Likia.
And when we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.
6
Na huko yule akida akakuta merikebu ya Iskanderia, tayari kusafiri kwenda Italia, akatupandisha humo.
There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.
7
Tukasafiri polepole kwa muda wa siku nyingi, tukafika mpaka Nido kwa shida; na kwa sababu upepo ulikuwa ukituzuia tukapita chini ya Krete, tukaikabili Salmone.
After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
8
Tukaipita kwa shida, pwani kwa pwani, tukafika mahali paitwapo Bandari Nzuri. Karibu na hapo pana mji uitwao Lasea.
After we had moved along the coast with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
9
Na wakati mwingi ulipokwisha kupita, na safari ikiwa ina hatari sasa, kwa sababu siku za kufunga zilikuwa zimekwisha kupita, Paulo akawaonya,
By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,
10
akawaambia, Wanaume, naona kwamba safari hii itakuwa na madhara na hasara nyingi, si ya shehena na merikebu tu, ila na ya maisha yetu pia.
“Men, I can see that our voyage will be filled with disaster and great loss, not only to ship and cargo, but to our own lives as well.”
11
Lakini yule akida akawasikiliza nahodha na mwenye merikebu zaidi ya yale aliyoyasema Paulo.
But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship.
12
Na kwa sababu bandari ile ilikuwa haifai kukaa wakati wa baridi, wengi wao wakatoa shauri la kutweka kutoka huko ili wapate kufika Foinike, kama ikiwezekana, na kukaa huko wakati wa baridi; nayo ni bandari ya Krete, inaelekea kaskazini-mashariki na kusini-mashariki.
Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, hoping that somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest.
13
Na upepo wa kusi ulipoanza kuvuma kidogo, wakidhani ya kuwa wamepata waliyoazimu kupata, wakang'oa nanga, wakasafiri karibu na Krete pwani kwa pwani.
When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had their opportunity. So they weighed anchor and sailed along, hugging the coast of Crete.
14
Baada ya muda mchache ukavuma upepo wa nguvu wa namna ya tufani, uitwao Eurakilo,
But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island.
15
merikebu iliposhikwa, na kutoweza kushindana na upepo, tukaiacha tukachukuliwa.
Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. So we gave way and let ourselves be driven along.
16
Na tukipita upesi karibu na kisiwa kidogo kiitwacho Kauda tukadiriki kuikweza mashua; lakini kwa shida.
Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we barely managed to secure the lifeboat.
17
Walipokwisha kuikweza wakatumia misaada, wakaikaza merikebu kwa kupitisha kamba chini yake, nao wakiogopa wasije wakakwama katika fungu liitwalo Sirti, wakatua matanga wakachukuliwa vivi hivi.
After hoisting it up, the crew used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and were driven along.
18
Na kwa maana tulikuwa tukipigwa sana na ile tufani, siku ya pili yake wakaanza kuitupa shehena baharini.
We were tossed so violently that the next day the men began to jettison the cargo.
19
Siku ya tatu wakatupa vyombo vya merikebu kwa mikono yao wenyewe.
On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.
20
Jua wala nyota hazikuonekana kwa muda wa siku nyingi, na tufani kuu ikatushika, basi tukakata tamaa ya kuokoka.
When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the great storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved.
21
Na walipokuwa wamekaa wakati mwingi bila kula chakula, Paulo akasimama katikati yao, akasema, Wanaume, iliwapasa kunisikiliza mimi na kutokung'oa nanga huko Krete, na kupata madhara haya na hasara hii.
After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss.
22
Sasa nawapeni shauri, iweni na moyo mkuu, kwa maana hapana hata nafsi mmoja miongoni mwenu atakayepotea, ila merikebu tu.
But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship.
23
Kwa maana usiku huu wa leo malaika wa Mungu yule ambaye mimi ni wake, naye ndiye nimwabuduye, alisimama karibu nami,
For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
24
akaniambia, Usiogope, Paulo, huna budi kusimama mbele ya Kaisari; tena, tazama, Mungu amekupa watu wote wanaosafiri pamoja nawe.
and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’
25
Basi, wanaume, changamkeni; kwa sababu namwamini Mungu, ya kwamba yatakuwa vile vile kama nilivyoambiwa.
So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.
26
Lakini hatuna budi kupwelewa katika kisiwa kimoja.
However, we must run aground on some island.”
27
Hata usiku wa kumi na nne ulipofika, tulipokuwa tukichukuliwa huko na huko katika bahari ya Adria, kama usiku wa manane baharia wakadhani ya kuwa wanaikaribia nchi kavu.
On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.
28
Wakatupa bildi wakapata pima ishirini, wakaendelea kidogo wakatupa bildi tena, wakapata pima kumi na tano.
They took soundings and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep. Going a little farther, they took another set of soundings that read fifteen fathoms.
29
Wakachelea tusije tukapwelewa mahali penye miamba, wakatupa nanga nne za tezi, wakaomba kuche.
Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.
30
Na baharia walipotaka kukimbia na kuiacha merikebu, wakiishusha mashua baharini kana kwamba wanataka kutupa nanga za omo,
Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea.
31
Paulo akawaambia akida na askari, Hawa wasipokaa ndani ya merikebu hamtaweza kuokoka.
But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.”
32
Basi askari wakazikata kamba za mashua, wakaiacha ianguke.
So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift.
33
Na kulipokuwa kukipambauka Paulo akawasihi wote wale chakula, akisema, Leo ni siku ya kumi na nne kungoja na kufunga, hamkula kitu cho chote.
Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food.
34
Basi nawasihi mle chakula, maana itakuwa kwa wokovu wenu; kwa maana hapana hata unywele wa kichwa cha mmoja wenu utakaopotea.
So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”
35
Alipokwisha kusema hayo akatwaa mkate, akamshukuru Mungu mbele yao wote akaumega akaanza kula.
After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
36
Ndipo wakachangamka wote, wakala chakula wenyewe.
They were all encouraged and took some food themselves.
37
Na sisi tuliokuwa ndani ya merikebu tulipata watu mia mbili na sabini na sita.
In all, there were 276 of us on board.
38
Walipokwisha kushiba wakaipunguza shehena ya merikebu, wakiitupa ngano baharini.
After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
39
Kulipokucha hawakuitambua ile nchi, ila waliona hori yenye ufuo, wakashauriana kuiegesha merikebu huko, kama ikiwezekana.
When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.
40
Wakazitupilia mbali zile nanga, na kuziacha baharini, pamoja na kuzilegeza kamba za sukani, wakalitweka tanga dogo ili liushike upepo, wakauendea ule ufuo.
Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.
41
Lakini wakafikia mahali palipokutana bahari mbili, wakaiegesha merikebu, omo ikakwama ikakaa isitikiswe, bali tezi ilikuwa imefumuliwa kwa nguvu za mawimbi.
But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.
42
Shauri la askari lilikuwa kuwaua wafungwa, mtu asiogelee na kukimbia.
The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom.
43
Bali akida, akitaka kumponya Paulo, akawazuia, wasifanye kama walivyokusudia, akawaamuru wale wawezao kuogelea wajitupe kwanza baharini, wafike nchi kavu;
But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.
44
nao waliosalia, hawa juu ya mbao na hawa juu ya vitu vingine vya merikebu. Na hivyo watu wote wakapata kuifikilia nchi kavu salama.
The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.