Acts 27

1 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.

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.

2 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.

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.

3 The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care.

3 Kesho yake tukatia nanga Sidoni, naye Juliasi akamfanyia wema Paulo, akamruhusu aende kwa rafiki zake ili wamtimizie mahitaji yake.

4 After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.

4 Kutoka huko tukaingia baharini tena na tukapita upande wa chini wa kisiwa cha Kipro kwa sababu upepo ulikuwa wa mbisho.

5 And when we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.

5 Baada ya sisi kuvuka bahari iliyoko upande wa Kilikia na Pamfilia, tukafika Mira huko Likia.

6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.

6 Huko yule kiongozi wa askari akapata meli ya Iskanderia ikielekea Italia, akatupandisha humo.

7 After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.

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.

8 After we had moved along the coast with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

8 Tukaambaa na pwani kwa shida, tukafika sehemu iitwayo Bandari Nzuri, karibu na mji wa Lasea.

9 By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,

9 Muda mwingi ulikuwa umepotea na kusafiri baharini kulikuwa hatari kwa sababu wakati huu ulikuwa baada ya siku za kufunga. Hivyo Paulo akawaonya akasema,

10 “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.”

10 “Mabwana, naona kuwa hii safari ni yenye maafa na ya kuleta hasara kubwa kwa meli na shehena, pia kwa maisha yetu.”

11 But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship.

11 Lakini badala ya yule kiongozi wa askari kusikiliza yale Paulo aliyosema, akafuata zaidi ushauri wa nahodha na mwenye meli.

12 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.

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.

13 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.

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.

14 But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island.

14 Lakini baada ya muda mfupi ikavuma tufani kubwa iitwayo “Eurakilo” toka kisiwa cha Krete.

15 Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. So we gave way and let ourselves be driven along.

15 Meli ikapigwa na dhoruba na haikuweza kushindana na ule upepo, tukarudishwa baharini upepo ulikokuwa unaelekea.

16 Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we barely managed to secure the lifeboat.

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.

17 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.

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.

18 We were tossed so violently that the next day the men began to jettison the cargo.

18 Tulikuwa tunapigwa na dhoruba kwa nguvu, kiasi kwamba kesho yake walianza kutupa shehena toka melini.

19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.

19 Siku ya tatu, wakatupa vyombo vya meli baharini kwa mikono yao wenyewe.

20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the great storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved.

20 Kulipokuwa hakuna kuonekana kwa jua wala nyota kwa siku nyingi, nayo dhoruba ikiwa inaendelea kuwa kali, hatimaye tulikata kabisa tamaa ya kuokoka.

21 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.

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.

22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship.

22 Sasa ninawasihi sana, jipeni moyo mkuu kwa kuwa hakuna hata mmoja wenu atakayepoteza maisha yake, ila meli itaangamia.

23 For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me

23 Jana usiku, malaika wa Mungu yule ambaye mimi ni wake na ambaye ninamwabudu alisimama karibu nami,

24 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.’

24 naye akasema, ‘Paulo usiogope, kwa kuwa ni lazima usimame mbele ya Kaisari, naye Mungu amekupa kwa neema uhai wa wote wanaosafiri pamoja nawe.

25 So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.

25 Hivyo jipeni moyo, enyi watu, kwa kuwa ninamwamini Mungu kwamba yatakuwa kama vile alivyoniambia.’

26 However, we must run aground on some island.”

26 Lakini hata hivyo meli yetu itakwama kwenye kisiwa fulani.”

27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.

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.

28 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.

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.

29 Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.

29 Wakiogopa kwamba meli yetu ingegonga kwenye miamba, wakashusha nanga nne za nyuma ya meli, wakawa wanaomba kupambazuke.

30 Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea.

30 Katika jaribio la kutoroka kutoka kwenye meli, mabaharia wakashusha mashua ya kuokolea watu baharini, wakijifanya kwamba wanakwenda kushusha nanga za omo.

31 But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.”

31 Ndipo Paulo akamwambia yule jemadari na askari, “Hawa watu wasipobaki katika meli, hamtaweza kuokoka.”

32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift.

32 Hivyo basi wale askari wakakata kamba zilizoshikilia ile mashua ya kuokolea watu kwenye meli, wakaiacha ianguke humo baharini.

33 Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food.

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.

34 So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”

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.”

35 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.

35 Baada ya kusema maneno haya, Paulo akachukua mkate, akamshukuru Mungu mbele yao wote, akaumega akaanza kula.

36 They were all encouraged and took some food themselves.

36 Ndipo wote wakatiwa moyo, wakaanza kula chakula.

37 In all, there were 276 of us on board.

37 Ndani ya meli tulikuwa jumla ya watu 276.

38 After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

38 Baada ya watu wote kula chakula cha kutosha, wakapunguza uzito wa meli kwa kutupa ngano baharini.

39 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.

39 Kulipopambazuka, mabaharia hawakuitambua ile nchi, lakini waliona ghuba yenye ufuko wa mchanga, ambako waliamua kuipweleza meli kama ingewezekana.

40 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.

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.

41 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.

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.

42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom.

42 Wale askari wakapanga kuwaua wale wafungwa ili kuzuia hata mmoja wao asiogelee na kutoroka.

43 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.

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.

44 The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely 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.