Machitidwe a Atumwi 7
1 Kenaka mkulu wa ansembe anafunsa Stefano kuti, “Kodi zimene akukunenerazi ndi zoona?”
Then the high priest asked, “Is this true?”
2 Stefano anayankha kuti, “Abale ndi makolo, tamverani! Mulungu waulemerero anaoneka kwa kholo lathu Abrahamu pamene ankakhala ku Mesopotamiya, asanakakhale ku Harani.
Stephen replied, “Brothers and fathers, hear what I have to say. God, who manifests himself in the glory, appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, and before he settled in Haran, and said to him –
3 Mulungu anati, ‘Tuluka mʼdziko lako, siya abale ako, ndipo pita ku dziko limene ndidzakusonyeza.’
‘Leave your country and your people, and come into the country that I will show you.’
4 “Ndipo iye anatulukadi mʼdziko la Akaldeya ndi kukakhala ku Harani. Atamwalira abambo ake, Mulungu anamuchotsa kumeneko ndi kumubweretsa mʼdziko lino limene inu mukukhalamo tsopano.
And so Abraham left the country of the Chaldaeans and settled in Haran; and from there, after his father’s death, God caused him to migrate into this country, in which you are now living.
5 Mulungu sanamupatse cholowa kuno, ngakhale kadera kakangʼono kadziko. Koma Mulungu anamulonjeza kuti adzapereka dziko lino kwa iye ndi kwa zidzukulu zake, ngakhale kuti pa nthawi imeneyi analibe mwana.
God did not at that time give him any part of it, not even a foot of ground. But he promised to give him possession of it and his descendants after him, though at that time he had no child.
6 Mulungu anayankhula motere kwa iye: ‘Zidzukulu zako zidzakhala alendo mʼdziko lachilendo, ndipo zidzakhala akapolo ndi kuzunzidwa zaka 400.’
God’s words were these – ‘Abraham’s descendants will live in a foreign country, where they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years.
7 Mulungu anati, ‘Ine ndidzalanga dziko limene zidzukulu zako zidzagwireko ukapolo, ndipo pambuyo pake akadzatuluka mʼdzikolo adzandipembedza Ine pamalo pano.’
But I myself will judge the nation, to which they will be enslaved,’ God said, ‘and after that they will leave the country and worship me in this place.’
8 Kenaka Mulungu anachita pangano la mdulidwe ndi Abrahamu. Ndipo Abrahamu, anabereka Isake, namudula ali ndi masiku asanu ndi atatu. Ndipo Isake anabereka Yakobo, Yakobo anabereka makolo khumi ndi awiri aja.
Then God made with Abraham the covenant of circumcision; and under it Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him when he was eight days old; and Isaac became the father of Jacob; and Jacob of the Twelve Patriarchs.
9 “Makolo athu anachita nsanje ndi Yosefe ndipo anamugulitsa kuti akakhale kapolo ku Igupto. Koma Mulungu anali naye
The Patriarchs, out of jealousy, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him,
10 ndipo anamupulumutsa iye kumasautso ake onse. Mulungu anamupatsa Yosefe nzeru ndi chisomo pamaso pa Farao mfumu ya ku Igupto, kotero mfumuyo inamuyika iye kukhala nduna yayikulu ya dziko la Igupto ndiponso nyumba yake yonse yaufumu.
and delivered him out of all his troubles, and enabled him to win favor and show wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor of Egypt and of his whole household.
11 “Kenaka munalowa njala mʼdziko la Kanaani, kotero kuti anthu anavutika kwambiri, ndipo makolo athu sanathe kupeza chakudya.
Then a famine spread over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, causing great distress, and our ancestors could find no food.
12 Pamene Yakobo anamva kuti ku Igupto kunali tirigu, iye anatuma makolo athu ulendo woyamba.
Hearing, however, that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors there on their first visit.
13 Pa ulendo wawo wachiwiri, Yosefe anadziwulula kwa abale akewo ndipo Farao anadziwa za banja la Yosefe.
In the course of their second visit, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14 Izi zinachitika, Yosefe anayitanitsa abambo ake Yakobo ndi banja lonse, onse pamodzi analipo 75.
Then Joseph sent an urgent invitation to his father Jacob and to his relatives, seventy-five persons in all;
15 Motero Yakobo anapita ku Igupto, kumene iye ndiponso makolo athu anamwalira.
and so Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and our ancestors also,
16 Mitembo yawo anayinyamula ndi kupita nayo ku Sekemu kumene inayikidwa mʼmanda amene Abrahamu anagula kochokera kwa ana a Hamori ku Sekemuko.
and their bodies were removed to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
17 “Nthawi itayandikira yakuti Mulungu achite zimene analonjeza kwa Abrahamu, mtundu wathu unakula ndi kuchuluka kwambiri mu Igupto.
As the time drew near for the fulfillment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people increased largely in numbers in Egypt,
18 Pambuyo pake mfumu yatsopano imene sinkamudziwa Yosefe, inayamba kulamulira dziko la Igupto.
until a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to the throne.
19 Mfumuyo inachita mwachinyengo ndi mtundu wathu ndi kuwazunza kuti ataye ana awo akhanda kuti afe.
This king acted deceitfully towards our people and ill-treated our ancestors, making them abandon their own infants, so that they should not be reared.
20 “Pa nthawi imeneyo Mose anabadwa, ndipo anali wokongola kwambiri. Iye analeredwa mʼnyumba ya abambo ake kwa miyezi itatu.
It was just at this time that Moses was born. He was an exceedingly beautiful child, and for three months was brought up in his own father’s house;
21 Atakamutaya, mwana wamkazi wa Farao anamutola nakamulera ngati mwana wake.
and, when he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh found him and brought him up as her own son.
22 Mose anaphunzira nzeru zonse za Aigupto, ndipo anali wamphamvu mʼmawu ndi ntchito zake.
So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and proved his ability both by his words and actions.
23 “Mose ali ndi zaka makumi anayi, anaganizira zokayendera abale ake Aisraeli.
When he was in his fortieth year, he resolved to visit his fellow Israelites;
24 Iye ataona mmodzi wa iwo akuzunzidwa ndi Mwigupto, anatchinjiriza Mwisraeliyo, namupha Mwiguptoyo.
and, seeing an Israelite ill-treated, he defended him, and avenged the man, who was being wronged, by striking down the Egyptian.
25 Mose anaganiza kuti abale ake adzazindikira kuti Mulungu anamuyika kuti awapulumutse koma iwo sanazindikire.
He thought his own people would understand that God was using him to save them; but they failed to do so.
26 Mmawa mwake Mose anaona Aisraeli awiri akukangana. Iye anayesa kuwayanjanitsa ponena kuti, ‘Amuna inu, ndinu abale; chifukwa chiyani mukufuna kupwetekana?’
The next day he again appeared on the scene, when some of them were fighting, and tried to make peace between them. ‘Men,’ he said, ‘you are brothers; how is it that you are ill-treating one another?’
27 “Koma munthu amene amavutitsa mnzakeyo anakankha Mose ndipo anati, ‘Ndani anakuyika kuti ukhale wotilamulira ndi wotiweruza.
But the man who was ill-treating his fellow workman pushed Moses aside saying – ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?
28 Kodi ukufuna kundipha monga momwe unaphera Mwigupto uja dzulo?’
Do you mean to make away with me as you did yesterday with that Egyptian?’
29 Mose atamva mawu awa anathawira ku Midiyani, kumene anakhala mlendo ndipo anabereka ana amuna awiri.
At these words Moses took to flight, and became an exile in Midian; and there he had two sons born to him.
30 “Ndipo patapita zaka makumi anayi mngelo anaonekera kwa Mose mʼmalawi amoto pa chitsamba mʼchipululu pafupi ndi Phiri la Sinai.
Forty years had passed when there appeared to him, in the desert of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 Iye ataona zimenezi, anadabwa. Akupita kuti akaonetsetse pafupi, Mose anamva mawu a Ambuye:
When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the vision; but on his going nearer to look at it more closely, the voice of the Lord was heard to say –
32 ‘Ine ndine Mulungu wa makolo ako, Mulungu wa Abrahamu, Isake ndi Yakobo.’ Mose ananjenjemera chifukwa cha mantha ndipo sanalimbe mtima kuyangʼananso.
‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and did not dare to look.
33 “Ndipo Ambuye anati kwa Mose, ‘Vula nsapato zako, pakuti malo amene wayimapo ndi opatulika.
Then the Lord said to him – ‘Take your sandals off your feet, for the spot where you are standing is holy ground.
34 Ine ndaona ndithu mazunzo a anthu anga amene ali ku Igupto. Ndamva kulira kwawo choncho ndabwera kuti ndiwapulumutse. Tsopano tiye ndikutume ku Igupto.’
I have seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. Come now and I will send you into Egypt.’
35 “Uyu ndi Mose yemwe uja amene Aisraeli anamukana ndi kunena kuti, ‘Ndani anakuyika kuti ukhale wotilamulira ndi wotiweruza?’ Iyeyo anatumidwa ndi Mulungu mwini kuti akakhale wowalamulira ndiponso mpulumutsi, mothandizidwa ndi mngelo amene anamuonekera pa chitsamba.
This same Moses, whom they had disowned with the words – ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ was the man whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, under the guidance of the angel that had appeared to him in the bush.
36 Iye anawatulutsa mu Igupto ndipo anachita zodabwitsa ndi zizindikiro zozizwitsa mu Igupto, pa Nyanja Yofiira, ndiponso mʼchipululu kwa zaka makumi anayi.
He it was who led them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the desert during forty years.
37 “Uyu ndi Mose uja amene anati kwa Aisraeli, ‘Mulungu adzawutsa pakati pa abale anu mneneri ngati ine.’
This was the Moses who said to the people of Israel – ‘God will raise up for you, from among yourselves, a prophet, as he raised up me.’
38 Iyeyu anali mʼgulu la Aisraeli mʼchipululu pamodzi ndi mngelo amene anamuyankhula pa phiri la Sinai ndiponso makolo athu; ndipo Mose analandira mawu amoyo kuti atipatse ife.
He, too, it was who was present at the assembly in the desert, with the angel who talked to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and who received living truths to impart to you.
39 “Koma makolo athu anakana kumumvera iye. Iwo anamukana iye ndipo mʼmitima mwawo anatembenukira ku Igupto.
Yet our ancestors refused him obedience; more than that, they rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
40 Iwo anati kwa Aaroni, ‘Bwera utipangire milungu imene idzititsogolera. Kunena za Mose amene anatitsogolera kutuluka mʼdziko la Igupto, sitikudziwa chimene chamuchitikira.
while they said to Aaron – ‘Make us Gods who will lead the way for us, since, as for this Moses who has brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’
41 Iyi ndi nthawi imene anapanga fano la mwana wangʼombe. Anapereka nsembe kwa fanoli nachita chikondwerero kulemekeza ntchito ya manja awo.
That was the time when they made the calf and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held festivities in honor of their own handiwork!
42 Koma Mulungu anawafulatira, nawapereka kuti apembedze zolengedwa zakumwamba. Zimenezi zikugwirizana ndi zimene zinalembedwa mʼbuku la aneneri kuti, “‘Kodi pa zaka makumi anayi zimene munakhala mʼchipululu muja munkandibweretsera nsembe ndi zopereka, inu nyumba ya Israeli?’
So God turned from them and left them to the worship of the Starry Host, as is written in the book of the prophets – ‘Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me, house of Israel, all those forty years in the desert?
43 Ayi, inu mwanyamula tenti ya Moloki ndi nyenyezi ya mulungu wanu Refani, mafano amene munapanga kuti muziwapembedza. Chifukwa chake, Ine ndidzakutumizani kutali, kupitirira dziko la Babuloni.
You took with you the tent where Moloch is worshiped and the star of the god Rephan – the images which you had made to worship. Therefore I will exile you beyond Babylon.’
44 “Makolo athu anali ndi tenti ya msonkhano pakati pawo mʼchipululu. Anayipanga monga momwe Mulungu anawuzira Mose, molingana ndi chithunzi chimene Mose anachiona.
Our ancestors had the tent where they worshiped God in the desert, constructed, just as he who spoke to Moses had directed him to make it, after the model which he had seen.
45 Makolo athu, atayilandira Tentiyo, anabwera nayo motsogozedwa ndi Yoswa pamene analanda dziko la mitundu imene Mulungu anayipirikitsa pamaso pawo. Tentiyo inakhala mʼdzikomo mpaka nthawi ya Davide,
This tent, which was handed down to them, was brought into this country by our ancestors who accompanied Joshua (at the conquest of the nations that God drove out before their advance), and remained here until the time of David.
46 amene anapeza chisomo pamaso pa Mulungu ndipo anapempha kuti amʼmangire nyumba Mulungu wa Yakobo.
David found favor with God, and prayed that he might provide the God of Jacob with a place to reside.
47 Koma anali Solomoni amene anamanga nyumbayo.
But it was Solomon who built a house for God.
48 “Komatu, Wammwambamwambayo sakhala mʼnyumba zomangidwa ndi anthu. Monga mneneri akunena kuti,
Yet it is not in buildings made by hands that the Most High dwells. As the prophet says –
49 “‘Kumwamba ndi mpando wanga waufumu, ndipo dziko lapansi ndi chopondapo mapazi anga. Kodi mudzandimangira nyumba yotani? Akutero Ambuye. Kapena malo opumuliramo Ine ali kuti?
‘The heavens are a throne for me, and the earth a stool for my feet. What manner of house will you build me, asks the Lord, or what place is there where I may rest?
50 Kodi si dzanja langa linapanga zonsezi?’
Was it not my hand that made all these things?’
51 “Anthu wokanika inu, osachita mdulidwe wa mu mtima ndi a makutu ogontha! Inu ofanana ndi makolo anu. Nthawi zonse mumakana kumvera Mzimu Woyera:
Stubborn people, heathen in heart and ears, you are for ever resisting the Holy Spirit; your ancestors did it, and you are doing it still.
52 Kodi analipo mneneri amene makolo anu sanamuzunze? Iwo anapha ngakhale amene ananeneratu za kubwera kwa Wolungamayo. Ndipo tsopano inu munamupereka ndi kumupha Iye.
Which of the prophets escaped persecution at their hands? They killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one; of whom you, in your turn, have now become the betrayers and murderers –
53 Inu amene munalandira Malamulo amene anaperekedwa ndi angelo ndipo simunawamvere.”
you who received the Law as transmitted by angels and yet failed to keep it.”
54 Atamva zimenezi, iwo anakwiya kwambiri ndipo anamukukutira mano.
As they listened to this, the Council grew frantic with rage, and gnashed their teeth at Stephen.
55 Koma Stefano, wodzaza ndi Mzimu Woyera, anayangʼana kumwamba ndipo anaona ulemerero wa Mulungu ndiponso Yesu atayimirira ku dzanja lamanja la Mulungu.
He, filled as he was with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes intently on the heavens, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.
56 Stefano anati, “Taonani, ndikuona kumwamba kotsekuka ndiponso Mwana wa Munthu atayimirira ku dzanja la manja la Mulungu.”
“Look,” he exclaimed, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand!”
57 Koma iwo anatseka mʼmakutu mwawo, ndipo anafuwula kolimba, onse anathamangira kwa iye,
At this, with a loud shout, they stopped their ears and all rushed on him, forced him outside the city,
58 anamukokera kunja kwa mzinda ndipo anayamba kumugenda miyala. Mboni zinasungitsa zovala zawo kwa mnyamata otchedwa Saulo.
and began to stone him, the witnesses laying their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 Akumugenda miyala, Stefano anapemphera kuti, “Ambuye Yesu, landirani mzimu wanga.”
And they stoned Stephen, while he cried to the Lord, “Lord Jesus! Receive my spirit!”
60 Ndipo anagwada pansi nafuwula mwamphamvu kuti, “Ambuye musawawerengere tchimoli.” Atanena mawu amenewa anamwalira.
Falling on his knees, he called out loudly, “Lord! Do not charge them with this sin;” and with these words he fell asleep.
