Ebikolwa by’Abatume 7
1 Awo Kabona Asinga Obukulu n’abuuza Suteefano nti, “Ebyo bwe biri bwe bityo?”
Then the High Priest asked: “Is this true?”
2 Suteefano n’addamu nti, “Baganda bange ne bakadde bange, mumpulirize! Katonda ow’ekitiibwa yalabikira jjajjaffe Ibulayimu ng’akyali mu Mesopotamiya, nga tannaba kulaga mu Kalani.
And, upon that, Stephen spoke as follows: “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 N’amugamba nti, ‘Vva mu nsi yannyo ne mu bantu bo, ogende mu nsi gye ndikulaga.’
‘Leave your country and your kindred, and come into the country that I will show you.’
4 “Bw’atyo n’ava mu nsi y’Abakuludaaya n’abeera mu Kalani, okutuusa kitaawe bwe yafa. Awo Katonda n’amuleeta wano mu nsi eno mwe tuli kaakano.
On this, 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 very country, in which you are now living.
5 Naye n’atamuwaako ttaka lirye newaakubadde awalinnyibwa ekigere. Kyokka n’asuubiza okugimuwa okugirya, ye n’ezzadde lye oluvannyuma lwe, newaakubadde nga mu kiseera ekyo lbulayimu teyalina 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 Katonda n’amugamba nti ezzadde lye, baliba bagenyi mu nsi y’abalala, era balibafuula abaddu, ne babayisa bubi okumala emyaka ebikumi bina.
God’s words were these — ‘Abraham’s descendants shall live in a foreign country, where they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years.
7 Era Katonda n’agamba nti, ‘Ndibonereza eggwanga eryo eriribafuula abaddu, n’oluvannyuma balivaayo ne bansinziza mu kifo kino.’
But I myself will judge the nation, to which they will be enslaved,’ God said, ‘and after that they shall leave the country and worship me in this place.’
8 Era n’amuwa okukomolebwa ng’akabonero ak’endagaano. Awo lbulayimu n’azaala lsaaka, n’amukomola ng’awezezza ennaku munaana ez’obukulu. Isaaka n’azaala Yakobo, ne Yakobo n’azaala bajjajjaffe ekkumi n’ababiri.
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 “Bajjajja abo ne bakwatirwa Yusufu obuggya, ne bamutunda mu Misiri. Naye Katonda yali naye,
The Patriarchs, out of jealousy, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him,
10 n’amuwonya mu kubonaabona kwonna era n’amuwa ekisa n’amagezi mu maaso ga Falaawo, ye kabaka w’e Misiri. Falaawo n’amuwa okufuga Misiri yonna era n’amukwasa okulabirira byonna ebifa mu lubiri lwe.
and delivered him out of all his troubles, and enabled him to win favour and show wisdom before Pharaoh, King of Egypt, who appointed him Governor of Egypt and of his whole household.
11 “Awo enjala n’egwa mu Misiri yonna ne mu nsi ya Kanani, n’ereetera bajjajjaffe okubonaabona ennyo kubanga baali tebalina we baggya mmere.
Then a famine spread over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, causing great distress, and our ancestors could find no food.
12 Yakobo bwe yawulira nga mu Misiri eriyo eŋŋaano n’atumayo bajjajjaffe, omulundi gwabwe ogwasooka.
Hearing, however, that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors there on their first visit.
13 Ku mulundi ogwokubiri Yusufu ne yeeyanjulira baganda be era n’ayanjulira Falaawo baganda be.
In the course of their second visit, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14 Bw’atyo Yusufu n’atumya kitaawe, Yakobo, era n’ab’ennyumba ya kitaawe bonna be bantu nsanvu mu bataano.
Then Joseph sent an urgent invitation to his father Jacob and to his relations, seventy-five persons in all;
15 Bw’atyo Yakobo n’ajja e Misiri era n’afiira eyo ne bajjajjaffe.
and so Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and our ancestors also,
16 Oluvannyuma baaleetebwa e Sekemu mu ntaana Ibulayimu gye yali aguze omuwendo gw’effeeza, ku batabani ba Kamoli mu Sekemu.
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 “Ekiseera ky’ekisuubizo bwe kyagenda kisembera, Katonda kye yasuubiza Ibulayimu, abantu ne beeyongera ne baala mu Misiri.
As the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people increased largely in numbers in Egypt,
18 Awo kabaka omulala eyali tamanyi Yusufu n’atandika okufuga Misiri.
until a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to the throne.
19 Kabaka oyo n’asalira eggwanga lyaffe amagezi, n’abonyaabonya bajjajjaffe, ng’abasuuza abaana baabwe abawere baleme okuba abalamu.
This king acted deceitfully towards our race and ill-treated our ancestors, making them abandon their own infants, so that they should not be reared.
20 “Mu biseera ebyo ne Musa n’azaalibwa, n’ayagalwa nnyo Katonda. Bakadde be ne bamulabirira mu nnyumba yaabwe okumala emyezi esatu.
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 Bwe yalekebwa mu mugga, muwala wa Falaawo n’amulonda n’amutwala n’amulera nga mutabani we.
and, when he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh found him and brought him up as her own son.
22 Musa n’ayigirizibwa mu magezi gonna ag’Abamisiri, n’akula nga w’amaanyi mu bigambo ne mu bikolwa.
So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and proved his ability both by his words and actions.
23 “Awo Musa bwe yali awezezza emyaka amakumi ana, n’asalawo mu mutima gwe okukyalirako baganda be, abaana ba Isirayiri.
When he was in his fortieth year, he resolved to visit his brother Israelites;
24 N’alaba Omuyisirayiri ng’anyigirizibwa, n’amutaasa, n’atta Omumisiri ng’awoolera eggwanga olw’oyo eyali anyigirizibwa.
and, seeing an Israelite ill-treated, he defended him, and avenged the man, who was being wronged, by striking down the Egyptian.
25 Musa n’alowooza nti baganda be banaategeera nga Katonda amutumye okubalokola, naye ne batakitegeera.
He thought his brothers would understand that God was using him to save them; but they failed to do so.
26 Olunaku olwaddirira n’alaba abalwana. N’agezaako okubatabaganya ng’abagamba nti, ‘Abasajja lwaki mulwana nga muli baaluganda?’
The next day he again appeared upon 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 “Naye oli eyali ayiikiriza munne n’asindika eri Musa ng’agamba nti, ‘Ani eyakufuula omufuzi waffe era omulamuzi waffe?
But the man who was ill-treating his fellow workman pushed Moses aside saying — ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?
28 Oyagala kunzita nga bwe watta Omumisiri jjo?’
Do you mean to make away with me as you did yesterday with that Egyptian?’
29 Musa bwe yawulira ebyo, n’adduka n’agenda abeera mugenyi mu nsi ya Midiyaani, era eyo n’azaalirayo abaana aboobulenzi babiri.
At these words Moses took to flight, and became an exile in Midian; and there he had two sons born to him.
30 “Awo nga wayiseewo emyaka amakumi ana, Musa bwe yali ng’ali mu ddungu ly’olusozi Sinaayi, malayika n’amulabikira mu muliro ogwaka, wakati mu kisaka.
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 Musa bwe yakiraba ne yeewuunya. N’agenda ng’asemberera ekisaka yeetegereze, eddoboozi lya Mukama ne limugamba nti,
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 ‘Nze Katonda wa bajjajja bo, Katonda wa Ibulayimu, ne Isaaka ne Yakobo.’ Musa n’akankana, era n’atasobola na kwongera kutunulayo.
‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and did not dare to look.
33 “Awo Mukama n’agamba Musa nti, ‘Gyamu engatto zo, kubanga ekifo w’oyimiridde kitukuvu.
Then the Lord said to him — ‘Take your sandals off your feet, for the spot where you are standing is holy ground.
34 Ndabye okubonaabona kw’abantu bange mu Misiri, ne mpulira n’okusinda kwabwe. Kyenvudde nzika okubalokola. Kaakano jjangu, nkutume e Misiri.’
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 “Oyo Musa gwe baagaana nga bagamba nti, ‘Ani eyakufuula omufuzi era omulamuzi waffe?’ Oyo Katonda gwe yatuma ng’ayita mu malayika eyamulabikira mu kisaka eky’omuliro, abeere omufuzi waabwe era omununuzi waabwe.
This same Moses, whom they had disowned with the words — ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ was the very 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 Oyo n’abaggyayo ng’amaze okukola ebyamagero n’ebyewuunyisa, mu nsi y’e Misiri, n’abayisa mu Nnyanja Emyufu, n’abatambuza mu ddungu okumala emyaka amakumi ana.
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 “Oyo ye Musa eyategeeza abaana ba Isirayiri nti, ‘Katonda agenda kubayimusiza Nnabbi ng’amuggya mu baganda bammwe nga nze.’
This was the Moses who said to the people of Israel — ‘God will raise up for you, from among your brothers, a Prophet, as he raised up me.’
38 Era Musa oyo ye yali ne bajjajjaffe mu ddungu nga bakuŋŋaanye nga malayika ayogera naye ku lusozi Sinaayi, era yaweebwa ebigambo eby’obulamu okubitutuusaako.
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 “Naye bajjajjaffe baagaana okumugondera, ne bamujeemera, era mu mitima gyabwe ne baddayo e Misiri.
Yet our ancestors refused him obedience; more than that, they rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
40 Ne bagamba Alooni nti, ‘Tukolere bakatonda abanaatukulembera, kubanga ono Musa eyatuggya mu nsi y’e Misiri tetumanyi kyabadde.’
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 Mu nnaku ezo, ne beekolera ennyana, ne bawaayo ssaddaaka eri ekifaananyi, ne basanyukira ekyo kye beekoledde n’emikono gyabwe.
That was the time when they made the Calf and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held festivities in honour of their own handiwork!
42 Awo Katonda n’abavaako, n’abawaayo okusinzanga eggye ery’omu ggulu, nga bwe kyawandiikibwa mu kitabo kya bannabbi nti, “‘Mwandeeteranga ssaddaaka n’ebiweebwayo mu ddungu emyaka gyonna amakumi ana, ggw’ennyumba ya Isirayiri?
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, O House of Israel, All those forty years in the Desert?
43 Muzimbye essabo lya Moloki, ne mugulumiza emmunyeenye ya katonda wammwe Lefani, nga be bakatonda abalala be mwekolera mubasinze. Kyendiva mbawaŋŋangusa’ okusukka Babulooni.
You took with you the tabernacle of Moloch And the Star of the god Rephan — The images which you had made to worship. Therefore I will exile you beyond Babylon.’
44 “Bajjajjaffe baatambula mu ddungu nga beetisse Eweema ey’Endagaano, eyakolebwa nga Katonda bwe yalagirira Musa ng’efaanana nga bwe yagimulaga.
Our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Revelation 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 Bajjajjaffe bajja bagisituzza abaana baabwe, okutuusa Yoswa lwe yajja nayo okulya ensi y’abamawanga Katonda be yagobanga mu maaso ga bajjajjaffe. Eweema n’ebeerawo okutuusa ku mirembe gya Dawudi.
This Tabernacle, 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 Dawudi n’asiimibwa Katonda, era n’asaba azimbire Katonda wa Yakobo ennyumba.
David found favour with God, and prayed that he might find a dwelling for the God of Jacob.
47 Naye Sulemaani ye yagizimba.
But it was Solomon who built a House for God.
48 “Naye oyo Ali Waggulu Ennyo tabeera mu nnyumba zizimbiddwa bantu. Nga nnabbi bw’agamba nti,
Yet it is not in buildings made by hands that the Most High dwells. As the Prophet says —
49 “‘Eggulu y’entebe yange ey’obwakabaka. N’ensi ke katebe kwe nteeka ebigere byange. Mukama n’agamba nti, Ononzimbira nnyumba ya ngeri ki? Oba kifo ki mwe ndiwummulira?
‘The heavens are a throne for me, And the earth a stool for my feet. What manner of House will you build me, saith the Lord, Or what place is there where I may rest?
50 Omukono gwange si gwe gwakola ebyo byonna!’
Was it not my hand that made all these things?’
51 “Mmwe abalina ensingo enkakanyavu, abatakomolebwanga mu mutima wadde amatu, muwakanya Mwoyo Mutukuvu bulijjo; era bajjajjammwe nga bwe baali, nammwe bwe mutyo bwe muli.
O! stubborn race, heathen in heart and ears, you are for ever resisting the Holy Spirit; your ancestors did it, and you are doing it still.
52 Nnabbi ki bajjajjammwe gwe bataayigganya? Batta n’abo abaalangirira okujja kw’Omutuukirivu, gwe mwalyamu olukwe ne mumutta.
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 Mmwe mwaweebwa amateeka nga bwe gaalagirwa bamalayika naye ne mutagagondera.”
You who received the Law as transmitted by angels and yet failed to keep it.”
54 Awo abakulembeze b’Abayudaaya bwe baawulira ebigambo ebyo byonna Suteefano bye yayogera, ne bajjula obusungu bungi ne bamulumira obujiji.
As they listened to this, the Council grew frantic with rage, and gnashed their teeth at Stephen.
55 Naye Suteefano ng’ajjudde Mwoyo Mutukuvu, n’atunuulira eggulu enkaliriza, n’alaba ekitiibwa kya Katonda, ne Yesu ng’ayimiridde ku mukono gwa Katonda ogwa ddyo.
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 N’abagamba nti, “Laba, ndaba eggulu nga libikkuse, nga n’Omwana w’Omuntu ayimiridde ku mukono ogwa ddyo ogwa Katonda.”
“Look,” he exclaimed, “I see Heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand!”
57 Ne baleekaanira waggulu nga bazibikidde amatu gaabwe ne bamweyiwako.
At this, with a loud shout, they stopped their ears and all rushed upon him, forced him outside the city,
58 Ne bamusindiikiriza ebweru w’ekibuga, ne bamukuba amayinja. Abaamukuba ne bassa eminagiro gyabwe ku bigere by’omuvubuka erinnya lye Sawulo.
and began to stone him, the witnesses laying their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 Awo bwe baali bakuba Suteefano amayinja, n’akoowoola Katonda ng’agamba nti, “Mukama wange Yesu, twala omwoyo gwange.”
And they stoned Stephen, while he cried to the Lord: “Lord Jesus! receive my spirit!”
60 N’agwa wansi ku maviivi n’akaaba mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka nti, “Mukama wange, tobavunaana olw’ekibi kino.” Bwe yamala okwogera ekyo, n’afa.
Falling on his knees, he called out loudly: “Lord! do not charge them with this sin;” and with these words he fell asleep.
