Mahi 6

1 Na i aua ra, i te mea ka tokomaha haere nga akonga ka amuamu nga Hurai Kariki ki nga Hiperu, no te mea i mahue o ratou pouaru i nga tuwhanga mea o tenei ra, o tenei ra.

Now in those days, as the disciples were multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

2 Katahi ka karangatia e te tekau ma rua te mano o nga akonga, ka mea, E kore e pai kia whakarerea e matou te kupu a te Atua, a kia mahi tepu.

So summoning the multitude of the disciples the twelve said: “It is not advantageous that we should forsake the Word of God to serve at tables.

3 No reira, e nga teina, tirohia mai i roto i a koutou kia tokowhitu nga tangata e korerotia paitia ana, e ki ana i te Wairua Tapu, i te matauranga, a ma matou ratou e whakatu ki tenei mahi.

Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this need.

4 Ko matou ia ka u tonu ki te inoi, ki te mahi i te kupu.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.”

5 A pai katoa te mano ki taua korero: na whiriwhiria ana e ratou a Tepene, he tangata e ki ana i te whakapono, i te Wairua Tapu, ratou ko Piripi, ko Porokoru, ko Nikanora, ko Timona, ko Paramena, ko Nikora, he porohiraiti no Anatioka:

The statement pleased the whole multitude; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch,

6 Na whakaturia ana ratou ki te aroaro o nga apotoro: ka inoi era, ka whakapa i nga ringa ki runga ki a ratou.

whom they set before the Apostles; and after praying they laid hands on them.

7 Heoi tupu ana te kupu a te Atua: tino nui haere ana te tokomaha o nga akonga i Hiruharama; a he ope nui o nga tohunga i tahuri mai ki te whakapono.

Well the Word of God kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem kept multiplying at a great rate, and a large company of the priests were obeying the faith.

8 A, ko Tepene, ki tonu i te whakapono, i te mana, nui atu nga merekara me nga tohu i meatia e ia i roto i te iwi.

While Stephen, full of faith and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

9 Na ka whakatika etahi o te whakaminenga, e kiia nei ko te whakaminenga o nga Riperetini, etahi hoki o te whakaminenga o te hunga o Hairini, o te hunga o Arehanaria, o te hunga hoki o Kirikia, o Ahia, ka totohe ki a Tepene.

Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.

10 Otira kihai i taea e ratou te tu atu ki tona matauranga me te wairua i korero ai ia.

And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

11 Na ka whakakiki ratou i etahi tangata hei mea, I rongo matou i a ia e korero kohukohu ana mo Mohi, mo te Atua ano hoki.

Then they instigated men to say, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

12 Na ka tahuri ratou ki te whakaohooho i te iwi, i nga kaumatua, me nga karaipi hoki, na ka mau ia ia ratou, hopukia ana, kawea atu ana ki te runanga;

And they stirred up the people, and the elders and the scribes; and coming upon him they seized him, and brought him in to the Sanhedrin;

13 A whakaturia ana e ratou etahi kaiwhakapae teka, nana i mea, Kahore e mutu te korero kino a tenei tangata mo tenei kainga tapu, mo te ture hoki:

and they put forward false witnesses who said: “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against the holy place and the law;

14 I rongo hoki matou ki a ia e mea ana, Ma tenei Ihu o Nahareta e whakangaro te kainga nei, e whakaputa ke hoki nga ritenga i homai e Mohi ki a tatou.

for we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Natsorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

15 A, ko te hunga katoa e noho ana i te runanga, ka titiro pu ki a ia, ka kite i tona mata, ano he mata no te anahera.

All who sat in the council, looking intently at him, saw his face like the face of an angel.