Matendo 6
1 Sasa katika siku hizi, wakati idadi ya wanafunzi ilipokuwa inaongezeka, lalamiko la Wayahudi wa Kiyunani lilianza dhidi ya Waebrania, kwa sababu wajane wao walikuwa wanasahaulika katika mgao wa kila siku wa chakula.
At this time, when the number of believers was increasing rapidly, the Greek-speaking believers started arguing with the Aramaic-speaking believers. They complained that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
2 Mitume kumi na wawili waliwaita kusanyiko lote la wanafunzi na kusema, “Siyo sahihi kwetu kuliacha neno la Mungu na kuhudumia mezani.
The twelve apostles called all the believers together, and told them, “It's not appropriate for us to give up spreading the word of God so we can wait at tables.
3 Kwa hiyo, ndugu, chagueni, wanaume saba, kutoka miongoni mwenu, watu wema, waliojaa Roho na hekima, ambao tunaweza kuwakabidhi huduma hii.
Brothers, choose from among you seven trustworthy men full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will hand this responsibility over to them.
4 Na sisi, tutaendelea daima katika kuomba na katika huduma ya neno.”
We ourselves will give our full attention to prayer and the ministry of spreading the word.”
5 Hotuba yao ikaupendeza mkutano wote. Hivyo, wakamchagua Stefano, mtu aliyejaa imani na Roho Mtakatifu, na Filipo, Prokoro, Nikanori, Timoni, Parmena, na Nikolao, mwongofu kutoka Antiokia.
Everybody was happy with the arrangement, and they chose Stephen, (a man full of trust in God and of the Holy Spirit), Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus (originally a Jewish convert from Antioch).
6 Waumini waliwaleta watu hawa mbele ya mitume, walioomba na badaye wakawawekea mikono yao.
These men were presented to the apostles who prayed for them and placed their hands on them in blessing.
7 Hivyo, neno la Mungu lilienea; na idadi ya wanafunzi ilizidi kuongezeka huko Yesrusalem; na idadi kubwa ya makuhani wakaitii imani.
The word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem greatly increased, with a large number of priests committing themselves to trusting in Jesus.
8 Na Stefano, aliyejaa neema na nguvu, alikuwa akifanya maajabu na ishara kubwa miongoni mwa watu.
Stephen, full of grace and God's power, performed wonderful miracles among the people.
9 Lakini hapo wakainuka baadhi ya watu wafuasi wa Sinagogi liitwalo Sinagogi la Mahuru, na la Wakirene na la Waeskanderia, na baadhi kutoka Kilikia na Asia. Watu hawa walikuwa wakihojiana na Stefano.
But some started arguing with him. They were from the synagogue called “the Free,” as well as Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia Minor.
10 Lakini, hawakuweza kushindana na hekima na Roho ambayo Stefano alikuwa akitumia katika kuzungumza.
But they weren't able to stand against Stephen's wisdom or the Spirit with which he was speaking.
11 Kisha waliwashawishi baadhi ya watu kwa siri kusema, “Tumesikia Stefano akizungumza maneno ya kufuru dhidi ya Musa na dhidi ya Mungu.”
So they bribed some men to say, “We heard this man blaspheme Moses, and God too!”
12 Waliwashurutisha watu, wazee, na waandishi, na kumwendea Stefano, wakamkamata, na kumleta mbele ya baraza.
They stirred up the people, and together with the elders and the teachers of the law, they came and arrested him. They brought him before the council,
13 waliwaleta mashahidi wa uongo, waliosema, “mtu huyu haachi kunena maneno mabaya dhidi ya eneo hili takatifu na sheria.
and called false witnesses who testified against him. “This man is always slandering the holy Temple and the law,” they said.
14 Kwani tumemsikia akisema kwamba huyu Yesu wa Nazareti atapaharibu mahali hapa na kuzibadili desturi tulizokabidhiwa na Musa.”
“We've heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple, and will change the laws we received from Moses.”
15 Kila mmoja aliyekuwa katika baraza, akaelekeza macho yake kumwangalia Stefano, nao wakauona uso wake ulikuwa kama uso wa malaika.
Everyone sitting on the council looked closely at Stephen, and his face shone like the face of an angel.
