Matendo 6
1 Baadaye, idadi ya wanafunzi ilipokuwa inazidi kuongezeka, kulitokea manung'uniko kati ya wanafunzi waliosema Kigiriki na wale waliosema Kiebrania. Wale waliosema Kigiriki walinung'unika kwamba wajane wao walikuwa wanasahauliwa katika ugawaji wa mahitaji ya kila siku.
In those days, as the disciples increased in number, a complaint arose against the Hebrews on the part of the Hellenists that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
2 Kwa hiyo, mitume kumi na wawili waliita jumuiya yote ya wanafunzi, wakasema, “Si vizuri sisi tuache kulihubiri neno la Mungu ili tushughulikie ugawaji wa mahitaji.
So the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together and said, “It is not proper for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.
3 Hivyo, ndugu zetu, chagueni miongoni mwenu watu saba wenye sifa njema, waliojawa na Roho na wenye hekima; nasi tutawakabidhi jukumu hilo.
Therefore, brothers, look for seven men among you who have a good reputation and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint for this need.
4 Sisi, lakini, tutashughulika na sala na kazi ya kuhubiri neno la Mungu.”
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 Jambo hilo likaipendeza jumuiya yote ya waumini. Wakawachagua Stefano, mtu mwenye imani kubwa na mwenye kujawa na Roho Mtakatifu, Filipo, Prokoro, Nikanora, Timona, Parmena na Nikolao wa Antiokia ambaye hapo awali alikuwa ameongokea dini ya Kiyahudi.
This proposal pleased the whole multitude, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, an Antiochean convert to Judaism.
6 Wakawaweka mbele ya mitume, nao wakawaombea na kuwawekea mikono.
They set these men before the apostles, who then prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 Neno la Mungu likazidi kuenea na idadi ya waumini huko Yerusalemu ikaongezeka zaidi, na kundi kubwa la makuhani wakaipokea imani.
So the word of God continued to increase, and the number of disciples continued to multiply greatly in Jerusalem, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
8 Mungu alimjalia Stefano neema tele, akampa nguvu nyingi hata akawa anatenda miujiza na maajabu kati ya watu.
Now Stephen, a man full of faith and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
9 Lakini watu fulani wakatokea ili wabishane na Stefano. Baadhi ya watu hao walikuwa wa sunagogi moja lililoitwa “Sunagogi la Watu Huru”, nao walitoka Kurene na Aleksandria; wengine walitoka Kilikia na Asia.
But some men from the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), along with some of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some men from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and began to argue with Stephen.
10 Lakini hawakuweza kumshinda kwa sababu ya hekima yake na kwa sababu ya yule Roho aliyeongoza maneno yake.
But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
11 Kwa hiyo waliwahonga watu kadhaa waseme: “Tumemsikia Stefano akisema maneno ya kumkashifu Mose na kumkashifu Mungu.”
Then they induced some men to say, “We heard Stephen speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 Kwa namna hiyo, waliwachochea watu, wazee na walimu wa Sheria. Basi, wakamjia Stefano, wakamkamata na kumleta mbele ya Baraza kuu.
They also stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. So they came up to Stephen, seized him, and brought him to the Sanhedrin.
13 Walileta Barazani mashahidi wa uongo ambao walisema, “Mtu huyu haachi kamwe kusema maneno ya kupakashifu mahali hapa patakatifu na Sheria ya Mose.
Then they put forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against the holy place and against the law.
14 Kwa maana tulikwisha msikia akisema eti huyo Yesu wa Nazareti atapaharibu kabisa mahali hapa na kufutilia mbali desturi zile tulizopokea kutoka kwa Mose.”
For we heard him saying that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
15 Wote waliokuwa katika kile kikao cha Baraza walimkodolea macho Stefano, wakauona uso wake umekuwa kama wa malaika.
And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin stared at Stephen intently and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
