< Acts 7 >
1 Nígbà náà ni olórí àlùfáà wí pé, “Òtítọ́ ha ni àwọn ẹ̀sùn tí wọ́ fi kàn ọ́ bí?”
Then the high priest asked, “Is this true?”
2 Ní ìdáhùn sí èyí ó wí pé, “Ẹ̀yin arákùnrin àti ẹ̀yin baba, ẹ fetísílẹ̀ sí mi! Ọlọ́run ògo fi ara hàn fún Abrahamu baba wa, nígbà tí ó wà ni Mesopotamia, kí ó to ṣe àtìpó ni 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 Ọlọ́run wí fún un pé, ‘Jáde kúrò ní orílẹ̀-èdè rẹ àti kúrò lọ́dọ̀ àwọn ènìyàn rẹ, lọ sí ilẹ̀ kan tí èmi yóò fihàn ọ́.’
‘Leave your country and your people, and come into the country that I will show you.’
4 “Nígbà náà ni ó jáde kúrò ní ilẹ̀ àwọn ará Kaldea, ó sì ṣe àtìpó ni Harani. Lẹ́yìn ìgbà tí baba rẹ̀ sì kú, Ọlọ́run mú un sípò padà wá sí ilẹ̀ yìí, níbi tí ẹ̀yin ń gbé báyìí.
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 Kò sí fún un ni ìní kan, ànító bi ìwọ̀n ààyè ẹsẹ̀ kan. Ṣùgbọ́n Ọlọ́run ṣe ìlérí fún pé, òun yóò fi ilẹ̀ ìní náà fún un àti fún àwọn irú-ọmọ rẹ̀ lẹ́yìn rẹ̀, nígbà tí kò tí ì ní ọmọ.
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 Ọlọ́run sì sọ báyìí pé, ‘Irú-ọmọ rẹ yóò ṣe àtìpó ní ilẹ̀ àjèjì; wọn ó sì sọ wọn di ẹrú, wọn ó sì pọ́n wọn lójú fún irinwó ọdún.
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 Ọlọ́run wí pé, Orílẹ̀-èdè náà tí wọn yóò máa sìn, ni èmi ó dá lẹ́jọ́; lẹ́yìn náà ni wọn ó sì jáde kúrò, wọn ó sì wá sìn mí níhìn-ín yìí.’
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 Ó sì fún Abrahamu ni májẹ̀mú ìkọlà. Abrahamu bí Isaaki, ó kọ ọ́ ní ilà ni ọjọ́ kẹjọ tí ó bí i. Isaaki sí bí Jakọbu, Jakọbu sì bí àwọn baba ńlá méjìlá.
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 “Àwọn baba ńlá sí ṣe ìlara Josẹfu, wọ́n sì tà á sí Ejibiti; ṣùgbọ́n Ọlọ́run wà pẹ̀lú rẹ̀,
The Patriarchs, out of jealousy, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him,
10 ó sì yọ ọ́ kúrò nínú ìpọ́njú rẹ̀ gbogbo. Ó sì fún Josẹfu ní ọgbọ́n, ó sì mú kí ó rí ojúrere Farao ọba Ejibiti; òun sì fi jẹ baálẹ̀ Ejibiti àti gbogbo ilé rẹ̀.
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 “Ìyàn kan sì mú ni gbogbo ilẹ̀ Ejibiti àti ni Kenaani, àti ìpọ́njú ńlá, àwọn baba wa kò sì rí oúnjẹ.
Then a famine spread over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, causing great distress, and our ancestors could find no food.
12 Ṣùgbọ́n nígbà tí Jakọbu gbọ́ pé alikama ń bẹ ni Ejibiti, ó rán àwọn baba wa lọ lẹ́ẹ̀kínní.
Hearing, however, that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors there on their first visit.
13 Nígbà kejì Josẹfu fi ara rẹ̀ hàn fún àwọn arákùnrin rẹ̀, a sì tún fi wọ́n hàn fún Farao.
In the course of their second visit, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14 Lẹ́yìn èyí, Josẹfu ránṣẹ́ pe Jakọbu baba rẹ̀, àti àwọn ìbátan rẹ̀ wá sọ́dọ̀ rẹ, gbogbo wọ́n sì tó àrùndínlọ́gọ́rin ọkàn.
Then Joseph sent an urgent invitation to his father Jacob and to his relatives, seventy-five persons in all;
15 Nígbà náà ni Jakọbu sọ̀kalẹ̀ lọ sí Ejibiti, ní ibi tí òun àti àwọn baba wa kú sí.
and so Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and our ancestors also,
16 A sì gbé òkú wọn padà wá sí Ṣekemu, a sì tẹ́ wọn sínú ibojì ti Abrahamu rà ni ọwọ́ àwọn ọmọ Amori ní Ṣekemu ní iye owó wúrà kan.
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 “Nígbà tí àkókò tí Ọlọ́run yóò mú ìlérí tí ó ṣe fún Abrahamu ṣẹ kù sí dẹ̀dẹ̀, àwọn ènìyàn wa ń gbèrú si gidigidi ní iye ní ilẹ̀ Ejibiti.
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 Ṣùgbọ́n ọba tuntun mìíràn tí kò mọ Josẹfu jẹ ní ilẹ̀ Ejibiti.
until a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to the throne.
19 Òun náà ni ó ṣe àrékérekè sí àwọn ìbátan wa. Wọn sì hùwà búburú sí àwọn baba wa, tó bẹ́ẹ̀ tí wọ́n fi já àwọn ọmọ ọwọ́ wọn kúrò lọ́wọ́ wọn nítorí kí wọn má ṣe yè.
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 “Ní àkókò náà ni a bí Mose ọmọ tí ó se iyebíye, tí wọn sí bọ́ lóṣù mẹ́ta ni ilé baba rẹ̀.
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 Nígbà tí wọn sí gbe é sọnù, ọmọbìnrin Farao gbé e, ó sì tọ ọ́ dàgbà gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọmọ ara rẹ̀.
and, when he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh found him and brought him up as her own son.
22 A sì kọ́ Mose ni gbogbo ọgbọ́n ara Ejibiti, ó sì pọ̀ ni ọ̀rọ̀ àti ní ìṣe.
So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and proved his ability both by his words and actions.
23 “Nígbà tí Mose di ọmọ ogójì ọdún, ó sọ sí i lọ́kàn láti lọ bẹ àwọn ọmọ Israẹli ará rẹ̀ wò.
When he was in his fortieth year, he resolved to visit his fellow Israelites;
24 Nígbà tí ó sì rí ọ̀kan nínú wọ́n tí ará Ejibiti kan ń jẹ́ ní ìyà, ó gbèjà rẹ̀, ó gbẹ̀san ẹni tí wọ́n jẹ ní ìyà nípa lílu ará Ejibiti náà pa.
and, seeing an Israelite ill-treated, he defended him, and avenged the man, who was being wronged, by striking down the Egyptian.
25 Mose rò bí àwọn ará òun mọ̀ pé Ọlọ́run yóò ti ọwọ́ òun gbà wọn; ṣùgbọ́n wọn kò mọ̀.
He thought his own people would understand that God was using him to save them; but they failed to do so.
26 Ní ọjọ́ kejì Mose yọ sí àwọn ọmọ Israẹli méjì bí wọ́n ti ń jà. Òun si fẹ́ parí ìjà fún wọn. Ó wí pé, ‘Ènìyàn mi, ará ni ẹ̀yin; èéṣe tí ẹ̀yin fi ń ṣe ohun tí kò tọ́ sí ara yín?’
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 “Ṣùgbọ́n ẹni tí ó fínràn sí ẹnìkejì rẹ̀ ti Mose sí ẹ̀gbẹ́ kan, ó wí pé, ‘Ta ni ó fi ọ́ jẹ olórí àti onídàájọ́ lórí wa?
But the man who was ill-treating his fellow workman pushed Moses aside saying – ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?
28 Ṣé ìwọ fẹ́ pa mí bí o ti pa ará Ejibiti lánàá?’
Do you mean to make away with me as you did yesterday with that Egyptian?’
29 Mose sì sá nítorí ọ̀rọ̀ yìí, ó sì wa ṣe àtìpó ni ilẹ̀ Midiani, níbi tí ó gbé bí ọmọ méjì.
At these words Moses took to flight, and became an exile in Midian; and there he had two sons born to him.
30 “Nígbà tí ogójì ọdún sì pé, angẹli Olúwa fi ara han Mose ní ijù, ní òkè Sinai, nínú ọ̀wọ́-iná nínú igbó.
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 Nígbà tí Mose sì rí i, ẹnu yà á sí ìran náà; nígbà tí ó sì súnmọ́ ọn láti wò ó fín, ohùn Olúwa kọ sí i,
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 wí pé ‘Èmi ni Ọlọ́run àwọn baba rẹ, Ọlọ́run Abrahamu, Ọlọ́run Isaaki, àti Ọlọ́run Jakọbu,’ Mose sì wárìrì pẹ̀lú ìbẹ̀rù, kò sì dáṣà láti wò ó mọ́.
‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and did not dare to look.
33 “Olúwa sì wí fún un pé, ‘Bọ́ bàtà rẹ kúrò ní ẹsẹ̀ rẹ, nítorí ibi tí ìwọ dúró sí i nì ilẹ̀ mímọ́ ni.
Then the Lord said to him – ‘Take your sandals off your feet, for the spot where you are standing is holy ground.
34 Ní rí rí, mo ti rí ìpọ́njú àwọn ènìyàn mi tí ń bẹ ni Ejibiti, mo sì ti gbọ́ ìkérora wọn, mo sì sọ̀kalẹ̀ wá láti gbà wọ́n. Wá nísinsin yìí, Èmi ó sì rán ọ lọ sí ilẹ̀ Ejibiti.’
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 “Mose náà yìí tí wọ́n kọ̀, wí pé, ‘Ta ni ó fi jẹ olórí àti onídàájọ́?’ Òun náà ni Ọlọ́run rán lọ láti ọwọ́ angẹli, tí ó farahàn án ní pápá, láti ṣe olórí àti olùdáǹdè.
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 Òun ni ó mú wọn jáde, lẹ́yìn ìgbà tí ó ṣe iṣẹ́ ìyanu àti iṣẹ́ àmì ní ilẹ̀ Ejibiti, àti ni Òkun pupa, àti ni aginjù ní ogójì ọdún.
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 “Èyí ni Mose náà ti ó wí fún àwọn ọmọ Israẹli pé, ‘Ọlọ́run yóò gbé wòlíì kan bí èmi dìde nínú àwọn ènìyàn yín.’
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 Èyí náà ni ẹni tí ó wà nínú ìjọ ní ijù pẹ̀lú angẹli náà tí ó bá a sọ̀rọ̀ ní orí òkè Sinai, àti pẹ̀lú àwọn baba wa; ẹni ti ó gba ọ̀rọ̀ ìyè láti fi fún wa.
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 “Ṣùgbọ́n àwọn baba wa kò fẹ́ gbọ́ tirẹ̀. Dípò bẹ́ẹ̀, wọ́n kọ̀ ọ́ sílẹ̀, àti pé nínú ọkàn wọn, wọn fẹ́ yípadà lọ sí ilẹ̀ Ejibiti.
Yet our ancestors refused him obedience; more than that, they rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
40 Wọ́n wí fún Aaroni pé, ‘Dá òrìṣà fún wa tí yóò máa tọ́nà ṣáájú wa; nítorí bí ó ṣe ti Mose yìí tí ó mú wa jáde wá láti ilẹ̀ Ejibiti, a kò mọ̀ ohun tí ó ṣe é.’
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 Wọ́n sì yá ère ẹgbọrọ màlúù ni ọjọ́ wọ̀nyí. Wọ́n sì rú ẹbọ sí ère náà, wọ́n sì ń yọ̀ nínú ohun tí wọ́n fi ọwọ́ ara wọn ṣe.
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 Ọlọ́run sì padà, ó fi wọn sílẹ̀ láti máa sin ogun ọ̀run: òòrùn, òṣùpá àti ìràwọ̀. Èyí wà ní ìbámu pẹ̀lú bí a ti kọ ọ́ nínú ìwé àwọn wòlíì pé: “‘Ẹ̀yin ha mú ẹran tí a pa àti ẹbọ wa fún mi ní ogójì ọdún ní ijù bí, ìwọ ilé Israẹli?
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 Ẹ̀yin sì tẹ́wọ́gbà àgọ́ Moleki, àti ìràwọ̀ Refani òrìṣà yín, àwòrán tí ẹ̀yin ṣe láti máa bọ wọ́n. Nítorí náà èmi yóò kó yín lọ sí ìgbèkùn rékọjá Babeli.’
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 “Àwọn baba wa ní àgọ́ ẹ̀rí pẹ̀lú wọn ní ijù. Èyí tí a ṣe gẹ́gẹ́ bí Ọlọ́run tí ó ba Mose sọ̀rọ̀ pé kí ó ṣe é, gẹ́gẹ́ bí àpẹẹrẹ tí ó ti rí.
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 Ti àwọn baba wa tí ó tẹ̀lé wọn sí mú bá Joṣua wá sí ilẹ̀ ìní àwọn aláìkọlà, tí Ọlọ́run lè jáde kúrò níwájú àwọn baba wa, títí dí àkókò Dafidi.
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 Ẹni tí ó rí ojúrere níwájú Ọlọ́run, tí ó sì tọrọ láti rí ibùgbé fún Ọlọ́run Jakọbu.
David found favor with God, and prayed that he might provide the God of Jacob with a place to reside.
47 Ṣùgbọ́n Solomoni ni ó kọ́ ilé fún un.
But it was Solomon who built a house for God.
48 “Ṣùgbọ́n Ọ̀gá-ògo kì í gbé ilé ti a fi ọwọ́ kọ́, gẹ́gẹ́ bí wòlíì ti wí pé:
Yet it is not in buildings made by hands that the Most High dwells. As the prophet says –
49 “‘Ọ̀run ni ìtẹ́ mi, ayé ni àpótí ìtìsẹ̀ mi. Irú ilé kín ní ẹ̀yin yóò kọ́ fún mi? ni Olúwa wí. Tàbí níbo ni yóò jẹ́ ibi ìsinmi mi?
‘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 Ọwọ́ mi kò ha ṣe gbogbo nǹkan wọ̀nyí.’
Was it not my hand that made all these things?’
51 “Ẹ̀yin ọlọ́rùn líle àti aláìkọlà àyà àti etí! Bí àwọn baba yín gẹ́lẹ́ ni ẹ̀yin rí. Nígbà gbogbo ni ẹ̀yin máa ń dènà Ẹ̀mí Mímọ́!
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 Ǹjẹ́ ọ̀kan tilẹ̀ wà nínú àwọn wòlíì tí àwọn baba yín kò ṣe inúnibíni sí? Wọn sì ti pa àwọn ti ó ti ń sọ àsọtẹ́lẹ̀ nípa wíwá Ẹni Olódodo náà. Nísinsin yìí ẹ̀yin ti dalẹ̀ rẹ̀ ẹ̀yin sí ti pa.
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 Ẹ̀yin tí ó gba òfin, gẹ́gẹ́ bí àwọn angẹli ti fi fún ni, tí ẹ kò sì pa á mọ́.”
you who received the Law as transmitted by angels and yet failed to keep it.”
54 Nígbà tí wọn sì gbọ́ nǹkan wọ̀nyí ọkàn wọn gbọgbẹ́ dé inú, wọn sì payínkeke sí i.
As they listened to this, the Council grew frantic with rage, and gnashed their teeth at Stephen.
55 Ṣùgbọ́n Stefanu, ẹni tí ó kún fún Ẹ̀mí Mímọ́, ó tẹjúmọ́ ọ̀run, ó sì rí ògo Ọlọ́run, àti Jesu dúró ní ọwọ́ ọ̀tún Ọlọ́run.
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 Ó sì wí pé, “Wò ó, mo rí ọ̀run ṣí sílẹ̀, Ọmọ Ènìyàn sì dúró ní ọwọ́ ọ̀tún Ọlọ́run.”
“Look,” he exclaimed, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand!”
57 Nígbà náà ni wọn kígbe ní ohùn rara, wọn sí di etí wọ́n, gbogbo wọn sì sáré sí i, wọ́n sì rọ́ lù ú,
At this, with a loud shout, they stopped their ears and all rushed on him, forced him outside the city,
58 wọ́n sì wọ́ ọ sẹ́yìn òde ìlú, wọ́n sì bẹ̀rẹ̀ sísọ ọ́ ní òkúta; àwọn ẹlẹ́rìí sì fi aṣọ wọn lélẹ̀ lẹ́sẹ̀ ọmọkùnrin kan tí a ń pè ní Saulu.
and began to stone him, the witnesses laying their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 Bí wọ́n ti ń sọ Stefanu ní òkúta, ó sì ké pe Olúwa wí pé, “Jesu Olúwa, gba ẹ̀mí mi.”
And they stoned Stephen, while he cried to the Lord, “Lord Jesus! Receive my spirit!”
60 Nígbà náà ni ó wólẹ̀ lórí eékún rẹ̀, ó kígbe sókè pé, “Olúwa, má ṣe ka ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ yìí sí wọn ní ọrùn.” Nígbà ti ó sì wí èyí tán, ó sùn lọ.
Falling on his knees, he called out loudly, “Lord! Do not charge them with this sin;” and with these words he fell asleep.