¹Baadaye, 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.

¹Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

²Kwa hiyo, mitume kumi na wawili waliita jumuiya yote ya wanafunzi, wakasema, "Si vizuri sisi tuache kulihubiri neno la Mungu ili tushughulikie ugawaji wa mahitaji.

²And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables.

³Hivyo, ndugu zetu, chagueni miongoni mwenu watu saba wenye sifa njema, waliojawa na Roho na wenye hekima; nasi tutawakabidhi jukumu hilo.

³Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

⁴Sisi, lakini, tutashughulika na sala na kazi ya kuhubiri neno la Mungu."

⁴But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.

⁵Jambo 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.

⁵And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;

⁶Wakawaweka mbele ya mitume, nao wakawaombea na kuwawekea mikono.

⁶whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.

⁷Neno la Mungu likazidi kuenea na idadi ya waumini huko Yerusalemu ikaongezeka zaidi, na kundi kubwa la makuhani wakaipokea imani.

⁷And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

⁸Mungu alimjalia Stefano neema tele, akampa nguvu nyingi hata akawa anatenda miujiza na maajabu kati ya watu.

⁸And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.

⁹Lakini 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.

⁹But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

¹⁰Lakini hawakuweza kumshinda kwa sababu ya hekima yake na kwa sababu ya yule Roho aliyeongoza maneno yake.

¹⁰And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.

¹¹Kwa hiyo waliwahonga watu kadhaa waseme: "Tumemsikia Stefano akisema maneno ya kumkashifu Mose na kumkashifu Mungu."

¹¹Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and [against] God.

¹²Kwa namna hiyo, waliwachochea watu, wazee na walimu wa Sheria. Basi, wakamjia Stefano, wakamkamata na kumleta mbele ya Baraza kuu.

¹²And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council,

¹³Walileta Barazani mashahidi wa uongo ambao walisema, "Mtu huyu haachi kamwe kusema maneno ya kupakashifu mahali hapa patakatifu na Sheria ya Mose.

¹³and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:

¹⁴Kwa maana tulikwisha msikia akisema eti huyo Yesu wa Nazareti atapaharibu kabisa mahali hapa na kufutilia mbali desturi zile tulizopokea kutoka kwa Mose."

¹⁴for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us.

¹⁵Wote waliokuwa katika kile kikao cha Baraza walimkodolea macho Stefano, wakauona uso wake umekuwa kama wa malaika.

¹⁵And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.