The Choosing of the Seven
1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews6:1 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen Seized
8Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
11Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Woyi Asafo No Mu Asomfo
1Bere bi akyi a na asuafo no redɔɔso no, akasakasa sii Hebrifo a wɔka Arameike ne Hebrifo a wɔka Hela kasa no ntam. Na Hebrifo a wɔka Hela no asɛm ne sɛ, Hebrifo a wɔka Arameike no nhwɛ wɔn akunafo yiye. 2Enti asomafo dumien no frɛɛ asuafo no nyinaa ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Ɛnsɛ sɛ yegyae Onyankopɔn asɛnka kɔkyɛ aduan. 3Enti anuanom, munyi mo mu nnipa baason a Honhom Kronkron ahyɛ wɔn ma na wonim nyansa na wɔahwɛ aka saa asɛm no. 4Yɛn ankasa de, yɛde yɛn adagyew nyinaa bɛbɔ mpae aka Asɛmpa no.”
5Nnipa no nyinaa penee adwene a asomafo no de bae no so. Enti, woyii Stefano a na gyidi ne Honhom Kronkron ahyɛ no ma no, ne Filipo, Prokoro, Nikanor, Timon, Pamina ne Nikolao a ofi Antiokia a na anka ɔwɔ Yudasom mu no. 6Wɔde saa nnipa yi kyerɛɛ asuafo no ma wɔbɔɔ mpae de wɔn nsa guu wɔn so.
7Nnipa pii gyee asɛm no di maa wɔn mu dodow no ara bɛkaa wɔn ho. Yudafo no mu pii nso gyee wɔn nkyerɛkyerɛ no dii.
Wɔkyere Stefano
8Stefano a Onyankopɔn adom ne tumi ahyɛ no ma no yɛɛ anwonwade ahorow bebree wɔ asafo no mu. 9Nanso da koro bi, nnipa bi a wofi Yudafo hyiadan bi a wɔfrɛ no “Ahofadifo Hyiadan” no mu a wɔyɛ Yudafo a wofi Kirene ne Aleksandria ne wɔn a wofi Kilikia ne Asia no ne Stefano gyee akyinnye. 10Nanso Honhom no maa Stefano nyansa ma ɔde kasae a obiara antumi anka hwee.
11Ɛno nti wɔka hyɛɛ nkurɔfo bi ano se, “Yɛtee sɛ ɔreka abususɛm atia Mose ne Onyankopɔn.”
12Wɔnam saa ɔkwan yi so maa nnipa no ne mpanyin no ne Kyerɛwsɛm no akyerɛkyerɛfo no sɔre tiaa Stefano. Wɔbɛkyeree Stefano de no kɔɔ baguafo anim. 13Afei, wɔde nnipa ba bedii adansekurum tiaa Stefano se, “Saa onipa yi ka abususɛm tia yɛn asɔredan kronkron no ne Mose Mmara no daa. 14Yɛtee mpo sɛ ɔreka se, saa Yesu Nasareni no bedwiriw yɛn asɔredan no agu na wasesa yɛn amanne a Mose de gyaw yɛn no!”
15Nnipa a na wɔte bagua mu hɔ no nyinaa hwɛɛ Stefano anim, na wohuu sɛ nʼanim ayɛ te sɛ ɔsoro ɔbɔfo anim.
