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.
Yíyan àwọn méje
1Ǹjẹ́ ní ọjọ́ wọ̀nyí, nígbà tí iye àwọn ọmọ-ẹ̀yìn ń pọ̀ sí i, ìkùnsínú wà ní àárín àwọn Helleni tí ṣe Júù àti àwọn Heberu tí ṣe Júù, nítorí tí a gbàgbé nípa ti àwọn opó wọn nínú ìpín fún ni ojoojúmọ́. 2Àwọn méjìlá sì pe ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ àwọn ọmọ-ẹ̀yìn jọ sọ́dọ̀, wọn wí pé, “Kò yẹ kí àwa ó fi ọ̀rọ̀ Ọlọ́run sílẹ̀, kí a sì máa ṣe ìránṣẹ́ tábìlì. 3Nítorí náà, ará, ẹ wo ọkùnrin méje nínú yín, olórúkọ rere, tí ó kún fún Ẹ̀mí Mímọ́ àti fún ọgbọ́n, tí àwa lè yàn sí iṣẹ́ yìí. 4Ṣùgbọ́n àwa yóò dúró ṣinṣin nínú àdúrà gbígbà, àti nínú iṣẹ́ ìránṣẹ́ ọ̀rọ̀ náà.”
5Ọ̀rọ̀ náà sì tọ́ lójú gbogbo ìjọ; wọ́n sì yan Stefanu, ọkùnrin tí ó kún fún ìgbàgbọ́ àti fún Ẹ̀mí Mímọ́ àti Filipi, àti Prokoru, àti Nikanoru, àti Timoni, àti Parimena, àti Nikolasi aláwọ̀ṣe Júù ará Antioku. 6Ẹni tí wọ́n mú dúró níwájú àwọn Aposteli; nígbà tí wọ́n sì gbàdúrà, wọ́n gbé ọwọ́ lé wọn.
7Ọ̀rọ̀ Ọlọ́run sì gbilẹ̀, iye àwọn ọmọ-ẹ̀yìn sì pọ̀ sí i gidigidi ni Jerusalẹmu, ọ̀pọ̀ nínú ẹgbẹ́ àwọn àlùfáà sí fetí sí tí ìgbàgbọ́ náà.
A mú Stefanu
8Stefanu tí ó kún fún oore-ọ̀fẹ́ àti agbára, ó ṣe iṣẹ́ ìyanu, àti iṣẹ́ ààmì ńlá láàrín àwọn ènìyàn. 9Ṣùgbọ́n àwọn kan dìde nínú àwọn ti ń ṣe ara Sinagọgu, tí a ń pè ní Libataini. Àwọn Júù Kirene àti ti Alekisandiria àti ti Kilikia, àti ti Asia wá, wọ́n ń bá Stefanu jiyàn, 10ṣùgbọ́n wọn kò sí lè ko ọgbọ́n àti Ẹ̀mí tí ó fi ń sọ̀rọ̀ lójú.
11Nígbà náà ni wọ́n fún àwọn ọkùnrin kan ní àbẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀, kí wọn ń wí pé, “Àwa gbọ́ tí Stefanu ń sọ ọ̀rọ̀-òdì sí Mose àti sí Ọlọ́run.”
12Wọ́n sí ru àwọn ènìyàn sókè, àti àwọn alàgbà, àti àwọn olùkọ́ni ní òfin. Wọ́n dìde sí i, wọ́n gbá a mú, wọ́n sì mú un wá sí iwájú àjọ ìgbìmọ̀. 13Wọ́n sí mú àwọn ẹlẹ́rìí èké wá, tiwọn wí pé, “Ọkùnrin yìí kò sinmi láti sọ ọ̀rọ̀-òdì sí ibi mímọ́ yìí, àti sí òfin. 14Nítorí àwa gbọ́ o wí pé Jesu ti Nasareti yìí yóò fọ́ ibí yìí, yóò sì yí àṣà ti Mose fi fún wa padà.”
15Gbogbo àwọn tí ó sì jókòó ni àjọ ìgbìmọ̀ tẹjúmọ́ Stefanu, wọ́n sì rí ojú rẹ̀ dàbí ojú angẹli.
