Seven Leaders for the Church
1 A lot of people were now becoming followers of the Lord. But some of the ones who spoke Greek started complaining about the ones who spoke Aramaic. They complained that the Greek-speaking widows were not given their share when the food supplies were handed out each day.
2 The twelve apostles called the whole group of followers together and said, “We should not give up preaching God's message in order to serve at tables. 3 My friends, choose seven men who are respected and wise and filled with God's Spirit. We will put them in charge of these things. 4 We can spend our time praying and serving God by preaching.”
5 This suggestion pleased everyone, and they began by choosing Stephen. He had great faith and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and also Nicolaus, who worshiped with the Jewish people in Antioch. 6 These men were brought to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on the men to show they had been chosen to do this work. 7 God's message spread, and many more people in Jerusalem became followers. Even a large number of priests put their faith in the Lord.
Stephen Is Arrested
8 God gave Stephen the power to work great miracles and wonders among the people. 9 But some men from Cyrene and Alexandria were members of a group who called themselves “Free Men.” They started arguing with Stephen. Some others from Cilicia and Asia also argued with him. 10 But they were no match for Stephen, who spoke with the great wisdom that the Spirit gave him. 11 So they talked some men into saying, “We heard Stephen say terrible things against Moses and God!”
12 They turned the people and their leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses against Stephen. Then they all grabbed him and dragged him in front of the council.
13 Some men agreed to tell lies about Stephen, and they said, “This man keeps on saying terrible things about this holy temple and the Law of Moses. 14 We have heard him claim that Jesus from Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses gave us.” 15 Then all the council members stared at Stephen. They saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.
Maakoyirilaa woorowula tombonta
1 Wo luŋolu kono, Yeesu la kafoo moolu be lafaa kaŋ. Bituŋ Yahuudoolu mennu ka Jirisi kaŋo fo, ì ŋunuŋunuta Yahuudi doolu ma, mennu ka Hiburu kaŋo fo. Ì ko, wolu ka ì ñaa kaasi ì la furuyaamusoolu la le luŋ-wo-luŋ domoritalaa la kuwo to. 2 Wo kamma la kiilaa* taŋ niŋ fuloo ye Yeesu noomalankoolu kumandi ñoo kaŋ. Ì ko ì ye ko, “A te beteyaa la ntolu fee ka Alla la kumoo kawandoo bula, ka domoritalaa ke. 3 M̀ baadiŋolu*, wo kamma la, ali kee woorowula tomboŋ ali kono, mennu ye seedeyaa betoo soto, aduŋ ì faata Alla la Nooroo niŋ ñaameŋo la. Ǹ si wolu londi ñiŋ dookuwo to. 4 Bari ntolu faŋolu si loo duwaa daa to, aniŋ ka Alla la kumoo kawandi.”
5 Kafoo bee kontaanita wo kumoolu la, kiilaalu ye mennu fo. Wo to le ì ye Stifeni tomboŋ, meŋ faata lannoo niŋ Noora Kuliŋo la, a niŋ Filipi, Porokorus, Nikanor, Timoni, Paamenas, aniŋ Nikola. Ñiŋ Nikola mu Antiyokinkoo le ti, meŋ naata tuubi nuŋ ka Yahuudoolu la diinoo nooma. 6 Ì ye ì naati kiilaalu ñaatiliŋo la. Kiilaalu ye ì buloo laa ì kaŋ, ì duwaata ì ye.
7 Alla la kumoo be janjaŋ kaŋ doroŋ, aduŋ Yeesu la kafoo moolu kafuta baake Yerusalaamu kono. Piriisoolu* fanaa jamaa naata laa Maarii Yeesu la.
Stifeni la mutoo
8 Stifeni mu kewo le ti, meŋ be faariŋ Alla la hiinoo niŋ semboo la. A ye kaawakuwolu niŋ taamanseeri baalu ke moolu kono le. 9 Bari Yahuudi doolu, ì ka mennu la diina kafoo kumandi Foroyaariŋolu la Kafoo la, ì wulita ka Stifeni soosoo. Ì bota Kirene niŋ Alesanderiya saatewolu le kono, aniŋ Silisiya niŋ Asiya* tundoolu kaŋ. 10 Bari ì maŋ balaŋ noo a la ñaameŋo la, aniŋ Nooroo la, a ka diyaamu meŋ na. 11 Bituŋ ì naata kee doolu duku kulloo kono, aduŋ wolu naata a fo ko, “Ŋà Stifeni moyi le, a ka tooñeeri kumoolu fo Annabilayi Musa niŋ Alla ma.”
12 Wo to le ì ye moolu, alifaalu niŋ Luwaa karammoolu* sukusuku. Wolu ye Stifeni muta, ì ye a samba kansulumoolu ñaatiliŋo la. 13 Bituŋ ì ye seedenduroolu naati, mennu ko, “Ñiŋ kewo ka tu tooñeeri kumoolu le fo la Alla Batudulaa niŋ Musa la Luwaa* ma. 14 Ŋà a moyi le, a ka a fo ko, wo Yeesu Nasaretinkoo be ñiŋ dulaa tiñaa la le, aduŋ a be aadoolu faliŋ na le, Musa ye mennu dii ǹ na.” 15 Kansulu moolu bee mennu be siiriŋ, ì ye ì ñaa loo Stifeni kaŋ ka a fele. Ì ye a ñaadaa je, a mulunta ko malaayikoo ñaadaa.
