Stephen's Speech
1 The high priest asked Stephen, “Are they telling the truth about you?”
2 Stephen answered:
Friends, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he had moved to Haran. 3 God told him, “Leave your country and your relatives and go to a land that I will show you.” 4 Then Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran.
After his father died, Abraham came and settled in this land where you now live. 5 God didn't give him any part of it, not even a square meter. But God did promise to give it to him and his family forever, even though Abraham didn't have any children. 6 God said Abraham's descendants would live for a while in a foreign land. There they would be slaves and would be mistreated 400 years. 7 But he also said, “I will punish the nation that makes them slaves. Then later they will come and worship me in this place.”
8 God said to Abraham, “Every son in each family must be circumcised to show you have kept your agreement with me.” So when Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him. Later, Isaac circumcised his son Jacob, and Jacob circumcised his twelve sons. 9 These men were our ancestors.
Joseph was also one of our famous ancestors. His brothers were jealous of him and sold him as a slave to be taken to Egypt. But God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. God made him so wise that the Egyptian king Pharaoh thought highly of him. The king even made Joseph governor over Egypt and put him in charge of everything he owned.
11 Everywhere in Egypt and Canaan the grain crops failed. There was terrible suffering, and our ancestors could not find enough to eat. 12 But when Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there for the first time. 13 It was on their second trip that Joseph told his brothers who he was, and the king learned about Joseph's family.
14 Joseph sent for his father and his relatives. In all, there were 75 of them. 15 His father went to Egypt and died there, just as our ancestors did. 16 Later their bodies were taken back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor.
17 Finally, the time came for God to do what he had promised Abraham. By then the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. 18 Another king was ruling Egypt, and he didn't know anything about Joseph. 19 He tricked our ancestors and was cruel to them. He even made them leave their babies outside, so they would die.
20 During this time Moses was born. He was a very beautiful child, and for three months his parents took care of him in their home. 21 Then when they were forced to leave him outside, the king's daughter found him and raised him as her own son. 22 Moses was given the best education in Egypt. He was a strong man and a powerful speaker.
23 When Moses was 40 years old, he wanted to help the Israelites because they were his own people. 24 One day he saw an Egyptian mistreating one of them. So he rescued the man and killed the Egyptian. 25 Moses thought the rest of his people would realize God was going to use him to set them free. But they didn't understand.
26 The next day Moses saw two of his own people fighting, and he tried to make them stop. He said, “Men, you are both Israelites. Why are you so cruel to each other?”
27 But the man who had started the fight pushed Moses aside and asked, “Who made you our ruler and judge? 28 Are you going to kill me, just as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” 29 When Moses heard this, he ran away to live in the country of Midian. His two sons were born there.
30 Forty years later, an angel appeared to Moses from a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31 Moses was surprised by what he saw. He went closer to get a better look, and the Lord said, 32 “I am the God who was worshiped by your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses started shaking all over and didn't dare to look at the bush.
33 The Lord said to him, “Take off your sandals, because the place where you are standing is holy. 34 With my own eyes I have seen the suffering of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now I am sending you back to Egypt.”
35 This was the same Moses that the people rejected by saying, “Who made you our leader and judge?” God's angel had spoken to Moses from the bush. And God had even sent the angel to help Moses rescue the people and be their leader.
36 In Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the desert, Moses rescued the people by working miracles and wonders for 40 years. 37 Moses is the one who told the people of Israel, “God will choose one of your people to be a prophet, just as he chose me.” 38 Moses brought our people together in the desert, and the angel spoke to him on Mount Sinai. There he was given these life-giving words to pass on to us. 39 But our ancestors refused to obey Moses. They rejected him and wanted to go back to Egypt.
40 The people said to Aaron, “Make some gods to lead us! Moses led us out of Egypt, but we don't know what's happened to him now.” 41 Then they made an idol in the shape of a calf. They offered sacrifices to the idol and were pleased with what they had done.
42 God turned his back on his people and left them. Then they worshiped the stars in the sky, just as it says in the Book of the Prophets, “People of Israel, you didn't offer sacrifices and offerings to me during those 40 years in the desert. 43 Instead, you carried the tent where the god Molech is worshiped, and you took along the star of your god Rephan. You made those idols and worshiped them. So now I will have you carried off beyond Babylonia.”
44 The tent where our ancestors worshiped God was with them in the desert. This was the same tent that God had commanded Moses to make. And it was made like the model that Moses had seen. 45 Later it was given to our ancestors, and they took it with them when they went with Joshua. They carried the tent along as they took over the land from those people that God had chased out for them. Our ancestors used this tent until the time of King David. 46 He pleased God and asked him if he could build a house of worship for the people of Israel. 47 And it was finally King Solomon who built a house for God.
48 But the Most High God doesn't live in houses made by humans. It is just as the prophet said, when he spoke for the Lord,
49 “Heaven is my throne,
and the earth
is my footstool.
What kind of house
will you build for me?
In what place will I rest?
50 I have made everything.”
51 You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did. 52 Is there one prophet that your ancestors didn't mistreat? They killed the prophets who told about the coming of the One Who Obeys God. And now you have turned against him and killed him. 53 Angels gave you God's Law, but you still don't obey it.
Stephen Is Stoned to Death
54 When the council members heard Stephen's speech, they were angry and furious. 55 But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. 56 Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!”
57 The council members shouted and covered their ears. At once they all attacked Stephen 58 and dragged him out of the city. Then they started throwing stones at him. The men who had brought charges against him put their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, “Lord Jesus, please welcome me!” 60 He knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don't blame them for what they have done.” Then he died.
Stifeni la kumoo kansuloo ñaatiliŋo la
1 Wo to le piriisi* kuntii baa ye Stifeni ñininkaa ko, “Fo ñiŋ tuumiroolu mu tooñaa le ti baŋ?” 2 Bituŋ Stifeni ko:
“M baadiŋolu* niŋ alifaalu, ali i lamoyi! Alla, Mansa Kallankewo* fintita m̀ mumu Iburayima kaŋ ne, biriŋ a be Mesopotamiya, janniŋ a be taa sabati la Harani saatewo to. 3 Alla ko a ye ko:
‘Taa ka bo i la bankoo kaŋ, i baadiŋolu yaa,
ka taa bankoo kaŋ, m be naa meŋ yitandi la i la.’
4 “Wo to le Iburayima ye Kalideyankoolu la bankoo bula, a sabatita Harani. Kabiriŋ a faamaa faata, Alla ye a samba naŋ ñiŋ bankoo kaŋ, ali be sabatiriŋ daameŋ saayiŋ. 5 Hani wo, a maŋ keetaafeŋo dii a la ñiŋ bankoo to, hani simfaa kiliŋ. Bari Alla ye a laahidi le ko, a be a dii la a koomalankoolu la le, wo ye a tara hani a maŋ diŋo soto foloo. 6 Aduŋ Alla diyaamuta a ye teŋ ne ko: ‘I koomalankoolu be ke la tumarankewolu le ti bankoo kaŋ, meŋ maŋ ke ì taa ti. Ì be ke la joŋolu le ti jee, aduŋ ì be tara la marali jawoo le kono fo sanji keme naani. 7 Bari m be naa bankoo ñiŋ moolu jarabi la le, mennu ye ì joŋyandi. Wo koolaa ǹ na moolu be finti la ka nte batu ñiŋ dulaa le to.’
8 “Bituŋ a ye Iburayima kambeŋo siti, bituŋ sunnoo keta a taamanseeroo ti. Iburayima naata Isiyaaka wuluu, a ye a sunna, biriŋ a siyo be tili seyi. Isiyaaka naata Yaakuba wuluu, bituŋ Yaakuba naata dinkee taŋ niŋ fula wuluu, mennu keta m̀ mumuñolu ti.
9 “Yaakuba dinkee doolu ye Yusufa kiiliyaa, ì ye a waafi ka ke joŋo ti Misira. Bari Alla tarata a fee le, 10 a ye a bondi a la toora kuwolu bee kono. A ye buuñaa niŋ ñaameŋo dii Yusufa la Firawoona ñaatiliŋo la, Misira mansakewo. Firawoona ye Yusufa ke maralilaa ti Misira bankoo kaŋ, aniŋ a la buŋo bee kono.
11 “Konkoo naata boyi Misira niŋ Kanaani bankoolu bee kaŋ. Wo le ye bataa baa naati fo m̀ mumuñolu maŋ domoroo soto. 12 Biriŋ Yaakuba ye a moyi ko, siimaŋo be Misira bankoo kaŋ ne, a ye m̀ mumuñolu kii jee. 13 Kabiriŋ ì taata jee siiñaa fulanjaŋo, Yusufa ye a faŋ fo a kotoolu niŋ a doomaa ye. Firawoona fanaa naata ka Yusufa la moolu loŋ. 14 Bituŋ Yusufa ye kumoo kii ka a faamaa Yaakuba niŋ a la moolu bee kumandi. Ì mu moo taŋ woorowula niŋ luulu le ti wo waatoo la. 15 Yaakuba niŋ m̀ mumuñolu naata Misira, ì faata daameŋ. 16 Ì naata ì furewolu samba Sekemu saatewo le to, ì ye ì baadee kaburoo kono, Iburayima ye meŋ saŋ nuŋ kodiforoo la Hamori dinkewolu bulu Sekemu saatewo kono jee.
17 “Alla ye laahidoo dii Iburayima la le nuŋ. Kabiriŋ a timmandi waatoo sutiyaata naŋ, a koomalankoolu yaatewo naata siyaa kendeke Misira jee. 18 Wo to le mansakee kutoo meŋ maŋ Yusufa la kuwo loŋ, wo naata maraloo ke Misira. 19 A ye feere jawoolu siti ǹ na moolu kamma, aduŋ a ye m̀ mumuñolu diyaakuyaa ka ì la deenaanoolu fayi ka faa. 20 Wo waatoo kono le, Musa wuluuta, aduŋ a ñiiñaata Alla ñaa koto le. Ì ye a topatoo a faamaa la buŋo kono fo kari saba. 21 Biriŋ ì ye a fayi, Firawoona dimmusoo ye a taa, aduŋ a ye a kuluu ko a faŋo dinkewo. 22 Ì ye Musa karandi Misirankoolu la ñaameŋo bee le la. A naata ke moo baa ti diyaamoo niŋ kebaaroolu to.
23 “Kabiriŋ Musa ye sanji taŋ naani soto, a ye ñiŋ hamoo soto ka taa a fansuŋ moolu kumpabo, Banisirayilankoolu. 24 A ye kiliŋ je ì kono, Misirankoo be meŋ tilimbaliyaa kaŋ. Bituŋ a ye kee bataariŋo faasaa, aduŋ a ye i joo wo kewo ye ka Misirankoo faa. 25 Musa ye a miira ko, a fansuŋ moolu be a loŋ na le ko, Alla ye ate le taa ka ì firiŋ, bari ì maŋ a fahaamu.
26 “Wo saamoo Musa naata Banisirayilankoolu kaŋ, mennu be sonkoo la. A lafita ka ì fata ka ì ke kiliŋ ti. A ko ì ye ko, ‘Kewolu, alitolu mu baadiŋ kiliŋ ne ti. Muŋ ne ye a tinna ali ka ñoo tilimbaliyaa?’ 27 Bari kiliŋo meŋ be a mooñoo tilimbaliyaa kaŋ, a ye Musa ñori, a ko a ye ko, ‘Jumaa le ye i ke maralilaa ti ka kiitiyo teyi ǹ teema? 28 Fo i lafita m faa la le, ko i ye Misirankoo ke ñaameŋ kunuŋ?’ 29 Ñiŋ kumoo kamma la Musa borita Midiyani bankoo kaŋ, a naata ke tumarankewo ti daameŋ, aduŋ a ye dinkee fula wuluu jee.
30 “Sanji taŋ naani koolaa, malaayikoo fintita Musa kaŋ niŋ dimbaa la ka bo yirindiŋo bala, meŋ be mala kaŋ keñewuloo* kono Sinayi Konkoo daala. 31 Biriŋ Musa ye wo je, a jaakalita. Kabiriŋ a sutiyaata a la ka a koroosi, a ye Maariyo diyaamukaŋo moyi ko, 32 ‘Nte le mu i mumuñolu la Alla ti, Iburayima la Alla, Isiyaaka la Alla, aniŋ Yaakuba la Alla.’ Musa jarajarata, a maŋ haañi faŋ ka a juubee. 33 Alla ko a ye ko, ‘I la samatoolu bondi, kaatu i be looriŋ dulaa meŋ to, dulaa senuŋo le mu. 34 I si a loŋ ko, ŋa n na moolu la tooroo je le, ì be meŋ kono Misira, aduŋ ŋa ì la kumboo kaŋo moyi le. N naata le, ka ì tankandi. Naa saayiŋ, m be i kii la Misira le.’
35 “Ì balanta ñiŋ Musa meŋ na ka a fo ko, ‘Jumaa le ye i ke maralilaa niŋ kiitiikuntulaa ti?’ Alla ye ate le kii ka a ke ì la maralilaa niŋ ì kanandirilaa ti ka bo niŋ malaayikoo buloo la, meŋ fintita a kaŋ yirindiŋo kono. 36 Musa le ye i bondi Misira. A ye kaawakuwolu niŋ taamanseeroolu ke Misira bankoo kaŋ, Kulunjumbe Baa to, aniŋ keñewuloo kono fo sanji taŋ naani. 37 Ñiŋ ne mu Musa ti, meŋ ko Banisirayilankoolu ye ko:
‘Alla be annabiyomoo wulindi la ali ye le, meŋ be ko m faŋo,
a be bo la ali faŋolu la moolu le kono.
38 “Ñiŋ Musa faŋo le tarata nuŋ moolu niŋ malaayikoo teema keñewuloo kono waatoo meŋ na, malaayikoo diyaamuta a ye Sinayi Konkoo kaŋ. Ate le ye kuma baluuriŋolu futandi m̀ mumuñolu la kafoo ma ka ì dii ntolu la. 39 Bari m̀ mumuñolu maŋ soŋ a ma, ì ye a jenkendi kara la, aduŋ ì sondomoolu muruta Misira bankoo kaŋ. 40 Bituŋ ì ko Haaruna ye ko, ‘Alloolu dadaa ǹ ye, mennu si ǹ ñaatonkayaa. Kaatu Musa meŋ ye m̀ bondi naŋ Misira, m̀ maŋ a loŋ, meŋ keta a la.’ 41 Wo to le ì ye ninsiriŋo dadaa. Ì ye sadaa bondi ñiŋ jalaŋo ye, aduŋ ì seewoota ñiŋ na, ì ye meŋ dadaa ì fansuŋ buloo la. 42 Wo kamma la Alla ye a koo dii ì la, a ye ì bula ka saŋo santo malafeŋolu batu, ko a be safeeriŋ annabiyomoolu la kitaaboo kono ñaameŋ:
‘Alitolu Banisirayilankoolu, ali ye sanji taŋ naanoo meŋ ke keñewuloo kono,
fo ali ye beeyaŋ sadaa* waraŋ siimaŋ sadaa naati nte le ye baŋ?
43 Hanii, bari ali niŋ ali la jalaŋolu taata.
Ali ye Moleki la tiriliisoo* koo,
ali ye Refani la looloo samba,
a niŋ feŋolu, ali ye mennu lese ka ì batu,
wo to m be ali bayi la le ka tambi Babiloni.’
44 “M̀ mumuñolu ye Tiriliisi Senuŋo* soto seedeyaa le ti keñewuloo kono. Alla meŋ ye yaamaroo dii a kuwo to, ate le ye misaaloo yitandi Musa la, aduŋ a dadaata wo le ñaama. 45 M̀ mumuñolu naata ñiŋ tiriliisoo samba naŋ ñiŋ bankoo kaŋ jaŋ waatoo meŋ na, Yosuwa ye ì ñaatonkayaa ka ñiŋ bankoo taa siyolu bulu, Alla ye mennu bayi ì ñaato. Wo tiriliisoo tuta jaŋ ne fo Mansa Dawuda la waatoo. 46 Alla la hiinoo tarata Dawuda fee, aduŋ a ye daaniroo ke le fo a si buŋo loo Yaakuba la Alla ye. 47 Bari Mansa Sulemani le ye buŋo loo Alla ye.
48 “Hani wo, Alla Mansa Tallaa buka sabati buŋolu kono, hadamadiŋolu ye mennu dadaa, ko annabiyomoo ye a fo ñaameŋ:
49 ‘Arijana le mu n na mansasiiraŋo ti,
aduŋ duniyaa le mu n siŋ looraŋo ti.
Ali be buŋo meŋ loo la n ye,
a be ke la muŋ buŋ siifaa le ti,
aduŋ n na dahaa dulaa be ke la muŋ dulaa siifaa le ti?
50 Fo a maŋ ke m faŋo buloo le ti,
meŋ ye ñiŋ feŋolu bee daa.’
51 “Alitolu moo kuŋ jaaroolu! Ali sondomoolu niŋ ali tuloolu sukita le. Ali ka tu balandiŋ Noora Kuliŋo ma le waati-wo-waati. Ali mumuñolu ka meŋ ke nuŋ, ali fanaa be wo le ke kaŋ. 52 Jumaa le sotota annabiyomoolu kono nuŋ, ali mumuñolu maŋ meŋ toora? Ì ye doolu faa, mennu ye Tilindiŋo la naa kankulaa ì ye. Aduŋ alitolu naata ñiŋ Tilindiŋo jamfaa, ali ye a faa. 53 Ali ye luwaa soto, malaayikoolu ye meŋ dii ali la, bari ali maŋ soŋ a la.”
Stifeni la faa
54 Kabiriŋ ì ye ñiŋ kumoolu moyi, ì jusoo bota. Bituŋ ì kamfaatoo ye i ñimmakiŋ. 55 Bari Stifeni meŋ be faariŋ Noora Kuliŋo la, a ye saŋo santo juubee. A ye Alla la semboo niŋ waroo je, aduŋ Yeesu be looriŋ Alla bulubaa karoo la. 56 Wo to le a ko, “A juubee, ŋa saŋo je yeleriŋ, aduŋ Moo Dinkewo* be looriŋ Alla bulubaa karoo la!” 57 Bari ì ye ì buloolu biti ì tuloolu to, ì wuuritoo borita a kaŋ. 58 Ì ye a bayi saatewo banta la. Ì ye a buŋ beroolu la jee ka a faa. Seedoolu ye ì la waramboolu landi duuma fondinkewo doo siŋolu daala, meŋ too mu Sawulu ti. 59 Kabiriŋ ì be Stifeni buŋ kaŋ, a duwaata ko, “M Maarii Yeesu, n niyo taa.” 60 Wo to le a ñoyita a kumbaliŋolu kaŋ. A sarita santo ko, “Maariyo, kana ñiŋ junuboo muta ì fee.” Kabiriŋ a ye ñiŋ fo, a niyo bota.
