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.
Ovavatere hambombari wombongo
1 Nu momayuva ngo, otjivaro tjovahongewa ovakambure tji tja takavarera ko, Ovagrike otji va unaunina Ovaheberi. Ovagrike aave tja ovahepundu vawo kaave pewa okamariva kuya ke haṋewa movahepundu eyuva arihe. 2 Ovaapostele imba omurongo na vevari va woronganisa ovakambure avehe nave tja nai ku wo: “Kakokuwa eṱe okuyarura omazuvarisiro wembo ra Ndjambi ombunda kokutja tu ungure otjiungura tjomahavarisiro wovikurya kovandu. 3 Nambano, vakwetu, toororeye ovarumendu hambombari mokati keṋu mbe iwe kutja ve ura nOmbepo Ondjapuke nounongo, kokutja eṱe tu vezike okuungura otjiungura otjinahepero hi. 4 Nungwari otjiungura tjetu matji rire ihi tjokupanḓera pongumbiro na pomazuvarisiro waindi embo.” 5 Ovakambure avehe otji va itavera komambo wovaapostele nga, narire tji va toorora Stefanus, omurumendu wongamburiro onḓeu nu ngwe urire nOmbepo Ondjapuke, na Filipus na Prokorus na Nikanor na Timon na Parmenas na Nikolaus, ngwa zire kOantiokie nu ngwe ritanaurire kongamburiro yOvajuda. 6 Ovakambure va eta ovarumendu mba komurungu wovaapostele, novaapostele arire tji ve ve kumbire nave yambeke omake ku wo.
7 Omazuvarisiro wembo ra Ndjambi ya kaenda komurungu, nembo ra handjauka movandu, notjivaro tjovakambure mOjerusalem tja takavarera ko tjinene, notjimbumba otjingi tjovapristeri atji yakura ombuze yongamburiro.
Stefanus ma kamburwa
8 Nu Stefanus, omurumendu ngwa sererwe ondaya tjinene i Ndjambi, nu ngwa ri nomasa wOmbepo, wa tjitire ovihimise noviraisiro ovinene motjiwaṋa. 9 Eye wa sekamenwa i ovarumendu tjiva vosinagoge ndjiyayi isanewa kutja oyOvakarere Ovakuturwa, nu mu mwa ri Ovajuda mba zire kOkirene na Aleksandrie. Owo nOvajuda ovakwao mba zire kehi ra Silisie nora Asie va uta okupatasana na Stefanus. 10 Nungwari owo kaave sora okupirukira ounongo eye mbwa perwe i Ombepo, nu mbuya hungire na wo. 11 Notji va popa ovandu tjiva kutja ve tje nai: “Eṱe twa zuu Stefanus ama yamburura Moses na Ndjambi!” 12 Komuhingo mbwi owo otji va zunganisa otjiwaṋa novanene nozonongo zomambo. Ovandu mba arire tji va hangatene Stefanus, ave mu kambura nave mu twara komurungu wOtjira, 13 puna ovandu tjiva mbu va etere kutja ve hongonone ovizeze ohunga naye. Novahongonone wovizeze mba va tjere nai: “Omurumendu ngwi aruhe u yamburura ondjuwo ya Muhona ondjapuke nOmatwako wa Moses. 14 Eṱe twe mu zuu ama tja Jesus wa Nasaret ma haṋa ondjuwo ya Muhona nu ma rundurura omazikanisiro ngu twa pewa i Moses!” 15 Navehe mba haamene mOtjira va siririka omeho wawo mu Stefanus, narire tji va munu kutja omurungu we mau munika otja omurungu womuengeri.
