The Seven Helpers
1 Some time later, as the number of disciples kept growing, there was a quarrel between the Greek-speaking Jews and the native Jews. The Greek-speaking Jews claimed that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of funds. 2 So the twelve apostles called the whole group of believers together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the preaching of God's word in order to handle finances. 3 So then, friends, choose seven men among you who are known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and we will put them in charge of this matter. 4 We ourselves, then, will give our full time to prayer and the work of preaching.”
5 The whole group was pleased with the apostles' proposal, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a Gentile from Antioch who had earlier been converted to Judaism. 6 The group presented them to the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them.
7 And so the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew larger and larger, and a great number of priests accepted the faith.
The Arrest of Stephen
8 Stephen, a man richly blessed by God and full of power, performed great miracles and wonders among the people. 9 But he was opposed by some men who were members of the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), which had Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria. They and other Jews from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia started arguing with Stephen. 10 But the Spirit gave Stephen such wisdom that when he spoke, they could not refute him. 11 So they bribed some men to say, “We heard him speaking against Moses and against God!” 12 In this way they stirred up the people, the elders, and the teachers of the Law. They seized Stephen and took him before the Council. 13 Then they brought in some men to tell lies about him. “This man,” they said, “is always talking against our sacred Temple and the Law of Moses. 14 We heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will tear down the Temple and change all the customs which have come down to us from Moses!” 15 All those sitting in the Council fixed their eyes on Stephen and 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.
