Ovayakuli tava hoololwa
1 Ndele momafiku enya omuvalu wovalongwa eshi wa hapupala, Ovaheleni nokutya, ovakwaneongalo velaka lOshigreka, ova ngongotela Ovaheberi, osheshi oipalwifa eshi ya tukulwa keshe efiku, ovafiyekadi vavo ova lumbulwa. 2 Opo naava omulongo navavali ova shiva ongudu yovalongwa, ndele tava ti kuvo: “Inashi wapala, fye tu efe eendjovo daKalunga tu yakule poililo. 3 Hano ovamwatate, hoololeni mokati keni ovalumenhu vaheyali ve shii okulineekelwa, ve yadi Omhepo Iyapuki neendunge, ovo hatu va tula moshilonga eshi. 4 Ndele fye vene otwa hala okukala meilikano nomeyakulo leendjovo.” 5 Ndele eendjovo edi oda wapalela oshiongalele ashishe, nova hoolola mo Stefanus, omulumenhu ou e yadi eitavelo nOmhepo Iyapuki, naFilippus naProkorus naNikanor naTimon naParmena naNikolaus, Omuantiokia omupaani e lipitififa etanda. 6 Ovo tuu ovo ove va tula koshipala shovayapostoli, ava ova ilikana nove va tenheka omake.
7 Ndele eendjovo daKalunga da tandavela, nomuvalu wovalongwa vomuJerusalem owa hapupala neenghono, nongudu inene yomovapristeli oya dulika keitavelo.
Stefanus ta hokololifwa
8 Ndele Stefanus a yada onghenda neenghono, okwa longa oinyengandunge inene noilongadidiliko mokati kovanhu. 9 Opo nee opa holoka vamwe vomoinagoga oyo ya lukwa yOvamangululwa noyOvakireni noyOvaaleksandria navamwe vomuKilikia novomuAsia, ndele tava twifa Stefanus eemhata, 10 ndelenee ova nyengwa okutomha eendunge odo Omhepo oyo ye mu popifa. 11 Vo ova konga meholeko ovalumenhu va tye: “Fye otwe mu uda ta popi eendjovo domasheko dokusheka Moses naKalunga.” 12 Ndele vo ova piyaaneka ovanhu novakulunhu novanongo vomishangwa, ovo ve uya po, ve mu kwata ndele tave mu shilile moshiongalele shovakulunhu. 13 Ndele vo ova eta po eendobwedi doipupulu edi tadi ti: “Omulumenhu ou ita efa okupopyaana nokusheka onhele ei iyapuki nomhango 14 osheshi fye otwe mu uda eshi ta ti: Jesus ou Omunasareti, ota hanauna po onhele ei, neenghedi odo twe di pelwe kuMoses ote di lundulula.” 15 Ndele aveshe ovo va kala omutumba moshiongalele shovakulunhu ove mu tala, noshipala shaye osha li sha foshipala shomweengeli.
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.
