1
Kuhani Mkuu akasema, Je! Mambo hayo ndivyo yalivyo?
Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
2
Naye akasema, Ndugu zangu na baba zangu, sikilizeni: Mungu wa utukufu alimtokea baba yetu Ibrahimu, alipokuwa katika Mesopotamia, kabla hajakaa Harani,
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
3
akamwambia, Toka katika nchi yako na katika jamaa zako, ukaende hata nchi nitakayokuonyesha.
and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’
4
Ndipo alipotoka katika nchi ya Wakaldayo, akakaa Harani, akatoka huko baada ya kufa babaye, Mungu akamhamisha mpaka nchi hii mnayokaa ninyi sasa.
So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living.
5
Wala hakumpa urithi humu hata kiasi cha kuweka mguu; akaahidi kwamba atampa, iwe milki yake, na ya uzao wake baadaye alipokuwa hana mtoto.
He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.
6
Mungu akanena hivi, ya kwamba wazao wake watakuwa wageni katika nchi ya watu wengine, nao watawafanya kuwa watumwa wao, na kuwatenda mabaya kwa muda wa miaka mia nne.
God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
7
Na lile taifa watakaowafanya watumwa nitawahukumu mimi, alisema Mungu; na baada ya hayo watatoka, nao wataniabudu mahali hapa.
‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’
8
Akampa agano la tohara; basi Ibrahimu akamzaa Isaka, akamtahiri siku ya nane. Isaka akamzaa Yakobo. Yakobo akawazaa wale kumi na wawili, wazee wetu.
Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
9
Wale wazee wetu wakimwonea wivu Yusufu, wakamwuza aende Misri. Mungu akawa pamoja naye,
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
10
akamtoa katika dhiki zake zote, akampa fadhili na hekima mbele ya Farao, mfalme wa Misri; naye akamfanya awe mtawala juu ya Misri na nyumba yake yote.
and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
11
Basi kukawa njaa katika nchi yote ya Misri na Kanaani, na dhiki nyingi, wala baba zetu hawakupata chakula cha kuwatosha.
Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.
12
Hata Yakobo aliposikia ya kwamba huko Misri kuna nafaka, akawatuma baba zetu mara ya kwanza.
When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.
13
Hata safari ya pili Yusufu akajitambulisha kwa ndugu zake, jamaa ya Yusufu ikawa dhahiri kwa Farao.
On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14
Yusufu akatuma watu akamwita Yakobo babaye na jamaa zake wote pia, watu sabini na watano.
Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.
15
Basi Yakobo akashuka mpaka Misri; akafa yeye na baba zetu;
So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
16
wakachukuliwa mpaka Shekemu wakazikwa katika kaburi lile, ambalo Ibrahimu alilinunua kwa kima cha fedha kwa wana wa Hamori, huko Shekemu.
Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.
17
Basi wakati wa ile ahadi ambayo Mungu alimpa Ibrahimu ulipokuwa unakaribia, wale watu wakazidi na kuongezeka sana huko Misri,
As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.
18
hata mfalme mwingine akainuka juu ya Misri, asiyemfahamu Yusufu.
Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt.
19
Huyo akawafanyia hila kabila yetu, na kuwatenda mabaya baba zetu, akiwaamuru wawatupe watoto wao wachanga, ili wasiishi.
He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.
20
Wakati huo akazaliwa Musa, naye alikuwa mzuri sana, akalelewa muda wa miezi mitatu katika nyumba ya babaye.
At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God. For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house.
21
Hata alipotupwa, binti Farao akamtwaa, akamlea awe kama mwanawe.
When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.
22
Musa akafundishwa hekima yote ya Wamisri, akawa hodari wa maneno na matendo.
So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
23
Umri wake ulipopata kama miaka arobaini akaazimu moyoni mwake kwenda kuwatazama ndugu zake Waisraeli.
When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
24
Akamwona mmoja akidhulumiwa, akamtetea, akamlipia kisasi yule aliyekuwa akionewa, akampiga huyo Mmisri.
And when he saw one of them being mistreated, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian who was oppressing him.
25
Alidhani kwamba ndugu zake watafahamu ya kuwa Mungu anawapa wokovu kwa mkono wake, lakini hawakufahamu.
He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.
26
Siku ya pili yake akawatokea walipokuwa wakishindana, akataka kuwapatanisha, akisema, Enyi bwana zangu, ninyi ni ndugu. Mbona mnadhulumiana?
The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?’
27
Lakini yeye aliyemdhulumu mwenziwe akamsukumia mbali, akisema, Ni nani aliyekuweka wewe kuwa mkuu na mwamuzi juu yetu?
But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?
28
Je! Wataka kuniua mimi kama ulivyomwua yule Mmisri jana?
Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29
Musa akakimbia kwa neno hilo, akakaa hali ya ugeni katika nchi ya Midiani, akazaa wana wawili huko.
At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.
30
Hata miaka arobaini ilipotimia, malaika wa Bwana akamtokea katika jangwa la mlima wa Sinai katika mwali wa moto, kijitini.
After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.
31
Musa alipouona, akastaajabia maono yale, na alipokaribia ili atazame, sauti ya Bwana ikamjia,
When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him:
32
Mimi ni Mungu wa baba zako, Mungu wa Ibrahimu, na Mungu wa Isaka, na Mungu wa Yakobo. Musa akatetemeka, asithubutu kutazama.
‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.
33
Bwana akamwambia, Vua viatu miguuni mwako, kwa maana mahali hapa unaposimama ni nchi takatifu.
Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.
34
Yakini nimeona mateso ya watu wangu waliomo Misri, nimesikia kuugua kwao, nami nimeshuka niwatoe. Basi sasa, nitakutuma mpaka Misri.
I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’
35
Musa huyo waliyemkataa, wakisema, Ni nani aliyekuweka kuwa mkuu na mwamuzi? Ndiye aliyetumwa na Mungu kuwa mkuu na mkombozi, kwa mkono wa yule malaika aliyemtokea katika kile kijiti.
This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
36
Huyo ndiye aliyewatoa, akifanya ajabu na ishara katika nchi ya Misri, na katika bahari ya Shamu, na katika jangwa muda wa miaka arobaini.
He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.
37
Musa huyo ndiye aliyewaambia Waisraeli, Bwana Mungu wenu atawainulieni nabii, katika ndugu zenu, kama mimi; msikieni yeye.
This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.’
38
Yeye ndiye aliyekuwa katika kanisa jangwani pamoja na yule malaika aliyesema naye katika mlima wa Sinai, tena pamoja na baba zetu; ndiye aliyepokea maneno ya uzima atupe sisi.
He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.
39
Mtu huyo baba zetu hawakutaka kumtii, bali wakamsukumia mbali, na kwa mioyo yao wakarejea Misri,
But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40
wakamwambia Haruni, Tufanyie miungu, watakaotutangulia; maana huyo Musa, aliyetutoa katika nchi ya Misri, hatujui lililompata.
They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’
41
Wakafanya ndama siku zile, wakaleta dhabihu kwa sanamu ile, wakafurahia kazi za mikono yao.
At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.
42
Basi Mungu akaghairi, akawaacha ili waliabudu jeshi la mbinguni, kama ilivyoandikwa katika chuo cha manabii, Je! Mlinitolea mimi dhabihu na sadaka Miaka arobaini katika jangwa, enyi nyumba ya Israeli?
But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43
Nanyi mlichukua hema ya Moleki, Na nyota za mungu wenu Refani, Sanamu mlizozifanya ili kuziabudu; Nami nitawafahamisha mwende mbali kupita Babeli.
You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
44
Ile hema ya ushahidi ilikuwa pamoja na baba zetu jangwani, kama alivyoagiza yeye aliyesema na Musa, ya kwamba aifanye sawasawa na mfano ule aliouona;
Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.
45
ambayo baba zetu, kwa kupokezana, wakaiingiza pamoja na Yoshua katika milki ya Mataifa wale, ambao Mungu aliwafukuza mbele ya baba zetu, mpaka siku za Daudi;
And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,
46
aliyepata fadhili mbele za Mungu, naye aliomba ampatie Mungu wa Yakobo maskani.
who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
47
Lakini Sulemani alimjengea nyumba.
But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.
48
Ila Yeye aliye juu hakai katika nyumba zilizofanywa kwa mikono, kama vile asemavyo nabii,
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49
Mbingu ni kiti changu cha enzi, Na nchi ni pa kuwekea miguu yangu; Ni nyumba gani mtakayonijengea? Asema Bwana,
‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?
50
Au ni mahali gani nitakapostarehe? Si mkono wangu uliofanya haya yote?
Has not My hand made all these things?’
51
Enyi wenye shingo gumu, msiotahiriwa mioyo wala masikio, siku zote mnampinga Roho Mtakatifu; kama baba zenu walivyofanya, na ninyi ni vivyo hivyo.
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
52
Ni yupi katika manabii ambaye baba zenu hawakumwudhi? Nao waliwaua wale waliotabiri habari za kuja kwake yule Mwenye Haki; ambaye ninyi sasa mmekuwa wasaliti wake, mkamwua;
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
53
ninyi mlioipokea torati kwa agizo la malaika msiishike.
you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
54
Basi waliposikia maneno haya, wakachomwa mioyo, wakamsagia meno.
On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
55
Lakini yeye akijaa Roho Mtakatifu, akakaza macho yake, akitazama mbinguni, akauona utukufu wa Mungu, na Yesu akisimama upande wa mkono wa kuume wa Mungu.
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56
Akasema, Tazama! Naona mbingu zimefunguka, na Mwana wa Adamu amesimama mkono wa kuume wa Mungu.
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57
Wakapiga kelele kwa sauti kuu, wakaziba masikio yao, wakamrukia kwa nia moja,
At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
58
wakamtoa nje ya mji, wakampiga kwa mawe. Nao mashahidi wakaweka nguo zao miguuni pa kijana mmoja aliyeitwa Sauli.
They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59
Wakampiga kwa mawe Stefano, naye akiomba, akisema, Bwana Yesu, pokea roho yangu.
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60
Akapiga magoti, akalia kwa sauti kuu, Bwana, usiwahesabie dhambi hii. Akiisha kusema haya akalala. Na Sauli alikuwa akiona vema kwa kuuawa kwake.
Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.