1 N ow in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

فِي تِلكَ الأيّامِ كانَ عَدَدُ التَّلامِيذِ يَتَزايَدُ. فَتَذَمَّرَ اليَهُودُ النّاطِقُونَ بِاليُونانِيَّةِ مِنَ اليَهُودِ النّاطِقِينَ بِالأرامِيَّةِ، لِأنَّهُ كانَ يَتِمُّ تَجاهُلُ أرامِلِهُمْ فِي التَّوزِيعِ اليَومِيِّ.

2 A nd the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables.

فَدَعا الاثنا عَشَرَ كُلَّ جَماعَةِ التَّلامِيذِ مَعاً وَقالُوا: «لا يَصِحُّ لَنا أنْ نُهمِلَ التَّعلِيمَ بِكَلِمَةِ اللهِ لِنَخدِمَ فِي إعدادِ مَوائِدِ الطَّعامِ.

3 L ook ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

فَاختارُوا أيُّها الإخوَةُ مِنْ بَينِكُمْ سَبعَةَ رِجالٍ لَهُمْ سُمْعَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ وَمُمتَلِئِينَ مِنَ الرُّوحِ وَالحِكْمَةِ فَنوكِلَ إلَيْهِمْ هَذِهِ الخِدمَةَ.

4 B ut we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.

أمّا نَحنُ فَسَنُكَرِّسُ أنفُسَنا لِلصَّلاةِ وَخِدمَةِ الكَلِمَةِ.»

5 A nd the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;

فَاسْتَحْسَنَ الجَمِيعُ هَذا الاقتِراحُ، وَاختارُوا إستِفانُوسَ، وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ مَملُوءٌ مِنَ الإيمانِ وَمِنَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ. وَاختارُوا أيضاً فِيلِبُّسَ وَبُرُوخُورُسَ وَنِيكانُورَ وَتِيمُونَ وَبَرْمِيناسَ وَنِيقُولاوُسَ الأنطاكِيَّ، وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ كانَ قَدْ دَخَلَ اليَهُودِيَّةَ.

6 w hom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.

وَقَدَّمُوا هَؤُلاءِ الرِّجالَ إلَى الرُّسُلِ، فَصَلَّى الرُّسُلُ وَوَضَعُوا عَلَيهِمُ الأياديْ.

7 A nd the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

وَانتَشَرَتْ رِسالَةُ اللهِ، وَتَكاثَرَ عَدَدُ التَّلامِيذِ فِي القُدسِ بِشَكلٍ كَبيرٍ، وَأطاعَ الإيمانَ عَدَدٌ كَبِيرٌ مِنَ الكَهَنَةِ. اليَهُودُ ضِدَّ إستِفانُوس

8 A nd Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.

وَكانَ إستِفانُوسُ مَملُوءاً نِعمَةً وَقُوَّةً. فَأجرَى عَجائِبَ وَمُعْجِزاتٍ عَظيمَةً بَينَ النّاسِ.

9 B ut there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

فَتَصَدَّى لَهُ بَعضُ أعضاءِ مَجمَعِ «المُتَحَرِّرونَ،» كَما كانَ يُدعَى. وَكانَ هَؤُلاءِ يَهُوداً مِنَ قِيرِينَ وَالاسكَندَرِيَّةِ، وَمِنْ كِيلِيْكِيّا وَأسِيّا، فَراحُوا يُجادِلُونَ إستِفانُوسَ.

10 A nd they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.

لَكِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَستَطِيعُوا الصُّمُودَ أمامَ الحِكْمَةِ وَالرُّوحِ اللَّذَيْنِ كانَ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِما.

11 T hen they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

فَقَدَّمُوا رِشْوَةً لِبَعضِ الرِّجالِ لِيَقُولُوا: «سَمِعناهُ يَتَكَلَّمُ كَلاماً يُهِينُ بِهِ مُوسَى وَاللهَ.»

12 A nd they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council,

وَهَكَذا أهاجُوا عَلَيهِ النّاسَ وَالشُّيُوخَ وَمُعَلِّمِي الشَّرِيعَةِ. فَجاءُوا وَأمسَكُوا بِهِ، وَأحضَرُوهُ أمامَ مَجلِسِ اليَهُودِ.

13 a nd set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:

وَقَدَّمُوا شُهُودَ زُورٍ قالُوا: «لا يَتَوَقَّفُ هَذا الرَّجُلُ أبَداً عَنْ سَبِّ الهَيكَلِ وَالشَّرِيعَةِ.

14 f or we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us.

فَنَحنُ سَمِعناهُ يَقُولُ إنَّ يَسُوعَ النّاصِرِيَّ سَيُدَمِّرُ الهَيكَلَ وَيُبَدِّلُ العاداتِ الَّتِي سَلَّمَنا إيّاها مُوسَى.»

15 A nd all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

فَوَجَّهَ جَمِيعُ الجالِسِينَ فِي المَجلِسِ أنظارَهُمْ إلَيهِ، وَرَأَوْا أنَّ وَجهَهُ بَدا كَوَجهِ مَلاكٍ.