1 ث ُمَّ قالَ رَئيسُ الكَهَنَةِ لإستِفانُوسَ: «هَلْ ما يَتَّهِمُونَكَ بِهِ صَحِيحٌ؟»

And the high priest said, Are these things then so?

2 ف َأجابَ: «أيُّها الإخوَةُ وَالآباءُ، أصغُوا إلَيَّ! لَقَدْ ظَهَرَ إلَهُ المَجدِ لِأبِينا إبراهِيمَ حِينَ كانَ ما يَزالُ فِي أرْضِ ما بَينَ النَّهرَينِ، قَبلَ أنْ يَسكُنَ فِي حارانَ.

And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

3 و َقالَ لَهُ: ‹اترُكْ بَلَدَكَ وَشَعبَكَ. وَاذْهَبْ إلَى الأرْضِ الَّتِي سَأُرِيها أنا لَكَ،

and said to him, Go out of thy land and out of thy kindred, and come into the land which I will shew thee.

4 ف َغادَرَ أرْضَ الكِلدانِيِّيْنَ وَاستَقَرَّ فِي حارانَ. «وَبَعدَ أنْ ماتَ أبُوهُ، أرسَلَهُ اللهُ مِنْ هُناكَ إلَى هَذِهِ الأرْضِ حَيثُ أنتُمْ تَسكُنُونَ الآنَ.

Then going out of the land of the Chaldeans he dwelt in Charran, and thence, after his father died, he removed him into this land in which ye now dwell.

5 و َلَمْ يُعطِهِ أيَّ مِيراثٍ هُنا، وَلا حَتَّى شِبراً واحِداً. لَكِنَّهُ وَعَدَ أنْ يُعطِيَها لَهُ وَلِنَسلِهِ مِنْ بَعدِهِ مُلْكاً، رُغمَ أنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَدَيهِ ابنٌ.

And he did not give him an inheritance in it, not even what his foot could stand on; and promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when he had no child.

6 « وَهَذا هُوَ ما قالَهُ اللهُ لَهُ: ‹سَيَكُونُ نَسلُكَ غَرِيباً فِي أرْضٍ غَرِيبَةٍ، وَسَيُستَعبَدُونَ لِأهلِها الَّذِيْنَ سَيَقسُونَ عَلَيهِمْ مُدَّةَ أربَعِ مِئَةِ عامٍ.

And God spoke thus: His seed shall be a sojourner in a strange land, and they shall enslave them and evil entreat four hundred years;

7 ل َكِنِّي سَأُعاقِبُ الأُمَّةَ الَّتِي تَستَعبِدُهُمْ.› وَقالَ اللهُ: ‹وَبَعدَ ذَلِكَ سَيَخرُجُونَ مِنْ تِلكَ الأرْضِ، وَسَيَعبُدُونَنِي فِي هَذا المَكانِ.›

and the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God; and after these things they shall come forth and serve me in this place.

8 « وَأعطَىْ اللهُ إبْراهيمَ عَهداً عَلامَتُهُ الخِتانُ. ثُمَّ أنجَبَ إسْحاقَ وَخَتَنَهُ فِي اليَومِ الثّامِنِ لِمَولِدِهِ. وَأنجَبَ إسْحاقُ يَعقُوبَ، وَأنجَبَ يَعقُوبُ الآباءَ الاثنَيْ عَشَرَ.

And he gave to him covenant of circumcision; and thus he begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.

9 « وَغارَ الآباءُ مِنْ يُوسُفَ وَباعُوهُ لِيَكُونَ عَبداً فِي مِصرَ. لَكِنَّ اللهَ كانَ مَعَهُ،

And the patriarchs, envying Joseph, sold him away into Egypt. And God was with him,

10 و َأنقَذَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ ضِيقاتِهِ. وَأعطاهُ الحِكْمَةَ، وَمَكَّنَهُ مِنْ أنْ يَكسِبَ رِضَى فِرعَوْنَ مَلِكِ مِصْرَ. فَجَعَلَهُ والِياً عَلَى مِصرَ وَعَلَى كُلِّ شُؤونِ قَصرِهِ.

and delivered him out of all his tribulations, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he appointed him chief over Egypt and all his house.

11 ث ُمَّ أتَتْ مَجاعَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مِصْرَ وَكَنعانَ. فَكانَ هُناكَ ضِيقٌ شَدِيدٌ، وَلَمْ يَجِدْ آباؤُنا طَعاماً.

But a famine came upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, and our fathers found no food.

12 « فَلَمّا سَمِعَ يَعقُوبُ أنَّهُ يُوجَدُ فِي مِصرَ قَمحٌ، أرسَلَ آباءَنا إلَى هُناكَ. فَكانَتْ هَذِهِ أوَّلَ زِيارَةٍ لَهُمْ لِمِصْرَ.

But Jacob, having heard of there being corn in Egypt, sent out our fathers first;

13 « وَفِي زِيارَتِهِمُ الثّانِيَةِ لِمِصْرَ، عَرَّفَ يُوسُفُ إخْوَتَهُ بِنَفسِهِ. فَأصبَحَتْ عائِلَةُ يُوسُفَ مَعرُوفةً لِفِرعَونَ.

and the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren, and the family of Joseph became known to Pharaoh.

14 ف َأرسَلَ يُوسُفُ رَجُلاً وَدَعا أباهُ يَعقُوبَ وَكُلَّ عائِلَتِهِ، فَكانُوا خَمسَةً وَسَبعِينَ شَخصاً.

And Joseph sent and called down to him his father Jacob and all kindred, seventy-five souls.

15 ث ُمَّ نَزَلَ يَعقُوبُ إلَى مِصرَ، وَهُناكَ ماتَ هُوَ وَآباؤُنا.

And Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers,

16 و َحُمِلَتْ أجسادُهُمْ إلَى شَكِيمَ ثانِيَةً، وَوُضِعَتْ فِي القَبرِ الَّذِي كانَ إبراهِيمُ قَدِ اشتَراهُ مِنْ أبناءِ حامُورَ فِي شَكِيمَ بِمَبلَغٍ مِنَ المالِ.

and were carried over to Sychem and placed in the sepulchre which Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the of Sychem.

17 « وَمَعَ اقتِرابِ مَوعِدِ تَحَقُّقِ الوَعدِ الَّذِي قَطَعَهُ اللهُ لإبراهِيمَ، ازدادَ شَعبُنا فِي مِصرَ وَتَكاثَرَ،

But as the time of promise drew near which God had promised to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt,

18 إ لَى أنْ جاءَ مَلِكٌ آخَرُ لِيَحكُمَ مِصرَ. وَلَمْ يَكُنْ هَذا المَلِكُ قَدْ عَرَفَ يُوسُفَ.

until another king over Egypt arose who did not know Joseph.

19 ف َاسْتَغَلَّ شَعبَنا بِدَهائِهِ، وَقَسَى عَلَى آبائِنا مُجبِراً إيّاهُمْ عَلَى أنْ يَتَخَلَّوا عَنْ أطفالِهِمْ لِكَي يَمُوتُوا.

He dealt subtilly with our race, and evil entreated the fathers, casting out their infants that they might not live.

20 « فِي ذَلِكَ الوَقتِ، وُلِدَ مُوسَى، وَكانَ طِفلاً جَمِيلاً جِدّاً. نَشَأ فِي بَيتِ أبِيهِ لِمُدَّةِ ثَلاثَةِ أشهُرٍ.

In which time Moses was born, and was exceedingly lovely, who was nourished three months in the house of his father.

21 و َلَمّا وُضِعَ خارِجاً، أخَذَتْهُ ابنَةُ فِرعَوْنَ وَرَبَّتْهُ كابْنٍ لَها.

And when he was cast out, the daughter of Pharaoh took him up, and brought him up for herself for a son.

22 ف َتَثَقَّفَ مُوسَى بِكُلِّ حِكمَةِ المِصرِيِّيْنَ. وَكانَ قَوِيّاً فِي كُلِّ ما قالَهُ وَفَعَلَهُ.

And Moses was instructed in all wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.

23 « وَعِندَما صارَ فِي الأربَعِينَ مِنْ عُمرِهِ، قَرَّرَ أنْ يَزُورَ إخْوَتَهُ بَنِي إسرائِيلَ.

And when a period of forty years was fulfilled to him, it came into his heart to look upon his brethren, the sons of Israel;

24 ف َلَمّا رَأى واحِداً مِنهُمْ يَتَعَرَّضُ لِسُوءِ مُعامَلَةٍ، دافَعَ عَنهُ. وَانتَقَمَ لِلمَظلُومِ بِأنْ قَتَلَ الرَّجُلَ المَصرِيَّ.

and seeing a certain one wronged, he defended, and avenged him that was being oppressed, smiting the Egyptian.

25 ظ َنَّ أنَّ إخْوَتَهُ سَيَفهَمُونَ بِذَلِكَ أنَّ اللهَ سَيُحَرِّرُهُمْ عَلَى يَدِهِ، لَكِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَفهَمُوا هَذا.

For he thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand was giving them deliverance. But they understood not.

26 « وَفِي اليَومِ التّالِي، رَأى بَعضاً مِنْ بَنِي جِنسِهِ يَتَقاتَلُونَ. فَحاوَلَ أنْ يُصلِحَ بَينَهُمْ فَقالَ: ‹أيُّها الرِّجالُ، أنتُمْ إخْوَةٌ. فَلِماذا تُسِيئُونَ أحَدُكُمْ إلَى الآخَرِ؟›

And on the morrow he shewed himself to them as they were contending, and compelled them to peace, saying, Ye are brethren, why do ye wrong one another?

27 ل َكِنَّ الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي كانَ يُسِيئُ إلَى جارِهِ دَفَعَ مُوسَى بَعِيداً وَهُوَ يَقولُ: ‹مَنْ نَصَّبَكَ حاكِماً وَقاضِياً عَلَينا؟

But he that was wronging his neighbour thrust him away, saying, Who established thee ruler and judge over us?

28 أ تُرِيدُ أنْ تَقتُلَنِي كَما قَتَلتَ المِصرِيَّ يَومَ أمسِ؟›

Dost thou wish to kill me as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?

29 ف َلَمّا سَمِعَ مُوسَى هَذا، هَرَبَ وَتَغَرَّبَ فِي أرْضِ مِديانَ، حَيثُ أنجَبَ وَلَدَيْنِ.

And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Madiam, where he begat two sons.

30 « وَبَعدَ مُرُورِ أربَعِينَ عاماً، ظَهَرَ لَهُ مَلاكُ الرَّبِّ فِي لَهِيبِ شُجَيرَةٍ مُحتَرِقَةٍ فِي البَرِّيَّةِ، قُربَ جَبَلِ سِيناءَ.

And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai, in a flame of fire of a bush.

31 ف َلَمّا رَأى مُوسَى هَذا، ذُهِلَ مِنَ المَنظَرِ. وَعِندَ اقتِرابِهِ مِنها لِيُمعِنَ النَّظَرَ، سَمِعَ صَوتَ الرَّبِّ يَقُولُ:

And Moses seeing it wondered at the vision; and as he went up to consider it, there was a voice of Lord,

32 ‹ أنا إلَهُ آبائِكَ، إلَهُ إبراهِيمَ وَإلَهُ إسْحاَقَ وَإلَهُ يَعقُوبَ.› فَلَمْ يَجرُؤْ مُوسَى أنْ يَنظُرَ مُرتَجِفاً مِنَ الخَوفِ.

I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. And Moses trembled, and durst not consider.

33 ث ُمَّ قالَ لَهُ الرَّبُّ: ‹اخلَعْ حِذاءَكَ مِنْ قَدَمَيكَ، فَالمَكانُ الَّذِي تَقِفُ عَلَيهِ أرْضٌ مُقَدَّسَةٌ.

And the Lord said to him, Loose the sandal of thy feet, for the place on which thou standest is holy ground.

34 ل َقَدْ تَطَلَّعتُ وَرَأيتُ سُوءَ مُعامَلَةِ شَعبِي الَّذِينَ فِي مِصرَ، وَسَمِعتُ أنِينَهُمْ، وَنَزَلتُ لِكَي أُحَرِّرَهُمْ. فَالآنَ هَيّا لِأُرسِلَكَ إلَى مِصرَ.›

I have surely seen the ill treatment of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groan, and have come down to take them out of it; and now, come, I will send thee to Egypt.

35 « هَذا هُوَ مُوسَى الَّذِي سَبَقَ أنْ رَفَضُوهُ وَقالوا: ‹مَنْ نَصَّبَكَ حاكِماً وَقاضِياً عَلَينا؟› هُوَ الَّذِي أرسَلَهُ اللهُ، مِنْ خِلالِ المَلاكِ الَّذِي ظَهَرَ لَهُ فِي الشُّجَيرَةِ، لِيَكُونَ قائِداً وَمُخَلِّصاً.

This Moses, whom they refused, saying, Who made thee ruler and judge? him did God send a ruler and deliverer with the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

36 ف َقادَهُمْ خارِجَ مِصْرَ بَعدَ أنْ أجرَى عَجائِبَ وَمُعْجِزاتٍ فِي أرْضِ مِصرَ وَفِي البَحرِ الأحمَرِ وَفِي البَرِّيَّةِ مُدَّةَ أربَعِينَ عاماً.

He led them out, having wrought wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

37 « هَذا هُوَ مُوسَى الَّذِي قالَ لِبَنِي إسْرائِيلَ: ‹سَيُعطِيكُمُ اللهُ نَبِيّاً مِثلِي مِنْ بَينِ شَعبِكُمْ.›

This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, A prophet shall God raise up to you out of your brethren like me.

38 و َهُوَ الَّذِي كانَ مَعَ الجَماعَةِ فِي البَرِّيَّةِ، مَعَ آبائِنا وَمَعَ المَلاكِ الَّذِي كَلَّمَهُ عَلَى جَبَلِ سِيناءَ حَيثُ أخَذَ مِنَ اللهِ كَلِماتٍ مُحيِيَةً لِيُعطِيَها لَنا.»

This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers; who received living oracles to give to us;

39 « لَكِنَّ آباءَنا لَمْ يَشاءُوا أنْ يُطِيعُوهُ، بَلْ إنَّهُمْ رَفَضُوهُ، وَحَنَّتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ إلَى العَودَةِ إلَى مِصرَ.

to whom our fathers would not be subject, but thrust from them, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,

40 و َقالُوا لِهارُونَ: ‹اصنَعْ لَنا آلِهَةً لِتَقُودَنا فِي الطَّرِيقِ. فَنَحنُ لا نَدرِي ما الَّذِي حَلَّ بِمُوسَى هَذا الَّذِي أخرَجَنا مِنْ أرْضِ مِصرَ.›

saying to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us; for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has happened to him.

41 و َكانَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الوَقتُ الَّذِي صَنَعُوا فِيهِ تِمثالاً لِعِجلٍ. فَقَدَّمُوا الذَّبائِحَ لِلصَّنَمِ، وَاحتَفَلُوا بِما صَنَعُوهُ بِأيدِيهِمْ.

And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

42 ل َكِنَّ اللهَ تَحَوَّلَ عَنهُمْ، وَتَرَكَهُمْ يَعبُدُونَ نُجُومَ السَّماءِ. كَما هُوَ مَكتُوبٌ فِي كِتابِ الأنبِياءِ: ‹يَقولُ اللهُ: يا بَنِيْ إسرائِيلَ، لَمْ يَكُنْ أنا مَنْ قَدَّمتُمْ لَهُ ذَبائِحَ وَقَرابِينَ مُدَّةَ أربَعِينَ عاماً فِي البَرِّيَّةِ،

But God turned and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in book of the prophets, Have ye offered me victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

43 ب َلْ حَمَلتُمْ خَيمَةَ عِبادَةِ إلَهِكُمْ مُولُوكَ، وَنَجمَ إلَهِكُمْ رَمْفانَ. وَهِيَ الأوثانُ الَّتِي صَنَعتُمُوها لِتَعبُدُوها. لِهَذا سَأنفِيكُمْ إلَى ما وَراءَ بابِلَ.›»

Yea, ye took up the tent of Moloch, and the star of god Remphan, the forms which ye made to do homage to them; and I will transport you beyond Babylon.

44 « وَكانَتْ خَيمَةُ الشَّهادَةِ مَعَ آبائِنا فِي الصَّحراء، وَقَدْ صُنِعَتْ كَما أمَرَ اللهُ الَّذِي كَلَّمَ مُوسَى إيّاهُ أنْ يَصنَعَها، حَسَبَ النَّمُوذَجِ الَّذِي رَآهُ.

Our fathers had the tent of the testimony in the wilderness, as he that spoke to Moses commanded to make it according to the model which he had seen;

45 و َأدخَلَها آباؤُنا عِندَما دَخَلُوا الأرْضَ مَعَ يَشُوعَ، مُخرِجِينَ الأُمَمَ الَّتِي طَرَدَها اللهُ مِنْ أمامِهِمْ. وَبَقِيَتِ الخَيمَةُ هُناكَ حَتَّى زَمَنِ داوُدَ.

which also our fathers, receiving from their predecessors, brought in with Joshua when they entered into possession of the nations, whom God drove out from face of our fathers, until the days of David;

46 و َحازَ داوُدُ عَلَى رِضَى اللهِ. وَاستَأْذَنَ بِأنْ يَبنِيَ بَيتاً لإلَهِ يَعقُوبَ،

who found favour before God, and asked to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob;

47 ل َكِنَّ سُلَيْمانَ هُوَ الَّذِي بَنَى الهَيكَلَ.

but Solomon built him a house.

48 غ َيرَ أنَّ العَلِيَّ لا يَسكُنُ فِي هَياكِلَ تُصْنَعُ بِالأيدِي. فَكَما يَقُولُ النَّبِيُّ:

But the Most High dwells not in made with hands; as says the prophet,

49 ‹ يَقُولُ الرَّبُّ: السَّماءُ عَرشٌ لِي، وَالأرْضُ مَداسٌ لِقَدَمَيَّ. فَأيُّ بَيتٍ تُرِيدُونَ أنْ تَبنُوهُ لِي؟ أوْ هَلْ أحتاجُ إلَى مَكانٍ لِلرّاحَةِ؟

The heaven my throne and the earth the footstool of my feet: what house will ye build me? saith Lord, or where place of my rest?

50 أ لَمْ تَصنَعْ يَدَيَّ هَذِهِ الأشياءَ كُلَّها؟›

has not my hand made all these things?

51 « أيُّها الشَّعبُ العَنِيدُ، وَيا ذَوِي القُلُوبِ وَالآذانِ غَيرِ المَختُونَةِ! أنتُمْ تُقاوِمُونَ الرُّوحَ القُدُسَ دائِماً. تَماماً كَما فَعَلَ آباؤُكُمْ.

O stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers, ye also.

52 ف َهَلْ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ لَمْ يَضطَهِدْهُ آباؤُكُمْ؟ فَقَدْ قَتَلُوا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُوا أنْ تَنَبَّأُوا عَنْ مَجِيءِ البارِّ. وَأنتُمُ الآنَ قَدْ غَدَرتُمْ بِهِ وَقَتَلتُمُوهُ.

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain those who announced beforehand concerning the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have now become deliverers up and murderers!

53 ف َأنتُمُ الَّذِينَ تَسَلَّمْتُمُ الشَّرِيعَةَ بِواسِطَةِ المَلائِكَةِ، لَكِنَّكُمْ لَمْ تُطِيعُوها.» استِشهادُ إستِفانُوس

who have received the law as ordained by ministry of angels, and have not kept.

54 ف َلَمّا سَمِعَ اليَهُودُ هَذا، اشتَعَلُوا غَيظاً، وَصَرُّوا أسنانَهُمْ عَلَيهِ مِنَ الغَضَبِ.

And hearing these things they were cut to the heart, and gnashed their teeth against him.

55 ل َكِنَّهُ نَظَرَ إلَى السَّماءِ مُمتَلِئاً مِنَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ. وَرَأى مَجدَ اللهِ وَيَسُوعَ واقِفاً عَلَى يَمِينِ اللهِ.

But being full of Holy Spirit, having fixed his eyes on heaven, he saw glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

56 ف َقالَ: «ها أنا أرَى السَّماءَ مَفتُوحَةً وَابنَ الإنسانِ واقِفاً عَنْ يَمِينِ اللهِ.»

and said, Lo, I behold the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.

57 ع ِندَ هَذا بَدَأُوا يَصرُخُونَ وَغَطُّوا آذانَهُمْ. ثُمَّ اندَفَعُوا جَمِيعاً نَحوَهُ،

And they cried out with a loud voice, and held their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord;

58 و َجَرُّوهُ خارِجَ المَدِينَةِ، وَبَدَأُوا يَرجُمُونَهُ. وَتَرَكَ الشُّهُودُ عَباءاتِهِمْ عِندَ قَدَمَي شابٍّ اسْمُهُ شاوُلُ.

and having cast out of the city, they stoned. And the witnesses laid aside their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul.

59 و َفِيما هُمْ مُستَمِرُّونَ فِي رَجمِ إستِفانُوسَ، كانَ هُوَ يَدْعُو وَيَقُولُ: «أيُّها الرَّبُّ يَسُوعُ، تَقَبَّلْ رُوحِي.»

And they stoned Stephen, praying, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 ث ُمَّ رَكَعَ وَصَرَخَ بِصَوتٍ عَظِيمٍ: «يا رَبُّ، لا تَحْسِبْ هَذِهِ الخَطِيَّةَ ضِدَّهُمْ.» وَلَمّا قالَ هَذا ماتَ.

And kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And having said this, he fell asleep.