1 A llora il sommo sacerdote gli disse: «Stanno queste cose proprio cosí?».

The head religious leader asked Stephen, “Are these things true?”

2 E gli disse: «Fratelli e padri, ascoltate. Il Dio della gloria apparve ad Abrahamo, nostro padre, mentre egli era in Mesopotamia, prima che abitasse in Carran.

Stephen said, “My brothers and fathers, listen to me. The great God showed Himself to our early father Abraham while he lived in the country of Mesopotamia. This was before he moved to the country of Haran.

3 e gli disse: "Usci dal tuo paese e dal tuo parentado e va' nel paese che io ti mostrerò".

God said to him, ‘Leave your family and this land where you were born. Go to a land that I will show you.’

4 A llora egli uscí dal paese dei Caldei e abitò in Carran; di là, dopo che suo padre morí, Dio lo fece venire in questo paese, nel quale ora voi abitate.

He went from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. After his father died, he came to this country where you now live.

5 E non gli diede alcuna eredità, neppure lo spazio per posarvi un piede. Ma promise di darlo in proprietà a lui e alla sua progenie dopo di lui, quand'egli non aveva ancora alcun figlio.

God did not give him any land to own, not even enough to put his feet on. But He promised that the land would be his and his children’s after him. At that time he had no children.

6 E Dio parlò cosí: che la sua progenie dimorerebbe come forestiera in paese straniero, e che là sarebbe tenuta in schiavitú e maltrattata quattrocento anni.

This is what God said, ‘Your children’s children will be living in a strange land. They will live there 400 years. They will be made to work without pay and will suffer many hard things.

7 M a Dio aggiunse: "Io giudicherò la nazione alla quale avranno servito; e dopo ciò, essi usciranno e mi serviranno in questo luogo".

I will say to that nation that it is guilty for holding them and making them work without pay. After that they will go free. They will leave that country and worship Me in this place.’

8 P oi gli diede il patto della circoncisione. E cosí Abrahamo generò Isacco e lo circoncise nell'ottavo giorno Isacco generò Giacobbe, e Giacobbe i dodici patriarchi.

“He made a promise with Abraham. It was kept by a religious act of becoming a Jew. Abraham had a son, Isaac. On the eighth day Abraham took Isaac and had this religious act done to him. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of our twelve early fathers.

9 I patriarchi, portando invidia a Giuseppe, lo vendettero perché fosse condotto in Egitto, ma Dio era con lui;

“The sons of Jacob sold Joseph to people from the country of Egypt because they were jealous of him. But God was with Joseph.

10 e lo liberò da tutte le sue tribolazioni e gli diede grazia e sapienza davanti al Faraone, re di Egitto, il quale lo costituí governatore sull'Egitto e su tutta la sua casa.

He helped him in all his troubles. He gave him wisdom and favor with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. This king made Joseph leader over Egypt and over all the king’s house.

11 O r sopravvenne una carestia e una grande calamità in tutto il paese d'Egitto e di Canaan, e i nostri padri non trovavano viveri.

“The time came when there was no food to eat in all the land of Egypt and Canaan. The people suffered much. Our early fathers were not able to get food.

12 M a Giacobbe, saputo che in Egitto c'era del grano, vi mandò una prima volta i nostri padri.

Then Jacob heard there was food in Egypt. He sent our early fathers there the first time.

13 L a seconda volta Giuseppe si fece riconoscere dai suoi fratelli e fu svelata al Faraone la parentela di Giuseppe.

“The second time they went to the country of Egypt, Joseph made himself known to his brothers. The family of Joseph became known to Pharaoh.

14 A llora Giuseppe mandò a chiamare suo padre Giacobbe e tutto il suo parentado, in tutto settantacinque persone.

Joseph asked his father Jacob and all his family to come. There were seventy-five people in the family.

15 G iacobbe scese in Egitto, dove morí lui e i nostri padri.

Jacob moved down to Egypt and died there. Our early fathers died there also.

16 E ssi furono poi trasportati a Sichema e posti nel sepolcro, che Abrahamo aveva comprato a prezzo d'argento dai figli di Emor, padre di Sichem.

They were brought back to the city of Shechem where they were buried. Abraham paid money for the grave from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. Stephen Speaks about the God of Moses

17 O ra, mentre si avvicinava il tempo della promessa che Dio aveva giurata ad Abrahamo, il popolo crebbe e si moltiplicò a in Egitto,

“The promise God had given Abraham was about to happen. At this time many more of our people were in the country of Egypt.

18 f inché sorse in Egitto un altro re che non aveva conosciuto Giuseppe.

Then another man became king in Egypt. He was a king who did not know Joseph.

19 Q uesti, usando malizia contro la nostra stirpe, maltrattò i nostri padri fino a far esporre i loro bambini, perché non sopravvivessero.

He was hard on our people and nation. He worked against our early fathers. He made them put their babies outside so they would die.

20 I n quel tempo nacque Mosé, ed era bello agli occhi di Dio; egli fu nutrito per tre mesi in casa di suo padre.

“At that time Moses was born. He was beautiful in God’s sight. He was fed in his father’s house for three months.

21 E , quando fu esposto, la figlia del Faraone lo raccolse e lo allevò come suo figlio.

Then he was put outside. Pharaoh’s daughter took him and cared for him as her own son.

22 C osí Mosé fu istruito in tutta la sapienza degli Egiziani, ed era potente in parole ed opere.

Moses was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He became a powerful man in words and in the things he did.

23 M a, quando giunse all'età di quarant'anni, gli venne in cuore di andare a visitare i suoi fratelli: i figli d'Israele.

When he was forty years old, he thought he should visit his brothers, the Jews.

24 E , vedendone uno che subiva un torto, lo difese e vendicò l'oppresso, uccidendo l'Egiziano.

He saw one of the Jews being hurt. Moses helped the Jew and killed the man from Egypt.

25 O r egli pensava che i suoi fratelli avrebbero capito che Dio stava per dar loro liberazione per mezzo suo, ma essi non compresero.

He thought his people would understand. He thought they knew God would let them go free by his help. But the people did not understand.

26 I l giorno seguente egli comparve in mezzo a loro, mentre litigavano e li esortò alla pace, dicendo: "O uomini, voi siete fratelli, perché vi fate torto l'un l'altro?".

“The next day Moses came to some Jews who were fighting. He tried to get them to stop. Moses said to the Jews, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you hurt each other?’

27 M a colui che faceva torto al suo vicino lo respinse, dicendo: "Chi ti ha costituito principe e giudice su di noi?

One was beating his neighbor. He pushed Moses away and said, ‘Who made you a leader over us? Who said you could say who is guilty?

28 V uoi uccidere me, come ieri hai ucciso l'Egiziano?".

Do you want to kill me as you killed the man from Egypt yesterday?’

29 A queste parole Mosé fuggí e dimorò come forestiero nel paese Dimadian dove generò due figli.

When Moses heard that, he went as fast as he could to the country of Midian where he was a stranger. While he was there, he became the father of two sons.

30 P assati quarant'anni, l'angelo del Signore gli apparve nel deserto del monte Sinai, nella fiamma di fuoco di un roveto,

Forty years passed and Moses was near Mount Sinai where no people live. There he saw an angel in the fire of a burning bush.

31 A lla vista di ciò, Mosé rimase stupito di quel che vedeva, e come si avvicinava per osservare, udì la voce del Signore,

He was surprised and wondered when he saw it. He went up close to see it better. Then he heard the voice of the Lord speak to him.

32 c he diceva: "Io sono il Dio dei tuoi padri, il Dio di Abrahamo, il Dio di Isacco e il Dio di Giacobbe". Ma Mosé, tremando tutto, non ardiva alzare lo sguardo.

‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ Moses shook! He was so afraid he did not look at the bush.

33 A llora il Signore gli disse: "Togliti i calzari dai piedi, perché il luogo sul quale stai è terra santa.

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take your shoes off your feet! The place where you are standing is holy ground.

34 H o certamente visto l'afflizione del mio popolo in Egitto e ho udito i loro sospiri, e sono disceso per liberarli; or dunque vieni, io ti manderò in Egitto".

I have seen My people suffer in the country of Egypt and I have heard their cries. I have come down to let them go free. So come now, I will send you back to Egypt.’

35 Q uel Mosé che avevano rifiutato, di cendo: "Chi ti ha costituito principe e giudice?". Quello mandò loro Dio come capo e liberatore, per mezzo dell'angelo che gli era apparso nel roveto.

“The people had put Moses aside. They said, ‘Who made you a leader over us? Who said you are the one to say what is right or wrong?’ But God made this man a leader. Moses was the one who brought them out of the country of Egypt. This was done by the help of the angel who was in the burning bush.

36 E gli li condusse fuori, operando segni e prodigi nel paese di Egitto, nel Mar Rosso e nel deserto, per quarant'anni.

This man led them. He did powerful works in Egypt and at the Red Sea. For forty years he led them in the desert.

37 Q uesti è quel Mosé che disse ai figli d'Israele: Il Signore Dio vostro susciterà per voi, tra i vostri fratelli, un profeta come me. Ascoltatelo!.

“Moses said to the Jews, ‘God will give you one who speaks for Him like me from among your brothers.’

38 Q uesti è colui che nell'assemblea nel deserto fu con l'angelo che gli parlava sul monte Sinai e con i nostri padri; e ricevette le parole viventi per trasmetterle a noi.

This is the man who was with the Jewish nation in the desert. The angel talked to him on Mount Sinai. Moses told it to our early fathers. He also received the living Words of God to give to us.

39 A lui i padri nostri non vollero ubbidire; anzi lo respinsero e si rivolsero con i loro cuori all'Egitto,

“Our early fathers would not listen to him. They did not obey him. In their hearts they wanted to go back to the country of Egypt.

40 d icendo ad Aaronne: "Facci degli dèi che vadano davanti a noi, perché a questo Mosé che ci ha condotti fuori dal paese di Egitto non sappiamo che cosa sia accaduto".

They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us. We do not know what has happened to this Moses who led us out of Egypt.’

41 E in quei giorni fecero un vitello, offrirono un sacrificio all'idolo e si rallegrarono nell'opera delle loro mani.

“In those days they made a calf of gold. They put gifts down in front of their god in worship. They were happy with what they had made with their hands.

42 A llora Dio si ritrasse e li lasciò servire all'esercito del cielo, com'è scritto nel libro dei profeti: "Casa d'Israele, mi avete voi offerto sacrifici e olocausti per quarant'anni nel deserto?

But God turned from them and let them worship the stars of heaven. This is written in the book of the early preachers, ‘Nation of Jews, was it to Me you gave gifts of sheep and cattle on the altar for forty years in the desert?

43 A vete piuttosto portato la tenda di Molok e la stella del vostro dio Remfan, le immagini da voi fatte per adorarle; perciò io vi trasporterò al di là di Babilonia

No, you set up the tent to worship the god of Molock and the star of your god Rompha. You made gods to worship them. I will carry you away to the other side of the country of Babylon.’ The Place of Worship and the House of God

44 N el deserto i vostri padri avevano il tabernacolo della testimonianza, come aveva comandato colui che aveva detto a Mosé di farlo secondo il modello che aveva visto.

“Our early fathers had the tent to worship in. They used it in the desert. God told Moses to make it like the plan which he had seen.

45 E i nostri padri, dopo averlo ricevuto, lo trasportarono con Giosué nel paese che era stato posseduto dai gentili, che Dio scacciò davanti ai nostri padri; e là rimase fino ai giorni di Davide,

This was received by our early fathers. They brought it here when they won the wars with the people who were not Jews. It was when Joshua was our leader. God made those people leave as our early fathers took the land. The tent was here until the time of David.

46 i l quale trovò grazia davanti a Dio e chiese di poter trovare una dimora per il Dio di Giacobbe.

David pleased God and wanted to build a house for worship for the God of Jacob.

47 F u invece Salomone quello che gli edificò una casa.

But Solomon was the one who built the house of God for Him.

48 M a l'Altissimo non abita in templi fatti da mani d'uomo, come dice il profeta:

But the Most High does not live in buildings made by hands. The early preacher said,

49 " Il cielo è il mio trono e la terra lo sgabello dei miei piedi; quale casa mi edifichereste voi, dice il Signore, o quale sarebbe il luogo del mio riposo?

’Heaven is the place where I sit and the earth is the place where I rest My feet. What house will you build Me?’ says the Lord. ‘Or what is My place of rest?

50 N on ha la mia mano fatto tutte queste cose?"

Did not My hands make all these things?’ The Jews Are Hurt

51 U omini di collo duro ed incirconcisi di cuore e di orecchi, voi resistete sempre allo Spirito Santo; come fecero i vostri padri, cosí fate anche voi.

“You have hard hearts and ears that will not listen to me! You are always working against the Holy Spirit. Your early fathers did. You do too.

52 Q uale dei profeti non perseguitarono i padri vostri? Essi uccisero anche coloro che preannunciavano la venuta del Giusto, del quale ora voi siete divenuti traditori e uccisori;

Which of the early preachers was not beaten and hurt by your early fathers? They killed those who told of the coming of the One Right with God. Now you have handed Him over and killed Him.

53 v oi che avete ricevuto la legge promulgata dagli angeli e non l'avete osservata!».

You had the Law given to you by angels. Yet you have not kept it.” Stephen Is Killed

54 A ll'udire queste cose, essi fremevano in cuor loro e digrignavano i denti contro di lui.

The Jews and religious leaders listened to Stephen. Then they became angry and began to grind their teeth at him.

55 M a egli, ripieno di Spirito Santo, fissati gli occhi al cielo, vide la gloria di Dio e Gesú che stava alla destra di Dio

He was filled with the Holy Spirit. As he looked up to heaven, he saw the shining-greatness of God and Jesus standing at the right side of God.

56 e disse: «Ecco, io vedo i cieli aperti e il Figlio dell'uomo che sta alla destra di Dio».

He said, “See! I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!”

57 M a essi, mandando alte grida, si turarono gli orecchi e tutti insieme si avventarono sopra di lui;

They cried out with loud voices. They put their hands over their ears and they all pushed on him.

58 e , cacciatolo fuori dalla città, lo lapidarono. E i testimoni deposero le loro vesti ai piedi di un giovane, chiamato Saulo.

Then they took him out of the city and threw stones at him. The men who were throwing the stones laid their coats down in front of a young man named Saul.

59 C osí lapidarono Stefano, che invocava Gesú e diceva: «Signor Gesú, ricevi il mio spirito».

While they threw stones at Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

60 P oi, postosi in ginocchio, gridò ad alta voce: «Signore, non imputare loro questo peccato». E, detto questo, si addormentò.

After that he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.