1 I n those days the group of followers was getting larger. Greek-speaking Jews in the group complained against the Jews living in the country around Jerusalem. The Greek-speaking Jews said that their women whose husbands had died were not taken care of when the food was given out each day.

Na i aua ra, i te mea ka tokomaha haere nga akonga ka amuamu nga Hurai Kariki ki nga Hiperu, no te mea i mahue o ratou pouaru i nga tuwhanga mea o tenei ra, o tenei ra.

2 S o the twelve missionaries called a meeting of the many followers and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to hand out food.

Katahi ka karangatia e te tekau ma rua te mano o nga akonga, ka mea, E kore e pai kia whakarerea e matou te kupu a te Atua, a kia mahi tepu.

3 B rothers, choose from among you seven men who are respected and who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will have them take care of this work.

No reira, e nga teina, tirohia mai i roto i a koutou kia tokowhitu nga tangata e korerotia paitia ana, e ki ana i te Wairua Tapu, i te matauranga, a ma matou ratou e whakatu ki tenei mahi.

4 T hen we will use all of our time to pray and to teach the Word of God.”

Ko matou ia ka u tonu ki te inoi, ki te mahi i te kupu.

5 T hese words pleased all of them. They chose Stephen who was a man full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. They also chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas of Antioch who had become a Jew.

A pai katoa te mano ki taua korero: na whiriwhiria ana e ratou a Tepene, he tangata e ki ana i te whakapono, i te Wairua Tapu, ratou ko Piripi, ko Porokoru, ko Nikanora, ko Timona, ko Paramena, ko Nikora, he porohiraiti no Anatioka:

6 T hese men were taken to the missionaries. After praying, the missionaries laid their hands on them.

Na whakaturia ana ratou ki te aroaro o nga apotoro: ka inoi era, ka whakapa i nga ringa ki runga ki a ratou.

7 T he Word of God spread further. The group of followers became much larger in Jerusalem. Many of the religious leaders believed in the faith of the Christians. Stephen Is Brought in Front of the Religious Leaders’ Court

Heoi tupu ana te kupu a te Atua: tino nui haere ana te tokomaha o nga akonga i Hiruharama; a he ope nui o nga tohunga i tahuri mai ki te whakapono.

8 S tephen was a man full of faith and power. He did many great things among the people.

A, ko Tepene, ki tonu i te whakapono, i te mana, nui atu nga merekara me nga tohu i meatia e ia i roto i te iwi.

9 B ut some men came from their place of worship who were known as the Free people. They started to argue with Stephen. These men were from the countries of Cyrene and Alexandria and Cilicia and Asia.

Na ka whakatika etahi o te whakaminenga, e kiia nei ko te whakaminenga o nga Riperetini, etahi hoki o te whakaminenga o te hunga o Hairini, o te hunga o Arehanaria, o te hunga hoki o Kirikia, o Ahia, ka totohe ki a Tepene.

10 S tephen spoke with wisdom and power given by the Holy Spirit. They were not able to say anything against what he said.

Otira kihai i taea e ratou te tu atu ki tona matauranga me te wairua i korero ai ia.

11 S o they told other men to say, “We have heard him say things against Moses and God.”

Na ka whakakiki ratou i etahi tangata hei mea, I rongo matou i a ia e korero kohukohu ana mo Mohi, mo te Atua ano hoki.

12 I n this way they got the people talking against Stephen. The leaders of the people and the teachers of the Law came and took him to the religious leaders’ court.

Na ka tahuri ratou ki te whakaohooho i te iwi, i nga kaumatua, me nga karaipi hoki, na ka mau ia ia ratou, hopukia ana, kawea atu ana ki te runanga;

13 T he people were told to lie and say, “This man keeps on talking against this place of worship and the Law of Moses.

A whakaturia ana e ratou etahi kaiwhakapae teka, nana i mea, Kahore e mutu te korero kino a tenei tangata mo tenei kainga tapu, mo te ture hoki:

14 W e have heard him say, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is going to pull down this place. He is going to change what Moses taught us.’”

I rongo hoki matou ki a ia e mea ana, Ma tenei Ihu o Nahareta e whakangaro te kainga nei, e whakaputa ke hoki nga ritenga i homai e Mohi ki a tatou.

15 T he men sitting in the religious leaders’ court were looking at Stephen. They all saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.

A, ko te hunga katoa e noho ana i te runanga, ka titiro pu ki a ia, ka kite i tona mata, ano he mata no te anahera.