1 Or in que' giorni multiplicandosi i discepoli, si querelavano i Greci contro gli Ebrei, perché nel giornaliere ministero non si facesse caso delle loro vedove. | 1 In those days, as the number of disciples was increasing, there occurred a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were treated with disdain in the daily ministration. |
2 E i dodici convocata la moltitudini de' discepoli, dissero: non è ben fatto, che noi abbandoniamo la parola di Dio per servire alle mense. | 2 And so the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: “It is not fair for us to leave behind the Word of God to serve at tables also. |
3 Scegliete adunque, o fratelli, tra voi sette uomini di buona riputazione, pieni di Spirito santo, e di sapienza, a' quali diasi da noi l'incumbenza di tali occorrerne. | 3 Therefore, brothers, search among yourselves for seven men of good testimony, filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom, whom we may appoint over this work. |
4 Noi poi ci occuperemo totalmente all'orazione, e al ministero della parola. | 4 Yet truly, we will be continually in prayer and in the ministry of the Word.” |
5 E piacque questo discorso a tutta la moltitudine. Ed elessero Stefano, uomo pieno di fede e di Spirito santo, e Filippo, e Procoro, e Nicanore, e Timone, e Parmena, e Nicolao proseliti Antiocheno. | 5 And the plan pleased the entire multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a new arrival from Antioch. |
6 E li condusser davanti agli Apostoli: i quali fatta orazione imposero loro le mani. | 6 These they set before the sight of the Apostles, and while praying, they imposed hands on them. |
7 E la parola di Dio fruttificava, e moltiplicavasi forte il numero de' discepoli in Gerusalemme: ed anche gran turba di sacerdoti ubbidiva alla fede. | 7 And the Word of the Lord was increasing, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was multiplied exceedingly. And even a large group of the priests were obedient to the faith. |
8 Stefano poi pieno di grazia, e di fortezza faceva prodigj, e segni grandi tral popolo. | 8 Then Stephen, filled with grace and fortitude, wrought great signs and miracles among the people. |
9 Ma si levaron su dalla Sinagoga detta dei Libertini alcuni e Cirenei, o Alessandrini, e uomini della Cilicia, e dell'Asia a disputare con Stefano: | 9 But certain ones, from the synagogue of the so-called Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those who were from Cilicia and Asia rose up and were disputing with Stephen. |
10 E non potevan resistere alla sapienza, e allo Spirito, che parlava. | 10 But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. |
11 Allora mandaron sottomano alcuni, che dicessero di avergli sentito dire parole di bestemmia contro Mosé, e contro Dio. | 11 Then they suborned men who were to claim that they had heard him speaking words of blasphemy against Moses and against God. |
12 Mossero pertanto a tumulto la plebe, e i seniori, e gli scribi: e corrigli sopra lo afferrarono, e lo trassero al consiglio. | 12 And thus did they stir up the people and the elders and the scribes. And hurrying together, they seized him and brought him to the council. |
13 E produssero de' falsi testimoni, i quali dissero: Costui non rifina di parlare contro il luogo santo, e la legge: | 13 And they set up false witnesses, who said: “This man does not cease to speak words against the holy place and the law. |
14 Imperocché gli abbiam sentito dire, che quel Gesù Nazareno distruggerà questo luogo, e cangerà le tradizioni date a noi da Mosé. | 14 For we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and will change the traditions, which Moses handed down to us.” |
15 E mirandolo fissamente tutti quei, che sedevano nel consiglio, videro la sua faccia, come faccia di un Angelo. | 15 And all those who were sitting in the council, gazing at him, saw his face, as if it had become the face of an Angel. |