Beginning

Mawu a Stefano

7 Kenaka mkulu wa ansembe anafunsa Stefano kuti, “Kodi zimene akukunenerazi ndi zoona?”

² Stefano anayankha kuti, “Abale ndi makolo, tamverani! Mulungu waulemerero anaoneka kwa kholo lathu Abrahamu pamene ankakhala ku Mesopotamiya, asanakakhale ku Harani. ³ Mulungu anati, ‘Tuluka mʼdziko lako, siya abale ako, ndipo pita ku dziko limene ndidzakusonyeza.’

⁴ “Ndipo iye anatulukadi mʼdziko la Akaldeya ndi kukakhala ku Harani. Atamwalira abambo ake, Mulungu anamuchotsa kumeneko ndi kumubweretsa mʼdziko lino limene inu mukukhalamo tsopano. ⁵ Mulungu sanamupatse cholowa kuno, ngakhale kadera kakangʼono kadziko. Koma Mulungu anamulonjeza kuti adzapereka dziko lino kwa iye ndi kwa zidzukulu zake, ngakhale kuti pa nthawi imeneyi analibe mwana. ⁶ Mulungu anayankhula motere kwa iye: ‘Zidzukulu zako zidzakhala alendo mʼdziko lachilendo, ndipo zidzakhala akapolo ndi kuzunzidwa zaka 400.’ ⁷ Mulungu anati, ‘Ine ndidzalanga dziko limene zidzukulu zako zidzagwireko ukapolo, ndipo pambuyo pake akadzatuluka mʼdzikolo adzandipembedza Ine pamalo pano.’ ⁸ Kenaka Mulungu anachita pangano la mdulidwe ndi Abrahamu. Ndipo Abrahamu, anabereka Isake, namudula ali ndi masiku asanu ndi atatu. Ndipo Isake anabereka Yakobo, Yakobo anabereka makolo khumi ndi awiri aja.

⁹ “Makolo athu anachita nsanje ndi Yosefe ndipo anamugulitsa kuti akakhale kapolo ku Igupto. Koma Mulungu anali naye ¹⁰ ndipo anamupulumutsa iye kumasautso ake onse. Mulungu anamupatsa Yosefe nzeru ndi chisomo pamaso pa Farao mfumu ya ku Igupto, kotero mfumuyo inamuyika iye kukhala nduna yayikulu ya dziko la Igupto ndiponso nyumba yake yonse yaufumu.

¹¹ “Kenaka munalowa njala mʼdziko la Kanaani, kotero kuti anthu anavutika kwambiri, ndipo makolo athu sanathe kupeza chakudya. ¹² Pamene Yakobo anamva kuti ku Igupto kunali tirigu, iye anatuma makolo athu ulendo woyamba. ¹³ Pa ulendo wawo wachiwiri, Yosefe anadziwulula kwa abale akewo ndipo Farao anadziwa za banja la Yosefe. ¹⁴ Izi zinachitika, Yosefe anayitanitsa abambo ake Yakobo ndi banja lonse, onse pamodzi analipo 75. ¹⁵ Motero Yakobo anapita ku Igupto, kumene iye ndiponso makolo athu anamwalira. ¹⁶ Mitembo yawo anayinyamula ndi kupita nayo ku Sekemu kumene inayikidwa mʼmanda amene Abrahamu anagula kochokera kwa ana a Hamori ku Sekemuko.

¹⁷ “Nthawi itayandikira yakuti Mulungu achite zimene analonjeza kwa Abrahamu, mtundu wathu unakula ndi kuchuluka kwambiri mu Igupto. ¹⁸ Pambuyo pake mfumu yatsopano imene sinkamudziwa Yosefe, inayamba kulamulira dziko la Igupto. ¹⁹ Mfumuyo inachita mwachinyengo ndi mtundu wathu ndi kuwazunza kuti ataye ana awo akhanda kuti afe.

²⁰ “Pa nthawi imeneyo Mose anabadwa, ndipo anali wokongola kwambiri. Iye analeredwa mʼnyumba ya abambo ake kwa miyezi itatu. ²¹ Atakamutaya, mwana wamkazi wa Farao anamutola nakamulera ngati mwana wake. ²² Mose anaphunzira nzeru zonse za Aigupto, ndipo anali wamphamvu mʼmawu ndi ntchito zake.

²³ “Mose ali ndi zaka makumi anayi, anaganizira zokayendera abale ake Aisraeli. ²⁴ Iye ataona mmodzi wa iwo akuzunzidwa ndi Mwigupto, anatchinjiriza Mwisraeliyo, namupha Mwiguptoyo. ²⁵ Mose anaganiza kuti abale ake adzazindikira kuti Mulungu anamuyika kuti awapulumutse koma iwo sanazindikire. ²⁶ Mmawa mwake Mose anaona Aisraeli awiri akukangana. Iye anayesa kuwayanjanitsa ponena kuti, ‘Amuna inu, ndinu abale; chifukwa chiyani mukufuna kupwetekana?’

²⁷ “Koma munthu amene amavutitsa mnzakeyo anakankha Mose ndipo anati, ‘Ndani anakuyika kuti ukhale wotilamulira ndi wotiweruza. ²⁸ Kodi ukufuna kundipha monga momwe unaphera Mwigupto uja dzulo?’ ²⁹ Mose atamva mawu awa anathawira ku Midiyani, kumene anakhala mlendo ndipo anabereka ana amuna awiri.

³⁰ “Ndipo patapita zaka makumi anayi mngelo anaonekera kwa Mose mʼmalawi amoto pa chitsamba mʼchipululu pafupi ndi Phiri la Sinai. ³¹ Iye ataona zimenezi, anadabwa. Akupita kuti akaonetsetse pafupi, Mose anamva mawu a Ambuye: ³² ‘Ine ndine Mulungu wa makolo ako, Mulungu wa Abrahamu, Isake ndi Yakobo.’ Mose ananjenjemera chifukwa cha mantha ndipo sanalimbe mtima kuyangʼananso.

³³ “Ndipo Ambuye anati kwa Mose, ‘Vula nsapato zako, pakuti malo amene wayimapo ndi opatulika. ³⁴ Ine ndaona ndithu mazunzo a anthu anga amene ali ku Igupto. Ndamva kulira kwawo choncho ndabwera kuti ndiwapulumutse. Tsopano tiye ndikutume ku Igupto.’

³⁵ “Uyu ndi Mose yemwe uja amene Aisraeli anamukana ndi kunena kuti, ‘Ndani anakuyika kuti ukhale wotilamulira ndi wotiweruza?’ Iyeyo anatumidwa ndi Mulungu mwini kuti akakhale wowalamulira ndiponso mpulumutsi, mothandizidwa ndi mngelo amene anamuonekera pa chitsamba. ³⁶ Iye anawatulutsa mu Igupto ndipo anachita zodabwitsa ndi zizindikiro zozizwitsa mu Igupto, pa Nyanja Yofiira, ndiponso mʼchipululu kwa zaka makumi anayi.

³⁷ “Uyu ndi Mose uja amene anati kwa Aisraeli, ‘Mulungu adzawutsa pakati pa abale anu mneneri ngati ine.’ ³⁸ Iyeyu anali mʼgulu la Aisraeli mʼchipululu pamodzi ndi mngelo amene anamuyankhula pa phiri la Sinai ndiponso makolo athu; ndipo Mose analandira mawu amoyo kuti atipatse ife.

³⁹ “Koma makolo athu anakana kumumvera iye. Iwo anamukana iye ndipo mʼmitima mwawo anatembenukira ku Igupto. ⁴⁰ Iwo anati kwa Aaroni, ‘Bwera utipangire milungu imene idzititsogolera. Kunena za Mose amene anatitsogolera kutuluka mʼdziko la Igupto, sitikudziwa chimene chamuchitikira. ⁴¹ Iyi ndi nthawi imene anapanga fano la mwana wangʼombe. Anapereka nsembe kwa fanoli nachita chikondwerero kulemekeza ntchito ya manja awo. ⁴² Koma Mulungu anawafulatira, nawapereka kuti apembedze zolengedwa zakumwamba. Zimenezi zikugwirizana ndi zimene zinalembedwa mʼbuku la aneneri kuti,

⁴⁴ “Makolo athu anali ndi tenti ya msonkhano pakati pawo mʼchipululu. Anayipanga monga momwe Mulungu anawuzira Mose, molingana ndi chithunzi chimene Mose anachiona. ⁴⁵ Makolo athu, atayilandira Tentiyo, anabwera nayo motsogozedwa ndi Yoswa pamene analanda dziko la mitundu imene Mulungu anayipirikitsa pamaso pawo. Tentiyo inakhala mʼdzikomo mpaka nthawi ya Davide, ⁴⁶ amene anapeza chisomo pamaso pa Mulungu ndipo anapempha kuti amʼmangire nyumba Mulungu wa Yakobo. ⁴⁷ Koma anali Solomoni amene anamanga nyumbayo.

⁴⁸ “Komatu, Wammwambamwambayo sakhala mʼnyumba zomangidwa ndi anthu. Monga mneneri akunena kuti,

⁵¹ “Anthu wokanika inu, osachita mdulidwe wa mu mtima ndi a makutu ogontha! Inu ofanana ndi makolo anu. Nthawi zonse mumakana kumvera Mzimu Woyera: ⁵² Kodi analipo mneneri amene makolo anu sanamuzunze? Iwo anapha ngakhale amene ananeneratu za kubwera kwa Wolungamayo. Ndipo tsopano inu munamupereka ndi kumupha Iye. ⁵³ Inu amene munalandira Malamulo amene anaperekedwa ndi angelo ndipo simunawamvere.”

Kuphedwa kwa Stefano

⁵⁴ Atamva zimenezi, iwo anakwiya kwambiri ndipo anamukukutira mano. ⁵⁵ Koma Stefano, wodzaza ndi Mzimu Woyera, anayangʼana kumwamba ndipo anaona ulemerero wa Mulungu ndiponso Yesu atayimirira ku dzanja lamanja la Mulungu. ⁵⁶ Stefano anati, “Taonani, ndikuona kumwamba kotsekuka ndiponso Mwana wa Munthu atayimirira ku dzanja la manja la Mulungu.”

⁵⁷ Koma iwo anatseka mʼmakutu mwawo, ndipo anafuwula kolimba, onse anathamangira kwa iye, ⁵⁸ anamukokera kunja kwa mzinda ndipo anayamba kumugenda miyala. Mboni zinasungitsa zovala zawo kwa mnyamata otchedwa Saulo.

⁵⁹ Akumugenda miyala, Stefano anapemphera kuti, “Ambuye Yesu, landirani mzimu wanga.” ⁶⁰ Ndipo anagwada pansi nafuwula mwamphamvu kuti, “Ambuye musawawerengere tchimoli.” Atanena mawu amenewa anamwalira.

8 Ndipo Saulo anavomerezana nawo pa imfa ya Stefano.

Kuzunzika kwa Mpingo

Tsiku lomwelo, mpingo wa mu Yerusalemu unayamba kuzunzidwa, ndipo onse, kupatulapo atumwi, anabalalikira ku madera onse a Yudeya ndi Samariya. ² Anthu okonda Mulungu anayika maliro a Stefano ndipo anamulira kwambiri. ³ Koma Saulo anayamba kuwononga mpingo. Amapita nyumba ndi nyumba, ndipo amagwira amuna ndi amayi ndi kukawatsekera ku ndende.

Filipo ku Samariya

⁴ Okhulupirira amene anabalalika amalalikira konse kumene amapita. ⁵ Filipo anapita ku mzinda wa ku Samariya ndipo analalikira za Khristu kumeneko. ⁶ Gulu la anthu litamva Filipo akulalikira komanso kuona zizindikiro zozizwitsa zimene ankazichita, onse anamvetsetsa zimene iye amanena. ⁷ Mizimu yoyipa inatuluka mwa anthu ambiri ikufuwula kwambiri ndipo ambiri amene anali akufa ziwalo ndi olumala anachiritsidwa. ⁸ Kotero munali chimwemwe chachikulu mu mzindawo.

Simoni Wamatsenga

⁹ Koma mu mzindawo munali munthu dzina lake Simoni, amene amachita za matsenga ndi kudabwitsa anthu a mu Samariya. Iye amadzitamandira kuti ndi wopambana, ¹⁰ ndipo anthu onse, aakulu ndi aangʼono anamumvera ndi kunena kuti, “Munthu uyu ndi mphamvu ya Mulungu yotchedwa Mphamvu yayikulu.” ¹¹ Anthu amamutsata chifukwa kwa nthawi yayitali amawadabwitsa ndi matsenga akewo. ¹² Koma atakhulupirira Filipo akulalikira Uthenga Wabwino wa ufumu wa Mulungu ndiponso dzina la Yesu Khristu, anthuwo anabatizidwa amuna ndi amayi. ¹³ Nayenso Simoni anakhulupirira ndipo anabatizidwa, natsatira Filipo kulikonse, ndipo anadabwa kwambiri pamene anaona zizindikiro zazikulu ndi zozizwitsa.

¹⁴ Atumwi a ku Yerusalemu atamva kuti anthu a ku Samariya analandira Mawu a Mulungu, anatumiza Petro ndi Yohane. ¹⁵ Atafika anawapempherera kuti alandire Mzimu Woyera, ¹⁶ chifukwa Mzimu Woyera anali asanafike pa wina aliyense wa iwo; anali atangobatizidwa mʼdzina la Ambuye Yesu. ¹⁷ Ndipo Petro ndi Yohane anasanjika manja awo pa iwo, ndipo analandira Mzimu Woyera.

¹⁸ Simoni ataona kuti Mzimu anaperekedwa kwa iwo atumwi atawasanjika manja, iye anafuna kuwapatsa ndalama ndipo anati, ¹⁹ “Inenso ndipatseni mphamvu imeneyi kuti aliyense amene ndimusanjika manja anga azilandira Mzimu Woyera.”

²⁰ Petro anayankha kuti, “Ndalama zako utayike nazo pamodzi, chifukwa unaganiza kuti ungathe kugula mphatso ya Mulungu ndi ndalama! ²¹ Ulibe gawo kapena mbali pa utumikiwu, chifukwa mtima wako suli wolungama pamaso pa Mulungu. ²² Lapa zoyipa zakozi ndipo upemphere kwa Ambuye. Mwina adzakukhululukira maganizo a mu mtima mwako. ²³ Pakuti ine ndikuona kuti ndiwe wowawidwa mtima ndiponso kapolo wa tchimo.”

²⁴ Ndipo Simoni anayankha, “Mundipempherere kwa Ambuye kuti zisandigwere izi mwanenazi.”

²⁵ Atatha kuchitira umboni ndi kulalikira mawu a Ambuye, Petro ndi Yohane anabwerera ku Yerusalemu, atalalikira Uthenga Wabwino mʼmidzi yambiri ya Asamariya.

Filipo ndi Nduna ya Zachuma ya ku Etiopia

²⁶ Mngelo wa Ambuye anati kwa Filipo, “Nyamuka pita chakummwera, ku msewu wa ku chipululu wopita ku Gaza kuchokera ku Yerusalemu.” ²⁷ Ndipo ananyamuka napita, ndipo akuyenda anakumana ndi munthu wa ku Etiopia wa udindo waukulu woyangʼanira chuma cha Kandake, mfumu yayikazi ya ku Etiopia. Munthu ameneyu anapita ku Yerusalemu kukapembedza Mulungu, ²⁸ ndipo akubwerera kwawo atakwera pa galeta lake amawerenga buku la mneneri Yesaya. ²⁹ Mzimu anamuwuza Filipo kuti, “Pita pa galeta ilo ndipo ukakhale pafupi nalo.”

³⁰ Pamenepo Filipo anathamangira ku galeta ndipo anamva munthuyo akuwerenga buku la mneneri Yesaya. Filipo anamufunsa kuti, “Kodi mukumvetsa zimene mukuwerengazi?”

³¹ Iye anayankha kuti, “Ndingamvetse bwanji popanda wina wondimasulira?” Ndipo iye anayitana Filipo kuti abwere ndikukhala naye mʼgaleta.

³² Mawu amene ndunayo imawerenga anali awa:

³⁴ Ndunayo inamufunsa Filipo kuti, “Chonde, uzeni, kodi mneneri akuyankhula za ndani, za iye mwini kapena za munthu wina?” ³⁵ Pamenepo Filipo anayambira pa malemba omwewo kumuwuza za Uthenga Wabwino wa Yesu.

³⁶ Akuyenda mu msewu anafika pamalo pamene panali madzi ndipo ndunayo inati, “Taonani madzi awa. Kodi pali chondiletsa kuti ndibatizidwe?” ³⁷ Filipo anati, “Ngati mukhulupirira ndi mtima wanu wonse mukhoza kubatizidwa.” Ndunayo inayankha kuti, “Ine ndikukhulupirira kuti Yesu Khristu ndi Mwana wa Mulungu.” ³⁸ Ndipo analamulira galeta kuti liyime. Onse awiriwo, Filipo ndi Ndunayo anatsika ndi kulowa mʼmadzi ndipo Filipo anamubatiza. ³⁹ Pamene iwo anatuluka mʼmadzimo, Mzimu wa Ambuye anamukwatula Filipo, ndipo Ndunayo sinamuonenso, koma inapitiriza ulendo wake ikusangalala. ⁴⁰ Koma Filipo anapezeka kuti ali ku Azoto ndipo anazungulira konse, kulalikira Uthenga Wabwino mʼmizinda yonse mpaka anakafika ku Kaisareya.