1-3. (a) Mbeera ki enzibu Siteefano gy’alimu, naye akwatibwako atya? (b) Bibuuzo ki bye tugenda okuddamu?

 SITEEFANO ayimiridde mu maaso g’abalamuzi. Abalamuzi abo batudde mu kisenge ekinene, kirabika ekiri okumpi ne yeekaalu mu Yerusaalemi era bonna awamu bali abasajja 71. Abalamuzi abo batudde okuwozesa Siteefano. Bonna basajja ba bitiibwa, balina obuyinza bungi, era abasinga obungi ku bo banyooma omuyigirizwa wa Yesu oyo era tebamwagala. Omusajja atuuzizza kkooti eyo ye Kabona Asinga Obukulu ayitibwa Kayaafa, eyakulemberamu abalamuzi abaasalira Yesu ogw’okufa emyezi mitono emabega. Siteefano atidde?

² Waliwo ekintu ekyewuunyisa ennyo ku ndabika ya Siteefano. Abalamuzi bwe bamutunuulira bakiraba nti “mu maaso alinga malayika.” (Bik. 6:15) Bamalayika baba n’obubaka obuba buvudde eri Yakuwa Katonda, n’olwekyo baba tebatya kintu kyonna, era baba bakkakkamu. Bwe kityo bwe kiri n’eri Siteefano. Muvumu era mukkakkamu ne kiba nti ekyo n’abalamuzi abo abatamwagala bakiraba. Kiki ekimuviiriddeko okuba omukkakkamu?

³ Leero Abakristaayo balina bingi bye basobola okuyigira ku ky’okuddamu mu kibuuzo ekyo. Naye kiki ekyaviirako Siteefano okuba mu mbeera eyo etaali nnyangu? Yali alwaniridde atya okukkiriza kwe nga tannatuuka mu mbeera eyo? Era tuyinza tutya okumukoppa?

4, 5. (a) Lwaki Siteefano yali wa mugaso nnyo eri ekibiina Ekikristaayo? (b) Mu ngeri ki Siteefano gye yali “ajjudde ekisa n’amaanyi”?

⁴ Nga bwe twalaba mu ssuula eyayita, Siteefano yali wa mugaso nnyo eri ekibiina Ekikristaayo ekyali kyakatandikawo. Twakiraba nti yali omu ku basajja omusanvu abeetoowaze abaali abeetegefu okuyambako abatume okukola ku bwetaavu obwali buzzeewo. Bwe tulowooza ku bintu Yakuwa bye yali amusobozesezza okukola, tukiraba nti yali mwetoowaze  nnyo. Ebikolwa 6:8, wagamba nti yali akola “ebyamagero n’obubonero,” ng’abamu ku batume. Ate era olunyiriri olwo lugamba nti yali “ajjudde ekisa n’amaanyi.” Ekyo kitegeeza ki?

⁵ Olw’okuba Siteefano yali mukkakkamu era wa kisa, kyaleetera abantu okumwagala. Yayogeranga mu ngeri eyasikirizanga abo abaamuwulirizanga, nga bakiraba nti yali mwesimbu era nti ebyo bye yali abayigiriza byali bya muganyulo gye bali. Yali ajjudde amaanyi olw’okuba yalina omwoyo gwa Yakuwa omutukuvu era ng’akolera ku bulagirizi bwagwo. Mu kifo ky’okwegulumiza olw’ebirabo n’obusobozi bye yalina, ekitiibwa n’ettendo yabiwanga Yakuwa era yakiraganga nti yali afaayo ku bantu be yabanga ayogera nabo. N’olwekyo tekyewuunyisa nti abo abaali batamwagala baali bamutwala okuba ow’omutawaana!

6-8. (a) Abalabe ba Siteefano baamusibako misango ki ebiri, era lwaki? (b) Lwaki ekyokulabirako kya Siteefano kya muganyulo nnyo eri Abakristaayo leero?

⁶ Waliwo abantu abatali bamu abaatandika okuwakanya Siteefano, naye ‘tebaamusobola olw’amagezi ge yalina n’olw’omwoyo omutukuvu ogwamuwanga obulagirizi ng’ayogera.’ a Ekyo kyabanyiiza nnyo era ne “basendasenda” abantu okumusibako emisango. Ate era ‘baakuma omuliro mu bantu,’ kwe kugamba, abakadde n’abawandiisi, ne bawalaawala Siteefano ne bamutwala mu maaso g’Olukiiko lw’Abayudaaya Olukulu. (Bik. 6:9-12) Abalabe ba Siteefano baamusibako emisango ebiri. Baagamba nti yali avvoola Katonda era nti yali avvoola ne Musa. Mu ngeri ki?

⁷ Abo abaali balumiriza Siteefano baagamba nti yavvoola Katonda ng’ayogera bubi ku ‘kifo ekitukuvu,’ kwe kugamba, ku yeekaalu ey’omu Yerusaalemi. (Bik. 6:13) Era baagamba nti yavvoola Musa ng’ayogera bubi ku Mateeka ga Musa, kwe kugamba, ng’agamba nti empisa Musa ze yabagamba okugoberera zijja kukyusibwa. Emisango egyo gyali gya nnaggomola, kubanga Abayudaaya mu kiseera ekyo baali batwala yeekaalu n’Amateeka ga Musa awamu n’obulombolombo bwe baagongeramu okuba ebikulu ennyo. N’olwekyo, emisango egyo gye baali bavunaana Siteefano gyali giraga nti yali musajja wa mutawaana nnyo eyali agwanidde okufa!

⁸ Kya nnaku nti ne mu kiseera kyaffe abakulembeze b’amadiini batera okukozesa obukodyo ng’obwo okulwanyisa abaweereza ba Katonda. Baleetera ab’obuyinza okuyigganya Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa. Tusaanidde kweyisa tutya nga batwogerako ebintu eby’obulimba? Tulina bingi bye tuyinza okuyigira ku Siteefano.

9, 10. Abo abawakanya ebiri mu Bayibuli boogera ki ku ebyo Siteefano bye yayogera ng’ali mu maaso g’Olukiiko Olukulu olw’Abayudaaya, era kiki kye tusaanidde okujjukira?

⁹ Nga bwe kyayogeddwako ku ntandikwa y’essuula eno, Siteefano bwe yali awuliriza emisango gye baali bamusibyeko, yasigala mukkakkamu era nga mu maaso alinga malayika. Oluvannyuma Kayaafa yamubuuza nti: “Ebintu bino bituufu?” (Bik. 7:1) Kati kyali kiseera kya Siteefano okwogera. Era yatandika okwogera!

¹⁰ Abamu ku abo abawakanya ebiri mu Bayibuli bagamba nti wadde Siteefano yayogera ebigambo bingi nnyo, teyaddamu kibuuzo ekyamubuuzibwa. Kyokka ekituufu kiri nti Siteefano yatuteerawo ekyokulabirako ekirungi ennyo ku ngeri gye tuyinza okulwaniriramu amawulire amalungi. (1 Peet. 3:15) Kijjukire nti Siteefano baali bamuvunaana omusango gw’okuvvoola Katonda, bwe baagamba nti yayogera bubi ku yeekaalu. Era baali bamuvunaana n’omusango gw’okuvvoola Musa bwe baagamba nti yali avumirira Amateeka. Mu ebyo Siteefano bye yayogera nga yeewozaako, yawumbawumbako ebintu ebyaliwo mu biseera bya mirundi esatu mu byafaayo by’Abayisirayiri, era waliwo ensonga ssatu ze yaggyayo obulungi. Ka tulabe ebyaliwo mu biseera ebyo eby’emirundi esatu.

11, 12. (a) Siteefano yakozesa atya obulungi ekyokulabirako kya Ibulayimu? (b) Lwaki Siteefano bwe yali ayogera yakozesa ekyokulabirako kya Yusufu?

¹¹ Ekiseera kya bajjajja b’Abayisirayiri. (Bik. 7:1-16) Siteefano yatandikira ku kwogera ku Ibulayimu Abayudaaya gwe baali bassaamu ennyo ekitiibwa olw’okukkiriza kwe. Bwe yali atandika okwogera ku nsonga eyo enkulu bonna gye baali bakkiriziganyaako, yagamba nti, “Katonda ow’ekitiibwa,” yasooka okulabikira Ibulayimu ng’abeera mu Mesopotamiya. (Bik. 7:2) Mu butuufu Ibulayimu yali mugwira mu Nsi Ensuubize. Teyalina yeekaalu mwe yali asinziza, wadde Amateeka ga Musa. N’olwekyo tewaaliwo muntu yenna eyali ayinza kugamba nti omuntu okusobola okuweereza Katonda n’obwesigwa yalina okuba ne yeekaalu mw’amusinziza, oba nga yaweebwa olukalala lw’amateeka ag’okugoberera.

¹² Abo abaali bawuliriza Siteefano era baali bassaamu nnyo ekitiibwa Yusufu muzzukulu wa Ibulayimu. Kyokka Siteefano yabajjukiza nti baganda ba Yusufu bennyini, kwe kugamba, bajjajja b’Abayisirayiri, baayigganya omusajja oyo eyali omutuukirivu era ne bamutunda mu buddu. Naye Katonda yamukozesa okuwonya Abayisirayiri ne batafa njala. Kya lwatu nti Siteefano yali alaba okufaanagana okwaliwo wakati wa Yusufu ne Yesu Kristo. Kyokka ekyo teyakyogerako, abo abaali bamuwozesa basobole okusigala nga bakyamuwuliriza okumala ekiseera.

13. Ebyo Siteefano bye yayogera ku Musa byalaga bitya nti ebyo bye baali bamuvunaana tebyali bituufu, era nsonga ki enkulu gye yakulaakulanya?

¹³ Ekiseera kya Musa. (Bik. 7:17-43) Siteefano yayogera bingi ku Musa,  era ng’ekyo kyali kya magezi kubanga bangi ku balamuzi b’Olukiiko Olukulu olw’Abayudaaya baali Basaddukaayo abaali batakkiririza mu bitabo birala byonna ebya Bayibuli okuggyako ebyo ebyawandiikibwa Musa. Ate era kijjukire nti abo abaali bavunaana Siteefano baali bagamba nti yali avvoola Musa. Ebyo Siteefano bye yayogera byakyoleka bulungi nti ebyo bye baali bamuvunaana tebyali bituufu, kubanga yakiraga nti yali assa nnyo ekitiibwa mu Musa ne mu Mateeka ga Musa. (Bik. 7:38) Siteefano yakiraga nti ne Musa abantu be yali agezaako okununula baamwesamba. Ekyo kyaliwo Musa bwe yali nga wa myaka 40. Ate era nga wayise emyaka egisukka mu 40, enfunda n’enfunda baawakanya obukulembeze bwe. b Bwe kityo, mu ebyo Siteefano bye yayogera, yalambulula bulungi ensonga eno enkulu: Enfunda n’enfunda abantu ba Katonda baagaana okukkiririza mu abo Katonda be yalonda okubakulembera.

14. Ekyokulabirako kya Musa kyaggyayo nsonga ki mu ebyo Siteefano bye yayogera?

¹⁴ Siteefano yajjukiza abaali bamuwuliriza nti Musa yali yagamba nti wandizzeewo nnabbi mu Isirayiri eyalinga ye. Nnabbi oyo yandibadde ani era abantu bandimututte batya? Ekyo Siteefano yasooka n’alindako okukiddamu, ng’ayagala akiddemu ng’amaliriza okwogera. Waliwo n’ensonga eno enkulu gye yayogerako: Musa yali yakiraba nti ekifo kyonna kisobola okufuulibwa ekitukuvu nga bwe kyali ku kisaka ekyali kyaka omuliro Yakuwa we yayogerera naye. N’olwekyo, ddala kyali kituufu okugamba nti Yakuwa yalina kusinzibwa mu kifo kimu kyokka, gamba nga mu yeekaalu e Yerusaalemi? Ka tulabe.

15, 16. (a) Lwaki kyali kikulu nnyo Siteefano okwogera ku weema entukuvu? (b) Siteefano yakozesa atya ekyokulabirako kya yeekaalu Sulemaani gye yazimba?

¹⁵ Weema entukuvu ne yeekaalu. (Bik. 7:44-50) Siteefano yajjukiza abalamuzi abaali bamuwozesa nti bwe waali tewannazimbibwa yeekaalu yonna mu Yerusaalemi, Katonda yalagira Musa okukola weema entukuvu, era eyo abantu gye baali bagenda okusinziza Yakuwa. Okuva bwe kiri  nti Musa yasinzizanga Yakuwa ku weema entukuvu, tewaaliwo yali ayinza kugamba nti weema eyo yali ya wansi ku yeekaalu.

¹⁶ Oluvannyuma Sulemaani bwe yazimba yeekaalu mu Yerusaalemi, yaluŋŋamizibwa okwogera ekintu ekikulu ennyo mu ssaala gye yasaba. Nga Siteefano bwe yakyoleka, “Oyo Asingayo Okuba Waggulu tabeera mu nnyumba zizimbiddwa mikono.” (Bik. 7:48; 2 Byom. 6:18) Yakuwa asobola okukozesa yeekaalu okutuukiriza ebigendererwa bye, naye tekiri nti mu yeekaalu mwokka mwe balina okumusinziza. N’olwekyo abaweereza ba Yakuwa tebasaanidde kukitwala nti okusobola okumusinza mu ngeri entuufu balina kumusinziza mu yeekaalu mwokka eyazimbibwa n’emikono gy’abantu. Siteefano yeeyongera okuggumiza ensonga eyo ng’afundikira n’ebigambo ebiri mu kitabo kya Isaaya ebigamba nti: “Eggulu ye ntebe yange ey’obwakabaka, ate ensi ye ntebe y’ebigere byange. Nnyumba ya ngeri ki gye mulinzimbira? Yakuwa bw’agamba. Oba ekifo kye mpummuliramu kiri ludda wa? Omukono gwange si gwe gwakola ebintu bino byonna?”—Bik. 7:49, 50; Is. 66:1, 2.

17. Okusinziira ku ebyo Siteefano bye yayogera, (a) yayanika atya endowooza abo abaali bamuvunaana gye baalina? (b) yakiraga atya nti ebyo bye baali bamuvunaana tebyali bituufu?

¹⁷ Bwe weetegereza ebyo Siteefano bye yali yaakoogera eri Olukiiko Olukulu, okiraba nti mu ngeri ey’amagezi yalaga nti abo abaali bamuvunaana baalina endowooza enkyamu. Yakiraga nti Yakuwa si mukakanyavu era tagoberera bulombolombo. Tekimwetaagisa kwesiba ku kintu kimu okusobola okutuukiriza ekigendererwa kye, wabula asobola okukozesa ebintu eby’enjawulo okukituukiriza. Abo abaali bakulembeza ennyo yeekaalu ey’omu Yerusaalemi eyali erabika obulungi ennyo awamu n’obulombolombo era n’obuteekateeka obwali bwongeddwa mu Mateeka ga Musa, baali balemereddwa okutegeera ekigendererwa ky’Amateeka ga Musa ne yeekaalu! Mu ngeri endala, Siteefano yalinga ababuuza ekibuuzo kino ekikulu: Okugondera Yakuwa si ye ngeri esingayo obulungi omuntu gy’akiragamu nti assa ekitiibwa mu Mateeka ne mu yeekaalu? Mu butuufu, ebyo Siteefano bye yayogera byakyoleka bulungi nti ebyo bye baali bamuvunaana tebyali bituufu, kubanga yali akoze kyonna ekisoboka okugondera Yakuwa.

18. Tuyinza tutya okukoppa Siteefano?

¹⁸ Kiki kye tuyigira ku ebyo Siteefano bye yayogera? Yali amanyi bulungi Ebyawandiikibwa. Naffe tulina okuba abanyiikivu okwesomesa Ekigambo kya Katonda tusobole okukwata “ekigambo eky’amazima mu ngeri entuufu.” (2 Tim. 2:15) Ate era tumuyigirako okwogera mu ngeri ey’ekisa era ey’amagezi. Abaali bamuwuliriza baalina obukyayi bungi gy’ali! Naye yafuba okwogera ku bintu ye n’abasajja abo bye baali bakkiriziganyaako era bye baali batwala nti bikulu nnyo. Ekyo kyabasobozesa okumuwuliriza okumala akaseera. Ate era yayogera nabo mu ngeri eyali  eraga nti abassaamu ekitiibwa, bwe yabayita “bataata.” (Bik. 7:2) Naffe tusaanidde okubuulira abantu amazima agali mu Kigambo kya Katonda mu ‘bukkakkamu era mu ngeri eraga nti tubassaamu ekitiibwa.’—1 Peet. 3:15.

19. Siteefano yayoleka atya obuvumu ng’alaga abalamuzi ab’Olukiiko Olukulu nti baaliko omusango mu maaso ga Yakuwa?

¹⁹ Kyokka tetulekaayo kubuulira bantu mazima agali mu Kigambo kya Katonda olw’okutya okubanyiiza. Era tetutya kubategeeza bubaka obw’omusango Yakuwa gwe yasala. Siteefano yatuteerawo ekyokulabirako ekirungi ku nsonga eyo. Yakiraba nti obujulizi bwonna bwe yali awadde abalamuzi abo abaali ab’emitima emikakanyavu tebulina kye bwabakolako. N’olwekyo, ng’ajjudde omwoyo omutukuvu, Siteefano bwe yali amaliriza okwogera yalaga nti abasajja abo baali nga bajjajjaabwe abaagaana okukkiriza Yusufu, Musa, ne bannabbi bonna. (Bik. 7:51-53) Mu butuufu, abalamuzi abo ab’Olukiiko Olukulu olw’Abayudaaya baali batta Masiya, oyo Musa ne bannabbi bonna gwe baali baayogerako nti yali wa kujja. Mazima ddala baali bamenye Amateeka ga Musa ne bakatagga!

20, 21. Ebigambo bya Siteefano byakwata bitya ku balamuzi ab’Olukiiko Olukulu, era Yakuwa yamuzzaamu atya amaanyi?

²⁰ Ebintu ebituufu era ebyali bitayinza kubuusibwabuusibwa Siteefano bye yayogera byanyiiza nnyo abalamuzi abo. Mu butuufu baamusunguwalira nnyo. Omusajja oyo omwesigwa ayinza okuba nga yakiraba nti baali tebagenda kumusaasira, era nga bwe bataasaasira Mukama we Yesu.

²¹ Siteefano yali yeetaaga obuvumu okusobola okwolekagana n’ekyo ekyali kigenda okuddako. Awatali kubuusabuusa yazzibwamu nnyo amaanyi bwe yafuna okwolesebwa okuva eri Yakuwa. Mu kwolesebwa okwo Siteefano yalaba ekitiibwa kya Katonda, era yalaba Yesu ng’ayimiridde ku mukono gwa Yakuwa ogwa ddyo! Siteefano bwe yali ayogera ebyo bye yali alaba mu kwolesebwa, abalamuzi abaali bamuwuliriza bassa ebibatu byabwe ku matu. Lwaki? Emabegako Yesu yali agambye abalamuzi abo be bamu nti ye yali Masiya, era nti mu kiseera kitono yali agenda kubeera ku mukono gwa Kitaawe ogwa ddyo. (Mak. 14:62) Okwolesebwa Siteefano kwe yafuna kwakakasa nti Yesu kye yayogera kyali kituufu. Mazima ddala abalamuzi abo ab’Olukiiko Olukulu olw’Abayudaaya baali baalyamu Masiya olukwe era ne bamutta! Bonna baayiikira Siteefano omulundi gumu ne bamufulumya akubibwe amayinja. c

22, 23. Mu ngeri ki okufa kwa Siteefano gye kwali ng’okwa Mukama we, era Abakristaayo leero bayinza batya okuba abavumu nga Siteefano?

 ²² Siteefano yafa mu ngeri y’emu nga Mukama we bwe yali afudde. Yafa alina emirembe ku mutima, nga yeesiga Yakuwa, era ng’asonyiye abo abaamutta. Bwe yali afa yagamba nti: “Mukama wange Yesu, nkukwasa obulamu bwange.” Oboolyawo ekyo yakyogera olw’okuba yali akyalaba Yesu mu kwolesebwa ng’ali ne Yakuwa. Siteefano ateekwa okuba nga yali amanyi ebigambo bya Yesu bino ebizzaamu amaanyi, “Nze kuzuukira n’obulamu.” (Yok. 11:25) Oluvannyuma Siteefano yasaba Katonda mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka n’agamba nti: “Yakuwa, tobavunaana olw’ekibi kino.” Oluvannyuma lw’okwogera ebigambo ebyo, yafa.—Bik. 7:59, 60.

²³ Bwe kityo Siteefano ye mugoberezi wa Kristo eyasooka okufa ng’omujulizi. (Laba akasanduuko “ Mu Ngeri Ki Siteefano Gye Yafa ‘ng’Omujulizi’?”) Eky’ennaku si ye yali agenda okusembayo okufa mu ngeri eyo. N’okutuukira ddala mu kiseera kyaffe, abamu ku baweereza ba Yakuwa abeesigwa battiddwa bannaddiini, bannabyabufuzi, n’abantu abalala abatayagala baweereza ba Yakuwa. Wadde kiri kityo, naffe tulina ensonga kwe tusinziira okuba abavumu nga Siteefano bwe yali. Yesu kati afuga nga Kabaka, era alina obuyinza bungi nnyo Kitaawe bwe yamuwa. Tewali kiyinza kumulemesa kuzuukiza bagoberezi be abeesigwa.—Yok. 5:28, 29.

24. Sawulo yawagira atya okuttibwa kwa Siteefano, era birungi ki ebyava mu kuttibwa kw’omusajja oyo eyali omwesigwa?

²⁴ Ebyo byonna bwe byali bigenda mu maaso, waaliwo omuvubuka eyaliwo ng’alaba. Omuvubuka oyo yali ayitibwa Sawulo. Sawulo yawagira okuttibwa kwa Siteefano era ye yakuuma n’ebyambalo by’abo abaamukuba amayinja. Oluvannyuma yawoma omutwe mu kuyigganya ennyo Abakristaayo. Naye okufa kwa Siteefano kwali kugenda kuvaamu ebirungi bingi. Ekyokulabirako kye kyali kigenda kwongera okunyweza Abakristaayo abalala basigale nga beesigwa, nabo basobole okutuuka ku buwanguzi. Ate mu myaka egyandizzeeko, Sawulo, oluvannyuma eyayitibwa Pawulo, yandibadde yejjusa olw’okuwagira okuttibwa kwa Siteefano. (Bik. 22:20) Oluvannyuma yandikitegedde nti kye yakola kyali kikyamu era n’agamba nti: “Nnali muvvoozi, ayigganya abalala, era atawa balala kitiibwa.” (1 Tim. 1:13) Kya lwatu nti Pawulo teyeerabira Siteefano n’ebigambo Siteefano bye yayogera ku lunaku olwo. Mu butuufu, mu bimu ku bintu Pawulo bye yayogera ne bye yawandiika, yakoona ku zimu ku nsonga Siteefano ze yayogerako. (Bik. 7:48; 17:24; Beb. 9:24) Oluvannyuma lw’ekiseera, Pawulo yakoppera ddala Siteefano n’ayoleka obuvumu n’okukkiriza, ng’eby’omusajja oyo eyali “ajjudde ekisa n’amaanyi.” Ekyebuuzibwa kiri nti, naffe tunaamukoppa?