أعمال 23

١ 1 فَتَفَرَّسَ بُولُسُ فِي ٱلْمَجْمَعِ وَقَالَ: «أَيُّهَا ٱلرِّجَالُ ٱلْإِخْوَةُ، إِنِّي بِكُلِّ ضَمِيرٍ صَالِحٍ قَدْ عِشْتُ لِلهِ إِلَى هَذَا ٱلْيَوْمِ».

And when Paul had looked on the assembly of them, he said: Men, my brethren; I have lived in all good conscience before God up to this day.

٢ 2 فَأَمَرَ حَنَانِيَّا رَئِيسُ ٱلْكَهَنَةِ، ٱلْوَاقِفِينَ عِنْدَهُ أَنْ يَضْرِبُوهُ عَلَى فَمِهِ.

And Ananias, the priest, commanded those who stood by his side, to smite Paul on the mouth.

٣ 3 حِينَئِذٍ قَالَ لَهُ بُولُسُ: «سَيَضْرِبُكَ ٱللهُ أَيُّهَا ٱلْحَائِطُ ٱلْمُبَيَّضُ! أَفَأَنْتَ جَالِسٌ تَحْكُمُ عَلَيَّ حَسَبَ ٱلنَّامُوسِ، وَأَنْتَ تَأْمُرُ بِضَرْبِي مُخَالِفًا لِلنَّامُوسِ؟».

And Paul said to him: God is here-after to smite thee, thou Whited Wall! For, sittest thou judging me agreeably to law, while thou transgressest the law, and commandest to smite me?

٤ 4 فَقَالَ ٱلْوَاقِفُونَ: «أَتَشْتِمُ رَئِيسَ كَهَنَةِ ٱللهِ؟»

And those standing by, said to him: Dost thou reproach the priest of God!

٥ 5 فَقَالَ بُولُسُ: «لَمْ أَكُنْ أَعْرِفُ أَيُّهَا ٱلْإِخْوَةُ أَنَّهُ رَئِيسُ كَهَنَةٍ، لِأَنَّهُ مَكْتُوبٌ: رَئِيسُ شَعْبِكَ لَا تَقُلْ فِيهِ سُوءًا».

Paul said to them: I was not aware, my brethren, that he was the priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people.

٦ 6 وَلَمَّا عَلِمَ بُولُسُ أَنَّ قِسْمًا مِنْهُمْ صَدُّوقِيُّونَ وَٱلْآخَرَ فَرِّيسِيُّونَ، صَرَخَ فِي ٱلْمَجْمَعِ: «أَيُّهَا ٱلرِّجَالُ ٱلْإِخْوَةُ، أَنَا فَرِّيسِيٌّ ٱبْنُ فَرِّيسِيٍّ. عَلَى رَجَاءِ قِيَامَةِ ٱلْأَمْوَاتِ أَنَا أُحَاكَمُ».

And, as Paul knew that a part of the people were of the Sadducees, and a part of the Pharisees, he cried out, in the assembly: Men, my brethren; I am a Pharisee the son of a Pharisee; and for the hope of the resurrection of the dead, I am judged.

٧ 7 وَلَمَّا قَالَ هَذَا حَدَثَتْ مُنَازَعَةٌ بَيْنَ ٱلْفَرِّيسِيِّينَ وَٱلصَّدُّوقِيِّينَ، وَٱنْشَقَّتِ ٱلْجَمَاعَةُ،

And when he had said this, the Pharisees and Sadducees fell upon one another, and the people were divided

٨ 8 لِأَنَّ ٱلصَّدُّوقِيِّينَ يَقُولُونَ: إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ قِيَامَةٌ وَلَا مَلَاكٌ وَلَا رُوحٌ، وَأَمَّا ٱلْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ فَيُقِرُّونَ بِكُلِّ ذَلِكَ.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angels, nor a spirit: but the Pharisees confess all these.

٩ 9 فَحَدَثَ صِيَاحٌ عَظِيمٌ، وَنَهَضَ كَتَبَةُ قِسْمِ ٱلْفَرِّيسِيِّينَ وَطَفِقُوا يُخَاصِمُونَ قَائِلِينَ: «لَسْنَا نَجِدُ شَيْئًا رَدِيًّا فِي هَذَا ٱلْإِنْسَانِ! وَإِنْ كَانَ رُوحٌ أَوْ مَلَاكٌ قَدْ كَلَّمَهُ فَلَا نُحَارِبَنَّ ٱللهَ».

And there was great vociferation. And some Scribes of the party of the Pharisees rose up, and contended with them, and said. We have found nothing evil in this man: for if a spirit or an angel hath conversed with him, what is there in that?

١٠ 10 وَلَمَّا حَدَثَتْ مُنَازَعَةٌ كَثِيرَةٌ ٱخْتَشَى ٱلْأَمِيرُ أَنْ يَفْسَخُوا بُولُسَ، فَأَمَرَ ٱلْعَسْكَرَ أَنْ يَنْزِلُوا وَيَخْتَطِفُوهُ مِنْ وَسْطِهِمْ وَيَأْتُوا بِهِ إِلَى ٱلْمُعَسْكَرِ.

And, as there was great commotion among them, the Chiliarch was afraid lest they should tear Paul in pieces. And he sent Romans, to go and pluck him from their midst, and bring him into the castle.

١١ 11 وَفِي ٱللَّيْلَةِ ٱلتَّالِيَةِ وَقَفَ بِهِ ٱلرَّبُّ وَقَالَ: «ثِقْ يَا بُولُسُ! لِأَنَّكَ كَمَا شَهِدْتَ بِمَا لِي فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ، هَكَذَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ تَشْهَدَ فِي رُومِيَةَ أَيْضًا».

And when night came, our Lord appeared to Paul, and said to him: Be strong; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so also art thou to testify at Rome.

١٢ 12 وَلَمَّا صَارَ ٱلنَّهَارُ صَنَعَ بَعْضُ ٱلْيَهُودِ ٱتِّفَاقًا، وَحَرَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ قَائِلِينَ: إِنَّهُمْ لَا يَأْكُلُونَ وَلَا يَشْرَبُونَ حَتَّى يَقْتُلُوا بُولُسَ.

And when it was morning, several of the Jews assembled together, and bound themselves by imprecations that they would neither eat nor drink until they had slain Paul.

١٣ 13 وَكَانَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَنَعُوا هَذَا ٱلتَّحَالُفَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَرْبَعِينَ.

And they who had established this compact by oath, were more than forty persons.

١٤ 14 فَتَقَدَّمُوا إِلَى رُؤَسَاءِ ٱلْكَهَنَةِ وَٱلشُّيُوخِ وَقَالُوا: «قَدْ حَرَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا حِرْمًا أَنْ لَا نَذُوقَ شَيْئًا حَتَّى نَقْتُلَ بُولُسَ.

And they went to the priests and Elders, and said: We have bound ourselves by imprecations, that we will taste of nothing, until we shall have slain Paul.

١٥ 15 وَٱلْآنَ أَعْلِمُوا ٱلْأَمِيرَ أَنْتُمْ مَعَ ٱلْمَجْمَعِ لِكَيْ يُنْزِلَهُ إِلَيْكُمْ غَدًا، كَأَنَّكُمْ مُزْمِعُونَ أَنْ تَفْحَصُوا بِأَكْثَرِ تَدْقِيقٍ عَمَّا لَهُ. وَنَحْنُ، قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقْتَرِبَ، مُسْتَعِدُّونَ لِقَتْلِهِ».

And now, do ye and the chiefs of the congregation request of the Chiliarch, that he would bring him unto you, as if ye were desirous to investigate truly his conduct: and we are prepared to slay him, ere he shall come to you.

١٦ 16 وَلَكِنَّ ٱبْنَ أُخْتِ بُولُسَ سَمِعَ بِٱلْكَمِينِ، فَجَاءَ وَدَخَلَ ٱلْمُعَسْكَرَ وَأَخْبَرَ بُولُسَ.

And the son of Paul's sister, heard of this plot: and he went into the castle, and informed Paul.

١٧ 17 فَٱسْتَدْعَى بُولُسُ وَاحِدًا مِنْ قُوَّادِ ٱلْمِئَاتِ وَقَالَ: «ٱذْهَبْ بِهَذَا ٱلشَّابِّ إِلَى ٱلْأَمِيرِ، لِأَنَّ عِنْدَهُ شَيْئًا يُخْبِرُهُ بِهِ».

And Paul sent and called one of the centurions, and said to him: Conduct this youth to the Chiliarch; for he hath something to tell him.

١٨ 18 فَأَخَذَهُ وَأَحْضَرَهُ إِلَى ٱلْأَمِيرِ وَقَالَ: «ٱسْتَدْعَانِي ٱلْأَسِيرُ بُولُسُ، وَطَلَبَ أَنْ أُحْضِرَ هَذَا ٱلشَّابَّ إِلَيْكَ، وَهُوَ عِنْدَهُ شَيْءٌ لِيَقُولَهُ لَكَ».

And the centurion took the young man, and introduced him to the Chiliarch, and said: Paul the prisoner called me, and requested me to bring this youth to thee, for he hath something to tell thee.

١٩ 19 فَأَخَذَ ٱلْأَمِيرُ بِيَدِهِ وَتَنَحَّى بِهِ مُنْفَرِدًا، وَٱسْتَخْبَرَهُ: «مَا هُوَ ٱلَّذِي عِنْدَكَ لِتُخْبِرَنِي بِهِ؟».

And the Chiliarch took the young man by his hand, and led him one side, and asked him: What hast thou to tell me?

٢٠ 20 فَقَالَ: «إِنَّ ٱلْيَهُودَ تَعَاهَدُوا أَنْ يَطْلُبُوا مِنْكَ أَنْ تُنْزِلَ بُولُسَ غَدًا إِلَى ٱلْمَجْمَعِ، كَأَنَّهُمْ مُزْمِعُونَ أَنْ يَسْتَخْبِرُوا عَنْهُ بِأَكْثَرِ تَدْقِيقٍ.

And the young man said to him: The Jews have projected to ask thee to bring down Paul to-morrow to their assembly, as if wishing to learn something more from him.

٢١ 21 فَلَا تَنْقَدْ إِلَيْهِمْ، لِأَنَّ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَرْبَعِينَ رَجُلًا مِنْهُمْ كَامِنُونَ لَهُ، قَدْ حَرَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ أَنْ لَا يَأْكُلُوا وَلَا يَشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَقْتُلُوهُ. وَهُمُ ٱلْآنَ مُسْتَعِدُّونَ مُنْتَظِرُونَ ٱلْوَعْدَ مِنْكَ».

But be not thou persuaded by them: for, lo, more than forty persons of them watch for him in ambush, and have bound themselves by imprecations, that they will neither eat nor drink until they shall have slain him: and lo, they are prepared, and are waiting for thy promise

٢٢ 22 فَأَطْلَقَ ٱلْأَمِيرُ ٱلشَّابَّ مُوصِيًا إِيَّاهُ أَنْ: «لَا تَقُلْ لِأَحَدٍ إِنَّكَ أَعْلَمْتَنِي بِهَذَا».

And the Chiliarch dismissed the young man, after charging him: Let no man know, that thou hast showed me these things.

٢٣ 23 ثُمَّ دَعَا ٱثْنَيْنِ مِنْ قُوَّادِ ٱلْمِئَاتِ وَقَالَ: «أَعِدَّا مِئَتَيْ عَسْكَرِيٍّ لِيَذْهَبُوا إِلَى قَيْصَرِيَّةَ، وَسَبْعِينَ فَارِسًا وَمِئَتَيْ رَامِحٍ، مِنَ ٱلسَّاعَةِ ٱلثَّالِثَةِ مِنَ ٱللَّيْلِ.

And he called two centurions, and said to them: Go and prepare two hundred Romans to go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and shooters with the right hand two hundred; and let them set out at the third hour of the night.

٢٤ 24 وَأَنْ يُقَدِّمَا دَوَابَّ لِيُرْكِبَا بُولُسَ وَيُوصِلَاهُ سَالِمًا إِلَى فِيلِكْسَ ٱلْوَالِي».

And provide also a saddle beast, that they may set Paul on it, and carry him safely to Felix the governor.

٢٥ 25 وَكَتَبَ رِسَالَةً حَاوِيَةً هَذِهِ ٱلصُّورَةَ:

And he wrote a letter and gave them, in which was, thus:

٢٦ 26 «كُلُودِيُوسُ لِيسِيَاسُ، يُهْدِي سَلَامًا إِلَى ٱلْعَزِيزِ فِيلِكْسَ ٱلْوَالِي:

Claudius Lysias to the excellent governor Felix; greeting.

٢٧ 27 هَذَا ٱلرَّجُلُ لَمَّا أَمْسَكَهُ ٱلْيَهُودُ وَكَانُوا مُزْمِعِينَ أَنْ يَقْتُلُوهُ، أَقْبَلْتُ مَعَ ٱلْعَسْكَرِ وَأَنْقَذْتُهُ، إِذْ أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّهُ رُومَانِيٌّ.

The Jews seized this man, in order to kill him; but I came with Romans, and rescued him, when I learned that he was a Roman.

٢٨ 28 وَكُنْتُ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَعْلَمَ ٱلْعِلَّةَ ٱلَّتِي لِأَجْلِهَا كَانُوا يَشْتَكُونَ عَلَيْهِ، فَأَنْزَلْتُهُ إِلَى مَجْمَعِهِمْ،

And as I wished to know the offence, for which they criminated him, I brought him to their assembly.

٢٩ 29 فَوَجَدْتُهُ مَشْكُوًّا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ جِهَةِ مَسَائِلِ نَامُوسِهِمْ. وَلَكِنَّ شَكْوَى تَسْتَحِقُّ ٱلْمَوْتَ أَوِ ٱلْقُيُودَ لَمْ تَكُنْ عَلَيْهِ.

And I found, that it was about questions of their law they accused him, and that an offence worthy of bonds or of death, was not upon him.

٣٠ 30 ثُمَّ لَمَّا أُعْلِمْتُ بِمَكِيدَةٍ عَتِيدَةٍ أَنْ تَصِيرَ عَلَى ٱلرَّجُلِ مِنَ ٱلْيَهُودِ، أَرْسَلْتُهُ لِلْوَقْتِ إِلَيْكَ، آمِرًا ٱلْمُشْتَكِينَ أَيْضًا أَنْ يَقُولُوا لَدَيْكَ مَا عَلَيْهِ. كُنْ مُعَافًى».

And when the wiles of a plot formed by the Jews against him came to my knowledge, I forthwith sent him to thee. And I have directed his accusers, to go and contend with him, before thee. Farewell.

٣١ 31 فَٱلْعَسْكَرُ أَخَذُوا بُولُسَ كَمَا أُمِرُوا، وَذَهَبُوا بِهِ لَيْلًا إِلَى أَنْتِيبَاتْرِيسَ.

Then the Romans, as they had been commanded, took Paul by night, and brought him to the city of Antipatris.

٣٢ 32 وَفِي ٱلْغَدِ تَرَكُوا ٱلْفُرْسَانَ يَذْهَبُونَ مَعَهُ وَرَجَعُوا إِلَى ٱلْمُعَسْكَرِ.

And the next day, the horsemen dismissed the footmen their associates, that they might return to the castle.

٣٣ 33 وَأُولَئِكَ لَمَّا دَخَلُوا قَيْصَرِيَّةَ وَدَفَعُوا ٱلرِّسَالَةَ إِلَى ٱلْوَالِي، أَحْضَرُوا بُولُسَ أَيْضًا إِلَيْهِ.

And they brought him to Caesarea: and they delivered the letter to the governor, and set Paul before him.

٣٤ 34 فَلَمَّا قَرَأَ ٱلْوَالِي ٱلرِّسَالَةَ، وَسَأَلَ مِنْ أَيَّةِ وِلَايَةٍ هُوَ، وَوَجَدَ أَنَّهُ مِنْ كِيلِيكِيَّةَ،

And when he had read the letter, he asked him of what province he was? And when he learned that he was of Cilicia,

٣٥ 35 قَالَ: «سَأَسْمَعُكَ مَتَى حَضَرَ ٱلْمُشْتَكُونَ عَلَيْكَ أَيْضًا». وَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُحْرَسَ فِي قَصْرِ هِيرُودُسَ.

he said to him: I will give thee audience, when thy accusers arrive. And he ordered him to be kept in the Praetorium of Herod.