أعمال 23

١ 1 فَحَدَّقَ بُولُسُ إِلَى الْمَجْلِسِ، وَقَالَ: «أَيُّهَا الإِخْوَةُ، إِنِّي عِشْتُ لِلهِ بِضَمِيرٍ صَالِحٍ حَتَّى هَذَا الْيَوْمِ».

Then Paul, looking intently at the council, said, “Men, brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

٢ 2 فَأَمَرَ حَنَانِيَّا، رَئِيسُ الْكَهَنَةِ، وَاحِداً مِنَ الْوَاقِفِينَ لَدَيْهِ أَنْ يَضْرِبَ بُولُسَ عَلَى فَمِهِ،

So the high priest Ananias commanded those standing by him to strike his mouth.

٣ 3 فَقَالَ لَهُ بُولُسُ: «ضَرَبَكَ اللهُ، يَا حَائِطَ الْمَقْبَرَةِ الْمُبَيَّضَ! كَيْفَ تَجْلِسُ لِتُحَاكِمَنِي وَفْقاً لِلشَّرِيعَةِ، ثُمَّ تُخَالِفُ الشَّرِيعَةَ فَتَأْمُرُ بِضَرْبِي؟»

Then Paul said to him: “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you command me to be struck contrary to the law!”

٤ 4 فَقَالَ لَهُ الْوَاقِفُونَ هُنَاكَ: «أَتَشْتِمُ رَئِيسَ كَهَنَةِ اللهِ؟»

So those standing by said, “Do you reproach God's high priest?”

٥ 5 فَأَجَابَ بُولُسُ: «لَمْ أَكُنْ أَعْرِفُ أَيُّهَا الإِخْوَةُ أَنَّهُ رَئِيسُ كَهَنَةٍ فَقَدْ جَاءَ فِي الْكِتَابِ: لَا تَشْتِمْ رَئِيسَ شَعْبِكَ!»

Then Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he is high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

٦ 6 وَإِذْ كَانَ بُولُسُ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ بَعْضَ أَعْضَاءِ الْمَجْلِسِ مِنْ مَذْهَبِ الصَّدُّوقِيِّينَ، وَبَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ مَذْهَبِ الْفَرِّيسِيِّينَ، نَادَى فِي الْمَجْلِسِ: «أَيُّهَا الإِخْوَةُ، أَنَا فَرِّيسِيٌّ ابْنُ فَرِّيسِيٍّ، وإِنِّي أُحَاكَمُ الآنَ لأَنَّنِي أَعْتَقِدُ أَنَّ لِلْمَوْتَى رَجَاءً بِالْقِيَامَةِ!»

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Pharisees and the other Sadducees, he called out in the council, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee; I am being judged concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead!”

٧ 7 وَهُنَا دَبَّ الْخِلافُ بَيْنَ الْفَرِّيسِيِّينَ وَالصَّدُّوقِيِّينَ مِنْ أَعْضَاءِ الْمَجْلِسِ، فَانْقَسَمَ الْحَاضِرُونَ.

When he had said this, an argument started between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

٨ 8 فَإِنَّ الصَّدُّوقِيِّينَ يُنْكِرُونَ الْقِيَامَةَ وَالْمَلائِكَةَ وَالأَرْوَاحَ، أَمَّا الفَرِّيسِيُّونَ فَيُقِرُّونَ بِها كُلِّهَا.

(Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel or spirit, but Pharisees confess both.)

٩ 9 وَعَلا الصِّيَاحُ، فَوَقَفَ بَعْضُ عُلَمَاءِ الشَّرِيعَةِ الْمُوَالِينَ لِلْفَرِّيسِيِّينَ، يَحْتَجُّونَ بِحَمَاسَةٍ، فَقَالُوا: «لا نَجِدُ عَلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ ذَنْباً، فَلَرُبَّمَا كَلَّمَهُ رُوحٌ أَوْ مَلاكٌ!»

There was a great clamor, and the scribes of the Pharisee party stood up and started arguing vigorously, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; but if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God!”

١٠ 10 وَتَفَاقَمَ الْخِلافُ حَتَّى خَافَ الْقَائِدُ أَنْ يَشُقُّوا بُولُسَ شِقَّيْنِ، فَأَمَرَ الْجُنُودَ أَنْ يَنْزِلُوا وَيَخْطَفُوهُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْ وَيُعِيدُوهُ إِلَى الْمُعَسْكَرِ.

Well the dissension became such that the commander, fearing that Paul might be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and snatch him out of their midst and bring him into the barracks.

١١ 11 وَفِي اللَّيْلَةِ التَّالِيَةِ ظَهَرَ الرَّبُّ لِبُولُسَ وَقَالَ لَهُ: «تَشَجَّعْ، فَكَمَا أَدَّيْتَ لِيَ الشَّهَادَةَ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ، لابُدَّ أَنْ تُؤَدِّيَهَا لِي فِي رُومَا أَيْضاً».

Now the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, Paul, because as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

١٢ 12 وَلَمَّا طَلَعَ الصَّبَاحُ حَاكَ بَعْضُ الْيَهُودِ مُؤَامَرَةً لِقَتْلِ بُولُسَ، وحَرَّمُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمِ الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّرَابَ إِلَى أَنْ يَقْتُلُوهُ.

And when it was day, some of the Jews formed a conspiracy by binding themselves with a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they had destroyed Paul.

١٣ 13 وَكَانَ عَدَدُ الَّذِينَ حَاكُوا هذِهِ الْمُؤَامَرَةَ نَحْوَ أَرْبَعِينَ رَجُلاً.

Now there were more than forty who formed this plot.

١٤ 14 وَذَهَبُوا إِلَى رُؤَسَاءِ الْكَهَنَةِ وَالشُّيُوخِ وَقَالُوا: «حَرَامٌ عَلَيْنَا الطَّعَامُ وَالشَّرَابُ حَتَّى نَقْتُلَ بُولُسَ.

They came to the chief priests and the elders and said: “We have bound ourselves with a terrible curse not to taste anything until we have killed Paul.

١٥ 15 فَاطْلُبُوا مِنَ الْقَائِدِ بِصِفَتِكُمْ أَعْضَاءَ الْمَجْلِسِ، أَنْ يُحْضِرَ بُولُسَ بِحُجَّةِ إِعَادَةِ النَّظَرِ فِي قَضِيَّتِهِ، وَنَحْنُ مُسْتَعِدُّونَ لاغْتِيَالِهِ قَبْلَ وُصُولِهِ إِلَى الْمَجْلِسِ!»

Now you, therefore, together with the council, explain to the commander that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you are going to determine more accurately the facts in his case; but we are ready to destroy him before he comes near.”

١٦ 16 وَلَكِنَّ خَبَرَ هذِهِ الْمُؤَامَرَةِ تَسَرَّبَ إِلَى ابْنِ أُخْتِ بُولُسَ، فَتَوَجَّهَ إِلَى الْمُعَسْكَرِ وَأَخْبَرَهُ بِذلِكَ.

But when Paul's sister's son heard about the ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.

١٧ 17 فَاسْتَدْعَى بُولُسُ أَحَدَ قُوَّادِ الْمِئَاتِ وَطَلَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ ابْنَ أُخْتِهِ إِلَى الْقَائِدِ لِيُخْبِرَهُ بِأَمْرٍ هَامٍّ.

So Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to tell him.”

١٨ 18 فَأَخَذَهُ إِلَى الْقَائِدِ وَقَالَ: «اسْتَدْعَانِي السَّجِينُ بُولُسُ وَطَلَبَ أَنْ أُحْضِرَ هَذَا الشَّابَّ إِلَيْكَ، لأَنَّ عِنْدَهُ أَمْراً هَامّاً يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُخْبِرَكَ بِهِ».

So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

١٩ 19 فَأَمْسَكَ الْقَائِدُ الشَّابَّ بِيَدِهِ، وَانْفَرَدَ بِهِ، وَسَأَلَهُ: «مَا الأَمْرُ الَّذِي تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُخْبِرَنِي بِهِ؟»

So taking him by the hand, the commander went aside and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

٢٠ 20 فَقَالَ: «حَاكَ الْيَهُودُ مُؤَامَرَةً عَلَى بُولُسَ، وَسَيَطْلُبُونَ مِنْكَ أَنْ تُحْضِرَهُ إِلَى مَجْلِسِهِمْ، بِحُجَّةِ إِعَادَةِ النَّظَرِ فِي قَضِيَّتِهِ،

So he said: “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.

٢١ 21 فَلا تَقْبَلْ طَلَبَهُمْ، لأَنَّ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَرْبَعِينَ رَجُلاً مِنْهُمْ حَرَّمُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمِ الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّرَابَ وَنَصَبُوا كَمِيناً لاِغْتِيَالِهِ، وَهُمُ الآنَ مُسْتَعِدُّونَ لِذَلِكَ، وَيَنْتَظِرُونَ تَلْبِيَةَ طَلَبِهِمْ!»

But you should not believe them, because more than forty of their men are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves with a curse neither to eat not to drink until they have destroyed him; even now they are ready, looking for your promise.”

٢٢ 22 فَصَرَفَ الْقَائِدُ الشَّابَّ بَعْدَمَا قَالَ لَهُ: «لا تُخْبِرْ أَحَداً بِمَا أَعْلَمْتَنِي بِهِ!»

Then the commander dismissed the young man commanding, “Don't tell anyone that you have revealed these things to me!”

٢٣ 23 وَدَعَا اثْنَيْنِ مِنْ قُوَّادِ الْمِئَاتِ لَدَيْهِ، وَأَمَرَهُمَا قَائِلاً: «جَهِّزَا مِئَتَيْ جُنْدِيٍّ لِيَذْهَبُوا إِلَى قَيْصَرِيَّةَ السَّاعَةَ التَّاسِعَةَ مَسَاءَ اللَّيْلَةِ وَمَعَهُمْ سَبْعُونَ فَارِساً وَمِئَتَا حَامِلِ رُمْحٍ،

Summoning two of the centurions he said: “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night;

٢٤ 24 وَبَعْضُ الدَّوَابِّ لِتَحْمِلَ بُولُسَ وَتُوَصِّلَهُ سَالِماً إِلَى الْحَاكِمِ فِيلِكْسَ».

and provide mounts to set Paul on so as to deliver him safely to Felix, the governor.”

٢٥ 25 وَكَتَبَ إِلَى الْحَاكِمِ رِسَالَةً يَقُولُ فِيهَا:

He wrote a letter with this content:

٢٦ 26 «مِنْ كُلُودِيُوسَ لِيسِيَاسَ إِلَى سُمُوِّ الْحَاكِمِ فِيلِكْسَ: سَلامٌ!

“Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

٢٧ 27 هَذَا الرَّجُلُ قَبَضَ عَلَيْهِ الْيَهُودُ وَحَاوَلُوا أَنْ يَقْتُلُوهُ. وَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ مُوَاطِنٌ رُومَانِيٌّ فَأَسْرَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ مَعَ بَعْضِ الْجُنُودِ وَأَنْقَذْتُهُ.

This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them; but I came with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman.

٢٨ 28 وَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَعْرِفَ التُّهْمَةَ الَّتِي يَتَّهِمُونَهُ بِها، فَقَدَّمْتُهُ إِلَى مَجْلِسِهِمْ،

And wanting to know the reason they were accusing him, I took him down to their council.

٢٩ 29 فَتَبَيَّنَ لِي أَنَّ تُهْمَتَهُ تَخْتَصُّ بِقَضَايَا تَتَعَلَّقُ بِشَرِيعَتِهِمْ. وَوَجَدْتُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَرْتَكِبْ ذَنْباً يَسْتَحِقُّ عُقُوبَةَ الْمَوْتِ أَوِ السَّجْنِ.

I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but there was no accusation worthy of death or bonds.

٣٠ 30 ثُمَّ تَبَيَّنَ لِي أَنَّ جَمَاعَةً مِنَ الْيَهُودِ حَاكُوا مُؤَامَرَةً لِقَتْلِهِ، فَأَرْسَلْتُهُ إِلَيْكَ بِسُرْعَةٍ، وَأَمَرْتُ الْمُدَّعِينَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُقَدِّمُوا شَكْوَاهُمْ لَدَيْكَ».

When I was told that the Jews were about to execute a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also directing his accusers to state the charges against him before you. Farewell.”

٣١ 31 وَهَكَذَا نَقَلَ الْجُنُودُ بُولُسَ لَيْلاً إِلَى أَنْتِيبَاتْرِيسَ، تَنْفِيذاً لِلأَوَامِرِ الصَّادِرَةِ إِلَيْهِمْ.

So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

٣٢ 32 وَفِي الصَّبَاحِ عَادُوا إِلَى الْمُعَسْكَرِ، وَتَرَكُوا الفُرْسَانَ يُرَافِقُونَ بُولُسَ إِلَى قَيْصَرِيَّةَ.

The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him and returned to the barracks.

٣٣ 33 وَهُنَاكَ سَلَّمُوهُ إِلَى الْحَاكِمِ مَعَ الرِّسَالَةِ.

When they entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

٣٤ 34 فَقَرَأَ الْحَاكِمُ الرِّسَالَةَ، وَسَأَلَ عَنِ الْمُقَاطَعَةِ الَّتِي يَنْتَمِي بُولُسُ إِلَيْهَا. وَلَمَّا عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ مِنْ كِيلِيكِيَّةَ

When the governor read it, he asked what province he was from; learning that it was Cilicia,

٣٥ 35 قَالَ لَهُ: «سَأَنْظُرُ فِي قَضِيَّتِكَ عِنْدَمَا يَحْضُرُ الْمُدَّعُونَ عَلَيْكَ». وَأَمَرَ بِوَضْعِ بُولُسَ فِي قَصْرِ هِيرُودُسَ، تَحْتَ الْحِرَاسَةِ.

he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers also arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's Praetorium.