ⲚⲒⲠⲢⲀⲜⲒⲤ 22
“Men, brothers and fathers, listen to my defense before you now.”
When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet, and he said:
3 ⲅ̅ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲙⲉⲛ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⳿ⲛⲒⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓ ⲁⲩⲙⲁⲥⲧ ϧⲉⲛ Ⲧⲁⲣⲥⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲔⲩⲗⲓⲕⲓⲁ ⳿ⲉⲁⲩϣⲁⲛⲟⲩϣⲧ ϧⲉⲛ ⲧⲁⲓⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ϧⲁⲧⲉⲛ ⲛⲉⲛϭⲁⲗⲁⲩϫ ⳿ⲛⲄⲁⲙⲁⲗⲓⲏⲗ ⲫⲁⲓ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁϥ⳿ⲧⲥⲁⲃⲟⲓ ⳿ⲉ⳿ⲡⲧⲁϫⲣⲟ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⳿ⲫⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲓⲟϯ ⲉⲓⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛⲣⲉϥⲭⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ Ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ϩⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲟⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲑⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⳿ⲙⲫⲟⲟⲩ
“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, just as you all are today.
4 ⲇ̅ ⳿ⲉⲁⲓϭⲟϫⲓ ⳿ⲛⲥⲁ ⲡⲁⲓⲙⲱⲓⲧ ϣⲁ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϧⲣⲏⲓ ⳿ⲉ⳿ⲫⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲓⲥⲱⲛϩ ⳿ⲛϩⲁⲛⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ ϩⲁⲛϩⲓⲟⲙⲓ ⲉⲓϩⲓⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ⲉ⳿ⲡ⳿ϣⲧⲉⲕⲟ
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,
5 ⲉ̅ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⳿ⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲓ⳿ⲁⲣⲭⲓⲉⲣⲉⲩⲥ ⲟⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲉⲑⲣⲉ ⲛⲏⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲓ⳿ⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲏ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁⲓϭⲓ ⲉⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⳿ⲛⲧⲟⲧⲟⲩ ϣⲁ ⲛⲓ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲓⲛⲁ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲉⲆⲁⲙⲁⲥⲕⲟⲥ ⳿ⲉ⳿ⲓⲛⲓ ⳿ⲛⲛⲓⲕⲉⲭⲱⲟⲩⲛⲓ ⳿ⲉⲧⲉ⳿⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲉⲩⲥⲟⲛϩ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ⳿ⲉⲒⲉⲣⲟⲩⲥⲁⲗⲏⲙ ϩⲓⲛⲁ ⳿ⲛⲥⲉϯ⳿ⲙⲕⲁϩ ⲛⲱⲟⲩ
as also the high priest and all the council of elders can bear me witness. I even obtained letters from them to the brothers in Damascus, to bring those also who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 ⲋ̅ ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲉⲓⲙⲟϣⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁⲓϧⲱⲛⲧ ⳿ⲉⲆⲁⲙⲁⲥⲕⲟⲥ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲡⲕⲱϯ ⳿ⲙⲙⲉⲣⲓ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩϩⲟϯ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲟϯ ⲁϥⲉⲣⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ⳿ⲉϫⲱⲓ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲛⲓϣϯ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲧⲫⲉ
Now it happened, as I was going and approaching Damascus, about noon, suddenly a strong light from heaven shone around me.
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 ⲏ̅ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲓⲉⲣⲟⲩⲱ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲛⲓⲙ Ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲏⲓ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ Ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ ⲡⲓⲚⲁⲍⲱⲣⲉⲟⲥ ⲫⲏ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⳿ⲉⲧⲉⲕϭⲟϫⲓ ⳿ⲛⲥⲱϥ
So I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Natsorean, whom you are persecuting.’
Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.
10 ⲓ̅ ⲡⲉϫⲏⲓ ⲇⲉ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉϯⲛⲁⲁⲓϥ Ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ Ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲏⲓ ϫⲉ ⲧⲱⲛⲕ ⲙⲁϣⲉⲛⲁⲕ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ⳿ⲉⲆⲁⲙⲁⲥⲕⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲥⲁϫⲓ ⲛⲉⲙⲁⲕ ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲉⲑⲃⲉ ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁⲩⲑⲁϣⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲉⲑⲣⲉⲕⲁⲓⲧⲟⲩ
So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that has been appointed to you to do.’
11 ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛϯⲛⲁⲩ ⳿ⲙⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲛ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲡ⳿ⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ ⳿ⲉⲧⲉ⳿⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲁⲩ⳿ⲁⲙⲟⲛⲓ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛⲧⲁϫⲓϫ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲛⲏⲉⲑⲛⲉⲙⲏⲓ ⲁⲓ⳿ⲓ ⳿ⲉⲆⲁⲙⲁⲥⲕⲟⲥ
And since I could not see, because of the brightness of that light, I entered Damascus being led by the hand of those who were with me.
12 ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ ⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ϫⲉ Ⲁⲛⲁⲛⲓⲁⲥ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲉϥⲉⲣϩⲟϯ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲓⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲩⲉⲣⲙⲉⲑⲣⲉ ϧⲁⲣⲟϥ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲛⲓⲒⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉⲧϣⲟⲡ ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩ
Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
13 ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁϥ⳿ⲓ ⲇⲉ ϣⲁⲣⲟⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁϥ⳿ⲟϩⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲏⲓ ϫⲉ Ⲥⲁⲟⲩⲗ ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ ⳿ⲁⲛⲁⲩ ⳿ⲙⲃⲟⲗ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ϩⲱ ϧⲉⲛ ϯⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⳿ⲉⲧⲉ⳿⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲁⲓⲥⲟⲙⲥ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟϥ
came to me, and standing by me said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I looked up at him.
14 ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ Ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲓⲟϯ ⲁϥⲉⲣϣⲟⲣⲡ ⳿ⲛⲥⲱⲧⲡⲕ ⳿ⲉ⳿ⲉⲙⲓ ⳿ⲉⲡⲉⲧⲉϩⲛⲁϥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲉⲛⲁⲩ ⳿ⲉⲡⲓⲑⲙⲏⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲉⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⳿ⲉⲟⲩ⳿ⲥⲙⲏ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲣⲱϥ
Then he said: ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear words from His mouth.
For you shall be a witness for Him to all men of the things that you have seen and heard.
And now, why hesitate? Get up, be baptized and wash away your sins, invoking the name of the Lord.’
“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I came to be in a trance
18 ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲏⲓ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲁⲙⲟⲩ ⳿ⲛⲭⲱⲗⲉⲙ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ Ⲓⲉⲣⲟⲩⲥⲁⲗⲏⲙ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲏⲓ ⲥⲉⲛⲁ ϭⲓⲙⲉⲧⲙⲉⲑⲣⲉ ⳿ⲛⲧⲟⲧⲕ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲑⲃⲏⲧ
and saw Him saying to me, ‘Hurry up and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.’
19 ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϩⲱ ⲡⲉϫⲏⲓ ϫⲉ Ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ ⳿ⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩ ⲥⲉ⳿ⲉⲙⲓ ϫⲉ ⲛⲁⲓϩⲓⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⳿ⲉ⳿ⲡ⳿ϣⲧⲉⲕⲟ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛⲁⲓϩⲓⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲥⲩⲛⲁⲅⲱⲅⲏ ⳿ⲛⲛⲏ ⲉⲑⲛⲁϩϯ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟⲕ
So I said: ‘Lord, they know that I used to imprison and beat those believing into you, from one synagogue to another;
20 ⲕ̅ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲉⲩⲛⲁⲫⲱⲛ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲡ⳿ⲥⲛⲟϥ ⳿ⲛⲤⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲡⲉⲕⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϩⲱ ⲛⲁⲓ⳿ⲟϩⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲁⲧ ⲉⲓϯⲙⲁϯ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛⲁⲓ⳿ⲁⲣⲉϩ ⳿ⲉⲛⲓ⳿ϩⲃⲱⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲏ ⳿ⲉⲛⲁⲩϧⲱⲧⲉⲃ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ
and when the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing there and agreeing to his murder, even guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
And He said to me, ‘Get going, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
22 ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ ⲛⲁⲩⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϣⲁ ⲡⲁⲓⲥⲁϫⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁⲩϭⲓⲥⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲟⲩ⳿ⲥⲙⲏ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ⲉⲩϫⲱ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲁⲗⲓ ⲫⲁⲓ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⳿ⲡⲕⲁϩⲓ ⲟⲩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⳿ϥⲉⲙ⳿ⲡϣⲁ ⳿ⲛⲱⲛϧ ⲁⲛ
Well they kept listening to him until this statement, and then they raised their voice and shouted, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for it isn't fitting for him to live!”
As they were shouting, tearing off clothes and throwing dust into the air,
24 ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ ⲁϥⲉⲣⲕⲉⲗⲉⲩⲓⲛ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲡⲓⲭⲓⲗⲓⲁⲣⲭⲟⲥ ⲉⲑⲣⲟⲩϭⲓⲧϥ ⳿ⲉϧⲟⲩⲛ ⳿ⲉϯⲡⲁⲣⲉⲙⲃⲟⲗⲏ ⳿ⲉⲁϥϫⲟⲥ ⲉⲑⲣⲟⲩϯ⳿ⲙⲕⲁϩ ⲛⲁϥ ϧⲉⲛ ϩⲁⲛⲙⲁⲥⲧⲓⲅⲝ ϩⲓⲛⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉϥ⳿ⲉⲙⲓ ϫⲉ ⲉⲑⲃⲉⲟⲩ ⳿ⲛⲗⲱⲓϫⲓ ⲥⲉⲱϣ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁⲓⲣⲏϯ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ⲉϫⲱϥ
the commander ordered him to be taken into the barracks, directing that he be interrogated with lashes, in order to learn for what crime they kept shouting against him like that.
25 ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ ⳿ⲉϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁⲩϭⲟⲗⲕϥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓϧⲱⲕ ⲡⲉϫⲉ Ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲉⲕⲁⲧⲟⲛⲧⲁⲣⲭⲟⲥ ⳿ⲉⲛⲁϥ⳿ⲟϩⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⳿ⲛⲢⲱⲙⲉⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϥⲉⲣ ⳿ⲡⲕⲉϩⲱⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲡϩⲁⲡ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲥϣⲉ ⲛⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲉⲉⲣⲙⲁⲥⲧⲓⲅⲅⲟⲓⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ
But as they stretched him out with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”
26 ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲡⲓⲉⲕⲁⲧⲟⲛⲧⲁⲣⲭⲟⲥ ⲁϥϣⲉ ϣⲁ ⲡⲓⲭⲓⲗⲓⲁⲣⲭⲟⲥ ⲁϥⲧⲁⲙⲟϥ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲕⲛⲁⲁⲓϥ ⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲟⲩⲢⲱⲙⲉⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ
Well when the centurion heard that, he went and reported to the commander saying, “Consider what you are about to do, because this man is a Roman!”
27 ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ ⲁϥ⳿ⲓ ⲇⲉ ϣⲁⲣⲟϥ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲡⲓⲭⲓⲗⲓⲁⲣⲭⲟⲥ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲁϫⲟⲥ ⲛⲏⲓ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲢⲱⲙⲉⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲁϩⲁ
So the commander went and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” So he said, “Yes.”
28 ⲕ̅ⲏ̅ ⲁϥⲉⲣⲟⲩⲱ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲡⲓⲭⲓⲗⲓⲁⲣⲭⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲁⲓϣⲱⲡ ⳿ⲛⲧⲁⲓⲡⲟⲗⲏⲧⲓⲁ ⲛⲏⲓ ϧⲁ ⲟⲩⲙⲏϣ ⳿ⲛⲕⲉⲫⲁⲗⲉⲟⲛ Ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁⲩⲙⲁⲥⲧ ⳿ⲛϧⲏⲧⲥ
The commander replied, “I acquired this citizenship at considerable cost.” And Paul said, “But I was so born.”
29 ⲕ̅ⲑ̅ ⲥⲁⲧⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲩϩⲉⲛⲟⲩ ⲥⲁⲃⲟⲗ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲛⲏ ⲉⲧϯ⳿ⲙⲕⲁϩ ⲛⲁϥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲁ ⲡⲓⲭⲓⲗⲓⲁⲣⲭⲟⲥ ⲉⲣϩⲟϯ ⳿ⲉⲧⲁϥ⳿ⲉⲙⲓ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲢⲱⲙⲉⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ϫⲉ ⲁϥⲥⲟⲛϩϥ
So those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately; and even the commander was apprehensive when he realized that he had put chains on a Roman.
30 ⲗ̅ ⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲥϯ ⲇⲉ ⲉϥⲟⲩⲱϣ ⳿ⲉ⳿ⲉⲙⲓ ⳿ⲉⲡⲓⲧⲁϫⲣⲟ ϫⲉ ⲉⲑⲃⲉⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲉⲣⲕⲁⲧⲏⲅⲟⲣⲓⲛ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲛⲓⲒⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓ ⲁϥⲃⲟⲗϥ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲁϩⲥⲁϩⲛⲓ ⲉⲑⲣⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲛⲓ⳿ⲁⲣⲭⲓⲉⲣⲉⲩⲥ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲙⲁ⳿ⲛϯϩⲁⲡ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁϥⲉⲛ Ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⳿ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲁϥⲧⲁϩⲟϥ ⳿ⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ⳿ⲛϧⲏⲧⲟⲩ
But the next day, desiring to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds and ordered the chief priests and all their council to come, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
