Acts 23

1 Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

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

2 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

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

3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”

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

4 But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”

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

5 “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

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

6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

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!»

7 As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

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

8 For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

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

9 A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

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

10 The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

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

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

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

12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

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

13 More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

13 وَكَانَ عَدَدُ الَّذِينَ حَاكُوا هذِهِ الْمُؤَامَرَةَ نَحْوَ أَرْبَعِينَ رَجُلاً.

14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

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

15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

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

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

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

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

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

18 So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

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

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”

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

20 He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

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

21 Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

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!»

22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

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

23 Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.

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،

24 Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”

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

25 And he wrote the following letter:

25 وَكَتَبَ إِلَى الْحَاكِمِ رِسَالَةً يَقُولُ فِيهَا:

26 Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.

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

27 This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,

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

28 and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

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

29 I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

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

30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.

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

31 So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.

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

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

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

33 When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.

33 وَهُنَاكَ سَلَّمُوهُ إِلَى الْحَاكِمِ مَعَ الرِّسَالَةِ.

34 The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

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

35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.

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