1 ف َتَفَرَّسَ بُولُسُ فِي وُجُوهِ أعضاءِ المَجلِسِ وَقالَ: «يا إخْوَتِي، لَقَدْ عِشتُ حَياتِي أمامَ اللهِ بِراحَةِ ضَمِيرٍ حَتَّى هَذا اليَومِ.»

And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.

2 ف َأمَرَ حَنانِيّا رَئِيسُ الكَهَنَةِ الواقِفِينَ إلَى جانِبِ بُولُسَ بِضَربِهِ عَلَى فَمِهِ.

And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

3 ف َقالَ بُولُسُ لِحَنانِيّا: «سَيَضرِبُكَ اللهُ أيُّها المُرائِي! أتَجلِسُ هُناكَ وَتَحكُمُ عَلَيَّ حَسَبَ الشَّرِيعَةِ، وَأنتَ تَأْمُرُ بِضَربِي مُخالِفاً لِلشَّرِيعَةِ؟»

Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

4 ف َقالَ الواقِفُونَ إلَى جانِبِ بُولُسَ: «أتَجرُؤُ عَلَى إهانَةِ رَئيسِ الكَهَنَةِ؟»

And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?

5 ف َقالَ بُولُسُ: «يا إخْوَتِي، لَمْ أكُنْ أعرِفُ أنَّهُ رَئيسُ الكَهَنَةِ. مَكتُوبٌ: ‹لا تَتَكَلَّمْ بِالسُّوءِ عَلَى قائِدٍ لِشَعبِكَ.›»

And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.

6 و َعِندَما أدرَكَ بُولُسُ أنَّ بَعْضَ أعْضاءِ المَجلِسِ مِنَ الصَّدُوقِيِّينَ وَبَعضَهُمْ مِنَ الفِرِّيسِيِّينَ، صَرَخَ وَقالَ: «يا إخْوَتِي، أنا فِرِّيسِيُّ وَابنُ فِرِّيسِيٍّ! وَأنا أُحاكَمُ هُنا لِأنَّ قِيامَةَ الأمواتِ هِيَ رَجائِي.»

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

7 ف َلَمّا قالَ هَذا، قامَ نِزاعٌ بَينَ الفِرِّيسِيِّينَ وَالصَّدُوقِيِّينَ. وَانقَسَمَ المُجتَمِعُونَ.

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.

8 إ ذْ يَقُولُ الصَّدُوقِيُّونَ إنَّهُ لا تُوجَدُ قِيامَةٌ وَلا مَلائِكَةٌ وَلا أرواحٌ. أمّا الفِرِّيسِيُّونَ فَيُؤمِنُونَ بِهَذِهِ الأُمُورِ كُلِّها.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

9 ف َحَدَثَ اضطِرابٌ شَدِيدٌ. وَوَقَفَ بَعضُ مُعَلِّمِي الشَّرِيعَةِ الَّذِينَ يَنتَمُونَ إلَى جَماعَةِ الفِرِّيسِيِّينَ، وَجادَلُوا بِقُوَّةٍ فَقالوا: «لا نَجِدُ عَيباً فِي هَذا الرَّجُلِ، فَرُبَّما كَلَّمَهُ رُوحٌ أوْ مَلاكٌ.»

And there arose a great clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

10 و َصارَ النِّزاعُ عَنِيفاً جِدّاً. فَخَشِيَ الآمِرُ أنْ يُمَزِّقُوا بُولُسَ تَمزِيقاً، فَأمَرَ الجُنُودَ بِأنْ يَأتُوا وَيَأخُذُوهُ بِالقُوَّةِ إلَى الثُّكْنَةِ.

And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.

11 و َفِي اللَّيلَةِ التّالِيَةِ، وَقَفَ الرَّبُّ إلَى جانِبِ بُولُسَ وَقالَ لَهُ: «تَشَجَّعْ، فَكَما شَهِدتَ عَنِّي فِي القُدسِ، سَتَشهَدُ فِي رُوما أيضاً.» اليَهُودُ يُخَطِّطُونَ لِقَتلِ بُولُس

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

12 و َعِندَما طَلَعَ النَّهارُ، تَآمَرَ بَعضُ اليَهُودِ وَألزَمُوا أنفُسَهُمْ بِقَسَمٍ أنَّهُمْ لَنْ يَأْكُلُوا وَلَنْ يَشرَبُوا إلّا بَعدَ أنْ يَقتُلُوا بُولُسَ.

And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13 و َكانَ عَدَدُ الَّذِينَ شارَكُوا فِي المُؤامَرَةِ يَزِيدُ عَلَى أربَعِيْنَ.

And they were more than forty that made this conspiracy.

14 و َذَهَبُوا إلَى كِبارِ الكَهَنَةِ وَالشُّيُوخِ وَقالُوا: «لَقَدْ ألزَمنا أنفُسَنا بِقَسَمٍ أنْ لا نَأْكُلَ شَيئاً إلَى أنْ نَقتُلَ بُولُسَ.

And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

15 ف َالآنَ، قَدِّمُوا أنتُمْ وَالمَجلِسُ التِماساً لِلآمِرِ بِأنْ يُنزِلَ بُولُسَ إلَيكُمْ. مُتَظاهِرِينَ بِأنَّكُمْ تُرِيدُونَ أنْ تَدرُسُوا قَضِيَّتَهُ بِدِقَّةٍ أكبَرَ. وَسَنَكُونُ مُستَعِدِّينَ لِقَتلِهِ قَبلَ أنْ يَصِلَ إلَى هُنا.»

Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.

16 ل َكِنَّ ابنَ أُختِ بُولُسَ، سَمِعَ بِالمٌؤامَرَةِ، فَذَهَبَ وَدَخَلَ الثُّكْنَةَ، وَأخبَرَ بُولُسَ بِها.›

But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.

17 ف َدَعا بُولُسُ أحَدَ الضُّبّاطِ وَقالَ لَهُ: «خُذْ هَذا الشّابَّ إلَى الآمِرِ، فَلَدَيهِ شَيءٌ يُرِيدُ أنْ يُخبِرَهُ بِهِ.

And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.

18 ف َأخَذَهُ الضّابِطُ وَجاءَ بِهِ إلَى الآمِرِ وَقالَ لَهُ: «استَدعانِي السَّجِينُ بُولُسُ، وَطَلَبَ مِنِّي أنْ أُحضِرَ هَذا الشّابَّ إلَيكَ، لِأنَّ لَدَيهِ شَيئُاً يُرِيدُ أنْ يَقُولَهُ لَكَ.»

So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee.

19 ف َأمسَكَ بِهِ الآمِرُ مِنْ يَدِهِ، وَأخَذَهُ جانِباً، وَسَألَهُ: «ما الَّذِي تُرِيدُ أنْ تُخبِرَنِي بِهِ؟»

And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that thou hast to tell me?

20 ف َقالَ: «اتَّفَقَ اليَهُودُ عَلَى أنْ يَطلُبُوا مِنكَ أنْ تُحضِرَ بُولُسَ إلَى المَجلِسِ غَداً، مُتَظاهِرِينَ بِأنَّهُمْ سَيُحَقِّقُونَ مَعَهُ بِشَكلٍ أكثَرَ تَفصِيلاً.

And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul tomorrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.

21 ف َلا تُوافِقهُمْ عَلَى طَلَبِهِمْ، لِأنَّ هُناكَ أكثَرَ مِنْ أربَعِينَ رَجُلاً يُعِدُّونَ لَهُ كَمِيناً. وَقَدْ ألزَمُوا أنفُسَهُمْ بِقَسَمٍ أنْ لا يَأْكُلُوا أوْ يَشرَبُوا إلَى أنْ يَقتُلُوهُ. وَها هُمِ الآنَ مُستَعِدُّونَ وَيَنتَظِرُونَ مُوافَقَتَكَ.»

Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee.

22 ف َأمَرَ الآمِرُ الشّابَّ بِقَولِهِ: «لا تُخبِرْ أحَداً بِأنَّكَ أعلَمِتَنِي بِهَذا.» ثُمَّ صَرَفَهُ. إرساَلُ بُولُسَ إلَى قَيصَرِيَّة

So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me.

23 ث ُمَّ استَدعَى الآمِرُ اثْنَينِ مِنْ ضُبّاطِهِ وَقالَ لَهُما: «جَهِّزا مِئَتَيْ جُندِيٍّ وَسَبعِينَ فارِساً وَمِئَتَيْ حامِلِ رُمحٍ لِلذَّهابِ إلَى مَدِينَةِ قَيصَرِيَّةَ. وَاستَعِدُّوا لِلانطِلاقِ فِي السّاعَةِ التّاسِعَةِ لَيلاً.

And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:

24 و َأعطُوا بُولُسَ ما يَركَبُهُ، وَأوصِلُوهُ سالِماً إلَى الوالِي فِيلِكسَ.»

and he bade them provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

25 و َكَتَبَ رِسالَةً هَذا مَضمُونُها:

And he wrote a letter after this form:

26 م ِنْ كلُوديُوسَ لِيسياسَ، إلَى صاحِبِ السَّعادَةِ الوالِي فِيلِيكسَ، تَحِيّاتِي،

Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.

27 أ مسَكَ اليَهُودُ بِهَذا الرَّجُلِ، وَكانُوا عَلَى وَشَكِ أنْ يَقتُلُوهُ. لَكِنِّي جِئتُ وَجُنُودِي وَأنقَذْتُهُ، بَعدَ أنْ عَلِمْتُ أًنَّهُ مُواطِنٌ رُومانِيٌّ.

This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain of them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 و َبِما أنِّي أرَدتُ أنْ أعرِفَ ما يَتَّهِمُونَهُ بِهِ، أخَذتُهُ إلَى مَجلِسِهِمْ.

And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:

29 و َوَجَدتُ أنَّهُمْ يَتَّهِمُونَهُ بِمَسائِلَ تَتَعَلَّقُ بِشَرِيعَتِهِمْ. لَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يُتَّهَمْ بِأيِّ شَيءٍ يَستَحِقُّ المَوْتَ أوِ الحَبسَ.

whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30 و َلَمّا أُعلِمتُ أنَّ هُناكَ مُؤامَرَةٌ ضِدَّ هَذا الرَّجُلِ، أرسَلتُهُ فَوراً إلَيكَ. وَأمَرتُ المُشتَكِينَ عَلَيهِ بِأنْ يَرفَعُوا قَضِيَّتَهُمْ عَلَيهِ أمامَكَ.

And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.

31 ف َنَفَّذَ الجُنُودُ الأوامِرَ وَأخَذُوا بُولُسَ وَأحضَرُوهُ لَيلاً إلَى أنْتِياتْرِيسَ.

So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 و َفِي اليَومِ التّالِي تَرَكُوا الفُرسانَ يُواصِلُونَ السَّفَرَ مَعَهُ، أمّا هُمْ فَعادُوا إلَى المُعَسْكَرِ.

But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

33 و َعِندَما وَصَلُوا إلَى قَيصَرِيَّةَ، سَلَّمُوا الرِّسالَةَ إلَى الوالِي، وَسَلَّمُوهُ بُولُسَ أيضاً.

and they, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34 ف َقَرَأ الوالِي الرِّسالَةَ، وَسَألَ عَنِ المُقاطَعَةِ الَّتِي يَنتَمِي إلَيها بُولُسُ، فَأخبَرُوهُ أنَّهُ مِنْ كِيلِيكِيَّةَ.

And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,

35 ح ينَئِذٍ قالَ: «سَأسمَعُ مِنكَ حِينَ يَصِلُ المُشتَكُونَ عَلَيكَ.» وَأمَرَ بِأنْ يَظَلَّ بُولُسُ تَحتَ الحِراسَةِ فِي قَصرِ هِيرُودُسَ.

I will hear thee fully, said he, when thine accusers also are come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.