1 ف ِي أثناءِ ذَلِكَ، كانَ شاوُلُ ما يَزالُ غاضِباً يُهَدِّدُ بِقَتلِ تَلامِيذِ الرَّبِّ. فَذَهَبَ إلَى رَئِيسِ الكَهَنَةِ،

But Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest

2 و َطَلَبَ مِنهُ رَسائِلَ إلَى المَجامِعِ فِي دِمَشقَ، حَتَّى تُعِينَهُ عَلَى القَبضِ عَلَى أيٍّ مِنْ أتباعِ «الطَّرِيقِ،» رِجالاً كانُوا أمْ نِساءً، ثُمَّ إعادَتِهِمْ إلَى القُدسِ.

and asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the way, both men and women, he might bring bound to Jerusalem.

3 و َبَينَما كانَ مُسافِراً، اقتَرَبَ مِنْ دِمَشقَ. وَفَجأةً وَمَضَ حَولَهُ نُورٌ مِنَ السَّماءِ.

But as he was journeying, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven,

4 ف َسَقَطَ عَلَى الأرْضِ. وَسَمِعَ صَوتاً يَقُولُ لَهُ: «شاوُلُ، شاوُلُ، لِماذا تَضطَهِدُنِي؟»

and falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?

5 ف َقالَ: «مَنْ أنتَ يا سَيِّدُ؟» فَقالَ: «أنا يَسُوعُ الَّذِي تَضطَهِدُهُ.

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.

6 ل َكِنِ انهَضْ، وَادخُلِ المَدِينَةَ، وَسَيُقالُ لَكَ هُناكَ ما يَنْبَغي أنْ تَفعَلَهُ.»

But rise up and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 أ مّا الرِّجالُ المُسافِرُونَ مَعَهُ فَوَقَفُوا وَقَدِ انعَقَدَتْ ألسِنَتُهُمْ. فَقَدْ سَمِعُوا الصَّوتَ، لَكِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَرَوا أحَداً.

But the men who were travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but beholding no one.

8 ف َنَهضَ شاوُلُ عَنِ الأرْضِ، وَعِندَما فَتَحَ عَينَيهِ، لَمْ يَقدِرْ أنْ يَرَى شَيئاً. فَأمسَكُوهُ بِيَدِهِ وَاقتادُوهُ داخِلَ دِمَشقَ.

And Saul rose up from the earth, and his eyes being opened he saw no one. But leading by the hand they brought him into Damascus.

9 و َلمُدَّةِ ثَلاثَةِ أيّامٍ لَمْ يَقدِرْ أنْ يُبصِرَ، وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ أوْ يَشرَبْ شَيئاً.

And he was three days without seeing, and neither ate nor drank.

10 و َكانَ فِي دِمَشقَ تِلمِيذٌ اسْمُهُ حَنانِيّا، فَقالَ لَهُ الرَّبُّ فِي رُؤيا: «يا حَنانِيا.» فَقالَ: «نَعَمْ يا رَبُّ.»

And there was a certain disciple in Damascus by name Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I, Lord.

11 ف َقالَ لَهُ الرَّبُّ: «انهَضْ وَاذْهَبْ إلَى الطَّرِيقِ المُسَمَّى الزِّقاقَ المُستَقِيمَ، وَاسألْ فِي بَيتِ يَهُوذا عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ طَرسُوسَ اسْمُهُ شاوُلُ، فَهُوَ هُناكَ يُصَلِّي.

And the Lord to him, Rise up and go into the street which is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas one by name Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying,

12 و َقَدْ رَأى فِي رُؤيا رَجُلاً اسْمُهُ حَنانِيّا داخِلاً وَواضِعاً عَلَيهِ يَدَيهِ، لِكَي يَرَى ثانِيَةً.

and has seen a man by name Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he should see.

13 ف َأجابَ حَنانِيّا: «يا رَبُّ، سَمِعْتُ مِنْ أشخاصٍ كَثِيرِينَ عَنْ هَذا الرَّجُلِ، وَسَمِعتُ عَنْ كُلِّ الفَظائِعِ الَّتِي فَعَلَها بِمُؤْمِنِيكَ المُقَدَّسِينَ فِي مَدينَةِ القُدسِ.

And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem;

14 و َقَدْ جاءَ إلَى هُنا وَمَعَهُ تَفوِيضٌ مِنْ كِبارِ الكَهَنَةِ لاعتِقالِ كُلِّ الَّذِينَ يُؤمِنونَ باسْمِكَ.»

and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.

15 ل َكِنَّ الرَّبَّ قالَ لَهُ: «اذْهَبْ! فَهَذا الرَّجُلُ هُوَ أداتِي المُختارَةُ لِيَحْمِلِ اسْمِي أمامَ جَمِيعِ الأُمَمِ، وَأمامَ المُلُوكِ، وَأمامَ بَنِي إسرائِيلَ.

And the Lord said to him, Go, for this is an elect vessel to me, to bear my name before both nations and kings and sons of Israel:

16 و َأنا سَأُرِيهِ كُلَّ ما يَنبَغي أنْ يُعانِيَهُ مِنْ أجلِ اسْمِي.»

for I will shew to him how much he must suffer for my name.

17 ف َذَهَبَ حَنانِيّا وَدَخَلَ البَيتَ وَوَضَعَ يَدَيهِ عَلَيهِ وَقالَ: «أيُّها الأخُ شاوُلُ، أرسَلَنِي إلَيكَ الرَّبُّ يَسُوعُ الَّذِي ظَهَرَ لَكَ فِي طَرِيقِكَ إلَى هُنا. أرسَلَنِي لِكَي تَرَى ثانِيَةً وَتَمتَلِئَ مِنَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ.»

And Ananias went and entered into the house; and laying his hands upon him he said, Saul, brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus that appeared to thee in the way in which thou camest, that thou mightest see, and be filled with Holy Spirit.

18 ف َسَقَطَتْ فَوراً مِنْ عَينَيهِ أشياءٌ كَأنَّها قُشُورٌ يابِسَةٌ، فَاسْتَرجَعَ بَصَرَهُ، وَقامَ وَاعتَمَدَ.

And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he saw, and rising up was baptised;

19 و َبَعدَ أنْ تَناوَلَ بَعضَ الطَّعامِ، استَعادَ قُوَّتَهُ. شاوُلُ يُبَشِّرُ بَيُسُوع وَبَقِيَ شاوُلُ بَعضَ الوَقتِ مَعَ التَّلامِيذِ فِي دِمَشقَ.

and, having received food, got strength. And he was with the disciples who in Damascus certain days.

20 ث ُمَّ ذَهَبَ فَوراً إلَى المَجامِعِ وَبَدَأ يُبَشِّرُ بِيَسُوعَ وَهُوَ يَشهَدُ وَيَقولُ: «إنَّ هَذا هُوَ ابنُ اللهِ.»

And straightway in the synagogues he preached Jesus that he is the Son of God.

21 ف َذُهِلَ كُلُّ الَّذِينَ سَمِعُوهُ وَقالُوا: «ألَيسَ هَذا هُوَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي حاوَلَ أنْ يُهلِكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤمِنُونَ بِهَذا الاسمِ فِي القُدسِ؟ ألَمْ يَأْتِ إلَى هُنا لِيَقبِضَ عَلَيهِمْ وَيَأْخُذَهُمْ إلَى كِبارِ الكَهَنَةِ؟»

And all who heard were astonished and said, Is not this he who destroyed in Jerusalem those who called on this name, and here was come for this purpose, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?

22 ل َكِنَّ شاوُلَ كانَ يَزدادُ قُوَّةً، وَكانَ يُحَيِّرُ اليَهُودَ السّاكِنِينَ فِي دِمَشقَ مُبَرهِناً أنَّ يَسُوعَ هُوَ المَسِيحُ حَقّاً. هُروبُ شاوُل مِنْ دِمَشق

But Saul increased the more in power, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

23 و َبَعدَ مُرُورِ أيّامٍ كَثِيرَةٍ، تَآمَرَ اليَهُودُ لِيَقتُلُوهُ.

Now when many days were fulfilled, the Jews consulted together to kill him.

24 غ َيرَ أنَّ شاوُلَ عَرَفَ بِخُطَّتِهِمْ. فَكانُوا يُراقِبُونَ بَوّاباتِ المَدِينَةِ لَيلَ نَهارَ لِكَي يَقتُلُوهُ،

But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched also the gates both day and night, that they might kill him;

25 ل َكِنَّ تَلامِيذَهُ أخَذُوهُ لَيلاً، وَوَضَعُوهُ في سَلَّةٍ، وَأنزَلُوهُ عَبرَ فُتْحَةٍ فِي سُورِ المَدينَةِ. شاوُلُ فِي مَدينَةِ القُدس

but the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

26 و َعِندَما جاءَ إلَى مَدينَةِ القُدسِ، حاوَلَ أنْ يَنضَمَّ إلَى التَّلامِيذِ. لَكِنَّهُمْ كانُوا كُلُّهُمْ خائِفِينَ مِنهُ، غَيرَ مُصَدِّقِينَ أنَّهُ مِنْ تَلامِيذِ يَسُوعَ.

And having arrived at Jerusalem he essayed to join himself to the disciples, and all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

27 غ َيرَ أنَّ بَرنابا أخَذَهُ وَأتَى بِهِ إلَى الرُّسُلِ. وَشَرَحَ لَهُمْ كَيفَ أنَّ شاوُلَ قَدْ رَأى الرَّبَّ فِي الطَّرِيقِ وَأنَّهُ كَلَّمَهُ. وَشَرَحَ كَيفَ أنَّهُ تَحَدَّثَ فِي دِمَشقَ بِاسْمِ يَسُوعَ بِشَجاعَةٍ.

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

28 و َبَقِيَ شاوُلُ مَعَهُمْ يَتَنَقَّلُ بِحُرِّيَّةٍ فِي القُدسِ، وَيَتَحَدَّثُ بِشَجاعَةٍ بِاسْمِ الرَّبِّ.

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem,

29 و َكانَ يُحادِثُ اليَهُودَ النّاطِقِينَ بِاليُونانِيَّةِ وَيُحاجِجُهُمْ. لَكِنَّهُمْ كانُوا يَسعُونَ إلَى قَتلِهِ.

and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with the Hellenists; but they sought to kill him.

30 ف َلَمّا عَلِمَ الإخوَةُ بِهَذا، أنزَلُوهُ إلَى مَدِينَةِ قَيصَرِيَّةَ، وَأرسَلُوهُ إلَى مَدِينَةِ طَرسُوسَ.

And the brethren knowing it, brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

31 ف َصارَتِ الكَنِيسَةُ فِي جَمِيعِ أنحاءِ اليَهُودِيَّةِ وَالجَلِيلِ وَالسّامِرَةِ تَتَمَتَّعُ بِفَترَةٍ مِنَ السَّلامِ، وَكانَتْ تَتَقَوَّى. وَبَينَما كانَتِ الكَنِيسَةُ تَحيا فِي خَوفِ الرَّبِّ وَتَتَشَجَّعُ مِنَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ، كانَ عَدَدُ أعضائِها يَتَضاعَفُ. بُطرُسُ فِي اللِّدِّ وَيافا

The assemblies then throughout the whole of Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord, and were increased through the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

32 و َبَينَما كانَ بُطرُسُ يَطُوفُ بِكُلِّ المُدُنِ، جاءَ لِزِيارَةِ المُؤمِنِينَ المُقَدَّسينَ فِي بَلدَةِ اللُّدِّ.

Now it came to pass that Peter, passing through all, descended also to the saints who inhabited Lydda.

33 و َوَجَدَ هُناكَ رَجُلاً اسْمُهُ إينِياسُ، كانَ مَشلُولاً طَرِيحَ الفِراشِ مُدَّةَ ثَمانِي سَنَواتٍ.

And he found there a certain man, Aeneas by name, who had been lying for eight years upon a couch, who was paralysed.

34 ف َقالَ لَهُ بُطرُسُ: «يا إينياسُ، يَشفِيكَ يَسُوعُ المِسِيحُ. فَانهَضْ وَرَتِّبْ فِراشَكَ بِنَفسِكَ.» فَنَهَضَ عَلَى الفَورِ،

And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus, the Christ, heals thee: rise up, and make thy couch for thyself. And straightway he rose up.

35 ف َرَآهُ كُلُّ الَّذِينَ كانُوا يَسكُنُونَ فِي اللُّدِّ وَشارُونَ فَآمَنوا بِالرَّبِّ.

And all who inhabited Lydda and the Saron saw him, who turned to the Lord.

36 و َكانَتْ فِي يافا تِلمِيذَةٌ اسْمُها طابِيثا، أيْ «غَزالَةُ.» وَكانَتْ تَقُومُ دائِماً بِأعمالٍ حَسَنَةٍ وَتَتَصَدَّقُ عَلَى الفُقَراءِ.

And in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha, which being interpreted means Dorcas. She was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.

37 و َفِي ذَلِكَ الوَقتِ، مَرِضَتْ وَماتَتْ. فَغَسَلُوا جَسَدَها وَوَضَعُوهُ فِي غُرفَةٍ فِي الطّابِقِ العُلوِيِّ.

And it came to pass in those days that she grew sick and died; and, having washed her, they put her in upper room.

38 و َكانَتْ بَلْدَةُ اللُّدِّ قَرِيبَةً مِنْ بَلْدَةِ يافا. فَلَمّا سَمِعَ التَّلامِيذُ أنَّ بُطرُسَ كانَ فِي اللُّدِّ، أرسَلُوا رَجُلَينِ يَرجُوانِهِ: «تَعالَ إلَينا دُونَ تَأخِيرٍ مِنْ فَضلِكَ.»

But Lydda being near to Joppa, the disciples having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, beseeching him, Thou must not delay coming to us.

39 ف َاسْتَعَدَّ بُطرُسُ وَذَهَبَ مَعهُما. فَلَمّا وَصَلَ أخَذُوهُ إلَى الغُرفَةِ العُلوِيَّةِ. فَوَقَفَتْ كُلُّ الأرامِلِ حَولَهُ وَهُنَّ يَبكِينَ وَيُرِينَ بُطرُسَ الأثوابَ وَالمَلابِسَ الأُخرَى الَّتِي كانَتْ تَصنَعُها غَزالَةُ وَهِيَ حَيَّةٌ.

And Peter rising up went with them, whom, when arrived, they brought up into the upper chamber; and all the widows stood by him weeping and shewing him the body-coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

40 ف َأخرَجَ الجَمِيعَ مِنَ الغُرفَةِ، وَسَجَدَ وَصَلَّى. ثُمَّ قالَ مُلتَفِتاً إلَى الجَسَدِ: «يا طابِيثا، انهَضِي.» فَفَتَحَتْ عَينَيها. وَلَمّا رَأتْ بُطرُسَ، جَلَسَتْ مُعتَدِلَةً.

But Peter, putting them all out, and kneeling down, prayed. And, turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up.

41 ف َمَدَّ إلَيها يَدَهُ وَأنهَضَها. ثُمَّ دَعا المُؤمِنِينَ المُقَدَّسينَ وَالأرامِلَ وَقَدَّمَها لَهُمْ حَيَّةً.

And having given her hand, he raised her up, and having called the saints and the widows, presented her living.

42 و َانتَشَرَ هَذا الخَبَرُ فِي كُلِّ أنحاءِ يافا، فَآمَنَ كَثِيرُونَ بِالرَّبِّ.

And it became known throughout the whole of Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

43 و َبَقِيَ بُطرُسُ فِي يافا أيّاماً كَثِيرَةً لَدَى شَخصٍ اسْمُهُ سِمعانُ، وَهُوَ دَبّاغُ جُلُودٍ.

And it came to pass that he remained many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.