1 וַיֹּאמֶר אַגְרִפַּס אֶל־פּוֹלוֹס נִתַּן־לְךָ לְדַבֵּר בְּעַד נַפְשֶׁךָ אָז יִצְטַדֵּק פּוֹלוֹס וַיּוֹשֶׁט אֶת־יָדוֹ וַיֹּאמַר | 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching forth his hand, began to make his answer. |
2 מְאֻשָּׁר אֲנִי בְּנַפְשִׁי הַמֶּלֶךְ אַגְרִפַּס כִּי לְפָנֶיךָ אֶצְטַדֵּק הַיּוֹם עַל־כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־שׂטְנִים אֹתִי הַיְּהוּדִים | 2 I think myself happy, O king Agrippa, that I am to answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews. |
3 כִּי אַתָּה יֹדֵעַ הֵיטֵב כָּל־הַמִּנְהָגִים וְהַשְּׁאֵלוֹת אֲשֶׁר בֵּין הַיְּהוּדִים וְעַל־כֵּן אֶשְׁאֲלָה מֵאִתְּךָ לִשְׁמֹעַ אֹתִי כְּאֹרֶךְ רוּחֶךָ | 3 Especially as thou knowest all, both customs and questions that are among the Jews: Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. |
4 הִנֵּה אֶת־דַּרְכִּי מִנְּעוּרַי אֲשֶׁר הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי־בָהּ מֵאָז בְּתוֹךְ עַמִּי וּבִירוּשָׁלָיִם יֹדְעִים אוֹתָהּ כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִים | 4 And my life indeed from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews do know: |
5 כִּי מִיָּמִים רִאשׁוֹנִים יְדָעוּנִי אִם־יִרְצוּ לְהָעִיד כִּי כְפָרוּשׁ הִתְנַהַגְתִּי עַל־פִּי הַכַּת הַמַּקְפֶּדֶת בְּיוֹתֵר בַּעֲבוֹדָתֵנוּ | 5 Having known me from the beginning (if they will give testimony) that according to the most sure sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. |
6 וְעַתָּה אֲנִי עֹמֵד לְהִשָּׁפֵט עַל־תִּקְוַת הַהַבְטָחָה אֲשֶׁר הִבְטִיחָהּ הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ | 6 And now for the hope of the promise that was made by God to the fathers, do I stand subject to judgment: |
7 וַאֲשֶׁר שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטֵינוּ מְיַחֲלִים לְהַגִּיעַ לָהּ בְּעָבְדָם אֶת־יְהוָֹה תָּמִיד יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה עַל־דְּבַר הַתִּקְוָה הַזֹּאת אַגְרִפַּס הַמֶּלֶךְ שׂטְנִים אוֹתִי הַיְּהוּדִים | 7 Unto which, our twelve tribes, serving night and day, hope to come. For which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews. |
8 מַדּוּעַ יִפָּלֵא בְעֵינֵיכֶם כִּי הָאֱלֹהִים יְחַיֶּה מֵתִים | 8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead? |
9 הֵן לְפָנִים אֲנִי חָשַׁבְתִּי צְדָקָה לִצְרֹר אֶת־שֵׁם יֵשׁוּעַ הַנָּצְרִי עַד־מְאֹד | 9 And I indeed did formerly think, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. |
10 כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי בִירוּשָׁלָיִם וְגַם־קְדוֹשִׁים רַבִּים אֲנִי הִסְגַּרְתִּי לְבָתֵּי כְלָאִים בָּרִשְׁיוֹן אֲשֶׁר קִבַּלְתִּי מֵאֵת הַכֹּהֲנִים הַגְּדוֹלִים וּכְשֶׁנֶּהֶרְגוּ הִסְכָּמְתִּי | 10 Which also I did at Jerusalem, and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority of the chief priests: and when they were put to death, I brought the sentence. |
11 וּבְכָל־בָּתֵּי הַכְּנֵסִיּוֹת יִסַּרְתִּי אֹתָם פְּעָמִים רַבּוֹת וַאֲנַסְתִּים לְגַדֵּף וָאֶתְהוֹלְלָה בָּם עַד־מְאֹד וָאֶרְדְּפֵם עַד־לֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר חוּצָה לָאָרֶץ | 11 And oftentimes punishing them, in every synagogue, I compelled them to blaspheme: and being yet more mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities. |
12 וַיְהִי בְּלֶכְתִּי עַל־זֹאת לְדַמָּשֶׂק בְּרִשְׁיוֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים הַגְּדוֹלִים וּבְמִצְוָתָם | 12 Whereupon when I was going to Damascus with authority and permission of the chief priest, |
13 וְהִנֵּה אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ בַּצָּהֳרַיִם בַּדֶּרֶךְ רָאִיתִי אוֹר צַח מִזֹּהַר הַשָּׁמֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר מִשָּׁמַיִם נָגַהּ עָלַי מִסָּבִיב וְעַל הַהֹלְכִים אִתִּי | 13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and them that were in company with me. |
14 וַנִפֹּל כֻּלָּנוּ אָרְצָה וָאֶשְׁמַע קוֹל מִדַּבֵּר אֵלַי בְּלָשׁוֹן עִבְרִית לֵאמֹר שָׁאוּל שָׁאוּל לָמָּה תִרְדְּפֵנִי קָשֶׁה לְךָ לִבְעֹט בַּדָּרְבֹנוֹת | 14 And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad. |
15 וָאֹמַר מִי אַתָּה אֲדֹנִי וַיֹּאמֶר אָנֹכִי יֵשׁוּעַ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה רֹדֵף | 15 And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. |
16 אֲבָל קוּם וַעֲמֹד עַל־רַגְלֶיךָ כִּי לְבַעֲבוּר זֹאת נִרְאֵיתִי אֵלֶיךָ לִבְחָר־בְּךָ לִמְשָׁרֵת וּלְעֵד עַל־אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ וְעַל־אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ | 16 But rise up, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared to thee, that I may make thee a minister, and a witness of those things which thou hast seen, and of those things wherein I will appear to thee, |
17 בְּהַצִּילִי אוֹתְךָ מִן־הָעָם וּמִן־הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ עַתָּה אֲלֵיהֶם | 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the nations, unto which now I send thee: |
18 לִפְקֹחַ אֶת־עֵינֵיהֶם לְמַעַן יָשׁוּבוּ מֵחשֶׁךְ לְאוֹר וּמִיַּד הַשָּׂטָן אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים וְיִמְצְאוּ בֶּאֱמוּנָתָם בִּי אֶת־סְלִיחַת הַחֲטָאִים וְאֶת־הַנַּחֲלָה בְּתוֹךְ הַמְקֻדָּשִׁים | 18 To open their eyes, that they may be converted from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a lot among the saints, by the faith that is in me. |
19 עַל־כֵּן הַמֶּלֶךְ אַגְרִפַּס לֹא הִמְרֵיתִי אֶת־הַמַּרְאֶה אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתִי מִן־הַשָּׁמָיִם | 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not incredulous to the heavenly vision: |
20 כִּי אִם־קָרָאתִי רִאשׁוֹנָה לְישְׁבֵי דַּמֶּשֶׂק וִירוּשָׁלַיִם וּבְכָל־אֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה וְגַם לַגּוֹיִם כִּי יִנָּחֲמוּ וְיָשׁוּבוּ אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים וְיַעֲשֹוּ מַעֲשִׂים רְאוּיִם לִתְשׁוּבָה | 20 But to them first that are at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance, and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance. |
21 וּבִגְלַל הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה תָּפְשֹוּ אֹתִי הַיְּהוּדִים בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ וַיְבַקְשׁוּ לַהֲמִיתֵנִי | 21 For this cause the Jews, when I was in the temple, having apprehended me, went about to kill me. |
22 וְהָאֱלֹהִים הָיָה בְעֶזְרִי וְעַד־הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה עֹמֵד אֲנִי וּמֵעִיד לִפְנֵי קָטֹן וְגָדוֹל וְאֵינֶנִּי מְדַבֵּר דָּבָר זוּלָתִי אֲשֶׁר דִּבְּרוּ הַנְּבִיאִים וּמשֶׁה כִּי־עֲתִידוֹת הֵנָּה לִהְיוֹת | 22 But being aided by the help of God, I stand unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other thing than those which the prophets, and Moses did say should come to pass: |
23 כִּי־הַמָּשִׁיחַ מְעֻנֶּה הוּא וְכִי רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לַקָּמִים מִן־הַמֵּתִים לְהָפִיץ אוֹר בָּעָם וּבַגּוֹיִם | 23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light to the people, and to the Gentiles. |
24 וַיְהִי הוּא מִצְטַדֵּק כָּזֹאת וַיַּעַן פֶסְטוֹס בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל לֵאמֹר הִנְּךָ מִשְׁתַּגֵּעַ פּוֹלוֹס רֹב הַלִּמּוּד הֱבִיאֲךָ לִידֵי שִׁגָּעוֹן | 24 As he spoke these things, and made his answer, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad. |
25 וַיֹּאמֶר פּוֹלוֹס אֵינֶנִּי מְשֻׁגָּע פֶסְטוֹס הָאַדִּיר כִּי אִם־דִּבְרֵי אֱמֶת וָטַעַם אַבִּיעַ | 25 And Paul said: I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness. |
26 כִּי הַמֶּלֶךְ יוֹדֵעַ אֶת־אֵלֶּה וְעַל־זֹאת גַּם־בְּבִטָּחוֹן אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר אֵלָיו יַעַן אֲשֶׁר לֹא־אַאֲמִין כִּי־נֶעְלָם מִמֶּנּוּ דָּבָר מִן־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה כִּי לֹא־בְקֶרֶן זָוִית נֶעֶשְׂתָה זֹאת | 26 For the king knoweth of these things, to whom also I speak with confidence. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For neither was any of these things done in a corner. |
27 הַמֶּלֶךְ אַגְרִפַּס הֲמַאֲמִין אַתָּה בַּנְּבִיאִים יָדַעְתִּי כִּי מַאֲמִין אָתָּה | 27 Believest thou the prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that thou believest. |
28 וַיֹּאמֶר אַגְרִפַּס אֶל־פּוֹלוֹס עוֹד מְעַט וּפִתִּיתַנִי לִהְיוֹת נָצְרִי | 28 And Agrippa said to Paul: In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian. |
29 וַיֹּאמֶר פּוֹלוֹס אֲבַקְשָׁה מֵאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר אִם־בִּמְעַט וְאִם־בְּהַרְבֵּה לֹא אַתָּה לְבַדְּךָ כִּי־גַם כָּל־הַשֹּׁמְעִים אוֹתִי יִהְיוּ כָמוֹנִי זוּלָתִי הַמּוֹסֵרוֹת הָאֵלֶּה | 29 And Paul said: I would to God, that both in a little and in much, not only thou, but also all that hear me, this day, should become such as I also am, except these bands. |
30 וַיְהִי בְּדַבְּרוֹ הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַיָּקָם הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַנְּצִיב וּבֶרְנִיקָה וְהַיּשְׁבִים אִתָּם | 30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them. |
31 וַיָּסוּרוּ הַחַדְרָה וַיְדַבְּרוּ אִישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵהוּ לֵאמֹר הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה לֹא־עָשָׂה דָבָר אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה עָלָיו חַיַּב מִיתָה אוֹ מוֹסֵרוֹת | 31 And when they were gone aside, they spoke among themselves, saying: This man hath done nothing worthy of death or of bands. |
32 וַיֹּאמֶר אַגְרִפַּס אֶל־פֶסְטוֹס הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה יוּכַל לְהִפָּטֵר לוּלֵא קָרָא אֶת־הַקֵּיסַר לְדִינוֹ | 32 And Agrippa said to Festus: This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar. |