Lettera ai Colossesi - מכתב לקולוסים 21

STUTTGARTENSIA-DELITZSCH	NEW JERUSALEM
1 וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר נִפְרַדְנוּ מֵהֶם וַנֵּרֶד בָּאֳנִיָּה וַנָּבוֹא דֶּרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה אֶל־קוֹס וּמִמָּחֳרָת אֶל־רוֹדוֹס וּמִשָּׁם אֶל־פַּטָּרָה	1 When we had at last torn ourselves away from them and put to sea, we set a straight course andarrived at Cos; the next day we reached Rhodes, and from there went on to Patara.
2 שָׁם מָצָאנוּ אֳנִיָּה עֹבֶרֶת אֶל־פִינוּקְיָא וַנֵּרֶד־בָּהּ וַנַּעֲבֹר	2 Here we found a ship bound for Phoenicia, so we went on board and sailed in her.
3 וַנֵּרֶא אֶת־פְּנֵי קַפְרוֹס וַנַּעַזְבֶנָּה לִשְׂמֹאל וַנַּעֲבֹר אֶל־סוּרְיָא וַנַּגִּיעַ אֶל־צוֹר כִּי־שָׁמָּה יוֹצִיאוּ אֶת־מַעֲמֶסֶת הָאֳנִיָּה	3 After sighting Cyprus and leaving it to port, we sailed to Syria and put in at Tyre, since the ship was tounload her cargo there.
4 וַנִּמְצָא אֶת־הַתַּלְמִידִים וַנֵּשֶׁב שָׁם שִׁבְעַת יָמִים וְהֵם אָמְרוּ אֶל־פּוֹלוֹס עַל־פִּי הָרוּחַ לְבִלְתִּי עֲלוֹת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם	4 We sought out the disciples and stayed there a week. Speaking in the Spirit, they kept tel ing Paul notto go on to Jerusalem,
5 וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי מְלֹאת לָנוּ הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה וַנֵּצֵא לָלֶכֶת לְדַרְכֵּנוּ וַיְלַוּוּ אֹתָנוּ כֻּלָּם עִם־נְשֵׁיהֶם וְעִם־טַפָּם עַד־מִחוּץ לָעִיר וַנִּכְרַע עַל־בִּרְכֵּינוּ עַל־חוֹף הַיָּם וַנִּתְפַּלָּל	5 but when our time was up we set off. Together with the women and children they all escorted us on ourway til we were out of the town. When we reached the beach, we knelt down and prayed;
6 וַנְּבָרֶךְ אִישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵהוּ וַנַּעַל אֶל־הָאֳנִיָּה וְהֵמָּה שָׁבוּ אִישׁ לְבֵיתוֹ	6 then, after saying good -- bye to each other, we went aboard and they returned home.
7 וַאֲנַחְנוּ כִּלִּינוּ אֶת־דֶּרֶךְ הַיָּם וַנֵּרֶד מִצּוֹר אֶל־עַכּוֹ וַנִּשְׁאַל לִשְׁלוֹם הָאַחִים וַנֵּשֶׁב אִתָּם יוֹם אֶחָד	7 The end of our voyage from Tyre came when we landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothersand stayed one day with them.
8 וּמִמָּחֳרָת נָסַעְנוּ פּוֹלוֹס וַאֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ וַנָּבֹא אֶל־קִסְרִין וַנֵּלֶךְ אֶל־בֵּית פִילִפּוֹס הַמְבַשֵּׂר אֲשֶׁר הוּא אֶחָד מִן־הַשִּׁבְעָה וַנֵּשֶׁב עִמּוֹ	8 The next day we left and came to Caesarea. Here we cal ed on Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven,and stayed with him.
9 וְלוֹ הָיוּ אַרְבַּע בָּנוֹת בְּתוּלוֹת מִתְנַבְּאוֹת	9 He had four unmarried daughters who were prophets.
10 וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹתֵנוּ שָׁם יָמִים רַבִּים וַיֵּרֶד נָבִיא אֶחָד מִיהוּדָה וּשְׁמוֹ אֲגָבוֹס	10 When we had been there several days a prophet called Agabus arrived from Judaea.
11 וַיָּבֹא אֶצְלֵנוּ וַיִּקַּח אֶת־אֵזוֹר פּוֹלוֹס וַיֶּאְסָר־בּוֹ אֶת־יָדָיו וְאֶת־רַגְלָיו וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה אָמַר רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ כָּכָה יַאַסְרוּ הַיְּהוּדִים בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם אֶת־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ הָאֵזוֹר הַזֶּה וְיַסְגִּירֻהוּ בִּידֵי הַגּוֹיִם	11 He came up to us, took Paul's belt and tied up his own feet and hands, and said, 'This is what theHoly Spirit says, "The man to whom this girdle belongs wil be tied up like this by the Jews in Jerusalem andhanded over to the gentiles." '
12 וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְנוּ אֶת־זֹאת וַנְּבַקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ אֲנַחְנוּ וְאַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יַעֲלֶה יְרוּשָׁלָיִם	12 When we heard this, we and al the local people urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
13 וַיַּעַן פּוֹלוֹס וַיֹּאמַר מַה־לָּכֶם אֲשֶׁר תִּבְכּוּ וַתִּשְׁבְּרוּ לְבָבִי כִּי־נָכוֹן אָנֹכִי לֹא־לְבַד לְהֵאָסֵר כִּי גַם־לָמוּת בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם עַל־שֵׁם יֵשׁוּעַ הָאָדוֹן	13 To this he replied, 'What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For my part, I am ready notonly to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.'
14 וְלֹא־אָבָה שְׁמֹעַ וַנִּרֶף מִמֶּנּוּ לֵאמֹר רְצוֹן יְהוָֹה יֵעָשֶׂה	14 And so, as he would not be persuaded, we gave up the attempt, saying, 'The Lord's wil be done.'
15 וְאַחֲרֵי הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה נָשָׂאנוּ אֶת־כֵּלֵינוּ וַנַּעַל יְרוּשָׁלָיִם	15 After this we made our preparations and went on up to Jerusalem.
16 וַיֵּלְכוּ אִתָּנוּ גַּם־תַּלְמִידִים מִקִּסְרִין וַיָּבִיאוּ אֹתָנוּ לָלוּן בְּבֵית־אִישׁ כִּתִּי וּשְׁמוֹ מְנָסוֹן וְהוּא תַּלְמִיד מִיָּמִים רַבִּים	16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and took us to the house of a Cypriot withwhom we were to lodge; he was cal ed Mnason and had been one of the earliest disciples.
17 וַיְהִי כְּבֹאֵנוּ יְרוּשָׁלָיִם וַיְקַבְּלוּ אֹתָנוּ הָאַחִים בְּשִׂמְחָה	17 On our arrival in Jerusalem the brothers gave us a very warm welcome.
18 וּמִמָּחֳרַת הַיּוֹם נִכְנַס פּוֹלוֹס עִמָּנוּ אֶל־יַעֲקֹב וַיָּבֹאוּ שָׁמָּה כָּל־הַזְּקֵנִים	18 The next day Paul went with us to visit James, and all the elders were present.
19 וַיִּשְׁאָלֵם לְשָׁלוֹם וַיְסַפֵּר אַחַת לְאַחַת אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הָאֱלֹהִים לַגּוֹיִם בְּשֵׁרוּתוֹ	19 After greeting them he gave a detailed account of al that God had done among the gentiles throughhis ministry.
20 וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ וַיְהַלְלוּ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו הִנְּךָ רֹאֶה אָחִינוּ כַּמָּה רִבְבוֹת יְהוּדִים בָּאוּ לְהַאֲמִין וְכֻלָּם מְקַנְּאִים לַתּוֹרָה	20 They gave glory to God when they heard this. Then they said, 'You see, brother, how thousands ofJews have now become believers, al of them staunch upholders of the Law;
21 וְהֵם שָׁמְעוּ עָלֶיךָ שְׁמוּעָה כִּי תְלַמֵּד אֶת־כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִים אֲשֶׁר בְּקֶרֶב הַגּוֹיִם לָסוּר מִמּשֶׁה בְּאָמְרְךָ כִּי־אֵין עֲלֵיהֶם לָמוּל אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם וְלָלֶכֶת בְּחֻקּוֹת הַתּוֹרָה	21 and what they have heard about you is that you instruct al Jews living among the gentiles to breakaway from Moses, authorising them not to circumcise their children or to fol ow the customary practices.
22 וְעַתָּה מַה־לַּעֲשׂוֹת הִנֵּה הֵאָסֹף יֵאָסֵף הֲמוֹן הָעָם כִּי יִשְׁמְעוּ כִּי־בָאתָ	22 What is to be done? A crowd is sure to gather, for they wil hear that you have come.
23 לָכֵן עֲשֵׂה זֹאת אֵפוֹא אֲשֶׁר נֹאמַר אֵלֶיךָ	23 So this is what we suggest that you should do; we have four men here who are under a vow;
24 הִנֵּה יֵשׁ אִתָּנוּ אַרְבָּעָה אֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר נֶדֶר עֲלֵיהֶם אֹתָם קַח־לְךָ וְהִטָּהֵר אִתָּם וְשַׁלֵּם הַהוֹצָאוֹת בַּעֲדָם לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר־יְגַלְּחוּ אֶת־רֹאשָׁם וְיָדְעוּ כֻלָּם כִּי־שְׁמוּעַת שָׁוְא שָׁמְעוּ עָלֶיךָ וְכִי־אַתָּה בְעַצְמְךָ מִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּחֻקּוֹת הַתּוֹרָה	24 take these men along and be purified with them and pay al the expenses connected with the shavingof their heads. This wil let everyone know there is no truth in the reports they have heard about you, and thatyou too observe the Law by your way of life.
25 וְעַל־דְּבַר הַמַּאֲמִינִים בַּגּוֹיִם כָּתַבְנוּ וְגָזַרְנוּ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִשְׁמְרוּ דָּבָר מֵאֵלֶּה רַק לְהִשָּׁמֵר מִזִּבְחֵי אֱלִילִים וּמִן־הַדָּם וּמִבְּשַׂר הַנֶּחֱנָק וּמִן־הַזְּנוּת	25 About the gentiles who have become believers, we have written giving them our decision that theymust abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from il icitmarriages.'
26 וַיִּקַּח פּוֹלוֹס אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיִּטָּהֵר אִתָּם וּמִמָּחֳרָת בָּא אֶל־הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וַיַּגֵּד כִּי־מָלְאוּ יְמֵי טָהֳרָתָם עַד כִּי־הָקְרַב קָרְבַּן כָּל־אֶחָד מֵהֶם	26 So the next day Paul took the men along and was purified with them, and he visited the Temple togive notice of the time when the period of purification would be over and the offering would have to be presentedon behalf of each of them.
27 וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר קָרְבוּ שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים לִכְלוֹת וְהַיְּהוּדִים אֲשֶׁר מֵאַסְיָא רָאוּ אֹתוֹ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ וַיְעוֹרְרוּ אֶת־כָּל־הֶהָמוֹן וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ־בוֹ אֶת־יְדֵיהֶם	27 The seven days were nearly over when some Jews from Asia caught sight of him in the Temple andstirred up the crowd and seized him,
28 וַיִּצְעֲקוּ לֵאמֹר אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲזֹרוּ זֶה הוּא הָאִישׁ הַמְלַמֵּד אֶת־כָּל־אָדָם אֲשֶׁר בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ סָרָה עַל־הָעָם הַזֶּה וְעַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְגַם־הֵבִיא אֶל־הַמִּקְדָּשׁ אֲנָשִׁים יְוָנִים וַיְחַלֵּל אֶת־הַמָּקוֹם הַקָּדוֹשׁ הַזֶּה	28 shouting, 'Men of Israel, help! This is the man who preaches to everyone everywhere against ourpeople, against the Law and against this place. He has even profaned this Holy Place by bringing Greeks intothe Temple.'
29 כִּי הָיוּ רֹאִים אֶת־טְרוֹפִימוֹס הָאֶפְסִי בָּעִיר אִתּוֹ וַיַּחְשְׁבוּ כִּי־פוֹלוֹס הֵבִיא אֹתוֹ אֶל־הַמִּקְדָּשׁ	29 They had, in fact, previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him and thought that Paulhad brought him into the Temple.
30 וַתֵּהֹם כָּל־הָעִיר וַיָּרָץ הָעָם וַיִּקָּבֵץ וַיֹּאחֲזוּ אֶת־פּוֹלוֹס וַיִּמְשְׁכֻהוּ אֶל־מִחוּץ לַמִּקְדָּשׁ וּפִתְאֹם סֻגְּרוּ הַדְּלָתוֹת	30 This roused the whole city; people came running from al sides; they seized Paul and dragged him outof the Temple, and the gates were closed behind them.
31 וְהֵמָּה מְבַקְשִׁים לַהֲמִיתוֹ וְהַשְּׁמוּעָה בָאָה אֶל־שַׂר הָאֶלֶף שֶׁל־הַגְּדוּד כִּי כָל־יְרוּשָׁלַיִם נָבוֹכָה	31 While they were setting about killing him, word reached the tribune of the cohort that there was tumultal over Jerusalem.
32 וַיְמַהֵר וַיִּקַּח אִתּוֹ אַנְשֵׁי צָבָא וְשָׂרֵי מֵאוֹת וַיָּרָץ אֲלֵיהֶם וַיְהִי כִרְאוֹתָם אֶת־שַׂר הָאֶלֶף וְאֶת־אַנְשֵׁי הַצָּבָא וַיַּחְדְּלוּ מֵהַכּוֹת אֶת־פּוֹלוֹס	32 He immediately called out soldiers and centurions and charged down on the crowd, who stoppedbeating Paul when they saw the tribune and the soldiers.
33 וַיִּגַּשׁ שַׂר־הָאֶלֶף וַיַּחֲזֶק־בּוֹ וַיְצַו לְאָסְרוֹ בִנְחֻשְׁתָּיִם וַיִּשְׁאַל מִי הוּא־זֶה וּמֶה עָשָׂה	33 When the tribune came up he took Paul into custody, had him bound with two chains and enquiredwho he was and what he had done.
34 וַיַּעֲנוּ מִן־הָעָם אֵלֶּה בְכֹה וְאֵלֶּה בְכֹה וְלֹא יָכֹל לָדַעַת מְאוּמָה אֶל־נָכוֹן מֵרֹב הַשָּׁאוֹן וַיְצַו לְהוֹלִיכוֹ אֶל־הַמְצָד	34 People in the crowd called out different things, and since the noise made it impossible for him to getany positive information, the tribune ordered Paul to be taken into the fortress.
35 וַיְהִי כְּבוֹאוֹ עַד־הַמַּעֲלוֹת וַיִּשָּׂאֻהוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַצָּבָא מִפְּנֵי חֲמַת הָעָם	35 When Paul reached the steps, the crowd became so violent that he had to be carried by the soldiers;
36 כִּי־עַם רָב הֹלֵךְ אַחֲרָיו וְהֵם צֹעֲקִים וְאֹמְרִים הָסֵר אֹתוֹ	36 and indeed the whole mob was after them, shouting, 'Do away with him!'
37 וַיְהִי טֶרֶם הוּבָא פּוֹלוֹס אֶל־הַמְצָד אָמַר אֶל־שַׂר הָאֶלֶף הֲתַנִּיחַ לִי לְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ דָּבָר וַיֹּאמֶר הֲיָדַעְתָּ יְוָנִית	37 Just as Paul was being taken into the fortress, he asked the tribune if he could have a word with him.The tribune said, 'You speak Greek, then?
38 הַאִם־אֵינְךָ הַמִּצְרִי אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה הֵעִיר מֶרֶד וְהוֹצִיא הַמִּדְבָּרָה אַרְבַּעַת אֲלָפִים אַנְשֵׁי דָמִים	38 Aren't you the Egyptian who started the recent revolt and led those four thousand cut-throats out intothe desert?'
39 וַיֹּאמֶר פּוֹלוֹס אִישׁ יְהוּדִי אָנֹכִי מִטַּרְסוֹס בֶּן־עִיר קִילִיקְיָא אֲשֶׁר אֵינֶנָּה בְלִי־שֵׁם וְעַתָּה אֶשְׁאֲלָה מֵאִתְּךָ הַנִּיחָה לִּי לְדַבֵּר אֶל־הָעָם	39 'I?' said Paul, 'I am a Jew and a citizen of the wel -known city of Tarsus in Cilicia. Please give mepermission to speak to the people.'
40 וַיַּנַּח לוֹ וַיַּעֲמֹד פּוֹלוֹס עַל־הַמַּעֲלוֹת הֵנִיף יָדוֹ אֶל־הָעָם וַתְּהִי דְּמָמָה רַבָּה וַיְדַבֵּר בְּלָשׁוֹן עִבְרִית וַיֹּאמַר	40 The man gave his consent and Paul, standing at the top of the steps, raised his hand to the people forsilence. A profound silence fol owed, and he started speaking to them in Hebrew.