MA’ASĔH 21

1 And it came to be, when we had torn ourselves away from them, and had launched, we ran a straight course and came to Kos, and the next day to Rhodos, and from there to Patara.

2 And having found a ship passing over to Phoinikĕ, we went aboard and launched.

3 And having sighted Kupros, and having passed it on the left, we sailed to Suria, and landed at Tsor, for the ship was to unload her cargo there.

4 And having found talmidim, we remained there seven days. And they told Sha’ul through the Ruaḥ not to go up to Yerushalayim.

5 And when it came to be that our days there were ended, we left and went on, all of them accompanying us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.

6 And having embraced one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned to their homes.

7 And when we had completed our voyage from Tsor, we came to Ptolemais. And having greeted the brothers we stayed with them one day.

8 And on the next day we left and came to Kaisereia, and went into the house of Philippos the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

9 Now this one had four maiden daughters who naḇa.

10 And as we were staying many days, a certain naḇi named Ḥaḡaḇ came down from Yahuḏah,

11 and having come to us, he took the girdle of Sha’ul, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Ruaḥ ha’Qodesh, ‘Thus shall the Yahuḏim at Yerushalayim bind the man who owns this girdle, and deliver him into the hands of the gentiles.’ ”

12 And when we heard this, both we and those from that place begged him not to go up to Yerushalayim.

13 And Sha’ul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Yerushalayim for the Name of the Aḏon 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏.”

14 And as he could not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “Let the desire of the Aḏon be done.”

15 And after those days, having made ready, we went up to Yerushalayim.

16 And also some of the talmidim from Kaisereia went with us and brought with them one, Mnason of Kupros, an early talmid, with whom we were to lodge.

17 And when we had arrived in Yerushalayim, the brothers received us gladly.

18 And on the following day Sha’ul went in with us to Ya’aqoḇ, and all the elders came.

19 And having greeted them, he was relating one by one what Elohim had done among the gentiles through his service.

20 And when they heard it, they praised the Aḏon. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Yahuḏim there are who have believed, and all are ardent for the Torah.

21 “And they have been informed about you that you teach all the Yahuḏim who are among the gentiles to forsake Mosheh, saying not to circumcise the children nor to walk according to the practices.

22 “What then is it? They shall certainly hear that you have come.

23 “So do this, what we say to you: We have four men who have taken a vow.

24 “Take them and be cleansed with them, and pay their expenses so that they shave their heads. And all shall know that what they have been informed about you is not so, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Torah.

25 “But concerning the gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should keep themselves from what is offered to idols, and blood, and what is strangled, and whoring.”

26 Then Sha’ul took the men on the next day, and having been cleansed with them, went into the Miqdash to announce the completion of the days of separation – until the offering should be presented for each one of them.

27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Yahuḏim from Asia, seeing him in the Miqdash, were stirring up all the crowd, and they laid hands on him,

28 crying out, “Men of Yisra’ĕl, help! This is the man who is teaching all men everywhere against the people, and the Torah, and this place. And besides, he also brought Yawanites into the Miqdash and has profaned this Miqdash.”

29 Because they had previously seen Trophimos the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they thought that Sha’ul had brought into the Miqdash.

30 And the entire city was moved, and the people rushed together, seized Sha’ul, and dragged him out of the Miqdash. And immediately the doors were shut.

31 And while they were seeking to kill him, a report came to the commander of the squad that all Yerushalayim was in confusion.

32 At once he took soldiers and captains, and ran down to them. And they, having seen the commander and the soldiers, stopped beating Sha’ul.

33 Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and was asking who he was and what he had done.

34 And in the crowd some were shouting this and others that. And not being able to ascertain the truth because of the uproar, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks.

35 And when he came to the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd.

36 For a large number of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!”

37 And as Sha’ul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “Am I allowed to say somewhat to you?” And he said, “Do you know Yawanite?

38 “Are you not the Mitsrite who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”

39 But Sha’ul replied, “I am a Yahuḏi from Tarsos, in Kilikia, a citizen of no mean city. And I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”

40 And having given him permission, Sha’ul, standing on the stairs motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke in the Iḇri language, saying,