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I am a citizen of Tarsus and also a citizen of Rome.
我是塔瑟斯人，也是罗马公民。
My people are Pharisees of the Jewish tribe of Benjamin
我的同胞是卞杰民的犹太部落中的法利赛教徒。
and although I am a tentmaker by trade,
我虽然做帐篷生意，
I have studied under the great Gamaliel. Some call me Paul.
可也在加亚利念过书，有人叫我保罗。”
" He swayed as he spoke and Hafid,
他说话的时候，身子轻轻地摇晃着。
not fully awake until this moment,
这时海菲才从困倦中全然清醒，
apologetically motioned for his visitor to sit
带着歉意，示意客人落坐。
Paul nodded but remained standing. "
保罗点点头，却依然站立不动，
I come to thee for guidance and help which only you can give.
“我来这里，是想求得您的指导和帮助，只有您才能做到这一点。
Will you permit me, sire, to tell my story?"
我可不可以把自己的故事告诉您？”
Erasmus, standing behind the stranger, shook his head violently,
伊拉玛站在客人的身后，拼命地摇头。
but Hafid pretended not to notice.
海菲装着没看见，
He studied the intruder of his sleep carefully and then nodded,
兀自打量着这位在他睡着时来临的不速之客，终于点点头：
"I am too old to continue to look up at you.
“我年纪大了，没办法一直仰着头看你。
Sit at my feet and I will hear you through."
来，坐到我身边来，慢慢地说给我听。”
Paul pushed his sack aside and knelt near the old man
保罗把他的行李袋推到一边，
who waited in silence.
靠近老人跪下来。老人静静地等着。
"Four years ago,
“四年前，
because the accumulated knowledge of too many years of study had blinded my heart to truth,
由于我受到多年以来陈习陋见的影响，心睐于真理。
I was the official witness to the stoning, in Jerusalem, of a holy man called Stephen.
后来，我替官方作证，使得一名叫做史蒂芬的圣徒在耶路撤冷被投石致死。
He had been condemned to death by the Jewish Sanhedrin
他被犹太最高法庭以
for blasphemy against our God."
亵渎神灵的罪名判处死刑。”
Hafid interrupted with puzzlement in his voice,
海菲不解地问道：
"I do not understand how I am connected with this activity"
“可是，这和我有什么关系呢？”
Paul raised his hand as if to calm the old man.
保罗伸手止住老人的话，
"I will explain quickly.
“我这就解释给您听。
Stephen was a follower of a man called Jesus,
史蒂芬是耶酥的门徒。
who less than a year before the stoning of Stephen,
在他被石块钉死的前一年，
was crucified by the Romans for sedition against the state.
耶稣被罗马人以煽动判乱的罪名钉死在十字架上。
Stephen's guilt was his insistence that Jesus was the Messiah
史蒂芬坚持说，耶稣是救世主，
whose coming had been foretold by the Jewish prophets,
他的来临早有犹太先知预言过，
and that the Temple had conspired with Rome to murder this son of God.
寺院勾结罗马政府阴谋杀害了这位上帝之子。
This rebuke to those in authority could only be punishable with death
说出这种冒犯当权的话必死无疑。
and as I have already told thee,
我刚才说过，
I participated.
我也参与了对他的迫害。
"Furthermore, with my fanaticism and youthful zeal,
“不但如此，由于我的盲从和年轻的狂热，
I was supplied with letters from the high priest of the Temple
我接受了寺院最高僧侣的指派，
and entrusted with the mission of journeying here to Damascus
到大马士革来，
to search out every follower of Jesus
四处搜捕耶稣的门徒，
and return them in chains to Jerusalem for punishment.
把他们用链子带回耶路撤冷，接受审判。
This was, as I have said, four years ago."
这就是四年前的我。”
Erasmus glanced at Hafid and was startled,
伊拉玛向主人瞟了一眼，心里吃了一惊。
for there was a look in the old man's eyes which had not been seen by the faithful bookkeeper in many years.
他看到老人的眼神显出多年未见的光彩。
Only the splash of fountain water could be heard in the garden until Paul spoke once more.
这时，只有园中的喷水池水声潺潺。保罗又继续说道：
"Now as I approached Damascus with murder in my heart
“在我像杀人犯一样前往大马士革的途中，
there was a sudden flash of light from the heavens.
突然有一道亮光从天而降，
I remember not having been struck but I found myself on the ground
我没有被它击中，却发现自己已跌倒在地上，
and although I could not see,
双目失明，
I could hear, and I heard a voice in my ear say,
只有耳边传来一个声音：
'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'
‘扫罗，你为什么迫害我？’
I answered, 'Who are you?'
我问道：‘你是谁？’
and the voice replied,
那个声音说，
I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting;
‘我就是一直受你迫害的耶稣。
but rise and enter the city,
起来，进城去，
and you will be told what to do.'
会有人告诉你该怎么办？’
