4. Tēn men oun biōsin mou ek neotētos tēn ap archēs genomenēn en tō ethnei mou en te Hierosolymois isasi pantes Ioudaioi

4. Therefore the living of me out of youth, come about from a beginning in the nation of me in Jerusalem{Hierosolyma} (plural form) All Jews have knowledge{oida} of.

4. Paul, born September 17 AD (Acts 19:22 pesher he was 40 September 1, 57 AD), was 12 in September 29 AD. Following his Bar Mitzvah ceremony he was enrolled for his elementary schooling at Qumran, in September of the same year as the start of the gospel period. The order of Benjamin for which he was being prepared had its main center in Jericho in the royal Herodian palace, 8 miles north of Qumran. Herod the Great as a boy had also been a pupil at Qumran, taught by the Magian Menahem, a Diaspora Essene. Simon Magus had replaced him, teaching Pythagorean mathematics. Antipas, the third Herod, a married man, had charge of the boys, who were taught in the outer precincts of the monastery.

Paul remained a loyal member of the royal Herodian court, which was now under Agrippa I who had returned from Rome to his country in 23 AD.

In his Acts 26 account, Paul deals with events each September, his birthday month, when his annual promotions took place.

5. proginōskontes me anōthen, ean thelōsi martyrein, hoti kata tēn akribestatēn hairesin tēs hemeteras thrēskeias ezēsa Pharisaios

5. They (RLR to All Jews v.4) with gnostic knowledge{gnōstos} of me up high, when they (All Jews) wish to witness, that according to the exactitude-observing sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.

5. Saul - who would eventually change his name to Paul - began his more advanced education at the age of 15 in September 32 AD. Antipas Herod handed him over to monastic teachers, who would give him the learning taught in the Diaspora. He was now admitted to the Pharisee order of Benjamin, which had included Hillel the Great and his descendant Gamaliel. Its members had a stricter ascetic disciplne than orthodox Pharisees, keeping the lunisolar calendar of the Mishmarot which was based on the Essene solar calendar. They therefore acted as a separated sect, holding the Jewish feasts at different times. They had learned from Essenes the pesher technique for interpreting scripture.

6. kai nyn ep elpidi tēs eis tous pateras hēmōn epangelias genomenēs hypo tou theou hestēka krinomenos

6. And now{nyn} upon to a Hope (feminine) of the Promise (genitive) come about at the Fathers of us under God I stood judged.

6. In September 33 AD Saul at the age of 16 began his higher education at Mird-Hyrcania, passing the test for entry administered by Jonathan Annas. That season was held by the Therapeuts to be the one to fulfil their prophecy of entry to the Promised Land of political power. Therapeuts observed times according to their views, preferring 3:00 am and 3:00 pm to the midnight and noon hours for the start of the day and night. Following the Promised Land theory, Agrippa I was encouraged to try to return to Rome to make his bid to regain the Herodian monarchy that had been abolished in 6 AD.

Agrippa I's young son, his heir, ("Hope"), born September 27 AD, was 10 years younger than Saul. Known to be a promising student, Saul at 16 was made his junior tutor. He retained a lifelong association with him.

7. eis hēn to dōdekaphylon hēmōn en ektenaia nykta kai hēmeran latreuon elpizei katantēsai. Peri hēs elpidos engkaloumai hypo Ioudaiōn, basileu

7. at which (feminine, RLR to Hope v.6) the twelve-tribe-system earnestly Night. And Day it (the 12-tribe-system) worshipping hopes to meet. Around which Hope I am called out under Jews, king .

7. In the same month, September 33 AD, the daughter of Jesus and Mary Magdalene was born, leaving James the brother of Jesus to retain his position as the crown prince of the Davids, their "Hope". He claimed the title "Jacob" (James), the father of the 12 tribes of Israel. It had been given to their grandfather Jacob-Heli when he was made by Herod the Great the patriarch of the west under the "Abraham", Hillel. The "Jacob" was responsible for western Diaspora Jews and the Gentiles attached to them. He was also the Chief Nazirite, head of married men who took short term absences from marriage for spiritual retreats. He observed the post-position of the solar calendar for teaching Gentiles, to keep them apart from Jews. Saul was attacked by James, because the Davids were now opposed to the royal Herods. Antipas Herod had also turned against Agrippa, supporting the anti-Herodian party and opposing Saul. The Chief Therapeut Theudas was allied with Antipas Herod.

8. ti apiston krinetai par' hymin ei ho theos nekrous egeirei

8. T anti-faithful is judged beside You. If{ei} God raises lifeless ones.

8. Agrippa could hold both Pharisee nationalist and Sadducee pro-Roman attitudes. At present he was using the T sign of Greek speaking pro-Roman Sadducees, for he was looking for the favor of Rome. In this same season. James Niceta, a Gentile born 3 AD, turned 30, reaching the highest educational grade on merit. He was honored by Agrippa, who hoped that his family relationship to the potential emperor Caligula would help his cause in Rome. Jonathan Annas, seeking favor with Agrippa, was doubtful about whether he should allow James to act in ministry, for all the sons of Joseph were hostile to the royal Herods.

9. egō men oun edoxa emautō pros to onoma Iēsou tou Nazōraiou dein polla enantia praxai

9. I therefore thought to myself towards the name of Jesus the Nazirite, I ought to practice many opposite things

9. In September 36 AD Saul was 19, observing his birthday September 1. Jesus was in the Nazirite state on this date, having come out of monastic seclusion three years after the birth of a daughter to renew his marriage for the conception of another child. His reunion with Mary Magdalene would take place at the equinox. Saul in Agrippa's house as a Pharisee had a different doctrine from Jesus. He had also become militantly opposed to the Sadducee Jonathan Annas for his liberal views on morality.

10. ho kai epoiēsa en Hierosolymois, kai pollous te tōn hagiōn egō en phylakais, katekleisa tēn para ton archiereōn exousian labōn, anairoumenōn te autōn katēnengka psēphon

10. And I made in Jerusalem{Hierosolyma} (plural form). And Many of the Saints I locked up in prison, receiving the authority beside the Chief Priests, they (RLR to Many) being killed{anaireō} I brought down a vote.

10. In September 37 AD Saul turned 20, the age for a decision on whether to marry, marriage being permissible at age 20 (1QSa 1:10 ).The alternative, which Saul chose, was to adopt the dynastic rule, deferring marriage until the age of 36.

At the council held on the solar 31st in that year, on Friday September 13, Jonathan Annas, who had been appointed high priest of the Jerusalem temple in March, was opposed by a coalition of Magians, Therapeuts and Pharisees with Nazirites. (Acts 6:9). Having received the news that Agrippa in Rome had been given the monarchy by the new emperor Caligula, they hoped for the appointment of a new high priest with an eastern nationalist outlook, instead of the pro-Roman westernised Jonathan Annas. Saul, a Pharisee, had taken a dislike to the Sadducee Jonathan Annas when he first met him , and he remained his lifelong critic and opponent. On the solar Day of Atonement, September 23, Jonathan was prevented from officiating in the Mird-Hyrcania sanctuary. Saul aged 20 was classed as only a "young man" neanias (Acts 7:58) of grade 10, but was permitted to act as a vestryman attending to the priestly vestments. He enjoyed watching the deposition of Jonathan.

Matthew Annas, now replacing his brother Jonathan as the Chief Abbot, had an eirenic attitude on politics, attempting to keep all the factions together. He encouraged Saul to qualify as an initiator of Gentiles.

Saul described Jonathan as being "of the Saints", because Barnabas the brother of Jesus, "the Saints", who had returned from Rome at the accession of Caligula, belonged to the anti-Agrippa party, being a close associate of John Mark-Eutychus who had betrayed Agrippa in Rome. Jonathan, deposed, now turned against Agrippa.

3. Egō eimi anēr Ioudaios, gegennēmenos en Tarsō tēs Kilikias, anatethrammenos de en tē polei tautē, para tous podas Gamaliēl pepaideumeos kata akribeian tou patrōou nomou, zēlotēs hyparchōn tou theou kathōs pantes hymeis este sēmeron.

3. I am a man{anēr} a Jew , born in Tarsus in Cilicia, nurtured in this city, beside the feet of Gamaliel, made a Child according to the exactitude of the fatherly law, being zealous of God as All You are Today.

3. After Tabernacles 37 Saul aged 20 went to Tarsus in Cilicia for a year. He would there be tested for admission to the dynastic celibate discipline by Atomus, the pro-monarchist Magian who had been appointed to Tarsus to replace Simon Magus now that Agrippa was in power. There Saul was "born", that is admitted to the celibate life, since all celibates were "born again" into a new family. He stayed for a year, then returned to Mird-Hyrcania where he was educated by Gamaliel through grades 9, aged 21 in September 38, and 8, aged 22, September 39. He was given further understanding of the pesher interpretation of scripture, as taught by the Therapeuts to grade 8 novices. Saul still held nationalist views in his teaching of proselytes. Matthew Annas as the abbot in charge of Gentile mission permitted Saul to continue for the sake of unity. Thomas Herod was the Chief Proselyte, observing the lunisolar calendar of 31sts.

11. kai kata pasas tas synagōgas pollakis timōrōn autous enangkazon blasphēmein, perissōs te emmainomenos autois ediōkov heōs kai eis tas exō poleis

11. and according to All the synagogues many times punishing them (RLR to Many v.10) I forced to blaspheme, exceedingly manic to them (Many) I persecuted until{heōs}. And at the cities outside.

11. In September 39 AD Saul aged 22 continued his attack on Jonathan Annas, who was associated with the homosexual Thomas Herod at the Mird-Hyrcania Hellenist synagogue. Saul there advocated anti-Roman aggression. As he was not yet a full initiate he followed the rule of the Therapeuts, whose ecstatic meetings were held at Mird-Hyrcania, their "Mount Sinai". They also observed the 31sts of the solar calendar. Gentile celibates under John Mark lived at Qumran.

1. Ho de Saulos, eti empneōn apeilēs. Kai phonou eis tous mathētas tou kyriou, proselthōn tō archierei.

1. Saul, still breathing threatening. And murder at the disciples of the Lord, coming towards to the Chief Priest,

1. The Herodian scheme of years derived from the Exodus imagery of the Therapeuts had planned a New Exodus for the years 41 to 1 BC, then a forty year Holy War for the years 1 BC to 40 AD. The anti-Herodian party had established their own system when they broke away from Herod, but the loyal monarchists kept to it, and were deeply disappointed when 40 AD did not bring a victory against Rome at the end of their Holy War. Whenever such a non-fulfilment wax experienced, the opportunity was taken by the council to blame sin in their own ranks, with consequent changes in the leadership. In AD 40 Saul experienced such a disappointment, and he blamed James Niceta, the relative of Caligula, who was now discredited with the emperor's decline. Jesus, however, as the head of all Gentiles, gave James Niceta comfort and support.

The disappointment did, however, give an opportunity to the peaceful Matthew Annas, who advocated a less aggressive missionary method, co-operating with Rome. Matthew's concern was with a strict standard of morality, against the licence permitted by his brother Jonathan Annas. Matthew saw his chance of keeping Saul's talents in the mission, and appointed him to go to Damascus to rebuke the excesses permitted by Thomas Herod the Chief Proselyte. The proselyte Izates was a polygamist who had 48 children, and he had been born of the incest of his mother Queen Helena with her brother. (Josephus, Antiquities 20, 17-19; Josephus, Antiquities 20, 92)

2. ētēsato par' autou epistolas eis Damaskon pros tas synagōgas, hopōs ean tinas heurē tēs hodou ontas, andras te. Kai gynaikas, dedemenous agagē eis Ierousalēm.

2. He (Saul) asked beside him (Chief Priest, genitive) letters at Damascus towards the synagogues, the how if Certain Ones he (Saul) might find being of the Way, married men{anēr} . And Women. Bound ones (accusative masculine ) he (Saul) would lead at Jerusalem{Ierousalēm} (singular form).

2. Saul as a Jew paid the promotion fee due on March 1 to Matthew Annas. He was given a letter of authorisation to the proselyte Hellenist synagogue of Thomas Herod in Damascus. Saul was deputed to bring Thomas to penitence, and to bring Izates and Queen Helena into Agrippa's court in Jerusalem, where they would attend the Hebrew synagogue for proselytes at the Essene Gate, requiring a strict moral discipline. Queen Helena of Adiabene as a proselyte had joined the female order of Asher which had been founded by the great Jewish Queen Salome at the beginning of the 1st century BC. Like other women of Asher includng her instructor Helena the mistress of Simon Magus, Queen Helena sought the priesthood of women. Saul as a Pharisee Hebrew opposed it (Acts 6:1).

3. en de to poreuesthai egeneto auton engizein tē Damaskō, exaiphnēs te auton periēstrapsen phōs ek tou ouranou,

3. In the traveling it came about for him (RLR to Saul subject of last verb v.2) to be near to Damascus<, suddenly a Light out of the Heaven shone around him.

3. On the solar 31st , Friday March 11, 40 AD, Saul was at the Damascus monastery, a reproduction of Qumran. It had a vestry corresponding to Qumran loc 101, and in the area outside it (loc 100) two circular pillar bases, 1 cubit in diameter. The north base was the destination of pilgrims, called by the name of the city, "Damascus".

Inside the vestry, Saul stood on row 12. The room was constructed like that of Qumran, with a platform above the north end called the roof, on which the priests stood to pray under the open sky. The platform came forward to row 7. At noon, a 6x6 cubit light removable cover was taken off rows 6 to 12 , so that the priest praying on the platform could be seen from the ground floor. The bright sun above at noon flooded the space on the floor where Saul was standing. On the platform stood Jesus, the Light, as a deputy beside Simon Magus the superior priest of the Damascus monastery.

4. kai pesōn epi tēn gēn ēkousen phōnēn legousan autō, Saoul Saoul, ti me diōkeis.

4. And he, Saul( participle RLR to subject of infinitives v.3) falling upon the Earth, heard a Voice saying to him (Saul), "Saul, Saul, you persecute me as T."

4. At 12.05 pm at the end of the 5 minute prayer for the hour Jesus stepped forward to the edge of the platform above row 7. Saul stepped back to row 13, the dais step, and knelt on it. Jesus spoke directly to him, using his name twice because Saul in the center of row 13 belonged in both east and west. Jesus said, as a statement, "You as a nationalist Pharisee oppose me in councils because I hold Sadducee pro-Roman views, using the T sign of the cross."

5. eipen de, Tis ei, kyrie. Ho de, Egō eimi Iēsous hon sy diōkeis

5. He (Saul, RLR to "him" v.4) said, " Lord, you are a Certain One." He (Jesus, addressed), " I amJesus whom you persecute.

5. Saul said, " You are only a Lord, an equal of the village priest, and you are the chief teacher of proselytes". Jesus replied, "I am an actual priest, and also a layman, whom you oppose in councils.

6. alla anastēthi kai eiselthe eis tēn polin kai lalēthēsētai soi ho ti se dei poiein.

6. Nevertheless stand up. And come at at the city. And it will be spoken to you what you must make as a T."

6. "Become a celibate initiate, a deputy. You will minister to celibate Gentiles of the order of Dan, who are classed with pilgrims at the north base. As a celibate you will hear spoken prayers offered on the hour, and among Gentiles you will speak Greek, so using the sign of the cross, the Greek letter T instead of the Hebrew X for Taw, the highest promotion grade.

7. hoi de andres hoi synodeuontes autō eistēkeisan eneoi, akouontes men tēs phōnēs mēdena de theōrountes.

7. The men{anēr} who were on the Way with him (SRLR to Jesus v.5) stood speechless, hearing the Voice, seeing{theōreō} No One.

7. Gentiles of the married order of Asher were permitted to offer prayers on the half-hour only, and they were silent prayers. (Revelation 8:1, "there was silence in 'Heaven' on the half-hour") James Niceta , who was being protected by Jesus, observed 12:30 pm in this way. He stood on row 12, and Jesus spoke to him also from the platform. There were 4 cubits between James Niceta on row 12 and row 7 on the ground floor, where James brother of Jesus, who had joined the Damascus anti-Herodian party in AD 38, stood under row 7 on the platform.

8. ēgerthē de Saulos apo tēs gēs aneōgmenōn de tōn ophthalmōn autou ouden eblepen. cheiragōgountes de auton eisēgagon eis Damaskon.

8. Saul was raised from the Earth, the eyes of him (Saul) being opened, he saw{blepō} Nothing. They ( RLR to men v.7 ) taking him (Saul) by the hand, led him (Saul) at Damascus

8. At 3:00 pm Saul was promoted to row 10. Friday 3 pm was the beginning of the sabbath by a strict rule, treated as the beginning of night, so Saul's evening lamp was lit. On row 6 the levite announced the commencement of the sabbath. James Niceta on instructions from Jesus led Saul out to the east side of the north base, where he stood as a deputy to the teacher of Gentiles on the base.

4. hos tautēn tēn hodon ediōxa achri thanatou, desmeuōn kai paradidous eis phylakas andras te kai gynaikas

4.Who (Saul) this WayI persecuted until{achri} Death, binding. And giving-beside at prison men{anēr}. And Women.

4. In September, 40 AD, Saul was due for his decisive initiation into the ascetic community at the age of 23. The significant ceremony was conducted on the solar 31st , Friday September 9, 40 AD, beginning at midnight. Since for Saul it began his period of mission to eastern proselytes, it was carried out in Damascus. He was to begin his work in the east, for the Shem division of the order of Dan in Arabia.

In Damascus Simon Magus was the superior priest over eastern mission. He allowed Gentiles of higher grades to remain uncircumcised, and Saul strongly opposed him in councils. Stating his views on the occasion of his initiation, Saul again stood up for his principles, saying that Izates should be confined to the grade of deacon. With him, he opposed Queen Helena for her claim that women could be priests.

12. En hois poreuomenos eis tēn Damaskon met' exousias kai epitropēs tēs tōn archiereōn

12. I traveling at Damascus with authority. And procuratorship of the Chief Priests.

12. The record of Saul's September promotions is continued in his account in Acts 26:12-18. At noon on Friday September 9, 40 AD, he arrived at the north base outside the Damascus vestry. His status was that of a traveling missionary, to be given authority to initiate Gentiles. Matthew Annas in Jerusalem had endorsed Saul as a candidate and his representative, overlooking political differences in order to keep the eastern mission together with the west.

13. hēmeras mesēs kata tēn hodon eidon, basileu, ouranothen hyper tēn lamprotēta tou hēliou perilampsan me phōs kai tous syn emoi poreuomenous

13. of a middle day according to the Way I saw{eidon}, king (vocative), heavenly above the lamplight of the Sun a Light{phōs} shining on me. And the ones with me traveling.

13. At 12:05 pm inside the vestry Saul sat on row 10 on the south side of the meal table, with 2 cubits between himself and row 7. Saul saw and addressed Apollos on row 7. Since the non-fulfilment of 40 AD, Apollos had replaced the elderly Theudas as Chief Therapeut.

Jesus and Simon Magus again stood on the platform, Simon as the Zadokite Sun on row 6, Jesus as his deputy the Light, holding the lamp on row 7 above.

Saul on row 10 east sat beside James Niceta on 10 west the "bosom". Saul had changed his attitude under Matthew Annas' influence, and James Niceta was now his fellow missionary and subordinate.

14. pantōn te katapesontōn hēmōn eis tēn gēn ēkousa phonēn legousan pros me tē Hebraidi dialektō, Saoul Saoul, ti me diōkeis, sklēron soi pros kentra laktizein

14. All We falling -down at the Earth, I heard a Voice saying towards me in the Hebrew dialect, "Saul, Saul, you persecute me as T. Hard for you towards goads to kick."

14. At 1 pm it was time for reading the Law from row 13 to the congregation at the common table, placed between rows 13 and 15..Saul went down to row 12, turning south, and held up the scroll containing the words of the Law in Hebrew. Thomas Herod knelt on row 13 to read out from the scroll the words of the sacred text. Jesus came down to row 13, to the west side of Thomas

After the reading, Jesus still on row 13 spoke to Saul in Hebrew, both because he was applying the Law, and because Saul while in the east would use Hebrew. Jesus repeated the formula he had used the previous March, confirming that Saul belonged in both east and west, and the fact that he was a Pharisee who opposed Jesus' Sadducee pro-Roman views. In an expression he had not used in March, he likened Saul to an ox kicking against the goad, for Saul as a grade 8 pre-initiate with his initiation not finalised until 3 pm, still in the class of the Beasts on the 30th, was equal to an "ox" grade 8, who was paired with an "ass" grade 9.

15. egō de eipa, Tis ei, kyrie. Ho de kyrios eipen, Egō eimi Iēsous hon sy diōkeis

15. I said, "A Certain One you are, Lord. The Lord said, " I am Jesus whom you persecute.

15. At 2 pm Saul from row 12 said to Jesus, "You are the chief teacher of proselytes, but you are only an equal of the village priest." Jesus was now on the ground floor, as the platform was not used after noon on Friday. He sat on row 7 in the place of a bishop. He said again, "I am an actual priest, and also a layman. You Saul oppose me in councils.

16. alla anastēthi kai stēthi epi tous podas sou. Eis touto gar ōphthēn soi, procheirisasthai se hyperetēn kai martyra hōn te eides me hōn te ephthēsomai soi,

16. " Nevertheless stand up. And stand upon the feet of you. For at this thing I am seen{eidon} by you, to appoint you as an underling. And a witness of the things you saw{eidon}, things of which I will be seen{eidon} to you.

16. At 3 pm the initiation was finalised. Jesus instructed Saul to put on a celibate initiant's vestment, on a raised stand on row 12, then to come forward to row 10. He now made Saul a grade 7, equal to a celibate Gentile so able to meet with them. He was appointed to the eastern Diaspora. At councils he would sit in the place of the eastern guest, with 2 cubits between himself and Jesus on row 7 west beside the priest.

17. exairoumenos se ek tou laou kai ek tōn ethnōn, eis hous egō apostellō se

17. (Jesus , participle RLR to infinitive v.16) lifting you (Saul) out of the Layman. And out of the Gentiles, at whom (masculine plural RLR to v.13 ones traveling, James Niceta ) I send-from{apostellō} you.

17. Jesus continued concerning Saul's future promotions. In September 41 AD when he went to Arabia he would be a deputy to Brother James. In September 42 AD when Agrippa II turned 15 and became a student, Saul would be his tutor, thus influencing the future court to the values of the ascetic mission. He would also be sent to Gentiles of the married order of Asher, led by James Niceta, who would enter an abbey, adopting an open form of celibacy.

18. anoixai ophthalmous autōn, tou epistrepsai apo skotous eis phōs kai tēs exousias tou Satana epi ton theon, tou labein autous aphesin hamartiōn kai klēron en tois hēgiasmenois pistei tē eis eme

18. Jesus (infinitive to pariciple v.17) to open the eyes of them (RLR to "whom" v. 17 James Niceta) to turn upon upon from darkness at Light{phōs}. And of the authority of Satan upon God, them (RLR to "whom" James Niceta) to receive removal of sins. And a lot in the sanctified ones of Faith which is at me.

18. Jesus would permit James Niceta to enter an abbey, acting as a lay bishop carrying a lamp for study of the Law. He would be appointed as bishop to Ephesus in Asia Minor. He would give up his loyalty to Rome, obeying Jesus. His authority to initiate Gentiles would not come from the militant Pharisee Theudas, but from Matthew Annas.He would make a commitment to celibacy, thus making it posible for him to replace John Mark as the Chief Gentile. Barnabas would be the levitical bishop to him, consecrated by Matthew Annas.

9. kai ēn hēmeras treis mē blepōn. Kai ouk ephagen oude epien.

9. And he (RLR to Saul 9:8) became Day 3 not seeing{blepō}. And he (Saul) did not eat, as a neither he (Saul) drank{pinō}.

9. Since this verse refers to "Day 3" that is a Tuesday the 31st for the solar calendar, it must mean the post-position when the 31st was on a Tuesday, since AD 40 was in the Night Position when the 31st was on a Friday, and it was not an intercalation period when there were double positions.

Saul had now been made a grade 7 the same as celibate Gentiles, so could meet with them on an equal basis. But in the east Gentiles were kept separate from Jews, attending meetings at a different time, at the post-position. Saul attended his first such meeting on Tuesday September 27, at midnight - as shown by the word order - because the Julian beginning of days were observed by Gentiles.

Saul as now a member of class C ("not D") drank wine, the privilege of full initiation (1QS 6:10-13). But the Qumran wine was unfermented, Hebrew tirosh, whereas in the Diaspora fermented wine was used. In the pesher "drink" is used with fermented wine only. It was regarded as non-sacred wine and was taken on a non-sacred day, such as the post-position. It was taken later than the sacred bread, so at this hour those present "did not eat". Saul did not sit on row 10 which he occupied when with Jews, a row on which there were 3 cubits between himself and the levite on row 6. With Gentiles he sat with their leaders on row 13, looking south to the common table.

SUMMARY OF PAUL'S MOVEMENTS IN MARCH 43 AD.

19.Hothen, basileu Agrippa, ouk egenomēn apeithēs tē ouraniō optasia

19. Whence, king Agrippa, I did not come about anti-persuasion to the heavenly appearance.

19. Paul's Acts 26 account now moves to Friday March 1, 43 AD, in Jerusalem, in the presence of Agrippa I in that year (the vocative "king Agrippa" is not an address to Agrippa II, to whom the account was spoken by Paul in 60 AD, but a fact of the narrative, that a king Agrippa was present at the time of the narrative in 43 AD and was addressed by Saul. Since the accession of Claudius in 41 AD Agrippa I had been confirmed as king and given extra territories).

At this season, March 43, Saul announced his political conversion to a pro-Roman attitude and peaceful missionary methods, using persuasion not aggression. He announced it first to his master Agrippa at the noon meeting in the Jerusalem Cenacle building for the 1st of the Julian month. Matthew Annas was the "heavenly vision", announcing the noon hour from the platform, when the cover was removed and the sun shone down to the ground floor. He had helped bring about Saul's conversion to Sadducee methods.

Sunday March 3, 43 AD at Qumran

In Galatians 1 and 2 Paul, writing in the late 40's, is giving an account of his career in the context of his argument that it was necessary to progress out of the Jewish form of the ascetic mission into one in which Gentiles had full equality. He is not writing in a pesher form, but when he uses place names and dates he draws on the language of pesher. It may be seen that in 1:18- 2:10 he is recording the events of 43 and 44 AD, the two years during which the Christian party broke away from its Jewish matrix.

In 1:18 -21 his words, in RSV translation, are:

18. Then after year 3, I went to Jerusalem (plural form) to visit Cephas. And I remained with him fifteen days (pesher: day 15).

19. Another of the apostles I did not see, except James the brother of the Lord

20. In what I am wrtiting to you, before God, I do not lie.

21. Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

His term "year 3" (etē tria) follows the usage of etos "year" to mean the year starting on the 1st of the Julian month. With a number, it means March 1 in the years numbered from the reign of the emperor. In Acts 19:10 etē dyo, "year 2" means March 1, 56 AD, year 2 of Nero, who became emperor in October 54 AD, his year 1 counted by this method as March 1, 55 AD. In Galatians 1:18 etē tria means March 1, 43 AD, year 3 of Claudius, counting from 41 his year of accession as year 1. Meta etē tria , "after year 3", using meta with the accusative, means the next day after. Paul had been in Jerusalem on Friday March 1, 43 AD, and the following day, Saturday March 2 at 3 pm, when travel was again permitted, had left for Qumran, "Jerusalem" in the plural form. After the 27 hours' walk through the wilderness he was at Qumran on Sunday evening at 6 pm for talks with Peter (Cephas) about the growing feeling against Agrippa.

He continues that he was there again on Day 15."Remain" in pesher usage means "observe a festival day". This means Saturday evening March 23. Day 15 was that of a version of the feast of Unleavened Bread. For those following Exodus 12:18, both the Passover and Unleavened Bread were on the same evening in March, 14/I, which would have been Friday March 22, a fortnight after Friday March 8. . But those at Qumran, such as Barnabas and John Mark, followed the ruling of Leviticus 23:6, that the Passover fell 14/I, but the Unleavened Bread 15/I, "day 15". In 43 AD, it fell on Saturday evening, March 23. (The difference on this matter gives the solution to the fact that for John's gospel the pascha was on Good Friday, whereas for the Synoptics it was the previous day, Thursday. Pascha in the pesher means the Unleavened Bread.)

In his account in Galatians Paul omits the other momentous events of March 43, going straight to his departure for Tarsus in Cilicia, recorded in Acts 9:30. He naturally makes no mention of what lay in the background, the plot to assassinate Agrippa I, in which he himself played no part.

5. hōs kai ho archiereus martyrei moi kai pan to prebyterion. Par hōn kai epistolas dexamenos pros tous adelphous eis Damaskon eporeuomēn axōn kai tous ekeise ontas dedemenous eis Ierousalēm hina timōrēthōsin

5. And the Chief Priest witnesses to me. And All the presbytery beside of whom (plural genitive, RLR to "Women" Queen Helena 22:.4) ). And I having received letters towards the Brothers at Damascus traveled, leading(future participle). And the bound ones (masculine singular form)being there at Jerusalem{Ierousalēm} (singular form) in order that they (bound ones) might be punished.

5. On Friday March 8, 43 AD a ceremony was held in the Damascus vestry, in the same form as the one that had been held there on March 11, 40 AD (described in Acts 9:3-8). The parallel occasion, described by Paul himself in Acts 22:5-21, was held in the North Solar intercalation year 43 AD, at the Night position 31st beginning the intercalation early in the month, Friday March 8.

Matthew Annas, now in power as the high priest in the Jerusalem temple, was still following his ideal to keep east and west together, as well as his strict interpretation of the ascetic discipline, which meant that Izates should be punished for his continuing polygamy. Saul, 6 months before becoming a grade 4 lay bishop, aimed to earn merit by bringing Izates to the synagogue for proselytes at the Essene Gate for rebuke.

Saul, arriving at the Damascus north base at noon, delivered Matthew's letter of authorisation to Brother James, who at a time when hostility to Agrippa I was growing had resumed membership of the eastern proselyte mission. Herod of Chalcis the brother of Agrippa I was now the third Herod, having replaced Antipas Herod who had been exiled. Chalcis was leading the plot against Agrippa in Damascus. He was of the same grade as Queen Helena, but opposed her ordination, as told in Luke's parable of the widow and the unrighteous judge (Luke 18:1-8).

6. Egeneto de moi poreuoemenō kai engizonto tē Damaskō peri mesēmbrian exaiphnēs ek tou ouranou periastrapsai phōs hikanon peri eme

6. It came about with me traveling. And nearing Damascus around noon, suddenly out of Heaven a worthy Light{phōs} to shine around me.

6. Saul as a traveling missionary had come from the north base into the vestry, standing on row 12. The cover over rows 6 to 12 had been removed. At 3 minutes past noon Saul stepped to the deputy's position east of row 12 center. Jesus in the role of levite remained as deputy beside Simon Magus, in line with Saul.

7. epesa te eis to edaphos kai ēkousa phōnēs legousēs moi, Saoul Saoul, ti me diōkeis.

7. I fell at the ground. And I heard a Voice saying to me, "Saul, Saul, you persecute me T.

7. At 12:05 pm Saul knelt in the levite's position east of center on row 13. He heard the voice of Jesus from the platform, "Saul, belonging in both east and west, you oppose me in the council because of my pro-Roman views."

8. egō de apekrithēn , Tis ei, kyrie. Eipen te pros me, Egō eimi Iēsous ho Nazōraios hon sy diōkeis

8. I answered, "You are a Certain One, Lord." He said towards me, " I am Jesus the Nazirite whom you persecute."

8. At 1:00 pm Friday it was time for the reading of the Law to the village congregation. Saul stepped on to row 12 to hold the scroll, and Jesus came to row 13 . Saul said to him, "You are an initiator of proselytes, but only the equal of a village priest." Jesus said in front of him, "I am an actual priest, and also a layman, now in the status of a married man who will resume his marriage in three months' time. You oppose me in the council"

9. hoi de syn emoi ontes to men phōs etheasanto tēn de phōnēn ouk ēkousan tou lalountos moi.

9. The ones becoming with me saw{theaomai} the Light{phōs}, the Voice they did not hear of the one speaking to me.

9. At 1:30 pm the silent prayer for the half-hour was due. James Niceta, a Gentile bishop subordinate to Saul, observed the half-hour silent prayers (Revelation 8:1) . From his seat on row 10, he looked up through 5 cubits to the stand on the platform, which was 4 cubits, the height of a man, above the floor. Jesus gave a spoken prayer from the platform for Saul to hear, in order to say that Gentile prayers were heard by heaven equally with those of Jews.

10. eipon de, Ti poiēsō, kyrie. Ho de kyrios eipen pros me, Anastas poreuou eis Damaskon, kakei soi lalēthēsetai peri pantōn hōn tetaktai soi poiēsai

10. I said , " T I will do, Lord". The Lord said towards me, "Having stood up, travel at Damascus, and there it will be spoken to you around All Things (genitive) of whom (plural, RLR to ones becoming, James Niceta v.9) it is appointed to you to make.

10. At 3:00 pm. Saul made the announcement that he had already made to Agrippa in Jerusalem, that he had changed his politics as a result of the benign reign of Claudius, and would henceforth adopt the pro-Roman Sadducee method of ministry, using the sign of the cross. Jesus came down to row 13 so as to express a close association with him. He told Saul to remain in his celibate status, and to go out to the north base, where the prayer for 3:05 pm would be spoken. Saul was to continue in the house of Agrippa, who was currently pro-Roman.

11. hōs de ouk eneblepon apo tēs doxēs tou phōtos ekeinou, cheiragōgoumenos hypo tōn synontōn moi ēlthon eis Damaskon

11. I did not see{blepō} fromthe Glory of that Light{phōs} I, led by a hand under the ones becoming with to me, came at Damascus

11. Simon Magus, still in charge of eastern mission but anti-Agrippa and anti-Rome, sat on row 6, as the platform was not used after noon on Friday. Saul refused to go to row 10, with 3 cubits between them, as it would mean that he was a minister of Simon. Jesus sat on row 7 at the table, in front of Simon.

At 3.05 pm James Niceta stood on the elevated north base to announce the hour for his version of the sabbath, and Saul approving his doctrine stood beside him on the east at ground level.

12. Hananias de tis, anēr eulabēs kata ton nomon, martyroumenos hypo pantōn tōn katoikountōn Ioudaiōn,

12. Ananias a Certain One; (next noun in apposition, a different person) a good-receiving man{anēr} according to the Law, who was witnessed to under All the down-dwelling Jews.

12. At 6:00 pm of the same day, Friday March 8, a meeting was held in the Damascus vestry. On Friday evenings there was no meal, but a council meeting was held until the 9 pm village bedtime. Simon Magus as a proselytiser sat on the ground floor on row 6, with Apollos the Chief Therapeut, a member of Agrippa's house, sat as levite in front of him. Herod of Chalcis sat in the place of the western guest.

13. elthōn pros me kai epistas eipen moi, Saoul adelphe, anablepson. Kagō autē tē hōra aneblepsa eis auton.

13. He (RLR to good-receiving man v.12, Apollos) coming towards me. And having stood upon said to me, Saul brother, see{blepō} up. And in the same hour I saw{blepō} up at him.

13. At 9.00 pm Herod of Chalcis and Simon Magus left, observing the Jewish sabbath tradition of those keeping the Julian calendar, resting from 3 hours before midnight. Apollos stayed to give a message to Saul from Matthew Annas and Agrippa in Jerusalem. At first he came to row 13 in front of Saul on row 12, to show solidarity with him. At 9.05 pm Apollos stood on row 6 on the ground floor, replacing Simon Magus. He invited Saul to come up to row 10 to express his higher status. Saul did so, looking north to Apollos on row 6 with 3 cubits between them.

14. ho de eipen, Ho theos tōn paterōn hēmōn proecheirisato se gnōnai to thelēma autou kai idein ton dikaion kai akousai phōnēn ek tou stomatos autou

14. He (addressed), said, "The God of our Fathers has appointed you to have knowledge{gnōstos} of his will. And to see{eidon} the Righteous One And to hear a Voice out of the mouth of him(Righteous One, Jesus)

14. Apollos was to deliver a message from Matthew Annas in Jerusalem. He said to Saul, "Matthew Annas, who acts as priest to Therapeuts, knows that you are now in accord with his missionary methods and those of Jesus. He appoints you to act as a celibate lay bishop with a monastic education to the village class including Gentiles. You may sit on row 10, with Jesus in his Nazirite status sitting on row 7. Or when Jesus as a Nazirite sits on row 13, serving water instead of wine at the village common meal, and giving teaching, you Saul may sit as his deputy east of him.

15. hoti esē martys autō pros pantas anthrōpous hōn heōrakas kai ēkousas

15. "You will become a witness to him (RLR to Righteous One Jesus v.14) towards All Men{anthrōpos}, of whom(plural, All Men) you have seen{horaō. And you have heard."

15. Apollos continued with the message he had been given by Agrippa, who had heard of the plot and was trying to win over his critics. " When Agrippa I as the Zadokite at the Jerusalem Cenacle sits on row 6 east, with Jesus beside him on row 6 west as his deputy, you Saul as a Diaspora bishop may sit in front of him. Or when Agrippa sits on row 7 to preside over a Jewish council, you Saul may sit on row 10 as his servant, hearing the proceedings."

16. kai nyn ti melleis, anastas baptisai kai apolousai tas hamartias sou epikalesamenos to onoma autou

16. And now{nyn} T you are about to . Having stood up be baptized. And wash away the sins of you, calling upon the name of him (RLR to Righteous One, Jesus, v.15)

16. On Saturday at 3:00 pm, when the sabbath was over, Apollos instructed Saul to express his change of politics by going through stages corresponding to those of the "Resurrection". His announcement on Friday at 3 pm had corresponded to Jesus' cry on the cross, which expressed his repudiation of the Jewish priesthood. Saturday night, beginning with the end of the sabbath at 3 pm, would be the night of his symbolic raising from the dead, since that night was now celebrated by Christians, who had changed the "resurrection" from the Jewish Friday night. It would end on Sunday at 3 am, corresponding to the dawn when the empty tomb was found.

Apollos on Saturday at 3 pm gave further instructions to Saul from the north base at Damascus. He was to go the cistern used by pilgrims inside the wall leading into the monastic grounds, corresponding to Qumran loc 56-58. He would there take an immersion bath, renewing his commitment to celibacy. He would invoke the name of Jesus as his religious superior.

10. ēn de tis mathētēs en Damaskō onomati Hananias. Kai eipen pros auton en horamati ho kyrios, Hanania. Ho de eipen, Idou egō, kyrie.

10. A Certain One disciple became in Damascus with a name Ananias. And the Lord said towards him (Ananias) in a vision{orama}, "Ananias". He (Ananias, addressed) said, " See{eidon} I, Lord.

10. At midnight on Saturday March 9, 43 AD, the solar 1st of the month for the promotion of priests, the hour was announced from the north base outside the Damascus vestry.by Simon Magus, with Jesus as his deputy in front of him. Jesus called him Ananias, his adopted name used as a pseudonym. Simon said, "I as a teacher of proselytes stand on the north base, Lord."

11. ho de kyrios pros auton, Anastas poreuthēti epi tēn hrymēn tēn kaloumenēn Eutheian. Kai zētēson en oikia Iouda Saulon onomati Tarsea. Idou gar proseuchetai,

11. The Lord towards him (RLR to Ananias v.10) , "Having stood up, travel upon the street{rymē} called Straight. And seek in the house (feminine) of Judas, Saul with the given name Tarsus. For see{eidon} he prays.

11. Jesus said in front of Simon, "As a celibate missionary go to the beginning of the pilgrims' path within the monastery grounds.(Qumran loc 79). Then go into the outer hall and its attached annexe (Qumran locs 77 and 86). Apollos the Chief Therapeut is now the Prince of the Congregation (1QM 5:1), holding the position of Theudas who was the successor of Judas Iscariot. Saul, who began his celibate career in Tarsus, is on row 13. From row 10 in the outer hall, test him for merit. He is making a petition for forgiveness for his past political errors.

12. kai eiden andra en oramati Hananian onomati eiselthonta. kai epithenta autō tas cheiras hopōs anablepsē.

12. "And he(Saul) has seen{eidon} a man{anēr} in a vision{orama}, Ananias by name coming at. And he (Ananias) placing the hands upon to him(Saul) , the How he (Saul) might see{blepō} up".

12. "At 6 pm this evening, Saturday, Saul after his bath was in the outer hall on row 13, the first row of the congregation. He saw you, Simon, using the pseudonym Ananias, on row 10 on the rock podium. You gave him the right to collect money gifts from Gentiles, with the right, when penitent, to sit on row 10 himself, looking towards the priest on row 6. Go now and finish his promotion ceremony from the same positions."

13. apekrithē de Hananias, Kyrie, ēkousa apo pollōn peri tou andras toutou, hosa kata tois hagiois sou epoiēsen en Ierousalēm,

13. Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from Many around this man{anēr}(genitive), as many as bad things he (Saul v.12) has made to the Saints of you in Jerusalem{Ierousalēm} (singular form)

13. The discussion between Jesus and Simon Magus was taking place as part of the process of testing Saul for promotion. Simon Magus opposed it. He said: "Lord, Jonathan Annas, who is now with the Magians as a fellow Samaritan, has told me about Saul. He is on Agrippa's side. At the Jerusalem synagogue for proselytes he attacks your brother Barnabas, who with John Mark is superior of Gentile monastics, saying that Barnabas is a Magian. Barnabas and John Mark are against Agrippa. Saul is against them both for that reason and because they are permanent monastics.

14. kai hōde echeu exoiusian para ton archiereōn dēsai pantas tous epikaloumenous to onoma sou.

14. And here he (RLR to Saul v. 13) has authority beside of the Chief Priests to bind All the ones calling upon your name."

14. "But Matthew Annas permits him to initiate Gentiles. He belongs to Agrippa's house, teaching the young prince Agrippa, who has become a follower of yours, although remaining Jewish."

15. eipen de pros auton ho kyrios, Poreuou, hoti skeuos eklogēs estin moi houtos tou bastasai to onoma mou enōpion ethnōn te. kai basileōn huiōn te Israēl.

15. The Lord said towards him (SRLR to Saul v.14) , " Travel, that an Elect vessel This One becomes to me, to carry the name of me before{enōpion} Gentiles. And of kings, sons of Israel.

15. At 3 am Jesus and Simon Magus were in the outer hall. Saul stood in the doorway on row 12, waiting to be either sent up or sent down according to the decision. Jesus on row 13, ready to send Saul up, said to Simon on row 10 concerning Saul, "You, Simon, remain a missionary in the east. Saul is to change to the west, in my party. As a tutor of the young prince Agrippa, who turns 16 this year, he will enable him to advance my doctrines in his court when he becomes king. Saul holds the strict view on morality. The prince will be made an honorary member of class C, that of lay graduates under the lay Messiah of Israel.

16. egō gar hypodeixō autō hosa dei auton hyper tou onomatos mou pathein.

16. "For I will show to him (This One, Saul v.15), as many things he (Saul) must suffer above of the name of me."

16. "I, Jesus , will teach him the rule as a fellow-member of my dynastic celibate class in an abbey. As a celibate in the outside world, he will act as my representative."

17. Apēlthen de Hananias. Kai eisēlthen eis tēn oikian. Kai epitheis ep' auton tas cheiras eipen, Saoul adelphe, ho kyrios apestalken me, Iēsous ho ophtheis soi en tē hodō ē ērchou, hopōs anablepsēs. Kai plēsthēs pneumatos hagiou.

17. Ananias came from. And he (Ananias) came at the house (feminine). And having placed upon, upon him (RLR to Saul v.16) the hands, he (Ananias) said, "Saul brother, the Lord has sent(me) from{apostellō}, Jesus. (Next word in apposition, participle as noun equivalent), a person (Apollos) was seen{eidon} by you in the Way by which you came, How you might see{blepō} up. And you be filled with a Spirit a holy (genitive).

17. At 3:05 am the decision was made. Simon Magus came down into the doorway beside Saul. He gave him the collection plate for Gentile gifts and said, "Presbyter Saul, Jesus as the Lord has rejected my opinion. His equal Apollos will teach you in your new understanding of the mission to proselytes. You as a presbyter, penitent, may sit on row 10, seeing the levite on row 6. You will become a lay bishop in September 43 AD, and a provincial bishop of Asia Minor a year later."

18. kai eutheōs apepesan autou apo tōn ophthalmōn hōs lepides, aneblepsen te. Kai anastas ebaptisthē

19. kai labōn trophēn enischysen.

18. And immediately{eutheōs} there fell from of him, (RLR to "person seen" in apposition, Apollos) from the eyes, as scales. He (Apollos) saw{blepō} up . And having stood up he was baptized. (Addition v.19a below) And he (Apollos) receiving food was strengthened.

18. The same evening a meal was held, of the same kind as the meal at Mar Saba on the Sunday evening after the "resurrection". It was the meal taken at a meeting of the Therapeuts, where the food was eaten at 8 pm, with bread and no wine. At 6.05 pm in the outer hall, the evening lamp of Apollos the Chief Therapeut was lit on row 7, its metal shutter opened so that the light could be seen. At 8 pm he went to row 10 to prepare for the meal, with Jesus presiding on row 6. Before the meal he was given a ritual washing, using water in large waterpots kept in the annexe. At 8 pm he sat on 10 center east, a position standing for Strength, with Saul beside him on the "heart". The non-sacred bread was eaten.

19b. Egeneto de meta tōn en Damaskō mathētōn hēmeras tinas.

19b. He (Apollos to 9:17, 18, in apposition) came about with the disciples(genitive) in Damascus Certain Days .

19b. Following the North Solar intercalation of March 43 AD, the meeting days 30th and 31st fell again on Monday March 25 and Tuesday March 26. The Monday was the main meeting day for the Therapeuts, who were in the class of non-monastic "hypocrites" of the Didache, who fasted on Monday and Thursday (Didache 8, 1).

Apollos as the Chief Therapeut observed the Monday as the day of fulfilment. At noon he stood on the north base at Damascus, with James Niceta as his equal in front of him.

20. kai eutheōs en tais synagōgais ekēryssen ton Iēsoun hoti houtos estin ho huios tou theou.

20. And immediately{eutheōs} in the synagogues he (RLR to Apollos v.19b) preached Jesus, that This One becomes the Son of God.

20. At 12:05 pm in the outer hall, used as a Hellenist synagogue on fasting days, Apollos holding Sadducee views said that for the pro-Roman party Jesus was the legitimate David.

21. existanto de pantes hoi akouontes. Kai elegon, Ouch houtos estin ho porthēsas eis Ierousalēm tous epikaloumenous to onoma touto. Kai hōde eis touto elēlythei hina dedemenous autous agagē epi tous archiereis.

21. All the Hearers stood out. And they (Hearers) said, " That One (not This One), becomes he who has destroyed at Jerusalem{Ierousalēm}(singular form) the ones calling upon this name. And here at this he (That One) has come in order that he might lead them (ones calling upon) bound upon the Chief Priests"

21. At the evening meeting on Monday the solar 30th, March 25, Herod of Chalcis opposed Saul. Chalcis said, "Saul in 40 AD as an eastern missionary had a murderous hatred of James Niceta as a Roman relative of Caligula. Now Saul has ceased to be nationalist, is friendly to James Niceta, and will take him into Matthew Annas' abbey. James Niceta still accepts some Jewish identity."

22. Saulos de mallon enedynamouto kai synechynnen Ioudaious tous katoikountas en Damaskō, symbibazōn hoti houtos estin ho Christos.

22. Saul rather was in a Power. And he (Saul) confused Jewsdown-dwelling in Damascus, he (Saul) unifying that This One is the Christ.

22. Tuesday March 26 was the intercalated solar 31st, a day of high expectation for the fulfilment of prophecy. Noon was its high point. Saul demanded the right to stand on the north base to announce the hour, contesting the position with Herod of Chalcis. Saul expressed unity with Apollos, declaring the Sadducee view that Jesus was the legitimate David.

23. Hōs de eplērounto hēmerai hikanai, synebouleusanto hoi Ioudaioi anelein auton.

23. When were fulfilled Worthy Days, the Jews counselled to kill{anaireō} him (SRLR to Christ v.22)

23. At the meal inside the vestry beginning at 12.05 pm, when the 31st was observed and brought no fulfilment, Herod of Chalcis convinced the council that the failure was due to Jesus and Saul. Jesus should be exiled from Damascus.

24. egnōsthē de tō Saulō hē epiboulē autōn. Paretērounto de, kai tas pylas hēmeras te. Kai nyktos hopōs auton anelōsin

24. The counsel of them ( Jews) was made known{gnōstos} to Saul. They (Jews) kept beside. And the gates, of Day. And of Night, How him (Saul) they (Jews) might kill{anaireō}.

24. Saul was told of the decision by celibates. Herod of Chalcis was in charge of the guards. He set a guard at the north base. At 12.05 am he condemned Saul also as one who had changed sides , and exiled him.

25. labontes de hoi mathētai autou nyktos dia tou teichous kathēkan auton chalasantes en spyridi.

25. The disciples of him(Saul) receiving of Night through the wall put down him(Saul) letting down in a basket.

25. At 12:05 am Jesus and Saul left the Damascus monastery secretly, via the window in the "pantry". As concealment, they were carried in the basketware couches in which priests and celibates were carried. James Niceta arranged them. They were brought down from the height on which the monastery was built, to the road below, where horses were waiting for them.

This episode is referred to by Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:32-33).

From midnight Tuesday March 26 the three on horses, Jesus, Saul and James Niceta travelled the 180 kilometers from Damascus, across the Jordan at Jericho, and down to Qumran, reaching it Wednesday at noon. See Travel Rates in the Lexicon. The horse rate was 75 stadia per hour, about 15 kilometers, so they took 12 hours. They then left the horses and changed to the slow walking place of ascetics through the wilderness, taking 27 hours from Qumran to the Essene Gate in Jerusalem, reaching it Thursday March 28 at 3 pm.

The events of the Thursday and Friday, March 28 and 29, 43 AD, are given in all three passages, Acts 9, 22 and 26. These were two days of crisis, when the foundations for the assassination of Agrippa I were laid. The texts when woven together show that three factions met together in Jerusalem on these dates, which were the + 2 1/2 version of the seasonal meeting days.

The party that was totally opposed to Agrippa for his high-handedness consisted of Herod of Chalcis, James the brother of Jesus, and Jonathan Annas. Simon Magus the leader was not present in Jerusalem. Also against Agrippa were Matthew Annas and Jesus, with Barnabas and John Mark, as well as Apollos and James Niceta. Peter was not present in Jerusalem on this occasion. These, who would soon adopt the name Christian, were internally divided on the issue of Gentile celibacy. The only supporter of Agrippa was Saul. But Matthew Annas and Jesus had brought about his political conversion, so that he joined them as a penitent at the Jerusalem meetings.

Saul was well aware that the young prince Agrippa, his student, had been so attracted to Jesus that he had become a Christian. But if his father Agrippa I got wind of the plot that was forming against him, and associated Saul with it, he would dismiss Saul as tutor of his son. The moderate anti-Agrippa party led by Matthew Annas foresaw the imminent death of Agrippa I, but wanted to retain their place in the royal court, knowing that they would gain great power by their influence over the timid prince. So one outcome of the councils over these two days was to send Saul away to Tarsus in Cilicia, his former school, to keep him out of the way.

The other outcome was that the plotters established secret meeting places in the outposts of secluded monasteries. The married class, including Herod of Chalcis, Brother James, and Peter, made their base at Lydda, an outpost of the alternate Essene monastery on the coast. The celibates came to Qumran, and to its outpost at Ain Feshkha, where Simon Magus ruled. Matthew, Apollos, and Jesus, with Barnabas and the Gentiles, arrived at Ain Feshkha at 3 am on the Saturday morning. There they waited for news of Agrippa, who throughout 43 AD would veer back and forth between Sadducee and Pharisee opinions, finally alienating the Christians when in his Pharisee mode he dismissed Matthew Annas in September 43.

20. alla tois en Damaskō prōton te kai Hierosolymois, pasan tēn chōran tēs Ioudaias kai tois ethnesin apēngellon metanoiein kai epistrephein epi ton theon, axia tēs metanoias erga prassontas.

20. Nevertheless to those in Damascus first , And in Jerusalem{Hierosolyma}(plural form), All the region of Judea. And to the Gentiles I announced to repent. And to turn-upon upon God, practicing (masculine accusative participle) works deserving of repentance.

20. On Tuesday March 26 Saul was with James Niceta at the Damascus north base. After leaving at midnight he with Jesus and James Niceta passed the next day at noon through Qumran, where the young prince Agrippa was receiving instruction in the celibate life. In Jerusalem, at the Essene Gate at midnight, Saul handed the prince over to Matthew Annas, his teacher for the next six months until he turned 16. With Matthew he would go to Ephesus in Asia Minor, then on to Rome for his higher education. (Acts 10 on June 43, Revelation 10 on September 43)

26. Paragenomenos de eis Ierousalēm epeirazen kollasthai tois mathētais. Kai pantes ephobounto auton, mē pisteuontes hoti estin mathētēs.

26. He (nominative participle to last singular masculine subject of verb, Christ v.22. ) having come about beside at Jerusalem{Ierousalēm} (singular form) tempted to join with the disciples. And All Ones feared him (Christ) , Not-believing Ones that he (Christ) becomes a disciple.

26. On Thursday March 28 at 3 pm Jesus with Saul and James Niceta arrived after their journey fromDamascus at the Essene Gate in Jerusalem. Jesus acted as a levite still protecting James Niceta who was out of favor. Herod of Chalcis had arrived there already, having come by horse all the way. He was a Pharisee, a married man under the rules of the Therapeuts, holding that Jesus was only a teacher of Gentiles.

27. Barnabas de epilabomenos auton ēgagen pros tous apostolous. Kai diēgēsato autois pōs en tē hodō eiden ton kyrion. Kai hoti elalēsen autō. Kai pōs en Damaskō eparrēsiasato en tō onomati tou Iēsou.

27. Barnabas receiving him (Christ) led towards the apostles. And he (Barnabas) gave exegesis to them (apostles) , a How (penitent Saul, play on Hebrew word) in the Way saw{eidon} the Lord. And that he (the Lord) spoke to him (Saul). And a How(Saul) in Damascus acted boldly in the name of Jesus.

27. At 4 pm, the hour for Gentile monastics (John 1:39) Barnabas brought his brother Jesus up to the Exegetes' school on the slope of Mount Zion, an hour north of the Essene Gate. John Mark, who was still the go-between for the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, stood on the equivalent of row 12 and Jesus stood in front of him. It was a statement, contrary to Herod of Chalcis, that Jesus was the legitimate David.

Barnabas gave exegesis to John Mark. Saul had previously been against him and Barnabas in Jerusalem, as stated in Acts 9:13. Saul was now a penitent, in fellowship with them under the guidance of Jesus. A penitent could be described as a "How", playing on the Hebrew word eika, "how" which opens and characterises the Old Testament book of Lamenations. He was one who expressed lament. At the equivalents of the north and south bases, Saul as a penitent stood on the south base, for Sinners, while Jesus gave the spoken prayer for 4 pm. Saul had become a penitent at the Damascus north base, and he was now forgiven but still kept low, at 5 pm the time for women standing on the north base himself.

17. Egeneto de moi hypostrepsanti eis Ierousalēm kai proseeuchomenou mou en tō hierō genesthai me en ekstasei

17. It came about to me, having turned under at Jerusalem{Ierousalēm} (singular form). And as I was praying in the temple, to come about me in an ecstasy.

17. In the version given by Paul himself in Acts 22, he records his arrival at the Essene Gate at 3 pm on Thursday March 28, followed by the 6 pm evening meal, which was held in the building higher up on Mount Zion, in the vicinity of where the Cenacle building now stands. The meal was held in the vestry, and persons excluded from it had to stand at the north base outside. Saul as a penitent was excluded, and he stood there, offering a petition for forgiveness. He wore the garments of a layman of the Therapeuts, not those of a dynastic celibate.

The building higher up on Mount Zion was the original Essene monastery before the exile to Qumran, having the same structure as Qumran. The vestry was the equivalent of loc 101 at Qumran. The bases for exclusion stood in the equivalent of loc 100.

21. heneka toutōn me Ioudaioi syllabomenoi en tō hierō epeirōnto diacheirisasthai.

21. On account of these things Jews receiving me in the temple tempted to appoint.

21. In Paul's other personal account of the evening meal in Acts 26, he records the attack on him by Herod of Chalcis, who confined him to the north base. He had excluded Saul from Damascus. On this less signficant meeting day, the married men led by Herod of Chalcis took charge at the meal, together with Jonathan Annas and Brother James. As shown in Acts 22:20 (below), the part of the meal from 9.30 pm onwards, when fermented wine was drunk freely, was marked by disputes between the two factions of Sadducees on moral questions. Matthew Annas had arrived, as celibates could do after a session of married men, released Saul, sent him to the north of the room as a vestryman, and attacked the licence of Jonathan Annas with such vehemence that the Damascus party planned to have Matthew Annas dismissed and exiled. They would have the power to do so at any time that Agrippa changed to Pharisee nationalist views.

28. kai ēn met autōn eisporeuomenos. Kai ekporeuomenos eis Ierousalēm, parrēsiazomenos en tō onomati tou kyriou.

28. And he (Saul, the How in 9:27 ) became with them (apostles 9:27), he (Saul) traveling at. And he (Saul) traveling out at Jerusalem{Ierousalēm} (singular form), he acting boldly in the name of the Lord (genitive) .

28. The celibates left the Cenacle at 10 pm at the end of the evening meal, and went down 2 hours to the synagogue at the Essene Gate, reaching it at midnight, when the Julian beginning of the day was observed. Here Saul was fully forgiven and permitted to act like a levite, bringing Gentiles in and out of the synagogue (1QSa 1: 22-23 ). It was at this time that he gave instruction to the young prince Agrippa, as he recorded in Acts 26:20 (above). He handed him over to Matthew Annas, who would remain with him during the next six months to prepare for his sixteenth birthday,

29. elalei te. Kai synezētai pros tous Hellēnistas. Hoi de epecheiroun anelein auton.

29. He (Saul)spoke. And he sought with towards the Hellenists. They (Hellenists) put hands upon to kill{anaireō} him (Saul).

29. At 12.05 am Saul gave a spoken prayer. Jonathan Annas had come to the Essene Gate for the midnight session. Saul used his new authority to attack him, expressing the hostility he had always felt for him. Jonathan, knowing that Saul was the only pro-Agrippa member present, argued that Saul should be sent into exile.

18. kai idein auton legonta moi, Speuson kai exelthe en tachei ex Ierousalēm, dioti ou paradexontai sou martyrian peri emou

18. And to see{eidon} him (RLR to Jesus 22:14 and 15) saying to me, "Hasten. And come out quickly out of Jerusalem{Ierousalēm} (singular form), because they (RLR to All Men Agrippa 22:15) do not receive your witness around me.

18. Paul continues his account in Acts 22. On the Friday at 3 am at the Essene Gate, he was in the place of servant to Jesus. Jesus said to him, " Leave the Essene Gate and depart from the city via the valley of Hinnom, passing at 4 am through the latrine. Agrippa will expel you from his court, and from the position of tutor to the prince, if he knows you act in mission as my follower."

19. kagō eipon, Kyrie, autoi epistantai hoti egō ēmēn phylakizōn kai derōn kata tas synagōgas tous pisteuontas epi se.

19. And I said, "Lord, They stand upon that I became guarding. And binding according to the synagogues the Believing Ones upon you.

19. Paul quotes what he said to Jesus at this crisis."Agrippa knows me only as a tutor. I teach the prince, who has become a believer in you. But I make sure that he remains Jewish. He attends a Greek-speaking Hellenist synagogue.

20. kai hote exechynneto to haima Stephanou tou martyros sou, kai autos ēmēn ephestōs kai syneudokōn kai phylassōn ta himatia tōn anairountōn auton.

20. "And when{hote} the blood of Stephen(genitive) the witness of you was poured out. And I as a He became standing-upon. And well- thinking with. And imprisoning the garments{himatia} of the ones killing{anaireō} him (SRLR to God, 2:14, not to Jesus 22:18 as Saul is addressing him)."

20. Saul continued with an account of what had happened the previous evening. "Last evening at 9.30 pm in the Cenacle vestry, Jonathan Annas the Hellenist was present.. It was the time when fermented wine was taken freely and holy vestments were not worn, but were left in the north part of the vestry. Jonathan Annas' liberal party turned against Matthew Annas on the issue of morality. I Saul, as a penitent had been reduced to the status of vestryman, attending to the vestments, and could not take part."

21. kai eipen pros me, Poreuo, hoti egō eis ethnē makran exapostelō se

21. And he (RLR to God v.20, Matthew Annas) said towards me, " Travel, for I send-(you) from{apostellō} at Gentiles afar.

21. Matthew Annas now added to Jesus' instruction, for the same purpose, to keep Saul employed as tutor of the young prince Agrippa . The conspirators foresaw the death of Agrippa I, and the advantage to them of being already established in the court of Agrippa II.

30. epignontes de hoi adelphoi katēgagon auton eis Kaisareian . kai exapesteilan auton eis Tarson,

30. The Brothers knowing{gnōstos} led him (RLR to Saul 9: 29) down, at Caesarea. And they (Brothers) sent(him) from{apostellō} at Tarsus.

30. Brother James was deputed by Matthew to escort Saul to Agrippa's abbey in Caesarea and from there to send him off to Tarsus in Clicia. Being of village status, they traveled by donkey, a journey that would take 12 hours (see Travel Rates and Distances in the Lexicon.) James, keeping the traditional sabbath rule, would not travel after 3 pm on Friday, so they left on Friday at 3:05 am. .

At the same time Matthew's party of celibates left the Essene Gate for their secret hideout at the Qumran outpost at Ain Feshkha. They walked following the ascetics' route, for 24 hours, reaching Ain Feshkha Saturday 3 am, three hours before 6 am, when on their interpretation the sabbath began.

31. Hē men oun ekklēsia kath holēs tēs Ioudaias. Kai Galilaias. Kai Samareias eichen eirēnēn, oikodomoumenē. Kai poreuomenē tō phobō tou kyriou. Kai tē paraklēsei tou hagiou pneumatos eplēthyneto.

31. The Church therefore down the whole Judea. And of Galilee. And of " Samaria it (the Church) had Peace, in the household. And it (the Church) traveling in the Fear of the Lord(genitive). And in the one called-beside of the Spirit a Holy it (the Church) was made a multitude.

31. Matthew Annas as the abbot was at Ain Feshkha. He was the superior of pilgrims who camped on the Qumran esplanade and also attended at Ain Feshkha three hours south of Qumran. Apollos as the Chief Therapeut used the meal room in the northern section of the west wing. Simon Magus used the upper floor of the two-storey wing. Matthew Annas presided over abbey members in the north wing. He was still a member of Agrippa's court, while Agrippa remained Sadducee. Matthew conducted mission together with Apollos his deputy abbot. Jesus was present in his status as an equal of a village priest. Barnabas was the levitical deputy abbot to Matthew, who made James Niceta the Chief Gentile.

22. epikourias oun tychōn tēs apo tou theou achri tēs hēmeras tautēs estēka martyromenos mikrō kai megalō, ouden ektos legōn hōn te hoi prophētai elalēsan mellonton ginesthai kai Moysēs

22. I (Saul, participle RLR to subject of verb 26:20) experiencing help from God until{achri} the Day This, I stood witnessing to a Little One{mikros}. And to a Great One, a Nothing outside saying (participle RLR to Saul), of the things which the Prophets spoke, the things about to come about. And Moses.

22. Paul's own account in Acts 26 brings his pre-Christian history through June and September 43 AD. In Tarsus in June he received letters sent by Matthew Annas on the 31st of the June solstice, Tuesday June 25. Seeing himself as engaged in Diaspora mission for the pro-Roman party, Saul formed the group of missionaries who would be confirmed at a subsequent council as appointed to the uncircumcised (Galatians 1:9 at the council of year 14, January 1 44 AD at Qumran). They were Titus, head of the "sons of Ham" of the order of Dan, to whom Saul was appointed now that he had been transferred to the west. Titus was the "Little One", corresponding to a Gershon presbyter. Barnabas, head of all celibate Gentiles on behalf of Jesus, was a levitical bishop corresponding to a Kohath. At the celibate meal at noon on the solar 31st, Tuesday June 25, the noon prayer was said by Saul. Atomus the Magus performed the functions of the Chief Therapeut, as Tarsus was an abbey in the Herodian revision. The primary feast would be in September, at Atonement-Tabernacles. After the noon meal, the Law was read at 1 pm by Atomus.

23. ei pathētos ho Christos, ei prōtos ex anastaseōs nekrōn phōs mellei katangellein tō te laō kai tois ethnesin

23. If{ei} suffering the Christ. If{ei} a first one out of standing up of lifeless ones, a Light{phōs} about to announce to the Layman. And to the Gentiles.

23. On September 1, AD 43 Jesus returned to the celibate state, for Mary Magdalene was 3 months pregnant following a conception in June. There was a question about his exact status, as always for a dynast during the pregnancy. There was also a question about whether he was only a layman at this time. He, however, acted as the Light, saying that December 43 would be the season for announcing the formation of the Christian party.

He said that Jewish Christians at Qumran and Jerusalem would be included, led by James. On this day, September 1, 43 AD, the young prince Agrippa, celebrating his 16th birthday in Ephesus, would become a valuable member of the Christian party. His hereditary title was to be a "Noah" in the mission to celibate Gentiles of Dan, "Shem", "Ham" and "Japheth"

The further history of Paul from 44 AD to 64 AD is given in the Narrative of Stages 2 and 3 of this Section "From Qumran to Rome". (Click title above to return to the index and select these narratives.)