16
Now when we entered into Rome, Rav Sha’ul was permitted to live by himself in his own quarters with a chaiyal guarding him.
17
And it came about after shloshah yamim, that Rav Sha’ul called together the chashuve Yehudim. And when they had assembled, Rav Sha’ul was saying to them, "Anashim, Achim, though I had done nothing keneged (against, in opposition to) our Jewish people or to the minhagei Avoteinu of Orthodox Judaism, I was arrested in Yerushalayim and delivered over into the hands of the Romans,
18
"Who, having examined me, were desiring to release me, because I had done nothing worthy of the death penalty.
19
"But when the Yehudim spoke keneged (in opposition to, against) this, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, but only to defend myself, not to bring accusation against Am Yisroel, my people.
20
"On account of this reason, therefore, I summoned you, to see you and to speak with you, since it is for the sake of the tikvat Yisroel that I am wearing these prison sharsherot (chains)."
21
And they said to Rav Sha’ul, "We neither received iggrot about you from Yehudah nor have any of the Achim arrived and reported or spoke any lashon hora about you.
22
"But we desire to hear from you what you think, for lichora (apparently) with regard to this kat of Judaism, we have da’as that it is spoken keneged (against) everywhere."
23
And they set a day for him, and they came to him in his lodgings, and there were many of them. And Rav Sha’ul was making a midrash, bearing solemn edut about the Malchut Hashem, and persuading them about Yehoshua from both the Torah of Moshe Rabbenu and from the Nevi’im, from haboker to haerev.
24
And some Yehudim were being persuaded by the things being said, but others had no emunah (faith).
25
And so they disagreed with one another. And as they were leaving, Rav Sha’ul said a final dvar. "Rightly the Ruach Hakodesh spoke through Yeshayah HaNavi to your Avot,
26
"Saying, ‘Go to this people and say, In hearing SHIMU SHAMO’A V’AL TAVINU UR’U RA’O V’AL TEDA’U ("You will hear and yet by no means understand and seeing you will see and yet by no means perceive.")
27
HASHMEN LEV HAAM HAZEH V’AZNAV HAKHBED V’ENAV HASHA PEN YIREH V’EINAV UV’AZNAV YISHMA ULEVAVO YAVIN VASHA V’RAFA LO ("For the heart of this people has become dull and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes, and with their ears may hear and with their heart they may have binah and they may turn and I will heal them. [TEHILLIM 119:70; YESHAYAH 6:9,10; also YESHAYAH 53:5]
28
"Therefore, let it be known to you that to the GOYIM (TEHILLIM 67:2) this Yeshu’at Eloheinu of Hashem was sent, and they will listen."
29
[And when he had said these things, the Yehudim departed, and argued greatly among themselves.]
30
And he remained an entire two years in his own rented bais, and was welcoming all the ones coming to him,
31
Preaching the Malchut Hashem and saying shiurim concerning the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua with all openness and without hindrance.