Hann A Ɛwɔ Sum Mu
1Adamfo pa Teofilo, nnipa pii abɔ mmɔden akyerɛw Yesu ho nsɛm a akɔ so wɔ yɛn mu no. 2Wɔkyerɛw faa nsɛm a wɔaka akyerɛ yɛn a nnipa a wohuu saa nneɛma yi fi mfiase no nam so daa no adi no ho. 3Nanso minyaa adwene bi sɛ, sɛ mehwehwɛ nea wɔakyerɛw no nyinaa mu yiye na mekyerɛw brɛ wo a, eye. 4Eyi bɛboa wo ma woahu nokware a ɛwɔ nea woasua no nyinaa mu.
Osuboni Yohane Awo Ho Nkɔmhyɛ
5Mede mʼasɛm no befi Yudafo sɔfo Sakaria a ɔtenaa ase wɔ Yudeahene Herode bere so a na ofi Abia asɔfokuw mu no so. Sakaria yere Elisabet nso, na ɔyɛ Aaron aseni. 6Na Sakaria ne ne yere Elisabet som Onyankopɔn nokware mu a wɔn ho nni asɛm wɔ Onyankopɔn anim. 7Na wonni ɔba, efisɛ na Elisabet yɛ obonin. Na wɔn baanu nyinaa nso anyinyin.
8Da bi a eduu Sakaria asɔfokuw so sɛ wɔyɛ asɔredan mu adwuma no, 9wɔtow aba yii no sɛ, ɔnkɔhyew aduhuam wɔ ɔhyew afɔremuka no so. 10Saa bere no ara nso na asafo no rebɔ mpae wɔ adiwo hɔ sɛnea wɔtaa yɛ no.
11Sakaria gu so rehyew aduhuam no, prɛko pɛ, Awurade bɔfo begyinaa afɔremuka no nkyɛn mu wɔ nifa so. 12Sakaria huu no no, ɔbɔɔ piriw na ne ho popoe. 13Nanso ɔsoro ɔbɔfo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sakaria, nsuro, Awurade Nyankopɔn ate wo mpaebɔ. Wo yere Elisabet bɛwo ɔbabarima na ɛsɛ sɛ woto ne din Yohane. 14Nʼawo bɛma wʼani agye na wo ho asɛpɛw wo. Saa ara na ɛbɛma nnipa bebree nso ani agye. 15Ɔbɛyɛ ɔkɛse wɔ Awurade anim. Ɔrennom nsa biara da, na Honhom Kronkron bɛyɛ no ma afi ne na yam. 16Israelfo pii nam nʼasɛnka so benya adwensakra asan aba Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn, nkyɛn. 17Obenya Odiyifo Elia honhom ahoɔden no bi, na obedi Agyenkwa no ba no anim abesiesie nnipa ama ne ba a ɔbɛba no. Nʼasɛnka bɛma ntease aba agyanom ne wɔn mma ntam. Na ɔbɛdan Awurade asɛm no ho asoɔdenfo adwene akɔ Awurade pɛ ho.”
18Sakaria buaa ɔbɔfo no se, “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na eyi aba mu? Mabɔ akwakoraa na me yere nso abɔ aberewa.”
19Ɔbɔfo no kae se, “Mene Gabriel a migyina Onyankopɔn anim daa no. Ɔno na ɔsomaa me se memmɛka asɛmpa yi nkyerɛ wo. 20Esiane sɛ woagye akyinnye nti, wobɛtɔ mum akosi sɛ wɔbɛwo abofra no. Na nea maka akyerɛ wo yi nyinaa bɛba mu pɛpɛɛpɛ wɔ ne bere a ɛsɛ mu.”
21Saa bere yi nyinaa na asafo mma no retwɛn Sakaria sɛ ɔbɛba.1.21 Na nnipa no retwɛn sɛ Sakaria befi Kronkronbea hɔ aba na wabɛma wɔn Aaron nhyira (4 Mose 6.24-26). Na ɛyɛ wɔn nwonwa sɛ wakyɛ saa. 22Bere a ɔbae no, wantumi ankasa ankyerɛ asafomma no. Wohu fii ne nneyɛe mu sɛ wahu nʼani so ade wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ.
23Owiee nʼasɔfodwuma wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ no, ɔkɔɔ fie. 24Nna bi akyi no, ne yere Elisabet nyinsɛnee, na ɔde ne ho siee asram anum. 25Ɔde anigye kae se, “Awurade ayɛ me adɔe. Wayi animguase a ɛkaa me wɔ nnipa anim no afi me so.”
Yesu Awo Ho Nkɔmhyɛ
26Elisabet nyinsɛn asram asia no, Onyankopɔn somaa ɔbɔfo Gabriel kɔɔ Galilea akuraa bi a wɔfrɛ no Nasaret no ase 27se, ɔnkɔ ɔbea kronkron bi a wɔfrɛ no Maria a na wɔde no ama Yosef a ofi Ɔhene Dawid abusua mu no aware no nkyɛn. 28Gabriel huu no ara pɛ, ɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Asomdwoe nka wo! Awurade ka wo ho, wo a Awurade adom wo.”
29Ɔbɔfo no asɛm no maa Maria adwene mu yɛɛ no nnaa ma obisaa ne ho se, “Na saa nkyia yi ase ne dɛn?” 30Ɔbɔfo no san ka kyerɛɛ Maria bio se, “Maria, nsuro, efisɛ Awurade adom wo. 31Tie! Ɛrenkyɛ biara wubenyinsɛn na woawo ɔbabarima na woato ne din Yesu. 32Ɔbɛyɛ ɔkɛse, na wɔbɛfrɛ no Ɔsorosoro Nyankopɔn Ba. Na Awurade de ne nena Dawid ahengua no bɛma no. 33Na obedi Yakob fi so hene daa; na nʼahenni to rentwa da.”
34Maria bisaa ɔbɔfo no se, “Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mawo wɔ bere a ɔbarima nhuu me da?”
35Ɔbɔfo no buae se, “Honhom Kronkron bɛba wo so na Ɔsorosoro Nyankopɔn tumi abɛkata wo so, eyi nti abofra a wobɛwo no no bɛyɛ kronkron na wɔbɛfrɛ no Onyankopɔn Ba. 36Ɛbɛyɛ asram asia ni a wo busuani Elisabet mpo a ɔyɛ obonin anyinsɛn ɔbabarima wɔ ne mmerewabere mu. 37Efisɛ Onyankopɔn de, biribiara nso no yɛ.”
38Maria kae se, “Me de, meyɛ Awurade afenaa. Nea Awurade pɛ na ɛnyɛ.” Afei, ɔbɔfo no gyaw no hɔ kɔe.
Maria Kɔsra Elisabet
39Nna kakra bi akyi no, Maria kɔɔ Yudea mmepɔw so kurow bi mu. 40Saa kurow no mu na Sakaria te. Oduu kurow no mu hɔ no, ɔkɔɔ Sakaria fi kɔsraa Elisabet. Okyiaa no. 41Elisabet tee Maria nkyia no, ɔba a ɔda ne yam no kekaa ne ho; amono mu hɔ ara na Honhom Kronkron hyɛɛ Elisabet ma. 42Elisabet de ahosɛpɛw teɛɛ mu se, “Maria, wɔahyira wo sen mmea nyinaa, na wo ba a wobɛwo no no bɛyɛ onipa kɛse. 43Anuonyam bɛn na ɛsen eyi. Me sɛɛ ne hena a anka mʼAwurade bɛba abɛsra me? 44Wukyiaa me pɛ, na abofra no de anigye kekaa ne ho. 45Nhyira nka wo sɛ wugye dii sɛ nea Onyankopɔn aka no ɔbɛyɛ; ɛno nti na wɔadom wo yi.”
Maria Ayeyi Dwom
46Maria kae se,
“Me kra kamfo Awurade.
47Na me honhom ani gye mʼagyenkwa Nyankopɔn mu;
48efisɛ wahu nʼafenaa mmɔborɔni mmɔbɔ,
na efi nnɛ, awo ntoatoaso nyinaa bɛfrɛ me nea Onyankopɔn ahyira no.
49Efisɛ Ɔkronkronni Tumfo no ayɛ ade kɛse ama me;
50nʼahummɔbɔ fi awo ntoatoaso kosi awo ntoatoaso
ma wɔn a wosuro no na wodi no ni no nyinaa.
51Ɔde ne nsa a tumi wɔ mu no
abɔ ahomasofo ne ahantanfo ne wɔn nsusuwii apete.
52Watu abirɛmpɔn ade so
ama ahobrɛasefo so.
53Wama wɔn a ahia wɔn no nnepa
na wagya ahonyafo kwan nsapan.
54Waboa nʼakoa Israel
na ne werɛ amfi ne mmɔborɔhunu ne ne bɔ
55a ɔhyɛɛ yɛn agya Abraham ne nʼasefo no da.”
56Maria tenaa Elisabet nkyɛn bɛyɛ asram abiɛsa ansa na ɔresan akɔ ne kurom.
Osuboni Yohane Awo
57Elisabet awo duu so no, ɔwoo ɔbabarima. 58Nʼafipamfo ne nʼabusuafo tee adɔe a Awurade ayɛ no no, wɔne no nyinaa de anigye dii ahurusi.
59Eduu nnaawɔtwe no, abusuafo ne adɔfo behyiaa sɛ wɔrebetwa abofra no twetia na wɔato ne din. Wɔpɛɛ sɛ wɔde abofra no to nʼagya Sakaria. 60Nanso ne na kae se, “Dabi! Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔfrɛ no Yohane.”
61Wɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Obiara nni abusua yi mu a wɔfrɛ no saa.”
62Eyi ma wɔde wɔn nsa yɛɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne bisaa nʼagya, din a wɔmfa nto abofra no. 63Sakaria ma wɔde krataa brɛɛ no na ɔkyerɛw so se, “Ne din de Yohane.” Eyi yɛɛ wɔn nyinaa nwonwa. 64Amono mu hɔ ara, Sakaria tumi kasaa bio, na ofii ase yii Onyankopɔn ayɛ. 65Wɔn a wɔtee nyinaa ho dwiriw wɔn, na saa asɛm yi trɛw faa Yudea mmepɔw so hɔ nyinaa. 66Obiara a ɔtee saa nsɛm yi bisaa ne ho se, “Ɛno de, na dɛn na abofra yi rebenyin ayɛ? Ɛda adi pefee sɛ Awurade nsa wɔ ne so.”
Sakaria Nkɔmhyɛ
67Honhom hyɛɛ nʼagya Sakaria ma ma ɔhyɛɛ nkɔm se,
68“Nhyira nka Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn,
sɛ waba abegye ne manfo.
69Ɔde Agyenkwa Tumfo a ɔyɛ ne somfo Dawid aseni rebrɛ yɛn,
70sɛnea ɔnam nʼadiyifo akronkron so fii teteete hyɛɛ bɔ
71sɛ, ɔbɛma yɛn Agyenkwa a obegye yɛn afi yɛn atamfo
ne wɔn a wokyi yɛn no nsam no,
72sɛ obehu yɛn agyanom mmɔbɔ
na wakae nʼapam kronkron no,
73ntam a ɔka kyerɛɛ yɛn agya Abraham no:
74sɛ obegye yɛn afi yɛn atamfo nsam no,
na yɛasom no a osuro biara nni mu.
75Na yɛn nkwa nna nyinaa mu, yɛayɛ kronkron ne atreneefo wɔ nʼanim.
76“Na wo, akokoaa yi, wɔbɛfrɛ wo Ɔsorosoroni no Odiyifo
efisɛ wo na wubesiesie ɔkwan ama Agyenkwa no,
77na wobɛkyerɛ ne manfo kwan a
wɔnam bɔnefakyɛ so nya nkwa a enni awiei;
78na eyinom nyinaa bɛba mu efisɛ
Onyankopɔn mmɔborɔhunu a ɛdɔɔso no,
79na ɛbɛma hann a efi ɔsoro abepue yɛn so
ahyerɛn wɔn a wɔte sum ne owu sum mu no so,
na akyerɛ yɛn kwan akɔ asomdwoe mu.”
80Abofra no nyinii na honhom hyɛɛ no ma; ɔtenaa sare so kosii bere a ofii nʼasɛnka adwuma ase.
Introduction
1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled1:1 Or been surely believed among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.”
38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Mary’s Song
46And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s Song
67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69He has raised up a horn1:69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king. of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
72to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
73the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80And the child grew and became strong in spirit1:80 Or in the Spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
