1Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
5¶ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, 9According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. 23And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 24And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. 26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. 57Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. 66And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. 67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
1Abantu bangi bagezezzaako okuwandiika ebyafaayo ebyatuukirizibwa mu ffe, 21:2 a Mak 1:1; Yk 15:27; Bik 1:21, 22 b Beb 2:3; 1Pe 5:1; 2Pe 1:16; 1Yk 1:1 c Mak 4:14ng’abo abaasooka edda bwe baabitubuulira, nga be baali abajulirwa era abaweereza b’Ekigambo okuviira ddala ku lubereberye. 31:3 a Bik 11:4 b Bik 24:3; 26:25 c Bik 1:1Bwe ntyo bwe mmaze okukakasiza ddala buli kintu n’obwegendereza okuva ku by’olubereberye okutuukira ddala ku byasembayo, ne ndaba nga kirungi okukuwandiikira ggwe Teefiro ow’ekitiibwa ennyo, ndyoke mbikuwandiikire nga bwe byaliraanagana. 41:4 Yk 20:31Olyoke omanye amazima g’ebyo bye wayigirizibwa.
Okulanga Okuzaalibwa kwa Yokaana Omubatiza
51:5 a Mat 2:1 b 1By 24:10Awo mu biro Kabaka Kerode we yafugira Obuyudaaya, waaliwo kabona erinnya lye Zaakaliya, nga wa mu kitongole kya Abiya, nga mukyala we naye yali wa mu kika kya Alooni, erinnya lye Erisabesi. 61:6 Lub 7:1; 1Bk 9:4Abantu abo bombi baali batuukirivu mu maaso ga Katonda, era nga batambulira mu mateeka ga Katonda gonna, ne mu biragiro bya Mukama, nga tebaliiko kya kunenyezebwa. 7Bombi baali bakaddiye nnyo, era tebaalina mwana, kubanga Erisabesi yali mugumba.
81:8 1By 24:19; 2By 8:14Awo lwali lumu, Zaakaliya bwe yali ng’ali ku mulimu gwe ogw’obwakabona mu maaso ga Katonda, kubanga kye kyali ekiseera eky’oluwalo lwe, 91:9 Kuv 30:7, 8; 1By 23:13; 2By 29:11n’alondebwa okwoteza obubaane mu yeekaalu ya Mukama, ng’emirimu gy’obwakabona bwe gyabanga. 101:10 Lv 16:17Mu ssaawa eyo ey’okwoteza obubaane ekibiina kyonna eky’abantu baali bakuŋŋaanidde mu luggya lwa Yeekaalu.
111:11 a Bik 5:19 b Kuv 30:1-10Awo malayika wa Mukama n’alabikira Zaakaliya, n’ayimirira ku luuyi olwa ddyo olw’ekyoto okwoterezebwa obubaane! 121:12 Bal 6:22, 23; 13:22Zaakaliya n’atya nnyo bwe yalaba malayika, entiisa n’emukwata. 131:13 a nny 30; Mat 14:27 b Mat 14:60, 63Naye malayika n’amugamba nti, “Totya Zaakaliya! Kubanga okusaba kwo kuwuliddwa, era mukazi wo Erisabesi ajja kukuzaalira omwana wabulenzi. Olimutuuma erinnya Yokaana. 141:14 nny 58Mwembi mulisanyuka nnyo ne mujaguza. Era bangi abalibasanyukirako olw’okuzaalibwa kwe. 151:15 a Kbl 6:3; Bal 13:4; Luk 7:33 b Yer 1:5; Bag 1:15Kubanga aliba mukulu mu maaso ga Katonda. Talinywa mwenge wadde ekitamiiza kyonna. Era alijjuzibwa Mwoyo Mutukuvu ng’akyali mu lubuto lwa nnyina. 16Era alireetera abaana ba Isirayiri bangi okudda eri Mukama Katonda waabwe. 171:17 a nny 76 b Mat 11:14 c Mal 4:5, 6Aliweerereza mu mwoyo ne mu maanyi aga nnabbi Eriya, n’akyusa emitima gy’aba kitaabwe okudda eri abaana baabwe, n’okukyusa emitima gy’abajeemu okudda eri amagezi g’abatuukirivu alyoke ateeketeeke abantu okulindirira Mukama.”
181:18 nny 34; Lub 17:17Zaakaliya n’agamba malayika nti, “Ekyo nnaakimanya ntya? Kubanga nze ndi mukadde, ne mukazi wange naye akaddiya nnyo.”
191:19 nny 26; Dan 8:16; 9:21; Mat 18:10Malayika n’amugamba nti, “Nze Gabulyeri ayimirira mu maaso ga Katonda, era y’antumye okwogera naawe n’okukuleetera amawulire gano. 201:20 Ez 3:26Naye olw’okuba nga tokkirizza bigambo byange, ojja kuziba omumwa, era togenda kuddamu kwogera okutuusa ng’ebintu ebyo bimaze okubaawo. Kubanga ebigambo byange byonna birimala kutuukirira mu kiseera kyabyo.”
21Abantu abaali balindirira ebweru wa Yeekaalu okulaba Zaakaliya ne beewuunya nnyo ekyamulwisaayo ennyo bw’atyo. 221:22 nny 62Oluvannyuma ennyo bwe yavaayo, yali tasobola kwogera nabo, ne bategeera nga mu Yeekaalu afuniddeyo okwolesebwa. N’asigala ng’azibye omumwa naye ng’abategeeza mu bubonero.
23N’abeera mu Yeekaalu okutuusa ennaku ze ez’oluwalo lwe zaggwaako n’alyoka addayo eka. 24Ennaku ezo bwe zaayitawo, mukazi we Erisabesi n’aba olubuto, ne yeekwekera ebbanga lya myezi etaano. 251:25 Lub 30:23; Is 4:1N’agamba nti, “Mukama nga wa kisa kingi, kubanga anziggyeeko ensonyi olw’obutaba na mwana.”
Okuzaalibwa kwa Yesu Kulangibwa
261:26 a nny 19 b Mat 2:23Awo mu mwezi ogw’omukaaga, Katonda n’atuma malayika Gabulyeri mu kibuga Nazaaleesi eky’omu Ggaliraaya 271:27 Mat 1:16, 18, 20; Luk 2:4eri omuwala erinnya lye Maliyamu, nga tamanyi musajja, eyali ayogerezebwa omusajja erinnya lye Yusufu, ow’omu lulyo lwa Dawudi. 28Awo Gabulyeri n’alabikira Maliyamu n’amulamusa nti, “Mirembe! Ggwe aweereddwa omukisa! Mukama ali naawe!”
29Maliyamu n’atya, n’abulwa n’ekyokwogera, ng’okulamusa okwo kumutabudde, nga n’amakulu gaakwo tagategeera. 301:30 nny 13; Mat 14:27Awo malayika n’amugamba nti, “Totya, Maliyamu, kubanga olabye ekisa mu maaso ga Katonda. 311:31 Is 7:14Kubanga, laba, olibeera olubuto, olizaala omwana wabulenzi era olimutuuma erinnya, Yesu. 321:32 nny 35, 76; Mak 5:7Agenda kuba mukulu, wa kitiibwa, era aliyitibwa Omwana w’Oyo Ali Waggulu Ennyo, era Mukama Katonda alimuwa entebe ey’obwakabaka eya jjajjaawe Dawudi. 331:33 a Mat 28:18 b Dan 2:44; 7:14, 27Alifuga ennyumba ya Yakobo emirembe gyonna, era n’obwakabaka bwe tebulikoma.”
34Awo Maliyamu n’abuuza malayika nti, “Ekyo kiriba kitya? Kubanga simanyi musajja.”
351:35 a Mat 1:18 b nny 32, 76 c Mak 1:24 d Mat 4:3Malayika n’amuddamu nti, “Mwoyo Mutukuvu alikukkako, n’amaanyi g’Oyo Ali Waggulu Ennyo galikubuutikira, n’omwana alizaalibwa aliba mutukuvu, Omwana wa Katonda. 36Laba, muganda wo Erisabesi eyayitibwanga omugumba, kati ali lubuto lwa myezi mukaaga mu bukadde bwe. 371:37 Mat 19:26Kubanga buli kigambo kiyinzika eri Katonda.”
38Maliyamu n’addamu nti, “Nze ndi muweereza wa Mukama, kibe ku nze nga bw’ogambye.” Malayika n’ava w’ali, n’agenda.
Maliyamu Akyalira Erisabesi
391:39 nny 65Awo mu biro ebyo, Maliyamu n’ayanguwa okugenda mu nsi ya Buyudaaya ey’ensozi, mu kibuga kyayo. 40N’ayingira mu nnyumba ya Zaakaliya n’alamusa Erisabesi. 41Naye Maliyamu bwe yalamusa Erisabesi, omwana eyali mu lubuto lwa Erisabesi n’abuukabuuka era n’ajjuzibwa Mwoyo Mutukuvu. 421:42 Bal 5:24Erisabesi n’alyoka ayogerera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka nti, “Oweereddwa omukisa, ggwe mu bakazi, era n’omwana ali mu lubuto lwo aweereddwa omukisa. 43Nga nfunye ekitiibwa kinene ggwe nnyina wa Mukama wange okujja okunkyalira! 44Kubanga bw’oyingidde n’onnamusa, omwana ali mu lubuto lwange oluwulidde ku ddoboozi lyo ne yeekyusakyusa olw’essanyu! 45Oweereddwa omukisa bw’okkirizza nti ebintu ebyo Mukama bya kwogeddeko birituukirizibwa.”
Oluyimba lwa Maliyamu
461:46 Zab 34:2, 3Maliyamu n’agamba nti,
471:47 1Ti 1:1; 2:3“Emmeeme yange etendereza Mukama.
N’omwoyo gwange gusanyukidde Katonda omulokozi wange,
481:48 a Zab 138:6 b Luk 11:27Kubanga alabye
obuwombeefu bw’omuweereza we.
Kubanga laba, okuva kaakano, ab’emirembe gyonna banaampitanga eyaweebwa omukisa.
491:49 a Zab 71:19 b Zab 111:9Kubanga Owaamaanyi ankoledde ebikulu;
N’erinnya lye ttukuvu.
501:50 Kuv 20:6; Zab 103:17N’okusaasira kwe kwa mirembe na mirembe
eri abo abamutya.
511:51 Zab 98:1; Is 40:10Akoze eby’amaanyi n’omukono gwe.
Asaasaanyizza ab’emitima egy’amalala.
52Awanudde abafuzi ku ntebe zaabwe ez’obwakabaka
n’agulumiza abawombeefu.
531:53 Zab 107:9Abali mu kwetaaga abakkusizza ebirungi.
Naye abagagga n’abagoba nga tabawaddeeyo kantu.
541:54 Zab 98:3Adduukiridde omuweereza we Isirayiri,
n’ajjukira okusaasira,
551:55 Lub 17:19; Zab 132:11; Bag 3:16nga bwe yayogera ne bajjajjaffe,
eri Ibulayimu n’ezzadde lye emirembe gyonna.”
56Maliyamu n’amala ewa Erisabesi muganda we, ng’emyezi esatu, n’alyoka addayo ewuwe.
Okuzaalibwa kwa Yokaana
57Awo ekiseera kya Erisabesi eky’okuzaala ne kituuka, n’azaala omwana wabulenzi. 58Baliraanwa ba Erisabesi n’ab’ekika kye ne bawulira nga Mukama bw’amulaze ekisa, ne basanyukira wamu naye.
591:59 Lub 17:12; Lv 12:3; Luk 2:21; Baf 3:5Awo omwana bwe yaweza ennaku omunaana, ne bajja okumukomola, bonna nga balowooza nti ajja kutuumibwa erinnya lya kitaawe Zaakaliya. 601:60 nny 13, 63Naye Erisabesi n’abagamba nti, “Nedda, ajja kutuumibwa Yokaana.”
61Ne bamuwakanya nga bagamba nti, “Mu kika kyo kyonna tetuwulirangayo yatuumibwa linnya eryo.”
621:62 nny 22Ne babuuza kitaawe w’omwana erinnya ly’ayagala atuumibwe. 631:63 nny 13, 60N’abasaba eky’okuwandiikako, n’awandiikako nti, “Erinnya lye ye Yokaana!” Bonna ne beewuunya nnyo! 641:64 nny 20Amangwago akamwa ka Zaakaliya ne kagguka, n’olulimi lwe ne lusumulukuka, n’atandika okwogera n’okutendereza Katonda. 651:65 nny 39Abantu bonna ab’omu kitundu ekyo ne batya nnyo, era ebigambo ebyo ne bibuna mu nsi yonna ey’e Buyudaaya ey’ensozi. 661:66 Lub 39:2; Bik 11:21Buli eyawulira ebigambo ebyo n’abirowoozaako nnyo mu mutima gwe, ne yeebuuza nti, “Naye omwana ono bw’alikula aliba atya?” Kubanga awatali kubuusabuusa, omukono gwa Mukama gwali wamu naye.
Oluyimba lwa Zaakaliya
671:67 Yo 2:28Awo Zaakaliya kitaawe, n’ajjula Mwoyo Mutukuvu n’awa obunnabbi nti,
681:68 a Zab 72:18 b Zab 111:9; Luk 7:16“Atenderezebwe Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri,
kubanga akyalidde abantu be, era abanunudde.
691:69 a 1Sa 2:1, 10; Zab 18:2; 89:17; 132:17; Ez 29:21 b Mat 1:1Yatuyimusiriza obuyinza obw’obulokozi,
mu nnyumba y’omuddu we Dawudi.
701:70 Yer 23:5Nga bwe yasuubiriza mu bigambo bya bannabbi be abatukuvu ab’edda ennyo,
71Okulokolebwa mu balabe baffe,
n’okuva mu mukono gw’abo bonna abatukyawa,
721:72 a Mi 7:20 b Zab 105:8, 9; 106:45; Ez 16:60okulaga bajjajjaffe ekisa,
n’ajjukira n’endagaano ye entukuvu,
731:73 Lub 22:16-18ekirayiro kye yalayirira jjajjaffe Ibulayimu,
741:74 Beb 9:14okukituukiriza, n’okulokolebwa okuva mu mukono gw’abalabe baffe awatali kutya,
tulyoke tuweereze mu maaso ge,
751:75 Bef 4:24mu butukuvu ne mu butuukirivu ennaku zonna ez’obulamu bwaffe.
761:76 a Mat 11:9 b nny 32, 35 c nny 17; Mal 3:1“Naawe, mwana wange, oliyitibwa nnabbi w’Oyo Ali Waggulu Ennyo;
kubanga gw’olikulembera Mukama okumuteekerateekera amakubo ge.
771:77 Yer 31:34; Mak 1:4Okumanyisa abantu be obulokozi,
obw’okusonyiyibwa ebibi byabwe.
781:78 Mal 4:2Byonna birituukirira olw’ekisa kya Katonda waffe ekingi.
Emmambya esala eritukyalira okuva mu ggulu,
791:79 Is 9:2; 59:9; Mat 4:16; Bik 26:18okwakira abo abatudde mu kizikiza
ne mu kisiikirize eky’okufa,
okuluŋŋamya ebigere byaffe mu kkubo ery’emirembe.”
801:80 Luk 2:40, 52Omwana n’akula n’ayongerwako amaanyi mu mwoyo, n’abeera mu malungu okutuusa ku lunaku lwe yayolesebwa eri Isirayiri.
