Luke Writes an Orderly Report
1Many people have attempted to write about the things that have taken place among us. 2Reports of these things were handed down to us. There were people who saw these things for themselves from the beginning. They saw them and then passed the word on. 3With this in mind, I myself have carefully looked into everything from the beginning. So I also decided to write down an orderly report of exactly what happened. I am doing this for you, most excellent Theophilus. 4I want you to know that the things you have been taught are true.
The Coming Birth of John the Baptist
5Herod was king of Judea. During the time he was ruling, there was a priest named Zechariah. He belonged to a group of priests named after Abijah. His wife Elizabeth also came from the family line of Aaron. 6Both of them did what was right in the sight of God. They obeyed all the Lord’s commands and rules faithfully. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was not able to have any. And they were both very old.
8One day Zechariah’s group was on duty. He was serving as a priest in God’s temple. 9He happened to be chosen, in the usual way, to go into the temple of the Lord. There he was supposed to burn incense. 10The time came for this to be done. All who had gathered to worship were praying outside.
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah. The angel was standing at the right side of the incense altar. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was amazed and terrified. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will have a child. It will be a boy, and you must call him John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you. His birth will make many people very glad. 15He will be important in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or other such drinks. 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 prepare the way for the Lord. He will have the same spirit and power that Elijah had. He will bring peace between parents and their children. He will teach people who don’t obey to be wise and do what is right. In this way, he will prepare a people who are ready for the Lord.”
18Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is old too.”
19The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I serve God. I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will have to be silent. You will not be able to speak until after John is born. That’s because you did not believe my words. They will come true at the time God has chosen.”
21During that time, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the temple. They wondered why he stayed there so long. 22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple. They knew this because he kept gesturing to them. He still could not speak.
23When his time of service was over, he returned home. 24After that, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months. 25“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days, he has been kind to me. He has taken away my shame among the people.”
The Coming Birth of Jesus
26In the sixth month after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. 27He was sent to a virgin. The girl was engaged to a man named Joseph. He came from the family line of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel greeted her and said, “The Lord has blessed you in a special way. He is with you.”
29Mary was very upset because of his words. She wondered what kind of greeting this could be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you. 31You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his father David of long ago. 33The Son of the Most High God will rule forever over his people. They are from the family line of Jacob. That kingdom will never end.”
34“How can this happen?” Mary asked the angel. “I am a virgin.”
35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So the holy one that is born will be called the Son of God. 36Your relative Elizabeth will have a child even though she is old. People thought she could not have children. But she has been pregnant for six months now. 37That’s because what God says will always come true.”
38“I serve the Lord,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me just as you said it would.” Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in Judea’s hill country. 40There she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby inside her jumped. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she called out, “God has blessed you more than other women. And blessed is the child you will have! 43But why is God so kind to me? Why has the mother of my Lord come to me? 44As soon as I heard the sound of your voice, the baby inside me jumped for joy. 45You are a woman God has blessed. You have believed that the Lord would keep his promises to you!”
Mary’s Song
46Mary said,
“My soul gives glory to the Lord.
47My spirit delights in God my Savior.
48He has taken note of me
even though I am not considered important.
From now on all people will call me blessed.
49The Mighty One has done great things for me.
His name is holy.
50He shows his mercy to those who have respect for him,
from parent to child down through the years.
51He has done mighty things with his powerful arm.
He has scattered those who are proud in their deepest thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones.
But he has lifted up people who are not considered important.
53He has filled with good things those who are hungry.
But he has sent away empty those who are rich.
54He has helped the people of Israel, who serve him.
He has always remembered to be kind
55to Abraham and his children down through the years.
He has done it just as he promised to our people of long ago.”
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she returned home.
John the Baptist Is Born
57The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby. She gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very kind to her. They shared her joy.
59On the eighth day, they came to have the child circumcised. They were going to name him Zechariah, like his father. 60But his mother spoke up. “No!” she said. “He must be called John.”
61They said to her, “No one among your relatives has that name.”
62Then they motioned to his father. They wanted to find out what he would like to name the child. 63He asked for something to write on. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed. 64Right away Zechariah could speak again. Right away he praised God. 65All his neighbors were filled with fear and wonder. Throughout Judea’s hill country, people were talking about all these things. 66Everyone who heard this wondered about it. And because the Lord was with John, they asked, “What is this child going to be?”
Zechariah’s Song
67John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. He prophesied,
68“Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has come to his people and purchased their freedom.
69He has acted with great power and has saved us.
He did it for those who are from the family line of his servant David.
70Long ago holy prophets said he would do it.
71He has saved us from our enemies.
We are rescued from all who hate us.
72He has been kind to our people of long ago.
He has remembered his holy covenant.
73He made a promise to our father Abraham.
74He promised to save us from our enemies.
Then we could serve him without fear.
75He wants us to be holy and godly as long as we live.
76“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.
You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him.
77You will tell his people how they can be saved.
You will tell them that their sins can be forgiven.
78All of that will happen because our God is tender and caring.
His kindness will bring the rising sun to us from heaven.
79It will shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death.
It will guide our feet on the path of peace.”
80The child grew up, and his spirit became strong. He lived in the desert until he appeared openly to Israel.
Ũhoro wa Gũtongoria
1Andũ aingĩ nĩmarĩkĩtie kwandĩka ũhoro wa maũndũ marĩa mahingĩtio gatagatĩ-inĩ gaitũ, 21:2 Joh 15:27; Ahib 2:3o ta ũrĩa twaheirwo ũhoro wamo nĩ arĩa meyoneire maũndũ macio kuuma o kĩambĩrĩria marĩ aira na ndungata cia ũhoro ũcio. 31:3 Atũm 11:4; Atũm 1:1Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, tondũ niĩ mwene nĩnduĩrĩtie maũndũ macio mothe wega kuuma kĩambĩrĩria-rĩ, ngakĩona arĩ wega o na niĩ ngwandĩkĩre mũtaratara mwega wa maũndũ macio, wee mũnene mũgaathe Theofilo, 4nĩgeetha ũmenye na ma maũndũ marĩa warutirwo.
Gũciarwo kwa Johana Mũbatithania Kũmenyithanio
51:5 Math 2:1; 1Maũ 24:10Na rĩrĩ, hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Herode aarĩ mũthamaki wa Judea, nĩ kwarĩ mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai wetagwo Zakaria, warĩ wa gĩkundi kĩa athĩnjĩri-Ngai kĩa Abija; mũtumia wake eetagwo Elizabethi na aarĩ wa rũciaro rwa Harũni. 61:6 Kĩam 6:9; Gũcook 5:33O eerĩ maarĩ arũngĩrĩru maitho-inĩ ma Ngai, na nĩmathĩkagĩra maathani ma Mwathani na mawatho mothe matarĩ na ũcuuke. 7Nao matiarĩ na twana tondũ Elizabethi aarĩ thaata; na eerĩ maarĩ akũrũ mũno.
81:8 1Maũ 24:19Na rĩrĩ, mũthenya ũmwe Zakaria nĩarutaga wĩra wa mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai arĩ mbere ya Ngai, tondũ rĩarĩ ihinda rĩa gĩkundi gĩake gũtungata-rĩ, 91:9 Atũm 1:26; Thaam 30:7, 8nĩathuurirwo na njĩra ya gũcuukĩrwo mĩtĩ, kũringana na mũtugo wa ũthĩnjĩri-Ngai, athiĩ thĩinĩ wa hekarũ ya Mwathani agacine ũbumba. 101:10 Alaw 16:17Na rĩrĩa ihinda rĩa gũcina ũbumba rĩakinyire, kĩrĩndĩ gĩothe kĩrĩa kĩonganĩte nĩ ũndũ wa kũhooya, nĩ kĩahooyagĩra na kũu nja.
11Hĩndĩ ĩyo mũraika wa Mwathani akiumĩrĩra Zakaria, na akĩrũgama mwena wa ũrĩo wa kĩgongona kĩrĩa gĩa gũcinĩra ũbumba. 12Rĩrĩa Zakaria aamuonire, akĩhahũka na akĩiyũrwo nĩ guoya. 131:13 Math 14:27; Luk 1:60, 63No mũraika ũcio akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ: “Zakaria, tiga gwĩtigĩra; mahooya maku nĩmaiguĩtwo. Mũtumia waku Elizabethi nĩagagũciarĩra mwana wa kahĩĩ, nawe nĩũkamũtua Johana. 14Nĩũgakena na ũcanjamũke, nĩ ũndũ wake na andũ aingĩ nĩmagakenio nĩgũciarwo gwake, 151:15 Ndar 6:3; Jer 1:5nĩgũkorwo nĩagatuĩka mũndũ mũnene maitho-inĩ ma Mwathani. Ndarĩ hĩndĩ akaanyua ndibei o na kana kĩndũ o kĩngĩ kĩgagatu kĩngĩtũma mũndũ arĩĩo, na nĩakaiyũrwo nĩ Roho Mũtheru kuuma o gũciarwo gwake. 16Nake nĩakagarũra andũ aingĩ a Isiraeli macookerere Mwathani Ngai wao. 171:17 Mal 4:5; Math 11:14Na nĩagathiĩ mbere ya Mwathani arĩ na roho na hinya wa Elija, nĩguo agarũre ngoro cia maithe mendane na ciana ciao, nao arĩa aremi amagarũre magĩe na ũũgĩ wa andũ arĩa athingu, nĩgeetha ahaarĩrie andũ mahote gweterera Mwathani.”
18Zakaria akĩũria mũraika ũcio atĩrĩ, “Ingĩmenya ma ya ũhoro ũcio atĩa? Niĩ ndĩ mũthuuri mũkũrũ o na mũtumia wakwa arĩ na mĩaka mĩingĩ.”
191:19 Dan 8:16; Dan 9:21Mũraika ũcio akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Niĩ nĩ niĩ Gaburieli, ũrĩa ũrũgamaga mbere ya Ngai, na nĩ gũtũmwo ndũmĩtwo ngwarĩrie na ngwĩre ũhoro ũyũ mwega. 20Na rĩu nĩũgũkira ũremwo nĩ kwaria nginya mũthenya ũrĩa ũndũ ũcio ũkaahinga, tondũ ndũnetĩkia ciugo ciakwa, o icio ikaahinga ihinda rĩrĩa rĩagĩrĩire rĩakinya.”
21Hĩndĩ ĩyo yothe, andũ nĩmetereire Zakaria na makarigagwo nĩ kĩrĩa gĩatũmĩte aikare mũno ũguo thĩinĩ wa hekarũ.1:21 Andũ meetereire Zakaria oime Handũ-harĩa-Hatheru oke amarathime na kĩrathimo kĩa Harũni kĩrĩa kĩrĩ Ndar 6:24-26. 221:22 Luk 1:62Rĩrĩa oimire, ndaigana kũhota kũmaarĩria; magĩkĩmenya atĩ nĩonete kĩoneki arĩ thĩinĩ wa hekarũ, nĩgũkorwo no kũmaheneria aamahenagĩria na guoko, agĩikara o ũguo atekũhota kwaria.
23Rĩrĩa ihinda rĩake rĩa gũtungata1:23 Mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai aatungataga hekarũ-inĩ kiumia kĩmwe harĩ mĩeri ĩtandatũ, nĩ kuuga maita meerĩ harĩ mwaka ũmwe. rĩathirire-rĩ, akĩinũka gwake mũciĩ. 24Thuutha ũcio Elizabethi mũtumia wake akĩgĩa nda, na handũ ha mĩeri ĩtano agĩikara ehithĩte. 251:25 Kĩam 30:23; Isa 4:1Akiuga atĩrĩ, “Nĩ Mwathani ũnjĩkĩire ũũ. Matukũ-inĩ maya nĩanjĩkĩte wega na akanjehereria thoni cia kũmenwo nĩ andũ.”
Gũciarwo kwa Jesũ Kũmenyithanio
26Naguo mweri wa ĩtandatũ wa Elizabethi gũkorwo arĩ na nda-rĩ, Ngai nĩatũmire mũraika Gaburieli athiĩ Nazarethi itũũra rĩarĩ kũu Galili, 271:27 Math 1:16, 18, 20akĩmũtũma kũrĩ mũirĩtu gathirange worĩtio nĩ mũndũ wetagwo Jusufu, wa rũciaro rwa Daudi. Mũirĩtu ũcio gathirange eetagwo Mariamu. 28Mũraika ũcio akĩmuumĩrĩra, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Nĩndakũgeithia, wee ũrathimĩtwo mũno! Mwathani arĩ hamwe nawe.”
29Nake Mariamu agĩthĩĩnĩka mũno nĩ ũndũ ũcio, na akĩgega akĩrigwo nĩ ũhoro wa ngeithi icio. 30Nowe mũraika ũcio akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Mariamu tiga gwĩtigĩra, nĩgũkorwo nĩũkinyĩirwo nĩ wega wa Ngai. 311:31 Isa 7:14; Math 1:21, 25Nawe nĩũkũgĩa nda na nĩũgaaciara mwana wa kahĩĩ, nawe nĩũkamũtua Jesũ. 321:32 Math 1:1; Mar 5:7Nake nĩagatuĩka mũnene na ageetagwo Mũrũ-wa-Ũrĩa-ũrĩ-Igũrũ-Mũno. Mwathani Ngai nĩakamũhe gĩtĩ kĩa ũnene kĩrĩa gĩa ithe Daudi, 331:33 2Sam 7:6; Dan 2:44nake nĩagathamakĩra nyũmba ya Jakubu nginya tene; ũthamaki wake ndũgaathira o na rĩ.”
34Mariamu akĩũria mũraika ũcio atĩrĩ, “Ũndũ ũyũ ũngĩhoteka atĩa, kuona atĩ ndĩ o mũirĩtu gathirange?”
351:35 Luk 1:32, 76; Math 4:3Nake mũraika ũcio akĩmũcookeria, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Roho Mũtheru nĩagooka igũrũ rĩaku naguo hinya wa Ũrĩa-ũrĩ-Igũrũ-Mũno nĩũgakũhumbĩra, nĩ ũndũ ũcio mwana ũrĩa ũgaaciarwo nĩ mũtheru na ageetagwo Mũrũ wa Ngai. 36O na Elizabethi, ũrĩa wa mbarĩ cianyu, o nake nĩekũgĩa kaana arĩ mũkũrũ, o ũcio weragwo atĩ nĩ thaata, nĩgũkorwo rĩu arĩ na nda ya mĩeri ĩtandatũ. 371:37 Math 19:26Nĩgũkorwo gũtirĩ ũndũ ũngĩrema Ngai.”
38Nake Mariamu akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Niĩ ndĩ ndungata ya Mwathani. Ndĩrogĩĩkwo o ta ũguo woiga.” Hĩndĩ ĩyo mũraika akĩmũtiga agĩthiĩ.
Mariamu Gũceerera Elizabethi
391:39 Luk 1:65Matukũ-inĩ o ro macio, Mariamu akĩĩhaarĩria, agĩthiĩ ahiũhĩte nginya itũũra rĩarĩ bũrũri ũrĩa ũrĩ irĩma wa Judea, 40agĩtoonya mũciĩ gwa Zakaria, na akĩgeithia Elizabethi. 41Rĩrĩa Elizabethi aiguire ngeithi cia Mariamu-rĩ, kaana gake gakĩambarara karĩ nda yake, nake Elizabethi akĩiyũrwo nĩ Roho Mũtheru. 421:42 Atiir 5:14Akĩanĩrĩra na mũgambo mũnene, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Wee wĩ mũrathime gatagatĩ ka atumia othe, nako kaana karĩa ũgaaciara nĩkarathime! 43No nĩ kĩĩ gĩtũmĩte njĩkwo wega ũũ, atĩ nyina wa Mwathani wakwa no ooke kũnjeerera? 44Ndaigua mũgambo wa ngeithi ciaku wakinya matũ-inĩ makwa, nako kaana karĩa karĩ nda yakwa kambarara nĩ ũndũ wa gũkena. 45Kũrathimwo-rĩ, nĩ mũndũ ũcio wĩtĩkĩtie atĩ maũndũ marĩa Mwathani amwĩrĩte nĩmakahingio!”
Rwĩmbo rwa Mariamu
461:46 Thab 34:2, 3Nake Mariamu akiuga atĩrĩ:
“Ngoro yakwa nĩĩragooca Mwathani,
471:47 Thab 18:46; Hab 3:8naguo roho wakwa nĩũrakenera Ngai Mũhonokia wakwa,
48nĩgũkorwo nĩaririkanĩte
kwĩnyiihia kwa ndungata yake.
Kuuma rĩu njiarwa ciothe irĩĩnjĩtaga mũrathime,
491:49 Thab 71:19nĩgũkorwo Ũcio ũrĩ Hinya nĩanjĩkĩire maũndũ manene,
narĩo rĩĩtwa rĩake nĩ rĩtheru.
501:50 Thaam 20:6; Thab 103:17Tha ciake nĩikinyagĩra arĩa mamwĩtigagĩra,
kuuma njiarwa nginya njiarwa.
511:51 Thab 98:1; Isa 40:10Nĩekĩte maũndũ ma hinya na guoko gwake;
na arĩa etĩĩi aharaganagia meciiria ma ngoro ciao.
52Nĩaharũrũkĩtie aathani kuuma itĩ-inĩ ciao cia ũnene,
no agatũũgĩria arĩa menyiihagia.
53Nĩahũũnĩtie arĩa ahũtu na maũndũ mega,
no arĩa itonga akamaingata matarĩ na kĩndũ.
541:54 Thab 98:3Nĩateithĩtie Isiraeli ndungata yake,
akaririkana ũhoro wake wa kũiguanĩra tha,
551:55 Agal 3:16o ta ũrĩa eerire maithe maitũ,
atĩ nĩakaiguĩra Iburahĩmu hamwe na njiaro ciake tha, nginya tene.”
56Nake Mariamu agĩikara na Elizabethi ta mĩeri ĩtatũ, agĩcooka akĩinũka kwao.
Gũciarwo kwa Johana Mũbatithania
57Na rĩrĩ, ihinda rĩa Elizabethi rĩakinya rĩa gũciara, agĩciara kahĩĩ. 58Andũ a itũũra rĩake na a mbarĩ ciao makĩigua atĩ Mwathani nĩakĩrĩrĩirie kũmũiguĩra tha, nao magĩkena hamwe nake.
591:59 Kĩam 17:12; Alaw 12:3Mũthenya wa ĩnana wakinya, magĩũka nĩguo maruithie kaana kau, nao meendaga gũgatua Zakaria o ta ũrĩa ithe eetagwo, 60no nyina akĩaria, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Aca! Gegwĩtwo Johana.”
61Nao andũ makĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Gũtirĩ mũndũ wa mbarĩ cianyu wĩtagwo rĩĩtwa rĩu!”
621:62 Luk 1:22Nao makĩũria ithe ũrĩa angĩenda gatuuo na ũndũ wa kũmũheneria na moko. 63Akĩmeetia kahengere ga kwandĩkwo, nake akĩandĩka atĩrĩ, “Rĩĩtwa rĩako nĩ Johana.” Naguo ũndũ ũcio ũkĩgegia andũ othe. 64O hĩndĩ ĩyo akĩhingũka kanua, naruo rũrĩmĩ rwake rũkĩregera, akĩambĩrĩria kwaria, akĩgooca Ngai. 65Nao andũ othe a itũũra makĩiyũrwo nĩ guoya, makaaragia ũhoro wa maũndũ macio mothe, namo makĩhunja bũrũri-inĩ ũcio wothe wa irĩma wa Judea. 661:66 Kĩam 39:2; Atũm 11:21Nao arĩa othe maiguire ũhoro ũcio makĩgegio nĩguo makĩũria atĩrĩ, “Kaĩ kaana gaka gagaatuĩka ũ? Nĩgũkorwo guoko kwa Mwathani kwarĩ hamwe nako.”
Rwĩmbo rwa Zakaria
671:67 Joel 2:28Nake ithe Zakaria akĩiyũrwo nĩ Roho Mũtheru, akĩratha ũhoro, akiuga atĩrĩ,
681:68 Thab 111:9; Luk 7:16“Mwathani Ngai wa Isiraeli arogoocwo,
tondũ nĩokĩte na agakũũra andũ ake.
691:69 Thab 18:2; 132:17Nĩatwambararĩirie rũhĩa rwa ũhonokio
thĩinĩ wa nyũmba ya Daudi, ndungata yake
701:70 Arom 1:2; Jer 23:5(o ta ũrĩa aarĩtie matukũ ma tene na tũnua twa anabii ake atheru),
71rwa gũtũhonokia kuuma kũrĩ thũ ciitũ,
na kuuma kũrĩ guoko kwa arĩa othe matũmenaga,
72nĩguo aiguĩre maithe maitũ tha,
na aririkane kĩrĩkanĩro gĩake gĩtheru,
73o mwĩhĩtwa ũrĩa eehĩtĩire ithe witũ Iburahĩmu:
741:74 1Joh 4:18; Ahib 9:14atĩ nĩagatũhonokia kuuma guoko-inĩ gwa thũ ciitũ,
na atũhotithie kũmũtungatagĩra tũtarĩ na guoya,
751:75 Aef 4:24tũrĩ atheru na athingu mbere yake matukũ-inĩ maitũ mothe.
761:76 Math 11:9“O nawe, kaana gakwa, nĩũgetagwo mũnabii wa Ũrĩa-ũrĩ-Igũrũ-Mũno;
nĩgũkorwo nĩũgaathiiaga mbere ya Mwathani nĩguo ũmũthondekagĩre njĩra ciake,
771:77 Mar 1:4na ũmenyithie andũ ake ũhoro wa ũhonokio
nĩ ũndũ wa kũrekerwo mehia mao,
78na tondũ wa tha nyingĩ cia Ngai witũ,
tha icio nĩigatũma riũa rĩtũrathĩre kuuma igũrũ,
791:79 Isa 9:2; Math 4:16nĩgeetha rĩarĩre arĩa matũũraga nduma-inĩ,
o na arĩa matũũraga kĩĩruru-inĩ gĩa gĩkuũ,
nĩguo rĩtongorie magũrũ maitũ njĩra-inĩ ya thayũ.”
801:80 Luk 2:40, 52Nako kaana kau gagĩkũra, na gakĩgĩa hinya roho-inĩ wako; nake agĩtũũra werũ-inĩ nginya hĩndĩ ĩrĩa eyumĩririe kũrĩ andũ a Isiraeli.
