1Ọ̀pọ̀ ènìyàn ni ó ti dáwọ́lé títo àwọn nǹkan wọ̀n-ọn-nì jọ lẹ́sẹẹsẹ, èyí tí ó ti múlẹ̀ ṣinṣin láàrín wa, 21.2: 1Jh 1.1; Ap 1.21; Hb 2.3.àní gẹ́gẹ́ bí àwọn ìránṣẹ́ ọ̀rọ̀ náà, tí ó ṣe ojú wọn láti ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ ti fi lé wa lọ́wọ́. 31.3: Ap 1.1.Nítorí náà, ó sì yẹ fún èmi pẹ̀lú, láti kọ̀wé sí ọ lẹ́sẹẹsẹ bí mo ti wádìí ohun gbogbo fínní fínní sí láti ìpilẹ̀ṣẹ̀, Teofilu ọlọ́lá jùlọ, 41.4: Jh 20.31.kí ìwọ kí ó le mọ òtítọ́ ohun wọ̀n-ọn-nì, tí a ti kọ́ ọ.
Àsọtẹ́lẹ̀ nípa ibí Johanu onítẹ̀bọmi
51.5: Mt 2.1; 1Ki 24.10; 2Ki 31.2.Nígbà ọjọ́ Herodu ọba Judea, àlùfáà kan wà, láti ìran Abijah, orúkọ rẹ̀ a máa jẹ́ Sekariah: aya rẹ̀ sì ṣe ọ̀kan nínú àwọn ọmọbìnrin Aaroni, orúkọ rẹ̀ a sì máa jẹ́ Elisabeti. 6Àwọn méjèèjì sì ṣe olódodo níwájú Ọlọ́run, wọ́n ń rìn ní gbogbo òfin àti ìlànà Olúwa ní àìlẹ́gàn. 7Ṣùgbọ́n wọn kò ní ọmọ, nítorí tí Elisabeti yàgàn; àwọn méjèèjì sì di arúgbó.
8Ó sì ṣe, nígbà tí ó ń ṣe iṣẹ́ àlùfáà níwájú Ọlọ́run ni àkókò tirẹ̀ 91.9: Ek 30.7.Bí ìṣe àwọn àlùfáà, ipa tirẹ̀ ni láti máa fi tùràrí jóná, nígbà tí ó bá wọ inú tẹmpili Olúwa lọ. 10Gbogbo ìjọ àwọn ènìyàn sì ń gbàdúrà lóde ní àkókò sísun tùràrí.
111.11: Lk 2.9; Ap 5.19.Angẹli Olúwa kan sì fi ara hàn án, ó dúró ní apá ọ̀tún pẹpẹ tùràrí. 12Nígbà tí Sekariah sì rí i, orí rẹ̀ wú, ẹ̀rù sì bà á. 131.13: Lk 1.30,60.Ṣùgbọ́n angẹli náà wí fún un pé, “Má bẹ̀rù, Sekariah: nítorí tí àdúrà rẹ gbà; Elisabeti aya rẹ yóò sì bí ọmọkùnrin kan fún ọ, ìwọ ó sì sọ orúkọ rẹ̀ ní Johanu. 14Òun yóò sì jẹ́ ayọ̀ àti ìdùnnú fún ọ: ènìyàn púpọ̀ yóò sì yọ̀ sí ìbí rẹ. 151.15: Nu 6.3; Lk 7.33.Nítorí òun ó pọ̀ níwájú Olúwa, kì yóò sì mu ọtí wáìnì, bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kì yóò sì mu ọtí líle; yóò sì kún fún Ẹ̀mí Mímọ́ àní láti inú ìyá rẹ̀ wá. 16Òun ó sì yí ènìyàn púpọ̀ padà nínú àwọn ọmọ Israẹli sí Olúwa Ọlọ́run wọn. 171.17: Mt 11.14; 17.13; Ml 4.5.Ẹ̀mí àti agbára Elijah ni Olúwa yóò sì fi ṣáájú rẹ̀ lọ, láti pa ọkàn àwọn baba dà sí ti àwọn ọmọ, àti ti àwọn aláìgbọ́ràn sí ọgbọ́n àwọn olóòtítọ́; kí ó le pèsè àwọn ènìyàn tí a múra sílẹ̀ de Olúwa.”
18Sekariah sì wí fún angẹli náà pé, “Ààmì wo ni èmi ó fi mọ èyí? Èmi sá ti di àgbà, àti Elisabeti aya mi sì di arúgbó.”
191.19: Da 8.16; 9.21; Mt 18.10.Angẹli náà sì dáhùn ó wí fún un pé, “Èmi ni Gabrieli, tí máa ń dúró níwájú Ọlọ́run; èmi ni a rán wá láti sọ fún ọ, àti láti mú ìròyìn ayọ̀ wọ̀nyí fún ọ wá. 20Sì kíyèsi i, ìwọ ó yadi, ìwọ kì yóò sì le fọhùn, títí ọjọ́ náà tí nǹkan wọ̀nyí yóò fi ṣẹ, nítorí ìwọ kò gba ọ̀rọ̀ mi gbọ́ tí yóò ṣẹ ní àkókò wọn.”
21Àwọn ènìyàn sì ń dúró de Sekariah, ẹnu sì yà wọ́n nítorí tí ó pẹ́ nínú tẹmpili. 22Nígbà tí ó sì jáde wá, òun kò le bá wọn sọ̀rọ̀. Wọn sì kíyèsi wí pé ó ti rí ìran nínú tẹmpili, ó sì ń ṣe àpẹẹrẹ sí wọn, nítorí tí ó yadi.
23Ó sì ṣe, nígbà tí ọjọ́ iṣẹ́ ìsìn rẹ̀ pé, ó lọ sí ilé rẹ̀. 24Lẹ́yìn èyí ni Elisabeti aya rẹ̀ lóyún, ó sì fi ara rẹ̀ pamọ́ ní oṣù márùn-ún, 25Ó sì wí pé “Báyìí ni Olúwa ṣe fún mi ní ọjọ́ tí ó ṣíjú wò mí, láti mú ẹ̀gàn mi kúrò láàrín àwọn ènìyàn.”
Ìsọtẹ́lẹ̀ ibi Jesu
26Ní oṣù kẹfà Ọlọ́run sì rán angẹli Gabrieli sí ìlú kan ní Galili, tí à ń pè ní Nasareti, 27sí wúńdíá kan tí a ṣèlérí láti fẹ́ fún ọkùnrin kan, tí a ń pè ní Josẹfu, ti ìdílé Dafidi; orúkọ wúńdíá náà a sì máa jẹ́ Maria. 28Angẹli náà sì tọ̀ ọ́ wá, ó ní, “Àlàáfíà fun ọ, ìwọ ẹni tí a kọjú sí ṣe ní oore, Olúwa ń bẹ pẹ̀lú rẹ.”
29Ṣùgbọ́n ọkàn Maria kò lélẹ̀ nítorí ọ̀rọ̀ náà, ó sì rò nínú ara rẹ̀ pé, irú kíkí kín ni èyí. 301.30: Lk 1.13.Ṣùgbọ́n angẹli náà wí fún un pé, “Má bẹ̀rù, Maria: nítorí ìwọ ti rí ojúrere lọ́dọ̀ Ọlọ́run. 311.31: Lk 2.21; Mt 1.21.Ìwọ yóò lóyún nínú rẹ, ìwọ ó sì bí ọmọkùnrin kan, ìwọ ó sì pe orúkọ rẹ̀ ní Jesu. 32Òun ó pọ̀, Ọmọ Ọ̀gá-ògo jùlọ ni a ó sì máa pè é: Olúwa Ọlọ́run yóò sì fi ìtẹ́ Dafidi baba rẹ̀ fún: 331.33: Mt 28.18; Da 2.44.Yóò sì jẹ ọba lórí ilé Jakọbu títí láé; ìjọba rẹ̀ kì yóò sì ní ìpẹ̀kun.”
341.34: Lk 1.18.Nígbà náà ni Maria béèrè lọ́wọ́ angẹli náà pé, “Èyí yóò ha ti ṣe rí bẹ́ẹ̀, nígbà tí èmi kò tí ì mọ ọkùnrin.”
351.35: Mt 1.20.Angẹli náà sì dáhùn ó sì wí fún un pé, “Ẹ̀mí Mímọ́ yóò tọ̀ ọ́ wá, agbára Ọ̀gá-ògo jùlọ yóò ṣíji bò ọ́. Nítorí náà ohun mímọ́ tí a ó ti inú rẹ bí, Ọmọ Ọlọ́run ni a ó máa pè é. 36Sì kíyèsi i, Elisabeti ìbátan rẹ náà yóò sì ní ọmọkùnrin kan ní ògbólógbòó rẹ̀. Èyí sì ni oṣù kẹfà fún ẹni tí à ń pè ní àgàn. 371.37: Gẹ 18.14.Nítorí kò sí ohun tí Ọlọ́run kò le ṣe.”
38Maria sì dáhùn wí pé, “Wò ó ọmọ ọ̀dọ̀ Olúwa; kí ó rí fún mi gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọ̀rọ̀ rẹ.” Angẹli náà sì fi í sílẹ̀ lọ.
Maria bẹ Elisabeti wò
39Ní àkókò náà ni Maria sì dìde, ó lọ kánkán sí ilẹ̀ òkè, sí ìlú kan ní Judea; 40Ó sì wọ ilé Sekariah lọ ó sì kí Elisabeti. 41Ó sì ṣe, nígbà tí Elisabeti gbọ́ kíkí Maria, ọlẹ̀ sọ nínú rẹ̀; Elisabeti sì kún fún Ẹ̀mí mímọ́; 421.42: Lk 11.27-28.Ó sì ké ní ohùn rara, ó sì wí pé, “Alábùkún fún ni ìwọ nínú àwọn obìnrin, alábùkún fún sì ni ọmọ tí ìwọ yóò bí. 43Èéṣe tí èmi fi rí irú ojúrere yìí, tí ìyá Olúwa mi ìbá fi tọ̀ mí wá? 44Sá wò ó, bí ohùn kíkí rẹ ti bọ́ sí mi ní etí, ọlẹ̀ sọ nínú mi fún ayọ̀. 45Alábùkún fún sì ni ẹni tí ó gbàgbọ́: nítorí nǹkan wọ̀nyí tí a ti sọ fún un láti ọ̀dọ̀ Olúwa wá yóò ṣẹ.”
Orin Maria
46Maria sì dáhùn, ó ní:
“Ọkàn mi yin Olúwa lógo,
47Ẹ̀mí mi sì yọ̀ sí Ọlọ́run Olùgbàlà mi.
48Nítorí tí ó ṣíjú wo ìwà ìrẹ̀lẹ̀
ọmọbìnrin ọ̀dọ̀ rẹ̀: Sá wò ó.
Láti ìsinsin yìí lọ gbogbo ìran ènìyàn ni yóò máa pè mí ní alábùkún fún.
49Nítorí ẹni tí ó ní agbára ti ṣe ohun tí ó tóbi fún mi;
Mímọ́ sì ni orúkọ rẹ̀.
50Àánú rẹ̀ sì ń bẹ fún àwọn tí ó bẹ̀rù rẹ̀
láti ìrandíran.
51Ó ti fi agbára hàn ní apá rẹ̀;
o ti tú àwọn onígbèéraga ká ní ìrònú ọkàn wọn.
52Ó ti mú àwọn alágbára kúrò lórí ìtẹ́ wọn,
o sì gbé àwọn onírẹ̀lẹ̀ lékè.
53Ó ti fi ohun tí ó dára kún àwọn tí ebi ń pa
ó sì rán àwọn ọlọ́rọ̀ padà ní òfo.
54Ó ti ran Israẹli ọmọ ọ̀dọ̀ rẹ̀ lọ́wọ́,
Ní ìrántí àánú rẹ̀;
551.55: Mt 7.20; Gẹ 17.7; 18.18; 22.17.sí Abrahamu àti àwọn ìran rẹ̀ láéláé, baba wa,
àti bí ó ti sọ fún àwọn baba wa.”
56Maria sì jókòó tì Elisabeti níwọ̀n oṣù mẹ́ta, ó sì padà lọ sí ilé rẹ̀.
Ìbí Johanu onítẹ̀bọmi
57Nígbà tí ọjọ́ Elisabeti pé tí yóò bí; ó sì bí ọmọkùnrin kan. 58Àwọn aládùúgbò, àti àwọn ìbátan rẹ̀ gbọ́ bí Olúwa ti fi àánú ńlá hàn fún un, wọ́n sì bá a yọ̀.
591.59: Le 12.3; Gẹ 17.12.Ó sì ṣe, ní ọjọ́ kẹjọ wọ́n wá láti kọ ọmọ náà nílà; wọ́n sì fẹ́ sọ orúkọ rẹ̀ ní Sekariah, gẹ́gẹ́ bí orúkọ baba rẹ̀. 60Ìyá rẹ̀ sì dáhùn, ó ní, “Bẹ́ẹ̀ kọ́! Johanu ni a ó pè é.”
61Wọ́n sì wí fún un pé, “Kò sí ọ̀kan nínú àwọn ará rẹ̀ tí à ń pè ní orúkọ yìí.”
62Wọ́n sì ṣe àpẹẹrẹ sí baba rẹ̀, bí ó ti ń fẹ́ kí a pè é. 63Ó sì béèrè fún wàláà, ó sì kọ ọ wí pé, “Johanu ni orúkọ rẹ̀.” Ẹnu sì ya gbogbo wọn. 64Ẹnu rẹ̀ sì ṣí lọ́gán, okùn ahọ́n rẹ̀ sì tú, ó sì sọ̀rọ̀, ó sì ń yin Ọlọ́run. 65Ẹ̀rù sì ba gbogbo àwọn tí ń bẹ ní agbègbè wọn: a sì ròyìn gbogbo nǹkan wọ̀nyí ká gbogbo ilẹ̀ òkè Judea. 66Ó sì jẹ́ ohun ìyanu fún gbogbo àwọn tí ó gbọ́ nípa rẹ̀, wọ́n sì tò ó sínú ọkàn wọn, wọ́n ń wí pé, “Irú-ọmọ kín ni èyí yóò jẹ́?” Nítorí tí ọwọ́ Olúwa wà pẹ̀lú rẹ̀.
Orin Ṣakariah
67Sekariah baba rẹ̀ sì kún fún Ẹ̀mí Mímọ́, ó sì sọtẹ́lẹ̀, ó ní:
68“Olùbùkún ni Olúwa Ọlọ́run Israẹli;
nítorí tí ó ti bojú wò, tí ó sì ti dá àwọn ènìyàn rẹ̀ nídè,
69Ó sì ti gbé ìwo ìgbàlà sókè fún wa
ní ilé Dafidi ọmọ ọ̀dọ̀ rẹ̀;
70(bí ó ti sọtẹ́lẹ̀ láti ẹnu àwọn wòlíì rẹ̀ mímọ́ tipẹ́tipẹ́),
71Pé, a ó gbà wá là lọ́wọ́
àwọn ọ̀tá wa àti lọ́wọ́ àwọn tí ó kórìíra wá.
72Láti ṣe àánú tí ó ṣèlérí fún àwọn baba wa,
àti láti rántí májẹ̀mú rẹ̀ mímọ́,
73ìbúra tí ó ti bú fún Abrahamu baba wa,
74láti gbà wá lọ́wọ́ àwọn ọ̀tá wa,
kí àwa kí ó lè máa sìn láìfòyà,
75ni ìwà mímọ́ àti ní òdodo níwájú rẹ̀, ní ọjọ́ ayé wa gbogbo.
761.76: Lk 7.26; Ml 4.5.“Àti ìwọ, ọmọ mi, wòlíì Ọ̀gá-ògo jùlọ ni a ó máa pè ọ́:
nítorí ìwọ ni yóò ṣáájú Olúwa láti tún ọ̀nà rẹ̀ ṣe;
771.77: Mk 1.4.láti fi ìmọ̀ ìgbàlà fún àwọn ènìyàn rẹ̀
fún ìmúkúrò ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ wọn,
781.78: Ml 4.2; Ef 5.14.nítorí ìyọ́nú Ọlọ́run wà;
nípa èyí tí ìlà-oòrùn láti òkè wá bojú wò wá,
791.79: Isa 9.2; Mt 4.16.Láti fi ìmọ́lẹ̀ fún àwọn tí ó jókòó ní
òkùnkùn àti ní òjìji ikú,
àti láti fi ẹsẹ̀ wa lé ọ̀nà àlàáfíà.”
801.80: Lk 2.40; 2.52.Ọmọ náà sì dàgbà, ó sì le ní ọkàn, ó sì ń gbé ní ijù títí ó fi di ọjọ́ ìfihàn rẹ̀ fún Israẹli.
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.
