1 اذ كان كثيرون قد اخذوا بتاليف قصة في الامور المتيقنة عندنا2 كما سلمها الينا الذين كانوا منذ البدء معاينين وخداما للكلمة3 رأيت انا ايضا اذ قد تتبعت كل شيء من الاول بتدقيق ان اكتب على التوالي اليك ايها العزيز ثاوفيلس4 لتعرف صحة الكلام الذي علّمت به5 كان في ايام هيرودس ملك اليهودية كاهن اسمه زكريا من فرقة ابيا وامرأته من بنات هرون واسمها اليصابات.6 وكانا كلاهما بارين امام الله سالكين في جميع وصايا الرب واحكامه بلا لوم.7 ولم يكن لهما ولد اذ كانت اليصابات عاقرا وكانا كلاهما متقدمين في أيامهما8 فبينما هو يكهن في نوبة فرقته امام الله9 حسب عادة الكهنوت اصابته القرعة ان يدخل الى هيكل الرب ويبخر.10 وكان كل جمهور الشعب يصلّون خارجا وقت البخور.11 فظهر له ملاك الرب واقفا عن يمين مذبح البخور.12 فلما رآه زكريا اضطرب ووقع عليه خوف.13 فقال له الملاك لا تخف يا زكريا لان طلبتك قد سمعت وامرأتك اليصابات ستلد لك ابنا وتسميه يوحنا.14 ويكون لك فرح وابتهاج وكثيرون سيفرحون بولادته.15 لانه يكون عظيما امام الرب وخمرا ومسكرا لا يشرب. ومن بطن امه يمتلئ من الروح القدس.16 ويرد كثيرين من بني اسرائيل الى الرب الههم.17 ويتقدم امامه بروح ايليا وقوته ليرد قلوب الآباء الى الابناء والعصاة الى فكر الابرار لكي يهيئ للرب شعبا مستعدا.18 فقال زكريا للملاك كيف اعلم هذا لاني انا شيخ وامرأتي متقدمة في ايامها.19 فاجاب الملاك وقال له انا جبرائيل الواقف قدام الله وأرسلت لاكلمك وابشرك بهذا.20 وها انت تكون صامتا ولا تقدر ان تتكلم الى اليوم الذي يكون فيه هذا لانك لم تصدق كلامي الذي سيتم في وقته.21 وكان الشعب منتظرين زكريا ومتعجبين من ابطائه في الهيكل.22 فلما خرج لم يستطع ان يكلمهم ففهموا انه قد رأى رؤيا في الهيكل. فكان يومئ اليهم وبقي صامتا23 ولما كملت ايام خدمته مضى الى بيته.24 وبعد تلك الايام حبلت اليصابات امرأته واخفت نفسها خمسة اشهر قائلة25 هكذا قد فعل بي الرب في الايام التي فيها نظر اليّ لينزع عاري بين الناس26 وفي الشهر السادس أرسل جبرائيل الملاك من الله الى مدينة من الجليل اسمها ناصرة27 الى عذراء مخطوبة لرجل من بيت داود اسمه يوسف. واسم العذراء مريم.28 فدخل اليها الملاك وقال سلام لك ايتها المنعم عليها. الرب معك مباركة انت في النساء.29 فلما رأته اضطربت من كلامه وفكرت ما عسى ان تكون هذه التحية.30 فقال لها الملاك لا تخافي يا مريم لانك قد وجدت نعمة عند الله.31 وها انت ستحبلين وتلدين ابنا وتسمينه يسوع.32 هذا يكون عظيما وابن العلي يدعى ويعطيه الرب الاله كرسي داود ابيه.33 ويملك على بيت يعقوب الى الابد ولا يكون لملكه نهاية34 فقالت مريم للملاك كيف يكون هذا وانا لست اعرف رجلا.35 فاجاب الملاك وقال لها. الروح القدس يحل عليك وقوة العلي تظللك فلذلك ايضا القدوس المولود منك يدعى ابن الله.36 وهوذا اليصابات نسيبتك هي ايضا حبلى بابن في شيخوختها وهذا هو الشهر السادس لتلك المدعوة عاقرا.37 لانه ليس شيء غير ممكن لدى الله.38 فقالت مريم هوذا انا أمة الرب. ليكن لي كقولك. فمضى من عندها الملاك39 فقامت مريم في تلك الايام وذهبت بسرعة الى الجبال الى مدينة يهوذا.40 ودخلت بيت زكريا وسلمت على اليصابات.41 فلما سمعت اليصابات سلام مريم ارتكض الجنين في بطنها. وامتلأت اليصابات من الروح القدس.42 وصرخت بصوت عظيم وقالت مباركة انت في النساء ومباركة هي ثمرة بطنك.43 فمن اين لي هذا ان تأتي ام ربي اليّ.44 فهوذا حين صار صوت سلامك في اذنيّ ارتكض الجنين بابتهاج في بطني.45 فطوبى للتي آمنت ان يتم ما قيل لها من قبل الرب46 فقالت مريم تعظم نفسي الرب47 وتبتهج روحي بالله مخلّصي.48 لانه نظر الى اتضاع امته. فهوذا منذ الآن جميع الاجيال تطوبني.49 لان القدير صنع بي عظائم واسمه قدوس.50 ورحمته الى جيل الاجيال للذين يتقونه.51 صنع قوة بذراعه. شتّت المستكبرين بفكر قلوبهم.52 أنزل الاعزاء عن الكراسي ورفع المتضعين.53 اشبع الجياع خيرات وصرف الاغنياء فارغين.54 عضد اسرائيل فتاه ليذكر رحمة.55 كما كلم آباءنا. لابراهيم ونسله الى الابد.56 فمكثت مريم عندها نحو ثلاثة اشهر ثم رجعت الى بيتها57 واما اليصابات فتم زمانها لتلد فولدت ابنا.58 وسمع جيرانها واقرباؤها ان الرب عظّم رحمته لها ففرحوا معها.59 وفي اليوم الثامن جاءوا ليختنوا الصبي وسموه باسم ابيه زكريا.60 فاجابت امه وقالت لا بل يسمى يوحنا.61 فقالوا لها ليس احد في عشيرتك تسمى بهذا الاسم.62 ثم اومأوا الى ابيه ماذا يريد ان يسمى.63 فطلب لوحا وكتب قائلا اسمه يوحنا. فتعجب الجميع.64 وفي الحال انفتح فمه ولسانه وتكلم وبارك الله.65 فوقع خوف على كل جيرانهم. وتحدّث بهذه الأمور جميعها في كل جبال اليهودية.66 فاودعها جميع السامعين في قلوبهم قائلين اترى ماذا يكون هذا الصبي. وكانت يد الرب معه67 وامتلأ زكريا ابوه من الروح القدس وتنبأ قائلا68 مبارك الرب اله اسرائيل لانه افتقد وصنع فداء لشعبه.69 واقام لنا قرن خلاص في بيت داود فتاه.70 كما تكلم بفم انبيائه القديسين الذين هم منذ الدهر.71 خلاص من اعدائنا ومن ايدي جميع مبغضينا.72 ليصنع رحمة مع آبائنا ويذكر عهده المقدس.73 القسم الذي حلف لابراهيم ابينا74 ان يعطينا اننا بلا خوف منقذين من ايدي اعدائنا نعبده75 بقداسة وبر قدامه جميع ايام حياتنا.76 وانت ايها الصبي نبي العلي تدعى لانك تتقدم امام وجه الرب لتعدّ طرقه.77 لتعطي شعبه معرفة الخلاص بمغفرة خطاياهم78 باحشاء رحمة الهنا التي بها افتقدنا المشرق من العلاء.79 ليضيء على الجالسين في الظلمة وظلال الموت لكي يهدي اقدامنا في طريق السلام.80 اما الصبي فكان ينمو ويتقوى بالروح وكان في البراري الى يوم ظهوره لاسرائيل

1 For as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,2 Even as they delivered them to us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus,4 That you might know the certainty of those things, wherein you have been instructed.5 THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest' office before God in the order of his course,9 According to the custom of the priest' office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell on him.13 But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.14 And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.15 For 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' womb.16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.17 And 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.18 And Zacharias said to the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.19 And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to you, and to show you these glad tidings.20 And, behold, you shall be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because you believe not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple.22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned to them, and remained speechless.23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,25 Thus has the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin' name was Mary.28 And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, you that are highly favored, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women.29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.30 And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God.31 And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS.32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.34 Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Ghost shall come on you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.36 And, behold, your cousin Elisabeth, she has also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.41 And 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:42 And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.43 And what is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44 For, see, as soon as the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.46 And Mary said, My soul does magnify the Lord,47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.48 For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from now on all generations shall call me blessed.49 For he that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy is his name.50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.51 He has showed strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.52 He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.53 He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent empty away.54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her own house.57 Now Elisabeth' full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.58 And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy on her; and they rejoiced with her.59 And 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.60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.61 And they said to her, There is none of your kindred that is called by this name.62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marveled all.64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and praised God.65 And fear came on all that dwelled round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.66 And 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.67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he has visited and redeemed his people,69 And has raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;73 The oath which he swore to our father Abraham,74 That he would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.76 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us,79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing to Israel.