1 Excelentíssimo Teófilo:Escreveram-se já várias narrativas sobre Cristo,

2 em que se usaram relatos que nos foram feitos pelos que viram o que aconteceu desde o início e que se tornaram mensageiros da boa nova de Deus.

3 Pareceu-me, contudo, que seria bom ordenar todos esses relatos, dos mais antigos aos mais recentes, e, após um exame completo, dar-te este resumo desses factos que aconteceram no nosso meio,

4 para fortalecer a tua confiança na verdade de tudo o que te foi ensinado.

5 No tempo em que Herodes era rei da Judeia, viveu um sacerdote judaico chamado Zacarias, o qual pertencia ao turno de Abias no serviço do templo. Tal como ele próprio, também sua mulher Isabel pertencia à tribo sacerdotal, sendo descendente de Arão. Zacarias e Isabel eram crentes, cuidadosos em observar todas as leis e preceitos de Deus. Sucedia que não tinham filhos, pois Isabel era estéril e ambos já eram muito velhos.

8 Certo dia, encontrando-se Zacarias ocupado no seu cargo no templo, porque naquela semana era o turno dele que estava de serviço, coube-lhe por sorteio entrar no santuário interior e queimar incenso diante do Senhor. Entretanto, grande multidão orava lá fora no pátio do templo, como sempre se fazia na altura do culto em que se queimava o incenso.

11 Achava-se Zacarias no santuário quando, de súbito, apareceu um anjo de pé à direita do altar do incenso! Zacarias ficou perturbado e cheio de medo,

13 mas o anjo disse-lhe:Não receies, Zacarias, porque vim dizer-te que Deus ouviu as tuas orações e que tua mulher Isabel vai dar à luz um filho teu, ao qual porás o nome de João!

14 O seu nascimento dar-vos-á grande prazer e contentamento, e muitos se alegrarão convosco,

15 pois ele será grande diante do Senhor. Nunca deverá beber vinho ou bebida alcoólica, e será cheio do Espírito Santo antes mesmo do seu nascimento.

16 Convencerá muitos judeus a voltarem-se para o Senhor seu Deus.

17 Será um homem forte de espírito e dotado de grande poder, tal como o profeta Elias, preparando o povo para receber o Senhor. Porá o coração dos pais de acordo com o dos filhos, e mudará as mentes desobedientes para que respeitem e obedeçam a Deus.

18 Zacarias disse ao anjo: Como posso saber que isso vai acontecer? Já sou velho, e também minha mulher é de idade bastante avançada.

19 Então o anjo disse: Eu sou Gabriel! O meu lugar é na própria presença de Deus. Foi ele quem me mandou trazer-te esta boa notícia! Mas, como não creste no que te disse, ficarás mudo e não poderás falar até que a criança nasça. E as minhas palavras irão cumprir-se no seu devido tempo.

21 Entretanto, o povo esperava que Zacarias aparecesse e admirava-se por se demorar tanto. Quando finalmente saiu, não conseguia falar, e perceberam pelos seus gestos que devia ter tido qualquer visão no templo. Zacarias ali ficou durante os dias que lhe restavam de serviço e depois voltou para casa.

24 Passado pouco tempo, sua mulher Isabel ficou grávida e viveu recolhida durante cinco meses. Como o Senhor é bom, exclamava, livrando-me assim da tristeza de não ter filhos!

26 Passados seis meses, Deus mandou o anjo Gabriel a Nazaré, uma localidade da Galileia, a uma virgem, Maria, prometida em casamento a um homem chamado José, descendente do rei David. Gabriel apareceu-lhe e disse: Eu te saúdo, mulher favorecida! O Senhor está contigo!

29 Confusa e perturbada, Maria perguntava a si própria o que quereria o anjo dizer com aquelas palavras.

30 Não tenhas medo, Maria, continuou o anjo, porque Deus vai dar-te uma bênção maravilhosa! Muito em breve ficarás grávida e terás um menino, a quem chamarás Jesus. Será grande - será chamado Filho do Altíssimo. O Senhor Deus lhe dará o trono do seu antepassado, o rei David. Governará sobre a descendência de Israel para sempre. O seu reino jamais terá fim!

34 Maria, então, perguntou ao anjo: Mas como posso ter um filho se sou virgem?

35 O anjo respondeu: O Espírito Santo virá sobre ti, e o poder do Deus altíssimo cobrir-te-á como uma sombra; por isso, o menino que de ti vai nascer será santo, e será chamado o Filho de Deus. Além disso, também há seis meses Isabel, a tua parente, que toda a gente considerava estéril, ficou grávida, apesar da sua velhice! Porque nada é impossível para Deus.

38 E Maria respondeu: Dependo só do Senhor. Que se faça em mim segundo o que disseste. Que aconteça comigo tudo o que disseste. Então o anjo desapareceu.

39 Alguns dias mais tarde, Maria foi apressadamente às terras montanhosas da Judeia, à vila onde Zacarias morava, para visitar Isabel. Quando Maria saudou a prima, o menino de Isabel saltou no seu ventre, e Isabel ficou cheia do Espírito Santo.

42 Com grande contentamento, Isabel exclamou, dirigindo-se a Maria: Bendita és tu entre as mulheres, e bendito é o filho que estás a gerar.

43 Grande honra é esta, a de ser visitada pela mãe do meu Senhor! Quando me deste a tua saudação, no momento em que ouvi a tua voz, o menino saltou de alegria dentro de mim! És feliz por teres crido que Deus cumpriria as coisas que te foram ditas.

56 Maria ficou com Isabel cerca de três meses e depois voltou para casa.

57 Entretanto, o período de espera de Isabel chegou ao seu termo, e veio a hora da criança nascer. Era um menino. A notícia de como o Senhor tinha sido bondoso para ela espalhou-se rapidamente entre vizinhos e parentes, e todos se alegraram com ela.

59 Oito dias depois de nascer, parentes e amigos vieram para a cerimónia da circuncisão . Todos julgavam que a criança se chamaria Zacarias, como o pai.

60 Mas Isabel disse: Não, ele vai chamar-se João!

61 E exclamaram: João? Em toda a tua família não há ninguém que se chame assim.

62 Então perguntaram por gestos ao pai da criança como iria ela chamar-se.

63 Ele pediu por sinais uma pequena placa e, com grande espanto de todos, escreveu, O nome dele é João.

64 E logo Zacarias conseguiu falar de novo, começando a louvar Deus.

65 O pasmo espalhou-se por toda a vizinhança e a notícia do sucedido correu pelos montes da Judeia.

66 Todos quantos ouviam falar no caso pensavam demoradamente e perguntavam: Quem virá a ser este menino no futuro? Porque, de facto, a mão do Senhor está sobre ele de maneira muito especial.

67 Então seu pai, Zacarias, cheio do Espírito Santo, falou em nome de Deus:

80 O menino ia crescendo e o seu espírito amadurecia; mais tarde vivia no deserto, até que começou com o seu trabalho público em Israel.

1 Seeing, indeed, that, many, had taken in hand to re-arrange for themselves a narrative, concerning the facts which have been fully confirmed amongst us,

2 according as they who from the beginning became eye-witnesses and attendants of the Word delivered them unto us,

3 it seemed good, even to me, having closely traced from the outset all things accurately, to write unto thee, in order, most excellent Theophilus:

4 that, as touching the matters which thou hadst been taught by word of mouth, thou mightest obtain full knowledge, of the certainty.

5 It came to pass, in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, that there was a certain priest, by name Zachariah, of the daily course of Abia; and that he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and, her name, was Elizabeth.

6 Now they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and righteous appointments of the Lord, blameless;

7 and they had no child, inasmuch as Elizabeth was barren, and, both, had become, advanced in their days.

8 But it came to pass, as he was doing priestly service in the order of his daily course, before God,

9 according to the custom of his priesthood, it fell to his lot to offer incense, entering into the Temple of the Lord;

10 and, all the throng of the people, was praying outside, at the hour of the incense offering.

11 And there appeared unto him a messenger of the Lord, standing on the right hand of the altar of incense;

12 and Zachariah was troubled when he beheld, and, fear, fell upon him.

13 But the messenger said unto himDo not fear, Zachariah! Inasmuch as thy supplication hath been hearkened to,and, thy wife Elizabeth, shall bring forth a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name, John;

14 And there shall be joy to thee and exulting, and, many, over his birth, shall rejoice;

15 For he shall be great before the Lord, and, wine and strong drink, in nowise may he drink, and, with Holy Spirit, shall he be filled, already, from his mothers womb;

16 And, many of the Sons of Israel, shall he turn towards the Lord their God;

17 And, he, shall go before him, in the spirit and power of Elijah,To turn the hearts of fathers unto children, and the unyielding, into the prudence of the righteous, and to prepare, for the Lord, a people made ready.

18 And Zachariah said unto the messengerWhereby, shall I know this? for, I, am, aged, and, my wife, advanced in her days.

19 And the messenger, answering, said unto himI, am Gabriel,he that standeth near before God; and have been sent forth to speak unto thee, and to deliver the joyful message unto thee, as touching these things.

20 And lo! thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak until the day when these things shall come to pass; because thou didst not believe in my words,the which shall be fulfilled for their season.

21 And the people were expecting Zachariah, and began to marvel that he should tarry in the Temple;

22 and when he came forth he was not able to speak unto them, and they perceived that, a vision, he had seen in the Temple,and, he, continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

23 And it came to pass, when the days of his public ministration were fulfilled, that he departed unto his house.

24 And, after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she disguised herself five months, saying

25 Thus, for me, hath the Lord wrought,in the days in which he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

26 Now, in the sixth month, was the messenger Gabriel sent forth from God, into a city of Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth,

27 unto a virgin, betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and, the name of the virgin, was, Mary;

28 and entering in unto her, he saidJoy to thee, favoured one! The Lord, be with thee!

29 And, she, at the word, was greatly troubled, and began to deliberate, of what kind, this salutation, might be.

30 And the messenger said unto herDo not fear, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God,

31 And 1o! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name, Jesus:

32 the same, shall be great, and, Son of the Most High, shall be called, and the Lord God, will give unto him, the throne of David his father,

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob, unto the ages, and, of his kingdom, there shall be, no end.

34 But Mary said unto the messengerHow, shall this thing be, seeing that, a man, I know not?

35 And answering, the messenger said unto herThe Holy Spirit, shall come upon thee, and, the power of the Most High, shall overshadow thee; wherefore, even that which is to be born, Holy, shall be called, Son of God.

36 And lo! Elizabeth thy kinswoman, even she, hath conceived a son in, her old-age;and, this month, is, the sixth, to her, the so-called barren one;

37 Because no declaration from God, shall be void of power.

38 And Mary saidLo! the handmaid of the Lord! Might it come to pass unto me, according to thy declaration. And the messenger departed from her.

39 And Mary, arising, in these days, journeyed into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

40 and entered into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth.

41 And it came to pass that, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit,

42 and lifted up her voice with loud exclamation, and saidBlessed, art thou among women, and, blessed, is the fruit of thy womb;

43 And, whence, to me is, this, That the mother of my Lord should come, unto me?

44 For lo! as the sound of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe in my womb, leapt in exultation.

45 And, happy, is she who hath believed, that there shall be a perfecting of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!

46 And Mary saidMy soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit hath exulted upon God my saviour;

48 Because he hath looked upon the humbling of his handmaid; for lo! from the present time, all the generations, will pronounce me happy.

49 Because he that is mighty hath done for me great things, and, holy, is his name;

50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations, to them who revere him;

51 He hath wrought strength with his arm, He hath scattered men arrogant in the intention of their heart;

52 He hath deposed potentates from thrones, and uplifted the lowly;

53 The hungry, hath he filled with good things, and, the wealthy, hath he sent empty away;

54 He hath laid hold of Israel his servant, to be mindful of mercies:

55 According as he spake unto our fathers,To Abraham, and to his seed,Unto times age-abiding.

56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

57 And, to Elizabeth, was the time fulfilled, that she should be bringing forth,and she gave birth to a son.

58 And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard, that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they were rejoicing with her.

59 And it came to pass, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and were calling it, after the name of its father, Zachariah.

60 And his mother, answering, saidNay! but he shall be called, John.

61 And they said unto herThere is, no one from among thy kindred, who is called by this name!

62 And they began making signs unto his father, as to what he might be wishing it to be called.

63 And, asking for a small tablet, he wrote, sayingJohn, is his name! and they marvelled all.

64 And his mouth was opened instantly, and his tongue , and he began to speak, blessing, God.

65 And fear came upon all the neighbours themselves; and, throughout all the hill-country of Judaea, were all these matters being much talked of;

66 and all who heard laid

67 And, Zachariah his father, was filled with Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68 Blessed, be the Lord, the God of Israel! Because he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,

69 And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us, In the house of David his servant:

70 According as he hath spoken by mouth of his holy ancient prophets,

71 Of salvation from among our foes, and out of the hand of all them that hate us:

72 To perform mercy with our fathers, and to be mindful of his holy covenant,

73 The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, To grant us,

74 without fear, from the hand of enemies rescued, to be rendering divine service unto him,

75 in lovingkindness and righteousness before him, all our days.

76 And, even thou, child, prophet of the Most High, shalt be called,for thou shall march on before the Lord, to prepare his ways,

77 Giving a knowledge of salvation unto his people, by a remission of their sins.

78 Because of the yearning compassion of the mercy of our God, wherein shall visit us a day-dawn from on high,

79 To shine on them who, in the darkness and shade of death, are sitting, to guide our feet into a way of peace.

80 And, the child, went on growing, and being strengthened in spirit, and was in the deserts, until the day he was pointed out unto Israel.