1 Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. 2 They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened. 3 So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus, 4 I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard.
An Angel Tells about the Birth of John
5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest by the name of Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron. 6 Both of them were good people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that he had commanded. 7 But they did not have children. Elizabeth could not have any, and both Zechariah and Elizabeth were already old.
8 One day Zechariah's group of priests were on duty, and he was serving God as a priest. 9 According to the custom of the priests, he had been chosen to go into the Lord's temple that day and to burn incense, 10 while the people stood outside praying.
11 All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar. 12 Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel. 13 But the angel told him:
Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John. 14 His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad. 15 Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.
16 John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God. 17 He will go ahead of the Lord with the same power and spirit that Elijah had. And because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. And people who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. This is how John will get people ready for the Lord.
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.”
19 The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, God's servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news. 20 You have not believed what I have said. So you will not be able to say a thing until all this happens. But everything will take place when it is supposed to.”
21 The crowd was waiting for Zechariah and kept wondering why he was staying in the temple so long. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak, and they knew he had seen a vision. He motioned to them with his hands, but did not say a thing.
23 When Zechariah's time of service in the temple was over, he went home. 24 Soon after this, his wife was expecting a baby, and for five months she did not leave the house. She said to herself, 25 “What the Lord has done for me will keep people from looking down on me.”
An Angel Tells about the Birth of Jesus
26 One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee 27 with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. 28 The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was confused by the angel's words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, “Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”
34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not even married!”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God's power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!”
38 Mary said, “I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. 40 She went into Zechariah's home, where she greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby moved within her.
The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. 42 Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:
God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. 43 Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? 44 As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. 45 The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.
Mary's Song of Praise
46 Mary said:
With all my heart
I praise the Lord,
47 and I am glad
because of God my Savior.
48 God cares for me,
his humble servant.
From now on,
all people will say
God has blessed me.
49 God All-Powerful has done
great things for me,
and his name is holy.
50 He always shows mercy
to everyone
who worships him.
51 The Lord has used
his powerful arm
to scatter those
who are proud.
52 God drags strong rulers
from their thrones
and puts humble people
in places of power.
53 God gives the hungry
good things to eat,
and sends the rich away
with nothing.
54 God helps his servant Israel
and is always merciful
to his people.
55 The Lord made this promise
to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his family
forever!
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 When Elizabeth's son was born, 58 her neighbors and relatives heard how kind the Lord had been to her, and they too were glad.
59 Eight days later they did for the child what the Law of Moses commands. They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John.”
61 The people argued, “No one in your family has ever been named John.” 62 So they motioned to Zechariah to find out what he wanted to name his son.
63 Zechariah asked for a writing tablet. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed. 64 At once, Zechariah started speaking and praising God.
65 All the neighbors were frightened because of what had happened, and everywhere in the hill country people kept talking about these things. 66 Everyone who heard about this wondered what this child would grow up to be. They knew the Lord was with him.
Zechariah Praises the Lord
67 The Holy Spirit came upon Zechariah, and he began to speak:
68 Praise the Lord,
the God of Israel!
He has come
to save his people.
69 Our God has given us
a mighty Savior
from the family
of David his servant.
70 Long ago the Lord promised
by the words
of his holy prophets
71 to save us from our enemies
and from everyone
who hates us.
72 God said he would be kind
to our people and keep
his sacred promise.
73 He told our ancestor Abraham
74 that he would rescue us
from our enemies.
Then we could serve him
without fear,
75 by being holy and good
as long as we live.
76 You, my son, will be called
the prophet of God Most High.
You will go ahead of the Lord
to get everything ready
for him.
77 You will tell his people
that they can be saved
when their sins
are forgiven.
78 God's love and kindness
will shine upon us
like the sun that rises
in the sky.
79 On us who live
in the dark shadow
of death
this light will shine
to guide us
into a life of peace.
80 As John grew up, God's Spirit gave him great power. John lived in the desert until the time he was sent to the people of Israel.
1 Kad jau daudzi sākuši aprakstīt lietas, kas notikušas mūsu starpā, 2 kā tās mums atstāstījuši pirmie aculiecinieki un Dieva vārda kalpi, 3 tad arī es, visam no sākuma izsekojis, nolēmu tev, cienījamo Teofil, to pēc kārtas uzrakstīt, 4 lai tu pārliecinātos par tās mācības patiesību, kas tev darīta zināma. 5 Jūdejas ķēniņa Hēroda laikā dzīvoja priesteris no Abija vienības Caharija un viņa sieva no Ārona cilts, vārdā Elizabete. 6 Viņi abi bija taisni Dieva priekšā un staigāja nevainojami visos Tā Kunga baušļos un likumos. 7 Tiem nebija neviena bērna, jo Elizabete bija neauglīga, un abi bija jau labi gados. 8 Bet notika, kad Caharija pēc savas kārtas izpildīja priestera pienākumus Dieva priekšā 9 un pēc priestera paražas viņam pienācās ieiet Tā Kunga namā un kvēpināt, 10 bet viss ļaužu pulks ārā lūdza Dievu kvēpināmā stundā, 11 tad viņam Tā Kunga eņģelis parādījās, stāvēdams kvēpināmā altāra labajā pusē. 12 Caharija, to redzēdams, izbijās, un bailes to pārņēma. 13 Bet eņģelis uz viņu sacīja: "Nebīsties, Caharija, jo tava lūgšana ir paklausīta, un tava sieva Elizabete dzemdēs dēlu, un tu viņa vārdu sauksi: Jānis. 14 Un tev būs prieks un līksmība, un daudzi priecāsies par viņa piedzimšanu. 15 Jo viņš būs liels Tā Kunga priekšā, vīnu un stipru dzērienu viņš nedzers, un Svētais Gars viņu piepildīs jau no mātes miesām. 16 Un daudzus Israēla bērnus viņš atgriezīs pie Tā Kunga, viņu Dieva. 17 Un viņš ies Viņa priekšā Elijas garā un spēkā, piegriezdams tēvu sirdis bērniem un neklausīgos taisno domām, sagatavodams Tam Kungam padevīgus ļaudis." 18 Caharija sacīja eņģelim: "Kā es to zināšu? Jo es pats esmu vecs, un mana sieva arī ir jau labi gados." 19 Eņģelis viņam atbildēja: "Es esmu Gabriēls, kas stāv Dieva priekšā, un esmu sūtīts runāt ar tevi un tev pasludināt šo prieka vēsti. 20 Zini, tu tapsi mēms un nevarēsi runāt līdz tai dienai, kad šās lietas notiks, tāpēc ka tu neesi ticējis maniem vārdiem, bet savā laikā tie piepildīsies." 21 Un ļaudis gaidīja Cahariju un brīnījās, ka viņš kavējās Dieva namā. 22 Un, kad viņš iznāca, viņš nevarēja uz tiem runāt, un tie noprata, ka viņš Dieva namā bija redzējis parādīšanu, un viņš tiem meta ar roku un palika mēms. 23 Un, kad viņa kalpošanas laiks izbeidzās, viņš aizgāja uz mājām. 24 Un pēc šīm dienām Elizabete, viņa sieva, tapa grūta un nerādījās ļaudīs piecus mēnešus, sacīdama: 25 "To Tas Kungs man darījis; Viņš šīs dienas izraudzījis, lai atņemtu manu negodu ļaužu priekšā." 26 Bet sestajā mēnesī eņģeli Gabriēlu Dievs sūtīja uz Galilejas pilsētu Nacareti 27 pie jaunavas, kas bija saderināta vīram, kam vārds Jāzeps, no Dāvida cilts, un jaunavas vārds bija Marija. 28 Un eņģelis, pie viņas ienācis, sacīja: "Esi sveicināta, tu apžēlotā, Tas Kungs ar tevi!" 29 Bet viņa iztrūkās par viņa valodu un domāja pie sevis: kas tas par sveicienu? 30 Un eņģelis sacīja: "Nebīsties, Marija, jo tu žēlastību esi atradusi pie Dieva. 31 Un redzi, tu tapsi grūta savās miesās un dzemdēsi Dēlu, un sauksi Viņa vārdu: Jēzus. 32 Tas būs liels, un Viņu sauks par Visuaugstākā Dēlu, un Dievs Tas Kungs Tam dos Viņa tēva Dāvida troni, 33 un Viņš valdīs pār Jēkaba namu mūžīgi, un Viņa valstībai nebūs gala." 34 Bet Marija sacīja eņģelim: "Kā tas var notikt? Jo es vīra neapzinos." 35 Tad eņģelis atbildēja un uz to sacīja: "Svētais Gars nāks pār tevi, un Visuaugstākā spēks tevi apēnos, tāpēc Tas, kas no tevis dzims, būs svēts un taps saukts Dieva Dēls. 36 Zini, Elizabete, tava radiniece, savā vecumā arī ir grūta ar dēlu un iet tagad sestajā mēnesī - tā, ko dēvē neauglīgu, 37 jo Dievam nekas nav neiespējams." 38 Bet Marija sacīja: "Redzi, es esmu Tā Kunga kalpone, lai notiek ar mani pēc tava vārda." Un eņģelis no viņas aizgāja. 39 Un Marija cēlās tanīs pašās dienās un steigšus gāja kalnos uz pilsētu Jūdas novadā. 40 Iegājusi Caharijas namā, viņa sveicināja Elizabeti. 41 Un notika, kad Elizabete Marijas sveicinājumu dzirdēja, tad bērniņš viņas miesās sāka lēkt, un Elizabete tapa Svētā Gara pilna, 42 un viņa stiprā balsī sauca un sacīja: "Tu esi augsti teicama starp sievām, un augsti teicams ir tavas miesas auglis. 43 No kurienes man tas, ka mana Kunga māte nāk pie manis? 44 Redzi, tikko tavas sveicināšanas balss atskanēja manās ausīs, tad bērniņš manās miesās ar līksmību sāka lēkt. 45 Labi tai, kas ir ticējusi, ka tas, ko Dievs licis viņai sacīt, piepildīsies." 46 Un Marija sacīja: "Mana dvēsele slavē To Kungu, 47 un mans gars gavilē par Dievu, manu Pestītāju, 48 jo Viņš ir uzlūkojis savas kalpones zemumu; redzi, no šī laika visi bērnu bērni mani teiks svētīgu, 49 jo Varenais lielas lietas pie manis ir darījis, un svēts ir Viņa Vārds, 50 un Viņa žēlastība paliek uz radu radiem pie tiem, kas Viņu bīstas. 51 Viņš darījis varenus darbus ar Savu elkoni un izklīdinājis tos, kas ir lieli savā sirdsprātā. 52 Viņš varenos nogāzis no augstiem troņiem un paaugstinājis zemos. 53 Izsalkušo Viņš pildījis ar labumiem, un bagātos Viņš atstājis tukšus. 54 Viņš gādājis par Savu kalpu Israēlu un pieminējis Savu žēlastību, 55 kā viņš runājis uz mūsu tēviem, uz Ābrahāmu un viņa dzimumu mūžīgi." 56 Marija palika pie tās kādus trīs mēnešus, pēc tam viņa atgriezās atpakaļ savās mājās. 57 Kad Elizabetei laiks pienāca dzemdēt, viņa dzemdēja dēlu. 58 Un viņas kaimiņi un radi, dzirdējuši, ka Tas Kungs lielu žēlastību tai bija parādījis, priecājās līdz ar viņu. 59 Astotajā dienā tie sanāca bērniņu apgraizīt un gribēja to saukt tēva vārdā par Cahariju. 60 Bet viņa māte atbildēja un sacīja: "Nē, to būs saukt Jāni." 61 Tad tie viņai sacīja: "Neviena nav tavos rados, kam tāds vārds." 62 Un tie prasīja ar zīmēm no viņa tēva, kā viņš gribētu, lai to sauktu. 63 Tas, galdiņu prasījis, rakstīja: "Viņa vārds ir Jānis." Par to visi brīnījās. 64 Un tūdaļ viņa mute atdarījās un viņa mēle atraisījās, un tas runāja, Dievu slavēdams. 65 Tad izbailes uzgāja visiem kaimiņiem, un visā Jūdejas kalnājā runāja par šīm lietām. 66 Un visi, kas to dzirdēja, to paturēja sirdī un sacīja: "Kas būs ar šo bērniņu?" Jo Tā Kunga roka bija ar viņu. 67 Un viņa tēvs Caharija tapa Svētā Gara pilns, pravietoja un sacīja: 68 "Slavēts ir Tas Kungs, Israēla Dievs, jo Tas piemeklējis Savus ļaudis un tiem gādājis pestīšanu 69 un mums uzcēlis pestīšanas ragu Sava kalpa Dāvida namā, 70 kā tas sendienās solījis ar Savu svēto praviešu muti: 71 mūs pestīt no mūsu ienaidniekiem un no visu to rokām, kas mūs ienīst, 72 parādīt žēlastību mūsu tēviem un pieminēt Savu svēto derību, 73 un dot mums stipro solījumu, ko Viņš zvērējis mūsu tēvam Ābrahāmam, 74 ka mēs no savu ienaidnieku rokām pestīti, Viņam bezbailīgi kalpotu 75 svētumā un taisnībā Viņa priekšā visas mūža dienas. 76 Un tevi, bērniņ, sauks par Visuaugstākā pravieti, jo tu iesi Tā Kunga priekšā sataisīt Viņam ceļus, 77 dot Viņa ļaudīm pestīšanas atziņu uz grēku piedošanu 78 mūsu Dieva sirsnīgās žēlastības dēļ, ar ko auseklis no augšienes mūs uzlūkojis, 79 lai spīdētu tiem, kas mīt tumsībā un nāves ēnā, un atgrieztu mūsu soļus uz miera ceļu." 80 Un bērniņš auga un garā stiprinājās un bija tuksnesī līdz tai dienai, kad tam bija stāties Israēla ļaužu priekšā.
