Introduction
1 Dear Theophilus:
Many people have done their best to write a report of the things that have taken place among us. 2 They wrote what we have been told by those who saw these things from the beginning and who proclaimed the message. 3 And so, Your Excellency, because I have carefully studied all these matters from their beginning, I thought it would be good to write an orderly account for you. 4 I do this so that you will know the full truth about everything which you have been taught.
The Birth of John the Baptist Is Announced
5 During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife's name was Elizabeth; she also belonged to a priestly family. 6 They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth could not have any, and she and Zechariah were both very old.
8 One day Zechariah was doing his work as a priest in the Temple, taking his turn in the daily service. 9 According to the custom followed by the priests, he was chosen by lot to burn incense on the altar. So he went into the Temple of the Lord, 10 while the crowd of people outside prayed during the hour when the incense was burned. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar where the incense was burned. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was alarmed and felt afraid. 13 But the angel said to him, “Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You are to name him John. 14 How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born! 15 John will be great in the Lord's sight. He must not drink any wine or strong drink. From his very birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, 16 and he will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah. He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord's people ready for him.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know if this is so? I am an old man, and my wife is old also.”
19 “I am Gabriel,” the angel answered. “I stand in the presence of God, who sent me to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 But you have not believed my message, which will come true at the right time. Because you have not believed, you will be unable to speak; you will remain silent until the day my promise to you comes true.”
21 In the meantime the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he was spending such a long time in the Temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and so they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. Unable to say a word, he made signs to them with his hands.
23 When his period of service in the Temple was over, Zechariah went back home. 24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and did not leave the house for five months. 25 “Now at last the Lord has helped me,” she said. “He has taken away my public disgrace!”
The Birth of Jesus Is Announced
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. 27 He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. 28 The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”
29 Mary was deeply troubled by the angel's message, and she wondered what his words meant. 30 The angel said to her, “Don't be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. 31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, 33 and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God. 36 Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old. 37 For there is nothing that God cannot do.”
38 “I am the Lord's servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 Soon afterward Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea. 40 She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord's mother comes to visit me? 44 For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness. 45 How happy you are to believe that the Lord's message to you will come true!”
Mary's Song of Praise
46 Mary said,
“My heart praises the Lord;
47 my soul is glad because of God my Savior,
48 for he has remembered me, his lowly servant!
From now on all people will call me happy,
49 because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me.
His name is holy;
50 from one generation to another
he shows mercy to those who honor him.
51 He has stretched out his mighty arm
and scattered the proud with all their plans.
52 He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors,
and has come to the help of his servant Israel.
55 He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham
and to all his descendants forever!”
56 Mary stayed about three months with Elizabeth and then went back home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how wonderfully good the Lord had been to her, and they all rejoiced with her.
59 When the baby was a week old, they came to circumcise him, and they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother said, “No! His name is to be John.”
61 They said to her, “But you don't have any relative with that name!” 62 Then they made signs to his father, asking him what name he would like the boy to have.
63 Zechariah asked for a writing pad and wrote, “His name is John.” How surprised they all were! 64 At that moment Zechariah was able to speak again, and he started praising God. 65 The neighbors were all filled with fear, and the news about these things spread through all the hill country of Judea. 66 Everyone who heard of it thought about it and asked, “What is this child going to be?” For it was plain that the Lord's power was upon him.
Zechariah's Prophecy
67 John's father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he spoke God's message:
68 “Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has come to the help of his people and has set them free.
69 He has provided for us a mighty Savior,
a descendant of his servant David.
70 He promised through his holy prophets long ago
71 that he would save us from our enemies,
from the power of all those who hate us.
72 He said he would show mercy to our ancestors
and remember his sacred covenant.
73-74 With a solemn oath to our ancestor Abraham
he promised to rescue us from our enemies
and allow us to serve him without fear,
75 so that we might be holy and righteous before him
all the days of our life.
76 “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.
You will go ahead of the Lord
to prepare his road for him,
77 to tell his people that they will be saved
by having their sins forgiven.
78 Our God is merciful and tender.
He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us
79 and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death,
to guide our steps into the path of peace.”
80 The child grew and developed in body and spirit. He lived in the desert until the day when he appeared publicly to the people of Israel.
1 Kad jau daudzi ir sākuši apkopot stāstus par notikumiem, kas norisinājušies mūsu vidū, 2 kā tos mums ir atstāstījuši to pirmie aculiecinieki un vārda kalpi, 3 tad, visu no paša sākuma ļoti rūpīgi izpētījis, arī es atzinu par vajadzīgu tev, cienījamo Teofil, secīgi to izklāstīt, 4 lai tu pārliecinātos, ka vārdi, kas tev mācīti, ir droši.
Pasludinājums par Jāņa Kristītāja piedzimšanu
5 Jūdejas ķēniņa Hēroda laikā dzīvoja kāds priesteris, vārdā Zaharija, no Abijas kārtas, un viņa sieva bija Ārona pēcnācēja un viņas vārds – Elizabete. 6 Un tie abi bija taisni Dieva priekšā un dzīvoja nevainojami pēc visiem Kunga baušļiem un likumiem. 7 Tiem nebija bērnu, jo Elizabete bija neauglīga, un abi bija jau krietni gados. 8 Kad bija pienākusi Zaharijas kārta kalpot Dieva priekšā, 9 pēc noteiktās priesteriskās kārtības viņam krita loze ieiet Kunga svētnīcā un kvēpināt; 10 viss ļaužu pulks ārā kvēpināšanas stundā lūdza Dievu. 11 Tad viņam parādījās Kunga eņģelis, nostājies pa labi no kvēpināšanas altāra. 12 Kad Zaharija to ieraudzīja, viņš satrūkās un viņu pārņēma bailes. 13 Bet eņģelis viņam sacīja: “Nebīsties, Zaharija, tava lūgšana ir uzklausīta, tava sieva Elizabete dzemdēs tev dēlu, un tu sauksi to vārdā Jānis. 14 Un tev būs prieks un līksmība, un daudzi priecāsies par viņa piedzimšanu. 15 Jo viņš būs liels Kunga priekšā, vīnu un reibinošu dzērienu viņš nedzers, un Svētais Gars viņu piepildīs jau mātes miesās. 16 Daudziem Israēla dēliem viņš liks atgriezties pie Kunga, viņu Dieva. 17 Un tas staigās viņa priekšā Elijas garā un spēkā, lai pievērstu tēvu sirdis bērniem un neklausīgos taisno gudrībai, lai darītu ļaudis gatavus Kungam.” 18 Zaharija sacīja eņģelim: “Kā es to zināšu? Es esmu vecs, un mana sieva jau krietni gados.” 19 Eņģelis viņam atbildēja: “Es esmu Gabriels, kas stāv Dieva priekšā, un esmu sūtīts tevi uzrunāt un nest tev šo prieka vēsti. 20 Un, redzi, tu būsi mēms un nevarēsi parunāt līdz dienai, kad tas notiks, tādēļ ka tu neticēji maniem vārdiem, kuri savā laikā piepildīsies.” 21 Un ļaudis gaidīja Zahariju un brīnījās, ka viņš tik ilgi kavējas svētnīcā. 22 Un iznācis viņš nespēja tos uzrunāt, un tie noprata, ka viņš svētnīcā ir redzējis parādību; un viņš tiem rādīja zīmes un palika mēms. 23 Kad viņa kalpošanas laiks bija pagājis, viņš atgriezās mājās. 24 Pēc kāda laika viņa sieva Elizabete kļuva grūta un nerādījās ļaudīs piecus mēnešus. Viņa sacīja: 25 “Kungs man tā ir darījis šajās dienās – viņš mani ir uzlūkojis, lai atņemtu manu negodu ļaužu acīs.”
Pasludinājums par Jēzus piedzimšanu
26 Bet sestajā mēnesī Dievs sūtīja eņģeli Gabrielu uz Galilejas pilsētu Nācareti 27 pie jaunavas, kas bija saderināta ar vīru, vārdā Jāzeps, no Dāvida nama, un jaunavas vārds bija Marija. 28 Un, ienācis pie viņas, eņģelis sacīja: “Esi sveicināta, izredzētā , Kungs ir ar tevi!” 29 Viņa iztrūkās par šiem vārdiem un domāja, kas tas par sveicienu. 30 Un eņģelis viņai sacīja: “Nebīsties, Marija! Tu esi atradusi žēlastību pie Dieva. 31 Un, redzi, tu tapsi grūta un dzemdēsi Dēlu, un dosi viņam vārdu Jēzus. 32 Viņš būs dižens un tiks saukts par Visuaugstā Dēlu. Un Kungs Dievs dos viņam Dāvida, viņa tēva, troni. 33 Un viņš valdīs pār Jēkaba namu mūžīgi, un viņa valstībai nebūs gala.” 34 Bet Marija jautāja eņģelim: “Kā tas var būt? Jo es vīra nezinu.” 35 Tad eņģelis viņai atbildēja: “Svētais Gars nāks pār tevi, un Visuaugstā spēks tevi pārklās, tādēļ arī, kas dzims, būs svēts un tiks saukts – Dieva Dēls. 36 Un redzi, Elizabete, tava radiniece, pat viņa savā vecumā ir ieņēmusi dēlu, un viņa, kuru sauca par neauglīgu, ir jau sestajā mēnesī. 37 Jo Dievam nekas nav neiespējams.” 38 Tad Marija sacīja: “Redzi, es esmu Kunga kalpone, lai notiek ar mani pēc tava vārda.” Un eņģelis no viņas aizgāja.
Marija apciemo Elizabeti
39 Un Marija cēlās tajās dienās un steigšus devās uz kādu Jūdas pilsētu kalnienē 40 un, iegājusi Zaharijas namā, sveicināja Elizabeti. 41 Un notika, kad Elizabete izdzirdēja Marijas sveicienu, bērns viņas miesās salēcās, un Elizabete tika Svētā Gara piepildīta. 42 Un skaļā balsī viņa iesaucās: “Tu svētītā starp sievietēm, un svētīts ir tavas miesas auglis! 43 No kurienes man tas, ka mana Kunga māte nāk pie manis? 44 Redzi, tiklīdz manas ausis izdzirdēja tavu sveicienu, bērns manās miesās līksmībā salēcās. 45 Laimīga ir tā, kas ticējusi, ka piepildīsies tas, ko Kungs viņai ir teicis.”
Marijas slavas dziesma Dievam
46 Un Marija sacīja: “Mana dvēsele augstu teic Kungu, 47 un mans gars gavilē par Dievu, manu Pestītāju, 48 jo viņš ir uzlūkojis savas kalpones zemību. Redzi, no šā laika visas paaudzes mani teiks svētīgu. 49 Jo Varenais lielas lietas man ir darījis, un svēts ir viņa vārds. 50 Viņa žēlsirdība paliek uz paaudžu paaudzēm pie tiem, kas viņa bīstas. 51 Varenus darbus viņš darījis ar savu labo roku un izklīdinājis sirdsprātā lepnos. 52 Viņš nogāzis varenos no troņiem un paaugstinājis pazemīgos. 53 Izsalkušos viņš piepildījis ar labumiem, un bagātos viņš aizraidījis tukšā. 54 Viņš gādājis par savu kalpu Israēlu un pieminējis savu žēlsirdību, 55 kā viņš solījis mūsu tēviem, Ābrahāmam un viņa pēcnācējiem uz mūžiem.” 56 Un Marija palika pie viņas kādus trīs mēnešus un tad atgriezās mājās.
Jāņa Kristītāja piedzimšana
57 Bet Elizabetei pienāca laiks dzemdēt, un viņai piedzima dēls. 58 Viņas kaimiņi un radi dzirdēja, ka Kungs ir parādījis lielu žēlsirdību viņai, un tie priecājās līdz ar viņu. 59 Astotajā dienā tie atnāca bērnu apgraizīt un gribēja viņu nosaukt tēva vārdā par Zahariju. 60 Bet viņa māte iebilda un teica: “Nē! Viņu sauks Jānis.” 61 Tie viņai teica: “Tavos rados nav neviena, kas saukts tādā vārdā.” 62 Un tie ar zīmēm jautāja viņa tēvam, kā viņš gribētu, lai bērnu nosauc. 63 Palūdzis rakstāmo dēlīti, viņš uzrakstīja: “Viņa vārds ir Jānis.” Un visi brīnījās. 64 Tūlīt viņa mute atdarījās, mēle atraisījās, un viņš runāja, slavēdams Dievu. 65 Tad bailes pārņēma visus kaimiņus, un visā Jūdejas kalnienē runāja par šiem notikumiem. 66 Visi, kas to dzirdēja, savā sirdī prātoja, brīnīdamies: “Kas gan būs šis bērns?” Un Kunga roka bija ar viņu.
Zaharijas pravietojums
67 Viņa tēvs Zaharija, Svētā Gara piepildīts, pravietoja: 68 “Lai slavēts Kungs, Israēla Dievs, jo viņš ir uzlūkojis savu tautu un devis tai pestīšanu, 69 un viņš ir cēlis mums pestīšanas ragu sava kalpa Dāvida namā, 70 kā viņš kopš sendienām ir runājis caur svēto praviešu muti: 71 glābt mūs no ienaidniekiem, no visu to rokām, kas mūs ienīst, 72 parādīt žēlsirdību mūsu tēviem un pieminēt savu svēto derību, 73 zvērestu, ko viņš zvērējis mūsu tēvam Ābrahāmam, 74 lai mēs, no ienaidniekiem izglābti, bez bailēm, 75 svētumā un taisnīgumā viņam kalpojam visas sava mūža dienas. 76 Un tevi, bērniņ, sauks par Visuaugstā pravieti. Tu iesi Kungam pa priekšu sataisīt viņa ceļu, 77 lai dotu viņa tautai pestīšanas atziņu caur grēku piedošanu 78 mūsu Dieva sirds žēlsirdības dēļ. Tādēļ rīta zvaigzne mūs no augšienes uzlūkos, 79 lai mirdzētu tiem, kas mīt tumsā un nāves ēnā, un atgrieztu mūsu kājas uz miera ceļa.” 80 Un bērniņš auga un kļuva stiprs garā, un bija tuksnesī līdz tai dienai, kad viņam bija jāparādās Israēla priekšā.
