1 Forasmuch 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 unto 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 unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
5 ¶ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, 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’s office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest’s 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 unto 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 upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt 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’s 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 unto 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 unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto 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 hath 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 unto 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’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou 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 unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto 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 unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath 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 unto me according to thy 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 spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine 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 doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath 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 hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. 57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon 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 unto her, There is none of thy 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 marvelled all. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed , and he spake, and praised God. 65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. 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 hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake 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 sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto 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 thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath 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 shewing unto 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.
