1 S ince '> as is well known] many have undertaken to put in order and draw up a '> thorough] narrative of the surely established deeds which have been accomplished and fulfilled in and among us,

Visto que muitos têm empreendido fazer uma narração coordenada dos fatos que entre nós se realizaram,

2 E xactly as they were handed down to us by those who from the '> official] beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word '> the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God],

segundo no-los transmitiram os que desde o princípio foram testemunhas oculares e ministros da palavra,

3 I t seemed good and desirable to me, also after having searched out diligently and followed all things closely and traced accurately the course from the highest to the minutest detail from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

também a mim, depois de haver investido tudo cuidadosamente desde o começo, pareceu-me bem, ó excelentíssimo Teófilo, escrever-te uma narração em ordem.

4 t hat you may know the full truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts (histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in which you have been orally instructed.

para que conheças plenamente a verdade das coisas em que foste instruído.

5 I n the days when Herod was king of Judea there was a certain priest whose name was Zachariah, of the daily service (the division) of Abia; and his wife was also a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Houve nos dias do Rei Herodes, rei da Judéia, um sacerdote chamado Zacarias, da turma de Abias; e sua mulher era descendente de Arão, e chamava-se Isabel.

6 A nd they both were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

Ambos eram justos diante de Deus, andando irrepreensíveis em todos os mandamentos e preceitos do Senhor.

7 B ut they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren; and both were far advanced in years.

Mas não tinham filhos, porque Isabel era estéril, e ambos avançados em idade.

8 N ow while on duty, serving as priest before God in the order of his division,

Ora, estando ele a exercer as funções sacerdotais perante Deus, na ordem da sua turma,

9 A s was the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter '> sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

segundo o costume do sacerdócio, coube-lhe por sorte entrar no santuário do Senhor, para oferecer o incenso;

10 A nd all the throng of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

e toda a multidão do povo orava da parte de fora, ã hora do incenso.

11 A nd there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

Apareceu-lhe, então, um anjo do Senhor, em pé ã direita do altar do incenso.

12 A nd when Zachariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear took possession of him.

E Zacarias, vendo-o, ficou turbado, e o temor o assaltou.

13 B ut the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must call his name John.

Mas o anjo lhe disse: Não temais, Zacarias; porque a tua oração foi ouvida, e Isabel, tua mulher, te dará ã luz um filho, e lhe porás o nome de João;

14 A nd you shall have joy and exultant delight, and many will rejoice over his birth,

e terás alegria e regozijo, e muitos se alegrarão com o seu nascimento;

15 F or he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord. And he must drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit even in and from his mother’s womb.

porque ele será grande diante do Senhor; não beberá vinho, nem bebida forte; e será cheio do Espírito Santo já desde o ventre de sua mãe;

16 A nd he will turn back and cause to return many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,

converterá muitos dos filhos de Israel ao Senhor seu Deus;

17 A nd he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient and incredulous and unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright '> the knowledge and holy love of the will of God]—in order to make ready for the Lord a people prepared '> adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral state].

irá adiante dele no espírito e poder de Elias, para converter os corações dos pais aos filhos, e os rebeldes ã prudência dos justos, a fim de preparar para o Senhor um povo apercebido.

18 A nd Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.

Disse então Zacarias ao anjo: Como terei certeza disso? pois eu sou velho, e minha mulher também está avançada em idade.

19 A nd the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good news.

Ao que lhe respondeu o anjo: Eu sou Gabriel, que assisto diante de Deus, e fui enviado para te falar e te dar estas boas novas;

20 N ow behold, you will be and will continue to be silent and not able to speak till the day when these things take place, because you have not believed what I told you; but my words are of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed and proper time.

e eis que ficarás mudo, e não poderás falar até o dia em que estas coisas aconteçam; porquanto não creste nas minhas palavras, que a seu tempo hão de cumprir-se.

21 N ow the people kept waiting for Zachariah, and they wondered at his delaying in the sanctuary.

O povo estava esperando Zacarias, e se admirava da sua demora no santuário.

22 B ut when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them; and they '> clearly] perceived that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary; and he kept making signs to them, still he remained dumb.

Quando saiu, porém, não lhes podia falar, e perceberam que tivera uma visão no santuário. E falava-lhes por acenos, mas permanecia mudo.

23 A nd when his time of performing priestly functions was ended, he returned to his house.

E, terminados os dias do seu ministério, voltou para casa.

24 N ow after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself entirely, saying,

Depois desses dias Isabel, sua mulher, concebeu, e por cinco meses se ocultou, dizendo:

25 B ecause thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He deigned to look on me to take away my reproach among men.

Assim me fez o Senhor nos dias em que atentou para mim, a fim de acabar com o meu opróbrio diante dos homens.

26 N ow in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth,

Ora, no sexto mês, foi o anjo Gabriel enviado por Deus a uma cidade da Galiléia, chamada Nazaré,

27 T o a girl never having been married and a virgin engaged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

a uma virgem desposada com um varão cujo nome era José, da casa de Davi; e o nome da virgem era Maria.

28 A nd he came to her and said, Hail, O favored one '> endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women!

E, entrando o anjo onde ela estava disse: Salve, agraciada; o Senhor é contigo.

29 B ut when she saw him, she was greatly troubled and disturbed and confused at what he said and kept revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean.

Ela, porém, ao ouvir estas palavras, turbou-se muito e pôs-se a pensar que saudação seria essa.

30 A nd the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace ( free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness) with God.

Disse-lhe então o anjo: Não temas, Maria; pois achaste graça diante de Deus.

31 A nd listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.

Eis que conceberás e darás ã luz um filho, ao qual porás o nome de Jesus.

32 H e will be great (eminent) and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His forefather David,

Este será grande e será chamado filho do Altíssimo; o Senhor Deus lhe dará o trono de Davi seu pai;

33 A nd He will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages; and of His reign there will be no end.

e reinará eternamente sobre a casa de Jacó, e o seu reino não terá fim.

34 A nd Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no husband?

Então Maria perguntou ao anjo: Como se fará isso, uma vez que não conheço varão?

35 T hen the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God.

Respondeu-lhe o anjo: Virá sobre ti o Espírito Santo, e o poder do Altíssimo te cobrirá com a sua sombra; por isso o que há de nascer será chamado santo, Filho de Deus.

36 A nd listen! Your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is now the sixth month with her who was called barren.

Eis que também Isabel, tua parenta concebeu um filho em sua velhice; e é este o sexto mês para aquela que era chamada estéril;

37 F or with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.

porque para Deus nada será impossível.

38 T hen Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said. And the angel left her.

Disse então Maria. Eis aqui a serva do Senhor; cumpra-se em mim segundo a tua palavra. E o anjo ausentou-se dela.

39 A nd at that time Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country to a town of Judah,

Naqueles dias levantou-se Maria, foi apressadamente ã região montanhosa, a uma cidade de Judá,

40 A nd she went to the house of Zachariah and, entering it, saluted Elizabeth.

entrou em casa de Zacarias e saudou a Isabel.

41 A nd it occurred that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit.

Ao ouvir Isabel a saudação de Maria, saltou a criancinha no seu ventre, e Isabel ficou cheia do Espírito Santo,

42 A nd she cried out with a loud cry, and then exclaimed, Blessed (favored of God) above all other women are you! And blessed (favored of God) is the Fruit of your womb!

e exclamou em alta voz: Bendita és tu entre as mulheres, e bendito é o fruto do teu ventre!

43 A nd how be granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

E donde me provém isto, que venha visitar-me a mãe do meu Senhor?

44 F or behold, the instant the sound of your salutation reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Pois logo que me soou aos ouvidos a voz da tua saudação, a criancinha saltou de alegria dentro de mim.

45 A nd blessed (happy, to be envied) is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord.

Bem-aventurada aquela que creu que se hão de cumprir as coisas que da parte do Senhor lhe foram ditas.

46 A nd Mary said, My soul magnifies and extols the Lord,

Disse então Maria: A minha alma engrandece ao Senhor,

47 A nd my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

e o meu espírito exulta em Deus meu Salvador;

48 F or He has looked upon the low station and humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed and declare me happy and to be envied!

porque atentou na condição humilde de sua serva. Desde agora, pois, todas as gerações me chamarão bem-aventurada,

49 F or He Who is almighty has done great things for me—and holy is His name!

porque o Poderoso me fez grandes coisas; e santo é o seu nome.

50 A nd His mercy (His compassion and kindness toward the miserable and afflicted) is on those who fear Him with godly reverence, from generation to generation and age to age.

E a sua misericórdia vai de geração em geração sobre os que o temem.

51 H e has shown strength and made might with His arm; He has scattered the proud and haughty in and by the imagination and purpose and designs of their hearts.

Com o seu braço manifestou poder; dissipou os que eram soberbos nos pensamentos de seus corações;

52 H e has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree.

depôs dos tronos os poderosos, e elevou os humildes.

53 H e has filled and satisfied the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty-handed.

Aos famintos encheu de bens, e vazios despediu os ricos.

54 H e has laid hold on His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,

Auxiliou a Isabel, seu servo, lembrando-se de misericórdia

55 E ven as He promised to our forefathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.

(como falou a nossos pais) para com Abraão e a sua descendência para sempre.

56 A nd Mary remained with her for about three months and returned to her home.

E Maria ficou com ela cerca de três meses; e depois voltou para sua casa.

57 N ow the time that Elizabeth should be delivered came, and she gave birth to a son.

Ora, completou-se para Isabel o tempo de dar ã luz, e teve um filho.

58 A nd her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy on her, and they rejoiced with her.

Ouviram seus vizinhos e parentes que o Senhor lhe multiplicara a sua misericórdia, e se alegravam com ela.

59 A nd it occurred that on the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were intending to call him Zachariah after his father,

Sucedeu, pois, no oitavo dia, que vieram circuncidar o menino; e queriam dar-lhe o nome de seu pai, Zacarias.

60 B ut his mother answered, Not so! But he shall be called John.

Respondeu, porém, sua mãe: De modo nenhum, mas será chamado João.

61 A nd they said to her, None of your relatives is called by that name.

Ao que lhe disseram: Ninguém há na tua parentela que se chame por este nome.

62 A nd they inquired with signs to his father what he wanted to have him called.

E perguntaram por acenos ao pai como queria que se chamasse.

63 T hen Zachariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, His name is John. And they were all astonished.

E pedindo ele uma tabuinha, escreveu: Seu nome é João. E todos se admiraram.

64 A nd at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing and praising and thanking God.

Imediatamente a boca se lhe abriu, e a língua se lhe soltou; louvando a Deus.

65 A nd awe and reverential fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.

Então veio temor sobre todos os seus vizinhos; e em toda a região montanhosa da Judéia foram divulgadas todas estas coisas.

66 A nd all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, Whatever will this little boy be then? For the hand of the Lord was '> so evidently] with him.

E todos os que delas souberam as guardavam no coração, dizendo: Que virá a ser, então, este menino? Pois a mão do Senhor estava com ele.

67 N ow Zachariah his father was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

Zacarias, seu pai, ficou cheio do Espírito Santo e profetizou, dizendo:

68 B lessed (praised and extolled and thanked) be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come and brought deliverance and redemption to His people!

Bendito, seja o Senhor Deus de Israel, porque visitou e remiu o seu povo,

69 A nd He has raised up a Horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant—

e para nós fez surgir uma salvação poderosa na casa de Davi, seu servo;

70 T his is as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times —

assim como desde os tempos antigos tem anunciado pela boca dos seus santos profetas;

71 T hat we should have deliverance and be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who detest and pursue us with hatred;

para nos livrar dos nossos inimigos e da mão de todos os que nos odeiam;

72 T o make true and show the mercy and compassion and kindness to our forefathers and to remember and carry out His holy covenant '> all the more sacred because it is made by God Himself],

para usar de misericórdia com nossos pais, e lembrar-se do seu santo pacto

73 T hat covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather Abraham:

e do juramento que fez a Abrão, nosso pai,

74 T o grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our foes, might serve Him fearlessly

de conceder-nos que, libertados da mão de nossos inimigos, o servíssemos sem temor,

75 I n holiness (divine consecration) and righteousness within His presence all the days of our lives.

em santidade e justiça perante ele, todos os dias da nossa vida.

76 A nd you, little one, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go on before the face of the Lord to make ready His ways,

E tu, menino, serás chamado profeta do Altíssimo, porque irás ante a face do Senhor, a preparar os seus caminhos;

77 T o bring and give the knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins.

para dar ao seu povo conhecimento da salvação, na remissão dos seus pecados,

78 B ecause of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit

graças ã entrenhável misericórdia do nosso Deus, pela qual nos há de visitar a aurora lá do alto,

79 T o shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.

para alumiar aos que jazem nas trevas e na sombra da morte, a fim de dirigir os nossos pés no caminho da paz.

80 A nd the little boy grew and became strong in spirit; and he was in the deserts (wilderness) until the day of his appearing to Israel.

Ora, o menino crescia, e se robustecia em espírito; e habitava nos desertos até o dia da sua manifestação a Israel.