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,

Puesto que ya muchos han tratado de poner en orden la historia de las cosas que entre nosotros han sido ciertísimas,

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],

tal como nos lo enseñaron los que desde el principio lo vieron con sus ojos, y fueron ministros de la palabra,

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,

me ha parecido también a mí, después de haber investigado con diligencia todas las cosas desde su origen, escribírtelas por orden, oh excelentísimo Teófilo,

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 conozcas bien la verdad de las cosas en las cuales has sido instruido. Anuncio del nacimiento de Juan

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.

Hubo en los días de Herodes, rey de Judea, un sacerdote llamado Zacarías, de la clase de Abías; su mujer era de las hijas de Aarón, y se llamaba Elisabet.

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

Ambos eran justos delante de Dios, y andaban irreprensibles en todos los mandamientos y ordenanzas del Señor.

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

Pero no tenían hijo, porque Elisabet era estéril, y ambos eran ya de edad avanzada.

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

Aconteció que ejerciendo Zacarías el sacerdocio delante de Dios según el orden de su clase,

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.

conforme a la costumbre del sacerdocio, le tocó en suerte ofrecer el incienso, entrando en el santuario del Señor.

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

Y toda la multitud del pueblo estaba fuera orando a la hora del incienso.

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

Y se le apareció un ángel del Señor puesto en pie a la derecha del altar del incienso.

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

Y se turbó Zacarías al verle, y le sobrecogió temor.

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.

Pero el ángel le dijo: Zacarías, no temas; porque tu oración ha sido oída, y tu mujer Elisabet te dará a luz un hijo, y llamarás su nombre Juan.

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

Y tendrás gozo y alegría, y muchos se regocijarán de su nacimiento;

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 será grande delante de Dios. No beberá vino ni sidra, y será lleno del Espíritu Santo, aun desde el vientre de su madre.

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

Y hará que muchos de los hijos de Israel se conviertan al Señor Dios de ellos.

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].

E irá delante de él con el espíritu y el poder de Elías, para hacer volver los corazones de los padres a los hijos, y de los rebeldes a la prudencia de los justos, para preparar al Señor un pueblo bien dispuesto.

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.

Dijo Zacarías al ángel: ¿En qué conoceré esto? Porque yo soy viejo, y mi mujer es de edad avanzada.

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.

Respondiendo el ángel, le dijo: Yo soy Gabriel, que estoy delante de Dios; y he sido enviado a hablarte, y darte estas buenas nuevas.

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.

Y ahora quedarás mudo y no podrás hablar, hasta el día en que esto se haga, por cuanto no creíste mis palabras, las cuales se cumplirán a su tiempo.

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

Y el pueblo estaba esperando a Zacarías, y se extrañaba de que él se demorase en el santuario.

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.

Pero cuando salió, no les podía hablar; y comprendieron que había visto visión en el santuario. Él les hablaba por señas, y permaneció mudo.

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

Y cumplidos los días de su ministerio, se fue a su casa.

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

Después de aquellos días concibió su mujer Elisabet, y se recluyó en casa por cinco meses, diciendo:

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.

Así ha hecho conmigo el Señor en los días en que se dignó quitar mi afrenta entre los hombres. Anuncio del nacimiento de Jesús

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

Al sexto mes el ángel Gabriel fue enviado por Dios a una ciudad de Galilea, llamada Nazaret,

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 una virgen desposada con un varón que se llamaba José, de la casa de David; y el nombre de la virgen era María.

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!

Y entrando el ángel en donde ella estaba, dijo:!! Salve, muy favorecida! El Señor es contigo; bendita tú entre las mujeres.

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.

Mas ella, cuando le vio, se turbó por sus palabras, y pensaba qué salutación sería esta.

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.

Entonces el ángel le dijo: María, no temas, porque has hallado gracia delante de Dios.

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

Y ahora, concebirás en tu vientre, y darás a luz un hijo, y llamarás su nombre JESÚS.

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, y será llamado Hijo del Altísimo; y el Señor Dios le dará el trono de David su padre;

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

y reinará sobre la casa de Jacob para siempre, y su reino no tendrá fin.

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

Entonces María dijo al ángel: ¿Cómo será esto? pues no conozco varón.

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.

Respondiendo el ángel, le dijo: El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre ti, y el poder del Altísimo te cubrirá con su sombra; por lo cual también el Santo Ser que nacerá, será llamado Hijo de Dios.

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.

Y he aquí tu parienta Elisabet, ella también ha concebido hijo en su vejez; y este es el sexto mes para ella, la que llamaban estéril;

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

porque nada hay imposible para Dios.

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.

Entonces María dijo: He aquí la sierva del Señor; hágase conmigo conforme a tu palabra. Y el ángel se fue de su presencia. María visita a Elisabet

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

En aquellos días, levantándose María, fue de prisa a la montaña, a una ciudad de Judá;

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

y entró en casa de Zacarías, y saludó a Elisabet.

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.

Y aconteció que cuando oyó Elisabet la salutación de María, la criatura saltó en su vientre; y Elisabet fue llena del Espíritu 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!

y exclamó a gran voz, y dijo: Bendita tú entre las mujeres, y bendito el fruto de tu vientre.

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

¿Por qué se me concede esto a mí, que la madre de mi Señor venga a mí?

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

Porque tan pronto como llegó la voz de tu salutación a mis oídos, la criatura saltó de alegría en mi vientre.

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.

Y bienaventurada la que creyó, porque se cumplirá lo que le fue dicho de parte del Señor.

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

Entonces María dijo: Engrandece mi alma al Señor;

47 A nd my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Y mi espíritu se regocija en Dios mi 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 ha mirado la bajeza de su sierva; Pues he aquí, desde ahora me dirán bienaventurada todas las generaciones.

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

Porque me ha hecho grandes cosas el Poderoso; Santo es su nombre,

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.

Y su misericordia es de generación en generación A los que le temen.

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.

Hizo proezas con su brazo; Esparció a los soberbios en el pensamiento de sus corazones.

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

Quitó de los tronos a los poderosos, Y exaltó a los humildes.

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

A los hambrientos colmó de bienes, Y a los ricos envió vacíos.

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

Socorrió a Israel su siervo, Acordándose de la misericordia

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

De la cual habló a nuestros padres, Para con Abraham y su descendencia para siempre. m

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

Y se quedó María con ella como tres meses; después se volvió a su casa. Nacimiento de Juan el Bautista

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

Cuando a Elisabet se le cumplió el tiempo de su alumbramiento, dio a luz un hijo.

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

Y cuando oyeron los vecinos y los parientes que Dios había engrandecido para con ella su misericordia, se regocijaron con ella.

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,

Aconteció que al octavo día vinieron para circuncidar al niño; y le llamaban con el nombre de su padre, Zacarías;

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

pero respondiendo su madre, dijo: No; se llamará Juan.

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

Le dijeron: ¿Por qué? No hay nadie en tu parentela que se llame con ese nombre.

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

Entonces preguntaron por señas a su padre, cómo le quería llamar.

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

Y pidiendo una tablilla, escribió, diciendo: Juan es su nombre. Y todos se maravillaron.

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

Al momento fue abierta su boca y suelta su lengua, y habló bendiciendo a Dios.

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

Y se llenaron de temor todos sus vecinos; y en todas las montañas de Judea se divulgaron todas estas cosas.

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.

Y todos los que las oían las guardaban en su corazón, diciendo: ¿Quién, pues, será este niño? Y la mano del Señor estaba con él. Profecía de Zacarías

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

Y Zacarías su padre fue lleno del Espíritu Santo, y profetizó, diciendo:

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 el Señor Dios de Israel, Que ha visitado y redimido a su pueblo,

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

Y nos levantó un poderoso Salvador En la casa de David su siervo,

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

Como habló por boca de sus santos profetas que fueron desde el principio;

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;

Salvación de nuestros enemigos, y de la mano de todos los que nos aborrecieron;

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 hacer misericordia con nuestros padres, Y acordarse de su santo pacto;

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

Del juramento que hizo a Abraham nuestro padre, Que nos había de conceder

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

Que, librados de nuestros enemigos, Sin temor le serviríamos

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

En santidad y en justicia delante de él, todos nuestros días.

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,

Y tú, niño, profeta del Altísimo serás llamado; Porque irás delante de la presencia del Señor, para preparar sus caminos;

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

Para dar conocimiento de salvación a su pueblo, Para perdón de sus 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

Por la entrañable misericordia de nuestro Dios, Con que nos visitó desde lo alto la aurora,

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 dar luz a los que habitan en tinieblas y en sombra de muerte; Para encaminar nuestros pies por camino de paz. m

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.

Y el niño crecía, y se fortalecía en espíritu; y estuvo en lugares desiertos hasta el día de su manifestación a Israel.