1 إ ذْ حاوَلَ كَثِيرُونَ أنْ يُؤَرِّخُوا لِلأحداثِ الَّتِي حَصَلَتْ فيما بَيْنَنا.

Many people have written about the things that have happened among us.

2 و َهِيَ الأحداثُ الَّتِي نَقَلَها إلَيْنا الأشْخاصُ الَّذِينَ كانُوا شُهُودَ عَيانٍ لَها مُنذُ البِدايَةِ، وَخُدّاماً يُعلِنونَ رِسالَةَ اللهِ لِلنّاسِ.

Those who saw everything from the first and helped teach the Good News have passed these things on to us.

3 و َحَيثُ إنِّي قَدْ تَحَقَّقتُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيءٍ بِدِقَّةٍ، رَأيتُ أنا أيضاً أنْ أكتُبَ إلَيكَ، يا صاحِبَ السَّعادَةِ ثاوْفِيلُسَ، وَصْفاً مُتَسَلسِلاً لِتِلكَ الأحداثِ مُنذُ البِدايَةِ،

Dear Theophilus, I have looked with care into these things from the beginning. I have decided it would be good to write them to you one after the other the way they happened.

4 ل ِكَي تَتَيَقَّنَ مِنْ أنَّ ما تَعَلَّمتَهُ صَحِيحٌ. زَكَرِيّا وَألِيصابات

Then you can be sure you know the truth about the things you have been taught. An Angel Tells of the Birth of John the Baptist

5 ك انَ فِي أيّامِ هِيْرُودُسَ مَلِكِ إقليمِ اليَهُودِيَّةِ، كاهِنٌ اسْمُهُ زَكَرِيّا، وَهُوَ مِنْ مَجمُوعَةِ أبِيّا الكَهنُوتِيَّةِ، وَزَوجَتُهُ ألِيصاباتُ مِنْ نَسلِ هارُونَ.

When Herod was king of the country of Judea, there was a Jewish religious leader named Zacharias. He worked for Abijah. His wife was of the family group of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth.

6 و َكانا كِلاهُما بارَّيْنِ وَبِلا عَيبٍ فِي حِفظِهِما لِوَصايا الرَّبِّ وَفَرائِضِهِ.

They were right with God and obeyed the Jewish Law and did what the Lord said to do.

7 ل َكِنَّهُما كانا بِلا أبناءٍ، فَقَدْ كانَتْ ألِيْصاباتُ عاقِراً، وَكانَ الاثْنانِ كَبِيْرَينِ فِي السِّنِّ.

They had no children because Elizabeth was not able to have a child. Both of them were older people.

8 و َكانَ زَكَرِيّا يَخدِمُ كَكاهِنٍ للهِ فِي الهَيْكَلِ في نَوبَةِ مَجمَوعَتِهِ الكَهنُوتِيَّةِ،

Zacharias was doing his work as a religious leader for God.

9 ف َتَمَّ اختِيارُهُ بِالقُرعَةِ، حَسَبَ العادَةِ المُتَّبَعَةِ لَدَى الكَهَنَةِ، لِلدُّخُولِ إلَى هَيكَلِ الرَّبِّ وَتَقدِيمِ البَخُورِ.

The religious leaders were given certain kinds of work to do. Zacharias was chosen to go to the house of God to burn special perfume.

10 و َحِينَ جاءَ وَقتُ تَقدِيمِ البَخُورِ، كانَ كُلُّ الشَّعبِ مُجتَمِعِينَ خارِجاً يُصَلُّونَ.

Many people stood outside praying during the time the special perfume was burning.

11 ف َظَهَرَ لَهُ مَلاكٌ مِنْ عِندِ الرَّبِّ واقِفاً عَنْ يَمِينِ مَذْبَحِ البَخُورِ.

Zacharias saw an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar where the special perfume was burning.

12 ف َلَمّا رَأى زَكَرِيّا المَلاكَ، اضطَرَبَ وَخافَ خَوفاً شَدِيداً.

When he saw the angel, Zacharias was troubled and afraid.

13 ف َقالَ لَهُ المَلاكُ: «لا تَخَفْ يا زَكَرِيّا. لَقَدْ سَمِعَ اللهُ صَلاتَكَ. وَسَتَلِدُ لَكَ زَوجَتُكَ ألِيصاباتُ ابناً، فَسَمِّهِ يُوحَنّا.

The angel said to him, “Zacharias, do not be afraid. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son. You are to name him John.

14 س َيَكُونُ لَكَ فَرَحٌ وَابتِهاجٌ، وَسَيَفرَحُ كَثِيرُونَ أيْضاً بِمَولِدِهِ.

You will be glad and have much joy. Many people will be happy because he is born.

15 س َيَكُونُ عَظِيْماً فِي نَظَرِ الرَّبِّ. لَنْ يَشرَبَ نَبِيذاً وَلا شَراباً مُسكِراً، وَسَيَمتَلِئُ مِنَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ حَتَّىْ قَبلَ وِلادَتِهِ!

He will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or any strong drink. Even from his birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

16 س َيَجعَلُ كَثِيرِيْنَ مِنْ بَنِي إسرائِيلَ يَرجِعُونَ إلَى الرَّبِّ إلَهِهِمْ.

Many of the Jews will be turned to the Lord their God by him.

17 و َسَيَأتِي قَبلَ الرَّبِّ بِرُوحِ إيلِيّا وَقُوَّتِهِ، لِكَي يَرُدَّ قُلُوبَ الآباءِ لِأبنائِهِمْ، وَيَرُدَّ أفْكارَ العُصاةِ إلَى الطَّريقِ الصَّحيحِ، فَيُهَيئَ شَعباً مُستَعِداً لِلرَّبِّ.»

He will be the one to go in the spirit and power of Elijah before Christ comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children. He will teach those who do not obey to be right with God. He will get people ready for the Lord.” Zacharias Does Not Believe the Angel

18 ف َقالَ زَكَرِيّا لِلمَلاكِ: «كَيفَ لِي أنْ أتَيَقَّنَ مِنْ هَذا الكَلامِ؟ فَأنا عَجُوزٌ، وَزَوجَتِي فِي شَيخُوخَتِها!»

Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I know this for sure? I am old and my wife is old also.”

19 ف َأجابَهُ المَلاكُ: «أنا جِبْرائِيلُ الَّذِي أقِفُ فِي حَضْرَةِ اللهِ. لَقَدْ أُرسِلتُ لِأُكَلِّمَكَ، وَأنقُلَ إلَيكَ هَذِهِ البُشرَى.

The angel said to him, “My name is Gabriel. I stand near God. He sent me to talk to you and bring to you this good news.

20 ل َكِنِ انتَبِه لِهَذا: سَتَكُونُ صامِتاً، وَلَنْ تَقدِرَ عَلَى الكَلامِ إلَى أنْ يَتَحَقَّقَ كُلُّ هَذا، لِأنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَدِّقْ كَلامِي الَّذِي سَيَتَحَقَّقُ فِي وَقتِهِ.»

See! You will not be able to talk until the day this happens. It is because you did not believe my words. What I said will happen at the right time.”

21 و َكانَ النّاسُ خارِجاً فِي انتِظارِ زَكَرِيّا وَهَمْ يَتَساءَلُونَ عَنْ سَبَبِ تَأخُّرِهِ فِي الهَيكَلِ.

The people outside were waiting. They were surprised and wondered why Zacharias stayed so long in the house of God.

22 و َحِينَ خَرَجَ لَمْ يَكُنْ قادِراً عَلَى التَّحَدُّثِ إلَيْهِمْ، فَأدرَكُوا أنَّهُ رَأى رُؤْيا فِي الهَيكَلِ. وَكانَ يُكَلِّمُهُمْ بِالإشاراتِ، وَبَقِيَ أخرَسَ.

When he came out, he could not talk to them. They knew he had seen something special from God while he was in the house of God. He tried to talk to them with his hands but could say nothing.

23 و َحِينَ انتَهَتْ فَترَةُ خِدمَتِهِ عادَ إلَى بَيتِهِ.

When his days of working in the house of God were over, he went to his home. The Lord Did What He Promised

24 و َبَعدَ زَمَنٍ حَبِلَتْ زَوجَتُهُ ألِيصاباتُ، فَعَزَلَتْ نَفسَها عَنِ النّاسِ خَمسَةَ أشهُرٍ، وَقالَتْ:

Some time later Elizabeth knew she was to become a mother. She kept herself hidden for five months. She said,

25 « ها قَدْ أعانَنِي الرَّبُّ أخِيراً. اهتَمَّ بِي، وَأزالَ عارَ عُقمِي مِنْ بَينِ النّاسِ.» العَذراءُ مَريَم

“This is what the Lord has done for me. He has looked on me and has taken away my shame from among men.” Gabriel Speaks to Mary

26 و َحِينَ كانَتْ ألِيصاباتُ فِي شَهرِها السّادِسِ، أرسَلَ اللهُ المَلاكَ جِبْرائِيلَ إلَى بَلدَةٍ فِي إقليمِ الجَلِيلِ تُدعَى النّاصِرَةُ،

Six months after Elizabeth knew she was to become a mother, Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth. Nazareth was a town in the country of Galilee.

27 إ لَى فَتاةٍ عَذراءَ اسْمُها مَريَمُ، مَخطُوبَةٍ لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ نَسلِ داوُدَ اسْمُهُ يُوسُفُ.

He went to a woman who had never had a man. Her name was Mary. She was promised in marriage to a man named Joseph. Joseph was of the family of David.

28 ف َجاءَ إلَيها جِبْرائِيلُ وَقالَ لَها: «السَّلامُ عَلَيكِ أيَّتُها المُمتَلِئَةُ نِعمَةً، الرَّبُّ مَعكِ.»

The angel came to her and said, “You are honored very much. You are a favored woman. The Lord is with you. You are chosen from among many women.”

29 ف َاضطَرَبَتْ مِنْ رِسالَتِهِ هَذِهِ، وَتَعَجَّبَتْ ما عَسَى أنْ يَكُونَ مَعنَى هَذِهِ التَّحِيَّةِ!

When she saw the angel, she was troubled at his words. She thought about what had been said.

30 ف َقالَ المَلاكُ لَها: «لا تَخافِي يا مَريَمُ، فَقَدْ نِلتِ نِعمَةً مِنَ اللهِ.

The angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.

31 و َها أنتِ سَتَحبَلِينَ وَتَلِدِينَ ابناً، وَتُسَمينَهُ يَسُوعَ.

See! You are to become a mother and have a Son. You are to give Him the name Jesus.

32 س َيَكُونَ عَظِيماً، وَسَيُدعَى ابنَ اللهِ العَلِيِّ. وَسَيُعطِيهِ الرَّبُّ الإلَهُ عَرشَ أبِيْهِ داوُدَ.

He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the place where His early father David sat.

33 و َسَيَحكُمُ بَيتَ يَعقُوبَ إلَى الأبَدِ، وَلَنْ يَنتَهِيَ مُلكُهُ أبَداً.»

He will be King over the family of Jacob forever and His nation will have no end.”

34 ف َقالَتْ مَريَمُ لِلمَلاكِ: «كَيفَ سَيَحدُثُ هَذا؟ فَأنا لَمْ يَلمِسْنِي رَجُلٌ قَطُّ!»

Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen? I have never had a man.”

35 ف َأجابَها المَلاكُ: «الرُّوحُ القُدُسُ سَيَحِلُّ عَلَيكِ، وَقُوَّةُ العَلِيِّ سَتُغَطِّيكِ. لِهَذا فَإنَّ القُدُّوسَ الَّذِي سَيُولَدُ مِنكِ سَيُدعَى ابنَ اللهِ.

The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you. The power of the Most High will cover you. The holy Child you give birth to will be called the Son of God.

36 و َاعلَمِي هَذا: ها هِيَ قَرِيبَتُكِ ألِيصاباتُ حُبلَى بابنٍ رُغمَ شَيخُوخَتِها. فَالمَرأةُ الَّتِي يَدْعونَها عاقِراً هِيَ فِي شَهرِها السّادِسِ!

“See, your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is going to give birth to a child. She was not able to have children before, but now she is in her sixth month.

37 إ ذْ لَيسَ هُناكَ مُستَحِيلٌ عِندَ اللهِ.»

For God can do all things.”

38 ف َقالَتْ مَريَمُ: «أنا خادِمَةُ الرَّبِّ، فَليَحدُثْ لِي كَما قُلْتَ.» فَتَرَكَها المَلاكُ. مَريَمُ تَزُورُ زَكَرِيّا وَألِيصابات

Then Mary said, “I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel went away from her. Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 و َفِي أثناءِ تِلكَ الفَترَةِ، استَعَدَّتْ مَريَمُ وَأسرَعَتْ إلَى بَلدَةٍ فِي إقليمِ يَهُوذا الجَبَلِيِّ.

At once Mary went from there to a town in the hill country of Judea.

40 و َتَوَجَّهَتْ إلَى بَيتِ زَكَرِيّا، وَحَيَّتْ ألِيصاباتَ.

She went to the house of Zacharias to see Elizabeth.

41 ف َما إنْ سَمِعَتْ ألِيصاباتُ تَحِيَّتَها حَتَّى تَحَرَّكَ الطِّفلُ فِي بَطنِها. فَامتَلأتْ ألِيصاباتُ مِنَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ.

When Elizabeth heard Mary speak, the baby moved in her body. At the same time Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 و َرَفَعَتْ صَوتَها وَقالَتْ: «لَقَدْ بارَكَكِ اللهُ أكثَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ النِّساءِ، وَمُبارَكٌ أيضاً الطِّفلُ الَّذِي سَتَلِدِينَهُ.

Elizabeth spoke in a loud voice, “You are honored among women! Your Child is honored!

43 ل َكِنْ ما هَذا الشَّرَفُ العَظِيمُ الَّذِي حَظِيتُ بِهِ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ أُمُّ سَيِّدِي إلَيَّ؟

Why has this happened to me? Why has the mother of my Lord come to me?

44 ل ِأنَّهُ ما إنْ وَصَلَ صَوتُ تَحِيَّتِكِ إلَى أُذُنَيَّ، حَتَّى وَثَبَ الطِّفلُ بِفَرَحٍ فِي بَطنِي.

As soon as I heard your voice, the baby in my body moved for joy.

45 ف َمُبارَكَةٌ أنتِ لِأنَّكِ صَدَّقْتِ أنَّ ما وَعَدَكِ بِهِ الرَّبُّ سَيَتَحَقَّقُ.» مَريَمُ تُسَبِّحُ الله

You are happy because you believed. Everything will happen as the Lord told you it would happen.” Mary’s Song of Thanks

46 ف َقالَتْ مَريَمُ: «تُمَجِّدُ نَفسِي الرَّبَّ.

Then Mary said, “My heart sings with thanks for my Lord.

47 و َتَبتَهِجُ رُوحِي بِاللهِ مُخَلِّصِي،

And my spirit is happy in God, the One Who saves from the punishment of sin.

48 ل ِأنَّهُ نَظَرَ إلَى خادِمَتِهِ المُتَواضِعَةِ. فَمُنذُ الآنَ، يَدعُونِي جَمِيعُ النّاسِ ‹مُبارَكَةً›

The Lord has looked on me, His servant-girl and one who is not important. But from now on all people will honor me.

49 ل ِأنَّ اللهَ القَوِيَّ صَنَعَ لِي أشياءَ مَجِيدَةً. وَاسْمُهُ قُدُّوسٌ.

He Who is powerful has done great things for me. His name is holy.

50 ه ُوَ يُعطِي رَحمَةً مِنْ جِيلٍ إلَى جِيلٍ لِلَّذِيْنَ يَعبُدُونَهُ.

The loving-kindness of the Lord is given to the people of all times who honor Him.

51 أ ظهَرَ قُوَّةَ ذِراعِهِ، وَشَتَّتَ المُتَكَبِّرِيْنَ بِأفكارِهِمُ المُتَبَجِّحَةِ.

He has done powerful works with His arm. He has divided from each other those who have pride in their hearts.

52 أ نزَلَ الحُكّامَ عَنْ عُرُوشِهِمْ، وَرَفَعَ مَنزِلَةَ المُتَواضِعِينَ.

He has taken rulers down from their thrones. He has put those who are in a place that is not important to a place that is important.

53 أ شبَعَ الجِياعَ بِعَطاياهُ الصّالِحَةَ، وَصَرَفَ الأغنِياءَ فارِغِي الأيدِي.

He has filled those who are hungry with good things. He has sent the rich people away with nothing.

54 ج اءَ لِيُعِينَ خادِمَهُ يَعقُوبَ. تَذَكَّرَ فَأظهَرَ رَحمَتَهُ

He has helped Israel His servant. This was done to remember His loving-kindness.

55 ك َما وَعَدَ آباءَنا، لإبراهِيمَ وَأبنائِهِ إلَى الأبَدِ.»

He promised He would do this to our early fathers and to Abraham and to his family forever.”

56 و َأقامَتْ مَريَمُ عِندَ ألِيصاباتَ نَحْوَ ثَلاثَةِ شُهورٍ، ثُمَّ رَجِعَتْ إلَى بَيتِها. مَولِدُ يُوحَنّا

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went to her own home. The Birth of John the Baptist

57 و َحانَ الوَقتُ لِتَضَعَ ألِيصاباتُ طِفلَها، فَأنجَبَتْ صَبِيّاً.

When the time came, Elizabeth gave birth to a son.

58 ف َسَمِعَ جِيرانُها وَأقارِبُها أنَّ اللهَ قَدْ أظهَرَ لَها رَحمَةً عَظِيمَةً، فَابتَهَجُوا مَعَها.

Her neighbors and family heard how the Lord had shown loving-kindness to her. They were happy for her.

59 و َفِي اليَومِ الثّامِنِ جاءُوا لِيَختِنُوا الطِّفلَ، وَأرادُوا أنْ يُسَمُّوهُ زَكَرِيّا عَلَى اسْمِ أبيهِ.

On the eighth day they did the religious act of the Jews on the child. They named him Zacharias, after his father.

60 ل َكِنَّ أُمَّهُ قالَتْ: «لا، بَلْ سَيُدعَى يُوحَنّا.»

But his mother said, “No! His name is John.”

61 ف َقالُوا لَها: «لَيسَ بَينَ أقارِبِكِ مَنْ يَحمِلُ هَذا الاسمَ.»

They said to her, “No one in your family has that name.”

62 ف َأشارُوا بِأيدِيهِمْ إلَى أبِيْهِ يَسألُونَهُ أيَّ اسْمٍ يُرِيدُ أنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ!

Then they talked to his father with their hands to find out what he would name the child.

63 ف َطَلَبَ لَوحاً وَكَتَبَ عَلَيهِ: «اسْمُهُ يُوحَنّا،»

He asked for something to write on. He wrote, “His name is John.” They were all surprised and wondered about it.

64 ف َدُهِشُوا جَمِيعاً! وَفي الْحالِ انفَتَحَ فَمُ زَكَرِيّا وَانحَلَّ لِسانُهُ، وَبَدَأ يَتَكَلَّمُ وَيُسَبِّحُ اللهَ.

Zacharias was able to talk from that time on and he gave thanks to God.

65 ف َتَمَلَّكَ الخَوفُ الجِيرانَ كُلَّهُمْ. وَراحَ النّاسُ فِي كُلِّ أنحاءِ المِنطَقَةِ الجَبَلِيَّةِ مِنَ الجَلِيلِ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ عَنْ هَذِهِ الأُمُورِ.

All those who lived near them were afraid. The news of what had happened was told through all the hill country of Judea.

66 ف َتَعَجَّبَ كُلُّ مَنْ سَمِعَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَقالَ: «تُرَى ماذا سَيُصبِحُ هَذا الطِّفلُ؟» لِأنَّ قُوَّةَ الرَّبِّ كانَتْ مَعَهُ. زَكَرِيّا يُسَبِّحُ الله

And all who heard those words remembered them and said, “What is this child going to be?” For the hand of the Lord was on him. Zacharias’ Song of Thanks to God

67 ث ُمَّ امتَلأ أبُوهُ زَكَرِيّا بِالرُّوحِ القُدُسِ وَتَنَبَّأ فَقالَ:

Zacharias, the father of John, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He told what was going to happen, saying,

68 « مُبارَكٌ هُوَ الرَّبُّ إلَهُ إسْرائِيلَ، لِأنَّهُ جاءَ لِيُعِينَ شَعبَهُ وَيُحَرِّرَهُمْ.

“Let us thank the Lord God of Israel. He has bought His people and made them free.

69 ق َدَّمَ لَنا مُخَلِّصاً قَوِيّاً مِنْ نَسلِ داوُدَ خادِمِهِ.

He has raised up from the family of David One Who saves people from the punishment of their sins.

70 ه َذا ما وَعَدَنا اللهُ بِهِ مُنذُ القَدِيمِ.

His holy early preachers told us this long ago.

71 و َعَدَنا بِالخَلاصِ مِنْ أعدائِنا وَمِنْ أيدِي جَمِيعِ مُبغِضِيْنا.

God told us that we should be saved from those who hate us and from all those who work against us.

72 و َعَدَ بِأنْ يُظهِرَ رَحمَةً لآبائِنا وَيَتَذَكَّرَ عَهدَهُ المُقَدَّسَ مَعَهُمْ.

He would show loving-kindness to our early fathers. He would remember His holy promise.

73 و َحَفِظَ الوَعدَ الَّذِي أقسَمَ بِهِ لِأبِينا إبْراهِيمَ.

God promised this to our early father Abraham.

74 و َعَدَ بِأنْ يُنقِذَنا مِنْ أيدِي أعدائِنا، لِكَي نَخدِمَهُ دُونَ خَوفٍ،

He promised that we would be saved from those who hate us and that we might worship Him without being afraid.

75 و َنَحيا بِالقَداسَةِ وَالبِرِّ جَمِيعَ أيّامِ حَياتِنا.

We can be holy and right with God all the days of our life.

76 أ مّا أنتَ، يا ابنِي، فَسَتُدعَى نَبِيّاً لِلعَلِيِّ. فَأنتَ سَتَتَقَدَّمُ الرَّبَّ لِتُعِدَّ لَهُ الطَّرِيقَ.

“And you, my son, will be the one who speaks for the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to make the way ready for Him.

77 س َتَتَقَدَّمُهُ لِتُخْبِرَ شَعبَهُ بِأنَّهُم سَيُخَلَّصُونَ، وَسَتُغْفَرُ خَطاياهُمْ.

You will tell His people how to be saved from the punishment of sin by being forgiven of their sins.

78 ه َذا بِفَضلِ رَحمَةِ إلَهِنا المُحِبَّةِ، فَسَيُشْرِقُ نُورٌ عَلَينا مِنَ السَّماءِ.

Because the heart of our God is full of loving-kindness for us, a light from heaven will shine on us.

79 و َسَيُضِيءُ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ يَعِيشُونَ فِي ظِلِّ المَوتِ المُظلِمِ. وَسَيَهدِي خَطَواتِنا فِي طَرِيقِ السَّلامِ.»

It will give light to those who live in darkness and are under the shadow of death. It will lead our feet in the way of peace.”

80 ف َنَما الصَّبِيُّ، وَكانَ يَتَقَوَّى دائِماً فِي الرُّوحِ. وَعاشَ فِي البَرِّيَّةِ إلَى حِينِ ظُهُورِهِ عَلَناً لِبَنِي إسْرائِيلَ.

The child grew and became strong in spirit. He lived in a desert until the day he started to preach to the Jews.