1 N a, i te mea he tokomaha kua anga ki te whakakaupapa i te korero o nga mea kua whakatutukitia nei i waenganui i a tatou,

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

2 H e mea whakarite ki nga mea i homai ki a tatou e te hunga i kite a kanohi, i mahi hoki i te kupu,

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

3 K oia ahau i mahara ai, i te mea kua ata whakatakina iho e ahau nga mea katoa i te timatanga mai, kia tuhituhi whakatepe atu ki a koe, e Tiopira, e te tangata pai rawa,

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 K ia matau ai koe ki te tuturutanga o nga mea i whakaakona ai koe.

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 N o mua, no nga ra o Herora kingi o Huria, tera tohunga, ko Hakaraia te ingoa, no te wiki o Apiata: ko tana wahine hoki no nga tamahine a Arona, ko Erihapeti tona ingoa.

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 H e hunga tika hoki raua i te aroaro o te Atua, kahore he he o ta raua haere i runga i nga kupu ako katoa, i nga tikanga a te Ariki.

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

7 N a kahore a raua tamariki, he pakoko hoki a Erihapeti, a i taua wa kua maha haere rawa nga ra o tetahi, o tetahi.

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

8 N a tupono tonu, i a ia e mahi ana i a te tohunga mahi i te aroaro o te Atua i te takanga o tana wiki,

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

9 E whakarite ana i nga ritenga o nga tohunga, ka taka mana te haere ki roto ki te whare tapu o te Ariki, tahu ai te whakakakara.

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 N a i waho te nuinga katoa o te iwi e inoi ana i te haora whakakakara.

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

11 A ka puta mai ki a ia tetahi anahera a te Ariki e tu ana i te taha matau o te aata whakakakara.

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

12 N a ka ohorere a Hakaraia i tona kitenga i a ia, a tau ana te wehi ki a ia.

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

13 O tira ka mea te anahera ki a ia, kaua e wehi, e Hakaraia: kua rangona hoki tau inoi, a ka whanau i tau wahine, i a Erihapeti, he tama mau, a ka huaina e koe tona ingoa ko Hoani.

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 A ka whiwhi koe i te hari me te harakoa; a he tokomaha hoki e hari i tona whanautanga.

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

15 E nui hoki ia i te aroaro o te Atua: e kore ia e inu i te waina, i te wai whakahaurangi ranei: a ka ki ia i te Wairua Tapu, mai ano o te kopu o tona whaea.

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 H e tokomaha ano hoki o nga tama a Iharaira ka whakatahuritia e ia ki te Ariki, ki to ratou Atua.

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

17 K a haere ano ia i tona aroaro i runga i te wairua, i te mana, o Iraia, hei whakatahuri i nga ngakau o nga matua ki nga tamariki, i te hunga whakatuturi ki nga whakaaro o te hunga tika; hei whakarite mo te Ariki i tetahi iwi i ata taka mona.

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 N a ko te meatanga a Hakaraia ki te anahera, Ma te aha ka matau ai ahau ki tenei mea? he koroheke nei hoki ahau, kua maha haere hoki nga ra o taku wahine.

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

19 N a ka whakahoki te anahera, ka mea ki a ia, Ko Kapariera ahau, kei te aroaro o te Atua toku turanga; kua tonoa mai hoki ahau ki te korero ki a koe, ki te whakapuaki i tenei rongo pai ki a koe.

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 N ana, ka noho puku koe, kahore hoki e puta te korero i a koe, kia tae mai ra ano te ra e meatia ai enei mea, mou kihai i whakapono ki aku kupu, ka mana nei i te wa e rite ai.

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 A tatari tonu te iwi ki a Hakaraia, me te miharo ano i a ia e whakaroa ana i roto i te whare tapu.

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

22 A , i tona putanga mai ki waho, kihai ia i ahei te korero ki a ratou: a ka mohio ratou kua kite ia i tetahi putanga atua ki a ia i roto i te whare tapu: hono tonu tana waitohu ki a ratou me te wahangu ano.

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 A ka rite nga ra hei minitatanga mana, ka hoki ia ki tona whare.

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

24 N a muri iho i aua ra ka hapu tana wahine, a Erihapeti, a e rima nga marama i whakangaro ai i a ia, a i mea ia,

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

25 K o ta te Ariki tenei i mea ai ki ahau, i nga ra i titiro mai ai ia, ki te whakamutu i toku tawainga i roto i nga tangata.

“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 N a i te ono o nga marama ka tonoa a Kapariera, te anahera, e te Atua ki tetahi pa o Kariri, ko Nahareta te ingoa,

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 K i tetahi wahine i taumautia ma tetahi tangata, ko Hohepa te ingoa, no te whare o Rawiri; ko te ingoa o te wahine ko Meri.

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 N a, ko tona haerenga ki roto, ki a ia, ka mea, Tena koe, e te wahine kua manakohia nei; kei a koe te Ariki: ko koe te manaakitia i roto i nga wahine.

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 O tira he nui tona oho ki taua kupu, ka whakaaroaro ki te tikanga o tenei ohatanga.

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

30 N a ka mea te anahera ki a ia, Kei wehi koe, e Meri; kua paingia hoki koe e te Atua.

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

31 N ana, tera koe e hapu, ka whanau he tama, a ka huaina e koe tona ingoa ko Ihu.

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

32 K a nui ia, ka kiia hoki ko te Tama a te Runga Rawa: a ka hoatu ki a ia e te Ariki, e te Atua, te torona o Rawiri, o tona papa.

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 H ei kingi hoki ia mo te whare o Hakopa ake ake; e kore ano e mutu tona rangatiratanga.

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

34 N a ka mea a Meri ki te anahera, E peheatia tenei, kahore nei hoki ahau e mohio ki te tane?

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

35 N a ka whakahoki te anahera, ka mea ki a ia, Ka tae te Wairua Tapu ki runga ki a koe, ka taumarumaru iho te kaha o te Runga Rawa ki runga ki a koe: no reira hoki ka kiia te mea e whanau mai he tapu, ko te Tama a te Atua.

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 N a, ko tou whanaunga, ko Erihapeti, kua hapu hoki ia i tona ruruhitanga, he tama; a koe te ono tenei o nga marama ki a ia, i kiia ra he pakoko.

“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 K ahore hoki he kupu i ahu mai i te Atua i kore e whai mana.

For God can do all things.”

38 A no ra ko Meri, Ina, te pononga a te Ariki; kia peratia ahau me tau i korero ai. A mawehe atu ana te anahera i a ia.

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 N a ka whakatika a Meri i aua ra, a haere kaika ana ki te whenua pukepuke ki tetahi pa o Hura;

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

40 A ka tomo ki te whare o Hakaraia, ka oha ki a Erihapeti.

She went to the house of Zacharias to see Elizabeth.

41 A , no te rongonga o Erihapeti i te oha a Meri, ka koiri te tamaiti i roto i tona kopu; na kua ki a Erihapeti i te Wairua Tapu:

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

42 A he nui tona reo ki te karanga, ka mea, Ka manaakitia koe i roto i nga wahine, ka manaakitia ano te hua o tou kopu.

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

43 N o hea hoki tenei ki ahau, kia haere mai te whaea o toku Ariki ki ahau?

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

44 N a, pa kau mai te reo o tau oha ki oku taringa, ka oho te tamaiti i toku kopu i te hari.

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

45 K a koa ano ia e whakapono ana: ka whakaritea hoki nga mea i korerotia ki a ia e te Ariki.

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

46 A ka mea a Meri, Ka whakanui toku wairua i te Ariki,

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

47 E hari ana toku wairua ki te Atua, ki toku Kaiwhakaora;

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

48 M ona i titiro ki te iti o tana pononga; ta te mea hoki katahi ahau ka kiia e nga whakatupuranga katoa e haere ake nei, he wahine hari.

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 H e nui hoki nga mahi a te Mea Kaha ki ahau; he tapu hoki tona ingoa.

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

50 H e mahi tohu tana ki te hunga e wehi ana ki a ia, ki tenei whakatupuranga, ki tenei whakatupuranga.

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

51 K ua whakaputaina he kaha e ia, ara e tona ringa; nana te hunga whakakake i marara ai, i te whakaaro o o ratou ngakau.

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

52 K ua whakataka e ia nga piriniha i o ratou torona, a whakateiteitia ake ana te hunga iti.

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 K ua whakakiia e ia te hunga mate hiakai ki nga mea pai; kua tonoa kautia atu te hunga taonga.

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

54 K ua tautokona e ia a Iharaira, tana pononga, he whakamahara hoki ki tana mahi tohu;

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

55 K i a Aperahama ratou ko tana whanau ake tonu atu, pera hoki me tana i korero ai ki o tatou matua.

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

56 N a tata tonu ki te toru marama a Meri e noho ana ki a ia, a hoki ana ki tona whare.

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

57 A ka rite te taima o Erihapeti e whanau ai; na ka whanau he tama.

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

58 A ka rongo te hunga e noho tata ana, me ona whanaunga, kua whakanuia e te Ariki tona aroha ki a ia; na ka hari tahi me ia.

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

59 A i te waru o nga ra ka haere mai ratou ki te kokoti i te tamaiti; ka mea kia huaina e ratou ko Hakaraia, ko te ingoa o tona papa.

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

60 N a ka whakahoki tona whaea, ka mea, Kahore; engari me hua ia ko Hoani.

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

61 N a ko ta ratou meatanga ki a ia, Ara, kahore tenei ingoa i huaina ki tetahi o ou whanaunga.

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

62 N a ka ui ratou ki tona papa, he mea waitohu, ko wai tana e pai ai kia huaina ki a ia.

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

63 K a mea ia ki tetahi papa tuhituhi, a ka tuhituhi, ka mea, Ko Hoani hei ingoa mona. A miharo ana ratou katoa.

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

64 N a whai reo tonu iho tona mangai, ka matara tona arero, ka korero ia, ka whakapai ki te Atua.

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

65 A tau ana te wehi ki te hunga katoa e noho tata ana ki a ratou: ka korerotia enei mea katoa puta noa i te whenua pukepuke katoa o Huria.

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

66 N a ka rongoatia enei mea e te hunga katoa i rangona ai ki roto ki o ratou ngakau, ka mea, He tamaiti aha ianei tenei? i a ia hoki te ringa o te Ariki.

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 N a kua ki a Hakaraia, tona papa, i te Wairua tapu, ka poropiti, ka mea,

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

68 K ia whakapaingia te Ariki, te Atua o Iharaira; kua titiro mai hoki ia, kua hoko i tana iwi,

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

69 K ua whakaarahia ake e ia he haona whakaora mo tatou, i roto i te whare o Rawiri, o tana pononga;

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

70 K o tana hoki ia i korerotia e te mangai o ana poropiti tapu, no te timatanga mai ano o te ao:

His holy early preachers told us this long ago.

71 H ei whakaora i a tatou i o tatou hoa whawhai, i te ringa ano o te hunga katoa e kino ana ki a tatou;

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

72 H ei whakaputa i te mahi tohu ki o tatou tupuna, hei whakamahara ki tana kawenata tapu;

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

73 K i te oati i oati ai ia ki a Aperahama, ki to tatou tupuna,

God promised this to our early father Abraham.

74 K ia tukua mai e ia ki a tatou he ora i te ringa o o tatou hoa whawhai, kia mahi wehikore tatou ki a ia,

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

75 I runga i te tapu, i te tika, ki tona aroaro, i nga ra katoa e ora ai tatou.

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

76 A ko koe, e tama, ka kiia ko te poropiti a te Runga Rawa: e haere hoki koe i te aroaro o te Ariki, hei whakapai i ona ara;

“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 H ei whakamatau i tana iwi ki te ora, i o ratou hara e murua ana;

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

78 H e mea hoki na te aroha, na te mahi tohu a to tatou Atua; na reira hoki i puta mai ai te puaotanga o runga ki a tatou,

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

79 H ei whakamarama i te hunga e noho ana i te pouri, i te atarangi hoki o te mate, hei whakatika i o tatou waewae ki te huarahi o te rangimarie.

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 N a ka tupu taua tamaiti, a ka kaha haere tona wairua, a noho ana i nga koraha, taea noatia te ra e whakakitea ai ia ki a Iharaira.

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