1 M any people have written about the things that have happened among us.

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

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

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

3 D ear 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.

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 hen 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

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

5 W hen 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.

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

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

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

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

8 Z acharias was doing his work as a religious leader for God.

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

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

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

10 M any people stood outside praying during the time the special perfume was burning.

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

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

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

12 W hen he saw the angel, Zacharias was troubled and afraid.

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

13 T he 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.

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

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

15 H e 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.

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

converterá muitos dos filhos de Israel ao Senhor seu Deus;

17 H e 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

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

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

19 T he 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.

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 S ee! 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.”

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

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

22 W hen 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.

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

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

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

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

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

25 “ 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

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

26 S ix 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.

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

27 H e 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.

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

28 T he 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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

32 H e 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.

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

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

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

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

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

35 T he 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.

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 “ 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.

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 God can do all things.”

porque para Deus nada será impossível.

38 T hen 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

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

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

40 S he went to the house of Zacharias to see Elizabeth.

entrou em casa de Zacarias e saudou a Isabel.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

46 T hen Mary said, “My heart sings with thanks for my Lord.

Disse então Maria: A minha alma engrandece ao Senhor,

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

e o meu espírito exulta em Deus meu Salvador;

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

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

49 H e Who is powerful has done great things for me. His name is holy.

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

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

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

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

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

52 H e 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.

depôs dos tronos os poderosos, e elevou os humildes.

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

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

54 H e has helped Israel His servant. This was done to remember His loving-kindness.

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

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

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

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

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

57 W hen the time came, Elizabeth gave birth to a son.

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

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

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

59 O n the eighth day they did the religious act of the Jews on the child. They named him Zacharias, 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 said, “No! His name is John.”

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

61 T hey said to her, “No one in your family has that name.”

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

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

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

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

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

64 Z acharias was able to talk from that time on and he gave thanks to God.

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

65 A ll those who lived near them were afraid. The news of what had happened was told through all 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

70 H is holy early preachers told us this long ago.

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

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

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

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

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

73 G od promised this to our early father Abraham.

e do juramento que fez a Abrão, nosso pai,

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

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

75 W e can be holy and right with God all the days of our life.

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

76 “ 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.

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

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

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

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

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

79 I t 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.”

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

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

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