V 001 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a
declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
V 002 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were
eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
V 003 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all
things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent
Theophilus,
V 004 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein
thou hast been instructed.
V 005 THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain
priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the
daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
V 006 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
V 007 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they
both were now well stricken in years.
V 008 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office
before God in the order of his course,
V 009 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to
burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
V 010 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the
time of incense.
V 011 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the
right side of the altar of incense.
V 012 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon
him.
V 013 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer
is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt
call his name John.
V 014 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at
his birth.
V 015 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy
Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
V 016 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their
God.
V 017 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to
turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to
the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
V 018 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for
I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
V 019 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in
the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee
these glad tidings.
V 020 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the
day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my
words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
V 021 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried
so long in the temple.
V 022 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they
perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto
them, and remained speechless.
V 023 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration
were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
V 024 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself
five months, saying,
V 025 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on
me, to take away my reproach among men.
V 026 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a
city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
V 027 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house
of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
V 028 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art
highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
V 029 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in
her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
V 030 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found
favour with God.
V 031 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a
son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
V 032 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and
the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
V 033 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his
kingdom there shall be no end.
V 034 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know
not a man?
V 035 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be
called the Son of God.
V 036 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son
in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called
barren.
V 037 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
V 038 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me
according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
V 039 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with
haste, into a city of Juda;
V 040 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
V 041 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of
Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the
Holy Ghost:
V 042 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou
among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
V 043 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come
to me?
V 044 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine
ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
V 045 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance
of those things which were told her from the Lord.
V 046 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
V 047 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
V 048 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for,
behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
V 049 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is
his name.
V 050 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to
generation.
V 051 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts.
V 052 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of
low degree.
V 053 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath
sent empty away.
V 054 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
V 055 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
V 056 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her
own house.
V 057 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and
she brought forth a son.
V 058 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed
great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
V 059 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to
circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of
his father.
V 060 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called
John.
V 061 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is
called by this name.
V 062 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
V 063 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is
John. And they marvelled all.
V 064 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and
he spake, and praised God.
V 065 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these
sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
V 066 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying,
What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with
him.
V 067 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and
prophesied, saying,
V 068 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and
redeemed his people,
V 069 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his
servant David;
V 070 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been
since the world began:
V 071 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all
that hate us;
V 072 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his
holy covenant;
V 073 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
V 074 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the
hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
V 075 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our
life.
V 076 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for
thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
V 077 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of
their sins,
V 078 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on
high hath visited us,
V 079 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of
death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
V 080 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the
deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel |
|
تقديم
1-
لأنَّ كثيرًا مِنَ النـاسِ أخَذوا
يُدَوِّنونَ رِوايةَ الأحداثِ التي جَرَت بَينَنا،
2-
كما
نَقَلَها إلَينا الذينَ كانوا مِنَ البَدءِ شُهودَ عِيانٍ
وخدّامًا للكَلِمَةِ،
3-
رأيتُ أنا أيضًا، بَعدَما تتَبَّعتُ
كُلَ شيءٍ مِنْ أُصولِهِ بتَدقيقٍ، أنْ أكتُبَها إليكَ، يا
صاحِبَ العِزَّةِ ثاوفيلُسُ، حسَبَ تَرتيبِها الصَّحيحِ،
4-
حتى تَعرِفَ صِحَّةَ التَّعليمِ الذي تَلقَّيتَهُ.
البشارة بميلاد يوحنا
5-
كانَ في أيّامِ هيرودُسَ مَلِكِ اليهوديَّةِ
كاهنِ مِنْ فِرقَةِ أبـيَّا اَسمُهُ زكَرِيَّا، لَهُ زوجةِ
مِنْ سُلالَةِ هرونَ اَسمُها أليصابات.
6-
وكانَ زكَرِيَّا وأليصاباتُ صالحَيْنِ عِندَ
الله، يَتبَعانِ جميعَ أحكامِهِ ووصاياهُ، ولا لومَ
علَيهِما.
7-
وما كانَ لَهُما ولَدٌ، لأنَّ أليصاباتَ
كانَت عاقِرًا، وكانَت هيَ وزكَرِيَّا كبـيرَينِ في
السِّنِّ.
8-
وبَينَما زكَرِيَّا يَتناوَبُ الخِدمَةَ معَ
فِرقَتِهِ ككاهنٍ أمامَ الله،
9-
أُلقيَتِ القُرعَةُ، بحسَبِ
التَّقليدِ المُتَّبَعِ عِندَ الكَهنَةِ، فأصابَتْهُ
ليَدخُلَ هَيكَلَ الرَّبِّ ويَحرُقَ البَخورَ.
10-
وكانَت
جُموعُ الشَّعبِ تُصلِّي في الخارِجِ عِندَ إحراقِ البَخورِ.
11-
فظهَرَ لَهُ مَلاكُ الرَّبِّ واقِفًا عَنْ
يَمينِ مَذبَحِ البَخورِ.
12-
فلمَّا رآهُ زكَرِيَّا اَضطَرَبَ
وخافَ.
13-
فقالَ لَهُ المَلاكُ: «لا تخَفْ يا زكَرِيَّا،
لأنَّ الله سَمِعَ دُعاءَكَ وسَتَلِدُ لكَ اَمرأتُكَ
أليصاباتُ اَبنًا تُسمّيهِ يوحنَّا.
14-
وستَفرَحُ بِه
وتَبتَهِـجُ، ويفرَحُ بمولِدِهِ كثيرٌ مِنَ النـاسِ،
15-
لأنَّهُ سيكونُ عَظيمًا عِندَ الرَّبِّ، ولن يَشرَبَ
خَمرًا ولا مُسكرًا، ويَمتلِـئْ مِنَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ وهوَ
في بَطنِ أُمِّهِ،
16-
ويَهدي كثيرينَ مِنْ بَني إِسرائيلَ إلى
الرَّبِّ إلهِهِم،
17-
ويسيرُ أمامَ الله بِرُوحِ إيليَّا
وقُوّتِهِ، ليُصالِـحَ الآباءَ معَ الأبناءِ ويُرجِـعَ
العُصاةَ إلى حِكمةِ الأبرارِ، فَيُهيِّـئٌ لِلرَّبِّ شَعبًا
مُستعِدُا لهُ«.
18- فقالَ زكَرِيَّا لِلمَلاكِ: «كيفَ يكونُ
هذا وأنا شَيخِ كَبـيرٌ واَمرأتي عَجوزٌ؟«
19- فأجابَهُ المَلاكُ: «أنا جِبرائيلُ القائِمُ في حضرَةِ
الله، وهوَ أرسَلَني لأُكلِّمَكَ وأحمِلَ إليكَ هذِهِ
البُشرى.
20- لكنَّكَ ستُصابُ بالخَرَسِ، فلا تَقدِرُ على
الكلامِ إلى اليومِ الذي يَحدُثُ فيهِ ذلِكَ، لأنَّكَ ما
آمنتَ بِكلامي، وكلامي سيَتِمُّ في حينِهِ«.
21- وكانَتِ الجُموعُ تَنتَظِرُ زكَرِيَّا
وتتَعَجَّبُ منِْ إبطائِهِ في داخِلِ الهَيكَلِ.
22- فلمَّا
خرَجَ، كانَ لا يَقدِرُ أنْ يُكَلِّمَهُم، ففَهِموا أنَّهُ
رأى رُؤيا في داخِلِ الهَيكَلِ. وكانَ يُخاطِبُهُم
بالإشارَةِ، وبَقيَ أخرَسَ.
23- فلمَّا اَنتهَتْ أيّامُ خِدمَتِهِ رَجِعَ
إلى بَيتِهِ.
24-
وبَعدَ مُدَّةٍ حَبِلَتِ اَمرأتُهُ أليصاباتُ، فأَخفَت
أمرَها خَمسةَ أشهُرٍ. وكانَت تَقولُ:
25- »هذا
ما أعطاني الرَّبُّ يومَ نظَرَ إليَّ ليُزيلَ عَنِّي العارَ
مِنْ بَينِ النـاسِ«.
البشارة بميلاد يسوع
26-
وحينَ كانَت أليصاباتُ في شَهرِها السّادسِ،
أرسَلَ الله المَلاكَ جِبرائيلَ إلى بَلدَةٍ في الجَليلِ
اَسمُها النـاصِرَةُ،
27-
إلى عذراءَ اَسمُها مَريَمُ، كانَت مَخطوبَةً
لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ بَيتِ داودَ اَسمُهُ يوسُفُ.
28-
فدخَلَ إليها المَلاكُ وقالَ لها:
«السَّلامُ علَيكِ، يا مَنْ أنعمَ الله علَيها. الرَّبُّ
مَعكِ«.
29- فاضطرَبَت مَريَمُ لِكلامِ المَلاكِ وقالَت في نَفسِها:
«ما مَعنى هذِهِ التَّحيةِ؟«
30- فقالَ لها المَلاكُ: «لا تَخافي يا مَريَمُ، نِلتِ حُظْوةً
عِندَ الله:
31- فسَتَحبَلينَ وتَلِدينَ اَبنًا تُسَمِّينَهُ
يَسوعَ.
32- فيكونُ عظيمًا واَبنَ الله العَليِّ يُدعى،
ويُعطيهِ الرَّبُّ الإلهُ عرشَ أبـيهِ داودَ،
33- ويَملِكُ على
بَيتِ يَعقوبَ إلى الأبدِ، ولا يكونُ لمُلْكِهِ نِهايةِ!«
34-
فقالَت مَريَمُ لِلملاكِ: «كيفَ يكونُ هذا
وأنا عَذراءُ لا أعرِفُ رَجُلاً؟«
35- فأجابَها المَلاكُ: «الرُّوحُ القُدُسُ يَحِلُّ علَيكِ،
وقُدرَةُ العليِّ تُظَلِّـلُكِ، لذلِكَ فالقدُّوسُ
الذي يولَدُ مِنكِ يُدعى اَبنَ الله.
36- ها
قَريبَـتُكِ أليصاباتُ حُبلى باَبنٍ في
شَيْخوخَتِها، وهذا هوَ شَهرُها السّادِسُ، وهيَ
التي دَعاها النـاسُ عاقِرًا.
37- فما مِنْ شيءٍ غَيرَ
مُمكنٍ عِندَ الله«.
38- فقالَت مَريَمُ: «أنا خادِمَةُ الرَّبِّ:
فَلْيكُنْ لي كَما تَقولُ«.
ومَضى مِنْ عِندِها المَلاكُ.
مريم عند أليصابات
39-
وفي تِلكَ الأيّامِ، قامَت مَريَمُ
وأسرَعَت إلى مَدينةِ يَهوذا في جِبالِ اليهوديَّةِ.
40-
ودخلَت بَيتَ زكَرِيَّا وسَلَّمَت
على أليصاباتَ.
41-
فلمَّا سَمِعَت أليصاباتُ سلامَ
مَريَمَ، تحرَّكَ الجَنينُ في بَطنِها، واَمتلأت
أليصاباتُ مِنَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ،
42-
فهَتفَت بِأَعلى صَوتِها: «مُباركَةِ
أنتِ في النِّساءِ ومُبارَكٌ اَبنُكِ ثَمرةُ
بَطنِكِ!
43-
مَنْ أنا حتى تَجيءَ إليَّ أُمُّ
رَبّـي؟
44-
ما إنْ سَمِعتُ صوتَ سَلامِكِ حتى
تَحرَّكَ الجَنينُ مِنَ الفرَحِ في بَطني.
45-
هَنيئًا لَكِ، يا مَنْ آمَنتْ بأنَّ
ما جاءَها مِنْ عِندِ الرَّبِّ سيَتِمُّ«.
نشيد مريم
46-
فقالَت مَريَمُ:
»تُعَظِّمُ
نَفْسي الرَّبَّ
47- وتَبتَهِـجُ رُوحي بِالله
مُخَلِّصي
48- لأنَّهُ نظَرَ إليَّ، أنا خادِمَتُهُ
الوضيعةُ! جميعُ الأجيالِ سَتُهَنِّئُني
49- لأنَّ
القَديرَ صنَعَ لي عظائِمَ. قُدّوسٌ اَسمُهُ
50- ورَحمتُهُ مِنْ جِيلٍ إلى جِيلٍ لِلذينَ
يَخافونَهُ.
51- أظهرَ شِدَّةَ ساعدِهِ فبَدَّدَ
المُتكبّرينَ في قُلوبِهِم.
52- أنزَلَ الجبابِرَةَ
عَنْ عُروشِهِم ورفَعَ المُتَّضِعينَ.
53- أشبَعَ
الجياعَ مِنْ خيراتِهِ وصرَفَ الأغنياءَ فارِغينَ.
54- أعانَ عَبدَهُ إِسرائيلَ فتَذكَّرَ رَحمتَهُ،
55
- كما وعَدَ آباءَنا، لإبراهيمَ ونَسلِهِ إلى الأبدِ«.
56- وأقامَت مَريَمُ عِندَ أليصاباتَ
نحوَ ثلاثَةِ أشهُرٍ، ثُمَّ رجَعَت إلى بَيتِها.
ميلاد يوحنا المعمدان
57-
وجاءَ وقتُ أليصاباتَ لتَلِدَ،
فولَدَتِ اَبنًا.
58-
وسَمِعَ جيرانُها وأقاربُها أنَّ
الله غَمَرها برحمتِهِ، ففَرِحوا معَها.
59-
ولمّا
بلَغَ الطِّفلُ يومَهُ الثـامنَ، جاؤوا ليَختِنوهُ.
وأرادوا أنْ يُسمُّوهُ زكَرِيَّا باَسمِ أبـيهِ،
60-
فقالَت أُمُّهُ: «لا، بل نُسمِّيهِ يوحنَّا«.
61- فقالوا: «لا أحَدَ مِنْ عَشيرَتِكِ تَسَمّى بِهذا
الاسمِ«.
62- وسألوا أباهُ بِالإشارَةِ ماذا يُريدُ أنْ يُسمّى
الطِّفلُ،
63- فطَلَبَ لوحًا وكتَبَ علَيهِ: «اَسمُهُ
يوحنَّا«.
فتَعجَّبوا كُلُّهُم.
64- وفي الحالِ اَنفتَحَ فمُهُ
واَنطلَقَ لِسانُهُ فتكَلَّمَ ومَجَّدَ الله.
65- فمَلأ الخوفُ جميعَ الجيرانِ.
وتحدَّثَ النـاسُ بجميعِ هذِهِ
الأُمورِ في جِبالِ اليهوديَّةِ كُلِّها.
66-
وكانَ
كُلُّ مَنْ يسمَعُ بِها يحفَظُها في قلبِهِ قائِلاً:
«ما عسى أن يكونَ هذا الطِّفلُ؟«
لأنَّ يَدَ الرَّبِّ كانَت معَهُ.
نشيد زكريا
67-
واَمتلأَ أبوهُ زكَرِيَّا مِنَ
الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ، فتَنبّأَ قالَ:
68- »تبارَكَ
الرَّبُّ، إلهُ إِسرائيلَ لأنَّهُ تَفَقـدَ شَعبَهُ
واَفتَداهُ،
69- فأقامَ لنا مُخَلِّصًا قَديرًا في
بَيتِ عَبدِهِ داودَ
70- كما وعَدَ مِنْ قَديمِ
الزَّمانِ بِلسانِ أنبـيائِهِ القدِّيسينَ
71- خَلاصًا
لنا مِنْ أعدائِنا، ومِنْ أيدي جميعِ مُبغِضينا،
72- ورَحمةً مِنهُ لآبائِنا وذِكرًا لِعَهدِه
المُقدَّسِ
73- وللقَسَمِ الذي أقسَمَهُ لإبراهيمَ
أبـينا
74- بأنْ يُخَلِّصَنا مِنْ أعدائِنا، حتى
نَعبُدَهُ غيرَ خائِفينَ،
75- في قداسةٍ وتَقوَى
عِندَهُ طُوالَ أيّامِ حياتِنا.
76- وأنتَ، أيُّها
الطِّفلُ، نَبـيَّ العليِّ تُدعى، لأنَّكَ تتَقدَّمُ
الرَّبَّ لتُهيّـئٌ الطَّريقَ لَهُ
77- وتُعَلـمَ
شَعبَهُ أنَّ الخلاصَ هوَ في غُفرانِ خطاياهُم.
78- لأنَّ إلَهَنا رَحيمٌ رَؤوفِ يَتَفقَّدُنا
مُشرِقًا مِنَ العُلى
79- ليُضيءَ لِلقاعِدينَ في
الظَّلامِ وفي ظِلالِ الموتِ ويَهدي خُطانا في طريقِ
السَّلامِ«.
80- وكانَ الطِّفلُ يَنمو ويتقَوَّى في
الرُّوحِ. وأقامَ في البرِّيَّةِ إلى أنْ ظهَرَ
لِبَني إِسرائيلَ.
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