هدفُ كِتَابةِ الإنجيل
1 لَمَّا كَانَ كَثِيرُونَ قَدْ أَخَذُوا فِي تَأْلِيفِ قِصَص فِي الأُمُورِ المُتَيَقَّنَةِ عِندَنا، 2 كَما سَلَّمَا إِلَيْنَا الَّذِينَ كَانُوا مُعَاِينينَ مُنذُ البَدْءِ وَخُدَّامًا لِلْكَلِمَة، 3 رَأَيْتُ أَنَا أَيْضًا، وَقَدْ تَتَبَّعْتُ جَميعَ الأَشْياءِ مِنَ الأَوَّلِ بِتَدْقِيقٍ، أَنْ أَكْتُبَها لَكَ عَلَى التَّرْتيبِ، أيُّهَا العَزِيرُ ثِيُوفِلُس، 4 لِتَتَيَقَّنَ صِحَّةَ الكَلامِ الَّذِي تَلَقَّيْتَهُ.
البِشارةُ بِمَولِد يوحَنَّا
5 كَانَ فِي أَيَّامِ هِيرُودُسَ مَلِكِ اليَهُودِيَّةِ كَاهِنٌ اسْمُهُ زَخَرِيَّا مِنْ فِرْقَةِ أِبِيَّا، وامْرَأَتُهُ مِنْ بَناتِ هارونَ اسْمُها أَليصاباتُ. 6 وَكَانَ كِلاهُمَا بَارًّا أَمَامَ اللّهِ، سائِرًا فِي جَميعِ وَصايا الرَّبِّ وأَحْكامِهِ بِغَيْرِ لَوْمٍ. 7 وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمَا وَلَدٌ لأَنَّ أَلِيصاباتَ كَانَتْ عَاقِرًا، وَقَدْ طَعَنَا كِلاَهُمَا فِي السِّنّ. 8 وبَيْنَما كَانَ يُكَهِّنُ فِي نَوْبَةِ فِرْقَتِهِ أَمَامَ اللّهِ، 9 أَصابَتْهُ القُرْعَةُ عَلَى عَادَةِ الكَهْنُوتِ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ هَيْكَلَ الرَّبِّ وَيُبَخِّرَ، 10 وَكَانَ كُلُّ جُمْهورِ الشَّعْبِ يُصَلِّي خارِجًا فِي وَقْتِ التَّبْخِيرِ. 11 فَتَراءَى لَهُ مَلاكُ الرَّبِّ واقِفًا عَنْ يَمينِ مَذْبَحِ البَخُّورِ. 12 فَاضْطَرَبَ زَخَرِيَّا حينَ رَآهُ وَوَقَعَ عَلَيهِ خَوْفٌ. 13 فقَالَ لَهُ المَلاكُ: "لا تَخَفْ، يا زَخَرِيَّا، فإِنَّ طِلْبَتَكَ قَدِ اسْتُجِيبَتْ، وامْرَأتُكَ أَلِيصابَاتُ سَتَلِدُ لَكَ ابْنًا فَتُسَمِّيهِ يُوحنَّا، 14 ويَكونُ لَكَ فَرَحٌ وابْتِهاجٌ، ويَفْرَحُ كَثيرونَ بِمَوْلِدهِ. 15 لأنَّهُ يَكونُ عَظيمًا أَمامَ الرَّبِّ، ولا يَشْرَبُ خَمْرًا ولا مُسْكِرًا، وَتَمْتَلِئُ مِنَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ وَهُوَ فِي بَطنِ أُمِّهِ بَعدُ، 16 ويَرُدُّ كَثِيرينَ مِنْ إِسْرائيلَ إِلَى الرَّبِّ إِلَهِهِم. 17 وَهُوَ يتَقَدَّمُ أَمَامَهُ بِرُوحِ إِيليَّا وَقُوَّتِه، لِيَرُدَّ قُلوبَ الآبَاء إِلَى الأَبْناءِ وَالعُصَاةَ إِلَى حِكْمَةِ الأَبْرارِ، وَيُهَيِّئُ لِلرَّبِّ شَعْبًا مُسْتَعِدًّا". 18 فَقَالَ زَخَرِيَّا لِلمَلاكِ: "بَمِ أَعْلَمُ هَذا؟ فَإِنِّي أَنا شَيْخٌ وَامْرَأَتِي قَدْ تَقَدَّمَتْ فِي أَيَّامِها". 19 فَأَجابَ المَلاكُ وقَالَ لَهُ: "أَنا جِبْرَائِيلُ الوَاقِفُ أَمامَ اللّهِ، وَقَدْ أُرْسِلْتُ لأُكَلِّمَكَ وَأُبَشِّرَكَ بِهَذا. 20 وَهَا أَنْتَ سَتَبْقَى صَامِتًا فَلا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَتَكَلَّمَ إِلَى يوْمَ يحدُثُ فِيهِ هَذَا، لأَنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَدِّقْ كَلامِي الَّذِي سَيَتِمُّ فِي أَوَانِهِ". 21 وَكَانَ الشَّعْبُ يَنْتَظِرُ زَخَرِيَّا، وَهُمْ مُتَعَجِّبونَ مِنْ إِبْطائِهِ داخِلَ الهَيْكَل. 22 فلَمَّا خَرَجَ لمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَهُم، فَأَدْرَكوا أَنَّهُ قَدْ رَأَى رُؤْيا دَاخِلَ الهَيكَل، وَكَانَ يُشِيرُ إِلَيْهِم، وَبِقيَ أَبْكَم. 23 وَلَمَّا تَمَّتْ أَيَّامُ خِدْمَتِهِ مَضَىِ إِلَى بَيتِهِ. 24 ومِنْ بَعدِ تِلْكَ الأَيَّامِ حَبِلَتْ أَلِيصاباتُ امْرَأَتُهُ، وَكَتَمَتْ أَمْرَها خَمْسَةَ أَشْهُرٍ 25 قائِلةً: "هَكَذَا صَنَعَ بِي الرَّبُّ فِي الأَيَّامِ الَّتِي نَظَرَ إِليَّ لِيَصْرِفَ عَنِّي العَارَ بَيْنَ النَّاس".
البِشَارَةُ بِميلادِ المَسيح
26 وفِي الشَّهرِ السَّادِسِ أُرْسِلَ المَلاكُ جِبْرَائِيلُ مِنْ قِبَلِ اللّهِ إِلَى مَدينَةٍ فِي الجَليلِ اسْمُها النَّاصِرة، 27 إِلَى عَذْراءَ مَخْطوبَةٍ لِرَجُلٍ اسْمُهُ يُوسُفُ مِن بَيتِ دَاوُدَ، واسمُ العَذْراءِ مَرْيَم. 28 فَدَخَلَ المَلاكُ وَقالَ لَها: "إِفْرَحِي، أيَّتُها المُمْتَلِئَةُ نِعْمَةً، الرَّبُّ مَعَكِ، مُبارَكَةٌ أَنْتِ فِي النِّساءِ". 29 فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ اضْطَرَبَتْ مِنْ كَلامِهِ وَفَكَّرَتْ: "ما عَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ هَذا السَّلامُ". 30 فَقَالَ لها المَلاكُ: "لا تَخَافِي يا مَرْيَمُ، فَإِنَّكِ قَدْ نِلْتِ نِعْمَةً لَدَى اللّه. 31 وَهَا أَنْتِ تَحْبَلِينَ وتَلِدينَ أبْنًا وتُسَمِّينَهُ يَسوع. 32 هَذا سَيَكونُ عَظيمًا وَابْنَ العَلِيِّ يُدْعَى، وَسَيُعْطِيهِ الرَّبُّ الإِلَهُ عَرْشَ داوُدَ أَبِيهِ، 33 ويَمْلِكُ عَلَى بَيْتِ يَعْقوبَ إِلَى الأَبَد، وَلا فَناءَ لِمُلْكِهِ". 34 فَقالَتْ مَريَمُ لِلملاكِ: "كيفَ يَكونُ هَذَا وَأَنا لا أَعْرِفُ رَجُلاً؟" 35 فأَجابَ المَلاكُ وَقال لَهَا: "إِنَّ الرُّوحَ القُدُسَ يَحِلُّ عَلَيْكِ وَقُوَّةَ العَلِيِّ تُظَلِّلُكِ، وَلِذَلِكَ فَالقُدُّوسُ المَوْلُودُ مِنْكِ يُدْعَى ابْنَ اللّه. 36 وَهَا إِنَّ أَلِيصاباتَ نَسيبَتَكِ قَدْ حَبِلَتْ هِيَ أَيْضًا بِابْنٍ فِي شَيْخوخَتِها، وَهَذَا الشَّهْرُ هُوَ السَّادِسُ لِتلْكَ المَدْعُوَّةِ عاقِرًا، 37 لأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ أَمْرٌ غَيْرَ مُمْكِنٍ لَدَى اللّه". 38 فَقَالَتْ مَريَمُ: "هَا أَنَا أَمَةٌ لِلرَّبِّ، فَلْيَكُنْ لي بِحَسَبِ قَوْلِكَ". وَأْنصَرَفَ المَلاكُ مِنْ عِندِها.
مَريمُ العَذراءَ عند أليصابات
39 وفِي تِلْكَ الأَيَّامِ قامَتْ مَريَمُ وَذَهَبَتْ مُسْرِعَةً إِلى الجَبَلِ إِلَى مَدِينَةٍ فِي يَهُوذا، 40 ودَخَلَت إِلَى بَيْتِ زَخَريَّا وَسَلَّمَتْ عَلَى أَلِيصَابَات. 41 فَعِنْدَما سَمِعَتْ أَلِيصَابَاتُ سَلامَ مَرْيَم، ارْتَكَضَ الجَنِينُ فِي بَطْنِها، وَامْتَلأَتْ أَلِيصاباتُ مِنَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ 42 فَصاحَتْ بِصَوْتٍ عَظيمٍ وَقَالَت: "مُبَارَكَةٌ أَنْتِ فِي النِّساءِ! وَمُبَارَكَةٌ ثَمَرَةُ بَطْنِكِ! 43 مِنْ أَيْنَ لِي هَذَا أَنْ تَأْتِيَ أُمُّ رَبِّي إِلَيَّ؟ 44 فَإِنَّهُ عِنْدَما بَلَغَ صَوْتُ سَلامِكِ إِلَى أُذُنَيَّ ارْتَكَضَ الجَنينُ بِابْتِهاجٍ فِي بَطِني. 45 فَطوبَى لِلَّتِي آمنَتْ أَنْ سَيَتِمُّ ما قِيلَ لَهَا مِنْ قِبَلِ الرَّبّ".
نَشيدُ مريم العذراء
46 فَقالَتْ مَريَمُ: "تُعَظِّمُ نَفِسيَ الرَّبَّ 47 وَتَبْتَهِجُ رُوحِي بِاللَّهِ مُخَلِّصِي، 48 لأنَّهُ نَظَرَ إِلَى تَوَاضُعِ أَمَتِهِ فَهَا مُنْذُ الآنَ تُطَوِّبُني جَميعُ الأَجْيال. 49 لأَنَّ القَدِيرَ صَنَعَ بِي عَظائِمَ واسْمُهُ قُدُّوسٌ، 50 وَرَحْمَتُه إِلَى جِيلٍ فجِيلٍ لِلَّذينَ يَتَّقُونَهُ. 51 صَنَعَ عِزًّا بِسَاعِدِهِ، وشَتَّتَ المُتَكَبِّرِينَ بِذِهْنِ قُلُوبِهِم. 52 حَطَّ المُقْتَدِرينَ عَنِ الكَراسِي وَرَفَعَ المُتَوَاضِعينَ، 53 أَشْبَعَ الجِيَاعَ مِنَ الخَيْرَاتِ والأَغْنِيَاءَ أَرْسَلَهُمْ فَارِغينَ. 54 عَضَدَ إسْرَائِيلَ فَتَاهُ لِيَذْكُرَ رَحْمَتَهُ، 55 كَمَا قَالَ لآبائِنا لإِبْرَاهِيمَ وَلِنَسْلِهِ إِلَى الأَبَد". 56 وَمَكَثَتْ مَرْيَمُ عِنْدَها نَحْوَ ثَلاثَةِ أَشْهُرٍ، ثُمَّ عادَت إِلى بَيْتِها.
مَوْلِدُ يوحَنَّا
57 وَأَمَّا أَلِيصابات، فَلَمَّا تَمَّ زَمانُ وَضْعِها وَلَدَتِ ابْنًا. 58 فَسَمِعَ جِيرَانُها وَأَقارِبُها أَنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدْ عَظَّمَ رَحْمَتَهُ لها، فَفَرِحوا مَعَها. 59 وفِي اليَوْمِ الثَّامِنِ جَاؤُوا لِيخْتِنُوا الصَّبِيَّ فَدَعَوْهُ بِاسْمِ أَبيهِ زَخَرِيَّا. 60 فَأَجَابَتْ أُمُّهُ قائِلةً: "كَلاَّ، لَكِنَّهُ يُدْعَى يُوحَنَّا". 61 فَقَالُوا لَهَا: "لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ فِي عَشِيرَتِكِ يُدْعَى بِهَذَا الاسْم". 62 ثُمَّ أَوْمَأُوا إِلَى أَبِيهِ مَاذَا يُريدُ أَنْ يُسَمَّى. 63 فَطَلَبَ لَوْحًا وَكَتَبَ فِيهِ قائِلاً: "اسْمُهُ يُوحَنَّا". فَتَعَجَّبُوا كُلُّهُم. 64 وفِي الحَالِ انْفَتَحَ فَمُهُ وَانْطَلَقَ لِسانُهُ وتَكَلَّمَ مُبارِكًا اللّهَ. 65 فَوَقَعَ خَوْفٌ عَلَى جَميعِ جِيرانِهِم، وتَحَدَّثَ النَّاسُ بِهذِهِ الأُمورِ كُلِّها فِي جَميعِ جِبالِ اليَهُودِيَّةِ، 66 وَكَانَ كُلُّ مَنْ يَسْمَعُ بِذَلِكَ يَحْفَظُهُ فِي قَلبِهِ قائِلاً: "ما عَسَى أَنْ يَكونَ هَذَا الصَّبِيُّ؟ وَكَانَتْ يَدُ الرَّبِّ مَعَهُ.
نَشِيدُ زَخَرِيَّا
67 فَامْتَلأَ أَبوهُ زَخَرِيَّا مِنَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ وَتَنَبَّأَ قائِلاً: 68 "مُبارَكٌ الرَّبُّ إِلهُ إِسْرَائيلَ لأَنَّهُ افْتَقَدَ شَعْبَهُ وَافْتَدَاه، 69 وَأَقامَ لَنَا قَرْنَ خَلاصٍ فِي بَيْتِ دَاوُدَ فَتَاهُ، 70 كَمَا تَكَلَّمَ عَلَى أَفْوَاهِ أَنْبِيائِهِ القِدِّيسِينَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ مُنْذُ الدَّهْرِ، 71 بِأَنْ يُخَلِّصَنا مِنْ أَعْدَائِنا وَمِن أَيْدِي جَمِيعِ مُبْغِضِينا، 72 لِيَصْنَعَ رَحْمَةً مَعَ أبَائِنا وَيَذْكُرَ عَهْدَهُ المُقَدَّسَ، 73 ألقَسَمَ الَّذِي حَلَفَ لإِبْرَاهِيمَ أَبِينَا 74 أَنْ يُعْطِينَا بِلا خَوْفٍ، إِذا نَجَوْنَا مِنْ أَيْدِي أَعْدَائِنا، فَنَعْبُدَهُ 75 بِبِرٍّ وَعَدْلٍ، قُدَّامَهُ جَمِيعَ أَيَّامِ حياتِنا.
76 وَأَنْتَ أَيُّهَا الصَّبِيُّ نَبِيَّ العَلِيِّ تُدْعَى، لأَنَّكَ تَسْبِقُ أَمَامَ وَجْهِ الرَّبِّ لِتُعِدَّ طُرُقَهُ، 77 لِتُعْطِيَ شَعْبَهُ مَعْرِفَةَ الخَلاَصِ بِمَغْفِرَةِ خَطَايَاهُم 78 لأَجْلِ تَحَنُّنِ رَحْمَةِ إِلهِنا الَّذِي افتَقَدَنا بِها المَشْرِقُ مِنَ العَلاء 79 لِيُضِيء لِلجالِسينَ فِي الظُّلْمَةِ وَظِلالِ المَوْت، لِيُرْشِدَ أَقْدَامَنا فِي سَبِيلِ السَّلامَة". 80 أَمَّا الصَّبِيُّ فَكَانَ يَنْمُو وَيَتَقَوَّى بِالرُّوحِ، وَأَقَامَ فِي البَرَارِي إِلَى يَوْمِ ظُهُورِهِ لإِسْرَائِيل.
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 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, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
5 ¶ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him , he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 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. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 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. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 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. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 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. 20 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. 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22 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. 23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me , to take away my reproach among men. 26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 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. 29 And when she saw him , she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 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: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 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. 36 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. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 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: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. 57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 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. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so ; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed , and he spake, and praised God. 65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. 66 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. 67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76 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; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.