1-2 提阿非羅大人,已經有很多人根據最初的目擊者和傳道者給我們的口述,把我們中間發生的事記載下來。 我把一切事情從頭至尾仔細查考之後,決定按次序寫出來, 使你知道自己所學的道都是有真憑實據的。

天使預告施洗者約翰出生

猶太王希律執政期間,亞比雅的班裡有位祭司名叫撒迦利亞,他妻子伊莉莎白是亞倫的後裔。 夫妻二人遵行主的一切誡命和條例,無可指責,在上帝眼中是義人。 但他們沒有孩子,因為伊莉莎白不能生育,二人又年紀老邁。

有一天,輪到撒迦利亞他們那一班祭司當值, 他們按照祭司的規矩抽籤,抽中撒迦利亞到主的殿裡去燒香。 10 眾百姓都在外面禱告。 11 那時,主的天使在香壇的右邊向撒迦利亞顯現, 12 撒迦利亞見了,驚慌害怕起來。

13 天使對他說:「撒迦利亞,不要害怕,你的禱告已蒙垂聽。你的妻子伊莉莎白要為你生一個兒子,你要給他取名叫約翰。 14 你必歡喜快樂,許多人也會因為他的誕生而欣喜雀躍, 15 因為他將成為主偉大的僕人。他必滴酒不沾,並且在母腹裡就被聖靈充滿。 16 他將勸導許多以色列人回心轉意,歸順主——他們的上帝。 17 他將以先知以利亞的心志和能力作主的先鋒,使父親的心轉向兒女,使叛逆的人回轉、順從義人的智慧,為主預備合用的子民。」

18 撒迦利亞對天使說:「我已經老了,我的妻子也上了年紀,我如何知道這是真的呢?」 19 天使回答說:「我是侍立在上帝面前的加百列,奉命來向你報這喜訊。 20 我說的這些話到時候必定應驗。但因為你不肯相信我的話,所以這事成就以前,你將變成啞巴,不能說話。」

21 人們在等候撒加利亞,見他在聖殿裡遲遲不出來,都感到奇怪。 22 後來他出來了,卻成了啞巴,不能說話,只能打手勢,大家意識到他在聖殿裡看見了異象。 23 撒迦利亞供職期滿,就回家去了。 24 不久,伊莉莎白果然懷了孕,她有五個月閉門不出。 25 她說:「主真是眷顧我,除掉了我不生育的羞恥。」

天使預告耶穌降生

26 伊莉莎白懷孕六個月的時候,天使加百列又奉上帝的命令到加利利的拿撒勒, 27 去見一位童貞女,她叫瑪麗亞。瑪麗亞已經和大衛的後裔約瑟訂了婚。

28 天使到了瑪麗亞那裡,說:「恭喜你!蒙大恩的女子,主與你同在!」

29 瑪麗亞聽了覺得十分困惑,反覆思想這話的意思。

30 天使對她說:「瑪麗亞,不要害怕,你在上帝面前已經蒙恩了。 31 你要懷孕生子,並給祂取名叫耶穌。 32 祂偉大無比,將被稱為至高者的兒子,主上帝要把祂祖先大衛的王位賜給祂。 33 祂要永遠統治以色列[a],祂的國度永無窮盡。」

34 瑪麗亞對天使說:「這怎麼可能呢?我還是童貞女。」

35 天使回答說:「聖靈要臨到你身上,至高者的能力要蔭庇你,所以你要生的那聖嬰必稱為上帝的兒子。 36 看啊,你的親戚伊莉莎白年紀老邁,一向不能生育,現在已經懷男胎六個月了。 37 因為上帝無所不能。」

38 瑪麗亞說:「我是主的婢女,願你所說的話在我身上成就。」於是天使離開了她。

瑪麗亞看望伊莉莎白

39 不久,瑪麗亞便動身趕到猶太山區的一座城, 40 進了撒迦利亞的家,向伊莉莎白請安。 41 伊莉莎白一聽見瑪麗亞的問安,腹中的胎兒便跳動起來,伊莉莎白被聖靈充滿, 42 高聲喊著說:「在婦女中你是最蒙福的!你腹中的孩子也是蒙福的! 43 我主的母親來探望我,我怎麼敢當呢? 44 我一聽到你問安的聲音,腹中的孩子就歡喜跳動。 45 相信主所說的話必實現的女子有福了!」

46 瑪麗亞說:
「我的心尊主為大,
47 我的靈因我的救主上帝而歡喜,
48 因祂眷顧我這卑微的婢女,
從今以後,
世世代代都要稱我是有福的。
49 全能者在我身上行了奇事,
祂的名是神聖的。
50 祂憐憫敬畏祂的人,
直到世世代代。
51 祂伸出臂膀,施展大能,
驅散心驕氣傲的人。
52 祂使當權者失勢,
叫謙卑的人升高。
53 祂使饑餓的得飽足,
叫富足的空手而去。
54 祂扶助了自己的僕人以色列,
55 祂要施憐憫給亞伯拉罕和他的子孫,
直到永遠,
正如祂對我們祖先的應許。」

56 瑪麗亞和伊莉莎白同住了約三個月,便回家去了。

施洗者約翰出生

57 伊莉莎白的產期到了,生下一個兒子。 58 親戚和鄰居聽見主向她大施憐憫,都和她一同歡樂。 59 到了第八天,他們來給孩子行割禮,想照他父親的名字給他取名叫撒迦利亞。

60 但伊莉莎白說:「不!要叫他約翰。」

61 他們說:「你們家族中沒有人用這個名字啊!」 62 他們便向他父親打手勢,問他要給孩子起什麼名字。 63 撒迦利亞就要了一塊寫字板,寫上:「他的名字叫約翰。」大家看了都很驚奇。 64 就在那時,撒迦利亞恢複了說話的能力,便開口讚美上帝。 65 住在周圍的人都很懼怕,這消息很快就傳遍了整個猶太山區。 66 聽見的人都在想:「這孩子將來會怎樣呢?因為主與他同在。」

撒迦利亞的預言

67 孩子的父親撒迦利亞被聖靈充滿,便預言說:

68 「主——以色列的上帝當受稱頌,
因祂眷顧、救贖了自己的子民,
69 在祂僕人大衛的家族中為我們興起了一位大能的拯救者[b]
70 正如祂從亙古藉著祂聖先知們的口所說的。
71 祂要從仇敵和一切恨我們之人手中拯救我們。
72 祂憐憫我們的祖先,
持守自己的聖約,
73 就是祂對我們的先祖亞伯拉罕所起的誓,
74 要把我們從仇敵手中拯救出來,
75 使我們一生一世在聖潔和公義中坦然無懼地事奉祂。
76 至於你,我的兒子啊!
你將要被稱為至高者的先知,
因為你要走在主的前面,
為祂預備道路,
77 使百姓因罪得赦免而明白救恩的真諦。
78 由於上帝的憐憫,
清晨的曙光必從高天普照我們,
79 照亮那些生活在黑暗中和死亡陰影下的人,
帶領我們走平安的道路。」

80 那孩子漸漸長大,心靈強健,在向以色列人公開露面之前,一直住在曠野。

Footnotes

  1. 1·33 以色列」希臘文是「雅各的家」。
  2. 1·69 拯救者」希臘文是「拯救的角」。

Since many have attempted to set forth the story of those things of which we are fully persuaded

(exactly as they were delivered to us by those ministers of the Word who saw them themselves from the beginning),

it seemed good to me also - once I had carefully investigated all things from the beginning - to write to you of them from point to point, most noble Theophilus,

so that you might acknowledge the certainty of those things of which you have been instructed.

In the time of Herod, King of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the class of Abijah. And his wife was among the daughters of Aaron. And her name was Elizabeth.

Both were righteous before God and walked in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord, without reproof.

And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren. And both were well-advanced in age.

And it so happened that as he executed the priest’s office before God (as per his class),

the lot fell to him to burn incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord, according to the custom of the priest’s office.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were outside in prayer while the incense was burning.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at 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 to him, “Fear not, Zacharias. For your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son. And you shall call his name, John.

14 “And you shall 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 he shall turn many of the children of Israel to their Lord God.

17 “For he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Then Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is of a great age.”

19 And the angel answered, and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I am sent to speak to you, and to show you these good tidings.

20 “And behold, you shall be silent, and unable to speak, until the day that these things are done, because you did not believe my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.”

21 Now the people waited for Zacharias. And they marveled that he remained so long in the Temple.

22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them. Then, they perceived that he had seen a vision in the Temple. For he made signs to them and remained silent.

23 And it happened that when the days of his office were fulfilled, he departed to his own house.

24 And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself for five months, saying,

25 “Thus has the Lord dealt with me, in the days on when he looked on me, to take from me my rebuke among man.”

26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 And the angel went in to her, and said, “Hail, you who are freely beloved. The Lord is with you. You are blessed among women.”

29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and thought what kind of greeting that should be.

30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not fear, Mary. For you have found favor with God.

31 “For lo, you shall conceive in your womb, and bear a Son, and shall call His Name, Jesus.

32 “He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give to Him the throne of his father David.

33 “And He shall reign over the House of Jacob forever. And of His Kingdom shall be no end.”

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I do not know man?”

35 And the angel answered, and said to her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you. Therefore, also, that Holy Thing which shall be born by you, shall be called the Son of God.

36 “And behold, your cousin, Elizabeth. She has also conceived a son in her old age. And this is her sixth month, who was called barren.

37 “For with God shall nothing be impossible.”

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the servant of the Lord. May it be to me according to your word.” So, the angel departed from her.

39 And Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city of Judah,

40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41 And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby sprang in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

42 And she cried with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, because the fruit of your womb is blessed!

43 “And how can it be that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 “For lo, as soon as I heard the voice of your greeting in my ears, the baby in my belly sprang for joy!

45 “And blessed is she who believed. For those things shall be completed, which were told her from the Lord.

46 Then Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

47 “And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

48 “For He has looked on the poor degree of His servant. For behold, from now on all ages shall call me blessed.

49 “Because He Who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name.

50 “And His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.

51 “He Who showed strength with His arm, He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 “He has put down the mighty from their seats and exalted those of low degree.

53 “He has filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich empty.

54 “He has upheld Israel, His servant, to be mindful of His mercy,

55 “(as He has spoken to our fathers – that is, to Abraham and his seed) forever.”

56 And Mary stayed with her about three months. After which, she returned to her own house.

57 Now, Elizabeth’s time came for her to be delivered. And she brought forth a Son.

58 And her neighbors and cousins heard tell how the Lord had showed His great mercy upon her. And they rejoiced with her.

59 And it was so that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the baby. And they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60 But his mother answered, and said, “Not so. But he shall be called John.”

61 And they said to her, “There is no one in your family that is named with this name.”

62 Then they made signs to his father, asking how he would like him called.

63 So he asked for writing tablets, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” And they all marveled.

64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue. And he spoke and praised God.

65 Then fear came on all those who lived near them. And all these words were spread throughout all the hill country of Judea.

66 And all those who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child shall this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 Then his father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people!

69 “And He has raised up the Horn of Salvation unto us, in the House of His servant David,

70 “as He spoke by the mouth of His Holy Prophets. Who were, since the world began, saying,

71 ‘deliverance from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us.’

72 “So that He might show mercy towards our fathers, and remember His Holy Covenant -

73 “the oath, which He swore to our father, Abraham -

74 “that he would grant to us. So that we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, should serve him without fear

75 “all the days of our life, in holiness and righteousness before him.

76 “And you, child, shall be called the Prophet of the Most High. For you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

77 “to give knowledge of salvation to His people, by the remission of their sins

78 “through the tender mercy of our God (whereby the Dayspring from on high has visited us),

79 “to give light to those who sit in darkness (and in the shadow of death), and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit. And he was in the wilderness until the day came that he should show himself to Israel.