2 SWH1850 Waliandika kama tulivyoelezwa na wale walioyaona kwa macho yao tangu mwanzo, na waliotangaza ujumbe huo. BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 SWH1850 Inafaa nami pia, Mheshimiwa, baada ya kuchunguza kwa makini mambo yote tangu mwanzo, nikuandikie kwa mpango, BSB BSB: Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 SWH1850 ili nawe uweze kujionea mwenyewe ukweli wa mambo yale uliyofundishwa. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
6 SWH1850 Wote wawili walikuwa wanyofu mbele ya Mungu, wakiishi kwa kufuata amri na maagizo yote ya Bwana bila lawama. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 SWH1850 Lakini hawakuwa wamejaliwa watoto kwa vile Elisabeti alikuwa tasa, nao wote wawili walikuwa wazee sana. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 SWH1850 Siku moja, ilipokuwa zamu yake ya kutoa huduma ya ukuhani mbele ya Mungu, BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 SWH1850 Zakariya alichaguliwa kwa kura, kama ilivyokuwa desturi, kuingia hekaluni ili afukize ubani. BSB BSB: he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 SWH1850 Watu, umati mkubwa, walikuwa wamekusanyika nje wanasali wakati huo wa kufukiza ubani. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 SWH1850 Malaika wa Bwana akamtokea humo ndani, akasimama upande wa kulia wa madhabahu ya kufukizia ubani. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 SWH1850 Zakariya alipomwona alifadhaika, hofu ikamwingia. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 SWH1850 Lakini malaika akamwambia, “Zakariya, usiogope, kwa maana sala yako imesikilizwa, na Elisabeti mkeo atakuzalia mtoto wa kiume, nawe utampa jina Yohane. BSB BSB: But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
14 SWH1850 Utakuwa na furaha kubwa na watu wengi watashangilia kwa sababu ya kuzaliwa kwake. BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 SWH1850 Atakuwa mkuu mbele ya Bwana. Hatakunywa divai wala kileo, atajazwa Roho Mtakatifu tangu tumboni mwa mama yake. BSB BSB: for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
16 SWH1850 Atawaelekeza wengi wa watu wa Israeli kwa Bwana Mungu wao. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 SWH1850 Zakariya akamwambia huyo malaika, “Ni kitu gani kitakachonihakikishia jambo hilo? Mimi ni mzee, hali kadhalika na mke wangu.” BSB BSB: “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
19 SWH1850 Malaika akamjibu, “Mimi ni Gabrieli, nisimamaye mbele ya Mungu, na nimetumwa niseme nawe, nikuletee hii habari njema. BSB BSB: “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 SWH1850 Sikiliza, utakuwa bubu kwa sababu huyasadiki haya maneno yatakayotimia kwa wakati wake. Hutaweza kusema mpaka hayo niliyokuambia yatakapotimia.” BSB BSB: And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
21 SWH1850 Wakati huo, wale watu walikuwa wanamngoja Zakariya huku wakishangaa juu ya kukawia kwake Hekaluni. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 SWH1850 Alipotoka nje, hakuweza kusema nao. Ikawa dhahiri kwao kwamba alikuwa ameona maono Hekaluni. Lakini akawa anawapa ishara kwa mikono, akabaki bubu. BSB BSB: When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 SWH1850 Zamu yake ya kuhudumu ilipokwisha, alirudi nyumbani. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 SWH1850 Baadaye Elisabeti mkewe akapata mimba. Akajificha nyumbani kwa muda wa miezi mitano, akisema: BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 SWH1850 “Hivi ndivyo alivyonitendea Bwana; ameniangalia na kuniondolea aibu niliyokuwa nayo mbele ya watu.” BSB BSB: “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
27 SWH1850 kwa msichana mmoja aitwaye Maria, mchumba wa mtu mmoja jina lake Yosefu, wa ukoo wa Daudi. BSB BSB: to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 SWH1850 Malaika akamwendea, akamwambia, “Salamu Maria! Umejaliwa neema nyingi! Bwana yu pamoja nawe.” BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 SWH1850 Maria aliposikia maneno hayo alifadhaika sana, akawaza: maneno haya yanamaanisha nini? BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 SWH1850 Malaika akamwambia, “Usiogope Maria, kwa maana Mungu amekujalia neema. BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 SWH1850 Utachukua mimba, utamzaa mtoto wa kiume na utampa jina Yesu. BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 SWH1850 Yeye atakuwa mkuu na ataitwa Mwana wa Mungu Mkuu. Bwana Mungu atampa kiti cha mfalme Daudi, babu yake. BSB BSB: He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
33 SWH1850 Kwa hivyo atautawala ukoo wa Yakobo milele, na ufalme wake hautakuwa na mwisho.” BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 SWH1850 Malaika akamjibu, “Roho Mtakatifu atakushukia, na uwezo wake Mungu Mkuu utakujia kama kivuli; kwa sababu hiyo, mtoto atakayezaliwa ataitwa Mtakatifu, Mwana wa Mungu. BSB BSB: The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 SWH1850 Ujue pia kwamba hata Elisabeti, jamaa yako, naye amepata mimba ingawa ni mzee, na sasa ni mwezi wa sita kwake yeye ambaye watu walimfahamu kuwa tasa. BSB BSB: Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
37 SWH1850 Kwa maana hakuna jambo lisilowezekana kwa Mungu.” BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
39 SWH1850 Siku kadhaa baadaye, Maria alifunga safari akaenda kwa haraka hadi mji mmoja ulioko katika milima ya Yuda. BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 SWH1850 Huko, aliingia katika nyumba ya Zakariya, akamsalimu Elisabeti. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 SWH1850 Mara tu Elisabeti aliposikia sauti ya Maria, mtoto mchanga tumboni mwake Elisabeti akaruka. Naye Elisabeti akajazwa Roho Mtakatifiu, BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 SWH1850 akasema kwa sauti kubwa, “Umebarikiwa kuliko wanawake wote, naye utakayemzaa amebarikiwa. BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 SWH1850 Mimi ni nani hata mama wa Bwana wangu afike kwangu? BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 SWH1850 Nakwambia, mara tu niliposikia sauti yako, mtoto mchanga tumboni mwangu aliruka kwa furaha. BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 SWH1850 Heri yako wewe uliyesadiki kwamba yatatimia yale Bwana aliyokwambia.” BSB BSB: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
47 SWH1850 “Moyo wangu wamtukuza Bwana, roho yangu inafurahi kwa sababu ya Mungu Mwokozi wangu. BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 SWH1850 Kwa kuwa Mwenyezi Mungu amenitendea makuu, jina lake ni takatifu. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 SWH1850 Huruma yake kwa watu wanaomcha hudumu kizazi hata kizazi. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 SWH1850 Amefanya mambo makuu kwa mkono wake: amewatawanya wenye kiburi katika mawazo ya mioyo yao; BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 SWH1850 amewashusha wenye nguvu kutoka vitu vyao vya enzi, akawakweza wanyenyekevu. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 SWH1850 Wenye njaa amewashibisha mema, matajiri amewaacha waende mikono mitupu. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 SWH1850 Amemsaidia Israeli mtumishi wake, akikumbuka huruma yake. BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 SWH1850 Kama alivyowaahidia wazee wetu Abrahamu na wazawa wake hata milele.” BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 SWH1850 Maria alikaa na Elisabeti kwa muda upatao miezi mitatu, halafu akarudi nyumbani kwake. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 SWH1850 Wakati wa kujifungua kwake Elisabeti ulifika, akajifungua mtoto wa kiume. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 SWH1850 Jirani na watu wa jamaa yake walipopata habari kwamba Bwana amemwonea huruma kubwa, walifurahi pamoja naye. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 SWH1850 Halafu siku ya nane walifika kumtahiri mtoto, wakataka kumpa jina la baba yake, Zakariya. BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 SWH1850 Lakini mama yake akasema, “La, sivyo, bali ataitwa Yohane.” BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 SWH1850 Wakamwambia, “Mbona hakuna yeyote katika ukoo wake mwenye jina hilo?” BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 SWH1850 Basi, wakamwashiria baba yake wapate kujua alitaka mtoto wake apewe jina gani. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 SWH1850 Naye akaomba kibao cha kuandikia, akaandika hivi: “Yohane ndilo jina lake.” Wote wakastaajabu. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 SWH1850 Papo hapo midomo na ulimi wake Zakariya vikafunguliwa, akawa anaongea akimsifu Mungu. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 SWH1850 Hofu ikawaingia jirani wote, na habari hizo zikaenea kila mahali katika milima ya Yudea. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 SWH1850 Wote waliosikia mambo hayo waliyatafakari mioyoni mwao wakisema: “Mtoto huyu atakuwa mtu wa namna gani?” Maana, hakika nguvu ya Bwana ilikuwa pamoja naye. BSB BSB: And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
67 SWH1850 Zakariya, baba yake mtoto, akajazwa Roho Mtakatifu, akatamka ujumbe wa Mungu: BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 SWH1850 “Asifiwe Bwana Mungu wa Israeli, kwani amekuja kuwasaidia na kuwakomboa watu wake. BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 SWH1850 Ametupatia Mwokozi shujaa, mzawa wa Daudi mtumishi wake. BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 SWH1850 Aliahidi hapo kale kwa njia ya manabii wake watakatifu, BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 SWH1850 kwamba atatuokoa mikononi mwa adui zetu na kutoka mikononi mwa wote wanaotuchukia. BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 SWH1850 Alisema atawahurumia wazee wetu, na kukumbuka agano lake takatifu. BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 SWH1850 Kiapo alichomwapia Abrahamu baba yetu, ni kwamba atatujalia sisi BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 SWH1850 tukombolewe kutoka adui zetu, tupate kumtumikia bila hofu, BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 SWH1850 kwa unyofu na uadilifu mbele yake, siku zote za maisha yetu. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 SWH1850 Nawe mwanangu, utaitwa, nabii wa Mungu Mkuu, utamtangulia Bwana kumtayarishia njia yake; BSB BSB: And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
77 SWH1850 kuwatangazia watu kwamba wataokolewa kwa kuondolewa dhambi zao. BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 SWH1850 Mungu wetu ni mpole na mwenye huruma. Atasababisha pambazuko angavu la ukombozi litujie kutoka juu, BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 SWH1850 na kuwaangazia wote wanaokaa katika giza kuu la kifo, aongoze hatua zetu katika njia ya amani.” BSB BSB: to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 SWH1850 Mtoto akakua, akapata nguvu rohoni. Alikaa jangwani mpaka alipojionyesha rasmi kwa watu wa Israeli. BSB BSB: And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.