2 ASW Wɔtwerɛɛ sɛdeɛ nnipa a wɔhunuu saa nneɛma yi firi ahyɛaseɛ no daa no adi kyerɛɛ wɔn. BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 ASW Nanso, menyaa adwene bi sɛ, sɛ mehwehwɛ deɛ wɔatwerɛ no nyinaa mu yie na metwerɛ brɛ wo a, ɛyɛ. 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 ASW Yei bɛboa wo ma woahunu nokorɛ a ɛwɔ deɛ woasua no nyinaa mu. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
6 ASW Na Sakaria ne ne yere Elisabet som Onyankopɔn nokorɛm a wɔn ho nni asɛm wɔ Onyankopɔn anim. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 ASW Na wɔnni ba, ɛfiri sɛ, na Elisabet yɛ obonini. Na wɔn baanu nyinaa nso anyinyini. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 ASW Ɛda bi a ɛduruu Sakaria asɔfokuo so sɛ wɔyɛ asɔredan mu adwuma no, BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 ASW wɔtoo aba yii no sɛ, ɔnkɔhye aduhwam wɔ ɔhyeɛ afɔrebukyia no so. 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 ASW Saa ɛberɛ yi ara nso na asafo no rebɔ mpaeɛ wɔ adihɔ hɔ sɛdeɛ wɔtaa yɛ no. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 ASW Sakaria gu so rehye aduhwam no, prɛko pɛ, Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ bɛgyinaa afɔrebukyia no nkyɛn mu wɔ nifa so. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 ASW Sakaria hunuu no no, ɔbɔɔ birim na ne ho popoeɛ. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 ASW Nanso, ɔsoro ɔbɔfoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sakaria, nsuro, Awurade Onyankopɔn ate wo mpaeɛbɔ. Wo yere Elisabet bɛwo babarima na ɛsɛ sɛ woto ne din 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 ASW Nʼawoɔ bɛma wʼani agye na wo ho asɛpɛ wo. Saa ara na ɛbɛma nnipa bebree nso ani agye. BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 ASW Ɔbɛyɛ kɛse Awurade anim. Ɔrennom nsã biara da, na Honhom Kronkron bɛyɛ no ma afiri ne maame yam. 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 ASW Israelfoɔ pii nam nʼasɛnka so bɛnya adwensakyera asane aba Awurade, wɔn Onyankopɔn, nkyɛn. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 ASW Sakaria buaa ɔbɔfoɔ no sɛ, “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na yei aba mu? Mabɔ akɔkoraa na me yere nso abɔ aberewa.” 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 ASW Ɔbɔfoɔ no kaa sɛ, “Mene Gabriel a megyina Onyankopɔn anim daa no. Ɔno na ɔsomaa me sɛ memmɛka asɛmpa yi nkyerɛ wo. 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 ASW Esiane sɛ woagye akyinnyeɛ enti, wobɛtɔ mumu kɔsi sɛ wɔbɛwo abɔfra no. Na deɛ maka akyerɛ wo yi nyinaa bɛba mu pɛpɛɛpɛ wɔ ne berɛ a ɛsɛ mu.” 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 ASW Saa ɛberɛ yi nyinaa na asafo mma no retwɛn Sakaria sɛ ɔbɛba. Na ɛyɛ wɔn nwanwa sɛ wakyɛ saa. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 ASW Ɛberɛ a ɔbaeɛ no, wantumi ankasa ankyerɛ asafo mma no. Wɔhunu firii ne nneyɛeɛ mu sɛ wahunu nʼani so adeɛ wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ. 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 ASW Ɔwiee nʼasɔfodwuma wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ no, ɔkɔɔ efie. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 ASW Nna bi akyi no, ne yere Elisabet nyinsɛnee na ɔde ne ho siee abosome enum. BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 ASW Ɔde anigyeɛ kaa sɛ, “Awurade ayɛ me adɔeɛ. Wayi animguaseɛ a ɛkaa me wɔ nnipa anim no afiri me so.” 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 ASW sɛ, ɔnkɔ ɔbaa kronkron bi a wɔfrɛ no Maria a na wɔde no ama Yosef a ɔfiri Ɔhene Dawid abusua mu no awadeɛ no nkyɛn. 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 ASW Gabriel hunuu no ara pɛ, ɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Asomdwoeɛ nka wo! Awurade ka wo ho, wo a Awurade adom wo.” BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 ASW Ɔbɔfoɔ no asɛm no maa Maria adwenem yɛɛ no nnaa ma ɔbisaa ne ho sɛ, “Na saa nkyea yi, ase ne sɛn?” BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 ASW Ɔbɔfoɔ no sane ka kyerɛɛ Maria bio sɛ, “Maria, nsuro, ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade adom wo. BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 ASW Tie! Ɛrenkyɛre biara wobɛnyinsɛn na woawo ɔbabarima na woato ne din Yesu. BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 ASW Ɔbɛyɛ ɔkɛseɛ, na wɔbɛfrɛ no Ɔsorosoro Onyankopɔn Ba. Na Awurade de ne nana Dawid ahennwa no bɛma no. 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 ASW Na ɔbɛdi Yakob efie so ɔhene daa; na nʼahennie to rentwa da.” BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 ASW Ɔbɔfoɔ no buaa sɛ, “Honhom Kronkron bɛba wo so na Ɔsorosoro Onyankopɔn tumi abɛkata wo so, yei enti abɔfra a wobɛwo no no bɛyɛ kronkron na wɔbɛfrɛ no Onyankopɔn Ba. 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 ASW Ɛbɛyɛ abosome nsia ni a wo busuani Elisabet mpo a ɔyɛ obonini anyinsɛn ɔbabarima wɔ ne mmerewaberɛ mu. 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 ASW Ɛfiri sɛ, Onyankopɔn deɛ, biribiara nso no yɛ.” BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
39 ASW Nna kakra bi akyi no, Maria kɔɔ Yudea mmepɔ so kuro bi mu. BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 ASW Saa kuro no mu na Sakaria te. Ɔduruu kuro no mu hɔ no, ɔkɔɔ Sakaria efie kɔsraa Elisabet. Ɔkyeaa no. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 ASW Elisabet tee Maria nkyea no, ɔba a ɔda ne yam no kekaa ne ho; amonom hɔ ara, Honhom Kronkron hyɛɛ Elisabet ma. BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 ASW Elisabet de ahosɛpɛ teaam sɛ, “Maria, wɔahyira wo sene mmaa nyinaa, na wo ba a wobɛwo no no bɛyɛ onipa kɛseɛ. BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 ASW Animuonyam bɛn na ɛsene yei. Me sɛɛ ne hwan a anka mʼAwurade na bɛba abɛsra me? BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 ASW Wokyeaa me pɛ, na abɔfra no de anigyeɛ kekaa ne ho. BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 ASW Nhyira nka wo sɛ wogye dii sɛ, deɛ Onyankopɔn aka no, ɔbɛyɛ; ɛno enti na wɔadom wo yi.” BSB BSB: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
47 ASW Na me honhom ani gye mʼagyenkwa Onyankopɔn mu; BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 ASW Ɛfiri sɛ, Ɔkronkronni Otumfoɔ no ayɛ ade kɛseɛ ama me; BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 ASW nʼahummɔborɔ firi awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ kɔsi awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ ma wɔn a wɔsuro no na wɔdi no ni no nyinaa. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 ASW Ɔde ne nsa a tumi wɔ mu no abɔ ahomasofoɔ ne ahantanfoɔ ne wɔn nsusuiɛ apete. BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 ASW Watu aberempɔn adeɛ so ama ahobrɛasefoɔ so. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 ASW Wama wɔn a ahia wɔn no nnepa na wagya ahonyafoɔ kwan nsapan. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 ASW Waboa nʼakoa Israel na ne werɛ amfiri ne mmɔborɔhunu ne ne bɔ BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 ASW a ɔhyɛɛ yɛn agya Abraham ne nʼasefoɔ no da.” BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 ASW Maria tenaa Elisabet nkyɛn bɛyɛ abosome mmiɛnsa ansa na ɔresane akɔ ne kurom. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 ASW Elisabet awoɔ duruu so no, ɔwoo ɔbabarima. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 ASW Nʼafipamfoɔ ne nʼabusuafoɔ tee adɔeɛ a Awurade ayɛ no no, wɔne no nyinaa de anigyeɛ dii ahurisie. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 ASW Ɛduruu nnawɔtwe no, abusuafoɔ ne adɔfoɔ bɛhyiaa sɛ wɔrebɛtwa abɔfra no twetia na wɔato ne din. Wɔpɛɛ sɛ wɔde abɔfra no to nʼagya Sakaria. BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 ASW Nanso, ne maame kaa sɛ, “Dabi! Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔfrɛ no Yohane.” BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 ASW Wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Obiara nni abusua yi mu a wɔfrɛ no saa.” BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 ASW Yei maa wɔde wɔn nsa yɛɛ nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ bisaa nʼagya din a wɔmfa nto abɔfra no. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 ASW Sakaria maa wɔde krataa brɛɛ no na ɔtwerɛɛ so sɛ, “Ne din de Yohane.” Yei yɛɛ wɔn nyinaa nwanwa. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 ASW Amonom hɔ ara, Sakaria tumi kasaa bio, na ɔhyɛɛ aseɛ yii Onyankopɔn ayɛ. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 ASW Wɔn a wɔteeɛ nyinaa ho dwirii wɔn, na saa asɛm yi trɛ faa Yudea mmepɔ so hɔ nyinaa. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 ASW Obiara a ɔtee saa nsɛm yi bisaa ne ho sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na abɔfra yi bɛnyini ayɛ daakye? Ɛda adi pefee sɛ Awurade nsa wɔ ne so.” 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 ASW Honhom hyɛɛ nʼagya Sakaria ma ma ɔhyɛɛ nkɔm sɛ, BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 ASW “Nhyira nka Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, sɛ waba abɛgye ne manfoɔ. BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 ASW Ɔde Agyenkwa Otumfoɔ a ɔyɛ ne ɔsomfoɔ Dawid aseni rebrɛ yɛn, BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 ASW sɛdeɛ ɔnam nʼadiyifoɔ kronkron so firi teteete hyɛɛ bɔ BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 ASW sɛ, ɔbɛma yɛn Agyenkwa a ɔbɛgye yɛn afiri yɛn atamfoɔ ne wɔn a wɔkyiri yɛn no nsam no. BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 ASW Na wama bɔ a ɔhyɛɛ yɛn agyanom wɔ nʼahummɔborɔ ho no aba mu na wakae nʼapam kronkron no, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 ASW na wakae nʼapam kronkron a ɔne Abraham pameeɛ no; BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 ASW sɛ ɔbɛgye yɛn afiri yɛn atamfoɔ nsam no, na yɛasom no a osuro biara nni mu. BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 ASW Na yɛn nkwa nna nyinaa mu, yɛayɛ kronkron ne ateneneefoɔ wɔ nʼanim. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 ASW “Na wo, akɔkoaa yi, wɔbɛfrɛ wo Ɔsorosoroni no Odiyifoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ, wo na wobɛsiesie ɛkwan ama Agyenkwa no, 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 ASW na wobɛkyerɛ ne manfoɔ kwan a wɔnam bɔnefakyɛ so nya nkwa a ɛnni awieeɛ; BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 ASW na yeinom nyinaa bɛba mu ɛfiri sɛ, Onyankopɔn mmɔborɔhunu a ɛdɔɔso no, BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 ASW na ɛbɛma hann a ɛfiri ɔsoro abɛpue yɛn so ahyerɛn wɔn a wɔte sum ne owuo sum mu no so, na akyerɛ yɛn ɛkwan akɔ asomdwoeɛ mu.” 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 ASW Abɔfra no nyinii na honhom hyɛɛ no ma; ɔtenaa ɛserɛ so kɔsii ɛberɛ a ɔfirii nʼasɛnka adwuma ase. 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.