1Since many have desired to have in writing the story of those works with which we are familiar, 2according to what was handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of that very word, 3and since these were seen by me also because I was near and considered them all very carefully; I will therefore write to you everything in its order, most honorable Theophilus, 4so that you may know the truth of the words by which you were taught.
5There was in the days of Herodus, king of Y’hudah, a kohen whose name was Zekhar-Yah, of the order of ministry of the house of Avi-Yah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aharon, and her name was Elisheva. 6They were both righteous before Elohim, and walked in all His mitzvot, and in the tzedaka of יהוה without blame. 7But they had no son, because Elisheva was barren, and they were both well on in years. 8And it came to pass while he was ministering in the order of his ministry before Elohim, 9according to the custom of the priesthood, his turn came to burn incense; so he entered the Heikhal of יהוה . And10 all the congregation of the people prayed outside, at the time of incense. 11And a Malakh of יהוה appeared to Zekhar-Yah, standing on the right of the Mizbe’akh of incense. 12And when Zekhar-Yah saw him, he became dumbfounded, and fear came upon him. 13And the Malakh said to him, “Fear not, Zekhar-Yah; for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elisheva will bear you a son, and you will call his name Yokhanan. 14And you will have joy and gladness; and a great many will rejoice at his birth. 15For he will be great before יהוה , and he will not drink wine and strong drink; and he will be filled with The Ru’akh HaKodesh, while he is still in the womb of his mother. 16And many Yisra’elites he will cause to turn to יהוה their Elohim. 17And he will go before them with HaRu’akh and the power of Eli-Yahu, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and those who are disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous; and he will prepare a true people for יהוה .” And 18Zekhar-Yah said to the Malakh, “How will I understand this, for I am an old man, and my wife is well on in years.” 19And the Malakh answered, saying to him, “I am Gavri-El, who stands in the presence of Elohim; and I am sent to speak to you, and to bring you these glad tidings. 20From henceforth you will be mute, and not able to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe these my words which are to be fulfilled in their time.” 21Now the people stood waiting for Zekhar-Yah, and wondered because he remained so long in the Heikhal. 22When Zekhar-Yah came out, he could not speak with them; and they understood that he had seen a vision in the Heikhal; and he made signs to them with his eyes, but remained mute. 23And when the days of his ministry were finished, he went to his house. 24And after those days, his wife Elisheva conceived, and hid herself for five months; and she said, 25“ יהוה has done these things to me in the days that He has been mindful of me, to remove my reproach among men.”
26Now in the sixth month the Malakh Gavri-El was sent from Elohim to the Galil, to a city called Natzrat, 27to a virgin who was betrothed to a man named Yosef, of Beit David; and the name of the virgin was Miryam. 28And the Malakh went in and said to her, “Shalom to you, full of grace; Adoneinu is with you, O blessed one among women.” 29When she saw him, she was disturbed at his word, and wondered what kind of salutation this could be. 30And the Malakh said to her, “Fear not, Miryam; for you have found grace with Elohim. 31For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His Name יֵשׂוּעַ [Yeshua]. 32He will be great, and He will be called Ben Elyon; and יהוה Elohim will give Him the throne of His father David. 33And He will rule over the house of Ya’akov forever; and there will be no limit to His Malkhut.” 34Then Miryam said to the Malakh, “How can this be, for no man has known me.” 35The Malakh answered and said to her, “The Ru’akh HaKodesh will come, and the power of the Highest will rest upon you; therefore the One who is to be born of you is Kadosh, and He will be called Ben HaElohim. 36And behold, Elisheva your kinswoman has also conceived a son in her old age; and yet this is the sixth month with her, who is called barren. 37For nothing is impossible for Elohim.”
38Miryam said, “Here I am, a handmaid of יהוה ; let it be to me according to your word.” And the Malakh went away from her.
39In those days, Miryam rose up, and went hurriedly to a mountain, to a city of Y’hudah. 40And she entered the house of Zekhar-Yah, and saluted Elisheva. 41And when Elisheva heard the salutation of Miryam, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisheva was filled with The Ru’akh HaKodesh. 42And she cried in a loud voice saying to Miryam, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43How does it happen to me that the mother of My Adon should come to me? 44For behold, when the voice of your salutation fell on my ears, the babe in my womb leaped with great joy. 45And blessed is she who trusted; for there will be a fulfillment of the things which were spoken to her from יהוה .” And 46Miryam said, “My soul magnifies יהוה , and47 my spirit rejoices in Elohim my Savior; 48for He has regarded the meekness of his handmaid; for behold, from henceforth, He will bless me in all generations. 49For He who is mighty has done great things for me; Kadosh is His Name. 50And His mercy is for ages and generations, upon those who reverence Him. 51He has brought victory with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. 52He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and he has lifted up the meek. 53He has filled the hungry with good things; and dismissed the rich empty. 54He has helped His servant Yisra’el, and has remembered His mercy, 55just as He spoke with our forefathers, with Avraham and with his descendants, forever.” 56Miryam stayed with Elisheva about three months, and then returned to her own home.
57Now the time came for Elisheva to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. 58And when her neighbors and relatives heard that Elohim had increased His mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. 59And it came to pass on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the boy; and they would have called him Zekhar-Yah, after the name of his father, 60but his mother said to them, “Not so; but he shall be called Yokhanan.” 61And they said to her, “There is no man in your family who is called by this name.” 62Then they made signs to his father, asking what he wanted to call him. 63And he asked for a tablet and wrote, saying, “Yokhanan is his name.” And every one was surprised. 64And immediately his mouth and his tongue were opened, and he spoke and blessed Elohim. 65And fear came on all their neighbors; and these things were spoken throughout the mountains of Y’hudah. 66And all who heard it reasoned in their hearts, saying, “What a boy he will be!” And the hand of יהוה was with him.
67And his father Zekhar-Yah was filled with The Ru’akh HaKodesh, and prophesied, saying, 68“Blessed is יהוה , the Elohim of Yisra’el; for He has visited His people and wrought Salvation for him. 69And He has raised up a horn of Salvation for us in the house of His servant David; 70just as He spoke by the mouth of His Nevi’im K’doshim, who have been for ages, 71that he would save us from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 72He has shown mercy to our fathers, and He has remembered His consecrated covenants 73and the oaths which he swore to Avraham our father, 74to grant to us that we may be saved from the hand of our enemies, and serve before Him without fear 75in justice and tzedaka all our days. 76And you, boy, will be called the Navi of Elyon; for you will go before the face of יהוה to prepare His way, 77to give knowledge of life to His people by the forgiveness of their sins, 78through the mercy and compassion of our Elohim; whereby we shall be visited by a ray from above, 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in Tzal-Mavet, to guide our feet into the way of shalom.” 80The boy grew and became strong in spirit; and he was in the desert until the day of his appearance to Yisra’el.
Coming Soon! We are working daily on translating the remainder of the Brit Khadashah from Aramaic to Hebrew. Check back soon for this chapter’s Hebrew version!
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 