ⲖⲞⲨⲔⲞⲚ 1
Seeing that many have taken it in hand to draw up an account of those matters which have been fully established among us,
just as they reported them to us, who were from beginning eye- witnesses and ministers of the word,
it seemed good to me also accurately, from the very beginning, to write them to you in order, most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may know the certainty of the story which you have been taught by the word of mouth.
5 ⲉ̅ ⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛϩⲏⲣⲱⲇⲏⲥ ⲡⲣⲣⲟ ⲛϯⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓⲁ ⲛϭⲓ ⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲍⲁⲭⲁⲣⲓⲁⲥ ⲉϥⲏⲡ ⲉⲛⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲃⲓⲁ ⲉⲩⲛⲧϥⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲛϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ⲛⲁⲁⲣⲱⲛ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧ
In the reign of Herod, King of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zachariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife named Elizabeth,
6 ⲋ̅ ⲛⲉⲩϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲛⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲩⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲙⲛⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲱⲙⲁ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲩⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ
who was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous in the sight of the Lord, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the law, blameless.
7 ⲍ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲙⲙⲛⲧⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲟⲩⲁϭⲣⲏⲛ ⲧⲉ ⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲛⲉⲁⲩⲁⲓⲁⲉⲓ ⲡⲉ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲩϩⲟⲟⲩ
Now they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren, and both were far advanced in years.
Now while Zachariah was acting as priest before God in the due course of his class, it fell to his lot, according to the custom of priesthood,
to enter into the sanctuary of the Lord and to burn incense.
And the whole multitude of the people were without, praying at the hour of incense.
Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
And as he saw him Zachariah was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ ⲡⲉϫⲉⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲡⲣⲣ ϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲍⲁⲭⲁⲣⲓⲁⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉⲡⲉⲕⲥⲟⲡⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲉⲕⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧ ⲥⲛⲁϫⲡⲟ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲛⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲕⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ
But the Angel said to him. "Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
"And he shall be to you a joy and an exultation, and many shall rejoice over his birth.
15 ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ ϥⲛⲁⲣ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲛⲉϥⲥⲉ ⲏⲣⲡ ϩⲓ ⲥⲓⲕⲉⲣⲁ ⲁⲩⲱ ϥⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩϩ ⲙⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁ ⲉϥⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ϫⲓⲛ ⲉϥϩⲛϩⲏⲧⲥ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲁⲩ
"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, "He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, "He shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the hour of his birth,
"And shall win many of the sons of Israel to the Lord, their God.
17 ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ϥⲛⲁⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲁⲧⲉϥϩⲏ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁ ⲛⲙ ⲧϭⲟⲙ ⲛϩⲏⲗⲉⲓⲁⲥ ⲉⲕⲧⲟ ⲛⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲛⲛⲓⲟⲧⲉ ⲉⲛⲉⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲁⲧⲥⲱⲧⲙ ϩⲛ ⲧⲙⲛⲧⲣⲙⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲛⲛⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ ⲉⲥⲟⲃⲧⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉϥⲥⲃⲧⲱⲧ
"He shall go before Him in the wisdom and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him."
18 ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉϫⲉⲍⲁⲭⲁⲣⲓⲁⲥ ⲙⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩ ϯⲛⲁⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲡⲁⲓ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲓⲣϩⲗⲗⲟ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲁⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲥⲁⲓⲁⲉⲓ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲥϩⲟⲟⲩ
"How shall I be sure of this?" said Zachariah to the Angel. "For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."
19 ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ ⲁⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲩⲱϣⲃ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ ⲡⲉⲧⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ⲙⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩⲧⲛⲛⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲉϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙⲙⲁⲕ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲧⲁϣⲉⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲛⲛⲁⲓ
"I am Gabriel," answered the angel, "who stand in the presence of God; and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring and to bring you this good news.
20 ⲕ̅ ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲉⲕⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲕⲕⲱ ⲣⲣⲱⲕ ⲉⲙⲙⲛϭⲟⲙ ⲙⲙⲟⲕ ⲉϣⲁϫⲉ ϣⲁⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ϫⲉⲙⲡⲕⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲛⲁϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲛⲁϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ
"And now you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words - Words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."
Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zachariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the sanctuary.
22 ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡϥⲉϣϭⲙϭⲟⲙ ⲉϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩⲉⲓⲙⲉ ϫⲉ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩϭⲱⲗⲡ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲣⲡⲉ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲉϥϫⲱⲣⲙ ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥϭⲱ ⲉϥⲟ ⲛⲙⲡⲟ
And when he came out he could not speak to them, and then they knew that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained dumb.
As soon as his term of priestly service was ended he went home;
and after those days Elizabeth, his wife, Conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying.
"This has the Lord done for me. He has now deigned to take the away my reproach among men."
26 ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲉϩⲥⲟⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲉⲃⲟⲧ ⲁⲩϫⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ ⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲩⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲧⲅⲁⲗⲓⲗⲁⲓ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲛⲁⲍⲁⲣⲉⲑ
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee, called Nazareth,
27 ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ ϣⲁⲟⲩⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲁⲩϣⲡⲧⲟⲟⲧⲥ ⲛⲟⲩϩⲁⲓ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲏⲓ ⲛⲇⲁⲩⲉⲓⲇ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲣⲁⲛ ⲛⲧⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ
to a maiden betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
The angel went in and said to her. "Joy to you, highly favored one! "The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly agitated at his word, and was revolving in her mind what this salutation could mean.
when the angel said to her. "Fear not Mary, for you have found grace with God.
"And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 ⲗ̅ⲃ̅ ⲡⲁⲓ ϥⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲧϫⲟⲥⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛⲁϯ ⲛⲁϥ ⲙⲡⲉⲑⲣⲟⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲇⲁⲩⲉⲓⲇ ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ
"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. "And the Lord God will give him the throne of his forefather David,
"and he shall reign over the House of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." (aiōn g165)
And Mary said to the angel. "How can this be? For I have no husband?"
35 ⲗ̅ⲉ̅ ⲁⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲩⲱϣⲃ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲥ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲡⲛⲁ ⲉϥⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲏⲩ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲉⲓ ⲉϫⲱ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧϭⲟⲙ ⲛⲧⲉⲡⲉⲧϫⲟⲥⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲣϩⲁⲓⲃⲉⲥ ⲉⲣⲟ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛⲁϫⲡⲟϥ ⲉϥⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
"The Holy Spirit shall come upon you," said the angel, "and the power of the most High shall overshadow you, and therefore the holy offspring which is born, shall be called the son of God.
36 ⲗ̅ⲋ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧ ⲧⲟⲩⲥⲩⲅⲅⲉⲛⲏⲥ ⲛⲧⲟⲥ ϩⲱⲱⲥ ⲟⲛ ⲁⲥⲱⲱ ⲛⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉⲥⲙⲛⲧϩⲗⲗⲱ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲥⲙⲉϩⲥⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲃⲟⲧ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲧⲁⲓ ⲉϣⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲧⲁϭⲣⲏⲛ
"And behold your kinswoman, Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this was the sixth month with her that was called barren.
"For no word of God shall be void of power."
38 ⲗ̅ⲏ̅ ⲡⲉϫⲁⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲛϭⲓ ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲑⲙϩⲁⲗ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲉⲕϣⲁϫⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧⲥ
Then Mary said. "Behold I am Lord’s slave. Let it be to me as you have said." Then the angel departed from her.
Soon after this Mary set out and hastened unto the hill-country to a town in Judah;
and there she came into the house of Zachariah, and greeted Elizabeth.
41 ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉⲡⲁⲥⲡⲁⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲙⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ⲁⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲕⲓⲙ ϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧ ⲙⲟⲩϩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ
And when Elizabeth heard her salutation, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 ⲙ̅ⲃ̅ ⲁⲥϥⲓϩⲣⲁⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲥⲙⲏ ⲡⲉϫⲁⲥ ϫⲉ ⲧⲉⲥⲙⲁⲙⲁⲁⲧ ⲛⲧⲟ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ϥⲥⲙⲁⲙⲁⲁⲧ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲉ
and called out with a loud cry. "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
"But why is this honor done me, that the mother of my Lord should come me?
"For behold when the sound of your salutation reached my ears, the babe leaped with joy within my womb.
"And blessed is she who believed that the Lord’s words spoken to her would be fulfilled."
And Mary said. "My soul doth magnify the Lord,
"My spirit exults in the God, who is my Saviour,
"For he has regarded the humiliation of his slave, And from this hour all ages will count me blessed.
"For he who is mighty has done great things for me; And holy is his name.
"His mercy is unto generations and generations on those who reverence him.
"He has showed strength with his arm. "He has scattered proud in the imagination of their hearts;
"he has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted those of low degree.
"The hungry he has filled with good things, But the rich he has sent empty away.
"He has helped Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
"As he spoke to our forefathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever." (aiōn g165)
So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and returned home.
Now when the time of Elizabeth’s delivery was come, she gave birth to a son;
and her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her; and they rejoiced with her,
and came on the eighth day to circumcise the child. They were about to call him "Zachariah," after his father,
when his mother said, "No, he is to be called John."
Said they, "You have no relatives of that name!"
Then they asked his father by signs what he wished to call the child.
So he asked for a writing tablet and wrote down, "His name is John."
Every one was surprised, and at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 ⲝ̅ⲉ̅ ⲁⲩϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲇⲉ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉϫⲛ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲏϩ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲩⲕⲱⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲛ ⲧⲟⲣⲓⲛⲏ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ ⲛϯⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓⲁ ⲛⲉⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲓϣⲁϫⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ
And there came a great fear upon all in the neighborhood; and throughout the hill country of Judea all these sayings were much talked about.
66 ⲝ̅ⲋ̅ ⲁⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲇⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲕⲁⲁⲩ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲩϩⲏⲧ ⲉⲩϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲉⲓϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲛⲁⲣⲟⲩ ⲕⲁⲓⲅⲁⲣ ⲧϭⲓϫ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲉⲥϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛⲙⲙⲁϥ ⲡⲉ
All the story laid it up in their hearts, saying "What, then, will this child be?" For the Lord’s hands was with him.
And his father, Zachariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying.
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, For he has visited and redeemed his people,
"And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of his servant David,
"As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets Which have been since the world began (aiōn g165)
To deliver us from our enemies, and from the power Of all who hate us.
"He showed mercy to our forefathers, He remembered his holy covenant,
"The oath which he swore to Abraham, our forefather,
"That he we should be delivered out of the Hand of our enemies, And should serve him without fear,
"In holiness and righteousness before him All our days.
76 ⲟ̅ⲋ̅ ⲛⲧⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ϩⲱⲱⲕ ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ ϫⲉ ⲡⲉⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲙⲡⲉⲧϫⲟⲥⲉ ⲕⲛⲁⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ϩⲁⲑⲏ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲥⲟⲃⲧⲉ ⲛⲛⲉϥϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ
"And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to prepare the way
"To give to his people a knowledge of salvation Through the remission of their sins,
"Through the heart of mercy of our God, Whereby the Dayspring from on high shall visit us,
"To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, And to guide our feet into the paths of peace."
80 ⲡ̅ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲇⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲁϥⲁⲩⲝⲁⲛⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥϭⲙϭⲟⲙ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁ ⲛⲉϥϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉ ϩⲛ ⲛϫⲁⲓⲉ ϣⲁⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲣⲁⲏⲗ
And the child grew, and became strong in the Spirit, and remained in the desert till the day of his showing to Israel.
