Luqas (Luke) — 1
Introduction
1 Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us.
2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early Talmidym.
3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Thauphilus,
4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
The Birth of Yahukanun the Baptist Foretold
5 When Harud was king of Yahudah, there was a Yahudym Kuhan named Zacharyahu. He was a member of the Kuhanym order of Abiyahu, and his wife, Alizabath, was also from the Kuhanym line of Aarun.
6 Zacharyahu and Alizabath were righteous in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s eyes, careful to obey all of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s commandments and regulations.
7 They had no children because Alizabath was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 One day Zacharyahu was serving 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week.
9 As was the custom of the Kuhanym, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and burn incense.
10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.
11 While Zacharyahu was in the sanctuary, a Malak of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH appeared to Zacharyahu, standing to the right of the incense altar.
12 Zacharyahu was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw the Malak.
13 And the Malak said, “Do not be afraid, Zacharyahu! 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has heard your prayer. Your wife, Alizabath, will give you a son, and you are to name him Yahukanun.
14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 for he will be great in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, he must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks, he will be filled with the RUACH Ha'Qadash, even before his birth.
16 And he will turn many Yasharalym to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH their 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH.
17 He will be a man with the Ruach and power of AliYahu, he will prepare the people for the coming of Ha'Mashyach. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the righteous.”
18 Zacharyahu said to the Malak, “How can I be sure this will happen? I am an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
19 Then the Malak said, “I am Gabri'AL! I stand in the very presence of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. It was 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH who sent me to bring you this good news!
20 But now, since you did not believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zacharyahu to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When Zacharyahu finally did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.
23 When Zacharyahu’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home.
24 Soon afterward Zacharyahu‘s wife Alizabath, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months.
25 “How kind 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my shame of having no children.”
The Birth of YAHUSHA Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Alizabath’s pregnancy, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH sent the Malak Gabri'AL to Nazarath, a village in Galily,
27 to a virgin named Maryam. She was engaged to be married to a man named Ya'asaf, a descendant of King Daud.
28 The Malak Gabri'AL appeared to Maryam and said, “Greetings, favored woman! 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Maryam tried to think what the Malak could mean. 30 “Do not be afraid, Maryam,” the Malak Gabri'AL told her, “for you have found favor with 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH!
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA.
32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of AL'ALYUN (the Most High), 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will give him the throne of his ancestor Daud.
33 And he will reign over Yashar'AL forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Maryam asked the Malak Gabri'AL, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The Malak Gabri'AL replied, “The RUACH Ha'Qadash will come upon you, and the power of AL'ALYUN (the most high) will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be Qadash, and he will be called the Son of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
36 What’s more, your relative Alizabath has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.
37 For the Dabar of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will never fail.”
38 Maryam responded, “I am 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the Malak Gabri'AL left her.
Maryam Visits Alizabath
39 A few days later Maryam hurried to the hill country of Yahudah, to the town
40 where Zacharyahu lived. She entered the house and greeted Alizabath.
41 At the sound of Maryam’s greeting, Alizabath’s child leaped within her, and Alizabath was filled with the RUACH Ha'Qadash.
42 Alizabath gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Maryam, “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has baraked you above all women, and your child is baraked.
43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Master should visit me?
44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.
45 You are baraked because you believed that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH would do what He Dabar.”
Maryam’s Song of Yadah
46 Maryam responded,
“Oh, how my soul Yadah 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
47 How my ruach rejoices in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH my Savior!
48 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH took notice of His lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me baraked.
49 For the Mighty One is Qadash, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has done great things for me.
50 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear HIM.
51 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH's mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
53 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has helped HIS servant Yashar'AL and remembered to be merciful.
55 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”
56 Maryam stayed with Alizabath about three months and then went back to her own home.
The Birth of Yahukanun the Baptist
57 When it was time for Alizabath’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son.
58 And when her neighbors and relatives heard that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.
59 When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zacharyahu, after his father.
60 But Alizabath said, “No! His name is Yahukanun!”
61 “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.”
62 So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him.
63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is Yahukanun.”
64 Instantly Zacharyahu could speak again, and he began to Yadah 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
65 Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Yahudym. 66 Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH was surely upon him in a special way.
Zacharyahu’s Prophecy
67 Then Yahukanun father, Zacharyahu, was filled with the RUACH Ha'Qadash and gave this prophecy:
68 “Yadah 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL, because 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has visited and redeemed his people.
69 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant King Daud,
70 just as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH promised through his Qadash Nabyms long ago.
71 Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.
72 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering His sacred covenant
73 the covenant 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.
74 We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH without fear,
75 In Qadash and righteousness for as long as we live.
76 “And you, my little son, will be called the Nabym of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, because you will prepare the way for Ha'Mashyach.
77 You will tell 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH‘s people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s tender mercy, the morning light from Shamaym is about to break upon us,
79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of Shalum.”
80 Yahukanun grew up and became strong in Ruach. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Yashar'AL.