Lesson 080
Over 400 years after the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, a priest named Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, lived near the city.
Vbọ ghi gberra ukpo 400 na bọ ogba ekẹn ọghe Jerusalẹm, ohẹn ọkpa na tie ẹre Zẹkaraia kevbe amwẹ ọnrẹn ighẹ Elizabẹt na do gha rrọọ.
They had been married for many years but did not have any children.
Ọ kpẹẹ re ne iran ghi ya ru orọnmwẹ sokpan iran ma miẹn ọmọ biẹ.
One day as Zechariah offered incense in the temple sanctuary, the angel Gabriel appeared.
Vbe Zẹkaraia ghi giẹn eturari vbe ọgua Osa vbe ẹdẹ ọkpa, e Gebriẹl ne odibosa na rhiegbe ma rẹn.
Zechariah was frightened, but Gabriel said:
Orrirri keghi gbe kue Zẹkaraia, sokpan Gebriẹl keghi tama rẹn wẹẹ:
‘Don’t be afraid.
‘Ghẹ gi ohan muẹn.
I bring you good news from Jehovah.
Iyẹn nọ maan nọ ke obọ e Jehova rre ẹre I do na ma ruẹ.
Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son and his name will be John.
Ọvbokhan ruẹ ighẹ Elizabẹt gha biẹ ọmọ okpia nuẹ, a ghi gha tie ọmọ nii e Jọn.
Jehovah has chosen John for a special work.’
Ọ mwẹ iwinna ne kpataki ne Jehova hoo ne ọmọ na ru.’
Zechariah asked:
Zẹkaraia keghi kha wẹẹ:
‘How can I believe you?
‘Ọni gha sẹtin sunu ra?
My wife and I are too old to have a child.’
Mẹ vbe ọvbokhan mwẹ nọ khian ọmaẹn nẹ gha ye sẹtin biẹ ra?’
Gabriel said:
E Gebriẹl keghi kha wẹẹ:
‘I have been sent by God to give you this news.
‘Osanobua ẹre ọ wẹẹ ne I gie ruẹ uhunmwu na.
But because you did not believe me, you will not be able to speak until after the baby is born.’
Sokpan rhunmwuda wẹẹ u ma ya mwẹ yi, u i khian ghi sẹtin guan vbe ẹi re te a biẹ ọmọ na nẹ.’
Zechariah stayed in the sanctuary longer than usual.
Emwa na gha khẹ Zẹkaraia nọ ladian vbe ogiukpo rhunmwuda ẹi ka kpẹẹ sẹrriọ.
So when he finally came out, the people waiting outside wanted to know what had happened.
Vbe ọ ghi ladian, emwa na gha hoo ne iran rẹn emwi nọ si ẹre ne ọ na kpẹẹ sẹrriọ.
Zechariah could not speak.
Sokpan e Zẹkaraia ma sẹtin gu iran guan.
He could only make gestures with his hands.
Obọ ẹre ọ ghi ya gha gbe ekhakha.
Then the people realized that Zechariah had received a message from God.
Ọna keghi ya emwa rẹn wẹẹ, te Osanobua gie uhunmwu gie ẹre.
In time, Elizabeth became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy, just as the angel had said.
Vbe ọ ma he kpẹẹ vba, Elizabẹt na suẹn gha hanmwa, ọ na do biẹ ọmọ okpia zẹvbe ne odibosa tae yotọ.
Her friends and relatives came to see the baby. They were very happy for her.
Avbe ọsiọre kevbe ẹgbẹe ọre na gha ghọghọ, iran na rre do tuẹ ọmọmọ.
Elizabeth said: ‘His name will be John.’
Elizabẹt na wẹẹ e Jọn ẹre a khian gha tie nene ọmọ.
They said:
Emwa ni rre do tuẹ ọre keghi tama rẹn wẹẹ:
‘There’s no one in your family named John.
‘Ọmwa rhọkpa i rrọọ na tie ẹre Jọn vbe ẹgbẹe ọghe uwa.
Name him Zechariah, after his father.’
Wa mu eni erhae nẹ.’
But Zechariah wrote down the words: ‘John is his name.’
Sokpan Zẹkaraia keghi gbẹn ọnrẹn ye ebe wẹẹ e Jọn ẹre a khian gha tie ẹre.
At that moment, Zechariah could speak again!
Vbe ọwarọkpa nii, Zẹkaraia na suẹn gha guan!
News about the baby spread all over Judea, and people wondered: ‘What will this child grow up to be?’
Iyẹn ọghe ọmọ na keghi gba otọ e Judia hia, emwa hia na gha hoo ne iran rẹn vbene ọmọ na, khian gha ye hẹ vbe ọ gha waan nẹ.
Then Zechariah became filled with holy spirit. He prophesied:
Lekpae orhiọn nọhuanrẹn ọghẹe, Osanobua keghi rhie ẹtin ne Zẹkaraia ne ọ ya ta ẹmwẹ akhasẹ na, nọ khare wẹẹ:
‘Let Jehovah be praised.
‘Ekpọnmwẹ vbe urhomwẹ ọre ọghe Jehova.
He promised Abraham that He would send a savior, the Messiah, to rescue us.
Ọ ru eyan ma Ebraham wẹẹ irẹn gha gie Mezaia rre nọ do miẹn ima fan.
John will be a prophet, and he will prepare the way for the Messiah.’
Akhasẹ ẹre Jọn khian gha khin, irẹn ẹre ọ khian vbe ru emwamwa yotọ khẹ Mezaia.’
Something special also happened to Elizabeth’s relative Mary.
Ọ vbe mwẹ emwi ọkpa ne kpataki nọ sunu dae Meri ne ọtiẹn Elizabẹt.
Let’s find out about this in the next chapter.
Ma gha guan kaan rẹn vbe uhunmwuta nọ lelẹe.
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”—Matthew 19:26
“Emwi nẹi gia ru ọre ọna khin ne emwa ne agbọn sokpan a i miẹn emwi nẹi gie Osanobua ru.”—Matiu 19:26
Questions:
Inọta:
What did Gabriel tell Zechariah?
De emwi ne Gebriẹl tama e Zẹkaraia?
What special work would John do?
De iwinna ne kpataki ne Jọn khian winna?