Over 400 years after the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, a priest named Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, lived near the city. They had been married for many years but did not have any children. One day as Zechariah offered incense in the temple sanctuary, the angel Gabriel appeared. Zechariah was frightened, but Gabriel said: ‘Don’t be afraid. I bring you good news from Jehovah. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son and his name will be John. Jehovah has chosen John for a special work.’ Zechariah asked: ‘How can I believe you? My wife and I are too old to have a child.’ Gabriel said: ‘I have been sent by God to give you this news. But because you did not believe me, you will not be able to speak until after the baby is born.’

Zechariah stayed in the sanctuary longer than usual. So when he finally came out, the people waiting outside wanted to know what had happened. Zechariah could not speak. He could only make gestures with his hands. Then the people realized that Zechariah had received a message from God.

In time, Elizabeth became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy, just as the angel had said. Her friends and relatives came to see the baby. They were very happy for her. Elizabeth said: ‘His name will be John.’ They said: ‘There’s no one in your family named John. Name him Zechariah, after his father.’ But Zechariah wrote down the words: ‘John is his name.’ At that moment, Zechariah could speak again! News about the baby spread all over Judea, and people wondered: ‘What will this child grow up to be?’

Then Zechariah became filled with holy spirit. He  prophesied: ‘Let Jehovah be praised. He promised Abraham that He would send a savior, the Messiah, to rescue us. John will be a prophet, and he will prepare the way for the Messiah.’

Something special also happened to Elizabeth’s relative Mary. Let’s find out about this in the next chapter.

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. Ọ kpẹẹ re ne iran ghi ya ru orọnmwẹ sokpan iran ma miẹn ọmọ biẹ. Vbe Zẹkaraia ghi giẹn eturari vbe ọgua Osa vbe ẹdẹ ọkpa, e Gebriẹl ne odibosa na rhiegbe ma rẹn. Orrirri keghi gbe kue Zẹkaraia, sokpan Gebriẹl keghi tama rẹn wẹẹ: ‘Ghẹ gi ohan muẹn. Iyẹn nọ maan nọ ke obọ e Jehova rre ẹre I do na ma ruẹ. Ọvbokhan ruẹ ighẹ Elizabẹt gha biẹ ọmọ okpia nuẹ, a ghi gha tie ọmọ nii e Jọn. Ọ mwẹ iwinna ne kpataki ne Jehova hoo ne ọmọ na ru.’ Zẹkaraia keghi kha wẹẹ: ‘Ọni gha sẹtin sunu ra? Mẹ vbe ọvbokhan mwẹ nọ khian ọmaẹn nẹ gha ye sẹtin biẹ ra?’ E Gebriẹl keghi kha wẹẹ: ‘Osanobua ẹre ọ wẹẹ ne I gie ruẹ uhunmwu na. Sokpan rhunmwuda wẹẹ u ma ya mwẹ yi, u i khian ghi sẹtin guan vbe ẹi re te a biẹ ọmọ na nẹ.’

Emwa na gha khẹ Zẹkaraia nọ ladian vbe ogiukpo rhunmwuda ẹi ka kpẹẹ sẹrriọ. Vbe ọ ghi ladian, emwa na gha hoo ne iran rẹn emwi nọ si ẹre ne ọ na kpẹẹ sẹrriọ. Sokpan e Zẹkaraia ma sẹtin gu iran guan. Obọ ẹre ọ ghi ya gha gbe ekhakha. Ọna keghi ya emwa rẹn wẹẹ, te Osanobua gie uhunmwu gie ẹre.

Vbe ọ ma he kpẹẹ vba, Elizabẹt na suẹn gha hanmwa, ọ na do biẹ ọmọ okpia zẹvbe ne odibosa tae yotọ. Avbe ọsiọre kevbe ẹgbẹe ọre na gha ghọghọ, iran na rre do tuẹ ọmọmọ. Elizabẹt na wẹẹ e Jọn ẹre a khian gha tie nene ọmọ. Emwa ni rre do tuẹ ọre keghi tama rẹn wẹẹ: ‘Ọmwa rhọkpa i rrọọ na tie ẹre Jọn vbe ẹgbẹe ọghe uwa. Wa mu eni erhae nẹ.’ Sokpan Zẹkaraia keghi gbẹn ọnrẹn ye ebe wẹẹ e Jọn ẹre a khian gha tie ẹre. Vbe ọwarọkpa nii, Zẹkaraia na suẹn gha guan! 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.

Lekpae orhiọn nọhuanrẹn ọghẹe, Osanobua keghi rhie ẹtin ne Zẹkaraia ne ọ ya ta ẹmwẹ akhasẹ na, nọ khare wẹẹ:  ‘Ekpọnmwẹ vbe urhomwẹ ọre ọghe Jehova. Ọ ru eyan ma Ebraham wẹẹ irẹn gha gie Mezaia rre nọ do miẹn ima fan. Akhasẹ ẹre Jọn khian gha khin, irẹn ẹre ọ khian vbe ru emwamwa yotọ khẹ Mezaia.’

Ọ vbe mwẹ emwi ọkpa ne kpataki nọ sunu dae Meri ne ọtiẹn Elizabẹt. Ma gha guan kaan rẹn vbe uhunmwuta nọ lelẹe.