Gregorian

Synaxarium

1_218;select * from katapsalms where ((type=0) and (ref='42:2,5'))2_2281;4_165;select * from katapsalms where ((type=0) and (ref='42:7,8'))5_1910;6_3408;7_2136;8_2244;9_249;select * from katapsalms where ((type=0) and (ref='45:2'))10_4721;

10th day of Toba

اليوم العاشر من شهر طوبة

A psalm of David

مزمور لداود

42:2,5

٤٢ : ٢، ٥

*My soul has thirsted for the living God: hope in God; for I will give thanks to him; he is the salvation of my countenance. Alleluia.

عَطِشَتْ نَفْسِي، إلى اللَّهِ الْحَيِّ. تَوَكَّلِي عَلَى اللَّهِ فَإنِّي أَعْتَرِفُ لَهُ، خَلاَصُ وَجْهِي هُوَ إلهِي. هَلِّلُويَا.

The Gospel according to Saint Mathew

الإنجيل من متى

4:12-22

٤ : ١٢ − ٢٢

*And when Jesus had heard that John was delivered up, he retired into Galilee: And leaving the city Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capharnaum on the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim; That it might be fulfilled which was said by Isaias the prophet: Land of Zabulon and land of Nephthalim, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people that sat in darkness, hath seen great light: and to them that sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers). And he saith to them: Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men. And they immediately leaving their nets, followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and he called them. And they forthwith left their nets and father, and followed him. Glory be to God forever.

وَلَمَّا سَمِعَ يَسُوعُ أنَّ يُوحَنَّا أُسْلِمَ، مَضَى إلى الْجَلِيلِ. وَتَرَكَ النَّاصِرَةَ فَأَتَى وَسَكَنَ في كَفْرَنَاحُومَ التِي عَلَى شَاطِئِ الْبَحْرِ في تُخُومِ زَبُولُونَ وَنَفْتَالِيمَ، لِكَيْ يَتِمَّ مَا قِيلَ بِإشَعْيَاءَ النَّبيِّ الْقَائِلِ: "أَرْضُ زَبُولُونَ، وَأَرْضُ نَفْتَالِيمَ، طَرِيقُ الْبَحْرِ، عَبْرُ الأُرْدُنِّ، جَلِيلُ الأُمَمِ. الشَّعْبُ الْجَالِسُ في الظُّلْمَةِ أَبْصَرَ نُوراً عَظِيماً، وَالْجَالِسُونَ في الْكُورَةِ وَظِلاَلِ الْمَوْتِ أَشْرَقَ عَلَيْهِمْ نُورٌ". مِنْ ذلِكَ الزَّمَانِ ابْتَدَأَ يَسُوعُ يَكْرِزُ وَيَقُولُ: "تُوبُوا لأَنهُ قَدِ اقْتَرَبَ مَلَكُوتُ السَّمَوَاتِ". وَإذْ كَانَ مَاشِياً عَلَى شَاطِئِ بَحْرِ الْجَلِيلِ أَبْصَرَ أَخَوَيْنِ: سِمْعَانَ الَّذي يُقَالُ لَهُ بُطْرُسُ، وَأَنْدَرَاوُسَ أَخَاهُ يُلْقِيَانِ شَبَكَةً في الْبَحْرِ، فَإنَّهُمَا كَانَا صَيَّادَيْنِ. فَقَالَ لَهُمَا: "هَلُمَّ اتْبَعَانِي فَأَجْعَلُكُمَا صَيَّادَيِ النَّاسِ". فَلِلْوَقْتِ تَرَكَا شِبَاكَهُمَا وَتَبِعَاهُ. ثُمَّ اجْتَازَ إلى قُدَّامٍ مِنْ هُنَاكَ، فَرَأَى أَخَوَيْنِ آخَرَيْنِ: يَعْقُوبَ بْنَ زَبْدِي وَيُوحَنَّا أَخَاهُ في السَّفِينَةِ مَعَ زَبْدِي أبِيهِمَا يُصْلِحَانِ شِبَاكَهُمَا فَدَعَاهُمَا. فَلِلْوَقْتِ تَرَكَا السَّفِينَةَ وَأَباهُمَا زَبْدِي وَتَبِعَاهُ. وَالْمَجْدُ لِلَّهِ دَائِماً.

A psalm of David

مزمور لداود

42:7,8

٤٢ : ٧، ٨

*Deep calls to deep at the voice of thy cataracts: with me is prayer to the God of my life. Alleluia.

الْعُمْقُ نَادَى الْعُمْقَ، بِصَوْتِ مَيَازِيبِكَ. مِنْ عِنْدِي صَلاَةٌ، لإلهِ حَيَاتِي. هَلِّلُويَا.

The Gospel according to Saint John

الإنجيل من يوحنا

3:22-29

٣ : ٢٢ − ٢٩

*After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea: and there he abode with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Ennon near Salim; because there was much water there; and they came and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. And there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews concerning purification: And they came to John, and said to him: Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou gavest testimony, behold he baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered, and said: A man cannot receive any thing, unless it be given him from heaven. You yourselves do bear me witness, that I said, I am not Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth with joy because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled. Glory be to God forever.

وَبَعْدَ هذَا جَاءَ يَسُوعُ وَتَلامِيذُهُ إلى أَرْضِ الْيَهُودِيَّةِ، وَمَكَثَ مَعَهُمْ هُنَاكَ يُعَمِّدُ. وَقَدْ كَانَ يُوحَنَّا أيْضاً يُعَمِّدُ في عَيْنِ نُونٍ التي بِقُرْبِ سَالِيمَ؛ لأنهُ كَانَ هُنَاكَ مِيَاهٌ كَثِيرَةٌ، وَكَانُوا يَأْتونَ وَيَعْتَمِدُونَ؛ لأنهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُوحَنَّا قَدْ أُلْقِيَ بَعْدُ في السِّجْنِ. وَحَدَثَ جِدَالٌ بَيْنَ تَلاَمِيذِ يُوحَنَّا وَالْيَهُودِ مِنْ أَجْلِ التَّطْهِير. فَجَاءُوا إلى يُوحَنَّا وَقَالُوا لَهُ: "يَا مُعَلِّمُ، هُوَذَا الَّذِي كَانَ مَعَكَ في عَبْرِ الأُرْدُنِّ الَّذِي أَنْتَ قَدْ شَهِدْتَ لَهُ، هَا هُوَ يُعَمِّدُ، وَالْجَمِيعُ يَأْتونَ إلَيْهِ". أجَابَ يُوحَنَّا وَقَالَ: "لا يَقْدِرُ إنْسَانٌ أنْ يَأْخُذَ شَيْئاً مِنْ نَفْسِهِ وَحْدَهُ إنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ قَدْ أُعْطِيَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ. أَنْتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ لِي أَني قُلْتُ لَكُمْ: لَسْتُ أنَا الْمَسِيحَ بَلْ أُرْسِلْتُ أمَامَ ذَاكَ. مَنْ لَهُ الْعَرُوسُ فَهُوَ الْعَرِيسُ، وَأمَّا صَدِيقُ الْعَرِيسِ الَّذِي يَقِفُ وَيَسْمَعُهُ فَيَفْرَحُ فَرَحاً مِنْ أَجْلِ صَوْتِ الْعَرِيسِ. إذَاً فَرَحِي هذَا قَدْ كَمَلَ". وَالْمَجْدُ لِلَّهِ دَائِماً.

The Pauline Epistle from 1 Corinthians

البولس من كورونثوس الأولى

1:1-17

١ : ١ − ١٧

*Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes a brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in every place of theirs and ours. Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God that is given you in Christ Jesus, That in all things you are made rich in him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; As the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, So that nothing is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who also will confirm you unto the end without crime, in the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no schisms among you; but that you be perfect in the same mind, and in the same judgment. For it hath been signified unto me, my brethren, of you, by them that are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith: I indeed am of Paul; and I am of Apollo; and I am of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul then crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I give God thanks, that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Caius; Lest any should say that you were baptized in my name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanus; besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void. The grace of God the Father be with you all. Amen.

مِنْ بُولُسَ، الْمَدْعُوِّ رَسُولاً لِيَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ بِمَشِيئَةِ اللَّهِ، وَسُوسْتَانِيسَ الأَخِ، إلى كَنِيسَةِ اللَّهِ التي في كُورِنْثُوسَ، الْمُقَدَّسِينَ في الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ، الْمَدْعُوِّينَ قِدِّيسِينَ مَعَ جَمِيعِ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ بِاسْمِ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ في كُلِّ مَكَانٍ، لَهُمْ وَلَنَا: النِّعْمَةُ لَكُمْ وَالسَّلاَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَبِينَا وَرَبِّنا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ. أَشْكُرُ إلهِي في كُلِّ حِينٍ لأَجْلِكُمْ عَلَى نِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ الْمُعْطَاةِ لَكُمْ في الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ؛ لأنكُمْ في كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِ اسْتَغْنَيْتُمْ بِهِ في كُلِّ كَلاَمٍ وَكُلِّ عِلْمٍ، كَمَا ثُبِّتَتْ فِيكُمْ شَهَادَةُ الْمَسِيحِ. حَتَّى إنَّكُمْ لَسْتُمْ نَاقِصِينَ في شَيْءٍ مِنَ الْمَوَاهِبِ، وَأَنْتُمْ مُتَوَقِّعُونَ اسْتِعْلاَنَ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ، هذَا الَّذِي سَيُثْبِتُكُمْ إلى النِّهَايَةِ بِلاَ لَوْمٍ في يَوْمِ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ. صَادِقٌ هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي دَعَاكُمْ إلى شَرِكَةِ ابْنِهِ يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ رَبِّنَا. وَلكِنَّنِي أَسْأَلُكُمْ يَا إخْوَتِي، بِاسْمِ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ، أنْ تَقُولُوا جَمِيعُكُمْ قَوْلاً وَاحِداً، وَلا يَكُونَ بَيْنَكُمُ انْشِقَاقَاتٌ، بَلْ تكُونُوا مُسْتَعدِّينَ في فِكْرٍ وَاحِدٍ وَرَأْيٍ وَاحِدٍ؛ لأني أُخْبِرْتُ عَنْكُمْ يَا إخْوَتِي مِنْ أَهْلِ خُلُوئِي أنَّ بَيْنَكُمْ خُصُومَاتٍ. وَهذَا أَقُولُهُ: إنَّ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ يَقُولُ: "أنَا لِبُولُسَ "، وَ" أنَا لأَبلُّوسَ "، وَ" أنَا لِكيفَا "، وَ" أنَا لِلْمَسِيحِ". هَلِ انْقَسَمَ الْمَسِيحُ؟ أَلَعَلَّ بُولُسَ صُلِبَ لأَجْلِكُمْ، أَمْ بِاسْمِ بُولُسَ اعْتَمَدْتُمْ؟ أَشْكُرُ إلهِي أنِّي لَمْ أُعَمِّدْ أَحَداً مِنْكُمْ إلاَّ كِرِيسْبُوسَ وَغَايُوسَ، حَتَّى لا يَقُولَ أَحَدٌ إنَّكُم اعْتَمَدْتُمْ بِاسْمِي. وَعَمَّدْتُ أيْضاً بَيْتَ اسْتِفَانَا. وَالآنَ لَسْتُ أَعْلَمُ هَلْ عَمَّدْتُ أَحَداً آخَرَ، لأنَّ الْمَسِيحَ لَمْ يُرْسِلْنِي لأُعَمِّدَ بَلْ لأُبشِّرَ. نعمةُ اللَّهِ الآبِ فَلْتَحِلَّ عَلَى أرواحِنا يا آبائي وإخْوَتي. آمين.

The Catholic Epistle from 2 Peter

الكاثوليكون من بطرس الثانية

1:12-19

١ : ١٢ − ١٩

*For which cause I will begin to put you always in remembrance of these things: though indeed you know them, and are confirmed in the present truth. But I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance. Being assured that the laying away of this my tabernacle is at hand, according as our Lord Jesus Christ also hath signified to me. And I will endeavour, that you frequently have after my decease, whereby you may keep a memory of these things. For we have not by following artificial fables, made known to you the power, and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we were eyewitnesses of his greatness. For he received from God the Father, honour and glory: this voice coming down to him from the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And this voice we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount. And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Do not love the world or the things in the world. The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Amen.

لِذلِكَ سَوْفَ أُذَكِّرُكُمْ في كُلِّ حِينٍ بِهذِهِ الأُمُورِ، وَلَوْ إنَّكُمْ عَالِمُونَ وَثَابِتُونَ في الْحَقِّ الْحَاضِرِ. وَلكِنَّنِي أَظُنُّ أنهُ وَاجِبُ حَقٍّ عَلَيَّ أنْ أُذَكِّرَكُمْ مَا دُمْتُ مُقِيمَاً في هذَا الْمَسْكَنِ وأنْ أُنْهِضَكُمْ بِالتَّذْكِرَةِ، عَالِماً أنَّ مَسْكَنِي سَيَنْحَلُّ سَرِيعَاً، كَمَا أَعْلَمَنِي رَبُّنا يَسُوعُ الْمَسِيحُ. وَأنَا أُسْرِعُ في كُلِّ حِينٍ لِتَتَذَكَّرُوا هذِهِ الأُمُورَ مِنْ بَعْدِ خُرُوجِي. لأننَا لَمْ نَتْبَعْ خُرَافَاتٍ فَلْسَفِيَّةً، إذْ عَرَّفْنَاكُمْ بِقُوَّةِ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ وَظُهُورِهِ، بَلْ قَدْ كُنَّا مُعَايِنِينَ عَظَمَتَهُ. لأنهُ أَخَذَ كَرَامَةً وَمَجْداً مِنَ اللَّهِ الآبِ، وَإذْ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ صَوْتٌ كَهذَا مِنَ الْمَجْدِ الأَسْنَى الْعَظِيمِ قَائِلاً: "هذَا هُوَ ابْنِي حَبِيبِي، الَّذِي أَنا بِهِ سُرِرْتُ". وَقَد سَمِعْنَا نَحْنُ هذَا الصَّوْتَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، حِينَ كُنَّا مَعَهُ عَلَى الْجَبَلِ الْمُقَدَّسِ. وَثَابِتٌ عِنْدَنَا كَلامُ الأنْبِيَاءِ، هذَا الَّذِي هُوَ نِعْمَ مَا تَصْنَعُونَهُ إذَا تَأمَّلْتُمْ إلَيْهِ، كَمِثْلِ سِرَاجٍ مُضِيءٍ في مَوْضِعٍ مُظْلِمٍ، حتَّى يَظْهَرَ النَّهَارُ، وَالنُّورُ يُشْرِقَ وَيَظْهَرَ في قُلُوبِكُمْ. لا تُحِبُّوا العَالَمَ ولا الأشْيَاءَ التي في العَالَمِ، لأنَّ العَالَمَ يمْضِي وَشَهْوَتُهُ مَعَهُ، وأمَّا مَنْ يَعملُ مَشِيئَةَ اللهِ فإنه يَثْبُتُ إلى الأبدِ. آمين.

Praxis

الإبركسيس

16:25-34

١٦ : ٢٥ − ٣٤

*And at midnight, Paul and Silas praying, praised God. And they that were in prison, heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and the bands of all were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drawing his sword, would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying: Do thyself no harm, for we all are here. Then calling for a light, he went in, and trembling, fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas. And bringing them out, he said: Masters, what must I do, that I may be saved? But they said: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he, taking them the same hour of the night, washed their stripes, and himself was baptized, and all his house immediately. And when he had brought them into his own house, he laid the table for them, and rejoiced with all his house, believing God. The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God. Amen.

وَفي نَحْوِ نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ كَانَ بُولُسُ وَسِيلاَ يُصَلِّيَانِ وَيُسَبِّحَانِ اللَّهَ، وَالْمَسْجُونُونَ يَسْمَعُونَهُمَا. فَحَدَثَتْ بَغْتَةً زَلْزَلَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ حَتَّى تَزَعْزَعَتْ أَسَاسَاتُ السِّجْنِ، فَانْفَتَحَتِ الأَبْوَابُ كُلُّهَا، وَانْفَكَّتْ قُيُودُهُمْ جَمِيعَاً. وَلَمَّا اسْتَيْقَظَ حَافِظُ السِّجْنِ، وَرَأَى أَبْوَابَ السِّجْنِ مَفْتُوحَةً، اسْتَلَّ سَيْفَهُ وَكَانَ مُزْمِعاً أنْ يَقْتُلَ نَفْسَهُ، ظَانَّاً أنَّ الْمَسْجُونِينَ قَدْ هَرَبُوا. فَنَادَى بُولُسُ بِصَوْتٍ عَظِيمٍ قَائِلاً: "لا تَفْعَلْ بِنَفْسِكَ شَيْئاً رَدِيَّاً؛ لأنَّ جَمِيعَنَا هَهُنَا!". فَأَخَذَ ضَوْءاً وَنَهَضَ إلى دَاخِلٍ، وَخَرَّ لِبُولُسَ وَسِيلاَ وَهُوَ مُرْتَعِدٌ، ثُمَّ أَخْرَجَهُمَا وَقَالَ لَهُمَا: "يَا سَيِّدَيَّ، مَاذَا يَنْبَغِي لِي أنْ أَفْعَلَهُ لِكَيْ أَخْلُصَ؟". أمَّا هُمَا فَقَالاَ: "آمِنْ بِالرَّبِّ يَسُوعَ فَتَخْلُصَ أَنْتَ وَأَهْلُ بَيْتِكَ". وَكَلَّمَاهُ وَجَمِيعَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ بِكَلِمَةِ الرَّبِّ. فَأَخَذَهُمَا في تِلْكَ السَّاعَةِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَغَسَّلَهُمَا مِنَ الْجِرَاحَاتِ، وَاعْتَمَدَ في الْحَالِ هُوَ وَالَّذِينَ لَهُ أَجْمَعُونَ. وَأَدْخَلَهُمَا في بَيْتِهِ وَقَدَّمَ لَهُمَا مَائِدَةً، وَتَهَلَّلَ مَعَ جَمِيعِ بَيْتِهِ إذْ قَدْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ. لَمْ تَزَلْ كَلِمَةُ الرَّبِّ تَنْمُو وتَكْثُرُ وتَعْتَزُّ وتَثْبُتُ، في بِيعَةِ اللَّهِ الْمُقَدَّسَةِ. آمين.

A psalm of David

مزمور لداود

45:2

٤٥ : ٢

*Thou art more beautiful than the sons of men: grace has been shed forth on thy lips: therefore God has blessed thee for ever. Alleluia.

بَهِيٌّ في حُسْنِهِ، أَفْضَلُ مِنْ بَنِي الْبَشَرِ. انْسَكَبَت النِّعْمَةُ مِنْ شَفَتَيْكَ، لِذَلِكَ بَارَكَكَ اللَّهُ إلى الدَّهْرِ. هَلِّلُويَا.

The Gospel according to Saint Luke

الإنجيل من لوقا

3:1-18

٣ : ١ − ١٨

*Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina; Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins; As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. He said therefore to the multitudes that went forth to be baptized by him: Ye offspring of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance; and do not begin to say, We have Abraham for our father. For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down and cast into the fire. And the people asked him, saying: What then shall we do? And he answering, said to them: He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do in like manner. And the publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him: Master, what shall we do? But he said to them: Do nothing more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers also asked him, saying: And what shall we do? And he said to them: Do violence to no man; neither calumniate any man; and be content with your pay. And as the people were of opinion, and all were thinking in their hearts of John, that perhaps he might be the Christ; John answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize you with water; but there shall come one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. And many other things exhorting, did he preach to the people. Glory be to God forever.

وَفي السَّنَةِ الْخَامِسَةِ عَشْرَةَ مِنْ وَلايَةِ طِيبَارِيُوسَ الْمَلِكَ، إذْ كَانَ بِيلاَطُسُ الْبُنْطِيُّ وَالِياً عَلَى الْيَهُودِيَّةِ، وَهِيرُودِسُ رَئِيسَ رُبْعٍ عَلَى الْجَلِيلِ، وَفِيلُبُّسُ أَخُوهُ رَئِيسَ رُبْعٍ عَلَى إيطُورِيَّةَ وَكُورَةِ تَرَاخُونِيتِسَ، وَلِيسَانِيُوسُ رَئِيسَ رُبْعٍ عَلَى أبِلِيَّةِ، في أيامِ رَئِيسي الْكَهَنَةِ حَنَّانَ وَقَيَافَا، كَانَتْ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى يُوحَنَّا بْنِ زَكَرِيَّا في الْبَرِّيَّةِ، فَجَاءَ إلى جَمِيعِ الْكُورَةِ الْمُحِيطَةِ بِالأُرْدُنِّ يَكْرِزُ بِمَعْمُودِيَّةِ التَّوْبَةِ لِمَغْفِرَةِ الْخَطَايَا، كَمَا هُوَ مَكْتُوبٌ في سِفْرِ أَقْوَالِ إشَعْيَاءَ النَّبيِّ الْقَائِلِ: "صَوْتُ الصَارِخِ في الْبَرِّيِّةِ: أَعِدُّوا طَرِيقَ الرَّبِّ، قَوِّمُوا طُرُقَهُ. كُلُّ وَادٍ يَمْتَلِئُ، وَكُلُّ جَبَلٍ وَأَكَمَةٍ يَنْخَفِضُ، وَتَصِيرُ الْمُعْوَجَّاتُ مُسْتَقِيمَةً، وَالْوَعْرُ يَصِيرُ طُرُقاً سَهْلَةً، وَيُعَايِنُ كُلُّ ذِي جَسَدٍ خَلاَصَ اللَّهِ". وَكَانَ يَقُولُ لِلْجُمُوعِ الآتِينَ إلَيْهِ لِيَعْتَمِدُوا مِنْهُ: "يَا أَوْلادَ الأَفَاعِي، مَنْ دَلَّكُمْ عَلَى الْهَرَبِ مِنَ الْغَضَبِ الآتِي؟ فَاصْنَعُوا أَثْمَاراً تَلِيقُ بِالتَّوْبَةِ. ولا تَبْتَدِئُوا تَقُولُونَ في أَنْفُسِكُمْ: لَنَا إبْرَاهِيمُ أَباً. لأني أَقُولُ لَكُمْ: إنَّ اللَّهَ قَادِرٌ أنْ يُقِيمَ أَوْلادَاً لإبْرَاهِيمَ مِنْ هذِهِ الْحِجَارَةِ. هوَذَا الْفَأْسُ قَدْ وُضِعَتْ عَلَى أَصْلِ الشَّجَرِ، فَكُلُّ شَجَرَةٍ لا تُثْمِرُ ثَمَرَةً جَيِّدَةً تُقْطَعُ وَتُلْقَى في النَّارِ". وَسَأَلَهُ الْجُمُوعُ قَائِلِينَ: "فَمَاذَا نَفْعَلُ إذاً؟". فَأَجَابَ وَقَالَ لَهُمْ: "مَنْ لَهُ ثَوْبَانِ فَلْيُعْطِ مَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ، وَمَنْ لَهُ طَعَامٌ فَلْيَفْعَلْ أيْضاً هكَذَا". وَجَاءَ عَشَّارُونَ أيْضاً لِيَعْتَمِدُوا مِنْهُ. فَقَالُوا لَهُ:" يَا مُعَلِّمُ، مَاذَا نَفْعَلُ نَحْنُ؟". فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: "لا تَسْتَوْفُوا أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا فُرِضَ لَكُمْ". وَسَأَلَهُ جُنْدٌ أيْضاً قَائِلِينَ: "وَمَاذَا نَفْعَلُ نَحْنُ أيْضاً؟". فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: "لا تَشُوا بِأَحَدٍ، وَلا تَظْلِمُوا، وَاكْتَفُوا بِعَلاَئِفِكُمْ". وَإذْ كَانَ الشَّعْبُ يَنْتَظِرُ، وَالْجَمِيعُ يُفَكِّرُونَ في قُلُوبِهِمْ عَنْ يُوحَنَّا لَعَلَّهُ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ، أَجَابَ يُوحَنَّا الْجَمِيعَ قَائِلاً: "أَنا أُعَمِّدُكُمْ بِمَاءٍ، وَلكِنْ يَأتِي مَنْ هُوَ أَقْوَى مِنِّي، الَّذِي لَسْتُ أَهْلاً أنْ أَحُلَّ سُيُورَ حِذَائِهِ. هُوَ سَيُعَمِّدُكُمْ بِالرُّوحِ الْقُدُسِ وَنَارٍ. الَّذِي رَفْشُهُ في يَدِهِ، وَسَيُنَقِّي بَيْدَرَهُ، وَيَجْمَعُ قَمْحَهُ إلى مَخْزَنهِ، وَأَمَّا التِّبْنُ فَيُحْرِقُهُ بِنَارٍ لا تُطْفَأُ". وَبِأَشْيَاءَ أُخَرَ كَثِيرَةٍ كَانَ يُعَزِّي ويُبَشِّرُ الشَّعْبَ بِهَا. وَالْمَجْدُ لِلَّهِ دَائِماً.