22-00
The Birth of John
This title can also be translated as: “About how John the Baptist was born” or “What happened when John the Baptist was born?”
22-01
In the past, God had spoken to his prophets so they could speak to his people. But then 400 years went by when he did not speak to them.
This is background information about the prophets of God, and the 400 years that God did not send them. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
his people
This could be translated as: “his people, the Israelites” or “his people, the Jews.” But only include the added information if it is not clearly understood who these people were.
400 years went by
Other ways to say this are: “400 years passed” or “there were 400 years.” The last Old Testament prophet, Malachi, has prophesied 400 years before.
when he did not speak to them
This could mean during which God did not give any messages to the prophets for his people.
Then God sent an angel
This introduces the birth of John the Baptist as a new event. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])
Then God sent an angel to a priest named Zechariah
This introduces the angel and Zechariah as new characters in the story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])
Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, honored God. They were very old, and she had never born any children.
This is background information about the kind of people who Zechariah and Elizabeth were. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
22-02
The angel
This refers to the angel that came to Zechariah in 22:01.
You will name him John.
This is a command. The angel is telling Zechariah exactly what he must name John.
fill him with the Holy Spirit
This could mean give him wisdom and power through the Holy Spirit.
My wife and I are too old to have children!
This sentence emphasizes that Zechariah and Elizabeth were far too old to have children by natural means. That would require God to work a miracle. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclamations/01.md]])
How can I know you are telling me the truth?
Here, know means to learn by experience, suggesting Zechariah was asking for a sign as proof. Alternate translation: “What can you do to prove to me that this will happen?” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])
22-03
The angel responded to Zechariah, “I was sent by God to bring you this good news. Because you did not believe me, you will not be able to speak until the child is born.”
This is direct quotation. It can also be stated as an indirect quotation: “The angel answered and told Zechariah that he was sent by God to bring him this good news. But because Zechariah did not believe him, Zechariah will not be able to speak until the child was born.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])
Immediately, Zechariah was unable to speak
The connecting word Immediately introduces a sequential clause. First the angel said Zechariah would not be able to speak, and the next thing that happened was Zechariah could not speak. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])
Because you did not believe me, you will not be able to speak until the child is born.
The connecting word Because connects the reason (Zechariah did not believe the good news), with the result (Zechariah could not speak until the baby was born). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
22-04
When Elizabeth was six months pregnant
The connecting word When introduces a background clause. The main event is Mary’s pregnancy and visit to Elizabeth. The background event that was already happening is Elizabeth was six months pregnant. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-background/01.md]])
Elizabeth
She was Zechariah’s wife. An angel told Zechariah that Elizabeth would give birth to a son.
six months pregnant
Either she had already been pregnant for six months or she was in the sixth month of her pregnancy.
pregnant
Different languages have different idioms to talk about pregnancy, such as she was with child or she had one in her body or she had belly. Some languages have special ways of speaking about it politely, such as she was expecting. Use an expression that will not be embarrassing to readers.
Elizabeth’s relative
Many translations say, cousin here but we don’t know exactly how these two women were related. A general term like, kin or cousin could be used.
She was a virgin and was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph
This is background information about Mary. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
was engaged
This could mean was promised.
Son of the Most High God
This is an important title for Jesus. Mary will bear a son who will be called the Son of the Most High. Jesus is therefore a human son born of a human mother, and he is also the Son of God. These terms should be translated very carefully. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/guidelines-sonofgodprinciples/01.md]])
22-05
Mary replied, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
This is direct quotation. It can also be stated as an indirect quotation: “Mary asked him how this could be, since she was a virgin.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])
How can this be
This could mean How can I become pregnant Mary was not doubting the truth of the angel’s words, but asking how it would happen.
Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of God will come to you
These are two ways of saying the same thing: By the power of God, the Holy Spirit will miraculously cause you to become pregnant. Make sure the translation of this sentence does not sound like there was any physical contact involved. This was a miracle.
Holy Spirit
This introduces the Holy Spirit as a new character. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])
the baby will be holy
The word holy here means the baby will belong to God.
Son of God
This is an important title for Jesus. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/guidelines-sonofgodprinciples/01.md]])
22-06
Soon after this happened
The connecting word Soon introduces a sequential clause. The angel came to Mary and soon after Mary left to visit Elizabeth. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])
Elizabeth
See the note about Elizabeth on 22:04.
baby jumped inside her
The baby moved suddenly inside Elizabeth’s womb in response to Mary’s greeting to Elizabeth.
what God had done for them
This refers to the fact that both women were pregnant through God’s supernatural intervention. Mary had conceived without a man, and Elizabeth had conceived with Zechariah after she was past the age of childbearing.
22-07
Elizabeth
See the note about Elizabeth on 22:04.
Then God made Zechariah able to speak again
The connecting word Then introduces a sequential clause. After Zechariah and Elizabeth named their baby John, Zechariah was able to speak again. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])
Praise God, because he has remembered to help his people!
This sentence emphasizes that God is worthy of praise because of how he helped his people. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclamations/01.md]])
Praise God
This could mean We should all praise God.
the prophet
This could mean the very important prophet. John would be the prophet that the Old Testament prophets had predicted would come before the Messiah.
the Most High God
Other ways to say this are: “the God who is greater than everything” or “the God who rules over everything.”
A Bible story from
These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.