1 F orasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

Since '> as is well known] many have undertaken to put in order and draw up a '> thorough] narrative of the surely established deeds which have been accomplished and fulfilled in and among us,

2 e ven as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

Exactly as they were handed down to us by those who from the '> official] beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word '> the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God],

3 i t seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

It seemed good and desirable to me, also after having searched out diligently and followed all things closely and traced accurately the course from the highest to the minutest detail from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

4 t hat thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

that you may know the full truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts (histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in which you have been orally instructed.

5 T here was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

In the days when Herod was king of Judea there was a certain priest whose name was Zachariah, of the daily service (the division) of Abia; and his wife was also a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

6 A nd they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

And they both were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

7 A nd they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

But they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren; and both were far advanced in years.

8 A nd it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

Now while on duty, serving as priest before God in the order of his division,

9 a ccording to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

As was the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter '> sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 A nd the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

And all the throng of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

11 A nd there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

12 A nd when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

And when Zachariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear took possession of him.

13 B ut the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must call his name John.

14 A nd thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

And you shall have joy and exultant delight, and many will rejoice over his birth,

15 F or he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

For he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord. And he must drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit even in and from his mother’s womb.

16 A nd many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

And he will turn back and cause to return many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,

17 A nd he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient and incredulous and unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright '> the knowledge and holy love of the will of God]—in order to make ready for the Lord a people prepared '> adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral state].

18 A nd Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

And Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.

19 A nd the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

And the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good news.

20 A nd, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

Now behold, you will be and will continue to be silent and not able to speak till the day when these things take place, because you have not believed what I told you; but my words are of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed and proper time.

21 A nd the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

Now the people kept waiting for Zachariah, and they wondered at his delaying in the sanctuary.

22 A nd when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them; and they '> clearly] perceived that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary; and he kept making signs to them, still he remained dumb.

23 A nd it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

And when his time of performing priestly functions was ended, he returned to his house.

24 A nd after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself entirely, saying,

25 T hus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Because thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He deigned to look on me to take away my reproach among men.

26 A nd in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth,

27 t o a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

To a girl never having been married and a virgin engaged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 A nd the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And he came to her and said, Hail, O favored one '> endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women!

29 A nd when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled and disturbed and confused at what he said and kept revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean.

30 A nd the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace ( free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness) with God.

31 A nd, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.

32 H e shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

He will be great (eminent) and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His forefather David,

33 a nd he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

And He will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages; and of His reign there will be no end.

34 T hen said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no husband?

35 A nd the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God.

36 A nd, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

And listen! Your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is now the sixth month with her who was called barren.

37 F or with God nothing shall be impossible.

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.

38 A nd Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said. And the angel left her.

39 A nd Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

And at that time Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country to a town of Judah,

40 a nd entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

And she went to the house of Zachariah and, entering it, saluted Elizabeth.

41 A nd it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

And it occurred that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit.

42 a nd she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And she cried out with a loud cry, and then exclaimed, Blessed (favored of God) above all other women are you! And blessed (favored of God) is the Fruit of your womb!

43 A nd whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

And how be granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 F or, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

For behold, the instant the sound of your salutation reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

45 A nd blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

And blessed (happy, to be envied) is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord.

46 A nd Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And Mary said, My soul magnifies and extols the Lord,

47 a nd my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 F or he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For He has looked upon the low station and humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed and declare me happy and to be envied!

49 F or he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

For He Who is almighty has done great things for me—and holy is His name!

50 A nd his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

And His mercy (His compassion and kindness toward the miserable and afflicted) is on those who fear Him with godly reverence, from generation to generation and age to age.

51 H e hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has shown strength and made might with His arm; He has scattered the proud and haughty in and by the imagination and purpose and designs of their hearts.

52 H e hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree.

53 H e hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He has filled and satisfied the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty-handed.

54 H e hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

He has laid hold on His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,

55 a s he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Even as He promised to our forefathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.

56 A nd Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

And Mary remained with her for about three months and returned to her home.

57 N ow Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

Now the time that Elizabeth should be delivered came, and she gave birth to a son.

58 A nd her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy on her, and they rejoiced with her.

59 A nd it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

And it occurred that on the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were intending to call him Zachariah after his father,

60 A nd his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

But his mother answered, Not so! But he shall be called John.

61 A nd they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

And they said to her, None of your relatives is called by that name.

62 A nd they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

And they inquired with signs to his father what he wanted to have him called.

63 A nd he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

Then Zachariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, His name is John. And they were all astonished.

64 A nd his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing and praising and thanking God.

65 A nd fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.

And awe and reverential fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.

66 A nd all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

And all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, Whatever will this little boy be then? For the hand of the Lord was '> so evidently] with him.

67 A nd his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

Now Zachariah his father was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68 B lessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

Blessed (praised and extolled and thanked) be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come and brought deliverance and redemption to His people!

69 a nd hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

And He has raised up a Horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant—

70 a s he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

This is as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times —

71 t hat we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

That we should have deliverance and be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who detest and pursue us with hatred;

72 t o perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

To make true and show the mercy and compassion and kindness to our forefathers and to remember and carry out His holy covenant '> all the more sacred because it is made by God Himself],

73 t he oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

That covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather Abraham:

74 t hat he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our foes, might serve Him fearlessly

75 i n holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

In holiness (divine consecration) and righteousness within His presence all the days of our lives.

76 A nd thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

And you, little one, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go on before the face of the Lord to make ready His ways,

77 t o give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

To bring and give the knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins.

78 t hrough the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit

79 t o give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.

80 A nd the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

And the little boy grew and became strong in spirit; and he was in the deserts (wilderness) until the day of his appearing to Israel.