1 ¶ Habiendo muchos tratado de poner en orden la historia de las cosas que entre nosotros han sido ciertísimas,

Many people have written about the things that have happened among us.

2 t al como nos lo enseñaron los que desde el principio lo vieron por sus ojos, y fueron ministros de la palabra;

Those who saw everything from the first and helped teach the Good News have passed these things on to us.

3 m e ha parecido también a mí, después de haber entendido todas las cosas desde el principio con diligencia, escribírtelas por orden, oh buen Teófilo,

Dear Theophilus, I have looked with care into these things from the beginning. I have decided it would be good to write them to you one after the other the way they happened.

4 p ara que conozcas la seguridad de las cosas en las cuales has sido enseñado.

Then you can be sure you know the truth about the things you have been taught. An Angel Tells of the Birth of John the Baptist

5 ¶ Hubo en los días de Herodes, rey de Judea, un sacerdote llamado Zacarías, de la clase de Abías; y su mujer, de las hijas de Aarón, llamada Elisabet.

When Herod was king of the country of Judea, there was a Jewish religious leader named Zacharias. He worked for Abijah. His wife was of the family group of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth.

6 Y eran ambos justos delante de Dios, andando sin reprensión en todos los mandamientos y estatutos del Señor.

They were right with God and obeyed the Jewish Law and did what the Lord said to do.

7 Y no tenían hijo, porque Elisabet era estéril, y ambos eran avanzados en días.

They had no children because Elizabeth was not able to have a child. Both of them were older people.

8 Y aconteció que ejerciendo Zacarías el sacerdocio delante de Dios por el orden de su vez,

Zacharias was doing his work as a religious leader for God.

9 c onforme a la costumbre del sacerdocio, salió en suerte a poner el incienso, entrando en el Templo del Señor.

The religious leaders were given certain kinds of work to do. Zacharias was chosen to go to the house of God to burn special perfume.

10 Y toda la multitud del pueblo estaba fuera orando a la hora del incienso.

Many people stood outside praying during the time the special perfume was burning.

11 Y se le apareció un ángel del Señor puesto en pie a la derecha del altar del incienso.

Zacharias saw an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar where the special perfume was burning.

12 Y se turbó Zacarías viéndolo, y cayó temor sobre él.

When he saw the angel, Zacharias was troubled and afraid.

13 M as el ángel le dijo: Zacarías, no temas; porque tu oración ha sido oída, y tu mujer Elisabet te engendrará un hijo, y llamarás su nombre Juan.

The angel said to him, “Zacharias, do not be afraid. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son. You are to name him John.

14 Y tendrás gozo y alegría, y muchos se gozarán de su nacimiento.

You will be glad and have much joy. Many people will be happy because he is born.

15 P orque será grande delante de Dios, y no beberá vino ni sidra; y será lleno del Espíritu Santo, aun desde el vientre de su madre.

He will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or any strong drink. Even from his birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

16 Y a muchos de los hijos de Israel convertirá al Señor Dios de ellos.

Many of the Jews will be turned to the Lord their God by him.

17 P orque él irá delante de él con el Espíritu y virtud de Elías, para convertir los corazones de los padres a los hijos, y los rebeldes a la prudencia de los justos, para aparejar al Señor un pueblo preparado.

He will be the one to go in the spirit and power of Elijah before Christ comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children. He will teach those who do not obey to be right with God. He will get people ready for the Lord.” Zacharias Does Not Believe the Angel

18 Y dijo Zacarías al ángel: ¿En qué conoceré esto? Porque yo soy viejo, y mi mujer avanzada en días.

Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I know this for sure? I am old and my wife is old also.”

19 Y respondiendo el ángel le dijo: Yo soy Gabriel, que estoy delante de Dios; y soy enviado a hablarte, y a darte este evangelio.

The angel said to him, “My name is Gabriel. I stand near God. He sent me to talk to you and bring to you this good news.

20 Y he aquí estarás mudo y no podrás hablar, hasta el día que esto sea hecho, por cuanto no creiste a mis palabras, las cuales se cumplirán a su tiempo.

See! You will not be able to talk until the day this happens. It is because you did not believe my words. What I said will happen at the right time.”

21 Y el pueblo estaba esperando a Zacarías, y se maravillaban de que él se detuviera en el Templo.

The people outside were waiting. They were surprised and wondered why Zacharias stayed so long in the house of God.

22 Y saliendo, no les podía hablar; y entendieron que había visto visión en el Templo; y él les hablaba por señas, y quedó mudo.

When he came out, he could not talk to them. They knew he had seen something special from God while he was in the house of God. He tried to talk to them with his hands but could say nothing.

23 Y fue, que cumplidos los días de su oficio, se vino a su casa.

When his days of working in the house of God were over, he went to his home. The Lord Did What He Promised

24 Y después de aquellos días concibió su mujer Elisabet, y se encubrió por cinco meses, diciendo:

Some time later Elizabeth knew she was to become a mother. She kept herself hidden for five months. She said,

25 P orque el Señor me ha hecho así en los días en que miró para quitar mi afrenta entre los hombres.

“This is what the Lord has done for me. He has looked on me and has taken away my shame from among men.” Gabriel Speaks to Mary

26 ¶ Y al sexto mes, el ángel Gabriel fue enviado de Dios a una ciudad de Galilea, llamada Nazaret,

Six months after Elizabeth knew she was to become a mother, Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth. Nazareth was a town in the country of Galilee.

27 a una virgen desposada con un varón que se llamaba José, de la Casa de David; y el nombre de la virgen era María.

He went to a woman who had never had a man. Her name was Mary. She was promised in marriage to a man named Joseph. Joseph was of the family of David.

28 Y entrando el ángel en donde ella estaba, dijo: ¡Gozo hallas, amada! El Señor es contigo; bendita tú entre las mujeres.

The angel came to her and said, “You are honored very much. You are a favored woman. The Lord is with you. You are chosen from among many women.”

29 M as ella, cuando le vio, se turbó de sus palabras, y pensaba qué salutación sería ésta.

When she saw the angel, she was troubled at his words. She thought about what had been said.

30 E ntonces el ángel le dice: María, no temas, porque has hallado gracia cerca de Dios.

The angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.

31 Y he aquí, concebirás en tu vientre, y darás a luz un hijo, y llamarás su nombre Jesús.

See! You are to become a mother and have a Son. You are to give Him the name Jesus.

32 E ste será grande, y será llamado Hijo del Altísimo; y le dará el Señor Dios el trono de David su padre;

He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the place where His early father David sat.

33 y reinará en la Casa de Jacob por siempre; y de su Reino no habrá fin.

He will be King over the family of Jacob forever and His nation will have no end.”

34 E ntonces María dijo al ángel: ¿Cómo será esto? Porque no conozco varón.

Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen? I have never had a man.”

35 Y respondiendo el ángel le dijo: El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre ti, y la virtud del Altísimo te cubrirá; por lo cual también lo Santo que de ti nacerá, será llamado Hijo de Dios.

The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you. The power of the Most High will cover you. The holy Child you give birth to will be called the Son of God.

36 Y he aquí, Elisabet tu parienta, también ella ha concebido hijo en su vejez; y éste es el sexto mes para ella que era llamada la estéril;

“See, your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is going to give birth to a child. She was not able to have children before, but now she is in her sixth month.

37 p orque ninguna cosa es imposible para Dios.

For God can do all things.”

38 E ntonces María dijo: He aquí la criada del Señor; cúmplase en mí conforme a tu palabra. Y el ángel se fue de su presencia.

Then Mary said, “I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel went away from her. Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 ¶ En aquellos días levantándose María, fue a la montaña con prisa, a una ciudad de Judá;

At once Mary went from there to a town in the hill country of Judea.

40 y entró en casa de Zacarías, y saludó a Elisabet.

She went to the house of Zacharias to see Elizabeth.

41 Y aconteció, que cuando oyó Elisabet la salutación de María, la criatura saltó en su vientre; y Elisabet fue llena del Espíritu Santo,

When Elizabeth heard Mary speak, the baby moved in her body. At the same time Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 y exclamó a gran voz, y dijo: Bendita tú entre las mujeres, y bendito el fruto de tu vientre.

Elizabeth spoke in a loud voice, “You are honored among women! Your Child is honored!

43 ¿ Y de dónde esto a mí, que la madre de mi Señor venga a mí?

Why has this happened to me? Why has the mother of my Lord come to me?

44 P orque he aquí, cuando llegó la voz de tu salutación a mis oídos, la criatura saltó de alegría en mi vientre.

As soon as I heard your voice, the baby in my body moved for joy.

45 Y bienaventurada la que creyó, porque se cumplirán las cosas que le fueron dichas de parte del Señor.

You are happy because you believed. Everything will happen as the Lord told you it would happen.” Mary’s Song of Thanks

46 E ntonces María dijo: engrandece mi alma al Señor;

Then Mary said, “My heart sings with thanks for my Lord.

47 Y mi espíritu se alegró en Dios mi Salud,

And my spirit is happy in God, the One Who saves from the punishment of sin.

48 p orque miró a la bajeza de su criada; Porque he aquí, desde ahora me dirán bienaventurada todas las generaciones.

The Lord has looked on me, His servant-girl and one who is not important. But from now on all people will honor me.

49 P orque me ha hecho grandes cosas el Poderoso; y santo es su Nombre.

He Who is powerful has done great things for me. His name is holy.

50 Y su misericordia de generación a generación a los que le temen.

The loving-kindness of the Lord is given to the people of all times who honor Him.

51 H izo valentía con su brazo; esparció los soberbios del pensamiento de su corazón.

He has done powerful works with His arm. He has divided from each other those who have pride in their hearts.

52 Q uitó los poderosos de los tronos, y levantó a los humildes.

He has taken rulers down from their thrones. He has put those who are in a place that is not important to a place that is important.

53 A los hambrientos colmó de bienes; y a los ricos envió vacíos.

He has filled those who are hungry with good things. He has sent the rich people away with nothing.

54 R ecibió a Israel su criado, acordándose de la misericordia.

He has helped Israel His servant. This was done to remember His loving-kindness.

55 C omo habló a nuestros padres, a Abraham y a su simiente para siempre.

He promised He would do this to our early fathers and to Abraham and to his family forever.”

56 Y se quedó María con ella como tres meses; después se volvió a su casa.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went to her own home. The Birth of John the Baptist

57 ¶ Y a Elisabet se le cumplió el tiempo de su alumbramiento, y dio a luz un hijo.

When the time came, Elizabeth gave birth to a son.

58 Y oyeron los vecinos y los parientes que Dios había hecho con ella grande misericordia, y se alegraron con ella.

Her neighbors and family heard how the Lord had shown loving-kindness to her. They were happy for her.

59 Y aconteció, que al octavo día vinieron para circuncidar al niño; y le llamaban con el nombre de su padre, Zacarías.

On the eighth day they did the religious act of the Jews on the child. They named him Zacharias, after his father.

60 Y respondiendo su madre, dijo: No; sino Juan será llamado.

But his mother said, “No! His name is John.”

61 Y le dijeron: ¿ Por qué ? Nadie hay en tu parentela que se llame con este nombre.

They said to her, “No one in your family has that name.”

62 Y hablaron por señas a su padre, cómo le quería llamar.

Then they talked to his father with their hands to find out what he would name the child.

63 Y demandando la tablilla, escribió, diciendo: Juan es su nombre. Y todos se maravillaron.

He asked for something to write on. He wrote, “His name is John.” They were all surprised and wondered about it.

64 Y luego fue abierta su boca y su lengua, y habló bendiciendo a Dios.

Zacharias was able to talk from that time on and he gave thanks to God.

65 Y hubo temor sobre todos los vecinos de ellos; y en todas las montañas de Judea fueron divulgadas todas estas cosas.

All those who lived near them were afraid. The news of what had happened was told through all the hill country of Judea.

66 Y todos los que las oían, las conservaban en su corazón, diciendo: ¿Quién será este niño? Y la mano del Señor estaba con él.

And all who heard those words remembered them and said, “What is this child going to be?” For the hand of the Lord was on him. Zacharias’ Song of Thanks to God

67 ¶ Y Zacarías su padre fue lleno del Espíritu Santo, y profetizó, diciendo:

Zacharias, the father of John, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He told what was going to happen, saying,

68 B endito el Señor Dios de Israel, que ha visitado y hecho redención a su pueblo,

“Let us thank the Lord God of Israel. He has bought His people and made them free.

69 y nos alzó el cuerno de salud en la Casa de David su siervo,

He has raised up from the family of David One Who saves people from the punishment of their sins.

70 c omo habló por boca de los santos que fueron desde el principio, sus profetas:

His holy early preachers told us this long ago.

71 S alvación de nuestros enemigos, y de mano de todos los que nos aborrecieron;

God told us that we should be saved from those who hate us and from all those who work against us.

72 p ara hacer misericordia con nuestros padres, y acordándose de su santo testamento;

He would show loving-kindness to our early fathers. He would remember His holy promise.

73 d el juramento que hizo a Abraham nuestro padre, que nos había de dar,

God promised this to our early father Abraham.

74 q ue sin temor librados de nuestros enemigos, le serviríamos

He promised that we would be saved from those who hate us and that we might worship Him without being afraid.

75 e n santidad y en justicia delante de él, todos los días de nuestra vida.

We can be holy and right with God all the days of our life.

76 Y tú, niño: profeta del Altísimo serás llamado; porque irás delante de la faz del Señor, para aparejar sus caminos;

“And you, my son, will be the one who speaks for the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to make the way ready for Him.

77 d ando conocimiento de salud a su pueblo, para remisión de sus pecados,

You will tell His people how to be saved from the punishment of sin by being forgiven of their sins.

78 p or las entrañas de misericordia de nuestro Dios, con que nos visitó de lo alto el amanecer,

Because the heart of our God is full of loving-kindness for us, a light from heaven will shine on us.

79 p ara dar luz a los que habitan en tinieblas y en sombra de muerte; para encaminar nuestros pies por camino de paz.

It will give light to those who live in darkness and are under the shadow of death. It will lead our feet in the way of peace.”

80 Y el niño crecía, y era confortado del Espíritu; y estuvo en los desiertos hasta el día que se mostró a Israel.

The child grew and became strong in spirit. He lived in a desert until the day he started to preach to the Jews.