1 ¶ Forasmuch as many have attempted to set forth in order the history of those things which among us have been most certain,

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

2 e ven as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning taught us and thus were ministers of the word,

even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning wer eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

3 i t seemed good also to me, after having understood all the things from the beginning with great diligence, to write them unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;

4 t hat thou mightest know the security of those things in which thou hast been instructed.

that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.

5 ¶ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

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

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

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

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken 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 it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

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

according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 A nd the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense.

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without 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 unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense.

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

And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon 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 unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

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

And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at 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 Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

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

And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God.

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

And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.

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

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

19 A nd the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee this gospel.

And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.

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

And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

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

And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.

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 communicated with signs and remained speechless.

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and 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 it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

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

And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, 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.

Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

26 ¶ And 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 unto a city 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 virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, 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 much graced, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.

And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.

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

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

30 T hen the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

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

And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt 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 shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

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

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

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

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

35 A nd the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit 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.

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

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

And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.

37 F or with God nothing is impossible.

For no word from God shall be void of power.

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

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

39 ¶ And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda

And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;

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

and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.

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 Spirit;

And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;

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

and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

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

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?

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

For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb 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 is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

46 T hen Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 a nd my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saving Health,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 f or he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden; for, behold, from now on all generations shall call me blessed.

For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 F or he that is mighty has done great things unto me, and holy is his name.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.

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

And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

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

He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

52 H e has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the humble.

He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

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

The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 H e has received his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy

He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

55 a s he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.

(As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

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

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

57 ¶ Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered and she brought forth a son.

Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58 A nd her neighbours and her relatives heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.

And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards 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 came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.

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

And his mother answered and said, 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 unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

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

And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

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

And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

64 A nd his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke blessing God.

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God.

65 A nd fear came on all that dwelt round about them, and all these things were spoken of throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

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

And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 ¶ And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

68 B lessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and made redemption for his people

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,

69 A nd has raised up a horn of saving health for us in the house of his servant David,

And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David

70 a s he spoke by the mouth of the saints who from the beginning were his prophets;

(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),

71 s alvation from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us;

Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72 t o fulfill mercy unto our fathers and remembering his holy covenant

To show mercy towards, our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

73 o f the oath which he made to our father Abraham,

The oath which he spake unto Abraham our father,

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

To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

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

In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

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

Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

77 g iving knowledge of saving health unto his people for the remission of their sins

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins,

78 t hrough the bowels of mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us

Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,

79 t o give light to those that dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace.

To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 A nd the child grew and was comforted of the Spirit and was in the deserts until the day of his showing unto Israel.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.