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,

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

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

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

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,

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

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 T here 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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 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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

The angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid. You have 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.

See! You are to become a mother and have a Son. You are to give Him the 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. 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 A nd he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

“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 F or with God nothing shall be impossible.

For God can do all things.”

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

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

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

She went to the house of Zacharias to see 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When the time came, Elizabeth 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All those who lived near them were afraid. The news of what had happened was told through all 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 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 A nd his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

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

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

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

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

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

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

His holy early preachers told us this long ago.

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

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

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

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

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

God promised this to our early father 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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