1 P or cuanto muchos han tratado de compilar una historia de las cosas que entre nosotros son muy ciertas,

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 t al como nos las han transmitido los que desde el principio fueron testigos oculares y ministros de la palabra,

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 t ambién a mí me ha parecido conveniente, después de haberlo investigado todo con diligencia desde el principio, escribírte las ordenadamente, excelentísimo Teófilo,

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 p ara que sepas la verdad precisa acerca de las cosas que te han sido enseñadas. Anuncio del nacimiento de Juan el Bautista

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 H ubo en los días de Herodes, rey de Judea, cierto sacerdote llamado Zacarías, del grupo de Abías, que tenía por mujer una de las hijas de Aarón que se llamaba Elisabet.

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 mbos eran justos delante de Dios, y se conducían intachablemente en todos los mandamientos y preceptos del Señor.

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

7 N o tenían hijos, porque Elisabet era estéril, y ambos eran de edad avanzada.

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

8 P ero aconteció que mientras Zacarías ejercía su ministerio sacerdotal delante de Dios según el orden indicado a su grupo,

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

9 c onforme a la costumbre del sacerdocio, fue escogido por sorteo para entrar al templo del Señor y quemar incienso.

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

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

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

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

12 A l ver lo, Zacarías se turbó, y el temor se apoderó de él.

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

13 P ero el ángel le dijo: No temas, Zacarías, porque tu petición ha sido oída, y tu mujer Elisabet te dará a luz un hijo, y lo llamarás Juan.

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 Y tendrás gozo y alegría, y muchos se regocijarán por su nacimiento.

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

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

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 Y él hará volver a muchos de los hijos de Israel al Señor su Dios.

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

17 E irá delante de El en el espíritu y poder de Elías para hacer volver los corazones de los padres a los hijos, y a los desobedientes a la actitud de los justos, a fin de preparar para el Señor un pueblo bien dispuesto.

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 E ntonces Zacarías dijo al ángel: ¿Cómo podré saber esto? Porque yo soy anciano y mi mujer es de edad avanzada.

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 R espondiendo el ángel, le dijo: Yo soy Gabriel, que estoy en la presencia de Dios, y he sido enviado para hablarte y anunciarte estas buenas nuevas.

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 Y he aquí, te quedarás mudo, y no podrás hablar hasta el día en que todo esto acontezca, por cuanto no creíste mis palabras, las cuales se cumplirán a su debido tiempo.

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 Y el pueblo estaba esperando a Zacarías, y se extrañaba de su tardanza en el templo.

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

22 P ero cuando salió, no podía hablarles, y se dieron cuenta de que había visto una visión en el templo; y él les hablaba por señas, y permanecía mudo.

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 Y cuando se cumplieron los días de su servicio sacerdotal, regresó a su casa.

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

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

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

25 A sí ha obrado el Señor conmigo en los días en que se dignó mirar me para quitar mi afrenta entre los hombres. Anuncio del nacimiento de Jesús

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

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

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

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 Y entrando el ángel, le dijo: ¡Salve, muy favorecida! El Señor está contigo; bendita eres tú entre las mujeres.

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 P ero ella se turbó mucho por estas palabras, y se preguntaba qué clase de saludo sería éste.

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 Y el ángel le dijo: No temas, María, porque has hallado gracia delante de Dios.

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 Y he aquí, concebirás en tu seno y darás a luz un hijo, y le pondrás por nombre Jesús.

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

32 E ste será grande y será llamado Hijo del Altísimo; y el Señor Dios le dará el trono de su padre 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 y reinará sobre la casa de Jacob para siempre, y su reino no tendrá fin.

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

34 E ntonces María dijo al ángel: ¿Cómo será esto, puesto que soy virgen ?

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

35 R espondiendo el ángel, le dijo: El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre ti, y el poder del Altísimo te cubrirá con su sombra; por eso el santo Niño que nacerá será llamado Hijo de Dios.

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 Y he aquí, tu parienta Elisabet en su vejez también ha concebido un hijo; y este es el sexto mes para ella, la que llamaban estéril.

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 P orque ninguna cosa será imposible para Dios.

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

38 E ntonces María dijo: He aquí la sierva del Señor; hágase conmigo conforme a tu palabra. Y el ángel se fue de su presencia. María visita a Elisabet

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 E n esos días María se levantó y fue apresuradamente a la región montañosa, a una ciudad de Judá;

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

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

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

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

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

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 ¿ Por qué me ha acontecido esto a mí, que la madre de mi Señor venga a mí?

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

44 P orque he aquí, apenas la voz de tu saludo llegó a mis oídos, la criatura saltó de gozo en mi vientre.

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

45 Y bienaventurada la que creyó que tendrá cumplimiento lo que le fue dicho de parte del Señor.

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 E ntonces María dijo: Mi alma engrandece al Señor,

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

47 y mi espíritu se regocija en Dios mi Salvador.

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 P orque ha mirado la humilde condición de esta su sierva; pues he aquí, desde ahora en adelante todas las generaciones me tendrán por bienaventurada.

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

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

50 Y de generacion en generacion es su misericordia para los que le temen.

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 a hecho proezas con su brazo; ha esparcido a los soberbios en el pensamiento de sus corazones.

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 a quitado a los poderosos de sus tronos; y ha exaltado a los humildes;

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

53 a los hambrientos ha colmado de bienes y ha despedido a los ricos con las manos vacías.

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

54 H a ayudado a Israel, su siervo, para recuerdo de su misericordia

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

55 t al como dijo a nuestros padres, a Abraham y a su descendencia para siempre.

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

56 Y María se quedó con Elisabet como tres meses, y después regresó a su casa. Nacimiento de Juan el Bautista

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

57 C uando a Elisabet se le cumplió el tiempo de su alumbramiento, dio a luz un hijo.

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

58 Y sus vecinos y parientes oyeron que el Señor había demostrado su gran misericordia hacia ella; y se regocijaban con ella.

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

59 Y al octavo día vinieron para circuncidar al niño, y lo iban a llamar Zacarías según el nombre de su padre.

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 P ero la madre respondió, y dijo: No, sino que se llamará Juan.

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

61 Y le dijeron: No hay nadie en tu familia que tenga ese nombre.

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

62 E ntonces preguntaban por señas al padre, cómo lo quería llamar.

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

63 Y él pidió una tablilla y escribió lo siguiente: Su nombre es Juan. Y todos se maravillaron.

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

64 A l instante le fue abierta su boca y suelta su lengua, y comenzó a hablar dando alabanza a Dios.

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

65 Y vino temor sobre todos los que vivían a su alrededor; y todas estas cosas se comentaban en toda la región montañosa de Judea.

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

66 Y todos los que las oían las guardaban en su corazón, diciendo: ¿Qué, pues, llegará a ser este niño? Porque la mano del Señor ciertamente estaba con él. Profecía de Zacarías

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

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

68 B endito sea el Señor, Dios de Israel, porque nos ha visitado y ha efectuado redención para su pueblo,

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 y nos ha levantado un cuerno de salvación en la casa de David su siervo,

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

70 t al como lo anunció por boca de sus santos profetas desde los tiempos antiguos,

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

71 s alvación de nuestros enemigos y de la mano de todos los que nos aborrecen;

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 p ara mostrar misericordia a nuestros padres, y para recordar su santo pacto,

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 e l juramento que hizo a nuestro padre Abraham:

That covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather Abraham:

74 c oncedernos que, librados de la mano de nuestros enemigos, le sirvamos sin temor

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

75 e n santidad y justicia delante de El, todos nuestros días.

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

76 Y tú, niño, serás llamado profeta del Altísimo; porque irás delante del Señor para preparar sus caminos;

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 p ara dar a su pueblo el conocimiento de la salvación por el perdón de sus pecados,

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

78 p or la entrañable misericordia de nuestro Dios, con que la Aurora nos visitará desde lo alto,

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 p ara dar luz a los que habitan en tinieblas y en sombra de muerte, para guiar nuestros pies en el camino de paz.

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 Y el niño crecía y se fortalecía en espíritu; y vivió en lugares desiertos hasta el día en que apareció en público a 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.