1 I nasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished 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 j ust as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants 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 fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive 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 s o that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

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 I n the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

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

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

7 B ut they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

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

8 N ow it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,

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

9 a ccording to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

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 in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

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

11 A nd an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right 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 Z acharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.

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

13 B ut the angel said to him, “ Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the 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 Y ou will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

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

15 F or he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in 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 he will turn many of the sons of Israel back 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 I t is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as 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 Z acharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain ? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced 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 T he angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

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, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

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 T he people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.

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

22 B ut when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.

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 W hen the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

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

24 A fter these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,

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

25 “ This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.” Jesus’ Birth Foretold

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 N ow in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called 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 engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants 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 coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

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 B ut she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.

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 T he angel said to her, “ Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor 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, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

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

32 H e will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give 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 will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

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

34 M ary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

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

35 T he angel answered and said to her, “ The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child 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, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.

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 nothing will be impossible with God.”

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 bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Mary Visits Elizabeth

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 N ow at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah,

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

40 a nd entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

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

41 W hen Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

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 cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your 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 how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?

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

44 F or behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby 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 who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” The Magnificat

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 exalts the Lord,

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

47 A nd my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 “ For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count 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 “ For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.

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

50 “ And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him.

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 “ He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

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 “ He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.

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

53 “ He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed.

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

54 “ He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy,

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

55 A s He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

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

56 A nd Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. John Is Born

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

57 N ow the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.

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

58 H er neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing 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 happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after 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 B ut his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.”

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

61 A nd they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”

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

62 A nd they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.

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

63 A nd he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “ His name is John.” And they were all astonished.

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

64 A nd at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God.

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

65 F ear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea.

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

66 A ll who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. Zacharias’s Prophecy

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 Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

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

68 “ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for 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 has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant—

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

70 A s He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—

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

71 S alvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who 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 show mercy toward 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 swore to Abraham our father,

That covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather Abraham:

74 T o grant us that we, being rescued from 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 our days.

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

76 “ And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before 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 to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,

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

78 B ecause of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit 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 shine upon those who sit in darkness and 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 continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to 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.