1 I nasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2 j ust as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,

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

3 i t seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,

It 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,

4 t hat you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias

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

5 T here was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

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.

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

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

8 S o it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,

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

9 a ccording to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10 A nd the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

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

11 T hen an angel of the Lord appeared to him, 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 the altar of incense.

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

And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 B ut the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

But 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.

14 A nd you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

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

15 F or he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

For 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.

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

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

17 H e will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘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.”

And 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.

18 A nd Zacharias said to the angel, “How 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 answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.

And 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.

20 B ut behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

And, 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.

21 A nd the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.

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

22 B ut when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them 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: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

23 S o it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.

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

24 N ow after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

25 “ Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary

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

26 N ow in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

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

27 t o a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28 A nd having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29 B ut when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

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

30 T hen the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

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

31 A nd behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall 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 will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

He 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:

33 A nd He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will 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 to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

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

35 A nd the angel answered and said to her, “ The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

And 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.

36 N ow indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.

And, 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.

37 F or with God nothing will be impossible.”

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38 T hen Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Mary Visits Elizabeth

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

39 N ow Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

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

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

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41 A nd it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

And 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:

42 T hen she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

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

43 B ut why is this granted 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 to me?

44 F or indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45 B lessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” The Song of Mary

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

46 A nd 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 Savior.

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 F or He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

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

49 F or He who is mighty has done great things for 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 who fear Him From generation to generation.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

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

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

52 H e has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.

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

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

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

54 H e has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,

He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

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

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

56 A nd Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house. Birth of John the Baptist

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

57 N ow Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.

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

58 W hen her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. Circumcision of John the Baptist

And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

59 S o it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.

And 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.

60 H is mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”

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

61 B ut they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

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

62 S o they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

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

63 A nd he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.

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

64 I mmediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.

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

65 T hen fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.

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 who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him. Zacharias’ Prophecy

And 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.

67 N ow his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

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

68 “ Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,

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

69 A nd has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David,

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

70 A s He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began,

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

71 T hat we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us,

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

72 T o perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant,

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73 T he oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74 T o grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might 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 the days of our life.

76 “ And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77 T o give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins,

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

78 T hrough the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

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

79 T o give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 S o the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

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