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

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

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

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 to you an orderly account, 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 you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias

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 Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

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

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

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

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

9 a ccording to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell 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 was praying outside at the hour of incense.

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

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

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 you will have joy and gladness, and many will 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 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.

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

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

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.”

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 to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced 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 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.

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 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.”

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 marveled that he lingered 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 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.

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 S o it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that 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 N ow after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she 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 “ 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

“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 N ow in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to 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 betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. 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 having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you 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 B ut when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

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

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

The angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.

31 A nd behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall 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 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 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 will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

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

34 T hen Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know 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 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.

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 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.

“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 will be impossible.”

For God can do all things.”

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

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

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

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

She went to the house of Zacharias to see Elizabeth.

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.

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

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!

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

43 B ut why is this granted 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 indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my 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 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

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 magnifies the Lord,

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

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

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

48 F or He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will 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 who is mighty has done great things for me, 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 those who 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 has shown strength with His arm; He has 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 has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.

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

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

54 H e has 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 spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

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

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

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

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

When the time came, Elizabeth gave birth to 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

62 S o they made signs to his father—what 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 tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.

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

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

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

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

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

68 “ Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has 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 has raised up a 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 spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who 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 who 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 swore to our father Abraham:

God promised this to our early father Abraham.

74 T o grant us that we, Being delivered from 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 “ 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 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 to 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, With which the Dayspring from on high has 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 those who sit in darkness and 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 S o the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

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