1 M any people have written about the things that have happened among us.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

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

even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning wer eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

3 D ear 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.

it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;

4 T hen 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

that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.

5 W hen 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.

There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

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

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

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

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

8 Z acharias was doing his work as a religious leader for God.

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

9 T he religious leaders were given certain kinds of work to do. Zacharias was chosen to go to the house of God to burn special perfume.

according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 M any people stood outside praying during the time the special perfume was burning.

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

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

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

12 W hen he saw the angel, Zacharias was troubled and afraid.

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

13 T he 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.

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 Y ou will be glad and have much joy. Many people will be happy because he is born.

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

15 H e 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.

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

16 M any of the Jews will be turned to the Lord their God by him.

And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God.

17 H e 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

And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.

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

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 T he 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.

And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.

20 S ee! 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.”

And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

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

And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.

22 W hen 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.

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

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

And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

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

And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

25 “ 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

Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

26 S ix 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.

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

27 H e 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.

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

28 T he 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.”

And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.

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

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

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

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

31 S ee! You are to become a mother and have a Son. You are to give Him the 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. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the place where His early father David sat.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

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

and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

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

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

35 T he 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.

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

36 “ 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.

And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.

37 F or God can do all things.”

For no word from God shall be void of power.

38 T hen 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

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

39 A t once Mary went from there to a town in the hill country of Judea.

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

40 S he went to the house of Zacharias to see Elizabeth.

and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.

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

And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;

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

and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43 W hy has this happened to me? Why has the mother of my Lord come to me?

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?

44 A s soon as I heard your voice, the baby in my body moved for joy.

For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

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

And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

46 T hen Mary said, “My heart sings with thanks for my Lord.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

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

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 T he Lord has looked on me, His servant-girl and one who is not important. But from now on all people will honor me.

For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 H e Who is powerful has done great things for me. His name is holy.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.

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

And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

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

He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

52 H e 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.

He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

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

The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 H e has helped Israel His servant. This was done to remember His loving-kindness.

He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

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

(As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

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

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

57 W hen the time came, Elizabeth gave birth to a son.

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

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

And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.

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

And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.

60 B ut his mother said, “No! His name is John.”

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

61 T hey said to her, “No one in your family has that name.”

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

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

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

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

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

64 Z acharias was able to talk from that time on and he gave thanks to God.

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

65 A ll those who lived near them were afraid. The news of what had happened was told through 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 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

And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

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

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

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

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

And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David

70 H is holy early preachers told us this long ago.

(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),

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

Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

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

To show mercy towards, our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

73 G od promised this to our early father Abraham.

The oath which he spake unto Abraham our father,

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

To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

75 W e can be holy and right with God all the days of our life.

In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76 “ 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.

Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

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

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

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

Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,

79 I t 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.”

To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

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

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