1 P uesto que muchos han tomado a su cargo el compilar un relato ordenado de las cosas que entre nosotros han sido ciertísimas,

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 transmitieron los que desde el principio fueron testigos oculares y servidores 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 m e ha parecido bien también a mí, después de haber investigado todo con esmero desde su origen, escribirte 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 te percates bien de la solidez de las enseñanzas en las que fuiste instruido. 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 turno de Abías; tenía por esposa una de las descendientes de Aarón, la cual 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 rectos delante de Dios, y caminaban irreprochablemente en todos los mandamientos y ordenanzas del Señor.

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

7 P ero no tenían hijo, 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 S ucedió que, mientras estaba él ejerciendo su ministerio sacerdotal delante de Dios, en el turno de su grupo,

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

9 l e tocó en suerte, conforme a la costumbre del sacerdocio, entrar en el santuario del Señor a 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 orando afuera, a la hora del incienso.

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

11 E ntonces 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 verle 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 escuchada; tu mujer Elisabet te engendrará un hijo, y le 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 T endrás gozo y júbilo, y muchos se regocijarán por su nacimiento.

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

15 P ues será grande a los ojos del Señor, no beberá jamás 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 a muchos de los hijos de Israel les hará volver 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 y él mismo irá delante, en su presencia, con el espíritu y el poder de Elías, para hacer volver los corazones de los padres a los hijos, y los desobedientes a la sensatez de los justos, a 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 Z acarías le dijo al ángel: ¿Cómo podré estar seguro de esto? Porque yo soy anciano, y mi esposa 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 E l ángel le respondió diciendo: Yo soy Gabriel, que estoy de continuo en la presencia de Dios, y he sido enviado a hablar contigo y a anunciarte estas buenas noticias.

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 ahora vas a permanecer en silencio y sin poder hablar hasta el día en que sucedan estas cosas, por cuanto no has dado crédito a 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 E l pueblo estaba aguardando a Zacarías, y se extrañaban de su demora en el santuario.

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

22 C uando salió no podía hablarles, y se dieron cuenta de que había visto una visión en el santuario; él estaba haciéndoles 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 sucedió que, cuando se cumplieron los días de su servicio sacerdotal, se marchó a su casa.

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

24 D espués de estos días, concibió Elisabet, su mujer; y se mantuvo recluida durante 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 fijó en mí para quitar mi oprobio entre los hombres. Anuncio del nacimiento de Jesucristo

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 A l sexto mes, fue enviado de Dios el ángel Gabriel 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 llamado José, descendiente 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 adonde ella estaba, dijo: ¡Salve, muy favorecida! El Señor está contigo. Bendita 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 E lla se turbó profundamente por estas palabras, y consideraba qué significaría este saludo.

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: Deja de temer, María, porque has hallado gracia ante 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 M ira, concebirás en tu seno y darás a luz un hijo, y llamarás su nombre Jesús.

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

32 É ste será grande y será llamado Hijo del Altísimo. 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 le dijo María al ángel: ¿Cómo será esto, puesto que no conozco varón?

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

35 E l ángel le respondió y le dijo: El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre ti, y el poder del Altísimo te cubrirá con su sombra; por lo cual también lo santo que va a nacer 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 que tu parienta Elisabet, también ella ha concebido un hijo en su vejez; y ya está de seis meses la que era llamada 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 Y María dijo: He aquí la sierva del Señor; hágase conmigo conforme a tu palabra. Y se marchó el ángel 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 P or esos mismos días, María se levantó y se marchó de prisa 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, en cuanto oyó Elisabet el saludo de María, saltó la criatura 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 con 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 Y ¿de dónde a mí esto, 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 tan pronto como llegó a mis oídos la voz de tu saludo, saltó de gozo la criatura en mi vientre.

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

45 ¡ Bienaventurada la que ha creído que tendrán cumplimiento las cosas que le han hablado 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 Y dijo María: Engrandece mi alma al Señor,

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

47 Y mi espíritu ha saltado de gozo en Dios mi Salvador;

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 P orque ha puesto sus ojos sobre la pequeñez de su esclava; Pues he aquí que desde ahora me tendrán por dichosa todas las generaciones.

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 ha hecho por mí grandes cosas el Poderoso; Santo es su nombre.

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

50 Y su misericordia alcanza de generación en generación a 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 realizado grandes proezas con su brazo; Desbarató a los arrogantes en el pensamiento del corazón de ellos.

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 A batió de sus solios a los potentados, Y exaltó a los de humilde condición;

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

53 C olmó de bienes a los hambrientos, Y a los ricos los despidió con las manos vacías.

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

54 V ino en ayuda de Israel su siervo, Para recuerdo de misericordia,

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

55 T al como habló con nuestros padres, A favor de Abraham y de su descendencia para siempre.

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

56 P ermaneció María con ella unos tres meses, y regresó a su casa. Nacimiento de Juan el Bautista

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

57 S e le cumplió a Elisabet el tiempo de dar a luz, y dio a luz un hijo.

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

58 O yeron sus vecinos y sus parientes que el Señor había mostrado gran misericordia hacia ella, y se regocijaban juntamente con ella.

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

59 S ucedió que al octavo día vinieron a circuncidar al niño, y le 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 su madre, tomando la palabra, dijo: No, sino que se ha de llamar Juan.

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

61 Y le dijeron: No hay nadie de tu parentela que se llame así.

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

62 Y le preguntaban por señas a su padre cómo desearía que se le llamase.

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

63 E ntonces él pidió una tablilla y escribió lo siguiente: Juan es su nombre. Y todos se asombraron.

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 la boca y desatada la lengua, y comenzó a hablar bendiciendo 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 en derredor suyo; y en toda la zona montañosa de Judea se comentaban todas estas cosas.

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 grababan en su corazón, diciendo: ¿Qué, pues, va a ser este niño? Porque ciertamente la mano del Señor 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 Zacarías su padre 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 el Señor Dios de Israel, Porque 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 ha suscitado una fuerza de salvación en favor nuestro, En 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 habló desde antiguo Por boca de sus santos profetas,

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

71 Q ue nos salvaría de nuestros enemigos, Y de las manos de todos los que nos odian;

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 su misericordia para con nuestros padres, Y 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 Abraham nuestro padre:

That covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather Abraham:

74 C oncedernos que, liberados de las manos 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 de vida y rectitud de conducta ante sus ojos, 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 ante la faz 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 conocimiento de 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 medio de las entrañas de misericordia de nuestro Dios, Por las cuales nos visitó un amanecer del sol 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 que brille su luz sobre los que están sentados en tinieblas y en sombra de muerte, Para guiar nuestros pies hacia un 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 vivía en lugares desiertos hasta el día de su aparición pública ante 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.