1 S ince many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,

2 e ven as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,

just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,

3 i t seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;

it 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;

4 t hat you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

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

In 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.

6 T hey were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

They were both 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 both were well advanced in years.

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

8 N ow while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division,

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

9 a ccording to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

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

10 T he whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

11 A n angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

12 Z acharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.

13 B ut the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

But 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.

14 Y ou will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.

You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15 F or he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

For 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.

16 H e will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.

And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.

17 H e will 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 prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

It 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.”

18 Z acharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain ? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”

19 T he angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.

The 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.

20 B ehold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

And 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.”

21 T he people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

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

22 W hen he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

But 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.

23 W hen the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

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

24 A fter these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

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

25 “ Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

“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

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

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,

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

to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 H aving come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”

And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

29 B ut when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

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

30 T he angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

The angel said to her, “ Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

31 B ehold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

32 H e will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,

He 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;

33 a nd he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

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

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

35 T he angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

The 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.

36 B ehold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

And 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.

37 F or nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

38 M ary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her.

And 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

39 M ary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

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

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

and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

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

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

42 S he called 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 voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43 W hy am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?

44 F or behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

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

45 B lessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” The Magnificat

46 M ary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

And Mary said: “ My soul exalts the Lord,

47 M y spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48 f or he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

49 F or he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

“For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.

50 H is mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

54 H e has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

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

55 A s he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”

As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

56 M ary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

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

57 N ow the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

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

58 H er neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.

Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

59 O n the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.

And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father.

60 H is mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.”

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

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

62 T hey made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.

63 H e asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” They all marveled.

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

64 H is mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.

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

65 F ear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.

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

66 A ll who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.

All 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

67 H is father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

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

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

“ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,

69 a nd has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant—

70 ( as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—

71 s alvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;

Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us;

72 t o show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,

To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant,

73 t he oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,

The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

74 t o grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

To grant us that we, being rescued from 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 our days.

76 A nd you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;

77 t o give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,

78 b ecause of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,

Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,

79 t o shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 T he child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

And 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.