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

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

2 e ven as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants 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 traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, 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 might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

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 priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife 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 T hey were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

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 both were well advanced in years.

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

8 N ow while he executed the priest’s office 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 priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

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

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

11 A n 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 Z acharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

When he saw the angel, Zacharias was troubled and afraid.

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.

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 Y ou 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 he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will 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 H e 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 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.”

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 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 can I know this for sure? I am old and my wife is old also.”

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 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 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.”

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

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

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.

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 W hen the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his 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 A fter these days Elizabeth, his wife, 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 has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

“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 from 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 pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. 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 H aving come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you 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 greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

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

30 T he angel said to her, “Don’t 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 B ehold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will 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 Most High. 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. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

He will be King over the family of Jacob forever and His nation 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 will this happen? I have never had a man.”

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 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 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.

“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 nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

For God can do all things.”

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.

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

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

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

She went to the house of Zacharias to see 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 speak, the baby moved in her body. At the same time 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!

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

43 W hy am I so favored, 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 behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby 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 the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

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

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

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

47 M y 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 looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, 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. Holy is his name.

He Who is powerful has done great things for me. His name is holy.

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

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 princes from their thrones. And has 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. He has sent the rich 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 given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember 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 his offspring forever.”

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

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

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

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

When the time came, Elizabeth 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 family heard how the Lord had shown loving-kindness to her. They were happy for 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.

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, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

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

61 T hey 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 T hey 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 H e asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” 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 H is mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.

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

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 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.

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 H is 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 be the Lord, the 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 ( as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

His holy early preachers told us this long ago.

71 s alvation 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 show mercy towards our fathers, 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 spoke to Abraham, our father,

God promised this to our early father Abraham.

74 t o grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should 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 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, 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 b ecause of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit 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 shine on 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 T he child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance 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.