Luke 1:2-32

New International Version

² just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first^(A) were eyewitnesses^(B) and servants of the word.^{(C) 3} With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account^(D) for you, most excellent^(E) Theophilus,^{(F) 4} so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.^(G)

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea^(H) there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah;^(I) his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.^{(J) 7} But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,^{(K) 9} he was chosen by lot,^(L) according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.^{(M) 10} And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.^(N)

¹¹ Then an angel^(O) of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.^{(P) 12} When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.^{(Q) 13} But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid,^(R) Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.^{(S) 14} He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,^{(T) 15} for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,^(U) and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit^(V) even before he is born.^{(W) 16} He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord,^(X) in the spirit and power of Elijah,^(Y) to turn the hearts of the parents to their children^(Z) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”^(AA)

¹⁸ Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this?^(AB) I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”^(AC)

¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel.^(AD) I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be silent and not able to speak^(AE) until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. ²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs^(AF) to them but remained unable to speak.

²³ When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ²⁴ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace^(AG) among the people.”

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel^(AH) to Nazareth,^(AI) a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph,^(AJ) a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,^(AK) Mary; you have found favor with God.^{(AL) 31} You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.^{(AM) 32} He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.^(AN) The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,^(AO)