Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

even as they were delivered unto us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word,

it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly course of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

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

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

And it came to pass that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense.

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

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

But the angel said unto him, “Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

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

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

And he shall 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 make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

And Zacharias said unto the angel, “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.”

And the angel answering said unto him, “I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee these glad tidings.

And behold, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.”

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple.

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he beckoned unto them and remained speechless.

And it came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

“Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”

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

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

And the angel came in unto her and said, “Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.”

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast about in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

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

And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus.

He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David,

and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.”

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

And the angel answered and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that Holy Being who shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth: she hath also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

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

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

and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.

And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

And she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And why is it granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

And Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord,

and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is His name.

And His mercy is on them that fear Him, from generation to generation.

He hath shown strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.

He hath helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,

as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.”

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

Now Elizabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son.

And her neighbors and her kindred heard how the Lord had shown great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.

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

But his mother answered and said, “Not so, but he shall be called John.”

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

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

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

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke and praised God.

And fear came on all who dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.

And all those who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What manner of child shall this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and redeemed His people,

and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David.

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began,

that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us,

to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

the oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

that He would grant unto us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins,

through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us,

to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

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

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

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

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;

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

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:

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

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

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.

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.

For no word from God shall be void of power.

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

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

and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.

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;

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.

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

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

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

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 his father.

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

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

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

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

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

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father,

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

In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

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;

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

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

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

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

Since [as is well known] many have undertaken to compile an orderly account of the things which have been fulfilled among us [by God],

exactly as they were handed down to us by those [with personal experience] who from the beginning [of Christ’s ministry] were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word [that is, of the teaching concerning salvation through faith in Christ],

it seemed fitting for me as well, [and so I have decided] after having carefully searched out and investigated all the events accurately, from the very beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus;

so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught [that is, the history and doctrine of the faith].

In the days of Herod [the Great], king of Judea, there was a certain priest whose name was Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron [the first high priest of Israel], and her name was Elizabeth.

They both were righteous (approved) in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years.

Now it happened while Zacharias was serving as priest before God in the appointed order of his priestly division,

as was the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter [the sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense [on the altar of incense].

And all the congregation was praying outside [in the court of the temple] at the hour of the incense offering.

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

When Zacharias saw the angel, he was troubled and overcome with fear.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your petition [in prayer] was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

You will have great joy and delight, and many will rejoice over his birth,

for he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord; and will never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with and empowered to act by the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.

He will turn many of the sons of Israel back [from sin] to [love and serve] the Lord their God.

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 [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I be certain of this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in age.”

The angel replied and said to him, “I am Gabriel; I stand and minister in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent [by Him] to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

Listen carefully, you will be continually silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe what I told you; but my words will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

The people [outside in the court] were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering about his long delay in the temple.

But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.

When his time of priestly service was finished, he returned to his home.

Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself completely, saying,

“This is how the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor on me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,

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

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

But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was.

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

Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

He will be great and eminent and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;

and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?”

Then the angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a cloud]; for that reason the holy (pure, sinless) Child shall be called the Son of God.

And listen, 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.

For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.”

Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.

Now at this time Mary arose and hurried to the hill country, to a city of Judah (Judea),

and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

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

And she exclaimed loudly, “Blessed [worthy to be praised] are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

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

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

And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favored by God] is she who believed and confidently trusted that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her [by the angel sent] from the Lord.”

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies and exalts the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

“For He has looked [with loving care] on the humble state of His maidservant; For behold, from now on all generations will count me blessed and happy and favored by God!

“For He who is mighty has done great things for me; And holy is His name [to be worshiped in His purity, majesty, and glory].

“And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who [stand in great awe of God and] fear Him.

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

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

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

“He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,

Just as He promised to our fathers, To Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

And Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then returned to her home.

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

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

It happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child [as required by the Law], and they intended to name him Zacharias, after his father;

but his mother answered, “No indeed; instead he will be called John.”

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

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

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

At once Zacharias’ mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking, praising and blessing and thanking God.

Then fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.

All who heard these things kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this little boy turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him [to bring about his birth].

Now Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him, and he prophesied, saying,

“Blessed (praised, glorified) be the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He has visited us and brought redemption to His people,

And He has raised up a horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Savior] for us In the house of David His servant—

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

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

To show mercy [as He promised] to our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant [the promised blessing],

The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,

In holiness [being set apart] and righteousness [being upright] before Him all our days.

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

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

Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise (the Messiah) from on high will dawn and visit us,

To shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet [in a straight line] into the way of peace and serenity.”

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 [as John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah].

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,

Exactly as they were handed down to us by those who from the [official] beginning [of Jesus’ ministry] were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word [that is, of the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God],

It seemed good and desirable to me, [and so I have determined] 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,

[My purpose is] 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.

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.

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

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

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

As was the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter [the sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

And all the throng of people were praying outside [in the court] at the hour of incense [burning].

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

And when Zachariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear took possession of him.

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 [God is favorable].

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

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.

And he will turn back and cause to return many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,

And he will [himself] 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 [which is the knowledge and holy love of the will of God]—in order to make ready for the Lord a people [perfectly] prepared [in spirit, adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral state].

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.

And the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good news.

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.

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

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.

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

Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself entirely, saying, [I have hid myself]

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.

Now in the sixth month [after that], the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth,

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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,

And He will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages; and of His reign there will be no end.

And Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no [intimacy with any man as a] husband?

Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a shining cloud]; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God.

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.

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.

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.

And at that time Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country to a town of Judah,

And she went to the house of Zachariah and, entering it, saluted Elizabeth.

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.

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!

And how [have I deserved that this honor should] be granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

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

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.

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

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

For He has looked upon the low station and humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations [of all ages] will call me blessed and declare me happy and to be envied!

For He Who is almighty has done great things for me—and holy is His name [to be venerated in His purity, majesty and glory]!

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.

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.

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

He has filled and satisfied the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty-handed [without a gift].

He has laid hold on His servant Israel [to help him, to espouse his cause], in remembrance of His mercy,

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

And Mary remained with her [Elizabeth] for about three months and [then] returned to her [own] home.

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

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

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,

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

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

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

Then Zachariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, His name is John. And they were all astonished.

And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing and praising and thanking God.

And awe and reverential fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.

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 [protecting and aiding him].

Now Zachariah his father was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

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!

And He has raised up a Horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Helper, the Author of salvation] for us in the house of David His servant—

This is as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times [in the memory of man]—

That we should have deliverance and be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who detest and pursue us with hatred;

To make true and show the mercy and compassion and kindness [promised] to our forefathers and to remember and carry out His holy covenant [to bless, which is all the more sacred because it is made by God Himself],

That covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather Abraham:

To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our foes, might serve Him fearlessly

In holiness (divine consecration) and righteousness [in accordance with the everlasting principles of right] within His presence all the days of our lives.

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,

To bring and give the knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins.

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 [us]

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.

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 [the commencement of his public ministry].

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

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

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

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

And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

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

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

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

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

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

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

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

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

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

And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

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

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

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

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

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

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

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

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

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

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

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

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

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

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

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

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

For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

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

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

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

Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

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

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

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

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

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

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

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

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

And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

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

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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

Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us,

just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us.

So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus,

so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.

But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.

When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.

At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.

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

When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.

He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

“How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

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

Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.

When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless.

When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said,

“The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”

But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.

Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

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.

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

Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”

The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless.

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

“See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah

where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

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

Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!

How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me.

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”

And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,

because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy.

His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.

He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts;

he has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy

to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he spoke to our ancestors.

And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

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

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

When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.

But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.”

Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.”

So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called.

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea.

All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people.

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times;

salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us.

He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant—

the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant that we,

having been rescued from the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear

in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.

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

to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us

to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The child grew up and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Many people have already applied themselves to the task of compiling an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us.

They used what the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed down to us.

Now, after having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, I have also decided to write a carefully ordered account for you, most honorable Theophilus.

I want you to have confidence in the soundness of the instruction you have received.

During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.

They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations.

They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old.

One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God because his priestly division was on duty.

Following the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense.

All the people who gathered to worship were praying outside during this hour of incense offering.

An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John.

He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth,

for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth.

He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God.

He will go forth before the Lord, equipped with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old.”

The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring this good news to you.

Know this: What I have spoken will come true at the proper time. But because you didn’t believe, you will remain silent, unable to speak until the day when these things happen.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered why he was in the sanctuary for such a long time.

When he came out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he gestured to them and couldn’t speak.

When he completed the days of his priestly service, he returned home.

Afterward, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She kept to herself for five months, saying,

“This is the Lord’s doing. He has shown his favor to me by removing my disgrace among other people.”

When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee,

to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.

When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!”

She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you.

Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father.

He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son.

Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant.

Nothing is impossible for God.”

Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands.

She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

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

With a loud voice she blurted out, “God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry.

Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.

Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.”

Mary said, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord!

In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.

He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored

because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God.

He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.

He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.

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

He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,

just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.

When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a boy.

Her neighbors and relatives celebrated with her because they had heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy.

On the eighth day, it came time to circumcise the child. They wanted to name him Zechariah because that was his father’s name.

But his mother replied, “No, his name will be John.”

They said to her, “None of your relatives have that name.”

Then they began gesturing to his father to see what he wanted to call him.

After asking for a tablet, he surprised everyone by writing, “His name is John.”

At that moment, Zechariah was able to speak again, and he began praising God.

All their neighbors were filled with awe, and everyone throughout the Judean highlands talked about what had happened.

All who heard about this considered it carefully. They said, “What then will this child be?” Indeed, the Lord’s power was with him.

John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,

“Bless the Lord God of Israel because he has come to help and has delivered his people.

He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house,

just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago.

He has brought salvation from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us.

He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and remembered his holy covenant,

the solemn pledge he made to our ancestor Abraham. He has granted

that we would be rescued from the power of our enemies so that we could serve him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness in God’s eyes, for as long as we live.

You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.

You will tell his people how to be saved through the forgiveness of their sins.

Because of our God’s deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us,

to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace.”

The child grew up, becoming strong in character. He was in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.

Dear Theophilos: Concerning the matters that have taken place among us, many people have undertaken to draw up accounts

based on what was handed down to us by those who from the start were eyewitnesses and proclaimers of the message.

Therefore, Your Excellency, since I have carefully investigated all these things from the beginning, it seemed good to me that I too should write you an accurate and ordered narrative,

so that you might know how well-founded are the things about which you have been taught.

In the days of Herod, King of Y’hudah, there was a cohen named Z’kharyah who belonged to the Aviyah division. His wife was a descendant of Aharon, and her name was Elisheva.

Both of them were righteous before God, observing all the mitzvot and ordinances of Adonai blamelessly.

But they had no children, because Elisheva was barren; and they were both well along in years.

One time, when Z’kharyah was fulfilling his duties as cohen during his division’s period of service before God,

he was chosen by lot (according to the custom among the cohanim) to enter the Temple and burn incense.

All the people were outside, praying, at the time of the incense burning,

when there appeared to him an angel of Adonai standing to the right of the incense altar.

Z’kharyah was startled and terrified at the sight.

But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Z’kharyah; because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elisheva will bear you a son, and you are to name him Yochanan.

He will be a joy and a delight to you, and many people will rejoice when he is born,

for he will be great in the sight of Adonai. He is never to drink wine or other liquor, and he will be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh even from his mother’s womb.

He will turn many of the people of Isra’el to Adonai their God.

He will go out ahead of Adonai in the spirit and power of Eliyahu to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for Adonai a people prepared.”

Z’kharyah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man; my wife too is well on in years.”

“I am Gavri’el,” the angel answered him, “and I stand in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to give you this good news.

Now, because you didn’t believe what I said, which will be fulfilled when the time comes, you will be silent, unable to speak until the day these things take place.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Z’kharyah; they were surprised at his taking so long in the Temple.

But when he came out unable to talk to them, they realized that he had seen a vision in the Temple; speechless, he communicated to them with signs.

When his period of his Temple service was over, he returned home.

Following this, Elisheva his wife conceived, and she remained five months in seclusion, saying,

“Adonai has done this for me; he has shown me favor at this time, so as to remove my public disgrace.”

In the sixth month, the angel Gavri’el was sent by God to a city in the Galil called Natzeret,

to a virgin engaged to a man named Yosef, of the house of David; the virgin’s name was Miryam.

Approaching her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored lady! Adonai is with you!”

She was deeply troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Miryam, for you have found favor with God.

Look! You will become pregnant, you will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua.

He will be great, he will be called Son of Ha‘Elyon. Adonai, God, will give him the throne of his forefather David;

and he will rule the House of Ya‘akov forever — there will be no end to his Kingdom.”

“How can this be,” asked Miryam of the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered her, “The Ruach HaKodesh will come over you, the power of Ha‘Elyon will cover you. Therefore the holy child born to you will be called the Son of God.

“You have a relative, Elisheva, who is an old woman; and everyone says she is barren. But she has conceived a son and is six months pregnant!

For with God, nothing is impossible.”

Miryam said, “I am the servant of Adonai; may it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Without delay, Miryam set out and hurried to the town in the hill country of Y’hudah

where Z’kharyah lived, entered his house and greeted Elisheva.

When Elisheva heard Miryam’s greeting, the baby in her womb stirred. Elisheva was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh

and spoke up in a loud voice, “How blessed are you among women! And how blessed is the child in your womb!

“But who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy!

Indeed you are blessed, because you have trusted that the promise Adonai has made to you will be fulfilled.”

Then Miryam said, “My soul magnifies Adonai;

and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,

who has taken notice of his servant-girl in her humble position. For — imagine it! — from now on, all generations will call me blessed!

“The Mighty One has done great things for me! Indeed, his name is holy;

and in every generation he has mercy on those who fear him.

“He has performed mighty deeds with his arm, routed the secretly proud,

brought down rulers from their thrones, raised up the humble,

filled the hungry with good things, but sent the rich away empty.

“He has taken the part of his servant Isra’el, mindful of the mercy

which he promised to our fathers, to Avraham and his seed forever.”

Miryam stayed with Elisheva for about three months and then returned home.

The time arrived for Elisheva to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son.

Her neighbors and relatives heard how good Adonai had been to her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day, they came to do the child’s b’rit-milah. They were about to name him Z’kharyah, after his father,

when his mother spoke up and said, “No, he is to be called Yochanan.”

They said to her, “None of your relatives has that name,”

and they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called.

He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is Yochanan.”

At that moment, his power of speech returned, and his first words were a b’rakhah to God.

All their neighbors were awestruck; and throughout the hill country of Y’hudah, people talked about all these things.

Everyone who heard of them said to himself, “What is this child going to be?” For clearly the hand of Adonai was with him.

His father Z’kharyah was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and spoke this prophecy:

“Praised be Adonai, the God of Isra’el, because he has visited and made a ransom to liberate his people

by raising up for us a mighty Deliverer who is a descendant of his servant David.

It is just as he has spoken through the mouth of the prophets from the very beginning —

that we should be delivered from our enemies and from the power of all who hate us.

“This has happened so that he might show the mercy promised to our fathers — that he would remember his holy covenant,

the oath he swore before Avraham avinu

to grant us that we, freed from our enemies, would serve him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

You, child, will be called a prophet of Ha‘Elyon; you will go before the Lord to prepare his way

by spreading the knowledge among his people that deliverance comes by having sins forgiven

through our God’s most tender mercy, which causes the Sunrise to visit us from Heaven,

to shine on those in darkness, living in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the paths of peace.”

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilderness until the time came for him to appear in public to Isra’el.

Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us.

They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened.

So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus,

I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard.

When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest by the name of Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron.

Both of them were good people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that he had commanded.

But they did not have children. Elizabeth could not have any, and both Zechariah and Elizabeth were already old.

One day Zechariah's group of priests were on duty, and he was serving God as a priest.

According to the custom of the priests, he had been chosen to go into the Lord's temple that day and to burn incense,

while the people stood outside praying.

All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar.

Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel.

But the angel told him: Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John.

His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad.

Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.

John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God.

He will go ahead of the Lord with the same power and spirit that Elijah had. And because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. And people who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. This is how John will get people ready for the Lord.

Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.”

The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, God's servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news.

You have not believed what I have said. So you will not be able to say a thing until all this happens. But everything will take place when it is supposed to.”

The crowd was waiting for Zechariah and kept wondering why he was staying in the temple so long.

When he did come out, he could not speak, and they knew he had seen a vision. He motioned to them with his hands, but did not say a thing.

When Zechariah's time of service in the temple was over, he went home.

Soon after this, his wife was expecting a baby, and for five months she did not leave the house. She said to herself,

“What the Lord has done for me will keep people from looking down on me.”

One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee

with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David.

The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was confused by the angel's words and wondered what they meant.

Then the angel told Mary, “Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you,

and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was.

He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not even married!”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God's power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God.

Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son.

Nothing is impossible for God!”

Mary said, “I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.

A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea.

She went into Zechariah's home, where she greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby moved within her. The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth.

Then in a loud voice she said to Mary: God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have.

Why should the mother of my Lord come to me?

As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me.

The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.

Mary said: With all my heart I praise the Lord,

and I am glad because of God my Savior.

God cares for me, his humble servant. From now on, all people will say God has blessed me.

God All-Powerful has done great things for me, and his name is holy.

He always shows mercy to everyone who worships him.

The Lord has used his powerful arm to scatter those who are proud.

God drags strong rulers from their thrones and puts humble people in places of power.

God gives the hungry good things to eat, and sends the rich away with nothing.

God helps his servant Israel and is always merciful to his people.

The Lord made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his family forever!

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home.

When Elizabeth's son was born,

her neighbors and relatives heard how kind the Lord had been to her, and they too were glad.

Eight days later they did for the child what the Law of Moses commands. They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.

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

The people argued, “No one in your family has ever been named John.”

So they motioned to Zechariah to find out what he wanted to name his son.

Zechariah asked for a writing tablet. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed.

At once, Zechariah started speaking and praising God.

All the neighbors were frightened because of what had happened, and everywhere in the hill country people kept talking about these things.

Everyone who heard about this wondered what this child would grow up to be. They knew the Lord was with him.

The Holy Spirit came upon Zechariah, and he began to speak:

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to save his people.

Our God has given us a mighty Savior from the family of David his servant.

Long ago the Lord promised by the words of his holy prophets

to save us from our enemies and from everyone who hates us.

God said he would be kind to our people and keep his sacred promise.

He told our ancestor Abraham

that he would rescue us from our enemies. Then we could serve him without fear,

by being holy and good as long as we live.

You, my son, will be called the prophet of God Most High. You will go ahead of the Lord to get everything ready for him.

You will tell his people that they can be saved when their sins are forgiven.

God's love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky.

On us who live in the dark shadow of death this light will shine to guide us into a life of peace.

As John grew up, God's Spirit gave him great power. John lived in the desert until the time he was sent to the people of Israel.

Forasmuch as many have undertaken to draw up a relation concerning the matters fully believed among us,

as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses of and attendants on the Word have delivered them to us,

it has seemed good to *me* also, accurately acquainted from the origin with all things, to write to thee with method, most excellent Theophilus,

that thou mightest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been instructed.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the course of Abia, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

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

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

And it came to pass, as he fulfilled his priestly service before God in the order of his course,

it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.

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

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

And Zacharias was troubled, seeing [him], and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, because thy supplication has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

And he shall be to thee joy and rejoicing, and many shall rejoice at his birth.

For he shall be great before [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.

And many of the sons of Israel shall he turn to [the] Lord their God.

And *he* shall go before him in [the] spirit and power of Elias, to turn hearts of fathers to children, and disobedient ones to [the] thoughts of just [men], to make ready for [the] Lord a prepared people.

And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this, for *I* am an old man, and my wife advanced in years?

And the angel answering, said to him, *I* am Gabriel, who stand before God, and I have been sent to speak to thee, and to bring these glad tidings to thee;

and behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because thou hast not believed my words, the which shall be fulfilled in their time.

And the people were awaiting Zacharias, and they wondered at his delaying in the temple.

But when he came out he could not speak to them, and they recognised that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and continued dumb.

And it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, he departed to his house.

Now after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

Thus has [the] Lord done to me in [these] days in which he looked upon [me] to take away my reproach among men.

But in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent of God to a city of Galilee, of which [the] name [was] Nazareth,

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

And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, [thou] favoured one! the Lord [is] with thee: [blessed art *thou* amongst women].

But she, [seeing] [the angel], was troubled at his word, and reasoned in her mind what this salutation might be.

And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;

and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

*He* shall be great, and shall be called Son of [the] Highest; and [the] Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father;

and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for the ages, and of his kingdom there shall not be an end.

But Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?

And the angel answering said to her, [The] Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and power of [the] Highest overshadow thee, wherefore the holy thing also which shall be born shall be called Son of God.

And behold, Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her that was called barren:

for nothing shall be impossible with God.

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

And Mary, rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth.

And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with [the] Holy Spirit,

and cried out with a loud voice and said, Blessed [art] *thou* amongst women, and blessed the fruit of thy womb.

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

For behold, as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my womb.

And blessed [is] she that has believed, for there shall be a fulfilment of the things spoken to her from [the] Lord.

And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he has looked upon the low estate of his bondmaid; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For the Mighty One has done to me great things, and holy [is] his name;

and his mercy [is] to generations and generations to them that fear him.

He has wrought strength with his arm; he has scattered haughty [ones] in the thought of their heart.

He has put down rulers from thrones, and exalted the lowly.

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

He has helped Israel his servant, in order to remember mercy,

(as he spoke to our fathers,) to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

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

But the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth that she should bring forth, and she gave birth to a son.

And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that [the] Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her.

And it came to pass on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called it after the name of his father, Zacharias.

And his mother answering said, No; but he shall be called John.

And they said to her, There is no one among thy kinsfolk who is called by this name.

And they made signs to his father as to what he might wish it to be called.

And having asked for a writing-table, he wrote saying, John is his name. And they all wondered.

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

And fear came upon all who dwelt round about them; and in the whole hill-country of Judaea all these things were the subject of conversation.

And all who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? And [the] Lord's hand was with him.

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

Blessed be [the] Lord the God of Israel, because he has visited and wrought redemption for his people,

and raised up a horn of deliverance for us in the house of David his servant;

as he spoke by [the] mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began;

deliverance from our enemies and out of the hand of all who hate us;

to fulfil mercy with our fathers and remember his holy covenant,

[the] oath which he swore to Abraham our father,

to give us, that, saved out of the hand of our enemies, we should serve him without fear

in piety and righteousness before him all our days.

And *thou*, child, shalt be called [the] prophet of [the] Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of [the] Lord to make ready his ways;

to give knowledge of deliverance to his people by [the] remission of their sins

on account of [the] bowels of mercy of our God; wherein [the] dayspring from on high has visited us,

to shine upon them who were sitting in darkness and in [the] shadow of death, to guide our feet into [the] way of peace.

—And the child grew and was strengthened in spirit; and he was in the deserts until the day of his shewing to Israel.

In-as-much-as many undertook to compile a narrative about the things having been fulfilled among us,

just as the eyewitnesses from the first and ones having become servants of the word handed-down to us,

it seemed good to me also, having closely-followed everything carefully from-the-beginning, to write it for you in-order, most-excellent Theophilus,

in order that you may fully-know the certainty of the things about which you were instructed.

In the days of Herod, king of Judea: There was a certain priest— Zechariah by name, from the division of Abijah— and a wife for him from the daughters of Aaron. And her name was Elizabeth.

And they were both righteous ones in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord as blameless ones.

And there was not a child for them, because Elizabeth was barren. And they were both advanced in their days.

And it came about during his serving-as-priest before God in the order of his division,

that according to the custom of the priestly-office, he obtained-by-lot that he might offer-incense, [after] having entered into the temple of the Lord.

And the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the offering of incense.

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

And having seen him, Zechariah was frightened, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be fearing, Zechariah, because your prayer was heard. And your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

And there will be joy and gladness for you. And many will rejoice over his birth.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will never drink wine and fermented-drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still of  his mother’s womb,

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

And he will go-ahead before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn-back the hearts of fathers to their children, and to turn back disobedient ones with the understanding of righteous ones, to prepare a people having been made-ready for the Lord”.

And Zechariah said to the angel, “Based-on what shall I know this? For I am an old-man, and my wife is advanced in her days”.

And having responded, the angel said to him, “I am Gabriel, the one standing in the presence of God. And I was sent forth to speak to you, and to announce these things as-good-news to you.

And behold— you shall be silent and not able to speak until which day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper-time”.

And the people were waiting for Zechariah. And they were wondering during his delaying in the temple.

And having come out, he was not able to speak to them. And they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was motioning to them and continuing to be mute.

And it came about that when the days of his service were fulfilled, he went to his house.

And after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived. And she was concealing herself for five months, saying

that “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days in which He looked-upon me to take-away my reproach among people”.

Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent-forth from God to a city of Galilee for which the name was Nazareth,

to a virgin having been promised-in-marriage to a man for whom the name was Joseph, from the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Mary.

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

But the one was very-troubled at the statement, and was pondering what-kind-of greeting this might be.

And the angel said to her, “Do not be fearing, Mary. For you found favor with God.

And behold— you will conceive in your womb and give-birth to a son. And you shall call His name Jesus.

This One will be great, and will be called ‘Son of the Most-High’. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of David, His father.

And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And there will not be an end of His kingdom”.

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen, since I am not knowing a man?”

And having responded, the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most-High will overshadow you. For this reason also the Holy Child being born will be called God’s Son.

And behold— Elizabeth your relative also herself has conceived a son in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her, the one being called barren,

because no word from God will be impossible”.

And Mary said, “Behold the slave of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word”. And the angel departed from her.

And having arisen during these days, Mary proceeded to the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

and entered into the house of Zechariah, and greeted Elizabeth.

And it came about that when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

and exclaimed with a loud shout and said, “You are blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And why has this happened to me— that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For behold— when the sound of your greeting came-to-be in my ears, the baby leaped with gladness in my womb.

And blessed is she having believed that there will be a fulfillment to the things having been spoken to her from the Lord”.

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoiced-greatly over God my Savior.

Because He looked-upon the lowliness of His slave, for behold— from now on, all generations will consider me blessed,

because the Powerful One did great things for me. And His name is holy.

And His mercy to generations and generations is on the ones fearing Him.

He did a mighty-deed with His arm. He scattered ones proud in the thought of their heart.

He brought-down rulers from their thrones, and lifted-up lowly ones.

He filled ones being hungry with good things, and sent ones being rich away empty.

He helped Israel His servant so that He might remember mercy,

just as He spoke to our fathers— to Abraham, and to his seed forever”.

And Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her house.

Now for Elizabeth, the time was fulfilled that she might give-birth, and she bore a son.

And the neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord magnified His mercy with her, and they were rejoicing-with her.

And it came about that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they were calling him Zechariah, on the basis of the name of his father.

And having responded, his mother said, “No! Instead he will be called John”.

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

And they were motioning to his father as to what he would wish him to be called.

And having asked-for a tablet, he wrote, saying “John is his name”. And they all marveled.

And at-once his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed. And he was speaking, blessing God.

And awe came over all the ones living around them. And all these things were being talked-over in the whole hill country of Judea.

And all the ones having heard it put these matters in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” For indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

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

and raised-up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant

( just as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from the past age),

a salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all the ones hating us,

so as to show mercy to our fathers and remember His holy covenant

( the oath which He swore to Abraham our father)— that He might grant to us that

having been delivered from the hand of our enemies, we might be serving Him fearlessly

in holiness and righteousness before Him for all our days.

And indeed you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most-High. For you will go before the Lord so as to prepare His ways,

that you might give His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins

because of the deep-feelings-of mercy of our God, with which the rising Sun from on-high will visit us

so as to shine-upon the ones sitting in darkness and a shadow of death, that He might direct our feet into the way of peace”.

And the child was growing and becoming-strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate places until the day of his public-appearance to Israel.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us;

According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:

It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.

And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,

According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.

And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense.

And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:

And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.

For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.

And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.

And the angel answering, said to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.

And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.

And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple.

And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb.

And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying:

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,

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

And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.

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

Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

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 David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.

And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:

Because no word shall be impossible with God.

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

And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.

And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.

And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

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

For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.

And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:

As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.

Now Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.

And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her.

And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father's name Zachary.

And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.

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

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

And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.

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

And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.

And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:

And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:

As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning:

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

To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,

The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,

That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,

In holiness and justice before him, all our days.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:

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

Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:

To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.

And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Most Honorable Theophilus: Many others have tried to give a report of the things that happened among us to complete God’s plan.

What they have written agrees with what we learned from the people who saw those events from the beginning. They also served God by telling people his message.

I studied it all carefully from the beginning. Then I decided to write it down for you in an organized way.

I did this so that you can be sure that what you have been taught is true.

During the time when Herod ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah. He belonged to Abijah’s group. His wife came from the family of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were both good people who pleased God. They did everything the Lord commanded, always following his instructions completely.

But they had no children. Elizabeth could not have a baby, and both of them were very old.

Zechariah was serving as a priest before God for his group. It was his group’s time to serve.

The priests always chose one priest to offer the incense, and Zechariah was the one chosen this time. So he went into the Temple of the Lord to offer the incense.

There was a large crowd outside praying at the time the incense was offered.

Then, on the right side of the incense table, an angel of the Lord came and stood before Zechariah.

When he saw the angel, Zechariah was upset and very afraid.

But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. Your prayer has been heard by God. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a baby boy, and you will name him John.

You will be very happy, and many others will share your joy over his birth.

He will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer. Even before he is born, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

“John will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God.

John himself will go ahead of the Lord and make people ready for his coming. He will be powerful like Elijah and will have the same spirit. He will make peace between fathers and their children. He will cause people who are not obeying God to change and start thinking the way they should.”

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that what you say is true? I am an old man, and my wife is also old.”

The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, the one who always stands ready before God. He sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news.

Now, listen! You will not be able to talk until the day when these things happen. You will lose your speech because you did not believe what I told you. But everything I said will really happen.”

Outside, the people were still waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was staying so long in the Temple.

Then Zechariah came outside, but he could not speak to them. So the people knew that he had seen a vision inside the Temple. He was not able to speak, so he could only make signs to the people.

When his time of service was finished, he went home.

Later, Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth became pregnant. So she did not go out of her house for five months. She said,

“Look what the Lord has done for me! He decided to help me. Now people will stop thinking there is something wrong with me.”

During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin girl who lived in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, “Greetings! The Lord is with you; you are very special to him.”

But Mary was very confused about what the angel said. She wondered, “What does this mean?”

The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, because God is very pleased with you.

Listen! You will become pregnant and have a baby boy. You will name him Jesus.

He will be great. People will call him the Son of the Most High God, and the Lord God will make him king like his ancestor David.

He will rule over the people of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen? I am still a virgin.”

The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High God will cover you. The baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God.

And here’s something else: Your relative Elizabeth is pregnant. She is very old, but she is going to have a son. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant now for six months.

God can do anything!”

Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let this thing you have said happen to me!” Then the angel went away.

Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the hill country of Judea.

She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby inside her jumped, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

In a loud voice she said to Mary, “God has blessed you more than any other woman. And God has blessed the baby you will have.

You are the mother of my Lord, and you have come to me! Why has something so good happened to me?

When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy.

Great blessings are yours because you believed what the Lord said to you! You believed this would happen.”

Then Mary said, “I praise the Lord with all my heart.

I am very happy because God is my Savior.

I am not important, but he has shown his care for me, his lowly servant. From now until the end of time, people will remember how much God blessed me.

Yes, the Powerful One has done great things for me. His name is very holy.

He always gives mercy to those who worship him.

He reached out his arm and showed his power. He scattered those who are proud and think great things about themselves.

He brought down rulers from their thrones and raised up the humble people.

He filled the hungry with good things, but he sent the rich away with nothing.

God has helped Israel—the people he chose to serve him. He did not forget his promise to give us his mercy.

He has done what he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then went home.

When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a boy.

Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord was very good to her, and they were happy for her.

When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him. They wanted to name him Zechariah because this was his father’s name.

But his mother said, “No, he will be named John.”

The people said to Elizabeth, “But no one in your family has that name.”

Then they made signs to his father, “What would you like to name him?”

Zechariah asked for something to write on. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was surprised.

Then Zechariah could talk again, and he began praising God.

And all their neighbors were afraid. In all the hill country of Judea, people continued talking about these things.

Everyone who heard about these things wondered about them. They thought, “What will this child be?” They could see that the Lord was with him.

Then Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and told the people a message from God:

“Praise to the Lord God of Israel. He has come to help his people and has given them freedom.

He has given us a powerful Savior from the family of his servant David.

This is what he promised through his holy prophets long ago.

He will save us from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us.

God said he would show mercy to our fathers, and he remembered his holy agreement.

This was the promise he made to our father Abraham,

a promise to free us from the power of our enemies, so that we could serve him without fear

in a way that is holy and right for as long as we live.

“Now you, little boy, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go first before the Lord to prepare the way for him.

You will make his people understand that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven.

“With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will shine on us.

It will bring light to those who live in darkness, in the fear of death. It will guide us into the way that brings peace.”

And so the little boy John grew up and became stronger in spirit. Then he lived in areas away from other people until the time when he came out to tell God’s message to the people of Israel.

Many people have written about the things that have happened in our country.

Some people were present when these things started to happen. They saw everything that happened and they told us about it. They are the people who wrote down the Good News for us.

I have checked the facts about what really happened. So now, I know about all the things that happened from the beginning. I am writing to make the facts clear to you, my important friend Theophilus.

People have already taught you about these things. Now you can be sure that they are true.

There was a man whose name was Zechariah. He lived when Herod was king of Judea. Zechariah was a priest and he belonged to a group of priests from the family of Abijah. He had a wife called Elizabeth. She also was from the family of the priest called Aaron.

Zechariah and Elizabeth obeyed God's commands and rules. God saw that they were righteous people. They did not do wrong things.

But they had no children. Elizabeth could not give birth and they were both getting old.

One day, Zechariah's group of priests was working at the temple. He had a special job to do there.

The priests chose one of their group to go into the holy place in the temple. This time they chose Zechariah. His job was to burn incense there.

While Zechariah was burning incense in the special room, many men were outside in the yard. They were praying to God.

The incense was burning on a special altar, when one of God's angels appeared to Zechariah. The angel was standing at the right hand side of the altar.

When Zechariah saw the angel, he was very surprised and very afraid.

The angel said to him, ‘Zechariah, do not be afraid. God has heard what you prayed. He will give you what you asked for. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a baby boy. You will give him the name “John”.

He will be very important to the Lord God. So he will make you very happy. Many other people will also be very happy because he has been born. He must never drink anything with alcohol in it. From the time that he is born, the Holy Spirit will live inside him.

He will teach many people in Israel. Then they will turn their lives back to the Lord their God and they will obey God again.

John will prepare the people for the Lord to come to them. The Holy Spirit will lead John as he led Elijah. John will do powerful things as Elijah did. He will help fathers to love their children. He will teach people who do not obey God. Then they will know what things are right. And they will do them. Then they will be ready when the Lord comes.’

Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure about this? You know that I am an old man. My wife is also old.’

The angel answered, ‘I am called Gabriel. My place is to stand in front of God. I am always ready to work for God. He has sent me to speak to you. He told me that I should tell you this good news.

Now listen to me. Because you did not believe my message, you will not be able to speak. You will not speak again until the time that your son is born. My message will really become true at the right time.’

While this was happening, the people outside were waiting for Zechariah. They were thinking, ‘Why has Zechariah stayed for such a long time in the special room? Why has he not come out yet?’

When he did come out, he tried to talk to them. But he could not speak. So they knew that God had showed him something special in the room. He was moving his head and his hands about, to tell them what had happened. But still he could not speak.

When Zechariah had finished his work in the temple, he returned home.

Soon, a baby was growing inside his wife Elizabeth. She stayed in her house for five months.

‘The Lord has now given me a baby,’ she said. ‘He has been kind to me. Because of this, other people cannot say bad things about me now.’

When Elizabeth's baby had grown inside her for nearly six months, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth. Nazareth is a town in Galilee.

Gabriel went there to visit a young woman. Her name was Mary. She had never had sex with anyone. She had promised to marry a man called Joseph. He belonged to the family of King David.

Gabriel went to Mary and said, ‘Hello, Mary. The Lord God loves you very much. He is very near to you.’

Mary had a lot of problems in her mind about Gabriel's message. She did not understand what he meant.

Then Gabriel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary. God has been kind to you.

Listen! A baby boy will grow inside you. When he is born, you will call him Jesus.

He will be great. People will call him the Son of the powerful God who is over all. The Lord God will make him king. He will rule as his ancestor King David ruled.

He will rule over the family of Jacob for all time. He will be king for all time, without end.’

Mary asked, ‘How can this happen? I have never had sex with anyone.’

Gabriel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of God who is over all will cover you like a shadow. So your child will be special to God. He will be completely good. He will be called God's Son.

Another thing! Your cousin, Elizabeth, is very old. People said that she could not have a baby. Listen! She also will have a son. The baby has grown inside her now for nearly six months.

There is nothing that God cannot do.’

Mary answered, ‘I am the servant of the Lord. I have heard what you have said. I want it to happen to me just like that.’ Then the angel left her.

After that, Mary prepared herself to travel. She hurried to a town in the hills of Judea.

When she arrived at the home of Zechariah, she said ‘hello’ to Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary speak, she felt her baby move quickly inside her. The Holy Spirit filled her.

She spoke to Mary in a loud voice, ‘God has made you very happy. He has been good and kind to you more than to other women. He has also been good and kind to your baby.

You are the mother of my Lord and I am not an important person. So it is very good that you have visited me.

Listen! When I heard you say, “Hello” to me, my baby moved quickly inside me. He was very happy.

The Lord has told you what will happen. And you believed what he told you. Because of that, God has made you a happy person.’

Then Mary said, ‘All of me wants to praise God and say, “Lord, how good and great you are!”

I thank God because he is the one who saves me.

I know that I am not an important person. God knows this, and he has been kind to me. Listen! From now on, all people will say that God has made me happy.

Yes, God has done great things for me. He is very powerful and strong. He is good in every way.

He is kind to people who respect and obey him. He will always be kind to people like that.

He has shown how strong he is to do great things. Some people think that they are very important. But he has sent them away in different directions.

Some people were ruling countries. But he has taken their power away from them. He has given power to people who do not feel important.

He has fed hungry people with good things to eat. But he has sent rich people away with nothing.

He promised that he would be kind to his people, Israel. Now he has come and helped them.

He made a promise to Abraham and to our other ancestors. Now he has done what he promised.’

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.

The time arrived for Elizabeth to have her baby. She had a son.

Her family and the people who lived near her heard about her baby. They knew that the Lord had been very kind to her. They saw that she was happy. So they were happy too.

When the child was eight days old, people met together to circumcise him. They wanted to call the child Zechariah. This was the same name that his father had.

Elizabeth said, ‘No. His name will be John.’

They replied, ‘But you do not have anyone in your family called John. That cannot be right.’

So they used their hands to make signs to the baby's father. They wanted to ask him what his son's name should be.

Zechariah asked for something to write on. He wrote, ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was very surprised at what he wrote.

Immediately, Zechariah could speak again. He could speak easily. He began to thank God aloud.

The people who lived near Zechariah and Elizabeth were very surprised. They saw how great God was. Many people who lived in the hills of Judea also talked about all these things.

Everyone who heard about these things thought about them. They asked each other, ‘When this child becomes a man, what will he be?’ They could see that God really was with him.

The Holy Spirit filled John's father, Zechariah, so that he spoke God's message:

‘The Lord God of Israel is a great God. He has come to save his people. He has come to make them free.

He has sent a very strong person who will save us. This person comes from the family of his servant, King David.

Long ago, God promised that he would do this. He gave his own prophets this message to speak.

God will save us from our enemies. He will save us from everyone that hates us.

He has promised to be kind to our ancestors. He will do the things that he promised in his holy covenant.

Yes, he will remember the strong promises that he spoke to Abraham.

God said, “I will keep you safe from your enemies. Then you can serve me and not be afraid.

You can live in a way that is good and right. You can do this all your lives.” ’

Zechariah then spoke to John: ‘You, my child, will be called a prophet of the powerful God who is over all. You will go in front of the Lord to prepare a way for him.

You will tell God's people how God can save them. They have done wrong things but God will forgive them.

Our God will forgive us because he is very kind. He will send someone from the highest place. When this person comes, it will be like the sunrise for us.

He will bring light to people who are living without God. It is like those people are living in the dark. They are afraid to die. But he will shine on them. He will show us how to live so that we will not be afraid.’

Zechariah's child grew. God made him strong in his mind. He went into the wilderness and he lived there for many years. Later, God sent him to Israel's people, to teach them.

Many have undertaken to compile an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,

an account like those handed down to us by those who were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word from the beginning.

For this reason, it seemed good to me also, since I followed everything closely from the beginning, to write an orderly account to you, most excellent Theophilus,

so that you may know the certainty of the things you were taught.

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and righteous decrees of the Lord.

They did not have a child because Elizabeth was unable to bear children, and they were both well along in years.

On one occasion, while Zechariah was serving as priest before God and his division was on duty,

he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

The whole crowd of people were praying outside the temple during the hour of the incense offering.

An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome by fear.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son for you, and you are to name him John.

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

because he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

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

He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, to turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare a people who are ready for the Lord.”

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this, because I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years?”

The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God and was sent to speak to you in order to tell you this good news.

Now listen, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the proper time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering what was taking him so long in the temple.

When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them and remained unable to speak.

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

After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived. She kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,

“The Lord has done this for me in the days when he looked with favor on me and took away my disgrace among the people.”

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth,

to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”

But she was greatly troubled by the statement and was wondering what kind of greeting this could be.

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

Listen, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus.

He 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 reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

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

The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Listen, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age even though she was called barren, and this is her sixth month.

For nothing will be impossible for God.”

Then Mary said, “See, I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

In those days Mary got up and hurried to the hill country, to a town of Judah.

She entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

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

She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

In fact, just now, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy!

Blessed is she who believed, because the promises spoken to her from the Lord will be fulfilled!”

Then Mary said, My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

because he has looked with favor on the humble state of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,

because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones. He has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

When the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.

Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they were rejoicing with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. They wanted to call him Zechariah after the name of the father.

But his mother answered, “No. He will be called John.”

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

They made signs to his father, to see what he wanted to name him.

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened, his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.

Fear came on all who lived around them. In the entire hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.

And everyone who heard this took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” Clearly, the hand of the Lord was with him.

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited us and prepared redemption for his people.

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

just as he said long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets.

He raised up salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,

in order to show mercy to our fathers by remembering his holy covenant,

the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,

to grant deliverance to us from the hand of our enemies, so that we are able to serve him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give his people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins,

because of God’s tender mercies, by which the Rising Sun from on high will visit us,

to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The child continued to grow and became strong in spirit. He lived in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,

just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,

it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

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

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

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,

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

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

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

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

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,

for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,

and he 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 make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.

And 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.

And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,

“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

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

And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

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

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

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

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

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

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

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,

and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

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

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

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

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

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

And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,

but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.”

And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.”

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

And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.

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

And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,

and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

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

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;

to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,

the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,

just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,

it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

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

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

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,

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

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

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

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

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,

for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,

and he 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 make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.

And 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.

And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,

“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

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

And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favoured one, the Lord is with you!”

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

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

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

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

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

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

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,

and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

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

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring for ever.”

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

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

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

And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,

but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.”

And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.”

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

And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.

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

And fear came on all their neighbours. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,

and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

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

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;

to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,

the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Many have ·tried to report on [set out to compile an account/narrative of] the things that ·happened [have been fulfilled/accomplished] among us [John 20:31; Acts 1:1–3; 2 Pet. 1:16–19].

They have written the same things that ·we learned from [^Lwere handed down by] others—the ·people who saw those things [^Leyewitnesses] from the beginning and ·served God by telling people his message [^Lwere servants of the word; Acts 10:39–41; 1 John 1:1–3].

Since I myself have ·studied [investigated; followed closely] everything carefully from the beginning, most excellent [^Ca designation for someone with high social or political status] Theophilus, it seemed ·good [fitting] for me to write it out for you. I arranged it ·in order [or in an orderly manner],

to help you know that what you have been taught is ·true [certain; reliable; John 20:31].

During the time ·Herod ruled Judea [^Lof Herod, king of Judea], there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to ·Abijah’s group [the priestly division/order of Abijah; ^Cpriests were divided into twenty-four divisions; 2 Chr. 31:2]. Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, came from the ·family [^Ldaughters; ^Cfemale descendants] of Aaron [^Cbrother of Moses and first high priest of Israel; for a priest like Zechariah to marry a woman of priestly ancestry was a special blessing].

[^LBoth] Zechariah and Elizabeth ·truly did what God said was good [^Lwere righteous before God]. They ·did [followed; walked in] everything the Lord commanded and were ·without fault [blameless] in keeping his ·law [regulations; requirements].

But they had no children, because Elizabeth ·could not have a baby [could not conceive; ^Twas barren], and both of them were very old [Gen. 17:17; 18:11].

One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, because his ·group [order; division] was on duty.

According to the custom of the ·priests [^Lpriesthood], he was chosen by lot [^Csimilar to dice; used to determine God’s will] to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense [1 Chr. 6:49; Heb. 9:6].

·There were a great many people [^LThe whole multitude of the people were] outside praying at the ·time [^Lhour] the incense was offered.

Then an angel ·of [sent by] the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing on the right side of the incense ·table [altar].

When he saw the angel, Zechariah was ·startled [shaken] and frightened.

But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. God has heard your ·prayer [petition]. Your wife, Elizabeth, will ·give birth to [bear for you] a son, and you will name him John.

He will bring you joy and ·gladness [delight], and many people will ·be happy [rejoice] because of his birth.

[^LFor; Because] John will be a great man ·for [in the eyes of; ^Lbefore] the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer [^Cindicating he will be set apart to God for special service; Num. 6:3], and even ·from birth [or in his mother’s womb; 1:41, 44], he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

He will help many ·people [^Lof the children] of Israel return to the Lord their God [1 Kin. 18:37].

He will go before ·the Lord [^Lhim] in [the] spirit and power ·like [of] Elijah. He will ·make peace between parents and [^Lturn the hearts of parents/fathers back to] their children and will bring those who are not obeying God back to the ·right way of thinking [or wisdom of the righteous], ·to make a people ready [^Lto prepare a people who are fit/ready] for the ·coming of the Lord [^LLord; Mal. 4:5–6].”

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know ·that what you say is true [^Lthis]? [^LFor] I am an old man, and my wife is old, too [Gen. 17:17].”

The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel [^Cone of two named angels in Scripture (the other is Michael); Dan. 8:16; 9:21; 10:10–14]. I stand before God, who sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news.

Now, ·listen [^Llook; ^Tbehold]! You will [^Lbe silent and] not be able to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe ·what I told you [^Lmy words]. ·But they will really happen [^L…which will be fulfilled at their appointed time].”

Outside, the people were still waiting for Zechariah and were ·surprised that [wondering why] he was ·staying so long [delayed] in the Temple.

When Zechariah came outside, he could not speak to them, and they knew he had seen a vision in the Temple. He could only ·make signs [motion; gesture] to them and remained unable to speak.

When his ·time [period; ^Ldays] of service at the Temple was finished, he went home.

·Later [^LAfter these days], Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and ·did not go out of her house [went into seclusion; ^Lhid herself; ^Cthe reason is unknown, perhaps for quiet worship or to avoid gawking neighbors] for five months. Elizabeth said,

“·Look what [This is what; ^LThus] the Lord has done for me! He has [^Lwatched over me and] taken away my disgrace among the people [^Cthe Jewish people thought it was a disgrace for a woman not to have children; Gen. 30:23].”

During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel [1:19] to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

to a virgin. She was ·engaged to marry [pledged to; ^Cengagement was a binding contract between two families and could only be broken by divorce] a man named Joseph ·from the family [a descendent; ^Lfrom the house] of David. ·Her [^LThe virgin’s] name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, “·Greetings [Hello; ^LRejoice; ^Ca common greeting]! ·The Lord has blessed you and is with you [or …favored one, the Lord is with you].”

But Mary was ·very startled [disturbed; perplexed; troubled] by what the angel said and wondered what ·this greeting might mean [sort of greeting this was].

The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; [^Lfor; because] ·God has shown you his grace [^Lyou have found favor/grace with God].

·Listen [^LLook; ^TBehold]! You will ·become pregnant [^Lconceive in your womb] and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus [Is. 7:14].

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of ·King David, his ancestor [^Lhis father David].

He will ·rule [reign] over the ·people [^Lhouse] of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end [2 Sam. 7:13, 16; Dan. 7:14, 27].”

Mary said to the angel, “How ·will [can] this happen since ·I am a virgin [^LI have not known a man (sexually)]?”

The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come ·upon [over] you, and the power of the Most High will ·cover [overshadow] you. For this reason the ·baby will be holy and [holy one to be born] will be called the Son of God.

·Now [^LAnd look/^Tbehold] Elizabeth, your relative, ·is also pregnant with [has also conceived] a son ·though she is very old [in her old age]. ·Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant for six months. [^LAnd this is the sixth month for the woman they called barren!]

·God can do anything […because nothing is impossible with God; or …because no word/message from God will ever fail; Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:17]!”

Mary said, “[^LLook; ^TBehold] I am the ·servant [bondservant; ^Thandmaid] of the Lord. Let this happen to me ·as you say [according to your word]!” Then the angel ·went away [left her].

[^LIn those days] Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the hills of Judea [^Cfrom Galilee in the north to southern Israel, about three or four days journey by foot].

She ·came to [entered] Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby ·inside her [in her womb] ·jumped [leaped; kicked], and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

She cried out in a loud voice, “·God has blessed you [^LYou are blessed] ·more than any other woman [^Lamong women], and ·he has blessed the baby to which you will give birth [^Lblessed is the fruit of your womb].

[^LBut] Why ·has this good thing happened to me [am I so honored], that the mother of my Lord comes to me?

[^LFor look/^Tbehold] When I heard ·your voice [^Lthe sound of your greeting], the baby inside ·me [my womb] ·jumped [leaped; kicked] with joy.

·You are blessed because you [^LBlessed is she who has] believed that what the Lord said would ·really happen [be fulfilled].”

Then Mary said, “My soul ·praises [exalts; glorifies; magnifies] the Lord [1 Sam. 2:1–10];

my ·heart [spirit] rejoices in God my Savior [Ps. 35:9],

because he has ·shown his concern for [noticed; looked favorably on] his ·humble [lowly] servant girl [1 Sam. 1:11]. [^LFor look/^Tbehold] From now on, all ·people [^Lgenerations] will ·say that I am [call me] blessed [Ps. 138:6],

because the ·Powerful [Mighty] One has done great things for me. His name is holy.

·God will show his mercy [^LHis mercy is/continues] ·forever and ever [^Lto generations and generations] to those who ·worship and serve [^Lfear; reverence] him [Ps. 103:17].

He has done mighty deeds ·by his power [^Lwith his arm; ^Ca metaphor for strength]. He has scattered the people who are proud ·and think great things about themselves [or in the schemes they devise; ^Lin the thoughts/intentions of their hearts].

He has brought down ·rulers [the powerful] from their thrones and ·raised up [exalted] the ·humble [lowly].

He has filled the hungry with good things [Ps. 107:9] and sent the rich away ·with nothing [empty-handed].

He has helped his servant, the people of Israel, ·remembering to show them [mindful of his] mercy

as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his ·children [descendants; ^Lseed] forever [Gen. 17:7, 19].”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a ·boy [^Lson].

Her neighbors and relatives heard how ·good [greatly merciful] the Lord was to her, and they rejoiced with her.

When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him [Gen. 17:12]. They ·wanted [were about] to name him Zechariah because this was his father’s name,

but his mother said, “No! He will be named John.”

The people said to Elizabeth, “But no one in your family has this name.”

Then they made ·signs [gestures; motions] to his father to find out what he would like to name him [^Cindicating that Zechariah was not only mute but also deaf].

Zechariah ·asked [motioned] for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John,” and everyone ·was surprised [marveled; was amazed].

Immediately ·Zechariah could talk again [^Lhis mouth was opened and his tongue freed], and he began ·praising [blessing] God.

All their neighbors ·became alarmed [were afraid/in awe], and in all the ·mountains [hill country] of Judea people continued talking about all these things.

The people who heard about them ·wondered [^Lkept/pondered them in their hearts], saying, “What will this child [turn out to] be?” because the [^Lhand of the; ^Ca metaphor for empowering presence] Lord was with him.

Then Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

“·Let us praise [^LBlessed be] the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has ·come to help his people and has given them freedom [^Lvisited and accomplished redemption for his people].

He has ·given us a powerful Savior [^Lraised up a horn of salvation for us; ^Creferring to the horn of a powerful animal—a metaphor for strength; 1 Sam. 2:1, 10; Ps. 132:17; Ezek. 29:21] ·from the family [^Lin the house] of God’s servant David.

[^L…just as] He said that he would do this through [^Lthe mouth of] his holy prophets who lived long ago:

He promised he would save us from our enemies and from the ·power [^Lhand; ^Cindicating controlling power or oppression] of all those who hate us.

He said he would give mercy to our ·ancestors [forefathers] and that he would remember his holy ·promise [covenant].

·God promised [^LThe oath that he swore to] Abraham, our father [Gen. 22:16–18],

that he would ·save [rescue] us from the ·power [hand; v. 71] of our enemies so we could serve him without fear,

being holy and ·good [righteous] before God as long as we live.

“Now you, child, will be called ·a [or the] prophet of the Most High God. [^LFor] You will go before the Lord to prepare his ·way [or paths; Mal. 3:1].

You will ·make his people know that they will be saved [^Lgive his people the knowledge of salvation] by having their sins forgiven [Jer. 31:34].

·With [or Because of] the ·loving [tender] mercy of our God, ·a new day from heaven will dawn upon us [^Lthe sunrise/dawn from heaven will visit us; ^Ca metaphor for the Messiah; Mal. 4:2].

It will shine on those who ·live [dwell; sit] in darkness, in the shadow of death [Is. 9:2]. It will guide ·us [^Lour feet] into the path of peace [Is. 59:8].”

And so the child grew up and became strong ·in spirit [or in the Spirit]. John lived in the ·desert [wilderness] until the time when he ·came out to preach [appeared; was revealed] to Israel.

Luke: Preface 5 Zacharias and Elizabeth. 15 What an one John should be. 20 Zacharias stricken dumb, for his incredulity. 26 The Angel saluteth Mary, and foretelleth Christ’s nativity. 39 Mary visited Elizabeth. 46 Mary’s song. 68 The song of Zacharias, showing that the promised Christ is come. 76 The office of John. Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth the story of those things, whereof we are fully persuaded,

As they have delivered them unto us, which from the beginning saw them themselves, and were ministers of the word,

It seemed good also to me (most noble Theophilus) as soon as I had searched out perfectly all things from the beginning, to write unto thee thereof from point to point,

That thou mightest acknowledge the certainty of those things whereof thou hast been instructed.

In the time of Herod King of Judea, there was a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Both were just before God, and walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, without reproof.

And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren: and both were well stricken in age.

And it came to pass, as he executed the Priest’s office before God, as his course came in order,

According to the custom of the Priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense, when he went into the Temple of the Lord.

And the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer, while the incense was burning.

Then appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the Altar of incense.

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

But the Angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

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

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine, nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to their Lord God.

For he shall 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 men, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Then Zacharias said unto the Angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is of a great age.

And the Angel answered, and said unto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these good tidings.

And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not be able to speak, until the day that these things be done, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

Now the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the Temple.

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: then they perceived that he had seen a vision in the Temple: for he made signs unto them, and remained dumb.

And it came to pass, when the days of his office were fulfilled, that he departed to his own house.

And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me, in the days wherein he looked on me, to take from me my rebuke among men.

¶ And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin affianced to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And the Angel went in unto her, and said, Hail thou that art freely beloved: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and thought what manner of salutation that should be.

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

For lo thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bear a son, and shalt call his Name Jesus.

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.

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom shall be none end.

Then said Mary unto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not man?

And the Angel answered, and said unto her, The holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.

And behold, thy cousin, Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is her sixth month, which was called barren.

For with God shall nothing be impossible.

Then Mary said, Behold the servant of the Lord: be it unto me according to thy word. So the Angel departed from her.

¶ And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste to a city of Judah,

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth.

And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe sprang in her belly, and Elizabeth was filled with the holy Ghost.

And she cried with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, because the fruit of thy womb is blessed.

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

For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe sprang in my belly for joy.

And blessed is she that believed: for those things shall be performed, which were told her from the Lord.

Then Mary said, My soul magnifieth the Lord,

And my spirit rejoiceth in God my Savior.

For he hath looked on the poor degree of his servant: for behold, from henceforth shall all ages call me blessed,

Because he that is mighty hath done for me great things, and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is from generation to generation on them that fear him.

He that showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty.

He hath upholden Israel his servant to be mindful of his mercy,

(As he hath spoken to our fathers, to wit, to Abraham and his seed) forever.

¶ And Mary abode with her about three months: after, she returned to her own house.

¶ Now Elizabeth’s time was fulfilled, that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son.

And her neighbors and cousins heard tell how the Lord had showed his great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.

And it was so that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the babe, and called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

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

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

Then they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

So he asked for writing tablets, and wrote, saying, His name is John, and they marveled all.

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

Then fear came on all them that dwelt near unto them, and all these words were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.

And all they that heard them, laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner child shall this be! and the hand of the Lord was with him.

Then his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath visited and redeemed his people,

And hath raised up the horn of salvation unto us, in the house of his servant David,

As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which were since the world began, saying,

That he would send us deliverance from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us,

That he might show mercy towards our fathers: and remember his holy covenant,

And the oath, which he sware to our father Abraham.

Which was, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

All the days of our life, in holiness and righteousness before him.

And thou, babe, shalt be called the Prophet of the most High: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,

And to give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the wilderness, till the day came that he should show himself unto Israel.

Many have attempted to write about what had taken place among us.

They received their information from those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of God’s word from the beginning, and they passed it on to us.

I, too, have followed everything closely from the beginning. So I thought it would be a good idea to write an orderly account for Your Excellency, Theophilus.

In this way you will know that what you’ve been told is true.

When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division of priests named after Abijah. Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.

Zechariah and Elizabeth had God’s approval. They followed all the Lord’s commands and regulations perfectly.

Yet, they never had any children because Elizabeth couldn’t become pregnant. Both of them were too old to have children.

Zechariah was on duty with his division of priests. As he served in God’s presence,

he was chosen by priestly custom to go into the Lord’s temple to burn incense.

All the people were praying outside while he was burning incense.

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

Zechariah was troubled and overcome with fear.

The angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John.

He will be your pride and joy, and many people will be glad that he was born.

As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.

He will bring many people in Israel back to the Lord their God.

He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents’ attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God’s approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord.”

Zechariah said to the angel, “What proof is there for this? I’m an old man, and my wife is beyond her childbearing years.”

The angel answered him, “I’m Gabriel! I stand in God’s presence. God sent me to tell you this good news.

But because you didn’t believe what I said, you will be unable to talk until the day this happens. Everything will come true at the right time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were amazed that he was staying in the temple so long.

When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. So they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. He motioned to them but remained unable to talk.

When the days of his service were over, he went home.

Later, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and didn’t go out in public for five months. She said,

“The Lord has done this for me now. He has removed my public disgrace.”

Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee.

The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary.

When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.”

She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant.

The angel told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor  with God.

You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus.

He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.

Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? I’m a virgin.”

The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God.

“Elizabeth, your relative, is six months pregnant with a son in her old age. People said she couldn’t have a child.

But nothing is impossible for God.”

Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.” Then the angel left her.

Soon afterward, Mary hurried to a city in the mountain region of Judah.

She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard the greeting, she felt the baby kick. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

She said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child that you will have.

I feel blessed that the mother of my Lord is visiting me.

As soon as I heard your greeting, I felt the baby jump for joy.

You are blessed for believing that the Lord would keep his promise to you.”

Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord’s greatness!

My spirit finds its joy in God, my Savior,

because he has looked favorably on me, his humble servant. “From now on, all people will call me blessed

because the Almighty has done great things to me. His name is holy.

For those who fear him, his mercy lasts throughout every generation.

“He displayed his mighty power. He scattered those who think too highly of themselves.

He pulled strong rulers from their thrones. He honored humble people.

He fed hungry people with good food. He sent rich people away with nothing.

“He remembered to help his servant Israel forever.

This is the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.

When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.

Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very kind to her, and they shared her joy.

When the child was eight days old, they went ⌞to the temple⌟ to circumcise him. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father.

But his mother spoke up, “Absolutely not! His name will be John.”

Their friends said to her, “But you don’t have any relatives with that name.”

So they motioned to the baby’s father to see what he wanted to name the child.

Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed.

Suddenly, Zechariah was able to speak, and he began to praise God.

All their neighbors were filled with awe. Throughout the mountain region of Judea, people talked about everything that had happened.

Everyone who heard about it seriously thought it over and asked, “What does the future hold for this child?” It was clear that the Lord was with him.

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,

“Praise the Lord God of Israel! He has come to take care of his people and to set them free.

He has raised up a mighty Savior for us in the family of his servant David.

He made this promise through his holy prophets long ago.

He promised to save us from our enemies and from the power of all who hate us.

He has shown his mercy to our ancestors and remembered his holy promise,

the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham.

He promised to rescue us from our enemies’ power so that we could serve him without fear

by being holy and honorable as long as we live.

“You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way.

You will make his people know that they can be saved through the forgiveness of their sins.

A new day will dawn on us from above because our God is loving and merciful.

He will give light to those who live in the dark and in death’s shadow. He will guide us into the way of peace.”

The child John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the day he appeared to the people of Israel.

Dear Theophilus: Many people have done their best to write a report of the things that have taken place among us.

They wrote what we have been told by those who saw these things from the beginning and who proclaimed the message.

And so, Your Excellency, because I have carefully studied all these matters from their beginning, I thought it would be good to write an orderly account for you.

I do this so that you will know the full truth about everything which you have been taught.

During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife's name was Elizabeth; she also belonged to a priestly family.

They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands.

They had no children because Elizabeth could not have any, and she and Zechariah were both very old.

One day Zechariah was doing his work as a priest in the Temple, taking his turn in the daily service.

According to the custom followed by the priests, he was chosen by lot to burn incense on the altar. So he went into the Temple of the Lord,

while the crowd of people outside prayed during the hour when the incense was burned.

An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar where the incense was burned.

When Zechariah saw him, he was alarmed and felt afraid.

But the angel said to him, “Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You are to name him John.

How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born!

John will be great in the Lord's sight. He must not drink any wine or strong drink. From his very birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,

and he will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.

He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah. He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord's people ready for him.”

Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know if this is so? I am an old man, and my wife is old also.”

“I am Gabriel,” the angel answered. “I stand in the presence of God, who sent me to speak to you and tell you this good news.

But you have not believed my message, which will come true at the right time. Because you have not believed, you will be unable to speak; you will remain silent until the day my promise to you comes true.”

In the meantime the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he was spending such a long time in the Temple.

When he came out, he could not speak to them, and so they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. Unable to say a word, he made signs to them with his hands.

When his period of service in the Temple was over, Zechariah went back home.

Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and did not leave the house for five months.

“Now at last the Lord has helped me,” she said. “He has taken away my public disgrace!”

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth.

He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”

Mary was deeply troubled by the angel's message, and she wondered what his words meant.

The angel said to her, “Don't be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you.

You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was,

and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!”

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

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God.

Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old.

For there is nothing that God cannot do.”

“I am the Lord's servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.

Soon afterward Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea.

She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

and said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord's mother comes to visit me?

For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness.

How happy you are to believe that the Lord's message to you will come true!”

Mary said, “My heart praises the Lord;

my soul is glad because of God my Savior,

for he has remembered me, his lowly servant! From now on all people will call me happy,

because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me. His name is holy;

from one generation to another he shows mercy to those who honor him.

He has stretched out his mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans.

He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.

He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors, and has come to the help of his servant Israel.

He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham and to all his descendants forever!”

Mary stayed about three months with Elizabeth and then went back home.

The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son.

Her neighbors and relatives heard how wonderfully good the Lord had been to her, and they all rejoiced with her.

When the baby was a week old, they came to circumcise him, and they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.

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

They said to her, “But you don't have any relative with that name!”

Then they made signs to his father, asking him what name he would like the boy to have.

Zechariah asked for a writing pad and wrote, “His name is John.” How surprised they all were!

At that moment Zechariah was able to speak again, and he started praising God.

The neighbors were all filled with fear, and the news about these things spread through all the hill country of Judea.

Everyone who heard of it thought about it and asked, “What is this child going to be?” For it was plain that the Lord's power was upon him.

John's father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he spoke God's message:

“Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to the help of his people and has set them free.

He has provided for us a mighty Savior, a descendant of his servant David.

He promised through his holy prophets long ago

that he would save us from our enemies, from the power of all those who hate us.

He said he would show mercy to our ancestors and remember his sacred covenant.

With a solemn oath to our ancestor Abraham he promised to rescue us from our enemies and allow us to serve him without fear,

so that we might be holy and righteous before him all the days of our life.

“You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his road for him,

to tell his people that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven.

Our God is merciful and tender. He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us

and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death, to guide our steps into the path of peace.”

The child grew and developed in body and spirit. He lived in the desert until the day when he appeared publicly to the people of Israel.

Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us,

just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us.

It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus,

so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.

But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.

When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.

At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.

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

When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear.

But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.

He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.

And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.

“How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

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

Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.

When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless.

When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said,

“The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”

But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.

Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus.

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.

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

Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?”

The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless.

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

“I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah

where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

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

Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: “You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed!

How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me!

She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!”

And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,

because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy.

His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.

He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts;

He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy,

just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever.

And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

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

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

When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.

But his mother responded, “No! He will be called John.”

Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.”

So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called.

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: HIS NAME IS JOHN. And they were all amazed.

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea.

All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people.

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,

just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets in ancient times;

salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us.

He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant—

the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege,

since we have been rescued from our enemies’ clutches, to serve Him without fear

in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days.

And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,

to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us

to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

To Theophilus: Many have tried to give a history of the things that happened among us.

They have written the same things that we learned from others—the people who saw those things from the beginning and served God by telling people his message.

I myself studied everything carefully from the beginning, your Excellency. I thought I should write it out for you. So I put it in order in a book.

I write these things so that you can know that what you have been taught is true.

During the time Herod ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah. He belonged to Abijah’s group. Zechariah’s wife came from the family of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth.

Zechariah and Elizabeth truly did what God said was good. They did everything the Lord commanded and told people to do. They were without fault in keeping his law.

But Zechariah and Elizabeth had no children. Elizabeth could not have a baby; and both of them were very old.

Zechariah was serving as a priest before God for his group. It was his group’s time to serve.

According to the custom of the priests, he was chosen to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.

There were a great many people outside praying at the time the incense was offered.

Then, on the right side of the incense table, an angel of the Lord came and stood before Zechariah.

When he saw the angel, Zechariah was confused and frightened.

But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. Your prayer has been heard by God. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son. You will name him John.

You will be very happy. Many people will be happy because of his birth.

John will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer. Even at the time John is born, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

He will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God.

He himself will go first before the Lord. John will be powerful in spirit like Elijah. He will make peace between fathers and their children. He will bring those who are not obeying God back to the right way of thinking. He will make people ready for the coming of the Lord.”

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that what you say is true? I am an old man, and my wife is old, too.”

The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand before God. God sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news.

Now, listen! You will not be able to talk until the day these things happen. You will lose your speech because you did not believe what I told you. But these things will really happen.”

Outside, the people were still waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was staying so long in the Temple.

Then Zechariah came outside, but he could not speak to them. So they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. Zechariah could not speak. He could only make signs to them.

When his time of service as a priest was finished, he went home.

Later, Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant. She did not go out of her house for five months. Elizabeth said,

“Look what the Lord has done for me! My people were ashamed of me, but now the Lord has taken away that shame.”

During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin who lived in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, “Greetings! The Lord has blessed you and is with you.”

But Mary was very confused by what the angel said. Mary wondered, “What does this mean?”

The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, because God is pleased with you.

Listen! You will become pregnant. You will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

He will be great, and people will call him the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of King David, his ancestor.

He will rule over the people of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen? I am a virgin!”

The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. The baby will be holy. He will be called the Son of God.

Now listen! Elizabeth, your relative, is very old. But she is also pregnant with a son. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant for six months.

God can do everything!”

Mary said, “I am the servant girl of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!” Then the angel went away.

Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the mountains of Judea.

She went to Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby inside Elizabeth jumped. Then Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

She cried out in a loud voice, “God has blessed you more than any other woman. And God has blessed the baby which you will give birth to.

You are the mother of my Lord, and you have come to me! Why has something so good happened to me?

When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy.

You are blessed because you believed what the Lord said to you would really happen.”

Then Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord;

my heart is happy because God is my Savior.

I am not important, but God has shown his care for me, his servant girl. From now on, all people will say that I am blessed,

because the Powerful One has done great things for me. His name is holy.

God will always give mercy to those who worship him.

God’s arm is strong. He scatters the people who are proud and think great things about themselves.

God brings down rulers from their thrones, and he raises up the humble.

God fills the hungry with good things, but he sends the rich away with nothing.