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Introduction
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,
just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;
so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,
he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.
But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
“You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
“And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous — to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
“It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
“And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.
The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.
When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.
When his time of service was completed, he returned home.
When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.
After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.
After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,
“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
“This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
Jesus’ Birth Foretold
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall 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 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;
and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
“And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
Mary Visits Elizabeth
Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah,
where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
And she cried 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?
“And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
“For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”
Mary’s Song
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
The Magnificat
And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
for the Mighty One has done great things for me —
holy is his name.
holy is his name.
“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
And holy is His name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
from generation to generation.
“AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION
TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.
TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
but has lifted up the humble.
“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
And has exalted those who were humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
but has sent the rich away empty.
“HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
remembering to be merciful
“He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
In remembrance of His mercy,
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
just as he promised our ancestors.”
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
John Is Born
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 her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,
And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father.
but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.”
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”
Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.
And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.
He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God.
All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.
Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea.
Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.
Zechariah’s Song
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
Zacharias’s Prophecy
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant —
In the house of David His servant —
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old —
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us —
and from the hand of all who hate us —
Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES,
And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US;
And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US;
to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
and to remember his holy covenant,
To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
And to remember His holy covenant,
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
and to enable us to serve him without fear
To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
Might serve Him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;
For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
through the forgiveness of their sins,
To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
By the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”