Introduction
1 Since [as is well known] many have undertaken to compile an orderly account of the things which have been fulfilled among us [by God],
2 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],
3 it seemed fitting forme as well, [and so I have decided] after having carefully searched outandinvestigated all the events accurately, from theverybeginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus;
4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have beentaught [that is, the history and doctrine of the faith].
Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5 In the days of Herod [the Great], king of Judea, there was a certain priest whose name wasZacharias, ofthe division of Abijah. His wife wasa descendant of Aaron [the first high priest of Israel], and her name was Elizabeth.
6 They both were righteous (approved) in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
7 But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years.
8 Now it happened while Zacharias was serving as priest before God in theappointedorder of his priestly division,
9 as was the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter [the sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord andburn incense [on the altar of incense].
10 And all the congregation was praying outside [in the court of the temple] at the hour of the incense offering.
11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
12 When Zacharias sawthe angel,he was troubled and overcome with fear.
13 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 himJohn.
14 You will have great joy and delight, and many will rejoice over his birth,
15 for he will be greatanddistinguished in the sight of the Lord; and will never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled withandempowered to act by the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.
16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel back [from sin] to [love and serve] the Lord their God.
17 It is he who will goas a forerunnerbefore 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.”
18 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.”
19 The angel replied and said to him, “I am Gabriel; I standandminister in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent [by Him] to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 Listen carefully, you will becontinuallysilent 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.”
21 The people [outside in the court] were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering about hislongdelay in the temple.
22 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.
23 When his time of priestly service was finished, he returned to his home.
24 Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself completely, saying,
25 “This is how the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor onme,to take away mydisgrace among men.”
Jesus’ Birth Foretold
26 Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virginbetrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And coming to her, the angel said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
29 But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was.
30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 He will be greatandeminent and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”
34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virginandhave no intimacy with any man?”
35 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.
36 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.
37 For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold,I amthe servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 Now at this time Mary arose and hurried to the hill country, to a city of Judah (Judea),
40 and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spiritandempowered by Him.
42 And she exclaimed loudly, “Blessed [worthy to be praised] are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 And how has ithappenedto me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favored by God] is she who believedandconfidently trusted that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her [by the angel sent] from the Lord.”
The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifiesandexalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 “For He has looked [with loving care] on the humble state of His maidservant;
For behold, from now on all generations will count me blessedandhappyandfavored by God!
49 “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].
50 “AndHis mercy is upon generation after generation
Toward those who[stand in great awe of God and]fearHim.
from generation to generation.
51 “He has done mighty deeds with His [powerful] arm;
He has scatteredthose who wereproud in the thoughts of their heart.
52 “He has brought down rulers fromtheirthrones,
And exalted those who were humble.
53 “He has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent the rich away empty-handed.
54 “He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 Just as He promised to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
56 And Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then returned to her home.
John Is Born
57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown His great mercy toward her, and they were rejoicing with her.
59 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;
60 but his mother answered, “No indeed; instead he will be called John.”
61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by that name.”
62 Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.
63 And he asked for awritingtablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.
64 At once Zacharias’ mouth was opened and his tonguefreed,and hebeganspeaking, praisingandblessingandthanking God.
65 Then fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.
66 All who heard these things kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this little boyturn out tobe?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him [to bring about his birth].
Zacharias’ Prophecy
67 Now Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spiritandempowered by Him, and he prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed (praised, glorified) be the Lord, the God of Israel,
Because He has visited us and brought redemption to His people,
69 And He has raised up ahorn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Savior] for us
In the house of David His servant–
70 Just as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times–
71 Salvationfrom our enemies,
Andfrom the hand of all who hate us;
72 To show mercy [as He promised] to our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant [the promised blessing],
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness [being set apart] and righteousness [being upright] before Him all our days.
76 “And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
For you will go onbefore theLord(the Messiah)toprepareHis ways;
77 To give His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise (the Messiah) from on high will dawnandvisit us,
79 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 peaceandserenity.”
80 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].