1:1 Inasmuch as many have taken it in hand to compile a narrative concerning the things that have been accomplished among us,
1:2 just as those who were, from the beginning, eyewitnesses and became ministers of the word, have delivered it to us,
1:3 it seemed good to me also, having carefully investigated everything for a long time, to write down the events in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus,
1:4 so that you may know the truth about the things that you have been taught.
1:5 There was in the days of Herod, king of Judah, a certain priest by the name of Zechariah, of the priestly division of Abijah; and his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and · her name was Elizabeth.
1:6 And they were both righteous before · God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
1:7 But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was · barren, and both of them were advanced in · years.
1:8 Now it happened, while · he was serving as priest before God when · his priestly division was on duty, · ·
1:9 that according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense,
1:10 and the whole crowd of people was there, praying outside at the hour of incense.
1:11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
1:12 · Zechariah was troubled when he saw him and fear fell upon him.
1:13 But the angel said to him: “Do not fear, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, · and · your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call · his name John.
1:14 And for you there will be joy and gladness, and many will rejoice because of · his birth,
1:15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine and strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
1:16 and he will restore many of the sons of Israel to the Lord · their God.
1:17 · He will go on before him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers toward their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, in order to establish for the Lord a people who are prepared for him.”
1:18 But Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man and · my wife is advanced in · years?”
1:19 And the angel answered, saying to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you, and to tell you the good news of these things.
1:20 And now you will be reduced to silence and not be able to speak until the day in which these things happen, because you did not believe · my words, which will be fulfilled in · their time.”
1:21 And the people were waiting for · Zechariah, and they began to wonder why · he stayed so long in the temple.
1:22 When he came out, · he was not able to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple · (he kept gesturing to them and remained mute).
1:23 · When the days of his priestly service were over, he went to · his home.
1:24 After · these · days, Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, · and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,
1:25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days in which he looked with favor to take away my reproach among people.”
1:26 In · the sixth month · the angel Gabriel was sent from · God to a town of Galilee that was called Nazareth,
1:27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin was Mary.
1:28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, highly favored one, the Lord is with you!”
1:29 She · was thoroughly troubled by what he said, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this could be. ·
1:30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with · God.
1:31 · Look, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you will call · his name Jesus.
1:32 This very one 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.
1:33 · He will reign over the house of Jacob for all time, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
1:34 Mary said · to the angel, “How will this be, since I have no sexual relationship with a man?”
1:35 And the angel answered, saying to 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 holy; he will be called the Son of God.
1:36 · Look, your relative Elizabeth, · she also has conceived a son in her old age; indeed, this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
1:38 So Mary said, “Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it happen to me according to · your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
1:39 In those days Mary arose · · and went into the hill country with eagerness, to a town in Judah,
1:40 and she entered into the house of Zechariah. · She greeted · Elizabeth,
1:41 and when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, · the baby leaped in · her womb. · Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ·
1:42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, · saying, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
1:43 And why should this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
1:44 For behold, as the sound of your greeting came into · my ear, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ·
1:45 · Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
1:46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies · the Lord,
1:47 and my spirit rejoices · because of God · my Savior,
1:48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his maidservant. For behold, from · now on all generations will declare me blessed, ·
1:49 because the Almighty has done great things for me. · His name is holy, ·
1:50 and · his mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
1:51 “He has displayed might with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones and exalted those of humble position.
1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.
1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
1:55 as he spoke to · our fathers, to Abraham and · his descendants for all time.”
1:56 Mary remained · with her about three months and returned to · her home.
1:57 The time arrived for · Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
1:58 And her neighbors and relatives heard · · that the Lord had greatly displayed · his mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
1:59 · On the eighth day · they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to call him by the name of his father, Zechariah.
1:60 But his mother responded, · saying, “No; he is rather to be called John.”
1:61 And they said to her, “There is no one among · your relatives who is called by this name.”
1:62 So they motioned to his father to find out · what he would like him to be called.
1:63 · He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.
1:64 Instantly his mouth was opened · · and · his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, praising · God.
1:65 · Fear came upon all who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the whole · hill country of Judea. ·
1:66 · All who heard took these things to · their heart, saying, “What, then, will · this child be?” · For the hand of the Lord was with him.
1:67 · Zechariah, · his father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
1:68 “Blessed be the Lord · God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.
1:69 For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant,
1:70 just as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
1:71 that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us.
1:72 He has done this to show the mercy promised to · our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,
1:73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, · to grant us
1:74 that we, being rescued from the hand of enemies, might serve him without fear,
1:75 in holiness and righteousness before him all · our days.
1:76 And you, · child, will be called prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
1:77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation · by the forgiveness of their sins,
1:78 because of the tender mercies of our God, by which the rising sun of heaven will visit us,
1:79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide · our feet into the way of peace.”
1:80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in · wilderness areas until the day of his public appearance to · Israel.
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