1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto youi in order, most excellent Theophilus [friend of God],
4 That youi might know the certainty of those things, wherein youi have been instructed.
Zacharias Ministers in the Temple
5 There was in the days of Herod [heroic], the king of Y’hudah [praised], a certain priest named Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah], of the course of Aviyah [Yah is my father]: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aharon [Bright, Very High], and her name [was] Elisheva [the oath of God].
6 And they were both righteous before God-Theos, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord - Kurios blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisheva [the oath of God] was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God-Theos in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord - Kurios.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Angel Announces the Birth of John
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord - Kurios standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah] saw [him], he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah]: for youri prayer is heard; and youri wife Elisheva [the oath of God] shall bear youi a son, and youi shall call his name Yochanan [Yehovah has graced].
14 And youi shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord - Kurios, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit [Ruach HaKodesh], even from his mother’s womb.
16 And many of the people of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heal Of God] shall he turn to the Lord - Kurios their God-Theos.
17 And he shall go before him in the Spirit [Ruach] and power of Eliyahu [my God is Yehovah], 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 - Kurios.
Zacharias Is Not Able to Speak
18 And Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah] said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God-Theos; and am sent to speak unto youi, and to show youi these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, youi shall be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because youi believe not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 And the people waited for Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah], and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 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.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration (service; ministry) were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days his wife Elisheva [the oath of God] conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus has the Lord - Kurios dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on [me], to take away my reproach (disgrace; shame) among men.
Gabriel Announces the Birth of Christ
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God-Theos unto a city of Galil [circuit, district], named Natzeret [one separated],
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Yosef [God will add], of the house of David [Beloved]; and the virgin’s name [was] Miryam [waters of strength].
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, [youi that are] highly favoured, the Lord - Kurios [is] with youi: Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [are] youi among women.
29 And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of Greeting this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Miryam [waters of strength]: for youi have found favour with God-Theos.
31 And, behold, youi shall conceive in youri womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name YESHUA (GOD SAVES).
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord - Kurios God-Theos shall give unto him the throne of his father David [Beloved]:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Ya’akov [He who grabs onto the heal of] [Heal of God] forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Miryam [waters of strength] unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit [Ruach HaKodesh] shall come upon youi, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow youi: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of youi shall be called the Son of God-Theos.
36 And, behold, youri cousin Elisheva [the oath of God], she has also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God-Theos nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Miryam [waters of strength] said, Behold the female slave of the Lord - Kurios; be it unto me according to youri word. And the angel departed from her.
Visitation of Mary to Elisabeth
39 And Miryam [waters of strength] arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Y’hudah [praised];
40 And entered into the house of Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah], and saluted Elisheva [the oath of God].
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisheva [the oath of God] heard the Greeting of Miryam [waters of strength], the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisheva [the oath of God] was filled with the Holy Spirit [Ruach HaKodesh]:
42 And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [are] youi among women, and Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [is] the fruit of youri womb.
43 And from what place [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord - Kurios should come to me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of youri Greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [is] she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord - Kurios.
46 And Miryam [waters of strength] said, My soul does magnify the Lord - Kurios,
47 And my Spirit [Ruach] has rejoiced in God-Theos my Saviour.
48 For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from from this time forth (from now on) all generations shall call me Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous).
49 For he that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy [is] his name.
50 And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has showed strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his slave Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heal Of God], in remembrance of [his] mercy;
55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Avraham [Exalted Father], and to his seed forever.
56 And Miryam [waters of strength] abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Elizabeth Gives Birth to John
57 Now Elisheva [the oath of God]’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord - Kurios had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah], after the name of his father.
60 And his mother answered and said, Not [so]; but he shall be called Yochanan [Yehovah has graced].
61 And they said unto her, There is none of youri family that is called by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is Yochanan [Yehovah has graced]. And they marvelled all.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he spoke, and praised God-Theos.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Y’hudah [praised].
66 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 - Kurios was with him.
Zacharias Prophecies the Ministry of John
67 And his father Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah] was filled with the Holy Spirit [Ruach HaKodesh], and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [be] the Lord - Kurios God-Theos of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heal Of God]; for he has visited and redeemed his people,
69 And has raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his slave David [Beloved];
70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To finish the mercy [promised] to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he swore to our father Avraham [Exalted Father],
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76 And youri, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for youi shall go before the face of the Lord - Kurios to prepare his ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the forgiveness (pardon) of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God-Theos; whereby the Dayspring (sunrise) from on high has visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and [in] the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in Spirit [Ruach], and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heal Of God].