1 Seeing that many have undertaken to make an orderly account of those things which are fully confirmed among us.
2 Just as those who were from the very first were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word passed them down to us.
3 It seemed good to me also to write to you in the proper order, honorable Theophilus, since I have an accurate understanding of everything from the very first.
4 [This is] so that you might know for certain those things in which you have been taught.
Zacharias Ministers in the Temple
5 In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias of the priestly grouping of Abijah; his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord--blameless.
7 They had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in age.
8 It came about that while he carried out the priest's duties before God in the cycle of his priestly class,
9 and according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot was burn incense. When he went in the Temple of the Lord
10 and the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense,
Angel Announces the Birth of John
11 an angel of the Lord appeared to him standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 When Zacharias saw [him], he was troubled and terror fell on him.
13 But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elisabeth will bear you a son. You will call his name John.
14 "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 "For he will be great in the Lord's sight. He will not drink wine or strong drink; he will filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
16 "Many of the children of Israel will he turn back to the Lord their God.
17 "He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn back the fathers' hearts to the children and the stubbornly disobedient to the understanding of the just, to prepare a people ready for the Lord"
Zacharias Is Not Able to Speak
18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I know this realize this, for I am an old man and my wife advanced in years"?
19 Answering, the angel said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and am sent to speak to you and tell you this happy news.
20 "Look, you will be mute and unable to talk until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the right time."
21 The people waited for Zacharias and were puzzled that he took so long in the Temple.
22 When he came out, he couldn't talk to them. They figured out that he had seen a vision in the Temple, for he was motioning with his head to them and remained speechless.
23 So it happened, that as soon as the days of his ministering were fulfilled, he left for his home.
24 After that time, his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid herself five months saying,
25 "In this way has the Lord dealt with me in the times in which he looked on [me] to take away my reproach among men."
Gabriel Announces the Birth of Christ
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin committed to marry a man whose name was Joseph of the family of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, Highly favored one, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women."
29 When she saw [him], she was troubled by his word and tried to figure out what kind of greeting this was.
30 And the angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 "Look, you will conceive in your womb, bring forth a son, and will name him Jesus.
32 "He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Highest. The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.
33 "He will reign over the House of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom."
34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I've never been sexual with a man?"
35 The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you. Therefore that Holy thing will be called the Son of God.
36 "And look, your relative Elizabeth; she have also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 "Because with God every spoken word will not be impossible."
38 Mary answered, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word". The angel left her.
Visitation of Mary to Elisabeth
39 Mary got up in those days and went into the hill country with haste into a city of Judah.
40 She entered Zachariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting that the baby jumped in her womb and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 "How can it be that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 "For, behold, as soon as the sound of your greeting hit my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
45 "Blessed is she who believed, for those things which were told her from the Lord will come about."
46 Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For he has looked upon the low estate of his handmaiden, for look from now on all generations will call be blessed.
49 For he who is able has done great things to me; holy is his name.
50 From generation to generation His mercy is on those who fear him.
51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud despite the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has pulled down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low estate.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things; but the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant, Israel, to remember [his] mercy.
55 Just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his descendants forever."
56 Mary stayed with her about three months, then she returned to her own house.
Elizabeth Gives Birth to John
57 Now Elizabeth's time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy on her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 Then it came about that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they named him Zacharias after the name of his father,
60 but his mother answered and said, "No! He will be named John."
61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives that is named by that name."
62 Then they made signs to his father on what he wanted him named.
63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, saying, "His name is John." They were all surprised.
64 His mouth immediately opened and his tongue [was freed], he spoke and praised God.
65 A sense of wonderment came on all who lived around them, and all this news was talked about all throughout the hill country of Judea.
66 All who heard placed [this] in their hearts saying, "What kind of child will this be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.
Zacharias Prophecies the Ministry of John
67 His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied saying,
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us from the house of his servant, David
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets which [have been saying] since the world began,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 to bring about the mercy [promised] to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath which swore to our father, Abraham,
74 that he would grant to us that we be delivered out of the hand of our enemies and might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his paths,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people for the remission of their sins
78 through the tender mercy of our God, in which the Dayspring from on high has visited us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
80 The child grew, grew strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the time of his official appearance to Israel.