Luke — Chapter 1

1Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

2just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

3Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.

6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.

7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.

8One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.

11Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.

13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,

15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

16Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.

17And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

19“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

20And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.

22When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.

24After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,

25“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

27to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

30So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.

32He 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,

33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

34“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

36Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.

37For no word from God will ever fail.”

38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

39In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,

40where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”

46Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

48For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.

49For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.

50His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.

51He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

52He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.

53He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.

54He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,

55as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.

58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

59On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.

60But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”

61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”

62So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.

63Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

64Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.

65All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.

66And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.

69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,

70as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,

71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,

72to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

73the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

74deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,

75in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.

76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,

77to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,

78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,

79to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

80And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

1Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

3It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

4That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

9According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.

18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

20And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

22And 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.

23And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

24And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

25Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

57Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

66And 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 was with him.

67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

1Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

2even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

3it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;

4that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.

5There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.

8Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest`s office before God in the order of his course,

9according to the custom of the priest`s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense.

12And Zacharias was troubled when he saw [him], and fear fell upon him.

13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother`s womb.

16And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God.

17And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient [to walk] in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared [for him].

18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.

20And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.

22And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

23And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

24And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

25Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon [me], to take away my reproach among men.

26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin`s name was Mary.

28And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord [is] with thee.

29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

31And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

36And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.

37For no word from God shall be void of power.

38And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

39And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;

40and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.

41And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;

42and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?

44For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45And blessed [is] she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.

50And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

51He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

52He hath put down princes from [their] thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

53The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

54He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

55(As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

57Now Elisabeth`s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.

59And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.

60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

63And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he spake, blessing God.

65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

66And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

68Blessed [be] the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,

69And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David

70(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),

71Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72To show mercy towards, our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

73The oath which he spake unto Abraham our father,

74To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins,

78Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,

79To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.

1Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

2like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning.

3So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

4so that you may know for certain the things you were taught.

5During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron.

6They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.

7But they did not have a child because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.

8Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,

9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the Holy Place of the Lord and burn incense.

10Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.

11An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him.

12And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear.

13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John.

14Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,

15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.

16He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.

17And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

18Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.”

19The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

20And now because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place.”

21Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the Holy Place.

22When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the Holy Place because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak.

23When his time of service was over, he went to his home.

24After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said,

25“This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people.”

26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!”

29But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.

30So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God!

31Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

32He 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.

33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

34Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?”

35The angel replied, “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.

36“And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age—although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month!

37For nothing will be impossible with God.”

38So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

39In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah,

40and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42She exclaimed with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb!

43And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me?

44For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

45And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

46And Mary said, “My soul exalts the Lord,

47and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,

48because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed,

49because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

50from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.

51He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.

52He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;

53he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.

54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,

55as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

56So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

57Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son.

58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.

60But his mother replied, “No! He must be named John.”

61They said to her, “But none of your relatives bears this name.”

62So they made signs to the baby’s father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son.

63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

64Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God.

65All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about.

66All who heard these things kept them in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the Lord’s hand was indeed with him.

67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,

68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.

69For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,

71that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.

72He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant—

73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants

74that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear,

75in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live.

76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

77to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

78Because of our God’s tender mercy, the dawn will break upon us from on high

79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel.

1Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

2even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,

3it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;

4that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

6They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

8Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division,

9according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

13But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

14You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.

15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

16He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.

17He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

18Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

19The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.

20Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

21The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

22When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

23When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

24After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

25“Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

26Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”

29But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

30The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’

32He 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,

33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

36Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

37For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

38Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her.

39Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

40and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42She called out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

46Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

47My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

48for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

49For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

50His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.

51He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.

53He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

54He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

55As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”

56Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

57Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

58Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.

59On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

62They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

63He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” They all marveled.

64His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.

65Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.

66All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.

67His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

68“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people;

69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

70(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

71salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;

72to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,

73the oath which he swore to Abraham, our father,

74to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,

77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

78because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,

79to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.