1
WEB
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
2
WEB
even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
3
WEB
it 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;
4
WEB
that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
5
WEB
There 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.
6
WEB
They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7
WEB
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
8
WEB
Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division
9
WEB
according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10
WEB
The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11
WEB
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12
WEB
Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
13
WEB
But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14
WEB
You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15
WEB
For 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.
16
WEB
He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17
WEB
He 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.”
18
WEB
Zacharias 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.”
19
WEB
The 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.
20
WEB
Behold, 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.”
21
WEB
The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.
22
WEB
When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
23
WEB
When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
24
WEB
After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
25
WEB
“Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”
26
WEB
Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27
WEB
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28
WEB
Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
29
WEB
But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
30
WEB
The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31
WEB
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’
32
WEB
He 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,
33
WEB
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”
34
WEB
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”
35
WEB
The 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.
36
WEB
Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37
WEB
For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”
38
WEB
Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
39
WEB
Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
40
WEB
and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41
WEB
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42
WEB
She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43
WEB
Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44
WEB
For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
45
WEB
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”
46
WEB
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.
47
WEB
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
48
WEB
for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
49
WEB
For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
50
WEB
His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.
51
WEB
He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52
WEB
He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.
53
WEB
He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
54
WEB
He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
55
WEB
as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”
56
WEB
Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
57
WEB
Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.
58
WEB
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.
59
WEB
On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60
WEB
His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”
61
WEB
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62
WEB
They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
63
WEB
He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” They all marveled.
64
WEB
His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65
WEB
Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66
WEB
All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.
67
WEB
His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
68
WEB
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people;
69
WEB
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
70
WEB
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),
71
WEB
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
72
WEB
to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
73
WEB
the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
74
WEB
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
75
WEB
in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
76
WEB
And 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,
77
WEB
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,
78
WEB
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us,
79
WEB
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80
WEB
The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
WEB: World English Bible (Protestant edition). Public domain.