Dedication to Theophilus
(Acts 1:1–3)

1SINCE many have undertaken to compose a history of the things that are fully believed among us, 2even as they were delivered to us by those who were, from the beginning, eye-witnesses and ministers of the word; 3it seemed good to me also, having obtained exact information of all things from the very first, to write them in order for you, most excel lent Theophilus, 4that you might know the certainty of the things in which you have been instructed.

Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth

5There was, in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a certain priest, named Zachariah, of the class of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. 7And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

8It came to pass, while he was officiating as priest before God, in the order of his class, that, 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 all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the time of incense. 11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12And Zachariah was troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachariah; for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14And you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15For he shall be great before the Lord; and he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb. 16And many of the sons of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient, by the wisdom of the just, in order to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.

18And Zachariah said to the angel: By what sign shall I know this? for I am old, and my wife is advanced in years. 19And the angel answered and said to him: I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I am sent to speak to you, and to announce to you this good news. 20And behold, you shall be dumb and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their proper time.

21And the people were waiting for Zachariah, and they wondered that he stayed so long in the temple. 22But when he came out, he was not able to speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them, and remained speechless. 23And it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.

24And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself retired for five months, saying: 25Thus has the Lord dealt with me in the days in which he has looked with regard upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

Gabriel Foretells Jesus’ Birth

26And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. 28And the angel came into her presence, and said: Hail, graciously accepted: the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women. 29And she was perplexed at his words, and reasoned, what this salutation could mean. 30And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of David his father; 33and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34But Mary said to the angel: How shall this be, since I know not a man? 35And the angel answered and said to her: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for which reason, also, that which is begotten, being holy, shall be called the Son of God. 36And behold, Elizabeth your kinswoman, even she has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who is called barren; 37for nothing shall be impossible with God. 38And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39And Mary arose in those days, and went with haste into the mountainous country, into a city of Judah; 40and she came into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth. 41And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe in her womb leaped for joy. 42And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke with a loud voice, and said: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For, behold, when the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of the things which were spoken to her from the Lord.

Mary’s Song

46And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord,

47and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior;

48for he has looked upon the lowly condition of his handmaid. For, behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed;

49for He that is Mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name:

50and his mercy is from generation to generation upon those who fear him.

51He has done mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in the understanding of their hearts.

52He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.

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

54He has helped Israel his servant, (as he spoke to our fathers,)

55by remembering his mercy to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

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

The Birth of John the Baptist

57Now the time for Elizabeth to be delivered had fully come; and she gave birth to a son. 58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had showed great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

59And it came to pass, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they called him by the name of his father, Zachariah. 60And his mother answered and said: Not so: but he shall be called John. 61And they said to her: There is no one among your relatives that is called by this name. 62And they made signs to his father, to know what he wished him to be called. 63And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: His name is John. And they were all astonished. 64And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue was loosed, and he spoke, and praised God. 65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them; and all these things were talked of everywhere throughout the mountainous country of Judea. 66And all that heard them, laid them up in their hearts, and said: What, then, will this child be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

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

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

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

70(as he spoke by the mouth of all his holy prophets of ancient times,)

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

72in order to show the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,

73the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,

74that he would grant to us, that being delivered from the hands of our enemies, we might serve him without fear,

75in holiness and righteousness before him, all our days.

76And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the face of the Lord, to make ready his ways,

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

78through the tender mercies of our God; by which the dawn from on high has visited us,

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

80And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.