Explanatory Preface

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.

Birth Announcement of John the Baptist

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.”

Birth Announcement of Jesus the Messiah

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 had sexual relations 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.

Mary and Elizabeth

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.”

Mary’s Hymn of Praise

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.

The Birth of John

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.

Zechariah’s Praise and Prediction

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.