| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, | 1Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, |
| 2just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word. | 2just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. |
| 3Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, | 3It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, |
| 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. | 4so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. |
| 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 daughter of Aaron. | 5In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. |
| 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord. | 6Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. |
| 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years. | 7But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. |
| 8One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, | 8When his 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. | 9it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside. | 10At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. |
| 11Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. | 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. |
| 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear. | 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome 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. | 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 will name him John. |
| 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, | 14There will be joy and delight for 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. | 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb. |
| 16Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God. | 16He will turn many of the sons of Israel 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.” | 17And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people." |
| 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.” | 18How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For 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. | 19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell 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.” | 20Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." |
| 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple. | 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. |
| 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 speechless. | 22When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless. |
| 23And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home. | 23When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. |
| 24After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared, | 24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, " |
| 25“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” | 25The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people." |
| 26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, | 26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God 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. | 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” | 28And the angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you." |
| 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. | 29But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. |
| 30So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. | 30Then 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. | 31Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you 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, | 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. |
| 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” | 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. |
| 34“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” | 34Mary asked the angel, "How can 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. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. | 35The angel replied to her:" The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, 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. | 36And consider your relative Elizabeth--even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. |
| 37For no word from God will ever fail.” | 37For nothing will be impossible with God."" |
| 38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her. | 38I am the Lord's slave," said Mary. "May it be done 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, | 39In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah |
| 40where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. | 40where she 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. | 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, 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! | 42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:" You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed! |
| 43And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? | 43How could this happen to me, 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. | 44For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! |
| 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.” | 45She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!" |
| 46Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, | 46And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, |
| 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! | 47and my spirit has rejoiced 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. | 48because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, |
| 49For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name. | 49because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. |
| 50His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. | 50His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. |
| 51He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts. | 51He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; |
| 52He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble. | 52He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. |
| 53He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty. | 53He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. |
| 54He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, | 54He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, |
| 55as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” | 55just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever. |
| 56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. | 56And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home. |
| 57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. | 57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. |
| 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. | 58Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His 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. | 59When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. |
| 60But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.” | 60But his mother responded, "No! He will be called John." |
| 61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.” | 61Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." |
| 62So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child. | 62So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. |
| 63Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. | 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 was released, and he began to speak, praising God. | 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, 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. | 65Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. |
| 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. | 66All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him. |
| 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: | 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. | 68Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. |
| 69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, | 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, | 70just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets in ancient times; |
| 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, | 71salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us. |
| 72to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, | 72He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant-- |
| 73the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us | 73the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, |
| 74deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear, | 74since we have been rescued from our enemies' clutches, to serve Him without fear |
| 75in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives. | 75in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days. |
| 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, | 76And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, |
| 77to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, | 77to give His people 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, | 78Because of our God's merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us |
| 79to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” | 79to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way 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. | 80The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. |
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