| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Berean Study Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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.” |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared, |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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, |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37For no word from God will ever fail.” |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her. |
| 39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, |
| 40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| 42[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 42In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! |
| 43[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 43And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
| 44[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 44For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. |
| 45[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.” |
| 46[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 46Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, |
| 47[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! |
| 48[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 48For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. |
| 49[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 49For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name. |
| 50[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 50His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. |
| 51[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 51He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts. |
| 52[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 52He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble. |
| 53[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 53He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty. |
| 54[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 54He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, |
| 55[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 55as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” |
| 56[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. |
| 57[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. |
| 58[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. |
| 59[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 59On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah. |
| 60[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 60But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.” |
| 61[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.” |
| 62[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 62So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child. |
| 63[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 63Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. |
| 64[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 64Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God. |
| 65[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 65All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events. |
| 66[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 67[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: |
| 68[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 68“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people. |
| 69[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, |
| 70[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 70as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, |
| 71[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, |
| 72[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 72to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, |
| 73[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 73the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us |
| 74[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 74deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear, |
| 75[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 75in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives. |
| 76[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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, |
| 77[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 77to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, |
| 78[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, |
| 79[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 79to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” |
| 80[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 80And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel. |
|
