| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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, |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome 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 will name him John. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14There will be joy and delight for 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 and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years." |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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." |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, " |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people." |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28And the angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you." |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?" |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37For nothing will be impossible with God."" |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38I am the Lord's slave," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her. |
| 39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah |
| 40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| 42[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:" You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed! |
| 43[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 43How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
| 44[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 44For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! |
| 45[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 45She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!" |
| 46[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 46And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, |
| 47[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 47and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, |
| 48[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 48because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, |
| 49[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 49because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. |
| 50[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 50His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. |
| 51[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 51He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; |
| 52[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 52He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. |
| 53[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 53He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. |
| 54[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 54He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, |
| 55[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 55just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever. |
| 56[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 56And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home. |
| 57[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. |
| 58[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 58Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. |
| 59[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 59When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. |
| 60[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 60But his mother responded, "No! He will be called John." |
| 61[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 61Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." |
| 62[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 62So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. |
| 63[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: HIS NAME IS JOHN. And they were all amazed. |
| 64[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. |
| 65[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 65Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. |
| 66[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 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] | 68Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for 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] | 70just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets in ancient times; |
| 71[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 71salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us. |
| 72[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 72He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant-- |
| 73[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 73the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, |
| 74[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 74since we have been rescued from our enemies' clutches, to serve Him without fear |
| 75[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 75in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days. |
| 76[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 76And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, |
| 77[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 77to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. |
| 78[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 78Because of our God's merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us |
| 79[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 79to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. |
| 80[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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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