| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | International Standard Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Since many people have attempted to write an orderly account of the events that have transpired among us, |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2just as they were passed down to us by those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning, |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3I, too, have carefully investigated everything from the beginning and have decided 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] | 5During the reign of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and because both of them were getting old. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8When Zechariah was serving with his division of priests in God's presence, |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9he was chosen by lot to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense, according to the custom of the priests. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10And the entire congregation of people was praying outside at the time when the incense was burned. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear overwhelmed him. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13But the angel told him, "Stop being afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14You will have great joy, and many people will rejoice at his birth, |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15because he will be great in the Lord's presence. He will never drink wine or any strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16He will bring many of Israel's descendants back to the Lord their God. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17He is the one who will go before the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and to prepare the people to be ready for the Lord." |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18Then Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man, and my wife is getting older?" |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to announce this good news to you. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time, you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens." |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them but remained unable to speak. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23When the days of his service were over, he went home. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25"This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace." |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26Now in the sixth month of her pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29Startled by his statement, she tried to figure out what his greeting meant. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30Then the angel told her, "Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him 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 ancestor David. |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this happen, since I have not had relations with a man?" |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God. |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36And listen! Elizabeth, your relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age, this woman who was rumored to be barren is in her sixth month. |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God's promises." |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38Then Mary said, "Truly I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you have said happen to me." Then the angel left her. |
| 39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39Later on, Mary set out for a Judean city in the hill country. |
| 40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40She went into Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit |
| 42[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 42and she loudly exclaimed, "How blessed are you among women, and how blessed is the infant in your womb! |
| 43[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 43Why should this happen to me, to have the mother of my Lord visit me? |
| 44[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. |
| 45[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 45How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!" |
| 46[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 46Then Mary said, "My soul praises the greatness of the Lord! |
| 47[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 47My spirit exults in God, my Savior, |
| 48[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 48because he has looked favorably on his humble servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed, |
| 49[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 49because the Almighty has done great things for me. His name is holy. |
| 50[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 50His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him. |
| 51[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 51He displayed his mighty power with his arm. He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart. |
| 52[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 52He pulled powerful rulers from their thrones and lifted up humble people. |
| 53[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 53He filled hungry people with good things and sent rich people away with nothing. |
| 54[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 54He helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, |
| 55[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors— to Abraham and his descendants forever." |
| 56[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 56Now Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back 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 his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. |
| 59[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 59On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father, |
| 60[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 60but his mother said, "Absolutely not! He must be named John." |
| 61[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 61Their friends told her, "None of your relatives has that name." |
| 62[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 62So they motioned to the baby's father to see what he wanted to name him. |
| 63[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And everyone was amazed. |
| 64[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 64Suddenly, Zechariah could open his mouth, his tongue was set free, and he began to speak and to praise God. |
| 65[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 65Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. |
| 66[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 66Everyone who heard about it kept thinking what had happened and asked, "What will this child become?" because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord 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 God of Israel! He has taken care of his people and has set them free. |
| 69[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 69He has raised up a mighty Savior for us from the family of his servant David, |
| 70[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 70just as he promised long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets |
| 71[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 71that he would save us from our enemies and from the grip of all who hate us. |
| 72[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 72He has shown mercy to our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant, |
| 73[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. He granted us |
| 74[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 74deliverance from our enemies' grip so that we could serve him without fear |
| 75[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 75and be holy and righteous before him all of our days. |
| 76[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way |
| 77[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 77and to give his people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins. |
| 78[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, his light from on high has visited us, |
| 79[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 79to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death's shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace." |
| 80[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 80Now the child continued to grow and to become spiritually strong. He lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared in Israel. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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