| International Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Since many people have attempted to write an orderly account of the events that have transpired among us, | 1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, |
| 2just as they were passed down to us by those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning, | 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. |
| 3I, too, have carefully investigated everything from the beginning and have decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, | 3With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent 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 you have been taught. |
| 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. | 5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. |
| 6Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord. | 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly. |
| 7They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and because both of them were getting old. | 7But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. |
| 8When Zechariah was serving with his division of priests in God's presence, | 8Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, |
| 9he was chosen by lot to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense, according to the custom of the priests. | 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10And the entire congregation of people was praying outside at the time when the incense was burned. | 10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. |
| 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar. | 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. |
| 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear overwhelmed him. | 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. |
| 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. | 13But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. |
| 14You will have great joy, and many people will rejoice at his birth, | 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, |
| 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. | 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. |
| 16He will bring many of Israel's descendants back to the Lord their God. | 16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. |
| 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." | 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." |
| 18Then Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man, and my wife is getting older?" | 18Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." |
| 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. | 19The angel said to him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. |
| 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." | 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time." |
| 21Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long. | 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. |
| 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. | 22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. |
| 23When the days of his service were over, he went home. | 23When his time of service was completed, he returned home. |
| 24After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, | 24After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. |
| 25"This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace." | 25"The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people." |
| 26Now in the sixth month of her pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, | 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, |
| 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. | 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" | 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." |
| 29Startled by his statement, she tried to figure out what his greeting meant. | 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. |
| 30Then the angel told her, "Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. | 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. |
| 31Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. | 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call 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 ancestor David. | 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, |
| 33He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." | 33and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end." |
| 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this happen, since I have not had relations with a man?" | 34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" |
| 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. | 35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on 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. |
| 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. | 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. |
| 37Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God's promises." | 37For no word from God will ever fail." |
| 38Then Mary said, "Truly I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you have said happen to me." Then the angel left her. | 38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her. |
| 39Later on, Mary set out for a Judean city in the hill country. | 39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, |
| 40She went into Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. | 40where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit | 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| 42and she loudly exclaimed, "How blessed are you among women, and how blessed is the infant in your womb! | 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! |
| 43Why should this happen to me, to have the mother of my Lord visit me? | 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
| 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. | 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. |
| 45How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!" | 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" |
| 46Then Mary said, "My soul praises the greatness of the Lord! | 46And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord |
| 47My spirit exults in God, my Savior, | 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, |
| 48because he has looked favorably on his humble servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed, | 48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, |
| 49because the Almighty has done great things for me. His name is holy. | 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. |
| 50His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him. | 50His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. |
| 51He displayed his mighty power with his arm. He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart. | 51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. |
| 52He pulled powerful rulers from their thrones and lifted up humble people. | 52He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. |
| 53He filled hungry people with good things and sent rich people away with nothing. | 53He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. |
| 54He helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, | 54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful |
| 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors— to Abraham and his descendants forever." | 55to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors." |
| 56Now Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home. | 56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. |
| 57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. | 57When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. |
| 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. | 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. |
| 59On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father, | 59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, |
| 60but his mother said, "Absolutely not! He must be named John." | 60but his mother spoke up and said, "No! He is to be called John." |
| 61Their friends told her, "None of your relatives has that name." | 61They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who has that name." |
| 62So they motioned to the baby's father to see what he wanted to name him. | 62Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. |
| 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And everyone was amazed. | 63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, "His name is John." |
| 64Suddenly, Zechariah could open his mouth, his tongue was set free, and he began to speak and to praise God. | 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. |
| 65Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. | 65All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. |
| 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. | 66Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him. |
| 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: | 67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: |
| 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel! He has taken care of his people and has set them free. | 68"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. |
| 69He has raised up a mighty Savior for us from the family of his servant David, | 69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David |
| 70just as he promised long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets | 70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), |
| 71that he would save us from our enemies and from the grip of all who hate us. | 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us-- |
| 72He has shown mercy to our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant, | 72to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, |
| 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. He granted us | 73the oath he swore to our father Abraham: |
| 74deliverance from our enemies' grip so that we could serve him without fear | 74to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear |
| 75and be holy and righteous before him all of our days. | 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. |
| 76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way | 76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, |
| 77and to give his people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins. | 77to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, |
| 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, his light from on high has visited us, | 78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven |
| 79to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death's shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace." | 79to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." |
| 80Now the child continued to grow and to become spiritually strong. He lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared in Israel. | 80And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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