| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14"You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15"For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16"And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17"It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years." |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands 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] | 20"And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when 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] | 21The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25"This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men." |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32"He 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] | 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36"And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37"For nothing will be impossible with God." |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. |
| 39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, |
| 40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40and entered the house of Zacharias 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] | 42And she cried out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! |
| 43[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 43"And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? |
| 44[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 44"For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. |
| 45[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 45"And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." |
| 46[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 46And Mary said: "My soul exalts 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] | 48"For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. |
| 49[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 49"For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. |
| 50[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 50"AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. |
| 51[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 51"He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. |
| 52[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 52"He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. |
| 53[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 53"HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. |
| 54[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 54"He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, |
| 55[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 55As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." |
| 56[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 56And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. |
| 57[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. |
| 58[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 58Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. |
| 59[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 59And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. |
| 60[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 60But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John." |
| 61[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 61And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name." |
| 62[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 62And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. |
| 63[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 63And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, "His name is John." And they were all astonished. |
| 64[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 64And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. |
| 65[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 65Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. |
| 66[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 66All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. |
| 67[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: |
| 68[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, |
| 69[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 69And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant-- |
| 70[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 70As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-- |
| 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 toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, |
| 73[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 73The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, |
| 74[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 74To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, |
| 75[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 75In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. |
| 76[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 76"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; |
| 77[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 77To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, |
| 78[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, |
| 79[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 79TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace." |
| 80[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 80And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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