| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, | 1Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, |
| 2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, | 2just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. |
| 3it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, | 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, |
| 4that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. | 4so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. |
| 5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. | 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. |
| 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. | 6Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. |
| 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. | 7But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. |
| 8So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, | 8When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, |
| 9according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. | 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. |
| 10And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. | 10At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. |
| 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. | 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. |
| 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. | 12When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. |
| 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. | 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. |
| 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. | 14There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. |
| 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. | 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. |
| 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. | 16He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. |
| 17He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” | 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." |
| 18And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” | 18"How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years." |
| 19And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. | 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. |
| 20But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” | 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." |
| 21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. | 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. |
| 22But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. | 22When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless. |
| 23So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. | 23When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. |
| 24Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, | 24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, |
| 25“Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” | 25"The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people." |
| 26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, | 26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. | 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” | 28And the angel came to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you." |
| 29But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. | 29But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. |
| 30Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. | 30Then the angel told her: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. |
| 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. | 31Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. |
| 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. | 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. |
| 33And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” | 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end." |
| 34Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” | 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?" |
| 35And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. | 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. |
| 36Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. | 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. |
| 37For with God nothing will be impossible.” | 37For nothing will be impossible with God." |
| 38Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. | 38"I am the Lord's servant," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her. |
| 39Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, | 39In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah |
| 40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. | 40where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. | 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| 42Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! | 42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: "Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! |
| 43But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? | 43How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
| 44For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. | 44For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. |
| 45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” | 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!" |
| 46And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, | 46And Mary said: My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, |
| 47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. | 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, |
| 48For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. | 48because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, |
| 49For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. | 49because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy. |
| 50And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. | 50His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him. |
| 51He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. | 51He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; |
| 52He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. | 52he has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. |
| 53He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. | 53He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. |
| 54He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, | 54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy |
| 55As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.” | 55to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he spoke to our ancestors. |
| 56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house. | 56And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home. |
| 57Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. | 57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. |
| 58When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. | 58Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. |
| 59So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. | 59When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. |
| 60His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” | 60But his mother responded, "No. He will be called John." |
| 61But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” | 61Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." |
| 62So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called. | 62So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. |
| 63And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. | 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: "His name is John." And they were all amazed. |
| 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. | 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. |
| 65Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. | 65Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. |
| 66And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him. | 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. |
| 67Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: | 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: |
| 68“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, | 68Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. |
| 69And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, | 69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, |
| 70As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, | 70just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; |
| 71That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, | 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. |
| 72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, | 72He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered his holy covenant-- |
| 73The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: | 73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, |
| 74To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, | 74since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear |
| 75In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. | 75in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. |
| 76“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, | 76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, |
| 77To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, | 77to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. |
| 78Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; | 78Because of our God's merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us |
| 79To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” | 79to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. |
| 80So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel. | 80The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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