¹ Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

² Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

³ It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

⁴ That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

⁵ THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

⁷ And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

⁸ And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

⁹ According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

²⁰ And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

²² And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

²³ And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

²⁴ And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

²⁷ To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

²⁸ And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

²⁹ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

³¹ And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

³³ And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴ Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

³⁷ For with God nothing shall be impossible.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

⁴⁰ And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

⁴² And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

⁵¹ He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

⁵³ He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

⁵⁴ He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

⁵⁵ As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

⁵⁷ Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

⁶¹ And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

⁶² And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

⁶³ And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

⁶⁴ And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

⁶⁵ And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

⁶⁶ And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

⁶⁹ And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

⁷⁰ As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

⁷¹ That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

⁷² To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

⁷³ The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

⁷⁴ That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

⁷⁵ In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

⁷⁶ And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

⁷⁸ Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

⁷⁹ To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

⁸⁰ And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

---

¹ Forasmuch ^G1895 as many ^G4183 have taken in hand ^G2021 to set forth in order ^G392 a declaration ^G1335 of ^G4012 those things ^G4229 which are most surely believed ^G4135 among ^G1722 us, ^G2254

² Even ^G2531 as they delivered ^G3860 them unto us, ^G2254 which ^G3588 from ^G575 the beginning ^G746 were ^G1096 eyewitnesses, ^G845 and ^G2532 ministers ^G5257 of the word; ^G3056

³ It seemed ^G1380 good to me also, ^G2504 having had perfect ^G199 understanding ^G3877 of all things ^G3956 from the very first, ^G509 to write ^G1125 unto thee ^G4671 in order, ^G2517 most excellent ^G2903 Theophilus, ^G2321

⁴ That ^G2443 thou mightest know ^G1921 the certainty ^G803 of ^G4012 those things, ^G3056 wherein ^G3739 thou hast been instructed. ^G2727

⁵ There was ^G1096 in ^G1722 the days ^G2250 of Herod, ^G2264 the king ^G935 of Judaea, ^G2449 a certain ^G5100 priest ^G2409 named ^G3686 Zacharias, ^G2197 of ^G1537 the course ^G2183 of Abia: ^G7 and ^G2532 his ^G846 wife ^G1135 was of ^G1537 the daughters ^G2364 of Aaron, ^G2 and ^G2532 her ^G846 name ^G3686 was Elisabeth. ^G1665

⁶ And ^G1161 they were ^G2258 both ^G297 righteous ^G1342 before ^G1799 God, ^G2316 walking ^G4198 in ^G1722 all ^G3956 the commandments ^G1785 and ^G2532 ordinances ^G1345 of the Lord ^G2962 blameless. ^G273

⁷ And ^G2532 they ^G846 had ^G2258 no ^G3756 child, ^G5043 because ^G2530 that Elisabeth ^G1665 was ^G2258 barren, ^G4723 and ^G2532 they ^G846 both ^G297 were ^G2258 now well stricken ^G4260 in ^G1722 years. ^G2250

⁸ And ^G1161 it came to pass, ^G1096 that while ^G1722 he ^G846 executed the priest's office ^G2407 before ^G1725 God ^G2316 in ^G1722 the order ^G5010 of his ^G846 course, ^G2183

⁹ According ^G2596 to the custom ^G1485 of the priest's office, ^G2405 his lot ^G2975 was to burn incense ^G2370 when he went ^G1525 into ^G1519 the temple ^G3485 of the Lord. ^G2962

¹⁰ And ^G2532 the whole ^G3956 multitude ^G4128 of the people ^G2992 were ^G2258 praying ^G4336 without ^G1854 at the time ^G5610 of incense. ^G2368

¹¹ And ^G1161 there appeared ^G3700 unto him ^G846 an angel ^G32 of the Lord ^G2962 standing ^G2476 on ^G1537 the right side ^G1188 of the altar ^G2379 of incense. ^G2368

¹² And ^G2532 when Zacharias ^G2197 saw ^G1492 him, he was troubled, ^G5015 and ^G2532 fear ^G5401 fell ^G1968 upon ^G1909 him. ^G846

¹³ But ^G1161 the angel ^G32 said ^G2036 unto ^G4314 him, ^G846 Fear ^G5399 not, ^G3361 Zacharias: ^G2197 for ^G1360 thy ^G4675 prayer ^G1162 is heard; ^G1522 and ^G2532 thy ^G4675 wife ^G1135 Elisabeth ^G1665 shall bear ^G1080 thee ^G4671 a son, ^G5207 and ^G2532 thou shalt call ^G2564 his ^G846 name ^G3686 John. ^G2491

¹⁴ And ^G2532 thou ^G4671 shalt have ^G2071 joy ^G5479 and ^G2532 gladness; ^G20 and ^G2532 many ^G4183 shall rejoice ^G5463 at ^G1909 his ^G846 birth. ^G1083

¹⁵ For ^G1063 he shall be ^G2071 great ^G3173 in the sight ^G1799 of the Lord, ^G2962 and ^G2532 shall drink ^G4095 neither ^G3364 wine ^G3631 nor ^G2532 strong drink; ^G4608 and ^G2532 he shall be filled ^G4130 with the Holy ^G40 Ghost, ^G4151 even ^G2089 from ^G1537 his ^G846 mother's ^G3384 womb. ^G2836

¹⁶ And ^G2532 many ^G4183 of the children ^G5207 of Israel ^G2474 shall he turn ^G1994 to ^G1909 the Lord ^G2962 their ^G846 God. ^G2316

¹⁷ And ^G2532 he ^G846 shall go ^G4281 before ^G1799 him ^G846 in ^G1722 the spirit ^G4151 and ^G2532 power ^G1411 of Elias, ^G2243 to turn ^G1994 the hearts ^G2588 of the fathers ^G3962 to ^G1909 the children, ^G5043 and ^G2532 the disobedient ^G545 to ^G1722 the wisdom ^G5428 of the just; ^G1342 to make ready ^G2090 a people ^G2992 prepared ^G2680 for the Lord. ^G2962

¹⁸ And ^G2532 Zacharias ^G2197 said ^G2036 unto ^G4314 the angel, ^G32 Whereby ^{G2596 G5101} shall I know ^G1097 this? ^G5124 for ^G1063 I ^G1473 am ^G1510 an old man, ^G4246 and ^G2532 my ^G3450 wife ^G1135 well stricken ^G4260 in ^G1722 years. ^{G2250 G846}

¹⁹ And ^G2532 the angel ^G32 answering ^G611 said ^G2036 unto him, ^G846 I ^G1473 am ^G1510 Gabriel, ^G1043 that stand ^G3936 in the presence ^G1799 of God; ^G2316 and ^G2532 am sent ^G649 to speak ^G2980 unto ^G4314 thee, ^G4571 and ^G2532 to shew ^G2097 thee ^G4671 these ^G5023 glad tidings. ^G2097

²⁰ And, ^G2532 behold, ^G2400 thou ^G2071 shalt be dumb, ^G4623 and ^G2532 not ^G3361 able ^G1410 to speak, ^G2980 until ^G891 the day ^G2250 that ^G3739 these things ^G5023 shall be performed, ^G1096 because ^{G473 G3739} thou believest ^G4100 not ^G3756 my ^G3450 words, ^G3056 which ^G3748 shall be fulfilled ^G4137 in ^G1519 their ^G846 season. ^G2540

²¹ And ^G2532 the people ^G2992 waited ^{G2258 G4328} for Zacharias, ^G2197 and ^G2532 marvelled ^G2296 that ^G1722 he ^G846 tarried so long ^G5549 in ^G1722 the temple. ^G3485

²² And ^G1161 when he came out, ^G1831 he could ^G1410 not ^G3756 speak ^G2980 unto them: ^G846 and ^G2532 they perceived ^G1921 that ^G3754 he had seen ^G3708 a vision ^G3701 in ^G1722 the temple: ^G3485 for ^G2532 he ^G846 beckoned ^{G2258 G1269} unto them, ^G846 and ^G2532 remained ^G1265 speechless. ^G2974

²³ And ^G2532 it came to pass, ^G1096 that, as soon as ^G5613 the days ^G2250 of his ^G846 ministration ^G3009 were accomplished, ^G4130 he departed ^G565 to ^G1519 his own ^G846 house. ^G3624

²⁴ And ^G1161 after ^G3326 those ^G5025 days ^G2250 his ^G846 wife ^G1135 Elisabeth ^G1665 conceived, ^G4815 and ^G2532 hid ^G4032 herself ^G1438 five ^G4002 months, ^G3376 saying, ^G3004

^{25 G3754} Thus ^G3779 hath ^G4160 the Lord ^G2962 dealt ^G4160 with me ^G3427 in ^G1722 the days ^G2250 wherein ^G3739 he looked on ^G1896 me, to take away ^G851 my ^G3450 reproach ^G3681 among ^G1722 men. ^G444

²⁶ And ^G1161 in ^G1722 the sixth ^G1623 month ^G3376 the angel ^G32 Gabriel ^G1043 was sent ^G649 from ^G5259 God ^G2316 unto ^G1519 a city ^G4172 of Galilee, ^G1056 named ^{G3739 G3686} Nazareth, ^G3478

²⁷ To ^G4314 a virgin ^G3933 espoused ^G3423 to a man ^G435 whose ^G3739 name ^G3686 was Joseph, ^G2501 of ^G1537 the house ^G3624 of David; ^G1138 and ^G2532 the virgin's ^G3933 name ^G3686 was Mary. ^G3137

²⁸ And ^G2532 the angel ^G32 came in ^G1525 unto ^G4314 her, ^G846 and said, ^G2036 Hail, ^G5463 thou that art highly favoured, ^G5487 the Lord ^G2962 is with ^G3326 thee: ^G4675 blessed ^G2127 art thou ^G4771 among ^G1722 women. ^G1135

²⁹ And ^G1161 when she saw ^G1492 him, she was troubled ^G1298 at ^G1909 his ^G846 saying, ^G3056 and ^G2532 cast in her mind ^G1260 what manner ^G4217 of salutation ^G783 this ^G3778 should be. ^G1498

³⁰ And ^G2532 the angel ^G32 said ^G2036 unto her, ^G846 Fear ^G5399 not, ^G3361 Mary: ^G3137 for ^G1063 thou hast found ^G2147 favour ^G5485 with ^G3844 God. ^G2316

³¹ And, ^G2532 behold, ^G2400 thou shalt conceive ^G4815 in ^G1722 thy womb, ^G1064 and ^G2532 bring forth ^G5088 a son, ^G5207 and ^G2532 shalt call ^G2564 his ^G846 name ^G3686 JESUS. ^G2424

³² He ^G3778 shall be ^G2071 great, ^G3173 and ^G2532 shall be called ^G2564 the Son ^G5207 of the Highest: ^G5310 and ^G2532 the Lord ^G2962 God ^G2316 shall give ^G1325 unto him ^G846 the throne ^G2362 of his ^G846 father ^G3962 David: ^G1138

³³ And ^G2532 he shall reign ^G936 over ^G1909 the house ^G3624 of Jacob ^G2384 for ^G1519 ever; ^G165 and ^G2532 of his ^G846 kingdom ^G932 there shall be ^G2071 no ^G3756 end. ^G5056

³⁴ Then ^G1161 said ^G2036 Mary ^G3137 unto ^G4314 the angel, ^G32 How ^G4459 shall ^G2071 this ^G5124 be, ^G2071 seeing ^G1893 I know ^G1097 not ^G3756 a man? ^G435

³⁵ And ^G2532 the angel ^G32 answered ^G611 and said ^G2036 unto her, ^G846 The Holy ^G40 Ghost ^G4151 shall come ^G1904 upon ^G1909 thee, ^G4571 and ^G2532 the power ^G1411 of the Highest ^G5310 shall overshadow ^G1982 thee: ^G4671 therefore ^G1352 also ^G2532 that holy thing ^G40 which shall be born ^G1080 of ^G1537 thee ^G4675 shall be called ^G2564 the Son ^G5207 of God. ^G2316

³⁶ And, ^G2532 behold, ^G2400 thy ^G4675 cousin ^G4773 Elisabeth, ^G1665 she ^G846 hath ^G4815 also ^G2532 conceived ^G4815 a son ^G5207 in ^G1722 her ^G846 old age: ^G1094 and ^G2532 this ^G3778 is ^G2076 the sixth ^G1623 month ^G3376 with her, ^G846 who ^G3588 was called ^G2564 barren. ^G4723

³⁷ For ^G3754 with ^G3844 God ^G2316 nothing ^{G3756 G3956 G4487} shall be impossible. ^G101

³⁸ And ^G1161 Mary ^G3137 said, ^G2036 Behold ^G2400 the handmaid ^G1399 of the Lord; ^G2962 be it ^G1096 unto me ^G3427 according ^G2596 to thy ^G4675 word. ^G4487 And ^G2532 the angel ^G32 departed ^G565 from ^G575 her. ^G846

³⁹ And ^G1161 Mary ^G3137 arose ^G450 in ^G1722 those ^G5025 days, ^G2250 and went ^G4198 into ^G1519 the hill country ^G3714 with ^G3326 haste, ^G4710 into ^G1519 a city ^G4172 of Juda; ^G2448

⁴⁰ And ^G2532 entered ^G1525 into ^G1519 the house ^G3624 of Zacharias, ^G2197 and ^G2532 saluted ^G782 Elisabeth. ^G1665

⁴¹ And ^G2532 it came to pass, ^G1096 that, when ^G5613 Elisabeth ^G1665 heard ^G191 the salutation ^G783 of Mary, ^G3137 the babe ^G1025 leaped ^G4640 in ^G1722 her ^G846 womb; ^G2836 and ^G2532 Elisabeth ^G1665 was filled ^G4130 with the Holy ^G40 Ghost: ^G4151

⁴² And ^G2532 she spake out ^G400 with a loud ^G3173 voice, ^G5456 and ^G2532 said, ^G2036 Blessed ^G2127 art thou ^G4771 among ^G1722 women, ^G1135 and ^G2532 blessed ^G2127 is the fruit ^G2590 of thy ^G4675 womb. ^G2836

⁴³ And ^G2532 whence ^G4159 is this ^G5124 to me, ^G3427 that ^G2443 the mother ^G3384 of my ^G3450 Lord ^G2962 should come ^G2064 to ^G4314 me? ^G3165

⁴⁴ For, ^G1063 lo, ^G2400 as soon as ^G5613 the voice ^G5456 of thy ^G4675 salutation ^G783 sounded ^G1096 in ^G1519 mine ^G3450 ears, ^G3775 the babe ^G1025 leaped ^G4640 in ^G1722 my ^G3450 womb ^G2836 for ^G1722 joy. ^G20

⁴⁵ And ^G2532 blessed ^G3107 is she that believed: ^G4100 for ^G3754 there shall be ^G2071 a performance ^G5050 of those things which were told ^G2980 her ^G846 from ^G3844 the Lord. ^G2962

⁴⁶ And ^G2532 Mary ^G3137 said, ^G2036 My ^G3450 soul ^G5590 doth magnify ^G3170 the Lord, ^G2962

⁴⁷ And ^G2532 my ^G3450 spirit ^G4151 hath rejoiced ^G21 in ^G1909 God ^G2316 my ^G3450 Saviour. ^G4990

⁴⁸ For ^G3754 he hath regarded ^{G1914 G1909} the low estate ^G5014 of his ^G846 handmaiden: ^G1399 for, ^G1063 behold, ^G2400 from ^G575 henceforth ^G3568 all ^G3956 generations ^G1074 shall call ^G3106 me ^G3165 blessed. ^G3106

⁴⁹ For ^G3754 he that is mighty ^G1415 hath done ^G4160 to me ^G3427 great things; ^G3167 and ^G2532 holy ^G40 is his ^G846 name. ^G3686

⁵⁰ And ^G2532 his ^G846 mercy ^G1656 is on them that fear ^G5399 him ^G846 from ^G1519 generation ^G1074 to generation. ^G1074

⁵¹ He hath shewed ^G4160 strength ^G2904 with ^G1722 his ^G846 arm; ^G1023 he hath scattered ^G1287 the proud ^G5244 in the imagination ^G1271 of their ^G846 hearts. ^G2588

⁵² He hath put down ^G2507 the mighty ^G1413 from ^G575 their seats, ^G2362 and ^G2532 exalted ^G5312 them of low degree. ^G5011

⁵³ He hath filled ^G1705 the hungry ^G3983 with good things; ^G18 and ^G2532 the rich ^G4147 he hath sent ^G1821 empty ^G2756 away. ^G1821

⁵⁴ He hath holpen ^G482 his ^G846 servant ^G3816 Israel, ^G2474 in remembrance ^G3415 of his mercy; ^G1656

⁵⁵ As ^G2531 he spake ^G2980 to ^G4314 our ^G2257 fathers, ^G3962 to Abraham, ^G11 and ^G2532 to his ^G846 seed ^G4690 for ^G1519 ever. ^G165

⁵⁶ And ^G1161 Mary ^G3137 abode ^G3306 with ^G4862 her ^G846 about ^G5616 three ^G5140 months, ^G3376 and ^G2532 returned ^G5290 to ^G1519 her own ^G846 house. ^G3624

⁵⁷ Now ^G1161 Elisabeth's ^G1665 full ^G4130 time ^G5550 came ^G4130 that she ^G846 should be delivered; ^G5088 and ^G2532 she brought forth ^G1080 a son. ^G5207

⁵⁸ And ^G2532 her neighbours ^G4040 and ^G2532 her ^G846 cousins ^G4773 heard ^G191 how ^G3754 the Lord ^G2962 had shewed great ^G3170 mercy ^{G1656 G846} upon ^G3326 her; ^G846 and ^G2532 they rejoiced ^G4796 with her. ^G846

⁵⁹ And ^G2532 it came to pass, ^G1096 that on ^G1722 the eighth ^G3590 day ^G2250 they came ^G2064 to circumcise ^G4059 the child; ^G3813 and ^G2532 they called ^G2564 him ^G846 Zacharias, ^G2197 after ^G1909 the name ^G3686 of his ^G846 father. ^G3962

⁶⁰ And ^G2532 his ^G846 mother ^G3384 answered ^G611 and said, ^G2036 Not ^G3780 so; but ^G235 he shall be called ^G2564 John. ^G2491

⁶¹ And ^G2532 they said ^G2036 unto ^G4314 her, ^{G846 G3754} There is ^G2076 none ^G3762 of ^G1722 thy ^G4675 kindred ^G4772 that ^G3739 is called ^G2564 by this ^G5129 name. ^G3686

⁶² And ^G1161 they made signs ^G1770 to his ^G846 father, ^G3962 how ^{G5101 G302} he would have ^G2309 him ^G846 called. ^G2564

⁶³ And ^G2532 he asked for ^G154 a writing table, ^G4093 and wrote, ^G1125 saying, ^G3004 His ^G846 name ^G3686 is ^G2076 John. ^G2491 And ^G2532 they marvelled ^G2296 all. ^G3956

⁶⁴ And ^G1161 his ^G846 mouth ^G4750 was opened ^G455 immediately, ^G3916 and ^G2532 his ^G846 tongue ^G1100 loosed, and ^G2532 he spake, ^G2980 and praised ^G2127 God. ^G2316

⁶⁵ And ^G2532 fear ^G5401 came ^G1096 on ^G1909 all ^G3956 that dwelt round about ^G4039 them: ^G846 and ^G2532 all ^G3956 these ^G5023 sayings ^G4487 were noised abroad ^G1255 throughout ^G1722 all ^G3650 the hill country ^G3714 of Judaea. ^G2449

⁶⁶ And ^G2532 all ^G3956 they that heard ^G191 them laid them up ^G5087 in ^G1722 their ^G846 hearts, ^G2588 saying, ^G3004 What ^G5101 manner ^G686 of child ^G3813 shall ^G2071 this ^G5124 be! ^G2071 And ^G2532 the hand ^G5495 of the Lord ^G2962 was ^G2258 with ^G3326 him. ^G846

⁶⁷ And ^G2532 his ^G846 father ^G3962 Zacharias ^G2197 was filled ^G4130 with the Holy ^G40 Ghost, ^G4151 and ^G2532 prophesied, ^G4395 saying, ^G3004

⁶⁸ Blessed ^G2128 be the Lord ^G2962 God ^G2316 of Israel; ^G2474 for ^G3754 he hath visited ^G1980 and ^G2532 redeemed ^G3085 his ^G846 people, ^{G2992 G4160}

⁶⁹ And ^G2532 hath raised up ^G1453 an horn ^G2768 of salvation ^G4991 for us ^G2254 in ^G1722 the house ^G3624 of his ^G846 servant ^G3816 David; ^G1138

⁷⁰ As ^G2531 he spake ^G2980 by ^G1223 the mouth ^G4750 of his ^G846 holy ^G40 prophets, ^G4396 which ^G3588 have been since ^G575 the world began: ^G165

⁷¹ That we should be saved ^G4991 from ^G1537 our ^G2257 enemies, ^G2190 and ^G2532 from ^G1537 the hand ^G5495 of all ^G3956 that hate ^G3404 us; ^G2248

⁷² To perform ^G4160 the mercy ^G1656 promised to ^G3326 our ^G2257 fathers, ^G3962 and ^G2532 to remember ^G3415 his ^G846 holy ^G40 covenant; ^G1242

⁷³ The oath ^G3727 which ^G3739 he sware ^G3660 to ^G4314 our ^G2257 father ^G3962 Abraham, ^G11

⁷⁴ That he would grant ^G1325 unto us, ^G2254 that we being delivered ^G4506 out of ^G1537 the hand ^G5495 of our ^G2257 enemies ^G2190 might serve ^G3000 him ^G846 without fear, ^G870

⁷⁵ In ^G1722 holiness ^G3742 and ^G2532 righteousness ^G1343 before ^G1799 him, ^G846 all ^G3956 the days ^G2250 of our ^G2257 life. ^G2222

⁷⁶ And ^G2532 thou, ^G4771 child, ^G3813 shalt be called ^G2564 the prophet ^G4396 of the Highest: ^G5310 for ^G1063 thou shalt go ^G4313 before ^G4253 the face ^G4383 of the Lord ^G2962 to prepare ^G2090 his ^G846 ways; ^G3598

⁷⁷ To give ^G1325 knowledge ^G1108 of salvation ^G4991 unto his ^G846 people ^G2992 by ^G1722 the remission ^G859 of their ^G846 sins, ^G266

⁷⁸ Through ^G1223 the tender ^G4698 mercy ^G1656 of our ^G2257 God; ^G2316 whereby ^{G1722 G3739} the dayspring ^G395 from ^G1537 on high ^G5311 hath visited ^G1980 us, ^G2248

⁷⁹ To give light ^G2014 to them that sit ^G2521 in ^G1722 darkness ^G4655 and ^G2532 in the shadow ^G4639 of death, ^G2288 to guide ^G2720 our ^G2257 feet ^G4228 into ^G1519 the way ^G3598 of peace. ^G1515

⁸⁰ And ^G1161 the child ^G3813 grew, ^G837 and ^G2532 waxed strong ^G2901 in spirit, ^G4151 and ^G2532 was ^G2258 in ^G1722 the deserts ^G2048 till ^G2193 the day ^G2250 of his ^G846 shewing ^G323 unto ^G4314 Israel. ^G2474

---

¹ Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

² even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning wer eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

³ it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;

⁴ that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

⁷ And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were `now' well stricken in years.

⁸ Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

⁹ according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense.

¹² And Zacharias was troubled when he saw `him', and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient `to walk' in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared `for him'.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.

²⁰ And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.

²² And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

²³ And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

²⁴ And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon `me', to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

²⁸ And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord `is' with thee.

²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

³¹ And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

³³ and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴ And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.

³⁷ For no word from God shall be void of power.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;

⁴² and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed `art' thou among women, and blessed `is' the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

⁴⁵ And blessed `is' she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

⁵¹ He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

⁵² He hath put down princes from `their' thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

⁵³ The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

⁵⁴ He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

⁵⁵ (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

⁵⁷ Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

⁶¹ And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

⁶² And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

⁶³ And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

⁶⁴ And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue `loosed', and he spake, blessing God.

⁶⁵ And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

⁶⁶ And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ Blessed `be' the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,

⁶⁹ And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David

⁷⁰ (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),

⁷¹ Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

⁷² To show mercy towards, our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

⁷³ The oath which he spake unto Abraham our father,

⁷⁴ To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

⁷⁵ In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

⁷⁶ Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins,

⁷⁸ Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,

⁷⁹ To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

⁸⁰ And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.

---

¹ Seeing that many did take in hand to set in order a narration of the matters that have been fully assured among us,

² as they did deliver to us, who from the beginning became eye-witnesses, and officers of the Word, --

³ it seemed good also to me, having followed from the first after all things exactly, to write to thee in order, most noble Theophilus,

⁴ that thou mayest know the certainty of the things wherein thou wast instructed.

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the course of Abijah, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elisabeth;

⁶ and they were both righteous before God, going on in all the commands and righteousnesses of the Lord blameless,

⁷ and they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their days.

⁸ And it came to pass, in his acting as priest, in the order of his course before God,

⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot was to make perfume, having gone into the sanctuary of the Lord,

¹⁰ and all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the hour of the perfume.

¹¹ And there appeared to him a messenger of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of the perfume,

¹² and Zacharias, having seen, was troubled, and fear fell on him;

¹³ and the messenger said unto him, `Fear not, Zacharias, for thy supplication was heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name John,

¹⁴ and there shall be joy to thee, and gladness, and many at his birth shall joy,

¹⁵ for he shall be great before the Lord, and wine and strong drink he may not drink, and of the Holy Spirit he shall be full, even from his mother's womb;

¹⁶ and many of the sons of Israel he shall turn to the Lord their God,

¹⁷ and he shall go before Him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn hearts of fathers unto children, and disobedient ones to the wisdom of righteous ones, to make ready for the Lord, a people prepared.'

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the messenger, `Whereby shall I know this? for I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days?'

¹⁹ And the messenger answering said to him, `I am Gabriel, who have been standing near before God, and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to proclaim these good news to thee,

²⁰ and lo, thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, till the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, that shall be fulfilled in their season.'

²¹ And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wondering at his tarrying in the sanctuary,

²² and having come out, he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that a vision he had seen in the sanctuary, and he was beckoning to them, and did remain dumb.

²³ And it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he went away to his house,

²⁴ and after those days, his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying --

²⁵ `Thus hath the Lord done to me, in days in which He looked upon `me', to take away my reproach among men.'

²⁶ And in the sixth month was the messenger Gabriel sent by God, to a city of Galilee, the name of which `is' Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin, betrothed to a man, whose name `is' Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin `is' Mary.

²⁸ And the messenger having come in unto her, said, `Hail, favoured one, the Lord `is' with thee; blessed `art' thou among women;'

²⁹ and she, having seen, was troubled at his word, and was reasoning of what kind this salutation may be.

³⁰ And the messenger said to her, `Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;

³¹ and lo, thou shalt conceive in the womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and call his name Jesus;

³² he shall be great, and Son of the Highest he shall be called, and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father,

³³ and he shall reign over the house of Jacob to the ages; and of his reign there shall be no end.'

³⁴ And Mary said unto the messenger, `How shall this be, seeing a husband I do not know?'

³⁵ And the messenger answering said to her, `The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God;

³⁶ and lo, Elisabeth, thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her who was called barren;

³⁷ because nothing shall be impossible with God.'

³⁸ And Mary said, `Lo, the maid-servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to thy saying,' and the messenger went away from her.

³⁹ And Mary having arisen in those days, went to the hill-country, with haste, to a city of Judea,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe did leap in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

⁴² and spake out with a loud voice, and said, `Blessed `art' thou among women, and blessed `is' the fruit of thy womb;

⁴³ and whence `is' this to me, that the mother of my Lord might come unto me?

⁴⁴ for, lo, when the voice of thy salutation came to my ears, leap in gladness did the babe in my womb;

⁴⁵ and happy `is' she who did believe, for there shall be a completion to the things spoken to her from the Lord.'

⁴⁶ And Mary said, `My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit was glad on God my Saviour,

⁴⁸ Because He looked on the lowliness of His maid-servant, For, lo, henceforth call me happy shall all the generations,

⁴⁹ For He who is mighty did to me great things, And holy `is' His name,

⁵⁰ And His kindness `is' to generations of generations, To those fearing Him,

⁵¹ He did powerfully with His arm, He scattered abroad the proud in the thought of their heart,

⁵² He brought down the mighty from thrones, And He exalted the lowly,

⁵³ The hungry He did fill with good, And the rich He sent away empty,

⁵⁴ He received again Israel His servant, To remember kindness,

⁵⁵ As He spake unto our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed -- to the age.'

⁵⁶ And Mary remained with her about three months, and turned back to her house.

⁵⁷ And to Elisabeth was the time fulfilled for her bringing forth, and she bare a son,

⁵⁸ and the neighbours and her kindred heard that the Lord was making His kindness great with her, and they were rejoicing with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling him by the name of his father, Zacharias,

⁶⁰ and his mother answering said, `No, but he shall be called John.'

⁶¹ And they said unto her -- `There is none among thy kindred who is called by this name,'

⁶² and they were making signs to his father, what he would wish him to be called,

⁶³ and having asked for a tablet, he wrote, saying, `John is his name;' and they did all wonder;

⁶⁴ and his mouth was opened presently, and his tongue, and he was speaking, praising God.

⁶⁵ And fear came upon all those dwelling around them, and in all the hill-country of Judea were all these sayings spoken of,

⁶⁶ and all who heard did lay them up in their hearts, saying, `What then shall this child be?' and the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and did prophesy, saying,

⁶⁸ `Blessed `is' the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He did look upon, And wrought redemption for His people,

⁶⁹ And did raise an horn of salvation to us, In the house of David His servant,

⁷⁰ As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, Which have been from the age;

⁷¹ Salvation from our enemies, And out of the hand of all hating us,

⁷² To do kindness with our fathers, And to be mindful of His holy covenant,

⁷³ An oath that He sware to Abraham our father,

⁷⁴ To give to us, without fear, Out of the hand of our enemies having been delivered,

⁷⁵ To serve Him, in holiness and righteousness Before Him, all the days of our life.

⁷⁶ And thou, child, Prophet of the Highest Shalt thou be called; For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, To prepare His ways.

⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation to His people In remission of their sins,

⁷⁸ Through the tender mercies of our God, In which the rising from on high did look upon us,

⁷⁹ To give light to those sitting in darkness and death-shade, To guide our feet to a way of peace.'

⁸⁰ And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and he was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

---

¹ Forasmuch as many have undertaken to draw up a relation concerning the matters fully believed among us,

² as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses of and attendants on the Word have delivered them to us,

³ it has seemed good to *me* also, accurately acquainted from the origin with all things, to write to thee with method, most excellent Theophilus,

⁴ that thou mightest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been instructed.

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the course of Abia, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

⁶ And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

⁷ And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

⁸ And it came to pass, as he fulfilled his priestly service before God in the order of his course,

⁹ it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.

¹⁰ And all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

¹¹ And an angel of [the] Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the altar of incense.

¹² And Zacharias was troubled, seeing [him], and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, because thy supplication has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And he shall be to thee joy and rejoicing, and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great before [the] Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with [the] Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

¹⁶ And many of the sons of Israel shall he turn to [the] Lord their God.

¹⁷ And *he* shall go before him in [the] spirit and power of Elias, to turn hearts of fathers to children, and disobedient ones to [the] thoughts of just [men], to make ready for [the] Lord a prepared people.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this, for *I* am an old man, and my wife advanced in years?

¹⁹ And the angel answering, said to him, *I* am Gabriel, who stand before God, and I have been sent to speak to thee, and to bring these glad tidings to thee;

²⁰ and behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because thou hast not believed my words, the which shall be fulfilled in their time.

²¹ And the people were awaiting Zacharias, and they wondered at his delaying in the temple.

²² But when he came out he could not speak to them, and they recognised that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and continued dumb.

²³ And it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, he departed to his house.

²⁴ Now after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus has [the] Lord done to me in [these] days in which he looked upon [me] to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ But in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent of God to a city of Galilee, of which [the] name [was] Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name [was] Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name [was] Mary.

²⁸ And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, [thou] favoured one! the Lord [is] with thee: [blessed art *thou* amongst women].

²⁹ But she, [seeing] [the angel], was troubled at his word, and reasoned in her mind what this salutation might be.

³⁰ And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;

³¹ and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

³² *He* shall be great, and shall be called Son of [the] Highest; and [the] Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father;

³³ and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for the ages, and of his kingdom there shall not be an end.

³⁴ But Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answering said to her, [The] Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and power of [the] Highest overshadow thee, wherefore the holy thing also which shall be born shall be called Son of God.

³⁶ And behold, Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her that was called barren:

³⁷ for nothing shall be impossible with God.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold the bondmaid of [the] Lord; be it to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary, rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with [the] Holy Spirit,

⁴² and cried out with a loud voice and said, Blessed [art] *thou* amongst women, and blessed the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whence [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my womb.

⁴⁵ And blessed [is] she that has believed, for there shall be a fulfilment of the things spoken to her from [the] Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he has looked upon the low estate of his bondmaid; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For the Mighty One has done to me great things, and holy [is] his name;

⁵⁰ and his mercy [is] to generations and generations to them that fear him.

⁵¹ He has wrought strength with his arm; he has scattered haughty [ones] in the thought of their heart.

⁵² He has put down rulers from thrones, and exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty.

⁵⁴ He has helped Israel his servant, in order to remember mercy,

⁵⁵ (as he spoke to our fathers,) to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her house.

⁵⁷ But the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth that she should bring forth, and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that [the] Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called it after the name of his father, Zacharias.

⁶⁰ And his mother answering said, No; but he shall be called John.

⁶¹ And they said to her, There is no one among thy kinsfolk who is called by this name.

⁶² And they made signs to his father as to what he might wish it to be called.

⁶³ And having asked for a writing-table, he wrote saying, John is his name. And they all wondered.

⁶⁴ And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he spake, blessing God.

⁶⁵ And fear came upon all who dwelt round about them; and in the whole hill-country of Judaea all these things were the subject of conversation.

⁶⁶ And all who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? And [the] Lord's hand was with him.

⁶⁷ And Zacharias his father was filled with [the] Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ Blessed be [the] Lord the God of Israel, because he has visited and wrought redemption for his people,

⁶⁹ and raised up a horn of deliverance for us in the house of David his servant;

⁷⁰ as he spoke by [the] mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began;

⁷¹ deliverance from our enemies and out of the hand of all who hate us;

⁷² to fulfil mercy with our fathers and remember his holy covenant,

⁷³ [the] oath which he swore to Abraham our father,

⁷⁴ to give us, that, saved out of the hand of our enemies, we should serve him without fear

⁷⁵ in piety and righteousness before him all our days.

⁷⁶ And *thou*, child, shalt be called [the] prophet of [the] Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of [the] Lord to make ready his ways;

⁷⁷ to give knowledge of deliverance to his people by [the] remission of their sins

⁷⁸ on account of [the] bowels of mercy of our God; wherein [the] dayspring from on high has visited us,

⁷⁹ to shine upon them who were sitting in darkness and in [the] shadow of death, to guide our feet into [the] way of peace.

⁸⁰ -- And the child grew and was strengthened in spirit; and he was in the deserts until the day of his shewing to Israel.

---

¹ Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

² even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,

³ it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;

⁴ that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

⁶ They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

⁸ Now it happened, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his division,

⁹ according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

¹⁰ The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

¹⁶ He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.

¹⁷ He will 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."

¹⁸ Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."

¹⁹ The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.

²⁰ Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

²¹ The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

²² When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

²³ It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

²⁴ After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men."

²⁶ Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

²⁸ Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"

²⁹ But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

³⁰ The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

³¹ Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'

³² He 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,

³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"

³⁵ The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

³⁷ For everything spoken by God is possible."

³⁸ Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.

³⁹ Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³ Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"

⁴⁶ Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.

⁴⁷ My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

⁴⁸ For he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

⁵⁰ His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

⁵² He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴ He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

⁵⁵ As he spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his seed forever."

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.

⁶⁰ His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."

⁶¹ They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."

⁶² They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." They all marveled.

⁶⁴ His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.

⁶⁵ Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.

⁶⁶ All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, For he has visited and worked redemption for his people;

⁶⁹ And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

⁷⁰ (As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

⁷¹ Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;

⁷² To show mercy towards our fathers, To remember his holy covenant,

⁷³ The oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,

⁷⁴ To grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

⁷⁵ In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

⁷⁶ And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, For you will go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways,

⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

⁷⁸ Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,

⁷⁹ To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace."

⁸⁰ The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

---

¹ As a number of attempts have been made to put together in order an account of those events which took place among us,

² As they were handed down to us by those who saw them from the first and were preachers of the word,

³ It seemed good to me, having made observation, with great care, of the direction of events in their order, to put the facts in writing for you, most noble Theophilus;

⁴ So that you might have certain knowledge of those things about which you were given teaching.

⁵ In the days of Herod, king of Judaea, there was a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the order of Abijah; and he had a wife of the family of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

⁶ They were upright in the eyes of God, keeping all the rules and orders of God, and doing no wrong.

⁷ And they were without children, because Elisabeth had never given birth, and they were at that time very old.

⁸ Now it came about that in his turn he was acting as priest before God,

⁹ And as was the way of the priests, he had to go into the Temple to see to the burning of perfumes.

¹⁰ And all the people were offering prayers outside, at the time of the burning of perfumes.

¹¹ And he saw an angel of the Lord in his place on the right side of the altar.

¹² And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear came on him.

¹³ But the angel said, Have no fear, Zacharias, for your prayer has come to the ears of God, and your wife Elisabeth will have a son, and his name will be John.

¹⁴ And you will be glad and have great delight; and numbers of people will have joy at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the eyes of the Lord; he will not take wine or strong drink; and he will be full of the Spirit of God from his birth.

¹⁶ And through him great numbers of the children of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning the hearts of fathers to their children, and wrongdoers to the way of righteousness; to make ready a people whose hearts have been turned to the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, How may I be certain of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far on in years.

¹⁹ And the angel, answering, said, I am Gabriel, whose place is before God; I have been sent to say these words to you and to give you this good news.

²⁰ Now, see, you will be without voice or language till the day when these things come about, because you had not faith in my words, which will have effect at the right time.

²¹ And the people were waiting for Zacharias and were surprised because he was in the Temple for such a long time.

²² And when he came out he was not able to say anything, and they saw that he had seen a vision in the Temple; and he was making signs to them without words.

²³ And when the days of his work in the Temple were ended, he went back to his house.

²⁴ After that time, Elisabeth, being certain that she was to become a mother, kept herself from men's eyes for five months, saying,

²⁵ The Lord has done this to me, for his eyes were on me, to take away my shame in the eyes of men.

²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee, named Nazareth,

²⁷ To a virgin who was to be married to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.

²⁸ And the angel came in to her and said, Peace be with you, to whom special grace has been given; the Lord is with you.

²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at his words, and said to herself, What may be the purpose of these words?

³⁰ And the angel said to her, Have no fear, Mary, for you have God's approval.

³¹ And see, you will give birth to a son, and his name will be Jesus.

³² He will be great, and will be named the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his father:

³³ He will have rule over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, How may this be, because I have had no knowledge of a man?

³⁵ And the angel in answer said to her, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will come to rest on you, and so that which will come to birth will be named holy, Son of God.

³⁶ Even now Elisabeth, who is of your family, is to be a mother, though she is old: and this is the sixth month with her who was without children.

³⁷ For there is nothing which God is not able to do.

³⁸ And Mary said: I am the servant of the Lord; may it be to me as you say. And the angel went away.

³⁹ Then Mary got up and went quickly into the high lands, to a town of Judah;

⁴⁰ And went into the house of Zacharias and took Elisabeth in her arms.

⁴¹ And when the voice of Mary came to the ears of Elisabeth, the baby made a sudden move inside her; then Elisabeth was full of the Holy Spirit,

⁴² And she said with a loud voice: May blessing be on you among women, and a blessing on the child of your body.

⁴³ How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me?

⁴⁴ For, truly, when the sound of your voice came to my ears, the baby in my body made a sudden move for joy.

⁴⁵ Happy will she be who had faith that the things which the Lord has said to her will be done.

⁴⁶ And Mary said: My soul gives glory to God;

⁴⁷ My spirit is glad in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he has had pity on his servant, though she is poor and lowly placed: and from this hour will all generations give witness to the blessing which has come to me.

⁴⁹ For he who is strong has done great things for me; and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ His mercy is for all generations in whom is the fear of him.

⁵¹ With his arm he has done acts of power; he has put to flight those who have pride in their hearts.

⁵² He has put down kings from their seats, lifting up on high the men of low degree.

⁵³ Those who had no food he made full of good things; the men of wealth he sent away with nothing in their hands;

⁵⁴ His help he has given to Israel, his servant, so that he might keep in mind his mercy to Abraham and his seed for ever,

⁵⁵ As he gave his word to our fathers.

⁵⁶ And Mary was with her for about three months and then went back to her house.

⁵⁷ Now it was time for Elisabeth to give birth, and she had a son.

⁵⁸ And it came to the ears of her neighbours and relations that the Lord had been very good to her, and they took part in her joy.

⁵⁹ And on the eighth day they came to see to the circumcision of the child, and they would have given him the name of Zacharias, his father's name;

⁶⁰ But his mother made answer and said, No, his name is John.

⁶¹ And they said, Not one of your relations has that name.

⁶² And they made signs to his father, to say what name was to be given to him.

⁶³ And he sent for writing materials and put down: His name is John; and they were all surprised.

⁶⁴ And straight away his mouth was open and his tongue was free and he gave praise to God.

⁶⁵ And fear came on all those who were living round about them: and there was much talk about all these things in all the hill-country of Judaea.

⁶⁶ And all who had word of them kept them in their minds and said, What will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ And his father, Zacharias, was full of the Holy Spirit, and with the voice of a prophet said these words:

⁶⁸ Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and made them free,

⁶⁹ Lifting up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

⁷⁰ (As he said, by the mouth of his holy prophets, from the earliest times,)

⁷¹ Salvation from those who are against us, and from the hands of those who have hate for us;

⁷² To do acts of mercy to our fathers and to keep in mind his holy word,

⁷³ The oath which he made to Abraham, our father,

⁷⁴ That we, being made free from the fear of those who are against us, might give him worship,

⁷⁵ In righteousness and holy living before him all our days.

⁷⁶ And you, child, will be named the prophet of the Most High: you will go before the face of the Lord, to make ready his ways;

⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation to his people, through the forgiveness of sins,

⁷⁸ Because of the loving mercies of our God, by which the dawn from heaven has come to us,

⁷⁹ To give light to those in dark places, and in the shade of death, so that our feet may be guided into the way of peace.

⁸⁰ And the child became tall, and strong in spirit; and he was living in the waste land till the day when he came before the eyes of Israel.