Introduction

¹Since [as is well known] many have undertaken to compile an orderly account of the things which have been fulfilled among us [by God], ² exactly as they were handed down to us by those [with personal experience] who from the beginning [of Christ’s ministry] were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word [that is, of the teaching concerning salvation through faith in Christ], ³ it seemed fitting for ^[a]me as well, [and so I have decided] after having carefully searched out and investigated all the events accurately, from the very beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus; ⁴ so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been ^[b]taught [that is, the history and doctrine of the faith].

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

⁵ In the days of Herod [the Great], king of Judea, there was a certain priest whose name was ^[c]Zacharias, of ^[d]the division of Abijah. His wife was ^[e]a descendant of Aaron [the first high priest of Israel], and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ They both were righteous (approved) in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. ⁷ But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years.

⁸ Now it happened while Zacharias was serving as priest before God in the appointed order of his priestly division, ⁹ as was the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter [the sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and ^[f]burn incense [on the altar of incense]. ¹⁰ And all the congregation was praying outside [in the court of the temple] at the hour of the incense offering. ¹¹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zacharias saw the angel, he was troubled and overcome with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your petition [in prayer] was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him ^[g]John. ¹⁴ You will have great joy and delight, and many will rejoice over his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord; and will never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with and empowered to act by the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ He will turn many of the sons of Israel back [from sin] to [love and serve] the Lord their God. 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 [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I be certain of this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in age.” ¹⁹ The angel replied and said to him, “I am Gabriel; I stand and minister in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent [by Him] to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ^20 [h]Listen carefully, you will be continually silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe what I told you; but my words will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

²¹ The people [outside in the court] were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering about his long delay in the temple. ²² But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. ²³ When his time of priestly service was finished, he returned to his home.

²⁴ Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself completely, saying, ²⁵ “This is how the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor on me, to take away my ^[i]disgrace among men.”

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

²⁶ Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin ^[j]betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And coming to her, the angel said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹ But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was. ³⁰ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. ³² He will be great and eminent and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; ³³ and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” ³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?” ³⁵ Then the angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a cloud]; for that reason the holy (pure, sinless) Child shall be called the Son of God. ³⁶ And listen, 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 For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.” ³⁸ Then Mary said, “^[k]Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ Now at this time Mary arose and hurried to the hill country, to a city of Judah (Judea), ⁴⁰ and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him. ⁴² And she exclaimed loudly, “Blessed [worthy to be praised] are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favored by God] is she who believed and confidently trusted that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her [by the angel sent] from the Lord.”

The Magnificat

⁴⁶ And Mary said,

⁵⁶ And Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then returned to her home.

John Is Born

⁵⁷ Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown His great mercy toward her, and they were rejoicing with her.

⁵⁹ It happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child [as required by the Law], and they intended to name him Zacharias, after his father; ⁶⁰ but his mother answered, “No indeed; instead he will be called John.” ⁶¹ And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by that name.” ⁶² Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. ⁶³ And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished. ⁶⁴ At once Zacharias’ mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking, praising and blessing and thanking God. ⁶⁵ Then fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶ All who heard these things kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this little boy turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him [to bring about his birth].

Zacharias’ Prophecy

⁶⁷ Now Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him, and he prophesied, saying,

⁸⁰ 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 [as John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah].