- Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us ,
just as they were handed down to us by the initial - eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
Therefore, having carefully investigated ... everything from the beginning , it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you , most excellent Theophilus ,
so that you may know the certainty of (the) things - you have been taught.
In the time of Herod king - of Jude -a there was a priest named Zechariah - , who belonged to (the) priestly division of Abijah , and (whose) wife vvv vvv vvv vvv Elizabeth (was) a daughter of Aaron.
- Both of them were righteous in the sight of - God , walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
But they had no children , because - Elizabeth was barren , and they were both well along in - - years.
One day ... while (Zechariah -’s) division vvv vvv was on duty (and) he - was serving as priest before - God ,
he was chosen by lot , according to the custom of the priesthood , to enter ... the temple of the Lord - (and) burn incense.
And at the hour of the incense offering , the whole congregation ... ... was praying outside.
Just then an angel of (the) Lord appeared to (Zechariah -) , standing at (the) right side of the altar - of incense.
When Zechariah - saw (him) , he was startled and gripped ... ... with fear.
But 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 are to give him the name John -.
- He will be a joy and delight to you , and many will rejoice at his - birth ,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. - vvv vvv He shall never take wine (or) strong drink , and he will be filled (with the) Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
- Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to (the) Lord their - God.
And he will go on before (the Lord) in (the) spirit and power of Elijah , to turn (the) hearts of (the) fathers to (their) children and (the) disobedient to (the) wisdom of (the) righteous — to make ready a people prepared for (the) Lord. ”
“ vvv How can I be sure of this ? ” - Zechariah - asked ... the angel. “ - I am an old man , and my - wife is well along in - - years. ”
“ I am Gabriel , ” replied ... ... - the angel. “ - I stand in the presence of - God , and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news ... ....
And now you will be silent and vvv unable to speak until the day (this) comes to pass , because ... vvv you did not believe my - words , which will be fulfilled at their - proper time. ”
Meanwhile , the people were waiting for - Zechariah - and wondering why he - took so long in the temple.
When he came out vvv (and) was unable to speak to them , - they realized - he had seen a vision in the temple. - He kept making signs to them but remained speechless.
And ... when the days of his - service were complete , he returned vvv vvv vvv home.
- After these - days , his - wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion .... She declared ,
- “ The Lord has done (this) for me. In (these) days - He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people. ”
- In the - sixth month , - God sent - the angel Gabriel to a town - in Galilee - called Nazareth ,
to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man - named Joseph , (who was) of (the) house of David. And the - virgin’s name (was) Mary.
- (The angel) appeared to her (and) said , “ Greetings , you who are highly favored ! The Lord (is) with you. ”
- - (Mary) was greatly troubled at (his) words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
So the angel told her , “ {Do} not be afraid , Mary , for you have found favor with - God.
vvv Behold , you will conceive ... ... and give birth to a son , and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
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 ,
and He will reign over the house of Jacob vvv vvv forever. - - His kingdom will never end ! ”
“ - How vvv can this be , ” Mary asked - the angel , “ since vvv I am a virgin ... ? ”
The angel - replied ... ... , “ (The) Holy Spirit will come upon you , and (the) power of (the) Most High will overshadow you. So ... the Holy One to be born will be called (the) Son of God.
Look , even Elizabeth your - relative - - has conceived a son in her old age , and she who (was) called barren - is in her sixth month.
For no word from - God will ever fail. ”
“ (I am) the Lord’s servant , ” - Mary answered. “ May it happen to me according to your - word. ” Then the angel left ... her.
- In those - days Mary got ready (and) hurried ... ... to a town in the hill country of Judah ,
(where) she entered ... the home of Zechariah - and greeted - Elizabeth.
- When ... - Elizabeth heard - Mary’s - greeting , the baby leaped in her - womb , and - Elizabeth was filled with (the) Holy Spirit.
- In a loud voice she exclaimed ... ... , “ Blessed are you among women , and blessed is the fruit of your womb !
And why am I so (honored) , that the mother of my Lord should come to me ?
For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached ... my - ears , the baby in my - womb leaped for joy.
- Blessed (is) she who has believed that (the) Lord’s vvv word to her - will be fulfilled. ”
Then Mary said : “ My - soul magnifies the Lord ,
and my - spirit rejoices in - God my - Savior !
For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From - now on all - generations vvv vvv vvv will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me. - Holy (is) His - name.
- His - mercy (extends) to those who fear Him , from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm ; He has scattered (those who are) proud in (the) thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down rulers from (their) thrones , (but) has exalted (the) humble.
He has filled (the) hungry with good things , (but) has sent (the) rich {away} empty.
He has helped His servant Israel , remembering to be merciful ,
as He promised to our - fathers , - to Abraham and - his descendants vvv vvv forever. ”
- Mary stayed with (Elizabeth) for about three months and then returned vvv vvv vvv home.
When the time came for Elizabeth - vvv to have her child , - she gave birth to a son.
- Her - neighbors and - relatives heard that (the) Lord had shown her great ... ... ... - mercy , and they rejoiced with her.
On - the eighth day , - when they came to circumcise the child , - they were going to name (him) after ... ... his - father Zechariah -.
But his - mother replied ... , “ No - ! He shall be called John -. ”
- They said to her , - “ There is no one among your - relatives who bears this - name. ”
(So) they made signs to his father (to find out) what ... he wanted to name (the child).
- (Zechariah -) asked for a tablet (and) wrote - , “ His name is John -. ” And vvv they were all amazed.
- Immediately (Zechariah -’s) - mouth was opened and his - tongue (was released) , and he began to speak , praising - God.
- All their neighbors ... were filled with ... awe , and (people) throughout ... the hill country - of Jude -a were talking about - these - events.
And all - who heard (this) wondered in their - hearts (and) asked , “ What then {will} this - child become ? ” - For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Then his - father Zechariah - was filled with (the) Holy Spirit and prophesied - :
“ Blessed be (the) Lord , the God - of Israel , because He has visited and vvv redeemed - His people.
- He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in (the) house of His servant David ,
as He spoke through ... His holy - prophets , (those) of ages past ,
salvation from our enemies and from (the) hand of all who hate us ,
to show mercy to our - fathers and to remember His holy covenant ,
(the) oath - He swore to our - father Abraham , - to grant us
deliverance from hostile hands , that we may serve Him without fear ,
in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
And ... you , child , will be called a prophet of (the) Most High ; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him ,
- to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through (the) forgiveness of their sins ,
because of (the) tender mercy of our God , by which (the) Dawn will visit us from on high ,
to shine on those who live in darkness and in (the) shadow of death , - to guide our - feet into (the) path of peace. ”
And the child grew and became strong in spirit ; and he lived in the wilderness until (the) time of his public appearance to - Israel.