001:001 Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative
of the facts which are received with full assurance among us
001:002 on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses
and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,
001:003 it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation
of the facts from their commencement, to write for you,
most noble Theophilus, a connected account,
001:004 that you may fully know the truth of the things which you
have been taught by word of mouth.
001:005 There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest
of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah.
He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her
name was Elizabeth.
001:006 They were both of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying
all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.
001:007 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren;
and both of them were far advanced in life.
001:008 Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed
course of his class,
001:009 it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--
to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense;
001:010 and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying,
at the hour of incense.
001:011 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing
on the right side of the altar of incense;
001:012 and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.
001:013 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your
petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear
you a son, and you are to call his name John.
001:014 Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice
over his birth.
001:015 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or
fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled
with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth.
001:016 Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;
001:017 and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power
of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children,
and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright,
to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."
001:018 "By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this?
For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years."
001:019 "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God,"
answered the angel, "and I have been sent to talk with you
and tell you this good news.
001:020 And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day
when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--
words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."
001:021 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were
surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.
001:022 When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them;
and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary;
but he kept making signs to them and continued dumb.
001:023 When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;
001:024 and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept
herself secluded five months.
001:025 "Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has
graciously taken away my reproach among men."
001:026 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
001:027 to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph,
a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.
001:028 So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you,
favoured one! the Lord is with you."
001:029 She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such
a greeting meant.
001:030 But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you
have found favour with God.
001:031 You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are
to call His name JESUS.
001:032 He will be great and He will be called `Son of the Most High.'
And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;
001:033 and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages,
and of His Kingdom there will be no end."