SINCE many have attempted to compose a narrative of facts, confirmed to
us by the fullest evidence: (2)exactly as they delivered them to us,
who were eve witnesses from the first, and ministers of the word; (3)it
seemed right to me also, having obtained accurate knowledge of all
things from above, to write to thee in regular order, most excellent
Theophilus, (4)to the intent that thou mayest clearly know the
certainty of those matters, concerning which thou hast been instructed.
(5)There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest
named Zacharias, of the course of Abiah: and his wife of the daughters
of Aaron, and her name 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 Elizabeth was barren, and
both were far advanced in years. (8)And it came to pass, as he
discharged his priestly office in the order of his periodical
ministration before God, (9)according to the custom of the priesthood,
it fell to his lot to burn the incense when he went into the temple of
the Lord. (10)And all the multitude of people was praying without, at
the time of the burning the incense. (11)And an angel of the Lord
appeared to him standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
(12)And Zacharias was agitated greatly at the sight, 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 bring thee a son, and
thou shalt call his name John. (14)And it shall give thee joy and
exultation; and many shall rejoice at his birth: (15)for he shall be
great in the sight of the Lord; and he shall never drink wine, nor any
intoxicating liquor; 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 unto the Lord, their God. (17)And he shall go forth before him in
the spirit and power of Elias, to convert the hearts of fathers with
their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to
prepare a people ready for the Lord.
(18)And Zacharias said to the angel, By what shall I know this? for I
am old, and my wife far advanced in her age. (19)And the angel
answering said to him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God;
and I have been sent to speak to thee, and to proclaim these glad
tidings to thee. (20)And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and unable to
speak, until that day when these things shall come to pass, because
thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled at their
exact time.
(21)And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and marvelled that he
tarried so long in the temple. (22)And when he came out, he could not
speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the
temple: for he himself made signs to them, and continued deaf and dumb.
(23)And it came to pass, when the days of his ministry were fulfilled,
he went to his own house. (24)And after those days Elisabeth his wife
conceived, and kept herself in retirement five months, saying, (25)Thus
hath the Lord dealt with me in the days in which he looked upon me to
take away my reproach among men.
(26)Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a
city of Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth, (27)to a virgin of the
house of David, betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph; and the
virgin's name was Mary. (28)And the angel coming in to her said, All
hail! O thou highly favoured one! the Lord is with thee: blessed art
thou among women. (29)And when she saw him, she was greatly agitated at
his address: and reasoned in herself what kind of salutation this could
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 thou shalt call his name JESUS. (32)He
shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the
Lord God will give him the throne of David his father; (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, How shall this be, seeing I know not man?
(35)And the angel answering said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come
upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee;
wherefore also the Holy One that shall be born of thee, shall be called
the Son of God. (36)And, behold, Elisabeth thy cousin, she also hath
conceived in her old age: and this is the fifth month _of pregnancy_
with her who was called barren. (37)For there is nothing impossible
with God. (38)Then said Mary, Behold a servant of the Lord, be it to me
according to thy declaration. And the angel departed from her.
(39)Then Mary arose in those days, and went with haste into the hill
country, to a city of Judah, (40)and entered into the house of
Zachariah, and saluted Elisabeth. (41)And it came to pass, when
Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped for joy in her
womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: (42)and she
exclaimed with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. (43)And whence is this favour
shewn me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (44)For, lo! as
the voice of thy salutation reached my ears, the babe leaped for joy in
my womb. (45)And blessed is she that hath believed; for there shall be
a fulfilment of the things told her from the Lord.
(46)And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, (47)and my spirit
hath exulted in God my Saviour: (48)for he hath looked upon the lowly
state of his maid-servant: for, lo! henceforth shall all generations
pronounce me blessed. (49)For the Mighty One hath done great things for
me; and holy is his name. (50)And his mercy is upon those who fear him,
from generation to generation. (51)He hath displayed strength from his
arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
(52)He hath cast down potentates from the throne, and hath exalted the
lowly. (53)He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he
hath sent empty away. (54)He hath succoured Israel his servant, that he
might be mindful of mercy for ever; (55)as he had spoken to our
fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed. (56)And Mary abode with her about
three months, and returned unto her home.
(57)Now Elisabeth's time was up that she should be delivered; and she
brought a son. (58)And her neighbours and her relations heard, that the
Lord had magnified his mercy upon her; and they congratulated her.
(59)And it came to pass, on the eighth day they came to circumcise the
child; and they called him after the name of his father, Zacharias.
(60)And his mother spake and said, No; but he shall be called John.
(61)And they said to her, There is not one among thy relations, who is
called by this name. (62)And they made signs to his father, what he
would have him called. (63)And desiring a writing tablet, he wrote,
saying, John is his name. And they were all surprised. (64)Instantly
then his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he burst out in
praises to God. (65)And great awe fell on all those who dwelt around
them: and in all the mountainous country of Judea, all these
circumstances were the subject of conversation. (66)And all who heard
them laid them up in their hearts, saying, Well! what a child will this
be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
(67)And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Ghost, 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, which have been from the
beginning: (71)even preservation from our enemies, and from the hand of
all that hate us; (72)to perform mercy towards our fathers, and to
remember his own holy covenant: (73)the oath which he sware to Abraham
our father, (74)to give us, that we, secure from fear, rescued from the
hands of our enemies, should serve him, (75)in righteousness and
holiness before him, all the days of our life. (76)And thou, child,
shalt be called the prophet of the Most High; for thou shalt go before
the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; (77)to give the knowledge of
salvation to his people, by the remission of their sins, (78)through
the bowels of mercy of our God; with which he hath visited us, as the
dawn of the morning from on high, (79)to illumine those who sat in
darkness, and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way
of peace. (80)And the child grew, and became mighty in spirit, and was
in the deserts until the days of his public exhibition to Israel.