1Since many have undertaken (attempted, taken in hand-upon) to draw up (compose, arrange up in order) a narration (thorough narrative, to fully relate, latin-narrationem) concerning the matters having been accomplished among us, 2Just as they delivered to us by those having been eyewitnesses and servants of the Word from the beginning, 3It seemed fitting also to me, having closely followed all things from the beginning with exactness, to write to you in successive order, most excellent Theophilus, 4So that you might know the certainty, concerning the words which you were instructed (taught by word of mouth).

5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest, named Zechariah, from out of the priestly class of Abijah, and his wife from out of the daughters of Aaron and her name Elizabeth. 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7And there was no child to them, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in their years.

8And it happened in the fulfilling of his priestly service in the orderly array of his priestly class before God, 9According to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot, having entered into the temple of the Lord to burn incense. 10And all the multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of the incense. 11And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of the incense. 12And Zechariah was troubled having seen [him], and fear fell upon him. 13And the angel said to him, Fear not, Zechariah, because your heart-felt petition has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son to you and you will call his name John. 14And he will be joy and gladness to you, and many will rejoice upon his birth; 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he shall not drink wine and strong drink, and he will be filled of the Holy Spirit still from his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to (upon) the Lord their God. 17And he will go forth before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn (turn upon) the hearts of the fathers to (upon) the children and the disobedient (unpersuaded) ones in the wise perspective of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

18And Zechariah said to the angel, By what will I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in her years. 19And the angel answering, said to him, I am Gabriel, the one standing before God and I was sent to speak to you and to bring these glad tidings to you. 20And behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until that day that these things shall happen, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their opportune time.

21And the people were expecting Zechariah, and they marveled at his delaying in the temple. 22And having come out, he was not able to speak to them and they recognized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them and remained mute. 23And it happened when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

24And after these days Elizabeth his wife conceived and hid herself five months, saying, 25Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked upon [me] to take away my disgrace (reproach, defamation) among men.

26And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, whose name was Nazareth, 27To a virgin betrothed to a man, whose name was Joseph from out of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. 28And having come to her, he said, Greetings, you favored with grace! The Lord is with you. {Blessed are you among women.} 29And upon the word she was troubled, and was pondering what kind this greeting might be. 30And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary; for you have found favor with God; 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and will bring forth a son, and you will call His name Jesus. 32He will be great and He will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33And He will reign over (upon) the house of Jacob unto the ages; and of His kingdom there will not be an end. 34And Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I do not know a man? 35And answering, the angel, said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow (cast shade upon) you; therefore also the Holy One being born will be called Son of God. 36And behold, Elizabeth, who is your relative, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her who was called barren. 37Because every saying (rhema) will not be impossible (unable) with God. 38And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid (maid-servant/slave) of the Lord; be it to me according to your saying (rhema). And the angel departed from her.

39And Mary having risen up in those days, went into the hill country (latin-montana-mountains) with quickness unto a town of Judah, 40And she entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And it happened, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42And she called out with a great outcry and said, Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And from where is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, as the voice of your greeting came into my ears the baby leaped in exultation (exuberant joy, exhilaration) in my womb. 45And blessed is the one having believed, for there will be a fulfillment to the things spoken to her from the Lord.

46And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,

47And my spirit rejoices upon God my Savior.

48Because He looked upon the lowliness of His handmaiden (maid-servant/slave); for behold, from now on all the generations will pronounce me blessed.

49For the Mighty One has done great things to me, and holy is His name.

50And His mercy is unto generations and generations to those fearing Him.

51He has done a powerful (dominionative, exerted power) thing with His arm, He has widely scattered the proud in the thought (thorough reasoning/critical thinking, understanding) of their heart.

52He has brought down rulers (those mighty in power) from thrones and exalted (uplifted, latin-exaltavit) the lowly.

53He has filled those hungering with good things and He has sent away those being rich empty.

54He has helped His servant (paidos) Israel, remembering mercy,

55Just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants unto the age.

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

57And to Elizabeth was fulfilled the time for her to give birth, and she bore a son. 58And the neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord was magnifying His mercy with her and they rejoiced with her.

59And it happened on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling it after (upon) the name of his father, Zechariah. 60And his mother answering said, No, rather he will be called John. 61And they said to her, No one from out of your relatives is called by this name. 62And they made signs to his father as to what he might want him to be called. 63And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying, John is his name. And they all marveled. 64And his mouth was opened instantly, and his tongue (glossa), and he spoke, blessing God. 65And fear came upon all those dwelling around them; and in the whole hill country of Judea all these sayings (rhema) were being talked of. 66And all having heard laid (placed, put, set) them in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

68Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and has made redemption for His people,

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

70Just as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from the age,

71Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all those hating us;

72To fulfill mercy with our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

73The oath that He swore to Abraham, our father,

74to give us, that having been rescued from out of the hand of our enemies, to serve Him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go in the sight of the Lord to make ready His ways;

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

78Through the viscerals of mercy (compassion, pity) of our God, in which the Sunrise will visit upon us from out of on high,

79To shine upon those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death; to make straight (directly direct) our feet into the way of peace.

80And the child (paidion) grew and was strengthened in spirit; and he was in the deserts until the day of his public appearance (showing forth, the proclamation of an appointment, inaugurating) to Israel.