Luke’s Account of Things Fulfilled

1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that [†]have been fulfilled among us, 2just as those, who from the beginning [†]were eyewitnesses and [†]servants of the [†]word, handed them down to us, 3it seemed fitting for me as well, having [†]investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in orderly sequence, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty about the things you have been [†]taught.

John the Baptist’s Birth Foretold

5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of [†]Abijah, and he had a wife [†]from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and righteous requirements of the [†]Lord. 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in [†]years.

8Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the order of his division, 9according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the [†]sanctuary of the [†]Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11And an angel of the [†]Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will [†]bear you a son, and you will call his name [†]John. 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the [†]Lord; and HE WILL NOT DRINK ANY WINE OR STRONG DRINK, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit [†]while yet in his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the [†]Lord their God. 17And he will go 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, to make ready a people prepared for the [†]Lord.”

18And Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in [†]years.” 19And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were wondering at his delay in the sanctuary. 22But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. And he kept [†]making signs to them, and remained mute. 23And it happened that when the days of his priestly service were fulfilled, he went back home.

24After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she [†]kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25“This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked upon me to take away my disgrace among men.”

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the [†]house of David, and the virgin’s name was [†]Mary. 28And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, [†]favored one! The Lord [†]is with you.” 29But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. 30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32He will be great and 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 the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of His kingdom.” 34But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I [†]am a virgin?” 35The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason [†]the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37For [†]nothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, the slave of the [†]Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39Now [†]at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40and entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And [†]how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed [†]that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her [†]by the [†]Lord.”

Mary Magnifies the Lord

46And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the [†]Lord,

47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48For He has looked upon the humble state of His slave,

For behold, from this time on, all generations will count me blessed.

49For the Mighty One has done great things for me,

And holy is His name.

50AND HIS MERCY IS [†]UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION

TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

51He has done a mighty deed with His arm;

He has scattered those who were proud in the [†]thoughts of their heart.

52He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble.

53HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS,

And sent away the rich empty-handed.

54He has given help to Israel His servant,

[†]In remembrance of His mercy,

55As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his seed forever.”

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

John the Baptist Is Born

57Now the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth to [†]give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58And her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified His great mercy toward her, and they were rejoicing with her.

59And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zechariah, after the name of his father. 60But his mother answered and said, “No, but he shall be called John.” 61And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62And they were making signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they all marveled. 64And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing God. 65And fear came on all those living around them, and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. 66And all who heard these things put them in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the [†]Lord was indeed with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

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

68“Blessed be the [†]Lord God of Israel,

For He visited and accomplished redemption for His people,

69And raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of David His servant—

70As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—

71[†]Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES,

And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US,

72To show mercy toward our fathers,

And to remember His holy covenant,

73The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

74To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,

Might serve Him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,

For you will go on BEFORE THE [†]LORD TO MAKE READY HIS WAYS,

77To give to His people the knowledge of salvation

[†]By the forgiveness of their sins,

78Because of the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,

79TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,

To direct our feet into the way of peace.”

80And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the desolate regions until the day of his public appearance to Israel.