Introduction

1Since many have undertaken to compile an account of the things [a]accomplished among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning [b]were eyewitnesses and [c]servants of the [d]word, 3it seemed fitting to me as well, having [e]investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in an orderly sequence, most excellent Theophilus; 4so that you may know the exact truth about the [f]things you have been [g]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 [h]Abijah; and he had a wife [i]from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7And yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was infertile, and they were both advanced in [j]years.

8Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear [k]gripped 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 shall [l]name him John. 14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit [m]while still in his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF FATHERS BACK TO THEIR CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her [n]years.” 19The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who [o]stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And behold, you will 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 at their proper time.”

21And meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple, and he repeatedly [p]made signs to them, and remained speechless. 23When the days of his priestly service were concluded, he went back home.

24Now after these days his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and she kept herself [q]in seclusion for five months, saying, 25“This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among people.”

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin [r]betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the [s]descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was [t]Mary. 28And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord [u]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 give birth to 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 His kingdom will have no end.” 34But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I [v]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; for that reason also the [w]holy Child will be called the Son of God. 36And behold, even your relative Elizabeth herself has conceived a son in her old age, and [x]she who was called infertile is now in her sixth month. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39Now [y]at this time Mary set out and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When 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 [z]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 [aa]believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her [ab]by the Lord.”

Mary’s Song: The Magnificat

46And Mary said:

“My soul [ac]exalts the Lord,

47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant;

For behold, from now on all generations will [ad]call me blessed.

49“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;

And holy is His name.

50“And His mercy is to generation [ae]after generation

Toward those who fear Him.

51“He has done [af]mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who were proud in the [ag]thoughts of their hearts.

52“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble.

53“He has filled the hungry with good things,

And sent the rich away empty-handed.

54“He has given help to His servant Israel,

[ah]In remembrance of His mercy,

55Just as He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his [ai]descendants forever.”

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

John the Baptist Is Born

57Now the time [aj]had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had [ak]displayed 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, [al]after his father. 60And yet his mother responded and said, “No indeed; 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 [am]made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63And he asked for a tablet and wrote [an]as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking in praise of God. 65And fear came on all those who lived around them; and all these matters were being talked about in the entire hill country of Judea. 66All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For indeed the hand of the Lord was 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 has visited us and accomplished 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 by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient times—

71[ao]Salvation from our enemies,

And from the hand of all who hate us;

72To show mercy to our fathers,

And to remember His holy covenant,

73The oath which He swore to our father Abraham,

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

Would serve Him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

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

For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;

77To give His people the knowledge of salvation

[ap]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 on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80Now the child grew and was becoming strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

[a] 1 Or on which there is full conviction
[b] 2 Lit became
[c] 2 Or ministers
[d] 2 I.e., gospel
[e] 3 Or followed
[f] 4 Lit words
[g] 4 Or orally instructed in
[h] 5 Gr Abia
[i] 5 I.e., of priestly descent
[j] 7 Lit days
[k] 12 Lit fell upon
[l] 13 Lit call his name
[m] 15 Lit still from his
[n] 18 Lit days
[o] 19 Lit stand beside
[p] 22 Possibly gesturing or nodding to them
[q] 24 Or hidden
[r] 27 Unlike engagement, a betrothed couple was considered married, but did not yet live together
[s] 27 Lit house
[t] 27 Gr Mariam, Heb Miriam; so throughout Luke
[u] 28 Or be
[v] 34 Lit do not know a man
[w] 35 Lit the holy one fathered
[x] 36 Lit this is the sixth month for her who
[y] 39 Lit in these days
[z] 43 Lit from where this to me
[aa] 45 Or believed, because there will be
[ab] 45 Lit from
[ac] 46 Lit makes great
[ad] 48 Or consider
[ae] 50 Lit and
[af] 51 Lit might
[ag] 51 Lit thought, attitude
[ah] 54 Lit So as to remember
[ai] 55 Lit seed
[aj] 57 Lit was fulfilled
[ak] 58 Lit magnified His mercy with her
[al] 59 Lit after the name of
[am] 62 I.e., gestured or nodded
[an] 63 Lit saying
[ao] 71 Or Deliverance
[ap] 77 Or Consisting in