| Berean Study Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, | 1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, |
| 2just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word. | 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, |
| 3Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, | 3it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; |
| 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. | 4so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. |
| 5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron. | 5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. |
| 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord. | 6They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. |
| 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years. | 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. |
| 8One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, | 8Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, |
| 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. | 9according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside. | 10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. |
| 11Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. | 11And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. |
| 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear. | 12Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. |
| 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. | 13But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. |
| 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, | 14"You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. |
| 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. | 15"For 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 while yet in his mother's womb. |
| 16Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God. | 16"And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. |
| 17And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” | 17"It is he who will go as a forerunner 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, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." |
| 18“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” | 18Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years." |
| 19“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. | 19The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. |
| 20And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” | 20"And 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." |
| 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple. | 21The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. |
| 22When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless. | 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 kept making signs to them, and remained mute. |
| 23And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home. | 23When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home. |
| 24After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared, | 24After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, |
| 25“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” | 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 men." |
| 26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, | 26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. | 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” | 28And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." |
| 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. | 29But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. |
| 30So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. | 30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. |
| 31Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. | 31"And 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. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, | 32"He 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. His kingdom will never end!” | 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." |
| 34“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” | 34Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" |
| 35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. | 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. |
| 36Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. | 36"And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. |
| 37For no word from God will ever fail.” | 37"For nothing will be impossible with God." |
| 38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her. | 38And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. |
| 39In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, | 39Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, |
| 40where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. | 40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. | 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| 42In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! | 42And she cried out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! |
| 43And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? | 43"And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? |
| 44For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. | 44"For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. |
| 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.” | 45"And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." |
| 46Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, | 46And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord, |
| 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! | 47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. |
| 48For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. | 48"For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. |
| 49For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name. | 49"For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. |
| 50His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. | 50"AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. |
| 51He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts. | 51"He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. |
| 52He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble. | 52"He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. |
| 53He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty. | 53"HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. |
| 54He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, | 54"He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, |
| 55as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” | 55As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." |
| 56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. | 56And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. |
| 57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. | 57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. |
| 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. | 58Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. |
| 59On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah. | 59And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. |
| 60But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.” | 60But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John." |
| 61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.” | 61And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name." |
| 62So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child. | 62And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. |
| 63Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. | 63And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, "His name is John." And they were all astonished. |
| 64Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God. | 64And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. |
| 65All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events. | 65Fear 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 this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. | 66All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. |
| 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: | 67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: |
| 68“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people. | 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, |
| 69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, | 69And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant-- |
| 70as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, | 70As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-- |
| 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, | 71Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; |
| 72to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, | 72To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, |
| 73the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us | 73The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, |
| 74deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear, | 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 the days of our lives. | 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 on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, | 76"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; |
| 77to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, | 77To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, |
| 78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, | 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, |
| 79to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” | 79TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace." |
| 80And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel. | 80And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. |
| The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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