| New American Standard Bible 1995 | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, | 1Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, |
| 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, | 2just as the original 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 consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; | 3It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, |
| 4so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. | 4so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. |
| 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. | 5In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was 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. | 6Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. |
| 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. | 7But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. |
| 8Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, | 8When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, |
| 9according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. | 9it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. | 10At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. |
| 11And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. | 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. |
| 12Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. | 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. |
| 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. | 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 will name him John. |
| 14"You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. | 14There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. |
| 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. | 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb. |
| 16"And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. | 16He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. |
| 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." | 17And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people." |
| 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." | 18How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years." |
| 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. | 19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. |
| 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." | 20Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." |
| 21The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. | 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long 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 temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. | 22When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless. |
| 23When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home. | 23When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. |
| 24After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, | 24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, " |
| 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." | 25The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people." |
| 26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, | 26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. | 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." | 28And the angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you." |
| 29But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. | 29But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. |
| 30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. | 30Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. |
| 31"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. | 31Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. |
| 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; | 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." | 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. |
| 34Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" | 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?" |
| 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. | 35The angel replied to her:" The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. |
| 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. | 36And consider your relative Elizabeth--even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. |
| 37"For nothing will be impossible with God." | 37For nothing will be impossible with God."" |
| 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. | 38I am the Lord's slave," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her. |
| 39Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, | 39In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah |
| 40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. | 40where she entered Zechariah's house 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 inside her, 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! | 42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:" You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed! |
| 43"And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? | 43How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
| 44"For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. | 44For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! |
| 45"And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." | 45She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!" |
| 46And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord, | 46And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, |
| 47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. | 47and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, |
| 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. | 48because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, |
| 49"For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. | 49because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. |
| 50"AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. | 50His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. |
| 51"He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. | 51He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; |
| 52"He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. | 52He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. |
| 53"HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. | 53He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. |
| 54"He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, | 54He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, |
| 55As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." | 55just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever. |
| 56And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. | 56And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home. |
| 57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. | 57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. |
| 58Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. | 58Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. |
| 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. | 59When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. |
| 60But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John." | 60But his mother responded, "No! He will be called John." |
| 61And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name." | 61Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." |
| 62And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. | 62So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. |
| 63And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, "His name is John." And they were all astonished. | 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: HIS NAME IS JOHN. And they were all amazed. |
| 64And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. | 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. |
| 65Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. | 65Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. |
| 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. | 66All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him. |
| 67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: | 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: |
| 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, | 68Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. |
| 69And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant-- | 69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, |
| 70As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-- | 70just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets in ancient times; |
| 71Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; | 71salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us. |
| 72To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, | 72He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant-- |
| 73The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, | 73the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, |
| 74To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, | 74since we have been rescued from our enemies' clutches, to serve Him without fear |
| 75In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. | 75in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days. |
| 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; | 76And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, |
| 77To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, | 77to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. |
| 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, | 78Because of our God's merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us |
| 79TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace." | 79to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. |
| 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. | 80The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. |
| 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 | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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