| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, | 1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, |
| 2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, | 2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, |
| 3it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, | 3it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, |
| 4that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. | 4that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. |
| 5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. | 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 before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. | 6And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. |
| 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. | 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. |
| 8So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, | 8Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, |
| 9according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. | 9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. | 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. |
| 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. | 11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. |
| 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. | 12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. |
| 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. | 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 call his name John. |
| 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. | 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 shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. | 15for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. |
| 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. | 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, |
| 17He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, 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 the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” |
| 18And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” | 18And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall 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 in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. | 19And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. |
| 20But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” | 20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” |
| 21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. | 21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. |
| 22But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. | 22And 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. |
| 23So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. | 23And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. |
| 24Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, | 24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, |
| 25“Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” | 25“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” |
| 26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, | 26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, |
| 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. | 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. |
| 28And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” | 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” |
| 29But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. | 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. |
| 30Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. | 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 bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. | 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. |
| 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; 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 to him the throne of his father David, |
| 33And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” | 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” |
| 34Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” | 34And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” |
| 35And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. | 35And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. |
| 36Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. | 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. |
| 37For with God nothing will be impossible.” | 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” |
| 38Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. | 38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. |
| 39Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, | 39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, |
| 40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. | 40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. | 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, |
| 42Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! | 42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! |
| 43But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? | 43And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
| 44For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. | 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. |
| 45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” | 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” |
| 46And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, | 46And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, |
| 47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. | 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, |
| 48For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. | 48for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; |
| 49For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. | 49for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. |
| 50And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. | 50And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. |
| 51He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. | 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; |
| 52He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. | 52he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; |
| 53He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. | 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. |
| 54He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, | 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, |
| 55As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.” | 55as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” |
| 56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house. | 56And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. |
| 57Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. | 57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. |
| 58When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. | 58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. |
| 59So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. | 59And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, |
| 60His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” | 60but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” |
| 61But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” | 61And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” |
| 62So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called. | 62And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. |
| 63And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. | 63And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. |
| 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. | 64And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. |
| 65Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. | 65And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, |
| 66And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him. | 66and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. |
| 67Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: | 67And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, |
| 68“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, | 68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people |
| 69And 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 his servant David, |
| 70As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, | 70as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, |
| 71That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, | 71that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; |
| 72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, | 72to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, |
| 73The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: | 73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us |
| 74To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, | 74that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, |
| 75In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. | 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. |
| 76“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, | 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, |
| 77To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, | 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, |
| 78Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; | 78because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high |
| 79To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” | 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” |
| 80So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel. | 80And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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