| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. | 1Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, |
| 2They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. | 2like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning. |
| 3Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, | 3So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, |
| 4so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold | 4so that you may know for certain the things you were taught. |
| 5When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. | 5During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. |
| 6Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. | 6They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. |
| 7They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. | 7But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old. |
| 8One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. | 8Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, |
| 9As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. | 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. | 10Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. |
| 11While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. | 11An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him. |
| 12Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. | 12And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear. |
| 13But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him 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; you will name him John. |
| 14You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, | 14Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, |
| 15for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. | 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. |
| 16And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. | 16He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. |
| 17He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” | 17And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him." |
| 18Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” | 18Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well." |
| 19Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me 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 to bring you this good news. |
| 20But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” | 20And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place." |
| 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. | 21Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place. |
| 22When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary. | 22When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak. |
| 23When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. | 23When his time of service was over, he went to his home. |
| 24Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. | 24After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said, |
| 25“How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” The Birth of Jesus Foretold | 25"This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people." |
| 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, | 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. | 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! ” | 28The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!" |
| 29Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. | 29But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. |
| 30“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! | 30So the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! |
| 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. | 31Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. |
| 32He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor 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 Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” | 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." |
| 34Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” | 34Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?" |
| 35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. | 35The angel replied, "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 holy; he will be called the Son of God. |
| 36What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. | 36"And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age--although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! |
| 37For the word of God will never fail. ” | 37For nothing will be impossible with God." |
| 38Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. Mary Visits Elizabeth | 38So Mary said, "Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. |
| 39A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town | 39In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, |
| 40where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. | 40and entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, 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. |
| 42Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. | 42She exclaimed with a loud voice, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! |
| 43Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? | 43And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? |
| 44When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. | 44For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. |
| 45You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise | 45And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled." |
| 46Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. | 46And Mary said, "My soul exalts the Lord, |
| 47How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! | 47and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior, |
| 48For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. | 48because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, |
| 49For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. | 49because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name; |
| 50He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. | 50from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him. |
| 51His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. | 51He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts. |
| 52He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. | 52He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; |
| 53He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. | 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty. |
| 54He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. | 54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, |
| 55For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.” | 55as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." |
| 56Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home. The Birth of John the Baptist | 56So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home. |
| 57When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. | 57Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. |
| 58And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her. | 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. |
| 59When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. | 59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. |
| 60But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” | 60But his mother replied, "No! He must be named John." |
| 61“What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” | 61They said to her, "But none of your relatives bears this name." |
| 62So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. | 62So they made signs to the baby's father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son. |
| 63He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” | 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed. |
| 64Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God. | 64Immediately Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God. |
| 65Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. | 65All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about. |
| 66Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way. Zechariah’s Prophecy | 66All who heard these things kept them in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the Lord's hand was indeed with him. |
| 67Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy: | 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, |
| 68“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. | 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people. |
| 69He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, | 69For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, |
| 70just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. | 70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago, |
| 71Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. | 71that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us. |
| 72He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— | 72He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant-- |
| 73the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. | 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants |
| 74We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, | 74that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear, |
| 75in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. | 75in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live. |
| 76“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. | 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, |
| 77You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. | 77to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. |
| 78Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, | 78Because of our God's tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high |
| 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path 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." |
| 80John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel. | 80And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel. |
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