Dedication to Theophilus
(Acts 1:1–3)

1Since many have undertaken to arrange the narration concerning things rendered perfectly certain among us, 2As they delivered to us, who from the beginning being eyewitnesses, and servants of the word; 3It seemed fitting to me also, having comprehended all things thoroughly from above, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4That thou mightest know the certainty of the words concerning which thou hast been instructed.

Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth

5There was in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the daily order of Abia: and his wife the daughter of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth. 6And they were both just before God, going faultless in all the commands and precepts of the Lord. 7And no child was to them, as Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their days.

8And it was in his being priest, in the arranging of the daily order before God, 9According to the custom of the priesthood, he drew lots to burn incense, having entered into the temple of the Lord. 10And all the multitude of people were praying without at the hour of incense. 11And a messenger of the Lord was seen to him, standing from the right of the altar of fumigation. 12And Zacharias having seen, was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13And the messenger said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy supplication has been heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14And joy shall be to thee, and gladness: and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15For he shall be great before the Lord, and wine and fermented liquor he should not drink; and with the Holy Spirit shall he be filled, even from his mother's womb. 16And many of the sons of Israel shall he turn back to the Lord their God. 17And he shall come before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the intelligence of the just; to prepare a people having been put in order for the Lord.

18And Zacharias said to the messenger, By what shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife advanced in her days. 19The messenger having answered, said to him, I am Gabriel, standing before God; and was sent to speak to thee, and announce these good news to thee. 20And, behold, thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall be, because thou didst not believe my words, which shall be completed in their time.

21And the people were expecting Zacharias, and wondered at his tarrying in the temple. 22And having come out, he could not speak to them: and they knew that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he was nodding to them, and remained dumb. 23And it was when the days of his service were filled, he departed to his house.

24And after these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and concealed herself five months, saying, 25That so has the Lord done to me in days which he looked upon, to take away my reproach among men.

Gabriel Foretells Jesus’ Birth

26And in the sixth month the messenger Gabriel was sent by God into a city of Galilee, to which the name Nazareth, 27To a virgin betrothed to a man to whom the name of Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name Mary. 28And the messenger, having come in to her said, Hail, thou made acceptable; the Lord with thee: praised thou among women. 29And having seen him, she was troubled at his words, and turned in her thoughts of what country this greeting might be. 30And the messenger said to her, Fear not, Mary: thou hast found grace with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb, and shalt bear a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and he shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34And Mary said to the messenger, How shall this be, since I know not man? 35And the messenger having answered, said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36And, behold, Elizabeth thy kinsman, she also having conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month to her, called barren. 37For nothing shall be impossible with God. 38And Mary said Behold the servant of the Lord; may it be to me according to thy word. And the messenger departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39And Mary having risen in those days, went into the mountainous country with haste, into a city of Judah; 40And she entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elizabeth. 41And it was when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit: 42And she called out with a great voice, and said, Praised thou among women, and praised the fruit of thy womb. 43And whence this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For, behold, when the voice of thy greeting was in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45And happy she having believed: for a completion of the things spoken shall be to her from the Lord.

Mary’s Song
(1 Samuel 2:1–11)

46And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord.

47And my Spirit rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48For he looked upon the humiliation of his servant; for, behold, from now shall all generations deem me happy.

49For the powerful one has done great things for me; and his name holy.

50And his mercy to generations of generations to those fearing him.

51He has done strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thought of their heart.

52He has pulled down the powerful from thrones, and lifted up the.

53He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he sent away empty.

54He succored Israel his servant, remembering mercy;

55As he spake to our fathers, to Abram, and his seed forever.

56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57And the time was completed to Elizabeth, for her to bring forth; and she brought forth a son. 58And they dwelling near and her kinsmen heard, for the Lord magnified his mercy with her; and they rejoiced with her.

59And it was in the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him by the name of his father Zacharias. 60And his mother, having answered said, Nay; but he shall be called John. 61And they said to her, That there is none among thy kindred who is called by this name. 62And they nodded to his father, what he may wish to have him called. 63And having asked for a small writing tablet, he wrote, saying, John is his name. And they all wondered. 64And his month was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he spake, praising God. 65And fear was upon all dwelling round about them: and in all the mount of Judea all these words were discoursed about. 66And all having heard, set in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

67And Zacharias his father, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

68Praised the Lord God of Israel; for he reviewed and he has made a redemption for his people,

69And he raised up a horn of salvation to us in the house of David, his servant;

70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, from forever:

71Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all hating us;

72To do mercy with our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant:

73The oath which he sware to Abraham our father,

74To give to us, fearlessly, delivered from the hands of our enemies,

75To serve him in sanctity and justice before him all the days of our life.

76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77To give knowledge of salvation to his people, in remission of their sins.

78Through the bowels of mercy of our God; by which the rising of the sun of sublimity has reviewed us,

79To shine forth to those in darkness and sitting in the shadow of death, to direct our feet in the way of peace.

80And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and he was in the deserts till the day of his shewing forth to Israel.