Dedication to Theophilus
(Acts 1:1–3)

1Forasmuch as many took in hand to arrange in order a narrative concerning the facts that have been fully confirmed among us, 2even as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us; 3it seemed good to me also, having traced all things accurately from the first, to write to you an orderly account, most noble Theophilus; 4that you may fully know the certainty of the words wherein you were instructed.

Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth

5There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest, Zacharias by name, of the course of Abija; and he had a wife of 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 law blameless. 7And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were far advanced in their days.

8Now it came to pass, that, while he was doing priestly service in the order of his course before God, 9it fell to his lot, according to the custom of the priest's office, having gone into the temple of the Lord, to offer incense; 10and all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of the incense-offering. 11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And Zacharias, seeing him, was troubled; and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said to him, "Fear not, Zacharias; because your supplication was heard; and your wife Elizabeth shall 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; 15for he will be great before the Lord; and he will drink no wine nor strong drink; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16And many of the sons of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God. 17And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.

18And Zacharias said to the angel, "By what shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in her days." 19And the angel, answering, said to him, "I am Gabriel, who have been standing near before God, and I was sent to speak to you, and to proclaim these glad tidings to you. 20And, behold, you shall be silent, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass; because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."

21And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they were wondering at his tarrying in the temple. 22And, having come out, he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained dumb. 23And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed to his house;

24and, after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25"Thus hath the Lord done to me in the days wherein He looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men!"

Gabriel Foretells Jesus’ Birth

26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth, 27to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. 28And, the angel, coming in to her, said, "Hail, highly favored one, the Lord is with you." 29But she was troubled at the saying, and was deliberating as to what kind of salutation this might be. 30And the angel said to her, "Fear not, Mary; for you found favor from God. 31And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. 32He shall be great, and shall be called Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David; 33and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end." 34And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I know not a man?" 35And the angel, answering, said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; wherefore also the Holy Thing that is begotten shall be called the Son of God. 36And, behold, Elizabeth, your kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren; 37because no word from God shall be without power." 38And Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; may it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39And Mary, arising in those days, went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; 40and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. 41And it came to pass that, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit: 42and she lifted up her voice, with a loud cry, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me! 44For, behold, as the voice of your salutation came into my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy! 45And happy is she who believed, because there shall be a fulfillment of the things spoken to her from the Lord!"

Mary’s Song

46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord;

47and my spirit exulted in God my Saviour;

48because He looked upon the lowliness of His handmaid; for, behold, from the present time all generations will call me happy;

49because the Mighty One did great things for me; and Holy is His name!

50And His mercy is unto generations and generations to those who fear Him.

51He wrought might with His arm; He scattered men proud in the imagination of their heart.

52He deposed potentates from thrones, and exalted the lowly.

53The hungry He filled with good things, and the rich He sent away empty.

54He succored Israel His servant, to remember mercy,

55(as He spake to our fathers), to Abraham and to his seed forever."

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

The Birth of John the Baptist

57Now the time was completed for Elizabeth, that she should give birth, and she brought forth a son. 58And her neighbors and kindred heard that the Lord was magnifying His mercy together with her; and they rejoiced with her.

59And it came to pass, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they were calling him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60And his mother, answering, said; "No; but he shall be called John." 61And they said to her, "There is no one of your kindred who is called by this name." 62And they were making signs to his father, what he wished him to be called. 63And, asking for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying, "John is his name." And they all marveled. 64And his mouth was instantly opened, and his tongue loosed, and he was speaking, blessing God. 65And fear came upon all those dwelling around them. And in all the hill country of Judea all these sayings were being much talked of; 66and all who heard laid them up in their heart, saying, "What, then, shall this child be!" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

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

68"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He visited, and wrought redemption for His people;

69and raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant;

70(as He spake through the mouth of His holy prophets from of old),

71salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;

72to show mercy towards our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant;

73the oath which He swore to Abraham, our father;

74to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear,

75in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

76"And you also, child, shall be called 'Prophet of the Most High;' for you shall go before the face of the Lord, to prepare His ways;

77to give knowledge of salvation to His people in remission of their sins,

78because of the tender compassions of the mercy of our God, wherein the day-spring from on high shall visit us,

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 was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.