Dedication to Theophilus
(Acts 1:1–3)

1Whereas many have undertaken to compose a narrative of the things, which have been fully certified among us; 2as they delivered them to us, who were from the beginning eye-witnesses of them, and ministers of the word; 3it seemed good to me also, having thoroughly traced them all from the very first, to write an account of them in order to thee, 4most excellent Theophilus, that thou mayst know the certainty of the things wherein 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 course of Abia; and his wife was of the family of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7And they had no child, for Elisabeth was barren; and they were both far advanced in years.

8And it came to pass, while he was in the order of his course performing the priest's office before God, 9according to the custom of dividing the office of the priests, that it fell to his lot to burn incense, entring into the temple of the Lord: 10and all the people were praying without at the time of offering incense. 11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right hand of the altar of incense. 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was startled and struck with fear: 13but the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias; for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John: 14and he shall be a joy and transport to thee, yea, many shall rejoice on account of his birth; for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, 15and he shall drink neither wine nor any other strong liquor; and he shall be filled with the holy Spirit even from his birth; 16and many of the children of Israel shall he convert unto the Lord their God. 17And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to prepare for the Lord a people well-disposed.

18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife far advanced in years. 19And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God, and I am sent to speak to thee, and to tell thee this good news: 20and now shalt thou be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass; because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled at their season.

21And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wondered at his staying so long 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; and he made signs to them, and continued speechless: 23and as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

24And after these days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and retired five months, 25saying, the Lord hath thus dealt with me in the days wherein he looked upon me to take away my reproach among men.

Gabriel Foretells Jesus’ Birth

26But in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin who was betrothed to a man, whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. 28And when the angel came in to the room to her, he said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured; the Lord is with thee; 29blessed art thou among women! and when she saw him, she was confused at what he said, and pondered in her mind what sort of salutation this could be. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God: 31and behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS: 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give Him the throne of David his father, 33and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34Then said Mary to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin? 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee, and therefore thine holy offspring shall be called the Son of God: and lo, 36thy cousin Elisabeth also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren; 37for nothing is impossible with God. 38Then Mary said, Behold the servant of the Lord, may it be unto me according to thy word. So the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39Then Mary arose and went with speed into the hill-country, to a city of Juda, 40and came into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41And as soon as Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the child leaped in her womb, and Elisabeth was filled with the holy Spirit: 42and she cried out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb: 43and whence is this honor to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44for behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation reached my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy: 45and blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of the things that were told her from the Lord.

Mary’s Song

46And Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour;

47for He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaid:

48for behold, from henceforth shall all generations call me blessed:

49for He that is mighty hath done great things for me,

50and his name is holy, and his mercy is on them that fear Him, unto all generations.

51He hath wrought powerfully with his arm; He hath confounded those that were proud in the imagination of their heart.

52He hath cast down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the humble.

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

54He hath supported Israel his servant,

55in remembrance of his mercy (even as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed,) for ever."

56And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her own house.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57Now when Elisabeth's time for her delivery was fully come, she brought forth a son: 58and her neighbours and kindred heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they congratulated her;

59and on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child: and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father: 60but his mother said, No, but he shall be called John: 61and they said to her, There is none of thy relations of this name. 62And they made signs to his father, what name he would have him called by. 63And he called for a writing-tablet, and wrote upon it, His name is John: and they all wondered. 64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake and praised God. 65And an awe fell upon all that dwelt round about them; and all these things were divulged through the whole hill-country of Judea. 66And all that heard them, laid them up in their hearts, saying, What a child will this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

67And his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Spirit,

68and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,

69and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us,

70in the house of his servant David, as He spake by the mouth of his holy prophets from the beginning,

71even salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us,

72to display his mercy towards our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,

73according to the oath which He sware to Abraham our father,

74to grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him,

75all the days of our life.

76And thou, my child, shalt be called the prophet of the most High; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord,

77to make known salvation to his people,

78in the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring hath visited us from on high,

79to enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace."

80And the child grew, and became strong in spirit: and he was in the deserts till the time of his being manifested to Israel.