Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

So 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,

so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught [that is, the history and doctrine of the faith].

In the days of Herod [the Great], king of Judea, there was a certain priest whose name was Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron [the first high priest of Israel], and her name was Elizabeth.

and they had no child, inasmuch as Elizabeth was barren, and, both, had become, advanced in their days.

And it came to pass, as he fulfilled his priestly service before God in the order of his course,

as was the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter [the sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense [on the altar of incense].

And, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to him as he was standing on the right of the altar of incense.

And as he saw him Zachariah was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

But 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.

And you will have joy and happiness and many people will rejoice when he is born.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he must never drink wine or beer, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit [while he is] still in his mother's womb.

It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”

And Zacharias said unto the messenger, 'Whereby shall I know this? for I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days?'

And the angel, answering, said, I am Gabriel, whose place is before God; I have been sent to say these words to you and to give you this good news.

And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

"This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace."

And in the sixth month was the messenger Gabriel sent by God, to a city of Galilee, the name of which is Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

But she was troubled at the saying, and was deliberating as to what kind of salutation this might be.

Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?”

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.”

And Mary said: I am the servant of the Lord; may it be to me as you say. And the angel went away.

And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

My spirit is glad in God my Saviour.

For he has had pity on his servant, though she is poor and lowly placed: and from this hour will all generations give witness to the blessing which has come to me.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.

(As He said to our forefathers), He has helped His servants, the Israelites, [showing] that He remembered to be merciful

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."

And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

And they made signs to his father as to what he might wish it to be called.

And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

And immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.

And all who heard laid them to heart, saying, What then is this child to be? For the hand of the Lord was also with him.

Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He did look upon, And wrought redemption for His people,

And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

To show mercy [as He promised] to our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant [the promised blessing],

the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to grant us

That he would 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 for as long as we live.

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

to be inscribed in the census roll with Mary who was betrothed to him as his wife, she being great with child.

she gave birth to her firstborn son, and as there was no room for them inside the khan she wrapped him up and laid him in a stall for cattle.

but the angel said to them, "Have no fear. This is good news I am bringing you, news of a great joy that is meant for all the People.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

Now, when they beheld, they made known concerning the thing which had been told them as to this child.

And all those to whose ears it came were full of wonder at the things said by the keepers of the sheep.

and as for Mary, she treasured it all up and mused upon it.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

And when eight days were completed for circumcising him, his name was called Jesus, as it had been called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.

Now when the period of their purification ended, in accordance with the law of Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, to do as it is written in the law of the Lord,

(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and as the parents brought in the child Jesus that they might do for him according to the custom of the law,

Now you are letting your servant go in peace, O Lord, as you have said;

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed -- and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!"

and she is a widow of about eighty-four years, who did depart not from the temple, with fasts and supplications serving, night and day,

Then, as soon as they had accomplished all that the Law required, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was upon him.

And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the Feast;

And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

And thinking that He is in the crowd, they came a day's journey, and were seeking Him among His relatives and acquaintances.

And then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.

And after three days they came across him in the Temple, seated among the wise men, giving ear to their words and putting questions to them.

And all to whose ears it came were full of wonder at his knowledge and the answers which he gave.

And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

And he went down with them and came to Nazareth; and did as he was ordered: and his mother kept all these words in her heart.

And as Jesus grew older He gained in both wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

And he came into all the country round about Jordan, preaching baptism as a sign of forgiveness of sin for those whose hearts were changed.

As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Every hollow must be filled up, And every mountain and hill leveled. What is crooked is to be made straight, And the rough roads are to be made smooth,

And all mankind is to see how God can save!"

So he said to the people who went out to him for baptism: You offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in flight from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”

And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.