Since [as is well known] many have undertaken to compile an orderly account of the things which have been fulfilled among us [by God],

It seemed good to me, having made observation, with great care, of the direction of events in their order, to put the facts in writing for you, most noble Theophilus;

But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years.

But it came to pass, as he was doing priestly service in the order of his daily course, before God,

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.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth.

And 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.

Zechariah said to the angel, "But how am I to be sure of this? I am an old man myself, and my wife is advanced in years."

Listen carefully, you will be continually silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe what I told you; but my words will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

But when he came out he could not speak to them, and they recognised that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and continued dumb.

But when the period of his service was over, he went back to his home.

But in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent of God to a city of Galilee, of which the name was Nazareth,

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

But Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?

no sooner had Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, but the babe leap'd within her:

But why is this honour done me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

With his arm he has done acts of power; he has put to flight those who have pride in their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.

But the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth that she should bring forth, and she gave birth to a son.

and on the eighth day were present at the circumcision of the child. but upon their proposing to call him by his father's name, Zacharias: his mother objected to it,

And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

They said to her, "But none of your relatives bears this name."

But they made signs to the child's father and asked him what he wished to have the child named.

And he sent for writing materials and put down: His name is John; and they were all surprised.

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,

But it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census should be made of all the habitable world.

To be put on the list with Mary, his future wife, who was about to become a mother.

But while they were there, her full time came,

And she had her first son; and folding him in linen, she put him to rest in the place where the cattle had their food, because there was no room for them in the house.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

but Symeon blessed them, and to his mother Mary he said, "This child is destined for the downfall as well as for the rise of many a one in Israel; destined to be a Sign for man's attack ??35 to bring out the secret aims of many a heart. And your own soul will be pierced by a spear."

There was likewise one Anna a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age, and had liv'd in a married state but seven years ever since she was a virgin:

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it.

But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

but being unable to find Him they returned to Jerusalem, making anxious inquiry for Him.

But he replied, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?"

But they did not understand what He had said to them.

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

And even now the axe is put to the root of the trees; and every tree which does not have good fruit will be cut down and put into the fire.

And the people put questions to him, saying, What have we to do?

And men of the army put questions to him, saying, And what have we to do? And he said to them, Do no violent acts to any man, and do not take anything without right, and let your payment be enough for you.

But as the people were in expectation, and all were reasoning in their hearts concerning John whether he might be the Christ,

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

to top it off, Herod put John in prison.

But Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness

During the forty days He was being put to the test by the devil, He did not eat anything; then after it was over He was [very] hungry.

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Therefore, if thou wilt but worship me, they all shall be thine.

But Jesus answered him, "It is written, "You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'"

And he took him to Jerusalem and put him on the highest point of the Temple and said to him, If you are the Son of God, let yourself go down from here; for it is said in the Writings,

for it is written, 'He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;'

And Jesus answered [and] said to him, "It is said, 'You are not to put to the test the Lord your God.'"

They all applauded him, and were surprized, that what he said, was delivered with so much grace. but they objected, is not this the son of Joseph?

but in truth, added he, no prophet was ever well received in his own country.

But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.

and having risen, they put him forth without the city, and brought him unto the brow of the hill on which their city had been built -- to cast him down headlong,

But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

But in the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of a foul demon. In a loud voice he cried out,

Let us be! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? have you come to put an end to us? I have knowledge who you are, the Holy One of God.

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent (muzzled, gagged) and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown the man down among them, he came out of him without injuring him in any way.

And rising up out of the synagogue, he entered into the house of Simon. But Simon's mother-in-law was suffering under a bad fever; and they asked him for her.

So, He stood over her and spoke sternly to the fever. It left her and she got up [out of bed] and began serving them.

And at the setting of the sun, all, as many as had any ailing with manifold sicknesses, brought them unto him, and he on each one of them his hands having put, did heal them.

Demons also were coming out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

When it was day, He went out and made His way to a deserted place. But the crowds were searching for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them.

But he said unto them, I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent.

And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat.

And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.

and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

and so were Simon's partners, James and John, sons of Zebedee.) But Jesus answered Simon. "Fear not; from this time on, you will be catching men."

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

But he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed.

And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

But finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof [and removed some tiles to make an opening] and lowered him through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

And straight away he got up before them, and took up his bed and went away to his house giving praise to God.

Then after these things happened, Jesus went out [i.e., probably walking along a street] and saw a publican [Note: This was a person with a bad reputation for dishonest tax collecting activities] named Matthew [i.e., the same as Levi. See Mark 2:14] sitting at the toll booth [collecting taxes] and said, "Become my follower."

But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

But Jesus told them, "You can't force the wedding guests to fast while the groom is still with them, can you?

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

And he spake also a simile unto them -- 'No one a patch of new clothing doth put on old clothing, and if otherwise, the new also doth make a rent, and with the old the patch doth not agree, that is from the new.

'And no one doth put new wine into old skins, and if otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and itself will be poured out, and the skins will be destroyed;