SINCE many have undertaken to compose a history of the things that are fully believed among us,

exactly as they were handed down to us by those [with personal experience] who from the beginning [of Christ’s ministry] were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word [that is, of the teaching concerning salvation through faith in Christ],

I determined also, as soon as I had searched out diligently all things from the beginning, that then I would write unto thee, good Theophilus,

So that you might have certain knowledge of those things about which you were given teaching.

It happened that in the days of Herod, king of Judea, [there was] a certain priest, Zechariah by name, of the division of Abijah. And {he had a wife} from the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elizabeth.

Both were perfect before God, and walked in all the laws and ordinances of the Lord, that no man could find fault with them.

And they were without children, because Elisabeth had never given birth, and they were at that time very old.

Now it came about that in his turn he was acting as priest before God,

according 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:

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and he will not drink any wine or intoxicating drinks [Note: This restriction suggests that John may have taken the special vow of consecration making him a "Nazarite"]. And he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the time he is born.

and he shall march before him, in the spirit and power of Elias, to reconcile parents and children together, and the unruly to the practice of justice, that the people may be duly dispos'd to receive the Lord.

And Zacharias said unto the angel, "Whereby shall I know this? Seeing that I am old, and my wife well stricken in years."

And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.

And behold, thou shalt be silent 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 in their season.

And the people were waiting for Zachariah, and they wondered that he stayed so long in the temple.

And when he came out he was not able to say anything, and they saw that he had seen a vision in the Temple; and he was making signs to them without words.

And it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.

After that time, Elisabeth, being certain that she was to become a mother, kept herself from men's eyes for five months, saying,

"This is what the Lord has done for me," she said, "now that he has deigned to take away the reproach under which I have been living."

Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,

And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.

When she saw him, she was abashed at his saying: and cast in her mind what manner of salutation that should be.

But Mary said unto the messenger - How, shall this thing be, seeing that, a man, I know not?

And the angel in answer said to her, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will come to rest on you, and so that which will come to birth will be named holy, Son of God.

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

For nothing that God says [will happen] is impossible."

Now at this time Mary arose and hurried to the hill country, to a city of Judah (Judea),

And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe in her womb leaped for joy.

How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me?

For at that moment when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.

Happy will she be who had faith that the things which the Lord has said to her will be done.

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

And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

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

His help he has given to Israel, his servant, so that he might keep in mind his mercy to Abraham and his seed for ever,

Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

And it came to the ears of her neighbours and relations that the Lord had been very good to her, and they took part in her joy.

And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.

And they said, Not one of your relations has that name.

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),

Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

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

That we, being made free from the fear of those who are against us, might give him worship,

all the days of our life, in such holiness and righteousness that are accept before him.

To give light to those in dark places, and in the shade of death, so that our feet may be guided into the way of peace.

Now it came about in those days that an order went out from Caesar Augustus that there was to be a numbering of all the world.

This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

and Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, that is called Bethlehem, because of his being of the house and family of David,

And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.

In that same country-side were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night,

Then an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, so that they were fearfully frightened.

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.

that this day is born, in the city of David, your Saviour Christ the Lord.

And this is the sign [that will verify it] to you: You will find a baby wrapped in [linen] cloths lying in an animal's feeding trough."

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

And after they had seen it, they made known every where the words that had been spoken to them of this child.

And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.

While Mary treasured up all that they said, and dwelt upon it in her thoughts.

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

And when the eighth day was come that the child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, which was named of the angel before he was conceived in the mother's womb.

(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.

There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of the Consolation of Israel, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

And he had knowledge, through the Holy Spirit, that he would not see death till he had seen the Lord's Christ.

And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law,

that you have prepared in the presence of all the peoples,

a light that will reveal salvation to unbelievers and bring glory to your people Israel."

And Joseph and his mother were amazed at the things that were spoken concerning Him.

And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that will be spoken against;

(And a sword will go through your heart;) so that the secret thoughts of men may come to light.

And coming up at that time, she gave praise to God, talking of him to all those who were waiting for the freeing of Jerusalem.

And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

when Jesus therefore was twelve years old they went thither, as was customary at the time of that festival.

when that was expired, they returned, but the young Jesus staid behind in Jerusalem, without being miss'd either by Joseph or his Mother.

And in the belief that he was with some of their number, they went a day's journey; and after looking for him among their relations and friends,

And seeing that he was not there, they went back to Jerusalem, to make search for him.

And it came to pass, after three days, that they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

And he said to them, Why were you looking for me? was it not clear to you that my right place was in my Father's house?

And they understood not the saying that he spake to them.

However he went down with them to Nazareth, and submitted himself to their control; and his mother treasured all that was said in her heart.

He went into the whole region around the Jordan River proclaiming that those immersed on the basis of their repentance [i.e., determining to change their hearts and lives] would receive the forgiveness of sins [from God].

Everyone will see the salvation that God has provided.'"

He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Make clear by your acts that your hearts have been changed; and do not say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children of Abraham.

And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.

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

As the people were in suspence, every man imagining in his own mind that John might be the Messiah;

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

His winnowing-fan is in his hand, that he may clear his threshing-floor, and store the grain in his barn, but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire."

But Prince Herod, being rebuked by John respecting Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother, and for all the evil things that he had done,

added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.

Now it came about that when all the people had been given baptism, Jesus, having had baptism with them, was in prayer, when, the heaven being open,

And Jesus was about thirty years old when He began to teach. (It was assumed that) He was the son of Joseph, who was the [legal] son of Heli [Note: A lineage through Jesus' mother Mary follows:]

All that time he ate nothing; and, when it was over, he became hungry.

And the devil said unto him, if thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread.

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