Since many have attempted to compile an account concerning the events that have been fulfilled among us,

[that is, people] who were ministers of the word and original eyewitnesses [of these events], and who passed them on to us; [and since]

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,

that, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to burn incense after entering 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 answered, and said unto him, "I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee: and to show thee these glad tidings.

And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak until the time that these things be performed, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried 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 happened that when the days of his service came to an end, he went away to his home.

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

"This wise hath God dealt with me, in the days when he looked on me, to take from me the rebuke that I suffered among men."

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

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

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, Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her that was called barren:

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

About that time Mary made a hurried trip to a Judean town in the hill country. [Note: This was be the same province in which Jerusalem was located].

And it happened that when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby in her womb leaped and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

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 to generations and generations to them that fear him.

He showeth strength with his arm, he scattereth them that are proud in the imagination of their hearts.

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 the time came for Elizabeth that she should give birth, and she gave birth to 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 happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were wanting to name him {after} his father Zechariah.

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

And fear came on all them that dwelt nigh unto them: And all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Jewry:

and all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner child shall this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies,

That we should be saved from our enemies: And from the hands 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 happened that while they were there, {the time came} for her to give birth.

And there were shepherds in that country abiding without, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

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 unto them, "Be not afraid: For behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, that shall come to all the people:

that today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.

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 happened that when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began to say to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has revealed to us!"

And [when they] saw [it], they made known the statement that had been told to them about this child.

And all that heard it wondered, at those things which were told them of 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 that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

And when eight days were completed {so that he could be circumcised}, he was named Jesus, his name [that] [he] was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord")

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

At that time there dwelt at Jerusalem one Simeon, an honest, religious man, one who expected the appearance of the Messiah, and was endued with the spirit of prophecy.

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 so that they could do for him according to what was customary under 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 his mother Mary, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed--

(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.

Now when they had completed everything that was in accordance with the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of 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 happened that after three days they found him in the temple [courts], sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and asking them [questions].

And all that heard him marveled at his wit and 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 did not understand the statement that he spoke 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.'"

Therefore he was saying to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

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.

Now also is the axe laid unto the root of the trees: So that every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire."

And he answering says to them, He that has two body-coats, let him give to him that has none; and he that has food, let him do likewise.

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

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

John answered, saying unto all - I, indeed, in water, am immersing you, but he that is mightier than I, cometh, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to unloose, - he, will immerse you m Holy Spirit and fire:

which hath his fan in his hand, and will purge his floor, and will gather the corn into his barn: But the chaff will he burn with fire that never shall be quenched."

But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him concerning Herodias, his brother's wife, and concerning all the evil deeds that Herod had done,

added this also to all the rest, 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:]

while He was being tempted by the devil. During that time He ate nothing, and so at the end of it He felt hungry.

So the devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, order this stone that it become bread!"

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