Seeing, indeed, that, many, had taken in hand to re-arrange for themselves a narrative, concerning the facts which have been fully confirmed amongst us, -

it seemed fitting for me as well, [and so I have decided] after having carefully searched out and investigated all the events accurately, from the very beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus;

so that you may know for certain the things you were taught.

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

There was a whole crowd of people praying outside because it was the time for burning the incense offering.

And when Zacharias saw him, he 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.

There will be joy and delight for you,
and many will rejoice at his birth.

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

And lo! thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak until the day when these things shall come to pass; because thou didst not believe in my words, - the which shall be fulfilled for their season.

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself completely, saying,

"Thus the Lord has done for me in the days in which he has concerned himself with [me], to take away my disgrace among people."

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

"How can this be?" Mary asked the angel. "For I have no husband."

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the Son of God.'

And behold, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Later on, Mary set out for a Judean city in the hill country.

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

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.

for He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaid:

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

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.

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,

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

And Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then returned to her home.

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

And they dwelling near and her kinsmen heard, for the Lord magnified his mercy with her; and they rejoiced with her.

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

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

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.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

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

Salvation from those who are against us, and from the hands of those who have hate for us;

And to perform the oath, which he sware to our father Abraham, for to give 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.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

And to give knowledge of salvation unto his people, for the remission of sins:

And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.

Just at this time an edict was issued by Caesar Augustus for the registration of the whole Empire.

And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (for he was of the house and family of David,).

And it came to pass, in their being there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth,

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And lo, an angel of the Lord was there by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared with great fear.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

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

And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find a Baby wrapped in [swaddling] cloths and lying in a manger.”

"Glory to God in high heaven, and peace on earth for men whom he favours!"

And it came to pass, as the angels departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us make our way then now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.

So they made haste and discovered Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the stall for cattle.

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 accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

And when the days were fulfilled for their purifying according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

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 by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

"Now, Master, you will let your slave go free In peace, as you promised,

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

which you prepared for all people to see

A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel.

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;

And there was a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,

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.

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

And his parents went every year to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

When the days of the festival were over, they left for home. The young man Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance:

and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.

When they saw Him, they were overwhelmed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Listen, Your father and I have been [greatly distressed and] anxiously looking for You.”

And He answered, “Why did you have to look for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:

A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make His paths straight!

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.

Then tax-farmers came to him for baptism and said to him, Master, what have we to do?

And he said to them, Do nothing more than is appointed for you.

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.

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,

Now it came to pass, during the immersion of all the people, Jesus also having been immersed and praying, for the heaven to be opened,

And Jesus himself was about thirty years of age when he began, and he was taken for the son of Joseph: which Joseph was the son of Heli:

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led about by the Spirit in the Desert for forty days,

for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they ended, He was hungry.

And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem and caused Him to stand on the roof of the Temple, and said to Him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here; for it is written,

For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:

and they shall bear you up in their hands, for fear your foot should hit against a stone."