Since many took in hand to draw up an account concerning the matters which have been borne out among us,

even as they declared them unto us, which from the beginning saw their selves, and were ministers at the doing:

It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

to let you know the solid truth of what you have been taught.

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.

They both did what was right in God's sight [by] living blamelessly according to all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

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

And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

And Zachariah was troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him.

And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet 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, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I be certain of this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in age.”

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.”

And the people were awaiting Zacharias, and they wondered at his delaying 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.

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

"Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men."

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

Then said Mary to the angel, what shall this be without any intercourse with man?

The angel answered her, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence what is born will be called holy, Son of God.

And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren;

For with God, nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto me according to thy word.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

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

and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

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

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.

And blessed [is] she who believed that [there] will be a fulfillment to what was spoken to her from the Lord!"

for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his mercy

Now it was time for Elisabeth to give birth, and she had 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, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

then he made signs for a writing-book, and writ these words, "his name is John:" at which they were all surprized.

At once Zacharias’ mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking, praising and blessing and thanking God.

All their neighbors were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;

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

"May the Lord be praised, [who is] the God of the Israelites, for He has come to [the aid of] His people and bought them back [i.e., from bondage].

deliverance from our enemies and out of the hand of all who hate us;

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

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

And, the child, went on growing, and being strengthened in spirit, and was in the deserts, until the day he was pointed out unto Israel.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

So everyone went to be registered, each at his own town,

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:)

[He went] to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him and who was pregnant [at the time].

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the lodging place.

In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

when all of a sudden an angel of the Lord appear'd to them, and a heavenly light shone about them, at which they were greatly affrighted.

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, 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.

And hurrying they came and sought out both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean.

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.

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 what is said in the law of the Lord: A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.

Now there was a righteous and devoted man named Simeon at Jerusalem, who was expecting the consolation of the Israelites [i.e., the coming of the Messiah to save them], and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him the custom required by the Law,

even he, welcomed it into his arms, and blessed God, and said -

"Master, you may now allow your servant to be released [i.e., die] in peace, according to what you said.

You have prepared it
in the presence of all peoples—

A Light for revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose what was previously unknown],
And [to bring] the praise and honor and glory of Your people Israel.”

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

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."

yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.

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 coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

And, the child, went on growing, and waxing strong, becoming filled with wisdom; and, the favour of God, was upon it.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

And when He was twelve years old they went up as was customary at the time of the Feast, and,

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

And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

When His parents saw Him, they were utterly amazed, and yet His mother said to Him, "My child, why did you treat us so? Just see how your father and I, in agony of mind, have been searching for you!"

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

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

Now it was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler of the regions of Ituraea and Trachonitus [Note: These two men were sons of Herod the Great (See Matt. 2:1) and ruled over provinces east of the Jordan River] and Lysanias was ruler of Abilene [Note: This was a province just north of the two previously mentioned ones].

and he went into all the Jordan-district preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins ??4 as it is written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Isaiah, The voice of one who cries in the desert, 'Make the way ready for the Lord, level the paths for him.

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 valley will be filled up and every mountain and hill will be leveled. And crooked [roads] will become straight and rough ones smoothed out.

and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.’”

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, therefore, fruits worthy of the reformation, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have a father -- Abraham; for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise children to 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 the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

And John replied, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do the same.”