Luke Chapter 1 Verse 1 - 80

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1.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2.

Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

3.

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,

4.

That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

5.

THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6.

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7.

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8.

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

9.

According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10.

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

11.

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

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.

And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall 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 many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

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.
Mal 4:5,6

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

And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in 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.

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

And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

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

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

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

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

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

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was 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 the angel departed from her.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

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.

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

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.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

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.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

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

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

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

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

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

And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

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

And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

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

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

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised 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 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.

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

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;

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

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, all the days of our life.

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;

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

1.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

2.

even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

3.

it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;

4.

that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.

5.

There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6.

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7.

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8.

Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest`s office before God in the order of his course,

9.

according to the custom of the priest`s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10.

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

11.

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense.

And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

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

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother`s womb.

And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God.

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

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 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 Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried 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: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

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

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

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

And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

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

And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the 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 no word from God shall be void of power.

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

And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;

and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.

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

and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?

For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: 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 unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

(As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

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

And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.

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

And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

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

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

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing 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.

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

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

And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David

(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;

To show mercy towards, our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

The oath which he spake unto Abraham our father,

To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins,

Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,

To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.

1.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

2.

even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

3.

it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;

4.

that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.

5.

There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6.

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7.

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8.

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

9.

according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10.

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

11.

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

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

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God.

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

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 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 Zacharias, and they marveled while he tarried 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: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

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

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

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

And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

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

And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also that which is to be born shall be called holy, the 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 no word from God shall be void of power.

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

And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;

and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.

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

and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?

For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath looked upon 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 unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

(As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

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

And her neighbours and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.

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 his father.

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

And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

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

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

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing 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.

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

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

And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David

(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began),

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

To shew mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father,

To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins,

Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,

To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

1.

Forasmuch as many have undertaken to draw up a relation concerning the matters fully believed among us,

2.

as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses of and attendants on the Word have delivered them to us,

3.

it has seemed good to *me* also, accurately acquainted from the origin with all things, to write to thee with method, most excellent Theophilus,

4.

that thou mightest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been instructed.

5.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the course of Abia, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

6.

And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7.

And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

8.

And it came to pass, as he fulfilled his priestly service before God in the order of his course,

9.

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

10.

And all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

11.

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

And Zacharias was troubled, seeing him, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, because thy supplication has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

And he shall be to thee joy and rejoicing, and many shall rejoice at his birth.

For he shall be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother`s womb.

And many of the sons of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

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

And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this, for *I* am an old man, and my wife advanced in years?

And the angel answering, said to him, *I* am Gabriel, who stand before God, and I have been sent to speak to thee, and to bring these glad tidings to thee;

and behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because thou hast not believed my words, the which shall be fulfilled in their time.

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

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.

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

Now after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

Thus has the Lord done to me in these days in which he looked upon me to take away my reproach among men.

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

to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin`s name was Mary.

And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, thou favoured one! the Lord is with thee: blessed art *thou* amongst women.

But she, seeing the angel, was troubled at his word, and reasoned in her mind what this salutation might be.

And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;

and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

*He* shall be great, and shall be called Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father;

and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for the ages, and of his kingdom there shall not be an end.

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

And the angel answering said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and power of the Highest overshadow thee, wherefore the holy thing also which shall be born shall be called 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 shall be impossible with God.

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

And Mary, rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth.

And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

and cried out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art *thou* amongst women, and blessed the fruit of thy womb.

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For behold, as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my womb.

And blessed is she that has believed, for there shall be a fulfilment of the things spoken to her from the Lord.

And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he has looked upon the low estate of his bondmaid; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For the Mighty One has done to me great things, and holy is his name;

and his mercy is to generations and generations to them that fear him.

He has wrought strength with his arm; he has scattered haughty ones in the thought of their heart.

He has put down rulers from thrones, and exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty.

He has helped Israel his servant, in order to remember mercy,

(as he spoke to our fathers,) to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her house.

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

And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her.

And it came to pass on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called it after the name of his father, Zacharias.

And his mother answering said, No; but he shall be called John.

And they said to her, There is no one among thy kinsfolk who is called by this name.

And they made signs to his father as to what he might wish it to be called.

And having asked for a writing-table, he wrote saying, John is his name. And they all wondered.

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he spake, blessing God.

And fear came upon all who dwelt round about them; and in the whole hill-country of Judaea all these things were the subject of conversation.

And all who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? And the Lord`s hand was with him.

And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, because he has visited and wrought redemption for his people,

and raised up a horn of deliverance for us in the house of David his servant;

as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began;

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

to fulfil mercy with our fathers and remember his holy covenant,

the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,

to give us, that, saved out of the hand of our enemies, we should serve him without fear

in piety and righteousness before him all our days.

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

to give knowledge of deliverance to his people by the remission of their sins

on account of the bowels of mercy of our God; wherein the dayspring from on high has visited us,

to shine upon them who were sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

-- And the child grew and was strengthened in spirit; and he was in the deserts until the day of his shewing to Israel.

1.

Because many have undertaken to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

2.

even as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

3.

it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;

4.

that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

5.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

6.

They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

7.

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

8.

Now it happened, while he executed the priest`s office before God in the order of his division,

9.

according to the custom of the priest`s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10.

The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

11.

An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell on him.

But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.

He will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, '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."

Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."

The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.

Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn`t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled while he delayed in the temple.

When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

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

Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

Having come in to her, the angel said, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"

But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name JESUS.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father, David,

and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end of his kingdom."

Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, seeing I am a virgin?"

The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one which is born from you will be called the Son of God.

Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

For no word from God will be void of power."

Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.

Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary`s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"

Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.

My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

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

For he who is mighty has done to me great things; Holy is his name.

His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.

He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

He has put down princes from their thrones. Has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy

(As he spoke to our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed forever."

Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her house.

Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.

Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.

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

His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."

They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."

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

He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." They all marveled.

His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.

Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.

All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.

His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, For he has visited and worked redemption for his people;

Has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

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

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

To show mercy towards our fathers, To remember his holy covenant,

The oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,

To grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, For you will go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways,

To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,

To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace."

The child grew, and grew strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

1.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2.

Even as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and ministers of the word;

3.

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

4.

That thou mayest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been instructed.

5.

There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6.

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7.

And they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren, and they both were far advanced in years.

8.

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

9.

According to the custom of the priests' office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10.

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

11.

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

And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to 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.

And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall 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 Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 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 to the angel, By what shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife far advanced in years.

And the angel answering, said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.

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

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

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

And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and secluded herself five months, saying,

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days in which he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

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

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

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

And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.

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

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

And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Highest will overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

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

For with God nothing will be impossible.

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

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill-country with haste, into a city of Judah,

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

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 Spirit.

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

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

And blessed is she that believed that there will be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations will 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.

He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

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

He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.

He hath sustained his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

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

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

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

And her neighbors and her cousins heard that the Lord had shown great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

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

And they said to her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

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

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

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and praised God.

And fear came on all that dwelt around them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill-country of Judea.

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

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

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

And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of his servant David:

As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began:

That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant:

The oath which he swore to our father Abraham,

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

In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

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;

To give knowledge of salvation to his people, by the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God; by which the day-spring from on high hath visited us,

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shades of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing to Israel.

1.

As a number of attempts have been made to put together in order an account of those events which took place among us,

2.

As they were handed down to us by those who saw them from the first and were preachers of the word,

3.

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;

4.

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

5.

In the days of Herod, king of Judaea, there was a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the order of Abijah; and he had a wife of the family of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6.

They were upright in the eyes of God, keeping all the rules and orders of God, and doing no wrong.

7.

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

8.

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

9.

And as was the way of the priests, he had to go into the Temple to see to the burning of perfumes.

10.

And all the people were offering prayers outside, at the time of the burning of perfumes.

11.

And he saw an angel of the Lord in his place on the right side of the altar.

And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear came on him.

But the angel said, Have no fear, Zacharias, for your prayer has come to the ears of God, and your wife Elisabeth will have a son, and his name will be John.

And you will be glad and have great delight; and numbers of people will have joy at his birth.

For he will be great in the eyes of the Lord; he will not take wine or strong drink; and he will be full of the Spirit of God from his birth.

And through him great numbers of the children of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.

And he will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning the hearts of fathers to their children, and wrongdoers to the way of righteousness; to make ready a people whose hearts have been turned to the Lord.

And Zacharias said to the angel, How may I be certain of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far on in years.

And the angel, answering, said, I am Gabriel, whose place is before God; I have been sent to say these words to you and to give you this good news.

Now, see, you will be without voice or language till the day when these things come about, because you had not faith in my words, which will have effect at the right time.

And the people were waiting for Zacharias and were surprised because he was in the Temple for such a long time.

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 when the days of his work in the Temple were ended, he went back to his house.

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

The Lord has done this to me, for his eyes were on me, to take away my shame in the eyes of men.

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin who was to be married to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.

And the angel came in to her and said, Peace be with you, to whom special grace has been given; the Lord is with you.

But she was greatly troubled at his words, and said to herself, What may be the purpose of these words?

And the angel said to her, Have no fear, Mary, for you have God's approval.

And see, you will give birth to a son, and his name will be Jesus.

He will be great, and will be named the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his father:

He will have rule over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

And Mary said to the angel, How may this be, because I have had no knowledge of a man?

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.

Even now Elisabeth, who is of your family, is to be a mother, though she is old: and this is the sixth month with her who was without children.

For there is nothing which God is not able to do.

And Mary said: I am the servant of the Lord; may it be to me as you say. And the angel went away.

Then Mary got up and went quickly into the high lands, to a town of Judah;

And went into the house of Zacharias and took Elisabeth in her arms.

And when the voice of Mary came to the ears of Elisabeth, the baby made a sudden move inside her; then Elisabeth was full of the Holy Spirit,

And she said with a loud voice: May blessing be on you among women, and a blessing on the child of your body.

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

For, truly, when the sound of your voice came to my ears, the baby in my body made a sudden move for joy.

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

And Mary said: My soul gives glory to God;

My spirit is glad in God my Saviour.

For he has had pity on his servant, though she is poor and lowly placed: and from this hour will all generations give witness to the blessing which has come to me.

For he who is strong has done great things for me; and holy is his name.

His mercy is for all generations in whom is the fear of him.

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

He has put down kings from their seats, lifting up on high the men of low degree.

Those who had no food he made full of good things; the men of wealth he sent away with nothing in their hands;

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 gave his word to our fathers.

And Mary was with her for about three months and then went back to her house.

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 on the eighth day they came to see to the circumcision of the child, and they would have given him the name of Zacharias, his father's name;

But his mother made answer and said, No, his name is John.

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

And they made signs to his father, to say what name was to be given to him.

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

And straight away his mouth was open and his tongue was free and he gave praise to God.

And fear came on all those who were living round about them: and there was much talk about all these things in all the hill-country of Judaea.

And all who had word of them kept them in their minds and said, What will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

And his father, Zacharias, was full of the Holy Spirit, and with the voice of a prophet said these words:

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and made them free,

Lifting up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

(As he said, by the mouth of his holy prophets, from the earliest times,)

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

To do acts of mercy to our fathers and to keep in mind his holy word,

The oath which he made to Abraham, our father,

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

In righteousness and holy living before him all our days.

And you, child, will be named the prophet of the Most High: you will go before the face of the Lord, to make ready his ways;

To give knowledge of salvation to his people, through the forgiveness of sins,

Because of the loving mercies of our God, by which the dawn from heaven has come to us,

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.

And the child became tall, and strong in spirit; and he was living in the waste land till the day when he came before the eyes of Israel.

1.

Seeing that many did take in hand to set in order a narration of the matters that have been fully assured among us,

2.

as they did deliver to us, who from the beginning became eye-witnesses, and officers of the Word, --

3.

it seemed good also to me, having followed from the first after all things exactly, to write to thee in order, most noble Theophilus,

4.

that thou mayest know the certainty of the things wherein thou wast instructed.

5.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the course of Abijah, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elisabeth;

6.

and they were both righteous before God, going on in all the commands and righteousnesses of the Lord blameless,

7.

and they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their days.

8.

And it came to pass, in his acting as priest, in the order of his course before God,

9.

according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot was to make perfume, having gone into the sanctuary of the Lord,

10.

and all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the hour of the perfume.

11.

And there appeared to him a messenger of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of the perfume,

and Zacharias, having seen, was troubled, and fear fell on him;

and the messenger said unto him, `Fear not, Zacharias, for thy supplication was heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name John,

and there shall be joy to thee, and gladness, and many at his birth shall joy,

for he shall be great before the Lord, and wine and strong drink he may not drink, and of the Holy Spirit he shall be full, even from his mother's womb;

and many of the sons of Israel he shall turn to the Lord their God,

and he shall go before Him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn hearts of fathers unto children, and disobedient ones to the wisdom of righteous ones, to make ready for the Lord, a people prepared.'

And Zacharias said unto the messenger, 'Whereby shall I know this? for I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days?'

And the messenger answering said to him, `I am Gabriel, who have been standing near before God, and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to proclaim these good news to thee,

and lo, thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, till the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, that shall be fulfilled in their season.'

And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wondering at his tarrying in the sanctuary,

and having come out, he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that a vision he had seen in the sanctuary, and he was beckoning to them, and did remain dumb.

And it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he went away to his house,

and after those days, his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying --

'Thus hath the Lord done to me, in days in which He looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.'

And in the sixth month was the messenger Gabriel sent by God, to a city of Galilee, the name of which is Nazareth,

to a virgin, betrothed to a man, whose name is Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin is Mary.

And the messenger having come in unto her, said, 'Hail, favoured one, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women;'

and she, having seen, was troubled at his word, and was reasoning of what kind this salutation may be.

And the messenger said to her, 'Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;

and lo, thou shalt conceive in the womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and call his name Jesus;

he shall be great, and Son of the Highest he shall be called, and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father,

and he shall reign over the house of Jacob to the ages; and of his reign there shall be no end.'

And Mary said unto the messenger, `How shall this be, seeing a husband I do not know?`

And the messenger answering said to her, 'The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God;

and lo, Elisabeth, thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her who was called barren;

because nothing shall be impossible with God.'

And Mary said, 'Lo, the maid-servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to thy saying,' and the messenger went away from her.

And Mary having arisen in those days, went to the hill-country, with haste, to a city of Judea,

and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe did leap in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

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

and whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord might come unto me?

for, lo, when the voice of thy salutation came to my ears, leap in gladness did the babe in my womb;

and happy is she who did believe, for there shall be a completion to the things spoken to her from the Lord.'

And Mary said, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit was glad on God my Saviour,

Because He looked on the lowliness of His maid-servant, For, lo, henceforth call me happy shall all the generations,

For He who is mighty did to me great things, And holy is His name,

And His kindness is to generations of generations, To those fearing Him,

He did powerfully with His arm, He scattered abroad the proud in the thought of their heart,

He brought down the mighty from thrones, And He exalted the lowly,

The hungry He did fill with good, And the rich He sent away empty,

He received again Israel His servant, To remember kindness,

As He spake unto our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed -- to the age.'

And Mary remained with her about three months, and turned back to her house.

And to Elisabeth was the time fulfilled for her bringing forth, and she bare a son,

and the neighbours and her kindred heard that the Lord was making His kindness great with her, and they were rejoicing with her.

And it came to pass, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling him by the name of his father, Zacharias,

and his mother answering said, 'No, but he shall be called John.'

And they said unto her -- 'There is none among thy kindred who is called by this name,'

and they were making signs to his father, what he would wish him to be called,

and having asked for a tablet, he wrote, saying, 'John is his name;' and they did all wonder;

and his mouth was opened presently, and his tongue, and he was speaking, praising God.

And fear came upon all those dwelling around them, and in all the hill-country of Judea were all these sayings spoken of,

and all who heard did lay them up in their hearts, saying, 'What then shall this child be?' and the hand of the Lord was with him.

And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and did prophesy, saying,

'Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He did look upon, And wrought redemption for His people,

And did raise an horn of salvation to us, In the house of David His servant,

As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, Which have been from the age;

Salvation from our enemies, And out of the hand of all hating us,

To do kindness with our fathers, And to be mindful of His holy covenant,

An oath that He sware to Abraham our father,

To give to us, without fear, Out of the hand of our enemies having been delivered,

To serve Him, in holiness and righteousness Before Him, all the days of our life.

And thou, child, Prophet of the Highest Shalt thou be called; For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, To prepare His ways.

To give knowledge of salvation to His people In remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercies of our God, In which the rising from on high did look upon us,

To give light to those sitting in darkness and death-shade, To guide our feet to a way of peace.'

And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and he was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

1.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us;

2.

According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:

3.

It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

4.

That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.

5.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

6.

And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.

7.

And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

8.

And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,

9.

According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.

10.

And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.

11.

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense.

And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:

And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.

For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.

And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.

And the angel answering, said to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.

And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.

And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple.

And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb.

And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying:

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.

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

Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.

And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:

Because no word shall be impossible with God.

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

And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.

And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.

And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

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

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.

And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:

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

And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.

Now Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.

And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her.

And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father's name Zachary.

And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.

And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

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

And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.

And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.

And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:

And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:

As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning:

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

To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,

The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,

That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,

In holiness and justice before him, all our days.

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:

To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:

Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:

To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.

And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

1.

The word of Jehovah that came unto Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

2.

When Jehovah spake at the first by Hosea, Jehovah said unto Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land doth commit great whoredom, departing from Jehovah.

3.

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived, and bare him a son.

4.

And Jehovah said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease.

5.

And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.

6.

And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And Jehovah said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah; for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, that I should in any wise pardon them.

7.

But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by Jehovah their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

8.

Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

9.

And Jehovah said, Call his name Lo-ammi; for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

10.

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass that, in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

11.

And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint themselves one head, and shall go up from the land; for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

1.

The word of Jehovah that came unto Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

2.

When Jehovah spake at the first by Hosea, Jehovah said unto Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land doth commit great whoredom, departing from Jehovah.

3.

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived, and bare him a son.

4.

And Jehovah said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease.

5.

And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.

6.

And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And Jehovah said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah; for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, that I should in any wise pardon them.

7.

But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by Jehovah their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

8.

Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

9.

And Jehovah said, Call his name Lo-ammi; for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

10.

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass that, in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

11.

And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint themselves one head, and shall go up from the land; for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

1.

quoniam quidem multi conati sunt ordinare narrationem quae in nobis conpletae sunt rerum

2.

sicut tradiderunt nobis qui ab initio ipsi viderunt et ministri fuerunt sermonis

3.

visum est et mihi adsecuto a principio omnibus diligenter ex ordine tibi scribere optime Theophile

4.

ut cognoscas eorum verborum de quibus eruditus es veritatem

5.

fuit in diebus Herodis regis Iudaeae sacerdos quidam nomine Zaccharias de vice Abia et uxor illi de filiabus Aaron et nomen eius Elisabeth

6.

erant autem iusti ambo ante Deum incedentes in omnibus mandatis et iustificationibus Domini sine querella

7.

et non erat illis filius eo quod esset Elisabeth sterilis et ambo processissent in diebus suis

8.

factum est autem cum sacerdotio fungeretur in ordine vicis suae ante Deum

9.

secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii sorte exiit ut incensum poneret ingressus in templum Domini

10.

et omnis multitudo erat populi orans foris hora incensi

11.

apparuit autem illi angelus Domini stans a dextris altaris incensi

et Zaccharias turbatus est videns et timor inruit super eum

ait autem ad illum angelus ne timeas Zaccharia quoniam exaudita est deprecatio tua et uxor tua Elisabeth pariet tibi filium et vocabis nomen eius Iohannem

et erit gaudium tibi et exultatio et multi in nativitate eius gaudebunt

erit enim magnus coram Domino et vinum et sicera non bibet et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suae

et multos filiorum Israhel convertet ad Dominum Deum ipsorum

et ipse praecedet ante illum in spiritu et virtute Heliae ut convertat corda patrum in filios et incredibiles ad prudentiam iustorum parare Domino plebem perfectam

et dixit Zaccharias ad angelum unde hoc sciam ego enim sum senex et uxor mea processit in diebus suis

et respondens angelus dixit ei ego sum Gabrihel qui adsto ante Deum et missus sum loqui ad te et haec tibi evangelizare

et ecce eris tacens et non poteris loqui usque in diem quo haec fiant pro eo quod non credidisti verbis meis quae implebuntur in tempore suo

et erat plebs expectans Zacchariam et mirabantur quod tardaret ipse in templo

egressus autem non poterat loqui ad illos et cognoverunt quod visionem vidisset in templo et ipse erat innuens illis et permansit mutus

et factum est ut impleti sunt dies officii eius abiit in domum suam

post hos autem dies concepit Elisabeth uxor eius et occultabat se mensibus quinque dicens

quia sic mihi fecit Dominus in diebus quibus respexit auferre obprobrium meum inter homines

in mense autem sexto missus est angelus Gabrihel a Deo in civitatem Galilaeae cui nomen Nazareth

ad virginem desponsatam viro cui nomen erat Ioseph de domo David et nomen virginis Maria

et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit have gratia plena Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus

quae cum vidisset turbata est in sermone eius et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio

et ait angelus ei ne timeas Maria invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum

ecce concipies in utero et paries filium et vocabis nomen eius Iesum

hic erit magnus et Filius Altissimi vocabitur et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris eius

et regnabit in domo Iacob in aeternum et regni eius non erit finis

dixit autem Maria ad angelum quomodo fiet istud quoniam virum non cognosco

et respondens angelus dixit ei Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi ideoque et quod nascetur sanctum vocabitur Filius Dei

et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua et ipsa concepit filium in senecta sua et hic mensis est sextus illi quae vocatur sterilis

quia non erit inpossibile apud Deum omne verbum

dixit autem Maria ecce ancilla Domini fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum et discessit ab illa angelus

exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis abiit in montana cum festinatione in civitatem Iuda

et intravit in domum Zacchariae et salutavit Elisabeth

et factum est ut audivit salutationem Mariae Elisabeth exultavit infans in utero eius et repleta est Spiritu Sancto Elisabeth

et exclamavit voce magna et dixit benedicta tu inter mulieres et benedictus fructus ventris tui

et unde hoc mihi ut veniat mater Domini mei ad me

ecce enim ut facta est vox salutationis tuae in auribus meis exultavit in gaudio infans in utero meo

et beata quae credidit quoniam perficientur ea quae dicta sunt ei a Domino

et ait Maria magnificat anima mea Dominum

et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo

quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes

quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est et sanctum nomen eius

et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum

fecit potentiam in brachio suo dispersit superbos mente cordis sui

deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles

esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes

suscepit Israhel puerum suum memorari misericordiae

sicut locutus est ad patres nostros Abraham et semini eius in saecula

mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus et reversa est in domum suam

Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi et peperit filium

et audierunt vicini et cognati eius quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa et congratulabantur ei

et factum est in die octavo venerunt circumcidere puerum et vocabant eum nomine patris eius Zacchariam

et respondens mater eius dixit nequaquam sed vocabitur Iohannes

et dixerunt ad illam quia nemo est in cognatione tua qui vocetur hoc nomine

innuebant autem patri eius quem vellet vocari eum

et postulans pugillarem scripsit dicens Iohannes est nomen eius et mirati sunt universi

apertum est autem ilico os eius et lingua eius et loquebatur benedicens Deum

et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum et super omnia montana Iudaeae divulgabantur omnia verba haec

et posuerunt omnes qui audierant in corde suo dicentes quid putas puer iste erit etenim manus Domini erat cum illo

et Zaccharias pater eius impletus est Spiritu Sancto et prophetavit dicens

benedictus Deus Israhel quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebi suae

et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui

sicut locutus est per os sanctorum qui a saeculo sunt prophetarum eius

salutem ex inimicis nostris et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos

ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris et memorari testamenti sui sancti

iusiurandum quod iuravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum

daturum se nobis ut sine timore de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati serviamus illi

in sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso omnibus diebus nostris

et tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias eius

ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius in remissionem peccatorum eorum

per viscera misericordiae Dei nostri in quibus visitavit nos oriens ex alto

inluminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis

puer autem crescebat et confortabatur spiritu et erat in deserto usque in diem ostensionis suae ad Israhel