1Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to arrange in order a narration about the deeds that have been brought to fullness among us, 2just as they delivered them to us, who became from the beginning eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3it occurred to me also, having followed closely from the beginning all things accurately, to write to thee in order, eminent Theophilus, 4so that thou might know the certainty of the declarations about which thou were instructed. 5It came to pass in the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zacharias, from the division of Abijah, and his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6And they were both righteous before God, going in all the commandments and righteous things of the Lord blameless. 7And there was no child to them because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in their days. 8But it came to pass during his service as a priest in the course of his division in the presence of God, 9that, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to burn incense after entering into the temple of the Lord. 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11And an agent of Lord became visible to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And Zacharias having seen, was shaken, and fear fell upon him. 13But the agent said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, because thy plea was heard, and thy wife Elizabeth will bear a son for thee. And thou shall call his name John. 14And there will be joy and exultation for thee, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he should, no, not drink wine and strong drink. And he will be filled of Holy Spirit, even from his mother's belly. 16And he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to Lord their God. 17And he will go ahead, in front of him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of fathers toward children, and the disobedient in a mentality of the righteous, to make ready for Lord a people prepared. 18And Zacharias said to the agent, How will I know this? For I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days. 19And having answered, the agent said to him, I am Gabriel who stand in the presence of God. And I was sent to speak to thee, and to announce these good news to thee. 20And behold, thou will be mute, and not able to speak until that day these things will come to pass, because thou did not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their time. 21And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they wondered during his delay in the temple. 22And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they recognized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was beckoning to them, and remained speechless. 23And it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. 24And after these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she concealed herself five months, saying, 25Thus the Lord has done to me during the days in which he looked, to take away my shame among men. 26Now in the sixth month the agent Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28And the agent having come in near her, he said, Hail, thou who are highly favored. The Lord is with thee, thou who are blessed among women. 29But having seen, she was perplexed at his saying, and was pondering what kind of greeting this might be. 30And the agent said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou have found favor with God. 31And behold, thou will conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son. And thou shall call his name JESUS. 32This man will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. 33And he will reign over the house of Jacob into the ages. And of his kingdom there will be no end. 34And Mary said to the agent, How will this be, since I know not a man? 35And having answered, the agent said to her, Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow thee. Therefore also the holy thing that is begotten will be called the Son of God. 36And behold, Elizabeth thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For no word from God will be impossible. 38And Mary said, Behold the maid-servant of Lord. May it happen to me according to thy word. And the agent departed from her. 39And having risen in these days, Mary went with haste into the hill country, into a city of Judah, 40and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled of Holy Spirit, 42and she exclaimed in a great voice, and said, Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy belly. 43And why is this to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44For lo, when the voice of thy greeting happened in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my belly. 45And blessed is she who believed, because there will be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from Lord. 46And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48because he has looked upon the lowliness of his bondmaid. For behold, from henceforth all generations will regard me blessed, 49because the Mighty has done great things to me. And his name is holy. 50And his mercy is for generations of generations to those who fear him. 51He did a mighty work by his arm. He scattered the proud in the mentality of their heart. 52He brought down potentates from thrones, and raised up lowly men. 53He filled those who are hungry with good things, and those who are rich he sent away empty. 54He helped his boy Israel to be reminded of mercy, 55just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and his seed into the age. 56And Mary dwelt with her about three months, and returned to her house. 57Now the time for Elizabeth was fulfilled for her to give birth, and she brought forth a son. 58And her neighbors and her kinfolk heard that Lord magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling it by the name of his father Zacharias. 60And his mother having answered, said, No, but he will be called John. 61And they said to her, There is no man among thy relatives who is called by this name. 62And they made signs to his father, whatever he wanted to call him. 63And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marveled. 64And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue, and he spoke, praising God. 65And fear developed in all who dwell around them. And all these sayings were talked about in the entire hill country of Judea. 66And all who heard stored up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? For the hand of Lord was with him. 67And his father Zacharias was filled of Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68Blessed is Lord, the God of Israel, because he came to help, and made ransom for his people. 69And he raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his boy David, 70just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us, 72to do mercy with our fathers, and his holy covenant to be remembered, 73the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to give to us, 74without fear from the hand of our enemies, having been saved to serve him 75in piety and righteousness before him all our the days of our life. 76And thou, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. For thou will go ahead, before the face of Lord, to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins, 78because of the bowels of mercy of our God, by which the dayspring from on high came to help us, 79to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into a way of peace. 80And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.