1Forasmuch as many have undertaken to compose a narrative of those things, which have been accomplished amongst us, 2as they, who were from the beginning, eye-witnesses, and afterwards ministers of the word, delivered them to us; 3I have also determined, having exactly traced everything from the first, to write a particular account for you, most excellent Theophilus; 4that you might know the certainty of those matters wherein you have been instructed. 5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah; and his wife, named Elizabeth, was of the daughters of Aaron. 6They were both righteous before God, blameless observers of all the Lord's commandments and ordinances. 7And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were advanced in years. 8Now when he came to officiate as priest in the order of his course, 9it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to offer incense in the sanctuary. 10And while the incense was burning, the whole congregation were praying without. 11Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And Zacharias was discomposed at the sight, and in great terror. 13But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias; for your prayer is heard, and Elizabeth your wife shall bear you a son, whom you shall name John. 14He shall be to you matter of joy and transport; and many shall rejoice because of his birth. 15For he shall be great before the Lord; he shall not drink wine nor any fermented liquor; but he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16And many of the sons of Israel he shall bring back to the Lord their God. 17Moreover, he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to reconcile fathers to their children, and by the wisdom of the righteous, to render the disobedient a people well disposed for the Lord. 18And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this: for I am old man, and my wife is advanced in years? 19The angel answering, said to him, I am Gabriel, who attend in the presence of God, and am sent to tell you this joyful news. 20But know that you shall be dumb, and shall not recover your speech, till the day when these things happen, because you have not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in due time. 21Meanwhile the people waited for Zacharias, and wondered that he staid so long in the sanctuary. 22But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary; for he made them understand by signs, and remained speechless. 23And when his days of officiating were expired, he returned home. 24Soon after, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and lived in retirement five months, and said, 25The Lord has done this for me, purposing now to deliver me from the reproach I lay under among men. 26Now, in the sixth month, God sent Gabriel his angel, to Nazareth, a city of Galilee; 27to a virgin betrothed to a man called Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. 28When the angel entered, he said to her, Hail, favorite of heaven! the Lord be with you, happiest of women! 29At his appearance and words, she was perplexed, and revolved in her mind what this salutation could mean. 30And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you shall conceive and bear a son, whom you shall name Jesus. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will give him the throne of David his Father. 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever: his reign shall never end. 34Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, since I have no intercourse with man? 35The angel answering, said to her, The Holy Spirit will descend upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore the holy progeny shall be called the Son of God. 36And lo! your cousin Elizabeth also has conceived, a son in her old age; and she who is called barren, is now in her sixth month; 37for nothing is impossible with God. 38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it to me according to your word. Then the angel departed. 39In those days Mary set out, and traveled expeditiously into the hill country; to a city of Judah; 40where having entered the house of Zacharias, she saluted Elizabeth. 41As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's salutation, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42and cried with a loud voice, You are the most blessed of women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43But how have I deserved this honor, to be visited by the mother of my Lord! 44for know, that as soon as the sound of your salutation reached my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45And happy is she who believed that the things which the Lord has promised her, shall be performed. 46Then Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; 48because he has not disdained the low condition of his handmaid; for henceforth, all posterity will pronounce me happy. 49For the Almighty, whose name is venerable, has done wonders for me. 50His mercy on them who fear him, extends to generations of generations. 51He displays the strength of his arm, and dispels the vain imaginations of the proud. 52He pulls down potentates from their thrones, and exalts the lowly. 53The needy he loads with benefits; but the rich he spoils of everything. 54He supports Israel his servant, ever inclined to mercy, 55(as he promised to our fathers) toward Abraham and his race. 56And Mary, after staying with Elizabeth about three months, returned home. 57When the time for Elizabeth's delivery was come, she brought forth a son; 58and her neighbors and relations who heard that the Lord had shown her great kindness, rejoiced with her. 59And, on the eighth day, when they came to the circumcision of the child, they would have called him by his father's name, Zacharias. 60And his mother interposed, saying, No; but he shall be called John. 61They said to her, There is none of your kindred of that name. 62They, therefore, asked his father by signs, how he would have him called. 63He, having demanded a table-book, wrote upon it, His name is John, which surprised them all. 64And his mouth was opened directly, and his tongue loosed. And he spoke, praising God. 65Now all in the neighborhood were struck with awe; and the fame of these things spread throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66And all who heard these things, pondering them in their hearts, said, What will this child hereafter be? And the hand of the Lord was with him. 67Then Zacharias, his father, being filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying, 68Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people; 69and has raised a Prince for our deliverance in the house of David his servant; 70(as anciently he promised by his holy prophets) 71for our deliverance from our enemies, and from the hands of all who hate us; 72in kindness to our forefathers, and remembrance of his holy institution; 73the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, 74to grant to us, that being rescued out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve him boldly, 75in piety and uprightness all our days. 76And you, child, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the Lord, to prepare his way, 77by giving the knowledge of salvation to his people, in the remission of their sins, 78through the tender compassion of our God, who has caused a light to spring from on high to visit us, 79to enlighten those who abide in darkness and in the shades of death; to direct our feet into the way of peace. 80Meantime the child grew, and acquired strength of mind, and continued in the deserts, until the time when he made himself known to Israel.