Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the things that have been fulfilled among us,

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

just as they were handed down to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning,

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

it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully followed everything from the beginning, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most excellent Theophilus,

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,

so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

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

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, from the division of Abijah. His wife, Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.

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.

Both were righteous in the sight of God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

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

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

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

Now it happened that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,

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

according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

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

At the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.

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

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

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

When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear fell upon him.

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

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John.

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.

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

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

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

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.

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

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

And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.

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.

Zechariah said to the angel, 'How can I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.'

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

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

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.

Now listen, you will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.

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.

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and amazed that he stayed so long in the temple.

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

When he came out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple because he kept making signs to them but remained speechless.

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.

When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

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

After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said,

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

'The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor on me in these days, to take away my disgrace among the people.'

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

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

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

to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

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, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.'

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.

But she was deeply troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this could be.

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, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

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 Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

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:

He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.

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

Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?'

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

The angel replied to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'

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

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 nothing will be impossible with God.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Mary said, 'I am the Lord's servant. May it be done to me according to your word.' Then the angel left her.

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

In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah.

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

She entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

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

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

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:

Then she exclaimed with a loud voice, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.'

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

And how has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

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

For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

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

Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what the Lord has spoken to her.

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 magnifies the Lord,'

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

'and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.

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

For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy.

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

His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

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

He has brought down rulers from their thrones and exalted the humble.

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

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

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

He has helped His servant Israel, remembering His mercy,

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

just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever.

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

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

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

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

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

Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

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

On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father.

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.

But his mother responded, 'No! He will be called John.'

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

They said to her, 'None of your relatives has that name.'

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

So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.

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

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.' And they were all amazed.

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

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

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

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

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

All those who heard these things kept them in their hearts, saying, 'What then will this child become?' For indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

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.

Then Zechariah, his father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying:

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

'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people.

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

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,

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

just as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from long ago—

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 who hate us.

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

He has shown mercy to our ancestors and remembered His holy covenant—

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

the oath that He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us:

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, would serve Him without fear,

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 our days.

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 Lord to prepare His ways,

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 His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

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

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

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

to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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

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

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