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Chapter 1 Chapter 2

CHAPTER 1

1
Many
have undertaken
to compose
an account
of
the
things that
have been fulfilled
among
us,
2
just as
they
were handed down
to us
by
the initial
eyewitnesses
and
servants
of the
word.
3
Therefore, having carefully investigated
everything
from the beginning,
it seemed good
also to me
to write
an orderly account
for you,
most excellent
Theophilus,
4
so that
you may know
the
certainty
of
the things
you have been taught.
5
In
the
time
of Herod
king
of Judea,
there was
a
priest
named
Zechariah,
who belonged to
the priestly division
of Abijah,
and
whose
wife
Elizabeth
was
a
daughter
of Aaron.
6
They were
both
righteous
in the sight of
God,
walking
blamelessly
in
all
the
commandments
and
decrees
of the
Lord.
7
But
they
had
no
children,
because
Elizabeth
was
barren,
and
both of them
were
well along
in
years.
8
One day
while
Zechariah’s
division
was on duty
and
he
was serving as priest
before
God,
9
he was chosen by lot,
according to
the
custom
of the
priesthood,
to enter
the
temple
of the
Lord
and burn incense.
10
And
at the
hour
of the
incense offering,
the
entire
congregation
was
praying
outside.
11
Just then,
an angel
of the Lord
appeared
to Zechariah,
standing
at
the right side
of the
altar
of the
incense.
12
When
Zechariah
saw him,
he was startled
and
overcome
with fear.
13
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 shall give
him
the
name
John.
14
He will be
a joy
and
delight
to you,
and
many
will rejoice
at
his
birth,
15
for
he will be
great
in the sight
of the
Lord.
He shall never take
wine
or
strong drink,
and
he will be filled
with the Holy
Spirit
even
from
his
mother’s
womb.
16
Many
of the
sons
of Israel
he will turn
back to
the Lord
their
God.
17
And
he
will go on
before
the Lord
in
the spirit
and
power
of Elijah,
to turn
the hearts
of the fathers
to
their children,
and
the disobedient
to
the wisdom
of the righteous—
to make ready
a people
prepared
for the Lord."
18
“How
can I be sure of
this?”
Zechariah
asked
the
angel.
“I
am
an old man,
and
my
wife
is well along
in
years.”
19
“I
am
Gabriel,”
replied
the
angel.
“I stand
in the presence of
God,
and
I have been sent
to speak
to
you
and
to bring you this good news.
20
And
now
you will be
silent
and
unable
to speak
until
the
day
this
comes to pass,
because
you did not believe
my
words,
which
will be fulfilled
at
their
proper time."
21
Meanwhile,
the
people
were
waiting for
Zechariah
and
wondering
why
he
took so long
in
the
temple.
22
When
he came out
and was unable
to speak
to them,
they realized
he had seen
a vision
in
the
temple.
He
kept
making signs
to them
but
remained
speechless.
23
And
when
the
days
of his
service
were complete,
he returned
home.
24
After
these
days,
his
wife
Elizabeth
became pregnant
and
for five
months
remained in seclusion.
She declared,
25
“The Lord
has done
this
for me.
In
these days
He has shown me favor
and taken away
my
disgrace
among
the people.”
26
In
the
sixth
month,
God
sent
the
angel
Gabriel
to
a town
in Galilee
called
Nazareth,
27
to
a virgin
pledged in marriage
to a man
named
Joseph,
who was of
the house
of David.
And
the
virgin’s
name
was Mary.
28
The angel appeared
to
her
and said,
“Greetings,
you who are highly favored!
The
Lord is
with
you.”
29
Mary was greatly troubled
at
his
words
and
wondered
what kind
of
greeting
this
might be.
30
So
the
angel
told
her,
“Do not
be afraid,
Mary,
for
you have found
favor
with
God.
31
Behold,
you will conceive
and
give birth to
a son,
and
you shall give
Him
the
name
Jesus.
32
He
will be
great
and
will be called
the Son
of the Most High.
The
Lord
God
will give
Him
the
throne
of His
father
David,
33
and
He will reign
over
the
house
of Jacob
forever.
His
kingdom
will
never
end!”
34
“How
can this be,”
Mary
asked
the
angel,
“since
I am a virgin?”
35
The
angel
replied,
“The Holy
Spirit
will come
upon
you,
and
the power
of the Most High
will overshadow
you.
So
the
Holy One
to be born
will be called
the Son
of God.
36
Look,
even
Elizabeth
your
relative
has conceived
a son
in
her
old age,
and
she who
was called
barren
is
in her
sixth
month.
37
For
nothing
will be impossible
with
God.”
38
“I am
the
Lord’s
servant,”
Mary
answered.
“May it happen
to me
according to
your
word.”
Then
the
angel
left
her.
39
In
those
days
Mary
got ready
and hurried
to
a town
in
the
hill country
of Judah,
40
where
she entered
the
home
of Zechariah
and
greeted
Elizabeth.
41
When
Elizabeth
heard
Mary’s
greeting,
the
baby
leaped
in
her
womb,
and
Elizabeth
was filled
with the Holy
Spirit.
42
In a loud
voice
she exclaimed,
“Blessed are
you
among
women,
and
blessed is
the
fruit
of
your
womb!
43
And
why
am I
so honored,
that
the
mother
of
my
Lord
should come
to
me?
44
For
as soon
as
the
sound
of
your
greeting
reached
my
ears,
the
baby
in
my
womb
leaped
for
joy.
45
Blessed is
she who
has believed
that
the Lord’s
word
to her
will be
fulfilled.”
46
Then
Mary
said:
“My
soul
magnifies
the
Lord,
47
and
my
spirit
rejoices
in
God
my
Savior!
48
For
He has looked with favor
on
the
humble state
of
His
servant.
From
now on
all
generations
will call me blessed.
49
For
the
Mighty One
has done
great things
for me.
Holy is
His
name.
50
His
mercy
extends
to those
who fear
Him,
from generation
to
generation.
51
He has performed
mighty deeds
with
His
arm;
He has scattered
those who are proud
in the thoughts
of their
hearts.
52
He has brought down
rulers
from
their thrones,
but
has exalted
the humble.
53
He has filled
the hungry
with good things,
but
has sent
the rich away
empty.
54
He has helped
His
servant
Israel,
remembering
to be merciful,
55
as
He promised
to
our
fathers,
to Abraham
and
his
descendants
forever.”
56
Mary
stayed
with
Elizabeth
for about
three
months
and then
returned
home.
57
When
the
time
came
for
Elizabeth
to have her child,
she gave birth to
a son.
58
Her
neighbors
and
relatives
heard
that
the Lord
had shown her great
mercy,
and
they rejoiced with
her.
59
On
the
eighth
day,
when
they came
to circumcise
the
child,
they were going to name
him
after
his
father
Zechariah.
60
But
his
mother
replied,
“No!
He shall be called
John.”
61
They said
to
her,
“There is
no one
among
your
relatives
who
bears
this
name.”
62
So
they made signs
to
his
father
to inquire
what
he wanted
to name
the child.
63
Zechariah asked for
a tablet
and wrote,
“His
name
is
John.”
And
they were all astonished.
64
Immediately
Zechariah’s
mouth
was opened
and
his
tongue was released,
and
he began to speak,
praising
God.
65
All
their
neighbors
were filled with
awe,
and
people throughout
the
hill country
of Judea
were talking about
these
events.
66
And
all
who heard this
wondered
in
their
hearts
and asked,
“What
then
will this
child
become?”
For
the Lord’s
hand
was
with
him.
67
Then
his
father
Zechariah
was filled
with the Holy
Spirit
and
prophesied:
68
“Blessed be
the Lord,
the
God
of Israel,
because
He has visited
and
redeemed
His
people.
69
He has raised up
a horn
of salvation
for us
in
the house
of His
servant
David,
70
as
He spoke
through
His
holy
prophets,
those of
ages past,
71
salvation
from
our
enemies
and
from
the hand
of all
who
hate
us,
72
to show
mercy
to
our
fathers
and
to remember
His
holy
covenant,
73
the oath
He swore
to
our
father
Abraham,
to grant
us
74
deliverance
from
hostile
hands,
that we may serve
Him
without fear,
75
in
holiness
and
righteousness
before
Him
all
the
days
of our lives.
76
And
you,
child,
will be called
a prophet
of the Most High;
for
you will go on
before
the Lord
to prepare
His
ways,
77
to give
to
His
people
knowledge
of salvation
through
the forgiveness
of their
sins,
78
because of
the tender
mercy
of our
God,
by
which
the Dawn
will visit
us
from
on high,
79
to shine on
those who
live
in
darkness
and
in the shadow
of death,
to guide
our
feet
into
the path
of peace.”
80
And
the
child
grew
and
became strong
in spirit;
and
he lived
in
the
wilderness
until
the time
of his
public appearance
to
Israel.
< >

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