1Many 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 .

 5In 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 descendant of Aaron .

6 Both of them were 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 they were both 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 whole congregation was praying outside .

11 Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah , standing at the right side of the altar of incense .

12 When Zechariah saw him , he was startled and gripped 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 are to 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 unable to speak .

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 .”

 26In 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 are to 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 no word from God will ever fail . ”

38 “ I am the Lord’s servant ,” Mary answered . “ May it happen to me according to your word .” Then the angel left her .

 39In 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 .

 57When 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 find out what he wanted to name the child .

63 Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote , “ His name is John .” And they were all amazed .

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 .

 67Then 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 the way for Him ,

77 to give to His people the 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 .