Dedication to Theophilus
FORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to compile an account concerning the events which were fulfilled among us;
2 Just as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and servants of the Word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having investigated strictly all things, from the very first, to write an ordered account to you, most excellent Theophilus:
4 That you might know the certainty of those words, in which you have been instructed.
Zachariah Serves in the Temple
5 ¶ THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachariah, of the priestly division of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
7 And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well advanced in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he was serving as priest before God, in the roster of his division,
9 According to the custom of the priesthood, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of the incense offering.
Birth of John the Baptist Announced
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zachariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him: “Fear not Zachariah: for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14 And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 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 Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16 And many of the sons of Israel, shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous: to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zachariah Unable to Speak
18 And Zachariah said to the angel: “Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well advanced in years.”
19 And the angel answering, said to him: “I am Gabriel, that stands in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to you, and to proclaim to you this good news.
20 And, behold, you shall be mute, and not able to speak, until the day that these things take place: because you believed not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.”
21 And the people waited for Zachariah, and marvelled that he delayed so long a time in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned to them, and remained unable to speak.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his service came to an end, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and concealed herself five months, saying:
25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days wherein He took concern for me, to take away my reproach among men.”
Birth of Jesus Announced
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth;
27 To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel came to her, and said: “Greetings, you that are highly favoured, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women.”
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his word, and considered what manner of salutation this might be.
30 And the angel said to her: “Fear not Mary: for you have found grace with God.
31 And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call His name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give to Him the throne of His father David:
33 And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”
34 Then said Mary to the angel: “How shall this be, seeing I have not known a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her: “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you: therefore also, the holy one which shall be born of you shall be called: ‘the Son of God.’
36 And, behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth, she has also conceived a son in her old age: and this is her sixth month, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing is impossible.”
38 And Mary said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;
40 And entered into the house of Zachariah, and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit:
42 And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, behold, as soon as the voice of your greeting was in my ears: the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be fulfilment of those things, which were told her from the Lord.”
Mary Magnifies God
46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
48 For He has looked upon the humble estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall consider me blessed.
49 For He that is powerful, has done to me great things; and holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those that fear Him from generation to generation.
51 He has showed might with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembering His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers: to Abraham, and to his seed forever.”
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came, that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbours and her kinsmen heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zachariah, after the name of his father.
60 And his mother answered and said: “Not so; rather he shall be called John.”
61 And they said to her: “There is none of your kin that is called by this name.”
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying: “His name is John”. And they all marvelled.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and praised God.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were discussed abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 And all those that heard, laid them up in their hearts, saying: “What manner of child shall this be!” And the hand of the Lord was with him.
Zechariah’s Prophecy of John
67 And his father Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for He has visited and redeemed His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David;
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the age began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To accomplish the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant;
73 The oath which he swore to our father Abraham,
74 That He would grant to us: that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear;
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.
76 And you, my child: shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people, by the pardon of their sins,
78 Through the compassionate mercy of our God; in that, the dawning from on high has visited us,
79 To give light to those that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his appearance to Israel.