1Since many people have tried to write down the story of the events that have happened among us,
2just as those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the message from the beginning handed them down to us,
3I also, after carefully researching everything from the start, decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4so that you may know for certain the truth about the things you have been taught.
5During the time of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, who belonged to the priestly group of Abijah. His wife was Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron.
6Both of them lived righteously before God, following all the Lord's commands and rules without fault.
7But they had no children because Elizabeth was unable to have them, and both of them were very old.
8Now, it happened that Zacharias was performing his priestly duties before God, during the time his group was scheduled to serve.
9According to the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the Lord's Temple and burn incense.
10The large crowd of people were praying outside while the incense was being offered.
11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar where incense was burned.
12Zacharias was startled when he saw him and became very afraid.
13But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will have a son, and you are to name him John."
14You will have great joy and happiness, and many people will rejoice when he is born.
15For he will be important in the sight of the Lord. He must not drink wine or any strong alcoholic drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
16He will lead many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God.
17He will go before the Lord with the same spirit and power as Elijah. He will 'turn the hearts of fathers to their children' and turn those who disobey to the wisdom of people who are right with God. This is to prepare a people who are ready for the Lord.
18Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is also very old."
19The angel answered, "I am Gabriel, who stands in God's presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news."
20You will be silent and unable to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they were surprised that he stayed in the temple for so long.
22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them and remained unable to speak.
23After his time of service was completed, he went home.
24Some time later, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and she kept herself hidden for five months, saying,
25“The Lord has done this for me in these days. He has looked on me with favor and taken away my shame among people.”
26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, from the family of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. You are blessed among women!”
29But she was very troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him ‘Jesus.’
32He 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,
33and he will rule over the descendants of Jacob forever. His Kingdom will never end.”
34Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. So the holy child you give birth to will be called the Son of God.
36Look, even your relative Elizabeth is pregnant with a son in her old age, and this is her sixth month—she who was said to be unable to have children.
37For nothing is impossible with God.”
38Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant; may it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39In those days, Mary quickly got up and went to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40and she entered Zacharias’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42She exclaimed loudly, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
43Why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy!
45God bless you for believing! The Lord will fulfill what he has told you.”
46Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord.
47My spirit is joyful in God my Savior,
48because he has noticed his humble servant. Listen, from now on, everyone will say that I am blessed.
49The Mighty One has done great things for me. His name is holy.
50He shows mercy to those who respect him, from generation to generation.
51He has shown his power. He has scattered those who are proud in their deepest thoughts.
52He has pulled rulers from their thrones and lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed.
54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to show mercy,
55just as he promised our ancestors, Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, then went back home.
57The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son.
58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, and they celebrated with her.
59On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zacharias, after his father.
60But his mother said, “No, he will be called John.”
61They told her, “None of your relatives have that name.”
62They gestured to his father, asking what he wanted the child to be called.
63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed.
64Immediately, his mouth was opened, and his tongue was freed. He began to speak, praising God.
65Everyone living nearby was filled with awe, and all these events were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea.
66All who heard about it thought carefully about it, asking, “What kind of child will this be?” The Lord was clearly with him.
67Zacharias, the child’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy, saying,
68“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to help his people and set them free.
69He has provided a powerful Savior for us, from the family of his servant David
70(as he promised through his holy prophets who lived long ago),
71He would save us from our enemies and from the power of everyone who hates us.
72He promised to be kind to our ancestors and remember his holy promise,
73the promise he made to our father Abraham.
74He swore to grant us freedom from our enemies, so we could serve him without fear,
75living holy and righteous lives before him every day.
76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
77You will give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.
78This will happen because of our God's tender mercy, by which the morning light from heaven will shine on us.
79It will shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, guiding us into the path of peace.”
80The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.