1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,

1:2 even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,
1:2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us,

1:3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;
1:3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write [it] out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;

1:4 that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou was instructed.
1:4 so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

1:5 There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
1:5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
1:6 And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were (now) well stricken in years.
1:7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

1:8 Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
1:8 Now it came about, while he was performing his priestly service before God in the [appointed] order of his division,

1:9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
1:9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.
1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

1:11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense.
1:11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

1:12 And Zacharias was troubled when he saw (him), and fear fell upon him.
1:12 And Zacharias was troubled when he saw [him,] and fear gripped him.

1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
1:13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.

1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
1:14 "And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
1:15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine or liquor; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, while yet in his mother's womb.

1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God.
1:16 "And he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.

1:17 And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient (to walk) in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared (for him).
1:17 "And it is he who will go [as a forerunner] before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
1:18 And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this [for certain]? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."

1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.
1:19 And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I have been sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.

1:20 And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
1:20 "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their proper time."

1:21 And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.
1:21 And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.

1:22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.
1:22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.

1:23 And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.
1:23 And it came about, when the days of his priestly service were ended, that he went back home.

1:24 And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,
1:24 And after these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant; and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,

1:25 Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon (me), to take away my reproach among men.
1:25 "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked [with favor] upon [me,] to take away my disgrace among men."

1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth,

1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
1:27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

1:28 And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord (is) with thee.
1:28 And coming in, he said to her, "Hail, favored one! The Lord [is] with you."

1:29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.
1:29 But she was greatly troubled at [this] statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be.

1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
1:30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

1:31 And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
1:31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
1:32 "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;

1:33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
1:33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end. "

1:34 And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
1:34 And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"

1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.
1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.

1:36 And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.
1:36 "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.

1:37 For no word from God shall be void of power.
1:37 "For nothing will be impossible with God."

1:38 And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
1:38 And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

1:39 And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;
1:39 Now at this time Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country, to a city of Judah,

1:40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.
1:40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

1:41 And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;
1:41 And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

1:42 and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed (art) thou among women, and blessed (is) the fruit of thy womb.
1:42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed among women [are] you, and blessed [is] the fruit of your womb!

1:43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?
1:43 "And how has it [happened] to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

1:44 For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
1:44 "For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.

1:45 And blessed (is) she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.
1:45 "And blessed [is] she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."

1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
1:46 And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord,

1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
1:47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

1:48 For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
1:48 "For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.
1:49 "For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.

1:50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.
1:50 "AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

1:51 He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.
1:51 "He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered [those who were] proud in the thoughts of their heart.

1:52 He hath put down princes from (their) thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.
1:52 "He has brought down rulers from [their] thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.

1:53 The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.
1:53 "HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; AND SENT AWAY THE RICH Empty-handed.

1:54 He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy
1:54 "He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy,

1:55 (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.
1:55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his offspring forever. "

1:56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.
1:56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and [then] returned to her home.

1:57 Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
1:57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she brought forth a son.

1:58 And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.
1:58 And her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

1:59 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.
1:59 And it came about that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father.

1:60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
1:60 And his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John."

1:61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
1:61 And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name."

1:62 And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
1:62 And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.

1:63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
1:63 And he asked for a tablet, and wrote as follows, "His name is John." And they were all astonished.

1:64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue (loosed), and he spake, blessing God.
1:64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue [loosed,] and he [began] to speak in praise of God.

1:65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
1:65 And fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea.

1:66 And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
1:66 And all who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child [turn out to] be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.

1:67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
1:67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

1:68 Blessed (be) the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
1:68 "Blessed [be] the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,

1:69 And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David
1:69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant--

1:70 (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),
1:70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old--

1:71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
1:71 Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US;

1:72 To show mercy towards, our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;
1:72 To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant,

1:73 The oath which he spake unto Abraham our father,
1:73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

1:74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,
1:74 To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,

1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
1:75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

1:76 Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;
1:76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;

1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins,
1:77 To give to His people [the] knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,

1:78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,
1:78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us,

1:79 To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.
1:79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace. "

1:80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.
1:80 And the child continued to grow, and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.