1THE AUTHOR TO THEOPHILUS: Many writers have undertaken to draw up an account of the events that have happened among us, 2following the traditions handed down to us by the original eyewitnesses and servants of the Gospel. 3And so I in my turn, your Excellency, as one who has gone over the whole course of these events in detail, have decided to write a connected narrative for you, 4so as to give you authentic knowledge about the matters of which you have been informed.
5IN THE DAYS of Herod king of Judaea there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of the priesthood called after Abijah. His wife also was of priestly descent; her name was Elizabeth. 6Both of them were upright and devout, blamelessly observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. 7But they had no children, for Elizabeth was barren, and both were well on in years.
8Once, when it was the turn of his division and he was there to take part in divine service, 9it fell to his lot, by priestly custom, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer the incense; 10and the whole congregation was at prayer outside. It was the hour of the incense-offering. 11There appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. 12At this sight, Zechariah was startled, and fear overcame him. 13But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard: your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. 14Your heart will thrill with joy and many will be glad that he was born; 15for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He shall never touch wine or strong drink. 16From his very birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit; and he will bring back many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 [ Mal.4.5-6, Sir.48.10. ] He will go before him as forerunner, possessed by the spirit and power of Elijah, to reconcile father and child, to convert the rebellious to the ways of the righteous, to prepare a people that shall be fit for the Lord.'
18Zechariah said to the angel, 'How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well on in years.'
19The angel replied, 'I am Gabriel; I stand in attendance upon God, and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. 20But now listen: you will lose your power of speech, and remain silent until the day when these things happen to you, because you have not believed me, though at their proper time my words will be proved true.'
21Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, surprised that he was staying so long inside. 22When he did come out he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had had a vision in the sanctuary. He stood there making signs to them, and remained dumb.
23When his period of duty was completed Zechariah returned home. 24After this his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she lived in seclusion, thinking, 'This is the Lord's doing; 25now at last he has deigned to take away my reproach among men.'
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27with a message for a girl betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David; the girl's name was Mary. 28The angel went in and said to her, 'Greetings, most favoured one! The Lord is with you.' 29But she was deeply troubled by what he said and wondered what this greeting might mean. 30Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for God has been gracious to you; 31you shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great; he will bear the title "Son of the Most High"; the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, 33and he will be king over Israel for ever; his reign shall never end.' 34'How can this be?' said Mary; 'I am still a virgin.' 35The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy child to be born will be called "Son of God". 36Moreover your kinswoman Elizabeth has herself conceived a son in her old age; and she who is reputed barren is now in her sixth month, 37for God's promises can never fail.' 38'Here am I,' said Mary; 'I am the Lord's servant; as you have spoken, so be it.' Then the angel left her.
39About this time Mary set out and went straight to a town in the uplands of Judah. 40She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. 41And when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby stirred in her womb. Then Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried aloud, 42'God's blessing is on you above all women, and his blessing is on the fruit of your womb. 43Who am I, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44I tell you, when your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby in my womb leapt for joy. 45How happy is she who has had faith that the Lord's promise would be fulfilled!'
46And Mary said:
His name is Holy;
50his mercy sure from generation to generation
toward those who fear him;
51the deeds his own right arm has done disclose his might:
the arrogant of heart and mind he has put to rout,
52he has brought down monarchs from their thrones,
but the humble have been lifted high.
53The hungry he has satisfied with good things,
the rich sent empty away.
54He has ranged himself at the side of Israel his servant;
55firm in his promise to our forefathers,
he has not forgotten to show mercy to Abraham
and his children's children, for ever.'
56Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned home.
57NOW THE TIME CAME for Elizabeth's child to be born, and she gave birth to a son. 58When her neighbours and relatives heard what great favour the Lord had shown her, they were as delighted as she was. 59Then on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60But his mother spoke up and said, 'No! he is to be called John.' 61'But', they said, 'there is nobody in your family who has that name.' 62They inquired of his father by signs what he would like him to be called. 63He asked for a writing-tablet and to the astonishment of all wrote down, 'His name is John.' 64Immediately his lips and tongue were freed and he began to speak, praising God. 65All the neighbours were struck with awe, and everywhere in the uplands of Judaea the whole story became common talk. 66All who heard it were deeply impressed and said, 'What will this child become?' For indeed the hand of the Lord was upon him.
67And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit and uttered this prophecy:
70So he promised: age after age he proclaimed
by the lips of his holy prophets,
71that he would deliver us from our enemies,
out of the hands of all who hate us;
72that he would deal mercifully with our fathers,
calling to mind his solemn covenant.
73Such was the oath he swore to our father Abraham,
74to rescue us from enemy hands,
and grant us, free from fear,
to worship him 75with a holy worship,
with uprightness of heart,
in his presence, our whole life long.
76 [ Mal.3.1. ] And you, my child, you shall be called Prophet of the Highest,
for you will be the Lord's forerunner, to prepare his way
77and lead his people to salvation through knowledge of him,
by the forgiveness of their sins:
78for in the tender compassion of our God
the morning sun from heaven will rise upon us,
79 [ Is.9.2, Is.59.8. ] to shine on those who live in darkness, under the cloud of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.'
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