The Dedication to Theophilus
1 Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled 1:1 Or events that have been accomplished, or events most surely believed among us, 1:1 Rm 4:21; 14:5; Col 2:2; 4:12; 1Th 1:5; 2Tm 4:17; Heb 6:11; 10:222 just as the original eyewitnesses 1:2 Jn 15:27; Ac 1:21; 2Pt 1:16; 1Jn 1:1 and servants of the word 1:2 Ac 26:16; 1Co 4:1; Heb 2:3 handed them down to us. 3 So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable 1:3 Ac 23:26; 24:3; 26:25 Theophilus, 1:3 Ac 1:14 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. 1:4 Or informed, 1:4 Ac 18:25; Rm 2:18; 1Co 14:19; Gl 6:6
Gabriel Predicts John’s Birth
5 In the days of King Herod 1:5 Mt 2:1 of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division 1:5 1Ch 24:10 named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in God’s sight, 1:6 Gn 7:1; Ac 2:25; 8:21 living without blame 1:6 Php 2:15; 3:6; 1Th 3:13 according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. 1:7 Gn 4:1; 18:11; Jdg 13:2–3; 1Sm 1:2; 2:20; Ps 113:9; 127:3–5; Heb 11:11–12
8 When his division was on duty 1:8 1Ch 24:19; 2Ch 8:14; 31:2 and he was serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, 1:9 Jos 18:6,8,10; 1Ch 24:31; 25:8; 26:13–14; Neh 10:34; 11:1; Ac 1:26 according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 1:9 Ex 30:7–810 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lord 1:11 Mt 2:13–14; 28:2; Lk 2:9; Ac 5:19; 8:26; 12:7 appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 1:11 Mk 16:5; Ac 2:3312 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. 1:12 Gn 21:17; Jdg 6:22–23; 2Kg 1:15; Mt 1:20; 28:5; Lk 2:10; Ac 10:3–4; 27:23–2413 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, 1:13 Gn 15:1; Mt 14:27; Lk 1:30 Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. 1:13 Gn 25:21; 1Kg 8:45,49; 2Kg 20:5; Ps 6:9; Is 38:5 Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 1:13 Gn 16:11; 17:15,19; Is 8:3; Hs 1:4,9; Mt 1:20,23; Lk 1:60,6314 There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. 1:13–15 Nm 6:3; Jdg 13:3–5; Mt 11:18; Lk 7:33 He will be filled with the Holy Spirit 1:15 Ex 28:3; 31:3; 35:31; Dt 34:9; Mc 3:8; Lk 1:41,67; Ac 2:4; 4:8,31; 7:55; 9:17; 13:9; 13:52; Eph 5:18 while still in his mother’s womb. 1:15 Is 44:2; Lk 1:41,4416 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 1:16 Ps 22:27; Lm 3:4017 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, 1:16–17 Mal 4:5–6; Mt 11:14; 17:10–12 and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people." 1:17 Is 40:3; Lk 1:76; 3:4
18 "How can I know this? " Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years."
19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, 1:19 Dn 8:16; 9:21; Lk 1:26 who stands in the presence of God, 1:19 Mt 18:10 and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them 1:22 Lk 1:62 and remained speechless. 23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 "The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace 1:25 Gn 30:23; Is 4:1; 25:8 among the people."
Gabriel Predicts Jesus’s Birth
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel 1:26 Lk 1:19 was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 1:26 Mt 2:2327 to a virgin engaged 1:27 Lit betrothed, 1:27 Dt 21:23; Is 7:14; Mt 1:18,23 to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. 1:27 Mt 1:20; Lk 2:4 The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you." 1:28 Other mss add Blessed are you among women.29 But she was deeply troubled 1:29 Lk 1:12 by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, 1:30 Mt 14:27; Lk 1:13 for you have found favor with God. 1:30 Gn 6:8; Ex 33:12–17; Jr 31:231 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 1:31 Is 7:14; Mt 1:21,25; Lk 2:2132 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, 1:32 Lk 1:35,76; 3:38; 6:35; 8:28; 9:35; Jn 1:34,49; 11:27; Ac 7:48 and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 1:32 2Sm 7:12–13; 1Kg 2:12; Ps 132:11; Is 9:7; Jr 33:17; Mk 11:1033 He will reign over the house of Jacob 1:33 Ex 19:3; Ps 114:1; Is 14:1; 29:22; 46:3 forever, and his kingdom will have no end." 1:33 Is 9:6 LXX; Dn 7:14
34 Mary asked the angel, "How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man? " 1:34 Lit since I do not know a man
35 The angel replied to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, 1:35 Mt 1:18 and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 1:35 Mt 14:33; Lk 4:3,9,41; 22:7036 And consider your relative Elizabeth — even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 1:37 Gn 18:14; Lk 18:27
38 "See, I am the Lord’s servant," said Mary. "May it happen to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 1:41 Lk 1:67; Ac 2:4; 4:8; 9:17; 13:942 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! 1:42 Lit and the fruit of your abdomen (or womb) is blessed43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her! "
Mary’s Praise
46 And Mary said:
My soul magnifies the Lord, 1:46–53 1Sm 2:1–10
47 and my spirit rejoices 1:47 Ps 35:9; Hab 3:18 in God my Savior, 1:47 1Tm 1:1; 2:3; Ti 1:3; 2:10; 3:4; Jd 25
48 because he has looked with favor
on the humble condition of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations
will call me blessed, 1:48 Lk 11:27
49 because the Mighty One 1:49 Ps 89:8; Zph 3:17
has done great things for me, 1:49 Ps 71:19; 126:2–3
and his name 1:49 Lv 20:3; 22:2,32; 1Ch 16:10,35; 29:16; Ps 30:4; 99:3; 103:1; 111:9; Is 57:15 is holy.
50 His mercy is from generation to generation 1:50 Ps 100:5; 103:11,17
on those who fear him.
51 He has done a mighty deed with his arm; 1:51 Ps 89:10; 98:1; 118:15
he has scattered the proud
because of the thoughts of their hearts; 1:51 Lk 2:35; 9:47
52 he has toppled the mighty from their thrones
and exalted the lowly. 1:52 1Sm 2:7–8
53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things 1:53 Ps 34:10; 107:9; Lk 6:21,24–25
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy
55 to Abraham and his descendants 1:55 Or offspring; lit seed forever, 1:55 Gn 17:9,15; 21:12
just as he spoke to our ancestors.
56 And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.
The Birth and Naming of John
57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, 1:58 Gn 19:19 and they rejoiced with her.
59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, 1:59 Gn 17:12; Lv 12:3; Lk 2:21; Php 3:5 they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother responded, "No. He will be called John." 1:60 Lk 1:13,63
61 Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." 62 So they motioned to his father 1:62 Lk 1:22 to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened 1:64 Lk 1:20 and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard about him 1:66 Ac 11:21 took it to heart, saying, "What then will this child become? " For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s Prophecy
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit 1:67 Lk 1:41 and prophesied: 1:67 Jl 2:28
68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, 1:68 Ps 41:13
because he has visited
and provided redemption for his people. 1:68 Lk 1:71; 2:38; Heb 9:12
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us 1:69 1Sm 2:1,10; Ps 18:2; 89:17; 132:17; Ezk 29:21
in the house of his servant David, 1:69 2Sm 7:26; Ps 89:3,20; Ezk 34:23–24; 37:24–25
70 just as he spoke by the mouth
of his holy prophets in ancient times; 1:70 2Kg 21:10; Hs 12:10; Ac 3:21; Rm 1:2; Heb 1:1
71 salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of those who hate us.
72 He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors 1:72 Mc 7:20
and remembered his holy covenant 1:72 Ps 105:8–9,42; 106:45 —
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, 1:73 Gn 22:16–17; Heb 6:13
to grant that we,
74 having been rescued
from the hand of our enemies,
would serve him without fear
75 in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called
a prophet of the Most High, 1:76 Mt 11:9
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare his ways, 1:76 Lk 1:17; Is 40:3; Mal 3:1
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins. 1:77 Jr 31:34; Mk 1:4
78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high 1:78 Is 58:8; Jr 23:5; Zch 3:8; 6:12 LXX; Mal 4:2; Lk 24:49; Eph 4:8; 2Pt 1:19 will visit us
79 to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death, 1:79 Is 9:2; 60:2–3
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 The child grew up and became strong in spirit, 1:80 Or strong in the Spirit, 1:80 Lk 2:40 and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.