1Forasmuch[G1895] as many[G4183] have taken in hand[G2021] to set forth in order[G392] a declaration[G1335]of[G4012] those things[G4229] which are most surely believed[G4135]among[G1722]us[G2254],
2Even[G2531] as they delivered[G3860] them unto us[G2254], which[G3588]from[G575] the beginning[G746]were[G1096]eyewitnesses[G845], and[G2532]ministers[G5257] of the word[G3056];
3
It seemed[G1380] good to me also[G2504], having had perfect[G199]understanding[G3877] of all things[G3956] from the very first[G509], to write[G1125] unto thee[G4671] in order[G2517], most excellent[G2903]Theophilus[G2321],
4That[G2443] thou mightest know[G1921] the certainty[G803]of[G4012] those things[G3056], wherein[G3739] thou hast been instructed[G2727].
5
There was[G1096]in[G1722] the days[G2250]of[G1537]Herod[G2264], the king[G935]of[G1537]Judaea[G2449], a certain[G5100]priest[G2409]named[G3686]Zacharias[G2197], of[G1537] the course[G2183]of[G1537]Abia[G7]: and[G2532]his[G846]wife[G1135]was[G1096]of[G1537] the daughters[G2364]of[G1537]Aaron[G2], and[G2532]her[G846]name[G3686]was[G1096]Elisabeth[G1665].
6And[G1161] they were[G2258]both[G297]righteous[G1342]before[G1799]God[G2316], walking[G4198]in[G1722]all[G3956] the commandments[G1785]and[G2532]ordinances[G1345] of the Lord[G2962]blameless[G273].
7And[G2532]they[G846]had[G2258]no[G3756]child[G5043], because[G2530] that Elisabeth[G1665]was[G2258]barren[G4723], and[G2532]they[G846]both[G297]were[G2258] now well stricken[G4260]in[G1722]years[G2250].
8And[G1161] it came to pass[G1096], that while[G1722]he[G846] executed the priest's office[G2407]before[G1725]God[G2316]in[G1722] the order[G5010] of his[G846]course[G2183],
9According[G2596] to the custom[G1485] of the priest's office[G2405], his lot[G2975] was to burn incense[G2370] when he went[G1525]into[G1519] the temple[G3485] of the Lord[G2962].
10And[G2532] the whole[G3956]multitude[G4128] of the people[G2992]were[G2258]praying[G4336]without[G1854] at the time[G5610] of incense[G2368].
11And[G1161] there appeared[G3700] unto him[G846] an angel[G32] of the Lord[G2962]standing[G2476]on[G1537] the right side[G1188] of the altar[G2379] of incense[G2368].
12And[G2532] when Zacharias[G2197]saw[G1492]him[G846], he was troubled[G5015], and[G2532]fear[G5401]fell[G1968]upon[G1909]him[G846].
13But[G1161] the angel[G32]said[G2036]unto[G4314]him[G846], Fear[G5399]not[G3361], Zacharias[G2197]: for[G1360]thy[G4675]prayer[G1162] is heard[G1522]; and[G2532]thy[G4675]wife[G1135]Elisabeth[G1665] shall bear[G1080]thee[G4671] a son[G5207], and[G2532] thou shalt call[G2564]his[G846]name[G3686]John[G2491].
15For[G1063] he shall be[G2071]great[G3173] in the sight[G1799] of the Lord[G2962], and[G2532] shall drink[G4095]neither[G3364]wine[G3631]nor[G2532] strong drink[G4608]; and[G2532] he shall be[G2071]filled[G4130] with the Holy[G40]Ghost[G4151], even[G2089]from[G1537]his[G846] mother's womb[G2836].
16And[G2532]many[G4183] of the children[G5207] of Israel[G2474] shall he turn[G1994]to[G1909] the Lord[G2962]their[G846]God[G2316].
17And[G2532]he[G846] shall go[G4281]before[G1799]him[G846]in[G1722] the spirit[G4151]and[G2532]power[G1411] of Elias[G2243], to[G1909]turn[G1994] the hearts[G2588] of the fathers[G3962]to[G1722] the children[G5043], and[G2532] the disobedient[G545]to[G1722] the wisdom[G5428] of the just[G1342]; to[G1722] make ready[G2090] a people[G2992]prepared[G2680] for the Lord[G2962].
18And[G2532]Zacharias[G2197]said[G2036]unto[G4314] the angel[G32], Whereby[G2596] shall I[G1473]know[G1097]this?[G5124]for[G1063]I[G1473]am[G1510] an old man[G4246], and[G2532]my[G3450]wife[G1135] well stricken[G4260]in[G1722]years[G2250].
19And[G2532] the angel[G32]answering[G611]said[G2036]unto[G4314]him[G846], I[G1473]am[G1510]Gabriel[G1043], that stand[G3936] in the presence[G1799] of God[G2316]; and[G2532]am[G1510]sent[G649] to speak[G2980]unto[G4314]thee[G4571], and[G2532] to shew[G2097]thee[G4671]these[G5023] glad tidings[G2097].
20And[G2532], behold[G2400], thou[G2071] shalt be dumb[G4623], and[G2532]not[G3361]able[G1410] to speak[G2980], until[G891] the day[G2250]that[G3739] these things[G5023] shall be performed[G1096], because[G473]thou[G2071]believest[G4100]not[G3756]my[G3450]words[G3056], which[G3748] shall be fulfilled[G4137]in[G1519]their[G846]season[G2540].
21And[G2532] the people[G2992]waited[G2258] for Zacharias[G2197], and[G2532]marvelled[G2296]that[G1722]he[G846] tarried so long[G5549]in[G1722] the temple[G3485].
22And[G1161] when he[G846] came out[G1831], he[G846]could[G1410]not[G3756]speak[G2980] unto them[G846]: and[G2532] they perceived[G1921]that[G3754]he[G846] had seen[G3708] a vision[G3701]in[G1722] the temple[G3485]: for[G2532]he[G846]beckoned[G2258] unto them[G846], and[G2532]remained[G1265]speechless[G2974].
23And[G2532] it came to[G1519]pass[G1096], that, as[G5613] soon as[G5613] the days[G2250] of his[G846]ministration[G3009] were accomplished[G4130], he departed[G565]to[G1519]his[G846]own[G846]house[G3624].
25Thus[G3779]hath[G4160] the Lord[G2962]dealt[G4160] with me[G3427]in[G1722] the days[G2250]wherein[G3739] he looked on[G1896]me[G3427], to take away[G851]my[G3450]reproach[G3681]among[G1722]men[G444].
26And[G1161]in[G1722] the sixth[G1623]month[G3376] the angel[G32]Gabriel[G1043] was sent[G649]from[G5259]God[G2316]unto[G1519] a city[G4172] of Galilee[G1056], named[G3739]Nazareth[G3478],
27To[G4314] a virgin[G3933]espoused[G3423]to[G4314] a man[G435]whose[G3739]name[G3686] was Joseph[G2501], of[G1537] the house[G3624]of[G1537]David[G1138]; and[G2532] the virgin[G3933]'s name[G3686] was Mary[G3137].
28And[G2532] the angel[G32] came in[G1525]unto[G4314]her[G846], and[G2532]said[G2036], Hail[G5463], thou[G4771] that art highly favoured[G5487], the Lord[G2962] is with[G3326]thee[G4675]: blessed[G2127] art thou[G4771]among[G1722]women[G1135].
29And[G1161] when she saw[G1492] him, she was troubled[G1298]at[G1909]his[G846]saying[G3056], and[G2532] cast in her mind[G1260] what manner[G4217] of salutation[G783]this[G3778] should be[G1498].
32He[G3778] shall be[G2071]great[G3173], and[G2532] shall be[G2071]called[G2564] the Son[G5207] of the Highest[G5310]: and[G2532] the Lord[G2962]God[G2316] shall give[G1325] unto him[G846] the throne[G2362] of his[G846]father[G3962]David[G1138]:
33And[G2532] he shall reign[G936]over[G1909] the house[G3624] of Jacob[G2384]for[G1519]ever[G165]; and[G2532] of his[G846]kingdom[G932] there shall be[G2071]no[G3756]end[G5056].
34Then[G1161]said[G2036]Mary[G3137]unto[G4314] the angel[G32], How[G4459]shall[G2071]this[G5124]be[G2071], seeing[G1893] I know[G1097]not[G3756] a man?[G435]
35And[G2532] the angel[G32]answered[G611]and[G2532]said[G2036] unto her[G846], The Holy[G40]Ghost[G4151] shall come[G1904]upon[G1909]thee[G4571], and[G2532] the power[G1411]of[G1537] the Highest[G5310] shall overshadow[G1982]thee[G4671]: therefore[G1352]also[G2532] that holy[G40]thing[G40] which shall be born[G1080]of[G1537]thee[G4675] shall be called[G2564] the Son[G5207]of[G1537]God[G2316].
36And[G2532], behold[G2400], thy[G4675]cousin[G4773]Elisabeth[G1665], she[G846]hath[G4815]also[G2532]conceived[G4815] a son[G5207]in[G1722]her[G846] old age[G1094]: and[G2532]this[G3778]is[G2076] the sixth[G1623]month[G3376] with her[G846], who[G3588] was called[G2564]barren[G4723].
37For[G3754]with[G3844]God[G2316]nothing[G3756] shall be impossible[G101].
38And[G1161]Mary[G3137]said[G2036], Behold[G2400] the handmaid[G1399] of the Lord[G2962]; be it[G1096] unto me[G3427]according[G2596] to thy[G4675]word[G4487]. And[G2532] the angel[G32]departed[G565]from[G575]her[G846].
39And[G1161]Mary[G3137]arose[G450]in[G1722]those[G5025]days[G2250], and[G1161]went[G4198]into[G1519] the hill country[G3714]with[G3326]haste[G4710], into[G1519] a city[G4172] of Juda[G2448];
40And[G2532]entered[G1525]into[G1519] the house[G3624] of Zacharias[G2197], and[G2532]saluted[G782]Elisabeth[G1665].
41And[G2532] it came to pass[G1096], that, when[G5613]Elisabeth[G1665]heard[G191] the salutation[G783] of Mary[G3137], the babe[G1025]leaped[G4640]in[G1722]her[G846]womb[G2836]; and[G2532]Elisabeth[G1665] was filled[G4130] with the Holy[G40]Ghost[G4151]:
42And[G2532] she spake out[G400] with a loud[G3173]voice[G5456], and[G2532]said[G2036], Blessed[G2127] art thou[G4771]among[G1722]women[G1135], and[G2532]blessed[G2127] is the fruit[G2590] of thy[G4675]womb[G2836].
43And[G2532]whence[G4159] is this[G5124]to[G4314]me[G3427], that[G2443] the mother[G3384] of my[G3450]Lord[G2962] should come[G2064]to[G4314]me?[G3165]
44For[G1063], lo[G2400], as[G5613] soon as[G5613] the voice[G5456] of thy[G4675]salutation[G783]sounded[G1096]in[G1519]mine[G3450]ears[G3775], the babe[G1025]leaped[G4640]in[G1722]my[G3450]womb[G2836]for[G1722]joy[G20].
45And[G2532]blessed[G3107] is she that believed[G4100]: for[G3754] there shall be[G2071] a performance[G5050] of those things which were told[G2980]her[G846]from[G3844] the Lord[G2962].
46And[G2532]Mary[G3137]said[G2036], My[G3450]soul[G5590] doth magnify[G3170] the Lord[G2962],
48For[G3754] he hath regarded[G1914] the low estate[G5014] of his[G846]handmaiden[G1399]: for[G1063], behold[G2400], from[G575]henceforth[G3568]all[G3956]generations[G1074] shall call[G3106]me[G3165]blessed[G3106].
49For[G3754] he that is mighty[G1415] hath done[G4160] to me[G3427] great things[G3167]; and[G2532]holy[G40] is his[G846]name[G3686].
50And[G2532]his[G846]mercy[G1656] is on them that fear[G5399]him[G846]from[G1519]generation[G1074] to generation[G1074].
51
He hath shewed[G4160]strength[G2904]with[G1722]his[G846]arm[G1023]; he hath scattered[G1287] the proud[G5244] in the imagination[G1271] of their[G846]hearts[G2588].
52
He hath put down[G2507] the mighty[G1413]from[G575] their seats[G2362], and[G2532]exalted[G5312] them of low degree[G5011].
53
He hath filled[G1705] the hungry[G3983] with good things[G18]; and[G2532] the rich[G4147] he hath sent[G1821]empty[G2756]away[G1821].
54
He hath holpen[G482]his[G846]servant[G3816]Israel[G2474], in remembrance[G3415] of his[G846]mercy[G1656];
55As[G2531] he spake[G2980]to[G4314]our[G2257]fathers[G3962], to[G4314]Abraham[G11], and[G2532]to[G4314]his[G846]seed[G4690]for[G1519]ever[G165].
57Now[G1161] Elisabeth's full[G4130]time[G5550]came[G4130] that she[G846] should be delivered[G5088]; and[G2532]she[G846] brought forth[G1080] a son[G5207].
58And[G2532]her[G846]neighbours[G4040]and[G2532]her[G846]cousins[G4773]heard[G191]how[G3754] the Lord[G2962] had shewed great[G3170]mercy[G1656]upon[G3326]her[G846]; and[G2532] they rejoiced[G4796] with her[G846].
59And[G2532] it came[G2064] to pass[G1096], that on[G1722] the eighth[G3590]day[G2250] they came[G2064] to circumcise[G4059] the child[G3813]; and[G2532] they called[G2564]him[G846]Zacharias[G2197], after[G1909] the name[G3686] of his[G846]father[G3962].
60And[G2532]his[G846]mother[G3384]answered[G611]and[G2532]said[G2036], Not[G3780] so; but[G235] he shall be called[G2564]John[G2491].
61And[G2532] they said[G2036]unto[G4314]her[G846], There is[G2076]none[G3762]of[G1722]thy[G4675]kindred[G4772]that[G3739]is[G2076]called[G2564] by this[G5129]name[G3686].
62And[G1161] they made signs[G1770] to his[G846]father[G3962], how[G5101] he would have[G2309]him[G846]called[G2564].
63And[G2532] he asked for[G154] a writing table[G4093], and[G2532]wrote[G1125], saying[G3004], His[G846]name[G3686]is[G2076]John[G2491]. And[G2532] they marvelled[G2296]all[G3956].
64And[G1161]his[G846]mouth[G4750] was opened[G455]immediately[G3916], and[G2532]his[G846]tongue[G1100] loosed, and[G2532] he spake[G2980], and[G2532]praised[G2127]God[G2316].
65And[G2532]fear[G5401]came[G1096]on[G1909]all[G3956] that dwelt round about[G4039]them[G846]: and[G2532]all[G3650]these[G5023]sayings[G4487] were noised abroad[G1255]throughout[G1722]all[G3650] the hill country[G3714] of Judaea[G2449].
66And[G2532]all[G3956] they that heard[G191] them laid them up[G5087]in[G1722]their[G846]hearts[G2588], saying[G3004], What[G5101]manner[G686] of child[G3813]shall[G2071]this[G5124]be[G2071]! And[G2532] the hand[G5495] of the Lord[G2962]was[G2258]with[G3326]him[G846].
67And[G2532]his[G846]father[G3962]Zacharias[G2197] was filled[G4130] with the Holy[G40]Ghost[G4151], and[G2532]prophesied[G4395], saying[G3004],
68Blessed[G2128] be the Lord[G2962]God[G2316] of Israel[G2474]; for[G3754] he hath visited[G1980]and[G2532]redeemed[G3085]his[G846]people[G2992],
69And[G2532] hath raised up[G1453] an horn[G2768] of salvation[G4991] for us[G2254]in[G1722] the house[G3624] of his[G846]servant[G3816]David[G1138];
70As[G2531] he spake[G2980]by[G1223] the mouth[G4750] of his[G846]holy[G40]prophets[G4396], which[G3588] have been since[G575] the world began[G165]:
71
That we should be saved[G4991]from[G1537]our[G2257]enemies[G2190], and[G2532]from[G1537] the hand[G5495] of all[G3956] that hate[G3404]us[G2248];
72To[G3326]perform[G4160] the mercy[G1656] promised to[G3326]our[G2257]fathers[G3962], and[G2532]to[G3326]remember[G3415]his[G846]holy[G40]covenant[G1242];
73
The oath[G3727]which[G3739] he sware[G3660]to[G4314]our[G2257]father[G3962]Abraham[G11],
74
That he would grant[G1325] unto us[G2254], that we being delivered[G4506] out of[G1537] the hand[G5495]of[G1537]our[G2257]enemies[G2190] might serve[G3000]him[G846] without fear[G870],
75In[G1722]holiness[G3742]and[G2532]righteousness[G1343]before[G1799]him[G846], all[G3956] the days[G2250] of our[G2257]life[G2222].
76And[G2532]thou[G4771], child[G3813], shalt be called[G2564] the prophet[G4396] of the Highest[G5310]: for[G1063]thou[G4771] shalt go[G4313]before[G4253] the face[G4383] of the Lord[G2962] to prepare[G2090]his[G846]ways[G3598];
77
To give[G1325]knowledge[G1108] of salvation[G4991] unto his[G846]people[G2992]by[G1722] the remission[G859] of their[G846]sins[G266],
78Through[G1223] the tender[G4698]mercy[G1656] of our[G2257]God[G2316]; whereby[G1722] the dayspring[G395]from[G1537] on high[G5311] hath visited[G1980]us[G2248],
79
To give light[G2014] to them that sit[G2521]in[G1722]darkness[G4655]and[G2532]in[G1722] the shadow[G4639] of death[G2288], to guide[G2720]our[G2257]feet[G4228]into[G1519] the way[G3598] of peace[G1515].
80And[G1161] the child[G3813]grew[G837], and[G2532] waxed strong[G2901]in[G1722]spirit[G4151], and[G2532]was[G2258]in[G1722] the deserts[G2048]till[G2193] the day[G2250] of his[G846]shewing[G323]unto[G4314]Israel[G2474].