1Many have taken on the work of putting together an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

2just as they were passed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

3So it seemed good to me also, because I have accurately investigated everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

4so that you might know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, from the division of Abijah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

6They were both righteous before God, obeying all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old by this time.

8Now it came about that Zechariah was in God's presence, carrying out the priestly duties in the order of his division.

9According to the customary way of choosing which priest would serve, he had been chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.

10The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.

11Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him and stood at the right side of the incense altar.

12When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear fell on him.

13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You will call his name John.

14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.

16Many of the people of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.

17He will go before the face of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

18Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is very old.”

19The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to bring you this good news.

20Behold! You will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place. This is because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the right time.”

21Now the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was spending so much time in the temple.

22But when he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision while he was in the temple. He kept on making signs to them and remained silent.

23It came about that when the days of his service were over, he went to his house.

24After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept herself hidden. She said,

25“This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked at me with favor in order to take away my shame before people.”

26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth,

27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. He belonged to the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.

28He came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29But she was very confused by his words and she wondered what kind of greeting this could be.

30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31See, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. You will call his name '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 ancestor David.

33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

34Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen, since I have not slept with any man?”

35The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will come over you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

36See, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. This is the sixth month for her, she who was called barren.

37For nothing will be impossible for God.”

38Mary said, “See, I am the female servant of the Lord. Let it be for me according to your message.” Then the angel left her.

39Then Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city in Judea.

40She went into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

41Now it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42She raised her voice and said loudly, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

43Why has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For see, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.

45Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were told her from the Lord.”

46Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord,

47and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.

48For he has looked at the low condition of his female servant.
For see, from now on all generations will call me blessed.

49For he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and his name is holy.

50His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him.

51He has displayed strength with his arm;
he has scattered those who were proud about the thoughts of their hearts.

52He has thrown down princes from their thrones
and he has raised up those of low condition.

53He has filled the hungry with good things,
but the rich he has sent away empty.

54He has given help to Israel his servant,
so as to remember to show mercy

55(as he said to our fathers) to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

56Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her house.

57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to deliver her baby and she gave birth to a son.

58Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

59Now it happened on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child. They would have called him “Zechariah,” after the name of his father.

60But his mother answered and said, “No. He will be called John.”

61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

62They made signs to his father as to how he wanted him to be named.

63His father asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” They all were astonished at this.

64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed. He spoke and praised God.

65Fear came on all who lived around them. All these matters were spread throughout all the hill country of Judea.

66All who heard them stored them in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68“Praised be the Lord, the God of Israel,
for he has come to help and he has accomplished redemption for his people.

69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David

70(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago),

71salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us.

72He will do this to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,

73the oath that he spoke to Abraham our father.

74He swore to grant to us that we, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies,
would serve him without fear,

75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76Yes, and you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his paths,
to prepare people for his coming,

77to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins.

78This will happen because of the tender mercy of our God,
because of which the sunrise from on high will come to help us,

79to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
He will do this to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

80Now the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.