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1:1  Since [as is well known] many have undertaken to compile an orderly account of the things which have been fulfilled among us [by God],
1:2  exactly as they were handed down to us by those [with personal experience] who from the beginning [of Christ’s ministry] were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word [that is, of the teaching concerning salvation through faith in Christ],
1:3  it seemed fitting for me as well, [and so I have decided] after having carefully searched out and investigated all the events accurately, from the very beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus;
1:4  so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught [that is, the history and doctrine of the faith].
1:5  In the days of Herod [the Great], king of Judea, there was a certain priest whose name was Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron [the first high priest of Israel], and her name was Elizabeth.
1:6  They both were righteous (approved) in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
1:7  But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years.
1:8  Now it happened while Zacharias was serving as priest before God in the appointed order of his priestly division,
1:9  as was the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter [the sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense [on the altar of incense].
1:10  And all the congregation was praying outside [in the court of the temple] at the hour of the incense offering.
1:11  And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
1:12  When Zacharias saw the angel, he was troubled and overcome with fear.
1:13  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your petition [in prayer] was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.
1:14  You will have great joy and delight, and many will rejoice over his birth,
1:15  for he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord; and will never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with and empowered to act by the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.
1:16  He will turn many of the sons of Israel back [from sin] to [love and serve] the Lord their God.
1:17  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 [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”
1:18  And Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I be certain of this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in age.”
1:19  The angel replied and said to him, “I am Gabriel; I stand and minister in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent [by Him] to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
1:20  Listen carefully, you will be continually silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe what I told you; but my words will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
1:21  The people [outside in the court] were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering about his long delay in the temple.
1:22  But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.
1:23  When his time of priestly service was finished, he returned to his home.
1:24  Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself completely, saying,
1:25  “This is how the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor on me, to take away my disgrace among men.”
1:26  Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] 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, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
1:28  And coming to her, the angel said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
1:29  But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was.
1:30  The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
1:31  Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
1:32  He will be great and eminent 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 will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”
1:34  Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?”
1:35  Then the angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a cloud]; for that reason the holy (pure, sinless) Child shall be called the Son of God.
1:36  And listen, 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 with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.”
1:38  Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.
1:39  Now at this time Mary arose and hurried to the hill country, to a city of Judah (Judea),
1:40  and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
1:41  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him.
1:42  And she exclaimed loudly, “Blessed [worthy to be praised] are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
1:43  And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
1:44  For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
1:45  And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favored by God] is she who believed and confidently trusted that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her [by the angel sent] from the Lord.”
1:46  And Mary said, “My soul magnifies and exalts the Lord,
1:47  And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
1:48  “For He has looked [with loving care] on the humble state of His maidservant; For behold, from now on all generations will count me blessed and happy and favored by God!
1:49  “For He who is mighty has done great things for me; And holy is His name [to be worshiped in His purity, majesty, and glory].
1:50  “And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who [stand in great awe of God and] fear Him.
1:51  “He has done mighty deeds with His [powerful] arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
1:52  “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And exalted those who were humble.
1:53  “He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent the rich away empty-handed.
1:54  “He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,
1:55  Just as He promised to our fathers, To Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
1:56  And Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then returned to her home.
1:57  Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.
1:58  Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown His great mercy toward her, and they were rejoicing with her.
1:59  It happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child [as required by the Law], and they intended to name him Zacharias, after his father;
1:60  but his mother answered, “No indeed; instead he will be called John.”
1:61  And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by that name.”
1:62  Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.
1:63  And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.
1:64  At once Zacharias’ mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking, praising and blessing and thanking God.
1:65  Then fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.
1:66  All who heard these things kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this little boy turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him [to bring about his birth].
1:67  Now Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him, and he prophesied, saying,
1:68  “Blessed (praised, glorified) be the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He has visited us and brought redemption to His people,
1:69  And He has raised up a horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Savior] for us In the house of David His servant—
1:70  Just as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times—
1:71  Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us;
1:72  To show mercy [as He promised] to our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant [the promised blessing],
1:73  The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
1:74  To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,
1:75  In holiness [being set apart] and righteousness [being upright] before Him all our days.
1:76  “And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord (the Messiah) to prepare His ways;
1:77  To give His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,
1:78  Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise (the Messiah) from on high will dawn and visit us,
1:79  To shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet [in a straight line] into the way of peace and serenity.”
1:80  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 [as John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah].