1:1 Many have ·tried to report on [set out to compile an account/narrative of] the things that ·happened [have been fulfilled/accomplished] among us [John 20:31; Acts 1:1–3; 2 Pet. 1:16–19].
1:2 They have written the same things that ·we learned from [L were handed down by] others—the ·people who saw those things [L eyewitnesses] from the beginning and ·served God by telling people his message [L were servants of the word; Acts 10:39–41; 1 John 1:1–3].
1:3 Since I myself have ·studied [investigated; followed closely] everything carefully from the beginning, most excellent [C a designation for someone with high social or political status] Theophilus, it seemed ·good [fitting] for me to write it out for you. I arranged it ·in order [or in an orderly manner],
1:4 to help you know that what you have been taught is ·true [certain; reliable; John 20:31].
1:5 During the time ·Herod ruled Judea [L of Herod, king of Judea], there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to ·Abijah’s group [the priestly division/order of Abijah; C priests were divided into twenty-four divisions; 2 Chr. 31:2]. Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, came from the ·family [L daughters; C female descendants] of Aaron [C brother of Moses and first high priest of Israel; for a priest like Zechariah to marry a woman of priestly ancestry was a special blessing].
1:6 [L Both] Zechariah and Elizabeth ·truly did what God said was good [L were righteous before God]. They ·did [followed; walked in] everything the Lord commanded and were ·without fault [blameless] in keeping his ·law [regulations; requirements].
1:7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth ·could not have a baby [could not conceive; T was barren], and both of them were very old [Gen. 17:17; 18:11].
1:8 One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, because his ·group [order; division] was on duty.
1:9 According to the custom of the ·priests [L priesthood], he was chosen by lot [C similar to dice; used to determine God’s will] to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense [1 Chr. 6:49; Heb. 9:6].
1:10 ·There were a great many people [L The whole multitude of the people were] outside praying at the ·time [L hour] the incense was offered.
1:11 Then an angel ·of [sent by] the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing on the right side of the incense ·table [altar].
1:12 When he saw the angel, Zechariah was ·startled [shaken] and frightened.
1:13 But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. God has heard your ·prayer [petition]. Your wife, Elizabeth, will ·give birth to [bear for you] a son, and you will name him John.
1:14 He will bring you joy and ·gladness [delight], and many people will ·be happy [rejoice] because of his birth.
1:15 [L For; Because] John will be a great man ·for [in the eyes of; L before] the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer [C indicating he will be set apart to God for special service; Num. 6:3], and even ·from birth [or in his mother’s womb; 1:41, 44], he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
1:16 He will help many ·people [L of the children] of Israel return to the Lord their God [1 Kin. 18:37].
1:17 He will go before ·the Lord [L him] in [the] spirit and power ·like [of] Elijah. He will ·make peace between parents and [L turn the hearts of parents/fathers back to] their children and will bring those who are not obeying God back to the ·right way of thinking [or wisdom of the righteous], ·to make a people ready [L to prepare a people who are fit/ready] for the ·coming of the Lord [L Lord; Mal. 4:5–6].”
1:18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know ·that what you say is true [L this]? [L For] I am an old man, and my wife is old, too [Gen. 17:17].”
1:19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel [C one of two named angels in Scripture (the other is Michael); Dan. 8:16; 9:21; 10:10–14]. I stand before God, who sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news.
1:20 Now, ·listen [L look; T behold]! You will [L be silent and] not be able to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe ·what I told you [L my words]. ·But they will really happen [L …which will be fulfilled at their appointed time].”
1:21 Outside, the people were still waiting for Zechariah and were ·surprised that [wondering why] he was ·staying so long [delayed] in the Temple.
1:22 When Zechariah came outside, he could not speak to them, and they knew he had seen a vision in the Temple. He could only ·make signs [motion; gesture] to them and remained unable to speak.
1:23 When his ·time [period; L days] of service at the Temple was finished, he went home.
1:24 ·Later [L After these days], Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and ·did not go out of her house [went into seclusion; L hid herself; C the reason is unknown, perhaps for quiet worship or to avoid gawking neighbors] for five months. Elizabeth said,
1:25 “·Look what [This is what; L Thus] the Lord has done for me! He has [L watched over me and] taken away my disgrace among the people [C the Jewish people thought it was a disgrace for a woman not to have children; Gen. 30:23].”
1:26 During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel [1:19] to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
1:27 to a virgin. She was ·engaged to marry [pledged to; C engagement was a binding contract between two families and could only be broken by divorce] a man named Joseph ·from the family [a descendent; L from the house] of David. ·Her [L The virgin’s] name was Mary.
1:28 The angel came to her and said, “·Greetings [Hello; L Rejoice; C a common greeting]! ·The Lord has blessed you and is with you [or …favored one, the Lord is with you].”
1:29 But Mary was ·very startled [disturbed; perplexed; troubled] by what the angel said and wondered what ·this greeting might mean [sort of greeting this was].
1:30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; [L for; because] ·God has shown you his grace [L you have found favor/grace with God].
1:31 ·Listen [L Look; T Behold]! You will ·become pregnant [L conceive in your womb] and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus [Is. 7:14].
1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of ·King David, his ancestor [L his father David].
1:33 He will ·rule [reign] over the ·people [L house] of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end [2 Sam. 7:13, 16; Dan. 7:14, 27].”
1:34 Mary said to the angel, “How ·will [can] this happen since ·I am a virgin [L I have not known a man (sexually)]?”
1:35 The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come ·upon [over] you, and the power of the Most High will ·cover [overshadow] you. For this reason the ·baby will be holy and [holy one to be born] will be called the Son of God.
1:36 ·Now [L And look/T behold] Elizabeth, your relative, ·is also pregnant with [has also conceived] a son ·though she is very old [in her old age]. ·Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant for six months. [L And this is the sixth month for the woman they called barren!]
1:37 ·God can do anything […because nothing is impossible with God; or …because no word/message from God will ever fail; Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:17]!”
1:38 Mary said, “[L Look; T Behold] I am the ·servant [bondservant; T handmaid] of the Lord. Let this happen to me ·as you say [according to your word]!” Then the angel ·went away [left her].
1:39 [L In those days] Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the hills of Judea [C from Galilee in the north to southern Israel, about three or four days journey by foot].
1:40 She ·came to [entered] Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby ·inside her [in her womb] ·jumped [leaped; kicked], and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
1:42 She cried out in a loud voice, “·God has blessed you [L You are blessed] ·more than any other woman [L among women], and ·he has blessed the baby to which you will give birth [L blessed is the fruit of your womb].
1:43 [L But] Why ·has this good thing happened to me [am I so honored], that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
1:44 [L For look/T behold] When I heard ·your voice [L the sound of your greeting], the baby inside ·me [my womb] ·jumped [leaped; kicked] with joy.
1:45 ·You are blessed because you [L Blessed is she who has] believed that what the Lord said would ·really happen [be fulfilled].”
1:46 Then Mary said, “My soul ·praises [exalts; glorifies; magnifies] the Lord [1 Sam. 2:1–10];
1:47 my ·heart [spirit] rejoices in God my Savior [Ps. 35:9],
1:48 because he has ·shown his concern for [noticed; looked favorably on] his ·humble [lowly] servant girl [1 Sam. 1:11]. [L For look/T behold] From now on, all ·people [L generations] will ·say that I am [call me] blessed [Ps. 138:6],
1:49 because the ·Powerful [Mighty] One has done great things for me. His name is holy.
1:50 ·God will show his mercy [L His mercy is/continues] ·forever and ever [L to generations and generations] to those who ·worship and serve [L fear; reverence] him [Ps. 103:17].
1:51 He has done mighty deeds ·by his power [L with his arm; C a metaphor for strength]. He has scattered the people who are proud ·and think great things about themselves [or in the schemes they devise; L in the thoughts/intentions of their hearts].
1:52 He has brought down ·rulers [the powerful] from their thrones and ·raised up [exalted] the ·humble [lowly].
1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things [Ps. 107:9] and sent the rich away ·with nothing [empty-handed].
1:54 He has helped his servant, the people of Israel, ·remembering to show them [mindful of his] mercy
1:55 as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his ·children [descendants; L seed] forever [Gen. 17:7, 19].”
1:56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
1:57 When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a ·boy [L son].
1:58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how ·good [greatly merciful] the Lord was to her, and they rejoiced with her.
1:59 When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him [Gen. 17:12]. They ·wanted [were about] to name him Zechariah because this was his father’s name,
1:60 but his mother said, “No! He will be named John.”
1:61 The people said to Elizabeth, “But no one in your family has this name.”
1:62 Then they made ·signs [gestures; motions] to his father to find out what he would like to name him [C indicating that Zechariah was not only mute but also deaf].
1:63 Zechariah ·asked [motioned] for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John,” and everyone ·was surprised [marveled; was amazed].
1:64 Immediately ·Zechariah could talk again [L his mouth was opened and his tongue freed], and he began ·praising [blessing] God.
1:65 All their neighbors ·became alarmed [were afraid/in awe], and in all the ·mountains [hill country] of Judea people continued talking about all these things.
1:66 The people who heard about them ·wondered [L kept/pondered them in their hearts], saying, “What will this child [turn out to] be?” because the [L hand of the; C a metaphor for empowering presence] Lord was with him.
1:67 Then Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
1:68 “·Let us praise [L Blessed be] the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has ·come to help his people and has given them freedom [L visited and accomplished redemption for his people].
1:69 He has ·given us a powerful Savior [L raised up a horn of salvation for us; C referring to the horn of a powerful animal—a metaphor for strength; 1 Sam. 2:1, 10; Ps. 132:17; Ezek. 29:21] ·from the family [L in the house] of God’s servant David.
1:70 [L …just as] He said that he would do this through [L the mouth of] his holy prophets who lived long ago:
1:71 He promised he would save us from our enemies and from the ·power [L hand; C indicating controlling power or oppression] of all those who hate us.
1:72 He said he would give mercy to our ·ancestors [forefathers] and that he would remember his holy ·promise [covenant].
1:73 ·God promised [L The oath that he swore to] Abraham, our father [Gen. 22:16–18],
1:74 that he would ·save [rescue] us from the ·power [hand; v. 71] of our enemies so we could serve him without fear,
1:75 being holy and ·good [righteous] before God as long as we live.
1:76 “Now you, child, will be called ·a [or the] prophet of the Most High God. [L For] You will go before the Lord to prepare his ·way [or paths; Mal. 3:1].
1:77 You will ·make his people know that they will be saved [L give his people the knowledge of salvation] by having their sins forgiven [Jer. 31:34].
1:78 ·With [or Because of] the ·loving [tender] mercy of our God, ·a new day from heaven will dawn upon us [L the sunrise/dawn from heaven will visit us; C a metaphor for the Messiah; Mal. 4:2].
1:79 It will shine on those who ·live [dwell; sit] in darkness, in the shadow of death [Is. 9:2]. It will guide ·us [L our feet] into the path of peace [Is. 59:8].”
1:80 And so the child grew up and became strong ·in spirit [or in the Spirit]. John lived in the ·desert [wilderness] until the time when he ·came out to preach [appeared; was revealed] to Israel.
Your support helps pay our hosting costs, and
- with a little bit extra -
lets us pay transcribers and proofreaders.
If you can help, Click here to become a Patreon:
www.patreon.com/IslamAwakened Thank you!