1 Since many have undertaken to compile an account of the events fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us, 3 I too, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, from the division of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the Lord’s commandments and ordinances. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 When his division was on duty, Zechariah was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the priestly custom, to enter the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense. 10 The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. He will never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their appointed time.”

21 The people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained unable to speak. 23 When his days of service were completed, he went home.

24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself secluded for five months. She said, 25 “This is what the Lord has done for me in these days when he looked on me to take away my disgrace among the people.”

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 He came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 She was deeply troubled by his words and wondered what this greeting could mean. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Look, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had relations with a man?” 35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And look, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For no word from God will fail.” 38 Mary said, “Here I am, the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

39 In those days Mary set out and went in haste to the hill country, to a town in Judah. 40 She entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 She cried out with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 Why has this come to me, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed that what the Lord had spoken to her would be fulfilled.”

46 And Mary said,

56 Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned home.

57 The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60 But his mother answered, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 62 Then they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted the child 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 and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, blessing God. 65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard kept these things in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

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