1Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,studyinterlinear
2Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;studyinterlinear
3It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,studyinterlinear
4That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.studyinterlinear
5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.studyinterlinear
6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.studyinterlinear
7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.studyinterlinear
8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,studyinterlinear
9According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.studyinterlinear
10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.studyinterlinear
11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.studyinterlinear
12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.studyinterlinear
13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.studyinterlinear
14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.studyinterlinear
15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.studyinterlinear
16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.studyinterlinear
17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.studyinterlinear
18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.studyinterlinear
19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.studyinterlinear
20And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.studyinterlinear
21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.studyinterlinear
22And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.studyinterlinear
23And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.studyinterlinear
24And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,studyinterlinear
25Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.studyinterlinear
26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,studyinterlinear
27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.studyinterlinear
28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.studyinterlinear
29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.studyinterlinear
30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.studyinterlinear
31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.studyinterlinear
32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:studyinterlinear
33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.studyinterlinear
34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?studyinterlinear
35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.studyinterlinear
36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.studyinterlinear
37For with God nothing shall be impossible.studyinterlinear
38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.studyinterlinear
39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;studyinterlinear
40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.studyinterlinear
41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:studyinterlinear
42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.studyinterlinear
43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?studyinterlinear
44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.studyinterlinear
45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.studyinterlinear
46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,studyinterlinear
47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.studyinterlinear
48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.studyinterlinear
49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.studyinterlinear
50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.studyinterlinear
51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.studyinterlinear
52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.studyinterlinear
53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.studyinterlinear
54He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;studyinterlinear
55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.studyinterlinear
56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.studyinterlinear
57Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.studyinterlinear
58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.studyinterlinear
59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.studyinterlinear
60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.studyinterlinear
61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.studyinterlinear
62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.studyinterlinear
63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.studyinterlinear
64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.studyinterlinear
65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.studyinterlinear
66And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.studyinterlinear
67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,studyinterlinear
68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,studyinterlinear
69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;studyinterlinear
70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:studyinterlinear
71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;studyinterlinear
72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;studyinterlinear
73The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,studyinterlinear
74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,studyinterlinear
75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.studyinterlinear
76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;studyinterlinear
77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,studyinterlinear
78Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,studyinterlinear
79To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.studyinterlinear
80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.studyinterlinear