Dual Panel1Now <1895> many <4183> have undertaken <2021> to compile <392> an account <1335> of <4012> the things <4229> that have been fulfilled <4135> among <1722> us <2254>,
2like <2531> the accounts passed on <3860> to us <2254> by those who were <1096> eyewitnesses <845> and <2532> servants <5257> of the word <3056> from <575> the beginning <746>.
3So it seemed <1380> good to me <2504> as well, because I have followed <3877> all things <3956> carefully <199> from the beginning <509>, to write <1125> an orderly account <2517> for you <4671>, most excellent <2903> Theophilus <2321>,
4so that <2443> you may know <1921> for <4012> certain <803> the things <3056> you were taught <2727>.
5During <1722> the reign <2250> of Herod <2264> king <935> of Judea <2449>, there lived <1096> a priest <2409> named <3686> Zechariah <2197> who belonged to <1537> the priestly division <2183> of Abijah <7>, and <2532> he <846> had a wife <1135> named <3686> Elizabeth <1665>, who was a descendant <2364> of Aaron <2>.
6They were <1510> both <297> righteous <1342> in the sight <1726> of God <2316>, following <1722> all <3956> the commandments <1785> and <2532> ordinances <1345> of the Lord <2962> blamelessly <273>.
7But <2532> they did not <3756> have a child <5043>, because <2530> Elizabeth <1665> was <1510> barren <4723>, and <2532> they were <1510> both <297> very old <4260>.
8Now while <1096> Zechariah was <1096> serving as priest <2407> before <1725> God <2316> when his <846> division was on duty <2183>,
9he was chosen by lot <2975>, according to <2596> the custom <1485> of the priesthood <2405>, to <1519> enter <1525> the holy place <3485> of the Lord <2962> and burn incense <2370>.
10Now <2532> the whole <3956> crowd <4128> of people <2992> were praying <4336> outside <1854> at the hour <5610> of the incense offering <2368>.
11An angel <32> of the Lord <2962>, standing <2476> on <1537> the right side <1188> of the altar <2379> of incense <2368>, appeared <3700> to him <846>.
12And <2532> Zechariah <2197>, visibly shaken <5015> when <1492> he saw <1492> the angel <846>, was seized <1968> with fear <5401>.
13But <1161> the angel <32> said <2036> to <4314> him <846>, “Do <5399> not <3361> be afraid <5399>, Zechariah <2197>, for <1360> your <4675> prayer <1162> has been heard <1522>, and <2532> your <4675> wife <1135> Elizabeth <1665> will bear <1080> you <4671> a son <5207>; you will name <2564> <3686> him <846> John <2491>.
14Joy <5479> and <2532> gladness <20> will come <1510> to you <4671>, and <2532> many <4183> will rejoice <5463> at <1909> his <846> birth <1078>,
15for <1063> he will be <1510> great <3173> in the sight of <1799> the Lord <2962>. He must <4095> never <3756> <3361> drink <4095> wine <3631> or <2532> strong drink <4608>, and <2532> he will be filled <4130> with the Holy <40> Spirit <4151>, even <2089> before <1537> his <846> birth <2836> <3384>.
16He will turn <1994> many <4183> of the people <5207> of Israel <2474> to <1909> the Lord <2962> their <846> God <2316>.
17And <2532> he <846> will go as forerunner <4281> before <1799> the Lord <846> in <1722> the spirit <4151> and <2532> power <1411> of Elijah <2243>, to turn <1994> the hearts <2588> of <3962> the fathers <3962> back to <1909> their children <5043> and <2532> the disobedient <545> to <1722> the wisdom <5428> of <1342> the just <1342>, to make ready <2090> for the Lord <2962> a people <2992> prepared <2680> for him.”
18Zechariah <2197> said <2036> to <4314> the angel <32>, “How <5101> can I be sure <1097> of this <5124>? For <1063> I <1473> am <1510> an old man <4246>, and <2532> my <3450> wife <1135> is old <4260> as well <1722> <2250> <846>.”
19The angel <32> answered <611> <2036> him <846>, “I <1473> am <1510> Gabriel <1043>, who stands <3936> in the presence of <1799> God <2316>, and <2532> I was sent <649> to speak <2980> to <4314> you <4571> and <2532> to bring <2097> you <4671> this <5023> good news <2097>.
20And <2532> now <2400>, because <473> you did <4100> not <3756> believe <4100> my <3450> words <3056>, which <3748> will be fulfilled <4137> in <1519> their <846> time <2540>, you <1510> will be silent <4623>, unable <3361> <1410> to speak <2980>, until <891> the day <2250> these things <5023> take place <1096>.”
21Now <2532> the people <2992> were <1510> waiting for <4328> Zechariah <2197>, and <2532> they began to wonder <2296> why he <846> was delayed <5549> in <1722> the holy place <3485>.
22When <1831> he came out <1831>, he was <1410> not <3756> able <1410> to speak <2980> to them <846>. They realized <1921> that <3754> he had seen <3708> a vision <3701> in <1722> the holy place <3485>, because he <846> was <1510> making signs <1269> to them <846> and <2532> remained <1265> unable to speak <2974>.
23When <5613> his <846> time <2250> of service <3009> was over <4130>, he went <565> to <1519> his <846> home <3624>.
24After <3326> some time <3778> <2250> his <846> wife <1135> Elizabeth <1665> became pregnant <4815>, and <2532> for five <4002> months <3376> she kept <4032> herself <1438> in seclusion <4032>. She said <3004>,
25“This is <3779> what the Lord <2962> has done <4160> for me <3427> at <1722> the time <2250> when he has been gracious <1896> to me, to take away <851> my <3450> disgrace <3681> among <1722> people <444>.”
26In <1722> the sixth <1623> month <3376> of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel <32> Gabriel <1043> was sent <649> by <575> God <2316> to <1519> a town <4172> of Galilee <1056> called <3739> <3686> Nazareth <3478>,
27to <4314> a virgin <3933> engaged <3423> to a man <435> whose <3739> name <3686> was Joseph <2501>, a descendant <3624> descendant <1537> of David <1138>, and <2532> the virgin’s <3933> name <3686> was Mary <3137>.
28The angel came <1525> to <4314> her <846> and said <2036>, “Greetings <5463>, favored <5487> one, the Lord <2962> is with <3326> you <4675>!”
29But <1161> she was greatly troubled <1298> by <1909> his words <3056> and <2532> began to wonder <1260> about the meaning <4217> of this <3778> greeting <783>.
30So <2532> the angel <32> said <2036> to her <846>, “Do <5399> not <3361> be afraid <5399>, Mary <3137>, for <1063> you have found <2147> favor <5485> with <3844> God <2316>!
31Listen <2400>: You will become <4815> pregnant <1722> <1064> and <2532> give birth <5088> to a son <5207>, and <2532> you will name <2564> <3686> him <846> Jesus <2424>.
32He <3778> will be <1510> great <3173>, and <2532> will be called <2564> the Son <5207> of the Most High <5310>, and <2532> the Lord <2962> God <2316> will give <1325> him <846> the throne <2362> of <3962> his <846> father <3962> David <1138>.
33He will reign <936> over <1909> the house <3624> of Jacob <2384> forever <1519> <165>, and <2532> his <846> kingdom <932> will <1510> never <3756> end <5056>.”
34Mary <3137> said <2036> to <4314> the angel <32>, “How <4459> will <1510> this <5124> be <1510>, since <1893> I have <1097> not <3756> had <1097> sexual relations with a man <435>?”
35The angel <32> replied <611> <2036>, “The Holy <40> Spirit <4151> will come upon <1904> you <4571>, and <2532> the power <1411> of the Most High <5310> will overshadow <1982> you <4671>. Therefore <1352> the child to be born <1080> will be holy <40>; he will be called <2564> the Son <5207> of God <2316>.
36“And <2532> look <2400>, your <4675> relative <4773> Elizabeth <1665> has <4815> also <2532> become pregnant <4815> with a son <5207> in <1722> her <846> old age <1094>– although she was called <2564> barren <4723>, she is <1510> now in her <846> sixth <1623> month <3376>!
37For <3754> nothing <3756> will be impossible <101> with <3844> God <2316>.”
38So <1161> Mary <3137> said <2036>, “Yes, I am a servant <1399> of the Lord <2962>; let <1096> this happen <1096> to me <3427> according to <2596> your <4675> word <4487>.” Then <2532> the angel <32> departed <565> from <575> her <846>.
39In <1722> those <3778> days <2250> Mary <3137> got up <450> and went <4198> hurriedly <3326> <4710> into <1519> the hill country <3714>, to <1519> a town <4172> of Judah <2448>,
40and <2532> entered <1525> <1519> Zechariah’s <2197> house <3624> and <2532> greeted <782> Elizabeth <1665>.
41When <5613> Elizabeth <1665> heard <191> Mary’s <3137> greeting <783>, the baby <1025> leaped <4640> in <1722> her <846> womb <2836>, and <2532> Elizabeth <1665> was filled <4130> with the Holy <40> Spirit <4151>.
42She exclaimed <400> with a loud <3173> voice <2906>, “Blessed are <2127> you <4771> among <1722> women <1135>, and <2532> blessed is <2127> the child <2590> in your <4675> womb <2836>!
43And <2532> who <4159> am I <3427> that <2443> the mother <3384> of my <3450> Lord <2962> should come <2064> and visit <4314> me <1691>?
44For <1063> the instant <5613> <1096> the sound <5456> of your <4675> greeting <783> reached <1519> my <3450> ears <3775>, the baby <1025> in <1722> my <3450> womb <2836> leaped <4640> for <1722> joy <20>.
45And <2532> blessed <3107> is she who believed <4100> that <3754> what was spoken <2980> to her <846> by <3844> the Lord <2962> would be <1510> fulfilled <5050>.”
46And <2532> Mary <3137> said <2036>, “My <3450> soul <5590> exalts <3170> the Lord <2962>,
47and <2532> my <3450> spirit <4151> has begun to rejoice <21> in <1909> God <2316> my <3450> Savior <4990>,
48because <3754> he has looked <1914> upon <1909> the humble state <5014> of his <846> servant <1399>. For <1063> from <575> now on <3568> all <3956> generations <1074> will call <3106> me <3165> blessed <3106>,
49because <3754> he who is mighty <1415> has done <4160> great things <3173> for me <3427>, and <2532> holy <40> is his <846> name <3686>;
50from generation <1074> to <1519> generation <1074> he is merciful <1656> to those who fear <5399> him <846>.
51He has demonstrated <4160> power <2904> with <1722> his <846> arm <1023>; he has scattered <1287> those whose pride <5244> wells up from the sheer <1271> arrogance of their <846> hearts <2588>.
52He has brought down <2507> the mighty <1413> from <575> their thrones <2362>, and <2532> has lifted up <5312> those of lowly position <5011>;
53he has filled <1705> the hungry <3983> with good things <18>, and <2532> has sent <1821> the rich <4147> away <1821> empty <2756>.
54He has helped <482> his <846> servant <3816> Israel <2474>, remembering <3415> his mercy <1656>,
55as <2531> he promised <2980> to <4314> our <2257> ancestors <3962>, to Abraham <11> and <2532> to his <846> descendants <4690> forever <1519> <165>.”
56So <1161> Mary <3137> stayed <3306> with <4862> Elizabeth <846> about <5613> three <5140> months <3376> and <2532> then returned <5290> to <1519> her <846> home <3624>.
57Now <1161> the time <5550> came <4130> for Elizabeth <1665> to have <5088> her <846> baby <5088>, and <2532> she gave birth <1080> to a son <5207>.
58Her <846> neighbors <4040> and <2532> relatives <4773> heard <191> that <3754> the Lord <2962> had shown great <3170> mercy <1656> to <3326> her <846>, and <2532> they rejoiced <4796> with her <846>.
59On <1722> the eighth <3590> day <2250> they came <2064> to circumcise <4059> the child <3813>, and <2532> they wanted <2564> to <1909> name <3686> him <846> Zechariah <2197> after his <846> father <3962>.
60But <2532> his <846> mother <3384> replied <611> <2036>, “No <3780>! He <2564> must <235> be named <2564> John <2491>.”
61They said <3004> to <4314> her <846>, “But none <3762> of <1537> your <4675> relatives <4772> bears <2564> this <5129> name <3686>.”
62So <1161> they made signs <1770> to the baby’s <846> father <3962>, inquiring what <5101> he wanted <2309> to name <2564> his son <846>.
63He <2532> asked for <154> a writing tablet <4093> and wrote <1125>, “His <846> name <3686> is <1510> John <2491>.” And <2532> they were <2296> all <3956> amazed <2296>.
64Immediately <3916> Zechariah’s <846> mouth <4750> was opened <455> and <2532> his <846> tongue <1100> released, and <2532> he spoke <2980>, blessing <2127> God <2316>.
65All <3956> their <846> neighbors <4039> were filled with <1909> fear <5401>, and <2532> throughout <3650> the entire hill country <3714> of Judea <2449> all <3956> these <5023> things <4487> were talked <1255> about.
66All <3956> who heard <191> these things <3956> kept <5087> them in <1722> their <846> hearts <2588>, saying <3004>, “What <5101> then <687> will <1510> this <5124> child <3813> be <1510>?” For <1063> the Lord’s <2962> hand <5495> was <1510> indeed with <3326> him <846>.
67Then <2532> his <846> father <3962> Zechariah <2197> was filled <4130> with the Holy <40> Spirit <4151> and <2532> prophesied <4395>,
68“Blessed <2128> be the Lord <2962> God <2316> of Israel <2474>, because <3754> he has come <1980> to help <4160> and <2532> has redeemed <3085> his <846> people <2992>.
69For he has raised up <1453> a horn <2768> of salvation <4991> for us <2254> in <1722> the house <3624> of his <846> servant <3816> David <1138>,
70as <2531> he spoke <2980> through <1223> the mouth <4750> of his <846> holy <40> prophets <4396> from <575> long ago <165>,
71that we should be saved <4991> from <1537> our <2257> enemies <2190>, and <2532> from <1537> the hand <5495> of all <3956> who hate <3404> us <2248>.
72He has done <4160> this to show mercy <1656> to our <2257> ancestors <3962>, and <2532> to remember <3415> his <846> holy <40> covenant <1242>–
73the oath <3727> that <3739> he swore <3660> to <4314> our <2257> ancestor <3962> Abraham <11>. This oath grants <1325>
74that we, being rescued <4506> from <1537> the hand <5495> of <2190> our enemies <2190>, may serve <3000> him <846> without fear <870>,
75in <1722> holiness <3742> and <2532> righteousness <1343> before <1799> him <846> for as long as <3956> we <2257> live <2250>.
76And <2532> you <4771>, child <3813>, will be called <2564> the prophet <4396> of the Most High <5310>. For <1063> you will go <4313> before <1799> the Lord <2962> to prepare <2090> his <846> ways <3598>,
77to give <1325> his <846> people <2992> knowledge <1108> of salvation <4991> through <1722> the forgiveness <859> of <266> their <846> sins <266>.
78Because of <1223> our <2257> God’s <2316> tender <4698> mercy <1656> the dawn <395> will break upon <1980> us <2248> from <1537> on high <5311>
79to give light <2014> to those who sit <2521> in <1722> darkness <4655> and <2532> in the shadow <4639> of death <2288>, to guide <2720> our <2257> feet <4228> into <1519> the way <3598> of peace <1515>.”
80And <1161> the child <3813> kept growing <837> and <2532> becoming strong <2901> in spirit <4151>, and <2532> he was <1510> in <1722> the wilderness <2048> until <2193> the day <2250> he <846> was revealed <323> to <4314> Israel <2474>.