1Many have undertaken to compose an account of…
2just as they were handed down to us…
3Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning,…
4so that you may know the certainty of…
5In the time of Herod king of Judea…
6Both of them were righteous in the sight…
7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was…
8One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty…
9he was chosen by lot, according to the…
10And at the hour of the incense offering,…
11Just then an angel of the Lord appeared…
12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and…
13But the angel said to him, “Do not…
14He will be a joy and delight to…
15for he will be great in the sight…
16Many of the sons of Israel he will…
17And he will go on before the Lord…
18“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah…
19“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand…
20And now you will be silent and unable…
21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and…
22When he came out and was unable to…
23And when the days of his service were…
24After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant…
25“The Lord has done this for me. In…
26In the sixth month, God sent the angel…
27to a virgin pledged in marriage to a…
28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings,…
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and…
30So the angel told her, “Do not be…
31Behold, you will conceive and give birth to…
32He will be great and will be called…
33and He will reign over the house of…
34“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel,…
35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come…
36Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a…
37For no word from God will ever fail.”
38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May…
39In those days Mary got ready and hurried…
40where she entered the home of Zechariah and…
41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped…
42In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are…
43And why am I so honored, that the…
44For as soon as the sound of your…
45Blessed is she who has believed that the…
46Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48For He has looked with favor on the…
49For the Mighty One has done great things…
50His mercy extends to those who fear Him,…
51He has performed mighty deeds with His arm;…
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones,…
53He has filled the hungry with good things,…
54He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to…
55as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham…
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months…
57When the time came for Elizabeth to have…
58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord…
59On the eighth day, when they came to…
60But his mother replied, “No! He shall be…
61They said to her, “There is no one…
62So they made signs to his father to…
63Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His…
64Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue…
65All their neighbors were filled with awe, and…
66And all who heard this wondered in their…
67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the…
68“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,…
69He has raised up a horn of salvation…
70as He spoke through His holy prophets, those…
71salvation from our enemies and from the hand…
72to show mercy to our fathers and to…
73the oath He swore to our father Abraham,…
74deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve…
75in holiness and righteousness before Him all the…
76And you, child, will be called a prophet…
77to give to His people the knowledge of…
78because of the tender mercy of our God,…
79to shine on those who live in darkness…
80And the child grew and became strong in…
