1 ¶ Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, See also: Acts 1:1-3 2 Peter 1:16-19
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; See also: John 15:27 Acts 26:16
3 It 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, See also: Acts 1:1 Acts 26:25
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. See also: John 20:31 Acts 18:25
5 ¶ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. See also: 1 Chronicles 24:10 Matthew 2:1
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. See also: Genesis 7:1 Genesis 17:1
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. See also: Hebrews 11:11 Genesis 18:11
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, See also: 1 Chronicles 24:19 2 Chronicles 8:14
9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. See also: 2 Chronicles 29:11 Exodus 30:7-8
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. See also: Leviticus 16:17 Revelation 8:3
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. See also: Exodus 40:26-27 Judges 13:3
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. See also: Judges 6:22 Judges 13:22
13 But 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. See also: 1 Samuel 2:21 Acts 10:31
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. See also: Luke 1:58 Proverbs 23:24
15 For 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. See also: Jeremiah 1:5 Numbers 6:2-4
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. See also: Isaiah 40:3-5 Matthew 21:32
17 And 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. See also: Malachi 4:5-6 Matthew 11:14
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. See also: Genesis 17:17 Genesis 18:12
19 And 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. See also: Luke 1:26 Matthew 18:10
20 And, 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. See also: Ezekiel 3:26 Ezekiel 24:27
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. See also: Numbers 6:23-27
22 And 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. See also: Luke 1:62 John 13:24
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. See also: 1 Chronicles 9:25 2 Kings 11:5-7
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. See also: Genesis 30:22-23 Genesis 21:1-2
26 ¶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, See also: Matthew 2:23 Luke 1:19
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. See also: Matthew 1:18 Isaiah 7:14
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. See also: Judges 6:12 Daniel 10:19
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. See also: Acts 10:17 Luke 1:12
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. See also: Luke 1:13 Luke 12:32
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. See also: Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:21
32 He 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: See also: Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah 16:5
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. See also: Daniel 2:44 Hebrews 1:8
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? See also: Judges 13:8-12 Acts 9:6
35 And 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. See also: Matthew 1:18 John 1:49
36 And, 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.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. See also: Matthew 19:26 Jeremiah 32:27
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. See also: Romans 4:20-21 Psalms 119:38
39 ¶ And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; See also: Luke 1:65 Joshua 10:40
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And 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: See also: Luke 1:67 Luke 1:44
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. See also: Genesis 22:18 Judges 5:24
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? See also: John 20:28 John 13:13
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. See also: John 20:29 John 11:40
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, See also: 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Psalms 34:2-3
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. See also: Psalms 35:9 1 Timothy 2:3
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. See also: Psalms 138:6 Malachi 3:12
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. See also: Psalms 111:9 Psalms 126:2-3
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. See also: Psalms 103:17-18 Exodus 20:6
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. See also: Psalms 98:1 Isaiah 52:10
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. See also: Ezekiel 17:24 James 4:10
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. See also: Psalms 107:8-9 Luke 6:21
54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; See also: Psalms 98:3 Micah 7:20
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. See also: Genesis 17:19 Psalms 105:6-10
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57 ¶ Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. See also: Luke 1:13 Genesis 21:2-3
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. See also: Romans 12:15 Ruth 4:14-17
59 And 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. See also: Genesis 17:12 Leviticus 12:3
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. See also: Luke 1:13 2 Samuel 12:25
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. See also: Luke 1:22
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. See also: Isaiah 30:8 Luke 1:60
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. See also: Luke 1:20 Exodus 4:15-16
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. See also: Luke 1:39 Luke 7:16
66 And 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. See also: Acts 11:21 Luke 2:19
67 ¶ And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, See also: Joel 2:28 Luke 1:41
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, See also: Psalms 106:48 Luke 7:16
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; See also: Psalms 18:2 Ezekiel 29:21
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: See also: Acts 3:21-24 Romans 1:2
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; See also: Psalms 106:10 Deuteronomy 33:29
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; See also: Leviticus 26:42 Hebrews 6:13-18
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, See also: Genesis 22:16-18 Deuteronomy 7:8
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, See also: Zephaniah 3:15-17 2 Timothy 1:7
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. See also: Ephesians 4:24 Ephesians 2:10
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; See also: Malachi 3:1 Isaiah 40:3-5
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, See also: Acts 5:31 Acts 2:38
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, See also: Malachi 4:2 2 Peter 1:19
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. See also: Isaiah 9:2 Matthew 4:16
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. See also: Luke 2:40 Mark 1:3-4