Introduction to Theophilus

1. Since many have undertaken to arrange a narrative concerning the things fully believed among us.
2. Even as they delivered to us those from the beginning being eyewitnesses and ministers of the word.
3. It seemed also to me, having followed all things closely from above, exactly in order to write to you, most excellent Theophilus.
4. That you might know concerning which things you were instructed, the certainty of the words.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5. There was in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah; and his wife was out of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7. But they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren, and they both were advanced in their days.
8. And it came to pass, whilst he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
9. According to the custom of the priesthood, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10. And all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.
11. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12. And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
13. And the angel said unto him, “Fear not, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14. And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15. For he shall be great before the Lord; and he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of fathers to children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.
18. And Zacharias said unto the angel, “Whereby shall I know this? For I am old, and my wife is advanced in her days.”
19. And the angel answering said unto him, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to you, and to bring you these good tidings.
20. And, behold, you shall be silent, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because you believed not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.”
21. And the people waited for Zacharias, and wondered at his delay in the temple.
22. But 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.
23. And it came to pass, as soon as the days of his ministration were fulfilled, that he departed to his own house.
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.”

The Annunciation to Mary

26. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, whose name was Nazareth.
27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28. And the angel came in unto her, and said, “Hail, you that are highly favoured, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.”
29. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30. And the angel said unto her, “Fear not, Mary: for you have found favour with God.
31. And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS.
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:
33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34. Then said Mary unto the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”
35. And the angel answered and said unto her, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy child which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
36. And, behold, your cousin Elisabeth, she has 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.
38. And Mary said, “Behold the servant of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth; The Magnificat

39. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
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 Spirit.
42. And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44. For, lo, as soon as the voice of your salutation sounded in my 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.
46. And Mary said, “My soul does magnify the Lord,
47. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55. As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
56. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

The Birth and Naming of John

57. Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58. And her neighbours and her kinsfolk heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59. And it came to pass on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.
60. And his mother answered and said, “Not so; but he shall be called John.”
61. And they said unto her, “There is none of your kindred that is called by this name.”
62. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63. And he asked for a writing‑table, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” And they marvelled all.
64. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.
65. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were told abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then shall this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy; John’s Childhood

67. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
68. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69. And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70. As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71. That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73. The oath which he swore to our father Abraham,
74. That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75. In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
76. And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78. Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
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.”
80. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his showing unto Israel.