Luke 1:2-32

2as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses of and attendants on the Word have delivered them to us,

3it has seemed good to me also, accurately acquainted from the origin with all things, to write to thee with method, most excellent Theophilus,

4that thou mightest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been instructed.

5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the course of Abia, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

6And they were both just before 1God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

8And it came to pass, as he fulfilled his priestly service before 2God in the order of his course,

9it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.

10And all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

11And an angel of [the] Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the altar of incense.

12And Zacharias was troubled, seeing [him], and fear fell upon him.

13But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, because thy supplication has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14And he shall be to thee joy and rejoicing, and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15For he shall be great before [the] Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with [the] Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

16And many of the sons of Israel shall he turn to [the] Lord their 3God.

17And he shall go before him in [the] spirit and power of Elias, to turn hearts of fathers to children, and disobedient ones to [the] thoughts of just [men], to make ready for [the] Lord a prepared people.

18And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this, for I am an old man, and my wife advanced in years?

19And the angel answering, said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand before 4God, and I have been sent to speak to thee, and to bring these glad tidings to thee;

20and behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because thou hast not believed my words, the which shall be fulfilled in their time.

21And the people were awaiting Zacharias, and they wondered at his delaying in the temple.

22But when he came out he could not speak to them, and they recognised that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and continued dumb.

23And it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, he departed to his house.

24Now after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

25Thus has [the] Lord done to me in [these] days in which he looked upon [me] to take away my reproach among men.

26But in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent of 5God to a city of Galilee, of which [the] name [was] Nazareth,

27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name [was] Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name [was] Mary.

28And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, [thou] favoured one! the Lord [is] with thee: [blessed art thou amongst women].

29But she, [seeing] [the angel], was troubled at his word, and reasoned in her mind what this salutation might be.

30And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with 6God;

31and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

32He shall be great, and shall be called Son of [the] Highest; and [the] Lord 7God shall give him the throne of David his father;