01:01 .. Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us 01:02 .. just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word 01:03 .. It seemed fitting for me as well .. having investigated everything carefully from the beginning .. ......... to write it out for you in consecutive order .. most excellent Theophilus 01:04 .. so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught
.................. birth of John the Baptist foretold
01:05 .. In the days of Herod .. king of Judea .. there was a priest named Zacharias .. of the division of Abijah .. ......... and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron .. and her name was Elizabeth 01:06 .. they were both righteous in the sight of God .. walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord 01:07 .. but they had no child .. because Elizabeth was barren .. and they were both advanced in years
01:08 .. now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division 01:09 .. according to the custom of the priestly office .. he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense 01:10 .. and the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering 01:11 .. and an angel of the Lord appeared to him .. standing to the right of the altar of incense 01:12 .. Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel .. and fear gripped him 01:13 .. but the angel said to him . . . do not be afraid .. Zacharias .. for your petition has been heard .. ......... and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son .. and you will give him the name John 01:14 .. you will have joy and gladness .. and many will rejoice at his birth 01:15 .. for he will be great in the sight of the Lord .. and he will drink no wine or liquor .. ......... and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb 01:16 .. and he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God 01:17 .. It is he who will ago as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah .. ......... to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children .. and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous .. ......... so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord 01:18 .. Zacharias said to the angel . . . how will I know this for certain .. for I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years 01:19 .. the angel answered and said to him .. I am Gabriel .. who stands in the presence of God .. ......... and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news 01:20 .. and behold .. you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place .. ......... because you did not believe my words .. which will be fulfilled in their proper time 01:21 .. the people were waiting for Zacharias .. and were wondering at his delay in the temple 01:22 .. but when he came out .. he was unable to speak to them .. and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple .. ......... and he kept making signs to them .. and remained mute 01:23 .. when the days of his priestly service were ended .. he went back home 01:24 .. after these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant .. and she kept herself in seclusion for five months .. saying . . . 01:25 .. this is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when he looked with favor upon me .. ......... to take away my disgrace among men
.................. Jesus’ birth foretold
01:26 .. now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth ..... Charles Lawson 01:27 .. to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph .. of the descendants of David .. and the virgin’s name was Mary 01:28 .. and coming in .. he said to her . . . greetings .. favored one .. the Lord is with you 01:29 .. but she was very perplexed at this statement .. and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was 01:30 .. the angel said to her . . . do not be afraid .. Mary .. for you have found favor with God 01:31 .. and behold .. you will conceive in your womb and bear a son .. and you shall name him Jesus 01:32 .. he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High .. and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David 01:33 .. and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever .. and his kingdom will have no end 01:34 .. Mary said to the angel . . . how can this be .. since I am a virgin 01:35 .. the angel answered and said to her . . . the Holy Spirit will come upon you .. ......... and the power of the Most High will overshadow you .. ......... and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God
01:36 .. and behold .. even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age .. and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month 01:37 .. for nothing will be impossible with God 01:38 .. and Mary said . . . behold .. the bondslave of the Lord .. may it be done to me according to your word .. ......... and the angel departed from her
.................. Mary visits Elizabeth
01:39 .. now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country .. to a city of Judah 01:40 .. and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth 01:41 .. when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting .. the baby leaped in her womb .. and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 01:42 .. and she cried out with a loud voice and said . . . blessed are you among women .. and blessed is the fruit of your womb 01:43 .. and how has it happened to me .. that the mother of my Lord would come to me 01:44 .. for behold .. when the sound of your greeting reached my ears .. the baby leaped in my womb for joy 01:45 .. and blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord
.................. the magnificat
01:46 .. and Mary said . . . my soul exalts the Lord 01:47 .. and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior 01:48 .. for he has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave .. for behold .. from this time on all generations will count me blessed 01:49 .. for the Mighty One has done great things for me .. and holy is his name 01:50 .. and his mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear him 01:51 .. he has done mighty deeds with his arm .. he has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart 01:52 .. he has brought down rulers from their thrones .. and has exalted those who were humble 01:53 .. he has filled the hungry with good things .. and sent away the rich empty-handed 01:54 .. he has given help to Israel his servant .. In remembrance of his mercy 01:55 .. as he spoke to our fathers .. to Abraham and his descendants forever
01:56 .. and Mary stayed with her about three months .. and then returned to her home
.................. John Is born
01:57 .. now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth .. and she gave birth to a son 01:58 .. her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed his great mercy toward her .. ......... and they were rejoicing with her 01:59 .. and it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child .. ......... and they were going to call him Zacharias .. after his father 01:60 .. but his mother answered and said . . . no indeed .. but he shall be called John 01:61 .. and they said to her . . . there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name 01:62 .. and they made signs to his father .. as to what he wanted him called 01:63 .. and he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows .. his name is John .. and they were all astonished 01:64 .. and at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed .. and he began to speak in praise of God 01:65 .. fear came on all those living around them .. and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea 01:66 .. all who heard them kept them in mind .. saying . . . what then will this child turn out to be .. ......... for the hand of the Lord was certainly with him
.................. Zacharias’s prophecy
01:67 .. and his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit .. and prophesied .. saying . . . 01:68 .. blessed be the Lord God of Israel .. for he has visited us and accomplished redemption for his people 01:69 .. and has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David his servant 01:70 .. as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old 01:71 .. salvation from our enemies .. and from the hand of all who hate us 01:72 .. to show mercy toward our fathers .. and to remember his holy covenant 01:73 .. the oath which he swore to Abraham our father 01:74 .. to grant us that we .. being rescued from the hand of our enemies .. might serve him without fear 01:75 .. In holiness and righteousness before him all our days 01:76 .. and you .. child .. will be called the prophet of the Most High .. for you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways 01:77 .. to give to his people the knowledge of salvation .. by the forgiveness of their sins 01:78 .. because of the tender mercy of our God .. with which the sunrise from on high will visit us 01:79 .. to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death .. to guide our feet into the way of peace 01:80 .. and the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit .. ......... and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel
John .. the forerunner of Jesus .. came to earth by divine appointment and arrangement .. Jesus .. the Christ was born of a virgin .. conceived of the Holy Ghost .. and was therefore the Son of God to whom was promised the throne of his father .. David . . . . v 31-32 the name “Jesus” (Savior) links him to humanity and suggests his career as prophet .. he is conspicuous as “Jesus” up to his resurrection. “Christ” (anointed One) links him to prophecy which he came to fulfill and suggests his work as priest atoning for sin .. “Lord” (the Jehovah name applied to him) links him with deity and suggests his Kingship .. he is coming again to rule