Dedication to Theophilus
(Acts 1:1–3)

1Inasmuch as many took it in hand to present a history concerning these things which have been fulfilled among us, 2as those being eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word have delivered unto us; 3it seemed good to me also, having followed carefully all things from the beginning, to write unto thee consecutively, O most noble Theophilus, 4in order that thou mayest know the certainty of the words concerning which thou hast been instructed.

Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth

5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the course of Ahijah, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth. 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. 7And there was no child to them, as Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their days.

8And it came to pass, while he was officiating in the order of his course before God, 9(according to the custom of the priesthood he was chosen by lot to offer incense), having gone into the temple of the Lord; 10and all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense; 11the angel of the Lord appeared unto him standing on the right hand of the altar of incense: 12and Zacharias was troubled seeing him, and fear fell on him. 13And the angel said to him; Fear not, Zacharias; because thy prayer has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bring forth a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name John. 14And there shall be joy and rejoicing, and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15For he shall be great before the Lord; and he shall not drink wine and strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from the womb of his mother. 16And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord, their God. 17And he will go before Him in the spirit and Power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient unto the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people made ready for the Lord.

18And Zacharias said to the angel: According to what shall I know this? for I am old and my wife advanced in her days. 19And the angel responding said to him; I am Gabriel standing in the presence of God, and am sent to speak to you and to preach to you these things. 20And behold thou shalt be dumb and unable to speak, unto the day upon which these things may take place; because thou didst not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.

21And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering because he tarries in the temple. 22And having come out he was unable to speak to them; and they recognized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he was beckoning to them and remained dumb. 23And it came to pass when the days of his ministry were fulfilled, he went away to his own house.

24And after these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25That the Lord so hath done unto me, in the days in which He condescended to take away my reproach among men.

Gabriel Foretells Jesus’ Birth

26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, to which was the name 27Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man, to whom was the name Joseph of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. 28And the angel having come to her said; Hail, thou blessed one; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. 29And she seeing was troubled over his word, and was reasoning what kind this salutation might be. 30And the angel said to her; Fear not, Mary; for thou didst find favor with God. 31And behold, thou shalt conceive and hear a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus. 32He 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: 33and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there shall be no end. 34And Mary said to the angel; How shall this be, since I know not man? 35And the angel responding said to her; The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore, indeed, that holy thing that is begotten shall be called the Son of God. 36And behold Elizabeth thy kinswoman, indeed, herself having conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month, to her who is called barren. 37Because no word shall be impossible with God. 38And Mary said; Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; may it be done unto me according to thy word. And the angel went away from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39And Mary, rising, departed into the mountainous land, with haste, into a city of Judah. 40And she came into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth. 41And it came to pass when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant in her womb leaped; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; and she spoke with a loud voice and said; 42Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord may come unto me? 44For behold when the voice of your salutation came into my ears, the infant in my womb leaped with joy. 45And blessed is she that believeth, because there shall be a perfection to those things having been spoken to her by the Lord.

Mary’s Song

46And Mary said; My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

48because He looked upon the low state of his handmaiden.

49For behold from now all generations call me blessed; because the Mighty One did great things unto me, and His name is holy;

50and His mercy unto generation of generations to them that fear Him.

51He wrought power by his own arm; he dispersed the proud in the thought of their heart.

52He cast down the mighty from thrones and exalted the humble.

53He filled the poor with good things, and sent away the rich empty.

54He delivered his son Israel, to remember mercy,

55as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever.

56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57And the time of her parturition was fulfilled unto Elizabeth and she brought forth a son. 58And the neighbors and her relatives heard, that the Lord was magnifying His mercy with her, and they continued to rejoice with her.

59And it came to pass on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the little child; and they were calling him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60And his mother responding said; No, but he shall be called John. 61And they said to her; That there is no one among thy kindred who is called by this name. 62And they were beckoning to his father, what he might wish to call him. 63And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote saying; His name is John. 64And all marveled. And his mouth immediately opened and his tongue loosed, and he continued to speak, praising God. 65And fear came upon all of those dwelling around; and all these words were spoken abroad in all the mountainous regions of Judea. 66And all those hearing placed them in their heart, saying; What then shall this little child be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

67And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied saying;

68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because He looked upon us and wrought redemption to His people, and raised up unto us a horn of salvation

69in the house of David His son.

70As he spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from the beginning;

71salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us,

72to execute mercy with our fathers, and remember His holy covenant,

73the oath which He swore to Abraham our father:

74to grant unto us, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, to serve Him without fear,

75in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

76And thou, little child, shall be called a prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

77to give knowledge of salvation to His people in remission of their sins,

78through the bowels of mercy of our God, in which the dayspring from on high looked upon us,

79to appear unto those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet in the way of peace.

80And the little child continued to grow and waxed strong in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his showing unto Israel.