| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Since many people have attempted to write an orderly account of the events that have transpired among us, | 1Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, |
| 2just as they were passed down to us by those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning, | 2like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning. |
| 3I, too, have carefully investigated everything from the beginning and have decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, | 3So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, |
| 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. | 4so that you may know for certain the things you were taught. |
| 5During the reign of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. | 5During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. |
| 6Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord. | 6They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. |
| 7They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and because both of them were getting old. | 7But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old. |
| 8When Zechariah was serving with his division of priests in God's presence, | 8Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, |
| 9he was chosen by lot to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense, according to the custom of the priests. | 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10And the entire congregation of people was praying outside at the time when the incense was burned. | 10Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. |
| 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar. | 11An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him. |
| 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear overwhelmed him. | 12And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear. |
| 13But the angel told him, "Stop being afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John. | 13But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John. |
| 14You will have great joy, and many people will rejoice at his birth, | 14Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, |
| 15because he will be great in the Lord's presence. He will never drink wine or any strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. | 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. |
| 16He will bring many of Israel's descendants back to the Lord their God. | 16He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. |
| 17He is the one who will go before the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and to prepare the people to be ready for the Lord." | 17And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him." |
| 18Then Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man, and my wife is getting older?" | 18Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well." |
| 19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to announce this good news to you. | 19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. |
| 20But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time, you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens." | 20And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place." |
| 21Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long. | 21Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place. |
| 22But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them but remained unable to speak. | 22When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak. |
| 23When the days of his service were over, he went home. | 23When his time of service was over, he went to his home. |
| 24After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, | 24After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said, |
| 25"This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace." | 25"This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people." |
| 26Now in the sixth month of her pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, | 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. | 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" | 28The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!" |
| 29Startled by his statement, she tried to figure out what his greeting meant. | 29But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. |
| 30Then the angel told her, "Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. | 30So the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! |
| 31Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. | 31Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. |
| 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. | 32He 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. |
| 33He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." | 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." |
| 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this happen, since I have not had relations with a man?" | 34Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?" |
| 35The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God. | 35The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. |
| 36And listen! Elizabeth, your relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age, this woman who was rumored to be barren is in her sixth month. | 36"And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age--although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! |
| 37Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God's promises." | 37For nothing will be impossible with God." |
| 38Then Mary said, "Truly I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you have said happen to me." Then the angel left her. | 38So Mary said, "Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. |
| 39Later on, Mary set out for a Judean city in the hill country. | 39In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, |
| 40She went into Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. | 40and entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit | 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| 42and she loudly exclaimed, "How blessed are you among women, and how blessed is the infant in your womb! | 42She exclaimed with a loud voice, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! |
| 43Why should this happen to me, to have the mother of my Lord visit me? | 43And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? |
| 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. | 44For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. |
| 45How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!" | 45And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled." |
| 46Then Mary said, "My soul praises the greatness of the Lord! | 46And Mary said, "My soul exalts the Lord, |
| 47My spirit exults in God, my Savior, | 47and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior, |
| 48because he has looked favorably on his humble servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed, | 48because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, |
| 49because the Almighty has done great things for me. His name is holy. | 49because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name; |
| 50His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him. | 50from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him. |
| 51He displayed his mighty power with his arm. He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart. | 51He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts. |
| 52He pulled powerful rulers from their thrones and lifted up humble people. | 52He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; |
| 53He filled hungry people with good things and sent rich people away with nothing. | 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty. |
| 54He helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, | 54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, |
| 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors— to Abraham and his descendants forever." | 55as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." |
| 56Now Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home. | 56So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home. |
| 57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. | 57Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. |
| 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. | 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. |
| 59On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father, | 59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. |
| 60but his mother said, "Absolutely not! He must be named John." | 60But his mother replied, "No! He must be named John." |
| 61Their friends told her, "None of your relatives has that name." | 61They said to her, "But none of your relatives bears this name." |
| 62So they motioned to the baby's father to see what he wanted to name him. | 62So they made signs to the baby's father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son. |
| 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And everyone was amazed. | 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed. |
| 64Suddenly, Zechariah could open his mouth, his tongue was set free, and he began to speak and to praise God. | 64Immediately Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God. |
| 65Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. | 65All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about. |
| 66Everyone who heard about it kept thinking what had happened and asked, "What will this child become?" because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him. | 66All who heard these things kept them in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the Lord's hand was indeed with him. |
| 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: | 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, |
| 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel! He has taken care of his people and has set them free. | 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people. |
| 69He has raised up a mighty Savior for us from the family of his servant David, | 69For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, |
| 70just as he promised long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets | 70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago, |
| 71that he would save us from our enemies and from the grip of all who hate us. | 71that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us. |
| 72He has shown mercy to our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant, | 72He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant-- |
| 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. He granted us | 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants |
| 74deliverance from our enemies' grip so that we could serve him without fear | 74that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear, |
| 75and be holy and righteous before him all of our days. | 75in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live. |
| 76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way | 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, |
| 77and to give his people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins. | 77to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. |
| 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, his light from on high has visited us, | 78Because of our God's tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high |
| 79to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death's shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace." | 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." |
| 80Now the child continued to grow and to become spiritually strong. He lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared in Israel. | 80And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel. |
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