| International Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Since many people have attempted to write an orderly account of the events that have transpired among us, | 1Many people have set out to write accounts about the events 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, | 2They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. |
| 3I, too, have carefully investigated everything from the beginning and have decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, | 3Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, |
| 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. | 4so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold |
| 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. | 5When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. |
| 6Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord. | 6Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. |
| 7They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and because both of them were getting old. | 7They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. |
| 8When Zechariah was serving with his division of priests in God's presence, | 8One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. |
| 9he was chosen by lot to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense, according to the custom of the priests. | 9As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10And the entire congregation of people was praying outside at the time when the incense was burned. | 10While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. |
| 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar. | 11While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. |
| 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear overwhelmed him. | 12Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. |
| 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, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. |
| 14You will have great joy, and many people will rejoice at his birth, | 14You will have great joy and gladness, 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 eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. 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. | 16And he will turn many Israelites 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." | 17He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” |
| 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 this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” |
| 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. | 19Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me 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." | 20But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” |
| 21Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long. | 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. |
| 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 finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary. |
| 23When the days of his service were over, he went home. | 23When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. |
| 24After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, | 24Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. |
| 25"This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace." | 25“How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” The Birth of Jesus Foretold |
| 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, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, |
| 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. | 27to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. |
| 28The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" | 28Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! ” |
| 29Startled by his statement, she tried to figure out what his greeting meant. | 29Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. |
| 30Then the angel told her, "Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. | 30“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “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. | 31You will conceive 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 very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. |
| 33He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." | 33And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” |
| 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this happen, since I have not had relations with a man?" | 34Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” |
| 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. So the baby to be born will be holy, and 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. | 36What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. |
| 37Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God's promises." | 37For the word of God will never fail. ” |
| 38Then Mary said, "Truly I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you have said happen to me." Then the angel left her. | 38Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. Mary Visits Elizabeth |
| 39Later on, Mary set out for a Judean city in the hill country. | 39A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town |
| 40She went into Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. | 40where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit | 41At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, 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! | 42Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. |
| 43Why should this happen to me, to have the mother of my Lord visit me? | 43Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? |
| 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. | 44When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. |
| 45How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!" | 45You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise |
| 46Then Mary said, "My soul praises the greatness of the Lord! | 46Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. |
| 47My spirit exults in God, my Savior, | 47How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! |
| 48because he has looked favorably on his humble servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed, | 48For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. |
| 49because the Almighty has done great things for me. His name is holy. | 49For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. |
| 50His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him. | 50He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. |
| 51He displayed his mighty power with his arm. He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart. | 51His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. |
| 52He pulled powerful rulers from their thrones and lifted up humble people. | 52He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. |
| 53He filled hungry people with good things and sent rich people away with nothing. | 53He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. |
| 54He helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, | 54He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. |
| 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors— to Abraham and his descendants forever." | 55For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.” |
| 56Now Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home. | 56Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home. The Birth of John the Baptist |
| 57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. | 57When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, 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. | 58And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her. |
| 59On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father, | 59When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. |
| 60but his mother said, "Absolutely not! He must be named John." | 60But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” |
| 61Their friends told her, "None of your relatives has that name." | 61“What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” |
| 62So they motioned to the baby's father to see what he wanted to name him. | 62So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. |
| 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And everyone was amazed. | 63He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” |
| 64Suddenly, Zechariah could open his mouth, his tongue was set free, and he began to speak and to praise God. | 64Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God. |
| 65Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. | 65Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. |
| 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. | 66Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way. Zechariah’s Prophecy |
| 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: | 67Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy: |
| 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel! He has taken care of his people and has set them free. | 68“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. |
| 69He has raised up a mighty Savior for us from the family of his servant David, | 69He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, |
| 70just as he promised long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets | 70just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. |
| 71that he would save us from our enemies and from the grip of all who hate us. | 71Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. |
| 72He has shown mercy to our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant, | 72He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— |
| 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. He granted us | 73the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. |
| 74deliverance from our enemies' grip so that we could serve him without fear | 74We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, |
| 75and be holy and righteous before him all of our days. | 75in holiness and righteousness 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 | 76“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. |
| 77and to give his people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins. | 77You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. |
| 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, his light from on high has visited us, | 78Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, |
| 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, and to guide us to the path 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. | 80John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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