King James Bible

Christian Standard Bible

1Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

1Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us,

2Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

2just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us.

3It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

3It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus,

4That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

4so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

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

5In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

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

6Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.

7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

7But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.

8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

8When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

9According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

9it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.

10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

10At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.

11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

12When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear.

13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

13But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

14There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb.

16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

16He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

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

17And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people."

18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

18"How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years."

19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.

20And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

20Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.

22And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

22When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless.

23And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

23When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

24And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said,

25Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

25"The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people."

26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

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

27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

28And the angel came to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you."

29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

29But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

30Then the angel told her: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

31Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him 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:

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.

33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end."

34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

34Mary asked the angel, "How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?"

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

35The angel replied to her: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

36And consider your relative Elizabeth--even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless.

37For with God nothing shall be impossible.

37For nothing will be impossible with God."

38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

38"I am the Lord's servant," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her.

39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

39In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah

40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

40where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: "Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

43How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

44For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me.

45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!"

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

46And Mary said: My soul praises the greatness of the Lord,

47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

48because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,

49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

49because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy.

50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

50His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.

51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

51He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts;

52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

52he has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

53He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

54He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy

55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

55to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he spoke to our ancestors.

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

56And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

57Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son.

58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

58Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

59When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.

60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

60But his mother responded, "No. He will be called John."

61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

61Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name."

62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

62So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called.

63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: "His name is John." And they were all amazed.

64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

65Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea.

66And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

66All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him.

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

67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

68Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people.

69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

70just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times;

71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

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

72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

72He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered his holy covenant--

73The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege,

74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

74since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear

75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

75in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.

76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

77to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

78Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

78Because of our God's merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us

79To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

79to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

80The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.