| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, | 1Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, |
| 2like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning. | 2just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. |
| 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, | 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, |
| 4so that you may know for certain the things you were taught. | 4so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 6They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. | 6Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. |
| 7But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old. | 7But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. |
| 8Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, | 8When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, |
| 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense. | 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. |
| 10Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. | 10At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. |
| 11An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him. | 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. |
| 12And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear. | 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 14Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, | 14There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 16He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. | 16He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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." | 18How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years." |
| 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. | 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 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." | 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." |
| 21Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place. | 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. |
| 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. | 22When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless. |
| 23When his time of service was over, he went to his home. | 23When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. |
| 24After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said, | 24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, " |
| 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." | 25The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people." |
| 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, | 26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant 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. |
| 28The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!" | 28And the angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you." |
| 29But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. | 29But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. |
| 30So the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! | 30Then the angel told 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 will name him Jesus. | 31Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name 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 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. |
| 33He will reign 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 have no end. |
| 34Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?" | 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?" |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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! | 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 nothing will be impossible with God." | 37For nothing will be impossible with God."" |
| 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. | 38I am the Lord's slave," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her. |
| 39In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, | 39In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah |
| 40and entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. | 40where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. | 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| 42She exclaimed with a loud voice, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! | 42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:" You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed! |
| 43And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? | 43How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
| 44For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped 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 who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled." | 45She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!" |
| 46And Mary said, "My soul exalts the Lord, | 46And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, |
| 47and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior, | 47and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, |
| 48because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, | 48because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, |
| 49because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name; | 49because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. |
| 50from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him. | 50His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. |
| 51He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance 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 has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; | 52He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. |
| 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty. | 53He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. |
| 54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, | 54He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, |
| 55as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." | 55just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever. |
| 56So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home. | 56And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home. |
| 57Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. | 57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. |
| 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to 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. |
| 59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. | 59When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. |
| 60But his mother replied, "No! He must be named John." | 60But his mother responded, "No! He will be called John." |
| 61They said to her, "But none of your relatives bears this name." | 61Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." |
| 62So they made signs to the baby's father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son. | 62So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. |
| 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed. | 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: HIS NAME IS JOHN. And they were all amazed. |
| 64Immediately Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God. | 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. |
| 65All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about. | 65Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people. | 68Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. |
| 69For he has raised up a 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 spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago, | 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 who hate us. | 71salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us. |
| 72He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant-- | 72He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant-- |
| 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants | 73the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, |
| 74that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear, | 74since we have been rescued from our enemies' clutches, to serve Him without fear |
| 75in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live. | 75in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days. |
| 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, | 76And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, |
| 77to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. | 77to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. |
| 78Because of our God's tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high | 78Because of our God's merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us |
| 79to give light to those who 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 kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel. | 80The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. |
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