1Schon viele haben es unternommen, eine Erzählung über die Ereignisse abzufassen, die sich unter uns erfüllt haben.2Dabei hielten sie sich an die Überlieferung derer, die von Anfang an Augenzeugen und Diener des Wortes waren.3Nun habe auch ich mich entschlossen, nachdem ich allem von Beginn an sorgfältig nachgegangen bin, es für dich, hochverehrter Theophilus, der Reihe nach aufzuschreiben. (Apg 1,1)4So kannst du dich von der Zuverlässigkeit der Lehre überzeugen, in der du unterwiesen wurdest.
DIE GEBURTSGESCHICHTE
Die Ankündigung der Geburt Johannes des Täufers
5Es gab in den Tagen des Herodes, des Königs von Judäa, einen Priester namens Zacharias, der zur Abteilung des Abija gehörte. Seine Frau stammte aus dem Geschlecht Aarons; ihr Name war Elisabet.[1] (1Chr 24,1; 1Chr 24,10)6Beide lebten gerecht vor Gott und wandelten untadelig nach allen Geboten und Vorschriften des Herrn.7Sie hatten keine Kinder, denn Elisabet war unfruchtbar und beide waren schon in vorgerücktem Alter.8Es geschah aber, als seine Abteilung wieder an der Reihe war und er den priesterlichen Dienst vor Gott verrichtete,9da traf ihn, wie nach der Priesterordnung üblich, das Los, in den Tempel des Herrn hineinzugehen und das Rauchopfer darzubringen. (2Mo 30,7)10Während er nun zur festgelegten Zeit das Rauchopfer darbrachte, stand das ganze Volk draußen und betete.11Da erschien dem Zacharias ein Engel des Herrn; er stand auf der rechten Seite des Rauchopferaltars.12Als Zacharias ihn sah, erschrak er und es befiel ihn Furcht.13Der Engel aber sagte zu ihm: Fürchte dich nicht, Zacharias! Dein Gebet ist erhört worden. Deine Frau Elisabet wird dir einen Sohn gebären; dem sollst du den Namen Johannes geben. (1Mo 17,19; Lk 1,60)14Du wirst dich freuen und jubeln und viele werden sich über seine Geburt freuen.15Denn er wird groß sein vor dem Herrn. Wein und berauschende Getränke wird er nicht trinken und schon vom Mutterleib an wird er vom Heiligen Geist erfüllt sein. (4Mo 6,3; Ri 13,4; Lk 7,33)16Viele Kinder Israels wird er zum Herrn, ihrem Gott, hinwenden.17Er wird ihm mit dem Geist und mit der Kraft des Elija vorangehen, um die Herzen der Väter den Kindern zuzuwenden und die Ungehorsamen zu gerechter Gesinnung zu führen und so das Volk für den Herrn bereit zu machen. (Mal 3,23)18Zacharias sagte zu dem Engel: Woran soll ich das erkennen? Denn ich bin ein alter Mann und auch meine Frau ist in vorgerücktem Alter.19Der Engel erwiderte ihm: Ich bin Gabriel, der vor Gott steht, und ich bin gesandt worden, um mit dir zu reden und dir diese frohe Botschaft zu bringen.20Und siehe, du sollst stumm sein und nicht mehr reden können bis zu dem Tag, an dem dies geschieht, weil du meinen Worten nicht geglaubt hast, die in Erfüllung gehen, wenn die Zeit dafür da ist.21Inzwischen wartete das Volk auf Zacharias und wunderte sich, dass er so lange im Tempel blieb.22Als er dann herauskam, konnte er nicht mit ihnen sprechen. Da merkten sie, dass er im Tempel eine Erscheinung gehabt hatte. Er gab ihnen nur Zeichen und blieb stumm.23Als die Tage seines Dienstes zu Ende waren, kehrte er nach Hause zurück.24Bald darauf wurde seine Frau Elisabet schwanger und lebte fünf Monate lang zurückgezogen. Sie sagte:25Der Herr hat mir geholfen; er hat in diesen Tagen gnädig auf mich geschaut und mich von der Schmach befreit, mit der ich unter den Menschen beladen war.
Die Ankündigung der Geburt Jesu
26Im sechsten Monat wurde der Engel Gabriel von Gott in eine Stadt in Galiläa namens Nazaret27zu einer Jungfrau gesandt. Sie war mit einem Mann namens Josef verlobt, der aus dem Haus David stammte. Der Name der Jungfrau war Maria. (Mt 1,16)28Der Engel trat bei ihr ein und sagte: Sei gegrüßt, du Begnadete, der Herr ist mit dir.29Sie erschrak über die Anrede und überlegte, was dieser Gruß zu bedeuten habe.30Da sagte der Engel zu ihr: Fürchte dich nicht, Maria; denn du hast bei Gott Gnade gefunden.31Siehe, du wirst schwanger werden und einen Sohn wirst du gebären; dem sollst du den Namen Jesus geben. (1Mo 17,19; Jes 7,14; Mt 1,21)32Er wird groß sein und Sohn des Höchsten genannt werden. Gott, der Herr, wird ihm den Thron seines Vaters David geben. (2Sam 7,13; Jes 9,6)33Er wird über das Haus Jakob in Ewigkeit herrschen und seine Herrschaft wird kein Ende haben.34Maria sagte zu dem Engel: Wie soll das geschehen, da ich keinen Mann erkenne?[2] (Mt 1,18; Mt 1,25)35Der Engel antwortete ihr: Heiliger Geist wird über dich kommen und Kraft des Höchsten wird dich überschatten. Deshalb wird auch das Kind heilig und Sohn Gottes genannt werden.36Siehe, auch Elisabet, deine Verwandte, hat noch in ihrem Alter einen Sohn empfangen; obwohl sie als unfruchtbar gilt, ist sie schon im sechsten Monat.37Denn für Gott ist nichts unmöglich. (1Mo 18,14; Hi 42,2; Mt 19,26; Mk 10,27; Lk 18,27)38Da sagte Maria: Siehe, ich bin die Magd des Herrn; mir geschehe, wie du es gesagt hast. Danach verließ sie der Engel.
Die Begegnung zwischen Maria und Elisabet
39In diesen Tagen machte sich Maria auf den Weg und eilte in eine Stadt im Bergland von Judäa.40Sie ging in das Haus des Zacharias und begrüßte Elisabet.41Und es geschah, als Elisabet den Gruß Marias hörte, hüpfte das Kind in ihrem Leib. Da wurde Elisabet vom Heiligen Geist erfüllt42und rief mit lauter Stimme: Gesegnet bist du unter den Frauen und gesegnet ist die Frucht deines Leibes. (Jdt 13,18)43Wer bin ich, dass die Mutter meines Herrn zu mir kommt?44Denn siehe, in dem Augenblick, als ich deinen Gruß hörte, hüpfte das Kind vor Freude in meinem Leib.45Und selig, die geglaubt hat, dass sich erfüllt, was der Herr ihr sagen ließ.46Da sagte Maria:
Meine Seele preist die Größe des Herrn / (1Sam 2,1)47und mein Geist jubelt über Gott, meinen Retter. (Hab 3,18)48Denn auf die Niedrigkeit seiner Magd hat er geschaut. / Siehe, von nun an preisen mich selig alle Geschlechter. (1Mo 30,13; 1Sam 1,11)49Denn der Mächtige hat Großes an mir getan / und sein Name ist heilig. (5Mo 10,21; Ps 111,9)50Er erbarmt sich von Geschlecht zu Geschlecht / über alle, die ihn fürchten. (Ps 103,13)51Er vollbringt mit seinem Arm machtvolle Taten: / Er zerstreut, die im Herzen voll Hochmut sind; (Ps 89,11)52er stürzt die Mächtigen vom Thron / und erhöht die Niedrigen. (Hi 5,11; Hi 12,19; Ps 147,6; Hes 21,31)53Die Hungernden beschenkt er mit seinen Gaben / und lässt die Reichen leer ausgehen. (Ps 34,11; Ps 107,9)54Er nimmt sich seines Knechtes Israel an / und denkt an sein Erbarmen, (Ps 98,3; Jes 41,8)55das er unsern Vätern verheißen hat, / Abraham und seinen Nachkommen auf ewig. (1Mo 17,7; 2Sam 22,51; Mi 7,20)56Und Maria blieb etwa drei Monate bei ihr; dann kehrte sie nach Hause zurück.
Die Geburt des Täufers
57Für Elisabet aber erfüllte sich die Zeit, dass sie gebären sollte, und sie brachte einen Sohn zur Welt.58Ihre Nachbarn und Verwandten hörten, welch großes Erbarmen der Herr ihr erwiesen hatte, und freuten sich mit ihr.59Und es geschah: Am achten Tag kamen sie zur Beschneidung des Kindes und sie wollten ihm den Namen seines Vaters Zacharias geben. (1Mo 17,12)60Seine Mutter aber widersprach und sagte: Nein, sondern er soll Johannes heißen. (Lk 1,13)61Sie antworteten ihr: Es gibt doch niemanden in deiner Verwandtschaft, der so heißt.62Da fragten sie seinen Vater durch Zeichen, welchen Namen das Kind haben solle.63Er verlangte ein Schreibtäfelchen und schrieb darauf: Johannes ist sein Name. Und alle staunten.64Im gleichen Augenblick konnte er Mund und Zunge wieder gebrauchen und er redete und pries Gott.65Und alle ihre Nachbarn gerieten in Furcht und man sprach von all diesen Dingen im ganzen Bergland von Judäa.66Alle, die davon hörten, nahmen es sich zu Herzen und sagten: Was wird wohl aus diesem Kind werden? Denn die Hand des Herrn war mit ihm.67Sein Vater Zacharias wurde vom Heiligen Geist erfüllt und begann prophetisch zu reden:68Gepriesen sei der Herr, der Gott Israels! / Denn er hat sein Volk besucht und ihm Erlösung geschaffen; (Ps 41,14; Ps 72,18; Ps 106,48; Ps 111,9; Lk 7,16; Lk 24,21)69er hat uns einen starken Retter erweckt / im Hause seines Knechtes David. (1Sam 2,10; Ps 18,3; Ps 132,17)70So hat er verheißen von alters her / durch den Mund seiner heiligen Propheten. (Röm 1,2; Offb 10,7)71Er hat uns errettet vor unseren Feinden / und aus der Hand aller, die uns hassen; (Ps 106,10)72er hat das Erbarmen mit den Vätern an uns vollendet / und an seinen heiligen Bund gedacht, (2Mo 2,24; 3Mo 26,42; Ps 105,8; Ps 106,45)73an den Eid, den er unserm Vater Abraham geschworen hat; (1Mo 22,16; Jer 11,5; Mi 7,20)74er hat uns geschenkt, dass wir, aus Feindeshand befreit, / ihm furchtlos dienen75in Heiligkeit und Gerechtigkeit vor seinem Angesicht all unsre Tage.76Und du, Kind, wirst Prophet des Höchsten heißen; / denn du wirst dem Herrn vorangehen und ihm den Weg bereiten. (2Mo 23,20; Mal 3,1; Mt 11,10; Mk 1,2; Lk 7,27)77Du wirst sein Volk mit der Erfahrung des Heils beschenken / in der Vergebung seiner Sünden.[3]78Durch die barmherzige Liebe unseres Gottes / wird uns besuchen das aufstrahlende Licht aus der Höhe, (Jes 60,1; Sach 6,12; Mal 3,20)79um allen zu leuchten, / die in Finsternis sitzen und im Schatten des Todes, / und unsre Schritte zu lenken auf den Weg des Friedens. (Ps 107,10; Jes 9,1; Jes 42,7; Jes 59,8; Mt 4,16; Röm 3,17)80Das Kind wuchs heran und wurde stark im Geist. Und es lebte in der Wüste bis zu dem Tag, an dem es seinen Auftrag für Israel erhielt.
5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[1] of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. (1Chr 24,10; Mt 2,1; Lk 1,8)6And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. (Lk 2,25; Apg 23,1; Apg 24,16; Phil 2,15; Phil 3,6; 1Thess 2,10; 1Thess 3,13; 1Thess 5,23)7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. (1Mo 18,11; Ri 13,2; 1Sam 1,2; Lk 1,36; Hebr 11,11)8Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, (1Chr 24,19; 2Chr 8,14; 2Chr 31,2; Lk 1,5; Lk 1,23)9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. (2Mo 30,7; 1Sam 2,28; 1Chr 23,13; 2Chr 29,11; Lk 1,21; Hebr 9,2; Offb 11,2; Offb 11,19)10And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. (3Mo 16,17; Ps 141,2; Offb 5,8; Offb 8,3)11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. (2Mo 30,1; 2Mo 40,26)12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. (Apg 19,17)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, and you shall call his name John. (Lk 1,60; Lk 1,63; Apg 10,4; Apg 10,31)14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, (Lk 1,58)15for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. (4Mo 6,3; Ri 13,4; Ri 13,7; Ri 13,14; Jes 49,1; Jes 49,5; Jer 1,5; Mt 11,11; Mt 11,18; Lk 1,41; Lk 1,67; Lk 7,28; Lk 7,33; Apg 2,4; Apg 2,15; Apg 2,17; Gal 1,15; Eph 5,18)16And he will turn many of the children 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 to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Mal 3,1; Mal 4,6; Mt 11,10; Mt 11,14; Mk 1,2; Lk 1,76; Lk 7,27; Joh 3,28; Röm 10,21)18And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” (1Mo 15,8; 1Mo 17,17)19And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. (1Kön 17,1; Hi 1,6; Jes 63,9; Dan 8,16; Dan 9,21; Mt 18,10; Lk 1,26; Offb 8,2)20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” (Hes 3,26; Hes 24,27)21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. (Lk 1,9)22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. (Lk 1,21; Lk 1,62)23And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. (2Kön 11,5; 1Chr 9,25; 2Chr 23,8; Lk 1,8; Hebr 10,11)24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,25“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” (1Mo 30,23; 1Sam 1,6; Ps 113,9; Jes 4,1)
Birth of Jesus Foretold
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, (Mt 2,23; Lk 1,19)27to a virgin betrothed[2] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. (Mt 1,16; Mt 1,18; Mt 1,20; Lk 2,4)28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[3] (Ri 6,12; Ps 45,2; Dan 9,23)29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. (Lk 1,12)30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (Apg 7,46)31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (Jes 7,14; Mt 1,21; Mt 1,25; Lk 2,21)32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, (2Sam 7,11; 2Sam 7,16; Ps 89,4; Ps 132,11; Jes 9,6; Jes 16,5; Mt 1,1; Mk 5,7; Lk 1,69; Lk 1,76; Lk 6,35; Apg 2,30; Apg 7,48; Offb 3,7)33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Dan 2,44; Dan 7,14; Dan 7,18; Dan 7,27; Joh 12,34; Hebr 1,8; Offb 11,15)34And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”[4]35And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[5] will be called holy—the Son of God. (Mt 1,18; Mt 1,20; Mt 14,33; Lk 1,32; Joh 6,69)36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. (Lk 1,7)37For nothing will be impossible with God.” (1Mo 18,14; Mt 19,26)38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[6] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Ri 6,21; Apg 12,10)
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, (Jos 20,7; Jos 21,11; Lk 1,65)40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, (Lk 1,15; Lk 1,67)42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! (5Mo 28,4; Ri 5,24; Ps 127,3)43And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Lk 2,11; Lk 20,42; Joh 20,28)44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.45And blessed is she who believed that there would be[7] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Lk 1,20; Joh 20,29)
57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. (1Mo 19,19)59And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, (1Mo 17,12; 3Mo 12,3; Lk 2,21; Phil 3,5)60but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” (Lk 1,13)61And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.”62And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. (Lk 1,22)63And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. (Jes 8,1; Jes 30,8; Lk 1,60)64And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. (Mk 7,35; Lk 1,20; Lk 2,28; Lk 24,53)65And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, (Lk 1,39; Lk 7,16)66and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. (Lk 2,19; Lk 2,51; Apg 11,21; Apg 13,11)
1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[1] among us,2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.3With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
The birth of John the Baptist foretold
5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.7But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.8Once when Zechariah’s 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 go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshippers were praying outside.11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.13But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’18Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well on in years.’19The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.’21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realised he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.23When his time of service was completed, he returned home.24After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.25‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said. ‘In these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people.’
The birth of Jesus foretold
26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.28The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.30But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God.31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants for ever; his kingdom will never end.’34‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’35The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[2] the Son of God.36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.37For no word from God will ever fail.’38‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.
Mary visits Elizabeth
39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.42In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!43But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!’
Mary’s song
46And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord47and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,49for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name.50His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.52He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.53He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful55to Abraham and his descendants for ever, just as he promised our ancestors.’56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The birth of John the Baptist
57When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.58Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,60but his mother spoke up and said, ‘No! He is to be called John.’61They said to her, ‘There is no-one among your relatives who has that name.’62Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John.’64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.65All the neighbours were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.66Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’ For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s song
67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:68‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.69He has raised up a horn[3] of salvation for us in the house of his servant David70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us –72to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,73the oath he swore to our father Abraham:74to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,77to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven79to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.’80And the child grew and became strong in spirit[4]; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
1Many people have attempted to write about the things that have taken place among us.2Reports of these things were handed down to us. There were people who saw these things for themselves from the beginning. They saw them and then passed the word on.3With this in mind, I myself have carefully looked into everything from the beginning. So I also decided to write down an orderly report of exactly what happened. I am doing this for you, most excellent Theophilus.4I want you to know that the things you have been taught are true.
The coming birth of John the Baptist
5Herod was king of Judea. During the time he was ruling, there was a priest named Zechariah. He belonged to a group of priests named after Abijah. His wife Elizabeth also came from the family line of Aaron.6Both of them did what was right in the sight of God. They obeyed all the Lord’s commands and rules faithfully.7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was not able to have any. And they were both very old.8One day Zechariah’s group was on duty. He was serving as a priest in God’s temple.9He happened to be chosen, in the usual way, to go into the temple of the Lord. There he was supposed to burn incense.10The time came for this to be done. All who had gathered to worship were praying outside.11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah. The angel was standing at the right side of the incense altar.12When Zechariah saw him, he was amazed and terrified.13But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will have a child. It will be a boy, and you must call him John.14He will be a joy and delight to you. His birth will make many people very glad.15He will be important in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or other such drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.17And he will prepare the way for the Lord. He will have the same spirit and power that Elijah had. He will bring peace between parents and their children. He will teach people who don’t obey to be wise and do what is right. In this way, he will prepare a people who are ready for the Lord.’18Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is old too.’19The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I serve God. I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.20And now you will have to be silent. You will not be able to speak until after John is born. That’s because you did not believe my words. They will come true at the time God has chosen.’21During that time, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the temple. They wondered why he stayed there so long.22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realised he had seen a vision in the temple. They knew this because he kept gesturing to them. He still could not speak.23When his time of service was over, he returned home.24After that, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.25‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said. ‘In these days, he has been kind to me. He has taken away my shame among the people.’
The coming birth of Jesus
26In the sixth month after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee.27He was sent to a virgin. The girl was engaged to a man named Joseph. He came from the family line of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.28The angel greeted her and said, ‘The Lord has blessed you in a special way. He is with you.’29Mary was very upset because of his words. She wondered what kind of greeting this could be.30But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you.31You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must call him Jesus.32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his father David of long ago.33The Son of the Most High God will rule for ever over his people. They are from the family line of Jacob. That kingdom will never end.’34‘How can this happen?’ Mary asked the angel. ‘I am a virgin.’35The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So the holy one that is born will be called the Son of God.36Your relative Elizabeth will have a child even though she is old. People thought she could not have children. But she has been pregnant for six months now.37That’s because what God says will always come true.’38‘I serve the Lord,’ Mary answered. ‘May it happen to me just as you said it would.’ Then the angel left her.
Mary visits Elizabeth
39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in Judea’s hill country.40There she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby inside her jumped. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.42In a loud voice she called out, ‘God has blessed you more than other women. And blessed is the child you will have!43But why is God so kind to me? Why has the mother of my Lord come to me?44As soon as I heard the sound of your voice, the baby inside me jumped for joy.45You are a woman God has blessed. You have believed that the Lord would keep his promises to you!’
Mary’s song
46Mary said, ‘My soul gives glory to the Lord.47My spirit delights in God my Saviour.48He has taken note of me even though I am not considered important. From now on all people will call me blessed.49The Mighty One has done great things for me. His name is holy.50He shows his mercy to those who have respect for him, from parent to child down through the years.51He has done mighty things with his powerful arm. He has scattered those who are proud in their deepest thoughts.52He has brought down rulers from their thrones. But he has lifted up people who are not considered important.53He has filled with good things those who are hungry. But he has sent away empty those who are rich.54He has helped the people of Israel, who serve him. He has always remembered to be kind55to Abraham and his children down through the years. He has done it just as he promised to our people of long ago.’56Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she returned home.
John the Baptist is born
57The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby. She gave birth to a son.58Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had been very kind to her. They shared her joy.59On the eighth day, they came to have the child circumcised. They were going to name him Zechariah, like his father.60But his mother spoke up. ‘No!’ she said. ‘He must be called John.’61They said to her, ‘No one among your relatives has that name.’62Then they motioned to his father. They wanted to find out what he would like to name the child.63He asked for something to write on. Then he wrote, ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was amazed.64Right away Zechariah could speak again. Right away he praised God.65All his neighbours were filled with fear and wonder. Throughout Judea’s hill country, people were talking about all these things.66Everyone who heard this wondered about it. And because the Lord was with John, they asked, ‘What is this child going to be?’
Zechariah’s song
67John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. He prophesied,68‘Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to his people and purchased their freedom.69He has acted with great power and has saved us. He did it for those who are from the family line of his servant David.70Long ago holy prophets said he would do it.71He has saved us from our enemies. We are rescued from all who hate us.72He has been kind to our people of long ago. He has remembered his holy covenant.73He made a promise to our father Abraham.74He promised to save us from our enemies. Then we could serve him without fear.75He wants us to be holy and godly as long as we live.76‘And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him.77You will tell his people how they can be saved. You will tell them that their sins can be forgiven.78All of that will happen because our God is tender and caring. His kindness will bring the rising sun to us from heaven.79It will shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death. It will guide our feet on the path of peace.’80The child grew up, and his spirit became strong. He lived in the desert until he appeared openly to Israel.