1Poiché molti hanno intrapreso a ordinare una narrazione dei fatti che hanno avuto compimento in mezzo a noi,2come ce li hanno tramandati quelli che da principio ne furono testimoni oculari e che divennero ministri della Parola,3è parso bene anche a me, dopo essermi accuratamente informato di ogni cosa dall’origine, di scrivertene per ordine, eccellentissimo Teofilo[1],4perché tu riconosca la certezza delle cose che ti sono state insegnate.
Annuncio della nascita di Giovanni il battista
5Al tempo di Erode, re della Giudea, c’era un sacerdote di nome Zaccaria, del turno di Abiia; sua moglie era discendente di Aaronne e si chiamava Elisabetta.6Erano entrambi giusti davanti a Dio, osservando in modo irreprensibile tutti i comandamenti e i precetti del Signore.7Essi non avevano figli, perché Elisabetta era sterile, ed erano tutti e due in età avanzata.8Mentre Zaccaria esercitava il sacerdozio davanti a Dio nell’ordine del suo turno,9secondo la consuetudine del sacerdozio, gli toccò in sorte di entrare nel tempio del Signore per offrirvi il profumo;10e tutta la moltitudine del popolo stava fuori in preghiera nell’ora del profumo.11E gli apparve un angelo del Signore, in piedi alla destra dell’altare dei profumi.12Zaccaria, vedendolo, fu turbato e preso da spavento.13Ma l’angelo gli disse: «Non temere, Zaccaria, perché la tua preghiera è stata esaudita; tua moglie Elisabetta ti partorirà un figlio, e tu gli porrai nome Giovanni.14Tu ne avrai gioia ed esultanza, e molti si rallegreranno per la sua nascita.15Perché sarà grande davanti al Signore. Non berrà né vino né bevande alcoliche, e sarà pieno di Spirito Santo fin dal grembo di sua madre.16Ricondurrà molti dei figli d’Israele al Signore, loro Dio;17andrà davanti a lui con lo spirito e la potenza di Elia, per volgere i cuori dei padri ai figli[2] e i ribelli alla saggezza dei giusti, per preparare al Signore un popolo ben disposto».18E Zaccaria disse all’angelo: «Da che cosa conoscerò questo? Perché io sono vecchio e mia moglie è in età avanzata».19L’angelo gli rispose: «Io sono Gabriele che sto davanti a Dio, e sono stato mandato a parlarti e ad annunciarti queste liete notizie.20Ecco, tu sarai muto, e non potrai parlare fino al giorno che queste cose avverranno, perché non hai creduto alle mie parole che si adempiranno a loro tempo».21Il popolo intanto stava aspettando Zaccaria e si meravigliava del suo indugiare nel tempio.22Ma quando fu uscito, non poteva parlare loro, e capirono che aveva avuto una visione nel tempio; ed egli faceva loro dei segni e restava muto.23Quando furono compiuti i giorni del suo servizio, egli se ne andò a casa sua.24Dopo quei giorni, sua moglie Elisabetta rimase incinta; e si tenne nascosta per cinque mesi, dicendo:25«Ecco quanto ha fatto per me il Signore, nei giorni in cui mi ha rivolto il suo sguardo per cancellare la mia vergogna in mezzo agli uomini».
Annuncio della nascita di Gesù Cristo
26Al sesto mese, l’angelo Gabriele fu mandato da Dio in una città di Galilea, chiamata Nazaret,27a una vergine fidanzata a un uomo chiamato Giuseppe, della casa di Davide[3]; e il nome della vergine era Maria.28E quando l’angelo fu entrato da lei, disse: «Ti saluto, o favorita dalla grazia; il Signore è con te».29Ella fu turbata a queste parole, e si domandava che cosa volesse dire un tale saluto.30L’angelo le disse: «Non temere, Maria, perché hai trovato grazia presso Dio.31Ecco, tu concepirai e partorirai un figlio, e gli porrai nome Gesù.32Questi sarà grande e sarà chiamato Figlio dell’Altissimo, e il Signore Dio gli darà il trono di Davide, suo padre.33Egli regnerà sulla casa di Giacobbe in eterno e il suo regno non avrà mai fine».34Maria disse all’angelo: «Come avverrà questo, dal momento che non conosco uomo?»35L’angelo le rispose: «Lo Spirito Santo verrà su di te e la potenza dell’Altissimo ti coprirà dell’ombra sua; perciò, anche colui che nascerà sarà chiamato Santo, Figlio di Dio.36Ecco, Elisabetta, tua parente, ha concepito anche lei un figlio nella sua vecchiaia, e questo è il sesto mese per lei, che era chiamata sterile;37poiché nessuna parola di Dio rimarrà inefficace».38Maria disse: «Ecco, io sono la serva del Signore; mi sia fatto secondo la tua parola». E l’angelo partì da lei.
Visita di Maria a Elisabetta
39In quei giorni Maria si alzò e andò in fretta nella regione montuosa, in una città di Giuda,40ed entrò in casa di Zaccaria e salutò Elisabetta.41Appena Elisabetta udì il saluto di Maria, il bambino le balzò nel grembo; ed Elisabetta fu piena di Spirito Santo,42e ad alta voce esclamò: «Benedetta sei tu fra le donne e benedetto è il frutto del tuo seno!43Come mai mi è dato che la madre del mio Signore venga da me?44Poiché ecco, non appena la voce del tuo saluto mi è giunta agli orecchi, per la gioia il bambino mi è balzato nel grembo.45Beata è colei che ha creduto che quanto le è stato detto da parte del Signore avrà compimento».
Cantico di Maria
46E Maria disse: «L’anima mia magnifica il Signore,47e lo spirito mio esulta in Dio, mio Salvatore,48perché egli ha guardato alla bassezza della sua serva. Da ora in poi tutte le generazioni mi chiameranno beata,49perché grandi cose mi ha fatte il Potente. Santo è il suo nome,50e la sua misericordia si estende di generazione in generazione su quelli che lo temono.51Egli ha operato potentemente con il suo braccio: ha disperso quelli che erano superbi nei pensieri del loro cuore,52ha detronizzato i potenti e ha innalzato gli umili,53ha colmato di beni gli affamati e ha rimandato a mani vuote i ricchi.54Ha soccorso Israele, suo servitore, ricordandosi della misericordia,55di cui aveva parlato ai nostri padri, verso Abraamo e verso la sua discendenza per sempre».56Maria rimase con Elisabetta circa tre mesi; poi se ne tornò a casa sua.
Nascita di Giovanni il battista
57Compiutosi per lei il tempo del parto, Elisabetta diede alla luce un figlio.58I suoi vicini e i parenti udirono che il Signore le aveva usato grande misericordia, e se ne rallegravano con lei.59L’ottavo giorno vennero a circoncidere il bambino, e lo chiamavano Zaccaria dal nome di suo padre.60Allora sua madre intervenne e disse: «No, sarà invece chiamato Giovanni».61Ed essi le dissero: «Non c’è nessuno della tua parentela che porti questo nome».62E con cenni domandavano al padre come voleva che fosse chiamato.63Egli, chiesta una tavoletta, scrisse così: «Il suo nome è Giovanni». E tutti si meravigliarono.64In quell’istante la sua bocca fu aperta e la sua lingua sciolta, ed egli parlava, benedicendo Dio.65E tutti i loro vicini furono presi da timore; e tutte queste cose si divulgavano per tutta la regione montuosa della Giudea.66Tutti quelli che le udirono le serbarono nel loro cuore e dicevano: «Che sarà mai questo bambino?», perché la mano del Signore era con lui.
Cantico di Zaccaria
67Zaccaria, suo padre, fu pieno di Spirito Santo e profetizzò, dicendo:68«Benedetto sia il Signore, il Dio d’Israele, perché ha visitato e riscattato il suo popolo,69e ci ha suscitato un potente Salvatore nella casa di Davide, suo servo,70come aveva promesso da tempo per bocca dei suoi santi profeti;71uno che ci salverà dai nostri nemici e dalle mani di tutti quelli che ci odiano,72per usare così misericordia verso i nostri padri e ricordarsi del suo santo patto,73del giuramento che fece ad Abraamo nostro padre,74per concederci, liberati dalla mano dei nostri nemici, di poterlo servire senza paura,75in santità e giustizia, alla sua presenza, per tutti i nostri giorni.76E tu, bambino, sarai chiamato profeta dell’Altissimo, perché andrai davanti al Signore per preparare le sue vie,77per dare al suo popolo conoscenza della salvezza mediante il perdono dei loro peccati,78grazie ai sentimenti di misericordia del nostro Dio; per i quali l’Aurora dall’alto ci visiterà79per risplendere su quelli che giacciono in tenebre e in ombra di morte, per guidare i nostri passi verso la via della pace».80Or il bambino cresceva e si fortificava nello spirito; e stette nei deserti fino al giorno in cui doveva manifestarsi a Israele.
1Da es nun schon viele unternommen haben, einen Bericht von den Ereignissen zu verfassen, die sich unter uns zugetragen haben[1],2wie sie uns die überliefert haben, die von Anfang an Augenzeugen und Diener des Wortes gewesen sind, (Giov 15,27; At 1,21; Eb 2,3; 1G 1,1)3hat es auch mir gut geschienen, der ich allem von Anfang an genau gefolgt bin, es dir, hochedler Theophilus, der Reihe nach zu schreiben, (At 1,1)4damit du die Zuverlässigkeit der Dinge erkennst, in denen du unterrichtet worden bist.
Ankündigung der Geburt des Johannes
5Es war in den Tagen des Herodes[2], des Königs von Judäa, ein Priester mit Namen Zacharias, aus der Abteilung des Abija; und seine Frau war aus den Töchtern Aarons und ihr Name Elisabeth. (1Cr 24,10; Ne 12,17; Mat 2,1)6Beide aber waren gerecht vor Gott und wandelten untadelig in allen Geboten und Satzungen des Herrn. (Gen 7,1; De 10,12; 1Re 15,5; Giob 1,1; Sal 119,1)7Und sie hatten kein Kind, weil Elisabeth unfruchtbar war; und beide waren in ihren Tagen weit vorgerückt. (Gen 11,30; Gen 17,17; Gen 25,21; Gen 29,31; Giudic 13,2; 1Sam 1,5)8Es geschah aber, als er in der Ordnung seiner Abteilung den priesterlichen Dienst vor Gott verrichtete, (1Cr 24,1)9traf ihn nach der Gewohnheit des Priestertums das Los, in den Tempel des Herrn zu gehen, um zu räuchern. (Eso 30,1; 1Cr 24,5)10Und die ganze Menge des Volkes stand betend draußen zur Stunde des Räucherns.11Ihm erschien aber ein Engel des Herrn und stand zur Rechten des Räucheraltars. (Mat 1,20)12Und als Zacharias ⟨ihn⟩ sah, wurde er bestürzt, und Furcht kam über ihn. (Giudic 6,22; Lu 2,9; At 10,4)13Der Engel aber sprach zu ihm: Fürchte dich nicht, Zacharias! Denn dein Flehen ist erhört, und Elisabeth, deine Frau, wird dir einen Sohn gebären, und du sollst seinen Namen Johannes nennen. (Gen 17,19; Da 10,12; Mat 3,1; Lu 1,30; Lu 1,60; Lu 3,2)14Und er wird dir ⟨zur⟩ Freude und ⟨zum⟩ Jubel sein, und viele werden sich über seine Geburt freuen. (Lu 1,58)15Denn er wird groß sein vor dem Herrn; weder Wein noch starkes Getränk wird er trinken und schon von Mutterleibe an mit Heiligem Geist erfüllt werden. (Nu 6,3; Giudic 13,4; Mat 11,11; Mat 11,18; Lu 1,32; Lu 1,41; Lu 2,25; Lu 7,28)16Und viele der Söhne Israel wird er zu dem Herrn, ihrem Gott, bekehren. (Mat 3,5)17Und er wird vor ihm hergehen in dem Geist und der Kraft des Elia, um der Väter Herzen zu bekehren zu den Kindern und Ungehorsame zur Gesinnung von Gerechten, um dem Herrn ein zugerüstetes Volk zu bereiten. (Mal 3,1; Mal 3,24; Mat 11,14; Lu 1,76; Lu 1,77; Lu 7,27)18Und Zacharias sprach zu dem Engel: Woran soll ich dies erkennen? Denn ich bin ein alter Mann, und meine Frau ist weit vorgerückt in ihren Tagen. (Gen 15,8; Gen 17,17; Is 38,22)19Und der Engel antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Ich bin Gabriel, der vor Gott steht, und ich bin gesandt worden, zu dir zu reden und dir diese gute Botschaft zu verkündigen. (Sal 103,20; Da 8,16; Da 9,21; Lu 1,26; Ap 8,2)20Und siehe, du wirst stumm sein und nicht sprechen können bis zu dem Tag, da dies geschehen wird, dafür, dass du meinen Worten nicht geglaubt hast, die sich zu ihrer Zeit erfüllen werden.21Und das Volk wartete auf Zacharias, und sie wunderten sich, dass er so lange im Tempel verweilte. (Le 9,23)22Als er aber herauskam, konnte er nicht zu ihnen reden, und sie erkannten, dass er im Tempel eine Erscheinung gesehen hatte. Und er winkte ihnen zu und blieb stumm.23Und es geschah, als die Tage seines Dienstes zu Ende waren, ging er weg in sein Haus.24Nach diesen Tagen aber wurde Elisabeth, seine Frau, schwanger[3] und zog sich fünf Monate zurück und sagte:25So hat mir der Herr getan in den Tagen, in denen er ⟨mich⟩ angesehen hat, um meine Schmach vor den Menschen wegzunehmen. (Gen 30,23)
Ankündigung der Geburt Jesu
26Im sechsten Monat aber wurde der Engel Gabriel von Gott in eine Stadt von Galiläa, mit Namen Nazareth, gesandt, (Mat 2,23; Lu 1,19; Lu 2,39)27zu einer Jungfrau, die einem Mann namens Josef, aus dem Haus Davids, verlobt war, und der Name der Jungfrau war Maria. (Mat 1,16; Lu 2,4; Lu 2,5; Lu 3,23; Lu 4,22)28Und er kam zu ihr hinein und sprach: Sei gegrüßt, Begnadete! Der Herr ⟨ist⟩ mit dir. (Giudic 5,24; Lu 1,42)29Sie aber wurde bestürzt über das Wort und überlegte, was für ein Gruß dies sei.30Und der Engel sprach zu ihr: Fürchte dich nicht, Maria! Denn du hast Gnade bei Gott gefunden. (Lu 1,13; Lu 2,10)31Und siehe, du wirst schwanger werden[4] und einen Sohn gebären, und du sollst seinen Namen Jesus nennen. (Mat 1,21; Lu 2,21)32Dieser wird groß sein und Sohn des Höchsten genannt werden; und der Herr, Gott, wird ihm den Thron seines Vaters David geben; (Sal 2,7; Sal 132,11; Mar 5,7; Lu 1,15)33und er wird über das Haus Jakobs herrschen[5] in Ewigkeit[6], und seines Königtums wird kein Ende sein. (2Sam 7,12; Sal 45,7; Is 9,6; Da 2,44; Da 7,14; Mi 4,7; Giov 12,34; 2P 1,11)34Maria aber sprach zu dem Engel: Wie wird dies zugehen, da ich von keinem Mann weiß? (Giov 3,9)35Und der Engel antwortete und sprach zu ihr: Der Heilige Geist wird über dich kommen, und Kraft des Höchsten wird dich überschatten; darum wird auch das Heilige, das geboren werden wird, Sohn Gottes genannt werden. (Is 7,14; Mat 1,18; Mat 16,16; Lu 3,22; Lu 4,34; Lu 8,28; Lu 9,35; Giov 6,69; Giov 9,35; At 3,14; Eb 1,1; Ap 2,18; Ap 3,7)36Und siehe, Elisabeth, deine Verwandte, auch sie erwartet einen Sohn in ihrem Alter, und dies ist der sechste Monat bei ihr, die unfruchtbar genannt war.37Denn kein Wort, das von Gott kommt, wird kraftlos sein. (Mat 19,26; Mar 10,27; Lu 18,27)38Maria aber sprach: Siehe, ⟨ich bin⟩ die Magd[7] des Herrn; es geschehe mir nach deinem Wort! Und der Engel schied von ihr.
Maria bei Elisabeth – Lobpreis der Maria
39Maria aber machte sich in diesen Tagen auf und ging mit Eile in das Gebirge, in eine Stadt Judas;40und sie kam in das Haus des Zacharias und begrüßte die Elisabeth.41Und es geschah, als Elisabeth den Gruß der Maria hörte, hüpfte das Kind in ihrem Leib; und Elisabeth wurde mit Heiligem Geist erfüllt (Lu 1,15)42und rief mit lauter Stimme und sprach: Gesegnet ⟨bist⟩ du unter den Frauen, und gesegnet ⟨ist⟩ die Frucht deines Leibes! (Lu 1,28)43Und woher ⟨geschieht⟩ mir dies, dass die Mutter meines Herrn zu mir kommt?44Denn siehe, als die Stimme deines Grußes in meine Ohren drang, hüpfte das Kind vor Freude[8] in meinem Leib.45Und glückselig, die geglaubt hat, denn es wird zur Erfüllung kommen, was von dem Herrn zu ihr geredet ist!46Und Maria sprach: Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn,47und mein Geist hat gejubelt über Gott, meinen Retter. (Sal 16,9; Sal 35,9; Abac 3,18)48Denn er hat hingeblickt auf die Niedrigkeit seiner Magd[9]; denn siehe, von nun an werden mich glückselig preisen alle Geschlechter. (Gen 30,13; Lu 11,27)49Denn Großes hat der Mächtige an mir getan, und heilig ist sein Name. (Gen 17,1; Sal 111,9; Sal 126,3)50Und seine Barmherzigkeit ist von Geschlecht zu Geschlecht über die, welche ihn fürchten. (Sal 103,13)51Er hat Macht geübt mit seinem Arm; er hat zerstreut, die in der Gesinnung ihres Herzens hochmütig sind. (Eso 15,6; 2Sam 22,28; Sal 89,11; Da 4,34)52Er hat Mächtige von Thronen hinabgestoßen und Niedrige erhöht. (Giob 5,11; Giob 12,19; Sal 107,41; Ez 21,31)53Hungrige hat er mit Gütern erfüllt und Reiche leer fortgeschickt. (Sal 107,9)54Er hat sich Israels, seines Knechtes, angenommen, um der Barmherzigkeit zu gedenken (Sal 25,6; Sal 98,3; Is 41,8)55– wie er zu unseren Vätern geredet hat – gegenüber Abraham und seinen Nachkommen[10] in Ewigkeit[11]. – (Gen 17,7; Sal 105,42; Mi 7,20; Lu 1,72)56Und Maria blieb ungefähr drei Monate bei ihr; und sie kehrte zu ihrem Haus zurück.
Geburt des Johannes – Lobpreis des Zacharias
57Für Elisabeth aber erfüllte sich die Zeit, dass sie gebären sollte, und sie gebar einen Sohn.58Und ihre Nachbarn und Verwandten hörten, dass der Herr seine Barmherzigkeit an ihr groß gemacht habe, und sie freuten sich mit ihr. (Lu 1,14)59Und es geschah am achten Tag, da kamen sie, das Kind zu beschneiden; und sie nannten es nach dem Namen seines Vaters Zacharias. (Gen 17,12; Le 12,3; Lu 2,21)60Und seine Mutter antwortete und sprach: Nein, sondern er soll Johannes heißen. (Lu 1,13)61Und sie sprachen zu ihr: Niemand ist in deiner Verwandtschaft, der diesen Namen trägt.62Sie winkten aber seinem Vater zu, wie er etwa wolle, dass er heißen sollte.63Und er forderte ein Täfelchen und schrieb darauf: Johannes ist sein Name. Und sie wunderten sich alle. (Lu 1,13)64Sogleich aber wurde sein Mund geöffnet und seine Zunge ⟨gelöst⟩, und er redete und lobte Gott. (Sal 51,17)65Und Furcht kam über alle, die um sie her wohnten; und auf dem ganzen Gebirge von Judäa wurden alle diese Dinge besprochen. (Lu 7,16)66Und alle, die es hörten, nahmen es zu Herzen und sprachen: Was wird wohl aus diesem Kind werden? Denn auch des Herrn Hand war mit ihm. (Lu 2,19; At 11,21)67Und Zacharias, sein Vater, wurde mit Heiligem Geist erfüllt und weissagte und sprach: (Lu 1,15; 2P 1,21)68Gepriesen sei der Herr, der Gott Israels, dass er sein Volk angesehen und ⟨ihm⟩ Erlösung geschaffen hat. (Sal 72,18; Sal 111,9)69Er hat uns ein Horn des Heils[12] aufgerichtet im Hause Davids, seines Knechtes, (1Sam 2,10; Sal 18,3; Sal 132,17; Lu 2,30; Lu 3,6)70wie er geredet hat durch den Mund seiner heiligen Propheten von Ewigkeit[13] her: (Ger 23,5; Ro 1,2)71Rettung von unseren Feinden und von der Hand aller, die uns hassen; (Sal 18,49; Sal 44,8; Is 35,4; Is 49,25; Ger 30,10; So 3,15)72um Barmherzigkeit zu üben an unseren Vätern und seines heiligen Bundes zu gedenken, (Le 26,42; Sal 105,8; Ez 16,60; Lu 1,55; Ga 3,17)73des Eides, den er Abraham, unserem Vater, geschworen hat; ⟨und⟩ uns zu geben, (Gen 22,16; Mi 7,20; Eb 6,17)74dass wir, gerettet aus der Hand unserer Feinde, ohne Furcht ihm dienen sollen (So 3,16)75in Heiligkeit und Gerechtigkeit vor ihm alle unsere Tage. (Ef 4,24; Tit 2,12)76Und du, Kind, wirst ein Prophet des Höchsten genannt werden; denn du wirst vor dem Angesicht des Herrn hergehen, seine Wege zu bereiten, (Mat 11,9; Lu 1,17; Lu 3,4; Lu 20,6)77um seinem Volk Erkenntnis des Heils[14] zu geben in Vergebung ihrer Sünden, (Ger 31,34; Lu 3,3)78durch die herzliche Barmherzigkeit[15] unseres Gottes, mit der uns der Aufgang aus der Höhe besuchen wird, (Is 60,1; Is 63,7; Mal 3,20)79um denen zu leuchten, die in Finsternis und Todesschatten sitzen, und unsere Füße zu richten auf den Weg des Friedens. – (Sal 107,10; Is 42,7; Is 59,8; Mat 4,16; Lu 2,32; Ef 5,14)80Das Kind aber wuchs und erstarkte im Geist und war in der Einöde[16] bis zum Tag seines Auftretens vor Israel. (Mat 1,18; Lu 2,40; Lu 3,2)
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. (1Cr 24,10; Mat 2,1; Lu 1,8)6And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. (Lu 2,25; At 23,1; At 24,16; Fili 2,15; Fili 3,6; 1Te 2,10; 1Te 3,13; 1Te 5,23)7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. (Gen 18,11; Giudic 13,2; 1Sam 1,2; Lu 1,36; Eb 11,11)8Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, (1Cr 24,19; 2Cr 8,14; 2Cr 31,2; Lu 1,5; Lu 1,23)9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. (Eso 30,7; 1Sam 2,28; 1Cr 23,13; 2Cr 29,11; Lu 1,21; Eb 9,2; Ap 11,2; Ap 11,19)10And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. (Le 16,17; Sal 141,2; Ap 5,8; Ap 8,3)11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. (Eso 30,1; Eso 40,26)12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. (At 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. (Lu 1,60; Lu 1,63; At 10,4; At 10,31)14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, (Lu 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. (Nu 6,3; Giudic 13,4; Giudic 13,7; Giudic 13,14; Is 49,1; Is 49,5; Ger 1,5; Mat 11,11; Mat 11,18; Lu 1,41; Lu 1,67; Lu 7,28; Lu 7,33; At 2,4; At 2,15; At 2,17; Ga 1,15; Ef 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; Mat 11,10; Mat 11,14; Mar 1,2; Lu 1,76; Lu 7,27; Giov 3,28; Ro 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.” (Gen 15,8; Gen 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. (1Re 17,1; Giob 1,6; Is 63,9; Da 8,16; Da 9,21; Mat 18,10; Lu 1,26; Ap 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.” (Ez 3,26; Ez 24,27)21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. (Lu 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. (Lu 1,21; Lu 1,62)23And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. (2Re 11,5; 1Cr 9,25; 2Cr 23,8; Lu 1,8; Eb 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.” (Gen 30,23; 1Sam 1,6; Sal 113,9; Is 4,1)
Birth of Jesus Foretold
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, (Mat 2,23; Lu 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. (Mat 1,16; Mat 1,18; Mat 1,20; Lu 2,4)28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[3] (Giudic 6,12; Sal 45,2; Da 9,23)29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. (Lu 1,12)30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (At 7,46)31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (Is 7,14; Mat 1,21; Mat 1,25; Lu 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; Sal 89,4; Sal 132,11; Is 9,6; Is 16,5; Mat 1,1; Mar 5,7; Lu 1,69; Lu 1,76; Lu 6,35; At 2,30; At 7,48; Ap 3,7)33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Da 2,44; Da 7,14; Da 7,18; Da 7,27; Giov 12,34; Eb 1,8; Ap 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. (Mat 1,18; Mat 1,20; Mat 14,33; Lu 1,32; Giov 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. (Lu 1,7)37For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Gen 18,14; Mat 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. (Giudic 6,21; At 12,10)
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, (Gios 20,7; Gios 21,11; Lu 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, (Lu 1,15; Lu 1,67)42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! (De 28,4; Giudic 5,24; Sal 127,3)43And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Lu 2,11; Lu 20,42; Giov 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.” (Lu 1,20; Giov 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. (Gen 19,19)59And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, (Gen 17,12; Le 12,3; Lu 2,21; Fili 3,5)60but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” (Lu 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. (Lu 1,22)63And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. (Is 8,1; Is 30,8; Lu 1,60)64And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. (Mar 7,35; Lu 1,20; Lu 2,28; Lu 24,53)65And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, (Lu 1,39; Lu 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. (Lu 2,19; Lu 2,51; At 11,21; At 13,11)
1Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,2Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;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,4That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast 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.6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,9According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.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.14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall 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.16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn 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.18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken 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.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.21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.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.23And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.24And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,25Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and 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.29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name 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:33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not 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.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.37For with God nothing shall be impossible.38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.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:42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.43And whence is this 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.45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.54He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.57Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; 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.60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised 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.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.67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,69And hath raised up an 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:71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;73The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.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;77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,78Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited 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.80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.