001:001 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

001:002 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

001:003 It 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,

001:004 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

001:005 THERE 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.

001:006 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

001:008 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

001:009 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

001:010 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

001:011 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

001:012 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

001:013 But 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.

001:014 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

001:015 For 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.

001:016 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

001:017 And 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.

001:018 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

001:019 And 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.

001:020 And, 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.

001:021 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

001:022 And 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.

001:023 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

001:024 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

001:025 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

001:026 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

001:027 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

001:028 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

001:029 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

001:030 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

001:031 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

001:032 He 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: