I1 Forasmuch as many have attempted to set forth in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,

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

3 It seemed good to me also, having with diligence followed the course of all things from the very first, to write them in their order unto thee, most excellent Theophilus,

4 That thou mightest be assured of the truth of the words whereby thou hast been instructed.

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

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

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

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

9 According to the custom of the priest's office, he came forth by lot that he might set on incense when he had entered into the temple of the Lord.

IO And the whole multitude were praying without at the time of in

cense.

II And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of in

cense.

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

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

14 And there shall be joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 For he shall be a great prophet 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.

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

17 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 for the Lord a perfect people.

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

19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of the Lord; and

I have been sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

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

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he was delayed in the temple.

22 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 made signs unto them, and remained speechless.

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

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

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

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

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

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

29 And when she heard that, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

30 And the angel said unto her,

Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found grace with God.

31 Behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest : and the Lord God shall give unto his Son the throne of his father David :

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

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

35 And he answered and said, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High Spirit of God shall overshadow thee: and therefore that which shall be born of thee shall be called Holy, the Son of God.

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

37 For with God there is nothing impossible.

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

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

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

41 And 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:

42 And she cried with a loud

voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

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

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

45 And blessed is she that hath believed for those things shall be done for her which were told her from the Lord.

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

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Salvation.

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

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

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

51 He hath shewed might in his arm; he hath despised them that are proud in the imagination of their heart.

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and the humble he hath exalted.

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

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

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

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

57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth according to the word of God a son.

58 And her neighbours and her kinsfolk heard how the Lord had magnified his mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they were about to call him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

71 Even salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72 That he might shew the mercy that he shewed to our fathers, and remember his holy covenant;

73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

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

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

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

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

78 Through the heart of compassion of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high hath visited

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David :)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child by the Holy Ghost.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for him in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds awake and keeping the nightly watch over their flock.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord stood beside them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

IO And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of the great joy which shall be to all the people.

II For unto you is born this day in the city of David the Saviour of the world, who is Christ the Lord.

12 And of this this is the sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory in the highest to God, and on earth peace, good will among men!

15 And it came to pass, as soon as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath done and made known

to us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe, which was lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they understood the word which had been told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard marvelled at these things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary treasured up all these words, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which he was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 And when the days of the purification of his mother according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

24 And to offer a sacrifice ac

cording to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel : and the Holy Ghost was in him.

26 And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the God Christ.

27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

28 He himself also took him in his arms, and blessed the Lord, and said,

29 Now let thy servant, O Lord, depart in peace, according to thy word:

30 For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at these things which were spoken of him.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived