Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order aa declaration of those things which are bmost surely believed among us, 2 Even as cthey delivered them unto us, which dfrom the beginning were eeyewitnesses, and fministers of gthe word; 3 hIt seemed good to me also, ihaving had perfect understanding of all things kfrom the very first, to write unto thee lin order, mmost excellent nTheophilus, 4 oThat thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast pbeen instructed.

5 *There was qin the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, rof the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both srighteous before God, twalking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord ublameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was xbarren, and ythey both were now zwell stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God ain the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was bto burn incense when he went into cthe temple of the Lord. 10 And dthe whole multitude of the people were epraying dwithout at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him eean angel of the Lord standing on the right side of fthe altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, ghe 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 thee a son, and hthou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall irejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and jshall drink kneither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled kwith the Holy Ghost, even lfrom his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 mAnd he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to nturn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient ||to the wisdom of the just; oto make ready a people pprepared for the Lord. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, qWhereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife rwell stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am sGabriel, tthat stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, uthou 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. 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in cthe temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in cthe temple: for xhe beckoned unto them, and remained xspeechless. 23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as ythe days of his zministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and ahid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he blooked on me, to ctake away my reproach among men.

26 And in dthe sixth month the angel eGabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named fNazareth, 27 To a virgin gespoused to a man whose name was Joseph, hof the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, ithou that art ||highly favoured, lthe Lord is with thee: mblessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, nshe was troubled at his saying, and nncast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast ofound favour with God. 31 And, behold, pthou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and qshalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of rthe Highest: and the Lord God shall sgive unto him tthe throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob ufor ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, xThe Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of rthe Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also ythat holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called zthe Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy acousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called bbarren. 37 For cwith God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; dbe it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.