Luke 1:26–45

The Birth of Jesus Is Announced

²⁶In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. ^27*He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. ²⁸The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”

²⁹Mary was deeply troubled by the angel’s message, and she wondered what his words meant. ³⁰The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. ^31*You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ^32*He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, ^33*and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end!”

³⁴Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?”

³⁵The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God’s power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God. ³⁶Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old. ^37*For there is nothing that God cannot do.”

³⁸“I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹Soon afterwards Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea. ⁴⁰She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit ⁴²and said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me? ⁴⁴For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness. ⁴⁵How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!”