Verse
KJV
King James Version
BSB
Berean Standard Bible
Forasmuch
as
many have taken
in
hand
to set
forth
in
order
a
declaration
of those
things which
are
most
surely
believed
among us,
Many have undertaken
to compose
an
account
of the
things that
have
been
fulfilled
among us,
Even
as they delivered
them
unto
us ,
which
from
the beginning
were
eyewitnesses ,
and ministers
of the word ;
just
as they were
handed
down
to
us by
the initial
eyewitnesses and servants
of the word .
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,
Therefore
, having carefully
investigated
everything
from the beginning
, it
seemed
good
also
to me
to
write an
orderly
account
for
you
, most excellent Theophilus,
That thou
mightest
know the certainty of those
things ,
wherein
thou
hast
been instructed
.
so
that you
may
know the certainty of the
things you
have
been taught
.
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
.
In the time
of Herod king of Judea
there
was
a priest named Zechariah
, who
belonged
to
the priestly
division
of Abijah,
and whose
wife Elizabeth
was a
daughter
of Aaron.
And
they
were
both righteous before
God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances
of the Lord blameless
.
Both of
them
were
righteous in
the
sight
of
God, walking blamelessly
in all the commandments and decrees
of the Lord.
And
they had no child
, because that
Elisabeth
was barren, and they both
were now
well stricken
in years.
But
they had no children
, because Elizabeth
was barren, and they were both
well along
in years.
And
it
came
to
pass,
that
while he executed
the
priest's
office
before God in
the
order
of
his
course
,
One
day
while Zechariah’s
division
was
on
duty
and
he was
serving
as
priest
before God,
According to the custom of the priest's
office
, his
lot
was
to burn
incense
when
he
went
into
the temple of the Lord.
he
was
chosen
by
lot,
according to the custom of the priesthood
, to enter
the temple of the Lord and
burn
incense
.
And the
whole
multitude
of
the
people
were
praying
without
at the time
of incense.
And at the hour
of the
incense offering,
the
whole
congregation
was
praying
outside
.
And
there
appeared
unto
him
an angel of the Lord standing on
the right side of the altar of incense.
Just
then
an angel of the Lord appeared
to
Zechariah,
standing at
the right side of the altar of incense.
And
when Zacharias
saw him, he was troubled,
and fear fell
upon
him
.
When Zechariah
saw him, he was startled
and gripped
with
fear.
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.
But the angel said to
him, “Do
not be
afraid
, Zechariah,
because
your
prayer has
been
heard .
Your
wife Elizabeth
will
bear you
a son, and you
are
to
give
him
the
name John.
And
thou
shalt
have
joy and gladness;
and many shall
rejoice at his birth .
He
will
be
a
joy and delight
to
you,
and many will
rejoice at his birth ,
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.
for he will
be great in the sight of the Lord .
He
shall never
take
wine or
strong drink ,
and he will
be filled with the Holy Spirit
even from his mother’s
womb.
And
many of the children
of Israel shall
he turn to the Lord their God.
Many of the sons
of Israel he will
turn back
to the Lord their God.
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.
And he will
go on
before the
Lord
in the spirit and power of Elijah
, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their
children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—
to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. ”
And
Zacharias
said
unto
the
angel,
Whereby
shall
I know
this? for
I am an old man, and my wife well stricken
in years.
“How
can
I be
sure
of
this? ”
Zechariah
asked
the
angel.
“
I am an old man, and my wife is
well along
in years. ”
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
.
“
I am Gabriel, ”
replied
the
angel.
“I
stand in the presence of God ,
and I
have
been
sent to speak to
you
and to bring
you
this
good
news
.
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
.
And now
you
will
be silent
and unable
to speak until the day this
comes
to
pass
, because you
did
not believe
my words, which will
be fulfilled at
their proper
time
. ”
And
the people waited
for Zacharias,
and marvelled
that
he tarried
so long in the temple.
Meanwhile,
the people were
waiting
for Zechariah
and wondering
why
he took
so long in the temple.
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.
When he came out and
was
unable
to
speak to
them ,
they realized
he had seen a vision in the temple .
He kept
making
signs
to
them but
remained speechless.
And it
came
to
pass,
that,
as
soon
as
the days of his ministration
were accomplished
, he departed
to
his
own
house
.
And when
the days of his service
were complete
, he returned
home
.
And
after those
days his wife Elisabeth
conceived,
and hid
herself
five months ,
saying
,
After these
days ,
his wife Elizabeth
became
pregnant
and for
five months remained
in
seclusion.
She
declared
,
Thus
hath
the Lord dealt
with
me in the
days wherein
he looked
on
me ,
to
take
away my reproach
among men
.
“
The Lord has
done
this
for
me .
In these
days He has
shown
me favor
and
taken
away my disgrace
among the
people
. ”
And
in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was
sent
from
God
unto
a city
of
Galilee ,
named
Nazareth,
In the sixth month ,
God
sent
the angel Gabriel to
a town
in
Galilee called
Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused
to a man whose
name
was
Joseph, of the house of David ;
and the virgin's
name was Mary.
to a virgin pledged
in
marriage
to a man named
Joseph, who
was
of the house of David .
And the virgin’s
name was Mary.
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
.
The angel appeared
to
her and said, “Greetings
, you
who
are
highly favored!
The Lord is with you
. ”
And
when
she
saw
him,
she
was troubled at his saying,
and cast
in
her
mind
what manner
of salutation
this should
be.
Mary
was greatly
troubled at his words
and wondered
what kind
of greeting
this might
be.
And
the angel said
unto
her, Fear
not, Mary :
for thou
hast
found favour
with God.
So
the angel told
her, “Do
not be
afraid
, Mary ,
for you
have
found favor
with God.
And,
behold, thou
shalt
conceive in
thy
womb,
and bring
forth
a son, and shalt
call
his
name JESUS.
Behold, you
will
conceive and give
birth
to
a son, and you
are
to
give
Him
the
name Jesus.
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 :
He will
be great and will
be called the Son of the Most
High.
The Lord God will
give Him the throne of His father David ,
And he shall
reign over the house of Jacob for
ever;
and
of
his kingdom there
shall
be
no
end .
and He will
reign over the house of Jacob forever.
His kingdom will
never
end !”
Then
said
Mary
unto
the
angel,
How shall
this be, seeing
I know
not
a man
?
“
How can
this be, ”
Mary
asked
the
angel,
“since
I am
a virgin
? ”
And
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.
The angel replied
, “
The Holy Spirit
will
come upon you
, and the power of the Most
High
will
overshadow you.
So
the
Holy One
to
be born will
be called the Son of God.
And,
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.
Look
, even
Elizabeth
your
relative
has
conceived a son in her old age, and
she
who was called barren is
in
her
sixth
month
.
For with
God nothing
shall
be
impossible
.
For no
word
from
God will
ever
fail
. ”
And
Mary
said,
Behold
the
handmaid
of
the Lord;
be
it unto
me according to thy
word. And
the angel departed
from
her.
“I
am
the Lord’s
servant,”
Mary
answered.
“May
it happen
to
me according to your
word. ”
Then
the angel left
her.
And
Mary
arose
in those days ,
and went
into
the hill country with
haste,
into
a
city
of Juda;
In those days Mary
got
ready
and hurried
to
a
town
in
the hill country of Judah,
And
entered into
the house
of Zacharias,
and saluted
Elisabeth
.
where
she
entered the home
of Zechariah
and greeted
Elizabeth
.
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:
When Elizabeth
heard Mary’s
greeting
, the baby
leaped in her womb ,
and Elizabeth
was filled with the Holy Spirit.
And
she
spake
out
with
a loud voice ,
and
said
, Blessed art
thou
among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb .
In
a loud voice she
exclaimed
, “
Blessed are
you
among women, and blessed is the fruit of your
womb !
And whence
is
this
to
me
, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
And why
am
I
so
honored
, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For ,
lo,
as soon as the voice
of thy
salutation
sounded
in
mine
ears, the babe
leaped
in my womb for joy.
For as soon as the sound
of your
greeting
reached
my
ears, the baby
in my womb leaped
for joy.
And
blessed is she that
believed :
for
there
shall
be
a
performance
of
those
things
which
were
told
her
from
the Lord
.
Blessed is she who
has
believed that
the Lord’s
word
to
her
will
be
fulfilled
. ”
And
Mary said ,
My soul doth
magnify
the Lord,
Then
Mary said :
“
My soul magnifies
the Lord,
And my spirit hath
rejoiced
in God my Saviour.
and my spirit rejoices
in God my Savior!
For he hath
regarded
the low
estate
of his handmaiden:
for,
behold,
from henceforth
all generations shall
call me blessed.
For He has
looked
with
favor
on
the humble
state
of His servant.
From now
on
all generations will
call me blessed.
For he
that
is
mighty hath
done to
me
great things ;
and
holy is his name.
For the
Mighty One
has
done great things for
me.
Holy is His name.
And
his mercy is
on
them
that
fear him from generation to generation.
His mercy extends
to
those
who
fear Him ,
from generation to generation.
He hath
shewed
strength
with his arm; he hath
scattered the
proud in the imagination
of their hearts.
He has
performed
mighty
deeds
with His arm; He has
scattered those
who
are
proud in the thoughts
of their hearts.
He hath
put
down the
mighty
from their seats
, and
exalted them
of
low
degree
.
He has
brought
down rulers
from their thrones
, but
has
exalted the
humble
.
He hath
filled the hungry with good things ;
and
the rich he
hath
sent
empty
away.
He has
filled the hungry with good things ,
but
has
sent
the rich away empty
.
He hath
holpen
his servant Israel, in
remembrance
of
his
mercy;
He has
helped
His servant Israel, remembering
to
be
merciful,
As he spake
to our fathers, to Abraham ,
and to
his seed
for
ever
.
as He promised
to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants
forever
. ”
And
Mary abode
with her
about three months ,
and returned to
her
own
house
.
Mary stayed
with Elizabeth
for
about three months and then
returned home
.
Now
Elisabeth's
full
time came that
she
should
be
delivered;
and
she brought
forth
a son.
When
the
time came for
Elizabeth
to
have
her
child,
she gave
birth
to
a son.
And
her neighbours
and her
cousins
heard how
the Lord had shewed
great mercy upon
her;
and they rejoiced with her.
Her neighbors
and relatives
heard that
the Lord had shown
her
great mercy ,
and they rejoiced with her.
And
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.
On the eighth day ,
when
they came to circumcise the child ,
they were
going
to
name
him after his father Zechariah
.
And
his mother answered
and
said
, Not
so;
but
he shall be called John.
But
his mother replied
, “No!
He shall be called John. ”
And
they said unto
her, There is none
of
thy
kindred
that
is
called
by
this name.
They said to
her, “
There is no
one
among
your
relatives
who
bears
this name. ”
And
they made signs to his father ,
how
he would
have
him
called
.
So
they made signs to his father to
find
out
what
he wanted
to
name
the
child
.
And
he
asked for a writing
table,
and wrote, saying,
His name is John. And they marvelled
all.
Zechariah
asked for a tablet
and wrote, “
His name is John. ”
And they were
all amazed
.
And
his
mouth was opened immediately,
and his tongue loosed
, and he spake
, and
praised
God.
Immediately
Zechariah’s
mouth was opened and his tongue was
released
, and he began
to
speak
, praising
God.
And
fear
came
on
all that
dwelt
round
about
them:
and
all
these
sayings
were noised
abroad
throughout all
the hill country of Judaea
.
All their
neighbors
were filled
with
awe,
and
people
throughout the hill country of Judea
were
talking
about
these
events
.
And 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.
And all who
heard this
wondered
in their hearts and
asked
, “
What then
will
this child
become?”
For
the Lord’s
hand was with him.
And
his father Zacharias
was filled with the Holy Ghost,
and prophesied ,
saying,
Then
his father Zechariah
was filled with the Holy Spirit
and prophesied :
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel ;
for
he hath
visited and redeemed his people ,
“
Blessed be the Lord ,
the
God of Israel ,
because
He has
visited and redeemed His people .
And
hath
raised up an
horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David ;
He
has
raised up a
horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David ,
As he spake
by
the
mouth
of
his holy prophets, which
have
been
since
the
world
began:
as He spoke
through
His holy prophets, those
of
ages
past,
That
we
should
be
saved
from our enemies ,
and from the hand of all that
hate us ;
salvation
from our enemies and from the hand of all who
hate us ,
To perform
the
mercy promised
to our fathers ,
and to remember his holy covenant ;
to show
mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant ,
The oath which
he sware
to our father Abraham,
the oath He swore
to our father Abraham, to
grant
us
That
he
would
grant
unto
us
, that we being
delivered
out
of
the
hand
of
our
enemies
might
serve him without fear,
deliverance
from
hostile
hands
, that we may
serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him ,
all the days of our life
.
in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives
.
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;
And you
, child, will
be called a
prophet of the Most
High;
for you
will
go on
before the Lord to prepare the
way
for
Him,
To give knowledge of salvation unto
his
people
by
the remission
of their sins,
to give to
His
people
the
knowledge of salvation through
the forgiveness
of their sins,
Through
the tender mercy of our God ;
whereby
the dayspring
from on high hath
visited
us
,
because
of
the tender mercy of our God ,
by
which
the Dawn
will
visit
us
from on high,
To give
light
to
them
that
sit
in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way
of peace.
to shine
on
those
who
live
in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path
of peace. ”
And the child grew ,
and waxed
strong in spirit ,
and was
in the deserts
till
the day
of his shewing
unto
Israel.
And the child grew and became
strong in spirit ;
and he
lived
in the wilderness
until
the time
of his public
appearance
to
Israel.
Scripture text: King James Version and Berean Standard Bible. UK publication rights are administered by the Crown's patentee; public domain in most other jurisdictions.; Public domain; source text distributed by BSB Publishing, LLC..