Dedication to Theophilus (Acts 1:1–3)
2 ASV even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 ASV it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus; BSB BSB: Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 ASV that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth 6 ASV And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 ASV And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 ASV Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 ASV according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. BSB BSB: he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 ASV And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 ASV And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 ASV And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him , and fear fell upon him. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 ASV But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. BSB BSB: 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.
14 ASV And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 ASV For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. BSB BSB: 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.
16 ASV And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 ASV And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. BSB BSB: “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
19 ASV And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. BSB BSB: “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.
20 ASV And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. BSB BSB: 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.”
21 ASV And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 ASV And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb. BSB BSB: 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 unable to speak.
23 ASV And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 ASV And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 ASV Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me , to take away my reproach among men. BSB BSB: “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Gabriel Foretells Jesus’ Birth 27 ASV to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. BSB BSB: 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.
28 ASV And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee. BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 ASV But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 ASV And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 ASV And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 ASV He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: BSB BSB: 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,
33 ASV and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 ASV And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God. BSB BSB: 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.
36 ASV And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren. BSB BSB: Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
37 ASV For no word from God shall be void of power. BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 ASV And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 ASV and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 ASV And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 ASV and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 ASV And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me? BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 ASV For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 ASV And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. BSB BSB: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
Mary’s Song (1 Samuel 2:1–11)
47 ASV And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 ASV For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 ASV And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 ASV He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 ASV He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 ASV The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 ASV He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 ASV (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever. BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 ASV And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The Birth of John the Baptist 57 ASV Now Elisabeth’s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 ASV And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 ASV And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 ASV And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 ASV And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 ASV And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 ASV And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 ASV And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed , and he spake, blessing God. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 ASV And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 ASV And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. BSB BSB: 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.
Zechariah’s Song 67 ASV And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 ASV Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people, BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 ASV And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 ASV (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old), BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 ASV Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 ASV To show mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant; BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 ASV The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 ASV To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear, BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 ASV In holiness and righteousness before him all our days. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 ASV Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways; BSB BSB: 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,
77 ASV To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins, BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 ASV Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us, BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 ASV To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace. BSB BSB: to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 ASV And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel. BSB BSB: And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.