Dedication to Theophilus (Acts 1:1–3)
2 DBY as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses of and attendants on the Word have delivered them to us, BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 DBY it has seemed good to me also, accurately acquainted from the origin with all things, to write to thee with method, 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 DBY that thou mightest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been instructed. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth 6 DBY And they were both just 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 DBY And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 DBY And it came to pass, as he fulfilled his priestly service 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 DBY it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter into the temple of the Lord to 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 DBY And all the 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 DBY And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right 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 DBY And Zacharias was troubled, seeing him , and fear fell upon him. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 DBY But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, because thy supplication has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth 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 DBY And he shall be to thee joy and rejoicing, 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 DBY For he shall be great before 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 DBY And many of the sons of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 DBY And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this, for I am an old man, and my wife advanced 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 DBY And the angel answering, said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand before God, and I have been sent to speak to thee, and to bring these glad tidings to thee; 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 DBY and behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because thou hast not believed my words, the which shall be fulfilled in their time. 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 DBY And the people were awaiting Zacharias, and they wondered at his delaying in the temple. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 DBY But when he came out he could not speak to them, and they recognised that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and continued 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 DBY And it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, he departed to his house. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 DBY Now after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and 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 DBY Thus has the Lord done to me in these days in which 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 DBY 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 DBY And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, thou favoured one! the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women . BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 DBY But she, seeing the angel , was troubled at his word, and reasoned in her mind what this salutation might be. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 DBY And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God; BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 DBY and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou 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 DBY He shall be great, and shall be called Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father; 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 DBY and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for the ages, and of his kingdom there shall not be an end. BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 DBY And the angel answering said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and power of the Highest overshadow thee, wherefore the holy thing also which shall be born shall be called 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 DBY And behold, Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to 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 DBY for nothing shall be impossible with God. BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 DBY And Mary, rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 DBY and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 DBY And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth 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 DBY and cried out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed 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 DBY And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 DBY For behold, as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my womb. BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 DBY And blessed is she that has believed, for there shall be a fulfilment of the things 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 DBY and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 DBY For the Mighty One has 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 DBY and his mercy is to generations and generations to them that fear him. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 DBY He has wrought strength with his arm; he has scattered haughty ones in the thought 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 DBY He has put down rulers from thrones, and exalted the lowly. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 DBY He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 DBY He has helped Israel his servant, in order to remember mercy, BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 DBY (as he spoke to our fathers,) to Abraham and to his seed for ever. BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 DBY And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her house. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The Birth of John the Baptist 57 DBY But the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth that she should bring forth, and she gave birth to a son. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 DBY And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with 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 DBY And it came to pass on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called it after the name of his father, Zacharias. BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 DBY And his mother answering said, No; but he shall be called John. BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 DBY And they said to her, There is no one among thy kinsfolk who is called by this name. BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 DBY And they made signs to his father as to what he might wish it to be called. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 DBY And having asked for a writing-table, he wrote saying, John is his name. And they all wondered. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 DBY And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, 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 DBY And fear came upon all who dwelt round about them; and in the whole hill-country of Judaea all these things were the subject of conversation. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 DBY And all who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? And the Lord's hand 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 DBY And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 DBY Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, because he has 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 DBY and raised up a horn of deliverance for us in the house of David his servant; BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 DBY as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began; BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 DBY deliverance from our enemies and out of the hand of all who hate us; BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 DBY to fulfil mercy with our fathers and remember his holy covenant, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 DBY the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 DBY to give us, that, saved out of the hand of our enemies, we should serve him without fear BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 DBY in piety and righteousness before him all our days. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 DBY And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest; 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 DBY to give knowledge of deliverance to his people by the remission of their sins BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 DBY on account of the bowels of mercy of our God; wherein the dayspring from on high has visited us, BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 DBY to shine upon them who were sitting in darkness and in 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 DBY — And the child grew and was strengthened in spirit; and he was in the deserts until the day of his shewing to 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.