Dedication to Theophilus (Acts 1:1–3)
2 ENGF35 just as those who became eyewitnesses, from the beginning, and ministers of the Word delivered them to us, BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 ENGF35 it seemed good to me also, most excellent Theophilus, having taken careful note of everything from Above, to write to you with precision and in sequence, 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 ENGF35 so that you may know the certainty of the things in which you were instructed. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth 6 ENGF35 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 ENGF35 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and they both were well advanced in years. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 ENGF35 Now it happened, as he was officiating as priest before God in the order of his division, BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 ENGF35 according to the custom of the priesthood, that his lot was to burn incense, upon entering the sanctuary of the Lord; 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 ENGF35 and the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 ENGF35 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at 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 ENGF35 and upon seeing him Zacharias was shaken, and a fear fell upon him. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 ENGF35 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your prayer was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall 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 ENGF35 And you will have joy and exultation, and many will rejoice over his birth. BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 ENGF35 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must not drink either wine or strong drink; indeed, he will be filled with Holy Spirit already 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 ENGF35 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God; BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 ENGF35 But Zacharias said to the angel: “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well 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 ENGF35 So in answer the angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. 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 ENGF35 Now look, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day in which these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper 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 ENGF35 Now the people were waiting for Zacharias and wondering at his delay in the sanctuary. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 ENGF35 But when he came out he was unable to speak to them, and they understood that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary—he kept gesturing to them while remaining mute. 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 ENGF35 And so, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he took off for home. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 ENGF35 Well after those days his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and stayed in seclusion five months. She kept saying, BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 ENGF35 “So that's what the Lord has done for me in the days when He concerned Himself to take away my reproach among the people!” 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 ENGF35 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; 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 ENGF35 So upon entering where she was the angel said, “Rejoice, recipient of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 ENGF35 But upon seeing him she was perplexed at his word and was trying to figure out what sort of greeting it might be. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 ENGF35 The angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 ENGF35 Now then, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you shall 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 ENGF35 He will be great, and will be called ‘Son of the Most High’; and the Lord God will give 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 ENGF35 and He will reign over the house of Jacob into the ages; indeed, of His kingdom there will be no end!” BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 ENGF35 In answer the angel said to her: “Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will hover over you; precisely for this reason the holy One who is to be born will 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 ENGF35 Furthermore, your relative Elizabeth, she has actually conceived a son in her old age and this is now the sixth month for her who 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 ENGF35 because any word spoken by God will be possible.” BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 ENGF35 Then Mary quickly got ready and went into the hill country in those days, to a town of Judah, BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 ENGF35 and entered the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 ENGF35 Well it happened that as Elizabeth heard Mary's salutation the babe bounced up and down in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with 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 ENGF35 And she cried out with a great voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb! BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 ENGF35 Why am I so favored 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 ENGF35 Yes indeed, because as the sound of your salutation came into my ears the babe bounced up and down 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 ENGF35 Blessed is she who believed, because there will be a fulfillment of the things that 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 ENGF35 and my spirit has exulted over God my Savior, BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 ENGF35 in that the Mighty One did sublime things for me, and Holy is His name. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 ENGF35 His mercy is for generations of generations to those fearing Him. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 ENGF35 He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has dispersed the arrogant in the reasoning of their hearts. BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 ENGF35 He has dethroned rulers and exalted the lowly. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 ENGF35 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 ENGF35 He has taken the part of His servant Israel, in remembrance of mercy, BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 ENGF35 just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed while there is an age.” BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 ENGF35 So Mary stayed 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 ENGF35 Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth was completed and she bore a son. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 ENGF35 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had used His great 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 ENGF35 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they started calling him by 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 ENGF35 His mother reacted and said, “Absolutely not; he shall be called John!” BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 ENGF35 So they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 ENGF35 So they started motioning to his father, as to 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 ENGF35 Asking for a writing tablet he wrote this: “His name is to be John!” They all marveled. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 ENGF35 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed and he started to speak, blessing God. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 ENGF35 (Well a fear came on all who lived around them; and all these sayings kept being talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 ENGF35 All who heard kept them in their hearts saying, “What then will this child be?” And 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 ENGF35 Now his father Zacharias was filled with Holy Spirit and prophesied saying: BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 ENGF35 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people; BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 ENGF35 and has raised up a horn of deliverance 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 ENGF35 —just as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from antiquity— BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 ENGF35 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 ENGF35 to use mercy with our fathers, even to remember His Holy covenant, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 ENGF35 the oath that He swore to our father Abraham; BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 ENGF35 to grant to us (having been rescued from the hand of our enemies) to serve Him without fear, BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 ENGF35 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 ENGF35 And you, child, will be called Prophet of the Most High, because you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare 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 ENGF35 to give a knowledge of salvation to His people by the forgiveness of their sins, BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 ENGF35 through the merciful compassions of our God, with which the divine Dawn has contemplated us, BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 ENGF35 to give light to those who are sitting 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 ENGF35 So the child kept growing and being strengthened in spirit, and he stayed in uninhabited areas until the day of his manifestation 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.