Dedication to Theophilus (Acts 1:1–3)
2 UDB We heard about these things from people who saw them happen, from the time everything first started happening. These people taught others about God's message. BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 UDB I myself have carefully studied everything that these people wrote and taught. So I decided that it would also be good for me to write for you, noble Theophilus, an accurate account of these matters. 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 UDB I am doing this so that you may know that what you have been taught about these things is true. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth 6 UDB God considered that both of them were righteous because they always obeyed without fault everything that God had commanded. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 UDB But they had no children because Elizabeth was unable to bear children. Furthermore, she and her husband were very old. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 UDB One day Zechariah was serving as a priest in the temple in Jerusalem during his group's regular time of service there. BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 UDB Following their custom, the priests chose him by lot to go into the Lord's temple 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 UDB When the time came for him to burn the incense, many people were praying in the courtyard outside the temple. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 UDB Then an angel whom the Lord had sent appeared to him. The angel was 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 UDB When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became very afraid. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 UDB But the angel said to him, "Zechariah, do not be afraid! When you prayed, the Lord heard your request. So your wife Elizabeth will bear a son for you. You must name him 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 UDB You will be very happy, and many other people will also be happy because he is born. BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 UDB God will consider him to be very important. He must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink. He will be empowered by the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 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 UDB He will persuade many children of Israel to stop sinning and start obeying the Lord their God again. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 UDB Then Zechariah said to the angel, "I am very old, and my wife is also very old. So how can I believe that the things you said will really happen?" 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 UDB Then the angel said to him, "I am Gabriel! I stand in God's presence! I was sent to tell you this good news about what will happen to you. 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 UDB What I have told you will certainly happen at the time God has decided, but you did not believe my words. So now God will cause you to be unable to talk until the day your son is born!" 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 UDB While Zechariah and the angel were talking in the temple, the people in the courtyard were waiting for Zechariah to come out. They wondered why he was staying in the temple for such a long time. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 UDB When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. Because he could not talk, he made motions with his hands to try to explain what had happened. Then they realized that he had seen a vision from God while he was in the temple. 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 UDB When Zechariah's time to work as a priest in the temple was finished, he left Jerusalem and went to his home. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 UDB Some time after this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, but she did not go out in public for five months. BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 UDB She said to herself, "The Lord has enabled me to become pregnant. In this way, he had compassion on me and has taken away the reason that people looked down on me!" 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 UDB He went there to speak to a virgin who was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King 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 UDB The angel said to her, "Greetings! The Lord is with you and has shown great kindness to you!" BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 UDB But Mary felt very troubled when she heard his greeting. She wondered what the angel meant by these words. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 UDB Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have received favor from God! BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 UDB You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you must name him Jesus. BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 UDB He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king over his people as his ancestor David was. 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 UDB He will rule forever over the descendants of Jacob. He will rule forever!" BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 UDB The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come to you and the power of God will cover you. So the baby you will bear will be holy, and he will 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 UDB And listen to this. Your relative Elizabeth is pregnant with a son even though she is very old. And though people thought that she could not bear children, she has now been pregnant for almost six months. 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 UDB For God can do anything!" BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 UDB Very soon after that, Mary got ready and went quickly to the highlands of Judea, to the city where Zechariah lived. BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 UDB She entered his house and greeted his wife Elizabeth. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 UDB As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary greet her, the baby leaped inside Elizabeth's womb. Immediately the Holy Spirit guided Elizabeth to start praising God. BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 UDB She exclaimed loudly to Mary, "God has blessed you more than he has blessed other women, and he has blessed the baby you will bear! BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 UDB How wonderful it is that you, the mother of my Lord, have come to me! BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 UDB As soon as I heard you greet me, the baby in my womb leaped because he was so happy that you had come! BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 UDB You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord told you would come true." 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 UDB I feel very joyful about God, who is the one who saves me. BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 UDB They will say this because of the great things that God, the Powerful One, has done for me. His name is holy! BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 UDB He acts mercifully from one generation to the next toward those who respect him. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 UDB He shows people that he is very powerful. He scatters those who think proudly within their inner beings. BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 UDB He has stopped kings from ruling, and he has honored people who are oppressed. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 UDB He has given good things to eat to those who are hungry, and he has sent away rich people without giving them anything. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 UDB He has helped Israel, the people who serve him. Long ago he promised our ancestors that he would be merciful to them. He has kept that promise and has always acted mercifully toward Abraham and all who descended from him." BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
56 UDB Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The Birth of John the Baptist 57 UDB When it was time for Elizabeth to bear her child, she bore a son. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 UDB Her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had been so kind to her, and they were happy along with Elizabeth. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 UDB On the eighth day after this, people gathered together for the ceremony to circumcise the baby. Since his father's name was Zechariah, they wanted to give the baby the same name. BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 UDB But his mother said, "No, his name must be John!" BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 UDB So they said to her, "But John is not the name of any of your relatives!" BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 UDB Then they made motions with their hands to his father, for him to indicate what name he wanted to be given to his son. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 UDB So he signaled that they should give him a tablet to write on. When they gave him one, he wrote on it, "His name is John." All those who were there were surprised! BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 UDB Immediately Zechariah was able to speak again, and he began praising God. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 UDB Everyone who lived nearby was completely awed by what God had done. They told many other people about what had happened and the news spread all over the highlands 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 UDB Everyone who heard it kept thinking about it. They were saying, "We wonder what work this child will do when he grows up!" Because of everything that had happened, they were sure that God would be helping him in a powerful way. 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 UDB After Zechariah's son was born, Zechariah was controlled by the Holy Spirit and he spoke these words from God: BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 UDB "Praise the Lord, the God whom we people of Israel worship, because he has come to set us, his people, free. BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 UDB He is sending us someone who will powerfully save us, someone who is descended from his servant, King David. BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 UDB Long ago God caused his prophets to say that he would do that. BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 UDB This powerful Savior will rescue us from our enemies, and he will save us from the power of all those who hate us. BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 UDB He has done this because he is merciful to our ancestors and remembers his holy covenant, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 UDB which is the oath that he promised to our ancestor Abraham. BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 UDB God promised to rescue us from the power of our enemies and to enable us to serve him without being afraid BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 UDB in holy and righteous ways all of our lives. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 UDB Then Zechariah said this to his baby son: "My child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare a people to be ready when he comes. 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 UDB You will tell people that God is able to forgive them and save them from being punished for their sins. BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 UDB God will forgive us because he is kind and merciful to us. And because of that, this Savior, who is like the rising sun, will come to us from heaven to help us. BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 UDB He will shine on people who live in spiritual darkness and in the fear of death. He will guide us so that we will live peacefully. 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 UDB Over time, Zechariah and Elizabeth's baby boy grew up and became spiritually strong. Then he lived in a desolate region and was still living there when he began to preach publicly to God's people, 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.