Dedication to Theophilus (Acts 1:1–3)
2 UEB just as they were passed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 UEB So it seemed good to me also, because I have accurately investigated everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, 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 UEB so that you might know the certainty of the things you have been taught. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth 6 UEB They were both righteous before God, obeying 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 UEB But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old by this time. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 UEB Now it came about that Zechariah was in God's presence, carrying out the priestly duties 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 UEB According to the customary way of choosing which priest would serve, he had been chosen by lot 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 UEB The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 UEB Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him and stood at the right side of the incense altar. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 UEB When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear fell on him. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 UEB 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. You will 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 UEB You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 UEB For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit 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 UEB Many of the people of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 UEB Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is very old." 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 UEB The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to 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 UEB Behold! You will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place. This is because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the right 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 UEB Now the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was spending so much time in the temple. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 UEB But when he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision while he was in the temple. He kept on making signs to them and remained silent. 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 UEB It came about that when the days of his service were over, he went to his house. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 UEB After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept herself hidden. She said, BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 UEB "This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked at me with favor in order to take away my shame before 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 UEB to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. He belonged to 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 UEB He came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 UEB But she was very confused by his words and she wondered what kind of greeting this could be. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 UEB The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for 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 UEB See, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. You will 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 UEB He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor 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 UEB He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom." BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 UEB The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will come over you. So the holy one to be born 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 UEB See, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. This is the sixth month for her, she 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 UEB For nothing will be impossible for God." BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 UEB Then Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city in Judea. BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 UEB She went into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 UEB Now it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb jumped, 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 UEB She raised her voice and said loudly, "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 UEB Why has it happened 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 UEB For see, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb jumped 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 UEB Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were told 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 UEB and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior. BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 UEB For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and his name is holy. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 UEB His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 UEB He has displayed strength with his arm; he has scattered those who were proud about the thoughts 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 UEB He has thrown down princes from their thrones and he has raised up those of low condition. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 UEB He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 UEB He has given help to Israel his servant, so as to remember to show mercy BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 UEB (as he said to our fathers) to Abraham and his descendants forever." BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 UEB Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then 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 UEB Now the time had come for Elizabeth to deliver her baby 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 UEB Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to 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 UEB Now it happened on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child. They would have called him "Zechariah," 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 UEB But his mother answered and said, "No. He will be called John." BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 UEB 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 UEB They made signs to his father as to how he wanted him to be named. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 UEB His father asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." They all were astonished at this. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 UEB Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed. He spoke and praised God. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 UEB Fear came on all who lived around them. All these matters were spread 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 UEB All who heard them stored them in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child become?" 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 UEB His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 UEB "Praised be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to help and he has accomplished redemption for his people. BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 UEB He has 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 UEB (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago), BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 UEB salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 UEB He will do this to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 UEB the oath that he spoke to Abraham our father. BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 UEB He swore to grant to us that we, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear, BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 UEB in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 UEB Yes, and you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his paths, to prepare people for his coming, 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 UEB to give 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 UEB This will happen because of the tender mercy of our God, because of which the sunrise from on high will come to help us, BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 UEB to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He will do this to guide our feet into the path 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 UEB Now the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance 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.