Dedication to Theophilus (Acts 1:1–3)
2 LSV as they delivered to us, who from the beginning became eyewitnesses, and officers of the word, BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 LSV it seemed good also to me, having followed from the first after all things exactly, to write to you in order, most noble 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 LSV that you may know the certainty of the things wherein 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 LSV and they were both righteous before God, going on in all the commands and righteousnesses 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 LSV and they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their days. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 LSV And it came to pass, in his acting as priest, in the order of his division before God, BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 LSV according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot was to make incense, having gone into the temple 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 LSV and all the multitude of the people were praying outside, at the hour of the incense. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 LSV And there appeared to him a messenger of the LORD standing on the right side of the altar of the incense, BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 LSV and Zacharias, having seen, was troubled, and fear fell on him; BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 LSV and the messenger said to him, “Do not fear, Zacharias, for your supplication was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son to you, and 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 LSV and there will be joy to you, 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 LSV for he will be great before the LORD, and wine and strong drink he may not drink, and he will be full of 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 LSV and he will turn many of the sons 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 LSV And Zacharias said to the messenger, “Whereby will I know this? For I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days?” 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 LSV And the messenger answering said to him, “I am Gabriel, who has been standing near before God, and I was sent to speak to you, and to proclaim this good news 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 LSV and behold, you will be silent, and not able to speak, until the day that these things will come to pass, because you did not believe my words that will 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 LSV And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wondering at his lingering in the temple, BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 LSV and having come out, he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, and he was beckoning to them, and remained 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 LSV And it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he went away to his house, BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 LSV and after those days, his wife Elizabeth 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 LSV “Thus the LORD has done to me, in days in which He looked on 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 LSV to a virgin, betrothed to a man, whose name is Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin is 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 LSV And the messenger having come in to her, said, “Greetings, favored one, 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 LSV and she, having seen, was troubled at his word, and was reasoning of what kind this salutation may be. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 LSV And the messenger said to her, “Do not fear, 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 LSV and behold, you will conceive in the womb, and will bring forth a Son, and 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 LSV He will be great, and He will be called Son of the Highest, 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 LSV and He will reign over the house of Jacob for all ages; and 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 LSV And the messenger answering said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you, therefore also the holy-begotten thing 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 LSV and behold, Elizabeth, your relative, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to 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 LSV because nothing will be impossible with God.” BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 LSV And Mary having arisen in those days, went into the hill-country, with haste, to a city of Judea, BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 LSV and entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elizabeth. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 LSV And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the baby leapt 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 LSV and spoke out with a loud 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 LSV and from where is this to me, that the mother of my Lord might come to me? BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 LSV For behold, when the voice of your salutation came to my ears, the baby in my womb leapt in gladness; BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 LSV and blessed is she who believed, for there will be a completion to 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 LSV And my spirit was glad on God my Savior, BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 LSV For He who is mighty did great things to me,is His Name, BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 LSV And His kindness is to generations of generations, BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 LSV He did powerfully with His arm, BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 LSV He brought down the mighty from thrones, BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 LSV He filled the hungry with good, BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 LSV He has taken hold of His servant Israel, BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 LSV As He spoke to our fathers, BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 LSV And Mary remained with her about three months, and turned back to her house. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The Birth of John the Baptist 57 LSV And to Elizabeth was the time fulfilled for her bringing forth, and she bore a son, BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 LSV and the neighbors and her relatives heard that the LORD was making His kindness great with her, and they were rejoicing with her. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 LSV And it came to pass, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were 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 LSV and his mother answering said, “No, but he will be called John.” BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 LSV And they said to her, “There is none 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 LSV and they were making signs to his father, what he would wish him to be called, BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 LSV and having asked for a tablet, 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 LSV and his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he was speaking, praising God. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 LSV And fear came on all those dwelling around them, and in all the hill-country of Judea were all these sayings spoken of, BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 LSV and all who heard laid them up 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 LSV 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 LSV “Blessed is the LORD, the God of Israel, BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 LSV And raised a horn of salvation to us, BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 LSV As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 LSV Salvation from our enemies, BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 LSV To do kindness with our fathers, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 LSV An oath that He swore to Abraham our father, BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 LSV To give to us, without fear, BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 LSV To serve Him, in holiness and righteousness BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 LSV And you, child, 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 LSV To give knowledge of salvation to His people BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 LSV Through the yearnings of our God, BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 LSV To give light to those sitting in darkness and death-shade, 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 LSV And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and he was in the deserts until the day of his showing 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.