Dedication to Theophilus (Acts 1:1–3)
2 WEB even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants 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 WEB it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, 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 WEB that you might know the certainty concerning 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 WEB 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 WEB 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 WEB Now while he executed the priest’s office 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 WEB according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord 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 WEB The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 WEB An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on 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 WEB Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 WEB But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. 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 WEB 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 WEB For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will 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 WEB 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 WEB 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 WEB The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and 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 WEB Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t 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 WEB The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 WEB When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs 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 WEB When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 WEB After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she 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 WEB “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at 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 WEB to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. 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 WEB Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly 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 WEB But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 WEB The angel said to her, “Don’t 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 WEB Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall 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 WEB 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, 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 WEB and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. 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 WEB The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you 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 WEB Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with 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 WEB For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 WEB Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 WEB and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 WEB When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby 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 WEB She called 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 WEB 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 WEB For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped 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 WEB Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which 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 WEB My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 WEB For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 WEB His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 WEB He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination 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 WEB He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 WEB He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 WEB He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy, BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 WEB as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.” BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 WEB Mary stayed with her 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 WEB Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, 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 WEB Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward 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 WEB On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, 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 WEB His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.” BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 WEB 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 WEB They made signs to his father, 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 WEB He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” They all marveled. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 WEB His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 WEB Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were 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 WEB All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” 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 WEB 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 WEB “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people; BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 WEB and 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 WEB (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 WEB 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 WEB to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 WEB the oath which he swore to Abraham our father, BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 WEB to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 WEB 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 WEB 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 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 WEB to give knowledge of salvation 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 WEB because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us, BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 WEB to shine on those who sit 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 WEB The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert 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.