Dedication to Theophilus
(Acts 1:1-3)
1Forasmuchas manyhave taken in handto set forth in ordera declarationofthose thingswhich are most surely believedamongus,2Evenas they deliveredthem unto us,whichfromthe beginningwereeyewitnesses,andministersof the word;3It seemedgood to me also,having had perfectunderstandingof all thingsfrom the very first,to writeunto theein order,most excellentTheophilus,4Thatthou mightest knowthe certaintyofthose things,whereinthou hast been instructed.
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
(Matthew 11:7-19;Luke 7:24-35;Luke 16:14-17)
5There wasinthe daysof Herod,the kingof Judaea,a certainpriestnamedZacharias,ofthe courseof Abia:andhiswife[was] ofthe daughtersof Aaron,andhername[was] Elisabeth.6Andthey werebothrighteousbeforeGod,walkinginallthe commandmentsandordinancesof the Lordblameless.7Andtheyhadnochild,becausethat Elisabethwasbarren,andtheybothwere[now] well strickeninyears.
8Andit came to pass,that whileheexecuted the priest's officebeforeGodinthe orderof hiscourse,9Accordingto the customof the priest's office,his lotwas to burn incensewhen he wentintothe templeof the Lord.10Andthe wholemultitudeof the peoplewereprayingwithoutat the timeof incense.11Andthere appearedunto himan angelof the Lordstandingonthe right sideof the altarof incense.12Andwhen Zachariassaw[him], he was troubled,andfearfelluponhim.13Butthe angelsaiduntohim,Fear{5737} not,Zacharias:forthyprayeris heard;andthywifeElisabethshall beartheea son,andthou shalt callhisnameJohn.14Andthoushalt havejoyandgladness;andmanyshall rejoiceathisbirth.15Forhe shall begreatin the sightof the Lord,andshall drinkneitherwinenorstrong drink;andhe shall be filledwith the HolyGhost,evenfromhismother'swomb.16Andmanyof the childrenof Israelshall he turntothe LordtheirGod.17Andheshall gobeforehiminthe spiritandpowerof Elias,to turnthe heartsof the fatherstothe children,andthe disobedienttothe wisdomof the just;to make readya peoplepreparedfor the Lord.
18AndZachariassaiduntothe angel,Wherebyshall I knowthis?forIaman old man,andmywifewell strickeninyears.19Andthe angelansweringsaidunto him,IamGabriel,that standin the presenceof God;andam sentto speakuntothee,andto shewtheetheseglad tidings.20And,behold,thoushalt be dumb,andnotableto speak,untilthe daythatthese thingsshall be performed,becausethou believestnotmywords,whichshall be fulfilledintheirseason.
21Andthe peoplewaitedfor Zacharias,andmarvelledthathetarried so longinthe temple.22Andwhen he came out,he couldnotspeakunto them:andthey perceivedthathe had seena visioninthe temple:forhebeckonedunto them,andremainedspeechless.23Andit came to pass,that, as soon asthe daysof hisministrationwere accomplished,he departedtohis ownhouse.
24AndafterthosedayshiswifeElisabethconceived,andhidherselffivemonths,saying,25<3754> Thushaththe Lorddealtwith meinthe dayswhereinhe looked on[me], to take awaymyreproachamongmen.
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26Andinthe sixthmonththe angelGabrielwas sentfromGoduntoa cityof Galilee,namedNazareth,27Toa virginespousedto a manwhosenamewas Joseph,ofthe houseof David;andthe virgin'sname[was] Mary.28Andthe angelcame inuntoher,and said,Hail,[thou that art] highly favoured,the Lord[is] withthee:blessed[art] thouamongwomen.29Andwhen she saw[him], she was troubledathissaying,andcast in her mindwhat mannerof salutationthisshould be.30Andthe angelsaidunto her,Fear{5737} not,Mary:forthou hast foundfavourwithGod.31And,behold,thou shalt conceiveinthy womb,andbring fortha son,andshalt callhisnameJESUS.32Heshall begreat,andshall be calledthe Sonof the Highest:andthe LordGodshall giveunto himthe throneof hisfatherDavid:33Andhe shall reignoverthe houseof Jacobforever;andof hiskingdomthere shall benoend.34ThensaidMaryuntothe angel,Howshallthisbe,seeingI knownota man?35Andthe angelansweredand saidunto her,The HolyGhostshall comeuponthee,andthe powerof the Highestshall overshadowthee:thereforealsothat holy thingwhich shall be bornoftheeshall be calledthe Sonof God.36And,behold,thycousinElisabeth,shehathalsoconceiveda soninherold age:andthisisthe sixthmonthwith her,whowas calledbarren.37ForwithGodnothingshall be impossible.38AndMarysaid,Beholdthe handmaidof the Lord;be itunto meaccordingto thyword.Andthe angeldepartedfromher.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39AndMaryaroseinthosedays,and wentintothe hill countrywithhaste,intoa cityof Juda;40Andenteredintothe houseof Zacharias,andsalutedElisabeth.41Andit came to pass,that, whenElisabethheardthe salutationof Mary,the babeleapedinherwomb;andElisabethwas filledwith the HolyGhost:42Andshe spake outwith a loudvoice,andsaid,Blessed[art] thouamongwomen,andblessed[is] the fruitof thywomb.43Andwhence[is] thisto me,thatthe motherof myLordshould cometome?44For,lo,as soon asthe voiceof thysalutationsoundedinmineears,the babeleapedinmywombforjoy.45Andblessed[is] she that believed:forthere shall bea performanceof those things which were toldherfromthe Lord.
Mary's Song of Praise
(1 Samuel 2:1-11)
46AndMarysaid,Mysouldoth magnifythe Lord,
47Andmyspirithath rejoicedinGodmySaviour.
48Forhe hath regardedthe low estateof hishandmaiden:for,behold,fromhenceforthallgenerationsshall callmeblessed.
49Forhe that is mightyhath doneto megreat things;andholy[is] hisname.
50Andhismercy[is] on them that fearhimfromgenerationto generation.
51He hath shewedstrengthwithhisarm;he hath scatteredthe proudin the imaginationof theirhearts.
52He hath put downthe mightyfrom[their] seats,andexaltedthem of low degree.
53He hath filledthe hungrywith good things;andthe richhe hath sentemptyaway.
54He hath holpenhisservantIsrael,in remembranceof [his] mercy;
55Ashe spaketoourfathers,to Abraham,andto hisseedforever.
56AndMaryabodewithheraboutthreemonths,andreturnedtoher ownhouse.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57NowElisabeth'sfulltimecamethat sheshould be delivered;andshe brought fortha son.58Andher neighboursandhercousinsheardhowthe Lordhad shewed greatmercyuponher;andthey rejoicedwith her.
59Andit came to pass,that onthe eighthdaythey cameto circumcisethe child;andthey calledhimZacharias,afterthe nameof hisfather.60Andhismotheransweredand said,Not[so]; buthe shall be calledJohn.61Andthey saiduntoher,There isnoneofthykindredthatis calledby thisname.62Andthey made signsto hisfather,howhe would havehimcalled.63Andhe asked fora writing table,and wrote,saying,HisnameisJohn.Andthey marvelledall.64Andhismouthwas openedimmediately,andhistongue[loosed], andhe spake,and praisedGod.65Andfearcameonallthat dwelt round aboutthem:andallthesesayingswere noised abroadthroughoutallthe hill countryof Judaea.66Andallthey that heard[them] laid [them] upintheirhearts,saying,Whatmannerof childshallthisbe!Andthe handof the Lordwaswithhim.
Zechariah's Song
67AndhisfatherZachariaswas filledwith the HolyGhost,andprophesied,saying,
68Blessed[be] the LordGodof Israel;forhe hath visitedandredeemedhispeople,
69Andhath raised upan hornof salvationfor usinthe houseof hisservantDavid;
70Ashe spakebythe mouthof hisholyprophets,whichhave been sincethe world began:
71That we should be savedfromourenemies,andfromthe handof allthat hateus;
72To performthe mercy[promised] toourfathers,andto rememberhisholycovenant;
73The oathwhichhe swaretoourfatherAbraham,
74That he would grantunto us,that we being deliveredout ofthe handof ourenemiesmight servehimwithout fear,
75Inholinessandrighteousnessbeforehim,allthe daysof ourlife.
76Andthou,child,shalt be calledthe prophetof the Highest:forthou shalt gobeforethe faceof the Lordto preparehisways;
77To giveknowledgeof salvationunto hispeoplebythe remissionof theirsins,
78Throughthe tendermercyof ourGod;wherebythe dayspringfromon highhath visitedus,
79To give lightto them that sitindarknessand[in] the shadowof death,to guideourfeetintothe wayof peace.
80Andthe childgrew,andwaxed strongin spirit,andwasinthe desertstillthe dayof hisshewinguntoIsrael.