Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, Act 1:1-32Pe 1:16-19Jhn 20:311Ti 3:162Ti 4:17 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, Jhn 15:27Act 26:16Heb 2:32Pe 1:161Jn 1:1-3Act 1:21-22Act 1:3Act 10:39-41 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; Act 1:1Act 26:25Ecc 12:9Act 11:4Act 15:19Act 23:26Act 24:3Act 15:25 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed. Jhn 20:31Act 18:251Co 14:19Gal 6:62Pe 1:15-16Rom 2:18
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 1Ch 24:10Mat 2:11Ch 24:19Neh 12:17Neh 12:4 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. Gen 7:1Gen 17:1Php 2:151Ki 9:4Job 1:1Act 24:162Pe 3:14Col 1:22 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. Heb 11:111Sa 1:2Gen 18:11Gen 25:212Ki 4:14Gen 17:17Jdg 13:2-3Gen 16:1-2
Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division 1Ch 24:192Ch 8:142Ch 31:2Luk 1:5Exo 29:1Exo 29:9Ezr 6:182Ch 11:14 according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 2Ch 29:111Ch 23:13Exo 30:7-8Num 16:401Sa 2:282Ch 26:16Heb 9:61Ch 6:49 The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. Lev 16:17Rev 8:3Heb 4:14Heb 9:24
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Act 10:3-4Exo 40:26-27Jdg 13:3Jdg 13:9Rev 9:13Act 5:19Exo 30:1-10Exo 37:25-29 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. Jdg 13:22Jdg 6:22Act 10:4Luk 2:9-10Rev 1:17Dan 10:7Luk 1:29Mrk 16:5 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. 1Sa 2:21Act 10:31Psa 113:9Gen 25:21Psa 127:3-5Luk 2:21Gen 18:14Psa 118:21 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. Luk 1:58Pro 23:24Gen 21:6Pro 15:20Pro 23:15 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. Jer 1:5Num 6:2-4Eph 5:18Gal 1:15Jdg 13:4-6Luk 7:33Act 2:4Jos 4:14 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. Mat 21:32Isa 40:3-5Mal 3:1Mat 3:1-6Dan 12:3Isa 49:6Luk 1:76 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ 1 and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.” Mal 4:5-6Mat 11:14Luk 1:76Jhn 1:21-30Mat 17:11-12Mrk 9:11-131Ch 29:18Jhn 3:28
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.” Gen 17:17Gen 18:12Isa 38:22Luk 1:72Ki 7:2Luk 1:34Rom 4:19Jdg 6:36-40
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. Luk 1:26Mat 18:10Dan 8:16Dan 9:21-23Luk 2:10Heb 4:14 Behold, 2 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.” Ezk 3:26Ezk 24:27Heb 6:182Ti 2:13Luk 1:22Luk 1:45Rev 3:19Tit 1:2
The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple. Num 6:23-27 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. Act 12:17Jhn 13:24Luk 1:62Act 19:33Act 21:40 When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. 1Ch 9:252Ki 11:5-7 After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying, “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.” Gen 30:22-23Isa 4:1Isa 54:1-4Gen 21:1-21Sa 1:6Gen 25:21Heb 11:111Sa 1:19-20
Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, Mat 2:23Luk 1:19Jhn 7:41Jhn 1:45-46Luk 2:4 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. Mat 1:18Isa 7:14Mat 1:16Mat 1:20-21Mat 1:23Gen 3:15Jer 31:22Luk 2:4-5 Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!” Jdg 6:12Dan 10:19Luk 1:30Eph 1:6Dan 9:21-23Act 18:10Jer 1:18-19Luk 1:42
But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. Act 10:17Act 10:4Luk 1:12Mrk 6:49-501Sa 9:20-21Luk 1:66Luk 2:19Luk 2:51 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luk 1:13Luk 12:32Rom 8:31Isa 41:10Act 18:9-10Mat 14:27Mat 28:5Isa 44:2 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ Isa 7:14Mat 1:21Mat 1:25Luk 2:21Mat 1:23Gal 4:4Luk 1:13Luk 1:27 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, Isa 9:6-7Isa 16:52Sa 7:11-13Luk 1:35Psa 132:11Heb 1:2-8Mat 28:18Mrk 5:7 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” Dan 2:44Heb 1:8Dan 7:13-14Dan 7:272Sa 7:16Psa 89:35-37Rev 11:15Mat 28:18
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?” Jdg 13:8-12Act 9:6
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. Mat 1:18Jhn 1:49Jhn 1:34Mat 1:20Luk 1:31-32Heb 4:15Rom 1:4Mat 26:63-64 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. For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” 3 Mat 19:26Jer 32:27Mrk 10:27Jer 32:17Luk 18:27Gen 18:14Num 11:23Php 3:21
Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Rom 4:20-21Psa 119:38Psa 116:162Sa 7:25-29
Then the angel departed from her.
Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, Luk 1:65Jos 10:40Jos 15:48-59Jos 20:7Jos 21:9-11 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luk 1:67Luk 1:44Act 4:8Act 2:4Luk 1:15Act 7:55Psa 22:10Rev 1:10 She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Gen 22:18Jdg 5:24Luk 1:28Luk 19:38Luk 1:48Psa 21:6Act 2:26-28Psa 72:17-19 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Jhn 20:28Jhn 13:131Sa 25:41Luk 2:11Jhn 13:5-8Luk 20:42-44Luk 7:7Mat 3:14 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” Jhn 20:29Jhn 11:40Luk 11:27-28Luk 1:202Ch 20:20
Mary said, 1Sa 2:1-10Psa 34:2-3Psa 35:9Isa 61:10Psa 103:1-21Co 1:31Isa 45:25Rom 5:11
“My soul magnifies the Lord.
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, Psa 35:91Ti 2:3Hab 3:18Isa 45:21-22Luk 2:11Tit 2:10Zec 9:91Ti 1:1
for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. Psa 138:61Co 1:26-28Mal 3:121Sa 1:11Luk 11:27Psa 136:23Luk 1:281Sa 2:8
For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Eph 3:20Psa 126:2-3Psa 111:9Psa 99:3Jer 10:6Gen 17:1Isa 57:15Rev 15:4
Holy is his name.
His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him. Psa 103:17-18Exo 20:6Gen 17:7Psa 118:4Exo 34:6-7Psa 145:19Psa 103:11Psa 115:13
He has shown strength with his arm. Psa 98:1Isa 52:101Sa 2:3-4Isa 51:9Rom 1:21Dan 4:37Exo 15:6-71Sa 2:9-10
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down princes from their thrones, Ezk 17:24Jas 4:10Psa 107:40-411Sa 2:6-8Luk 18:14Ecc 4:14Psa 113:6-81Sa 2:4
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things. Psa 107:8-9Luk 6:21Psa 34:10Luk 6:24Mat 5:6Rev 7:16-171Co 1:26Jhn 6:35
He has sent the rich away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy, Psa 98:3Mic 7:20Isa 44:21Isa 46:3-4Isa 49:14-16Jer 31:20Isa 63:7-16Jer 31:3
as he spoke to our fathers, Gen 17:19Psa 105:6-10Gal 3:16-17Psa 132:11-17Gen 22:18Gen 26:4Rom 11:28-29Gen 12:3
to Abraham and his offspring 4 forever.”
Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son. Luk 1:13Gen 21:2-3Luk 2:6-7Num 23:19 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. Rom 12:151Co 12:26Luk 1:14Luk 1:25Psa 113:9Rut 4:14-17Gen 19:19Isa 66:9-10 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. Gen 17:12Lev 12:3Luk 2:21Php 3:5Act 7:8Gen 21:3-4 His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.” Luk 1:132Sa 12:25Isa 8:3Luk 1:63Mat 1:25
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” They made signs to his father, what he would have him called. Luk 1:22
He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” Isa 30:8Luk 1:60Luk 1:13Hab 2:2Jer 17:1Pro 3:3
They all marveled. His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God. Luk 1:20Exo 4:15-16Ezk 33:22Jer 1:9Dan 4:34-37Mrk 7:32-37Psa 51:15Ezk 29:21 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea. Luk 1:39Act 2:43Act 5:11Act 5:5Luk 7:16Jos 10:40Jos 10:6Rev 11:11 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. Act 11:21Luk 2:19Luk 2:511Ki 18:461Sa 2:18Gen 37:11Gen 39:2Jdg 13:24-25
His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Jol 2:28Luk 1:41Luk 1:152Pe 1:212Sa 23:2Num 11:25
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, Psa 106:48Luk 7:16Psa 111:9Psa 41:13Exo 4:311Ki 1:48Exo 3:16-17Eph 1:3
for he has visited and redeemed his people;
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David Psa 18:2Ezk 29:212Sa 22:31Sa 2:10Psa 89:171Sa 2:1Isa 9:6-7Isa 11:1-9
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), Act 3:21-242Pe 1:21Rom 1:21Pe 1:122Sa 23:2Act 28:25Gen 12:3Gen 3:15
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; Psa 106:10Deu 33:29Jer 23:6Zep 3:15-20Ezk 34:28Jer 32:371Jn 3:8Ezk 34:25
to show mercy toward our fathers, Heb 6:13-18Lev 26:42Mic 7:20Psa 106:45Ezk 16:60Gen 26:4Gen 28:14Luk 1:54-55
to remember his holy covenant,
the oath which he swore to Abraham our father, Gen 22:16-18Deu 7:8Psa 105:9Deu 7:12Jer 11:5Gen 26:3Heb 6:13Heb 6:16-17
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, 2Ti 1:7Zep 3:15-17Isa 54:13-14Heb 9:14Rom 8:15Heb 2:15Rev 2:10Zec 9:8-10
should serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. Eph 4:24Eph 2:10Tit 2:11-142Ti 1:91Th 4:7Eph 1:4Jer 31:33-341Pe 1:14-16
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; Mal 3:1Isa 40:3-5Mrk 1:2-3Jhn 1:23Mat 11:9-10Mat 14:5Mat 3:3Act 16:17
for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins, Act 5:31Act 10:43Act 2:38Jhn 1:34Act 3:19Eph 1:7Jhn 1:29Act 19:4
because of the tender mercy of our God, Mal 4:22Pe 1:19Rev 22:16Num 24:17Eph 5:14Isa 11:1Col 3:12Zec 3:8
by which the dawn from on high will visit us,
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; Isa 9:2Act 26:18Mat 4:16Isa 42:7Eph 5:8Jhn 12:46Jhn 8:12Psa 107:14
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel. Luk 2:40Mrk 1:3-4Luk 2:521Sa 3:19-20Mat 3:1Jdg 13:24-25Jhn 1:31Mat 11:7