1Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us.
2They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened.
3So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus,
4I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard.
An Angel Tells about the Birth of John5
6Both of them were good people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that he had commanded.
7But they did not have children. Elizabeth could not have any, and both Zechariah and Elizabeth were already old.
8One day Zechariah's group of priests were on duty, and he was serving God as a priest.
9According to the custom of the priests, he had been chosen to go into the Lord's temple that day and to burn incense,
10while the people stood outside praying.
11All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar.
12Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel.
13But the angel told him:
Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John.
14His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad.
15 had. And because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. And people who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. This is how John will get people ready for the Lord.
18Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.”
19 An Angel Tells about the Birth of Jesus
26One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee
27 They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.
60But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John.”
61The people argued, “No one in your family has ever been named John.”
62So they motioned to Zechariah to find out what he wanted to name his son.
63Zechariah asked for a writing tablet. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed.
64At once, Zechariah started speaking and praising God.
65All the neighbors were frightened because of what had happened, and everywhere in the hill country people kept talking about these things.
66Everyone who heard about this wondered what this child would grow up to be. They knew the Lord was with him.
Zechariah Praises the Lord67The Holy Spirit came upon Zechariah, and he began to speak:
68Praise the Lord,
the God of Israel!
He has come
to save his people.
69Our God has given us
a mighty Savior
from the family
of David his servant.
70Long ago the Lord promised
by the words
of his holy prophets
71to save us from our enemies
and from everyone
who hates us.
72God said he would be kind
to our people and keep
his sacred promise.
73He told our ancestor Abraham
74that he would rescue us
from our enemies.
Then we could serve him
without fear,
75by being holy and good
as long as we live.
76
79 Is 9.2. On us who live
in the dark shadow
of death
this light will shine
to guide us
into a life of peace.
80As John grew up, God's Spirit gave him great power. John lived in the desert until the time he was sent to the people of Israel.
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