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. Honourable Theophilus,
4I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard.
The births of John the Baptist and JesusAn angel tells about the birth of John5When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest called Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron.
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.
15Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.
16John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God.
17He will go ahead of the Lord with the same power and spirit that Elijah 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. That 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.”
19The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, God's servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news.An angel tells about the birth of Jesus
26One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee
27with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David.
38Mary said, “I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Mary visits Elizabeth39A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea.
40She went into Zechariah's home, where she greeted Elizabeth.
41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby moved within her.
The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth.
42Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:
God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have.
43Why should the mother of my Lord come to me?
44As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me.
45The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.
Mary's song of praise46Mary said:
With all my heart
I praise the Lord,
47and I am glad
because of God my Saviour.
48He cares for me,
his humble servant.
From now on,
all people will say
God has blessed me.
49God All-Powerful has done
great things for me,
and his name is holy.
50He always shows mercy
to everyone
who worships him.
51The Lord has used
his powerful arm
to scatter those
who are proud.
52He drags strong rulers
from their thrones
and puts humble people
in places of power.
53God gives the hungry
good things to eat,
and sends the rich away
with nothing.
54He helps his servant Israel
and is always merciful
to his people.
55The Lord made this promise
to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his family
for ever!
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home.
The birth of John the Baptist57When Elizabeth's son was born,
58her neighbours and relatives heard how kind the Lord had been to her, and they too were glad.
59Eight days later they did for the child what the Law of Moses commands. They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.
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.
76You, my son, will be called
a prophet of God
in heaven above.
You will go ahead of the Lord
to get everything ready
for him.
77You will tell his people
that they can be saved
when their sins
are forgiven.
78God's love and kindness
will shine upon us
like the sun that rises
in the sky.
79On 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.
Who We AreWhat We EelieveWhat We Do
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