Since many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
Even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto you in order, most excellent Theophilos,
That you might know the certainty of those things, where you have been instructed.
There was in the days of Irōdis, the king of Yahûdâh, a certain Kôhên named Zekaryâhû, of the course of Ă̆bı̂yâhû: and his gyní was of the daughters of Ahărôn, and her name was Ĕ̆lı̂ysheba.
And they were both righteous before Êlôhîym, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of Yahuah blameless.
And they had no child, because that Ĕ̆lı̂ysheba was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
And it came to pass, that while he performed his functions before Êlôhîym in the order of his course,
According to the custom of the kehûnnâh, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of Yahuah.
And the whole multitude of the people were praying out at the time of incense.
And there appeared unto him an angel of Yahuah standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
And when Zekaryâhû saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said unto him, do not fear, Zekaryâhû: for your prayer is heard; and your gyní Ĕ̆lı̂ysheba shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yôchânân.
And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
For he shall be great in the sight of Yahuah, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the rûach Qôdesh, even from his mother's womb.
And many of the children of Yâshârêl shall he turn to Yahuah their Êlôhîym.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Êlı̂yâhû, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for Yahuah.
And Zekaryâhû said unto the angel, how shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my gyní well stricken in years.
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabrı̂yêl who stand in the presence of Êlôhîym; and am sent to speak unto you, and to show you these good news.
And, behold, you shall be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
And the people waited for Zekaryâhû, and marvelled that he stayed so long in the temple.
And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they knew that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he nodded unto them, and remained speechless.
And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
And after those days his gyní Ĕ̆lı̂ysheba conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
Thus has Yahuah dealt with me in the days where he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
And in the sixth month the angel Gabrı̂yêl was sent from Êlôhîym unto a city of Gâlı̂yl, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Yôsêph, of the house of Dâwid; and the virgin's name was Miryâm.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, hail, you that are highly favoured, Yahuah is with you: bârak are you among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and thought what kind of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, do not fear, Miryâm: for you have found favour with Êlôhîym.
And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Yahusha.
He shall be great, and shall be called the son of Elyôn: and Yahuah Êlôhîym shall give unto him the throne of his father Dâwid:
And he shall reign over the house of Yaăqôb for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Then Miryâm said unto the angel, how shall this be, seeing I do not know a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, the rûach Qôdesh shall come upon you, and the power of Elyôn shall overshadow you: therefore also that sacred thing who shall be born of you shall be called the son of Êlôhîym.
And, behold, your cousin Ĕ̆lı̂ysheba, she has also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
For with Êlôhîym nothing shall be impossible.
And Miryâm said, behold the female slave of Yahuah; be it unto me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.
And Miryâm arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Yahûdâh;
And entered into the house of Zekaryâhû, and saluted Ĕ̆lı̂ysheba.
And it came to pass, that, when Ĕ̆lı̂ysheba heard the salutation of Miryâm, the babe leaped in her womb; and Ĕ̆lı̂ysheba was filled with the rûach Qôdesh:
And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, bârak are you among women, and bârak is the fruit of your womb.
And where is this to me that the mother of my Âdônây should come to me?
For, lo, as soon as the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And bârak is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from Yahuah.
And Miryâm said, my soul does magnify Yahuah,
And my spirit has rejoiced in Êlôhîym my Sotír.
For he has regarded the low estate of his female slaves: for, behold, from here on all generations shall call me bârak.
For he that is mighty has done to me great things; and sacred is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has helped his servant Yâshârêl, in remembrance of his mercy;
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abrâhâm, and to his seed forever.
And Miryâm remained with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Now Ĕ̆lı̂ysheba's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
And her neighbours and her cousins heard how Yahuah had shown great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zekaryâhû, after the name of his father.
And his mother answered and said, not so; but he shall be called Yôchânân.
And they said unto her, there is none of your kindred that is called by this name.
And they made signs to his father, how he wanted to have him called.
And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, his name is Yôchânân. And they marvelled all.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and praised Êlôhîym.
And fear came on all that dwelt around them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Yahûdâh.
And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, what kind of child this shall be! And the hand of Yahuah was with him.
And his father Zekaryâhû was filled with the rûach Qôdesh, and prophesied, saying,
Bârak is Yahuah Êlôhîym of Yâshârêl; for he has visited and redeemed his people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant Dâwid;
As he spoke by the mouth of his sacred prophets, who have been since the world began:
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his sacred covenant;
The oath that he swore to our father Abrâhâm,
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
In piety and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of Elyôn: for you shall go before the face of Âdônây to prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the forgiveness of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our Êlôhîym; where the dayspring from on high has visited us,
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Yâshârêl.
