Forasmuchas manyhave taken in handto set forth in ordera declarationofthose thingswhich are most surely believedamongus, Even asthey deliveredthem unto us, which from the beginning wereeyewitnesses, andministersof theword; It seemed goodto me also, having had perfectunderstandingof all thingsfrom the very first, to writeunto theein order, most excellentTheophilus, Thatthou mightest knowthecertaintyof those things, whereinthou hast been instructed. There wasinthedaysof Herod, thekingof Judea, a certainpriestnamedZacharias, ofthe courseof Abijah: andhiswife was ofthedaughtersof Aaron, andhername was Elisabeth. Andthey werebothrighteousbeforeGod, walkinginallthecommandmentsandordinancesof theLordblameless. Andthey hadnochild, because thatElisabethwasbarren, andthey bothwere now well strickeninyears. Andit came to pass, that while heexecuted the priest's officebeforeGodintheorderof hiscourse, Accordingto thecustomof thepriest's office, his lot wasto burn incensewhen he wentintothetempleof theLord. Andthewholemultitudeof thepeoplewereprayingwithoutat thetimeof incense. Andthere appearedunto himan angelof the Lordstandingonthe right sideof thealtarof incense. Andwhen Zachariassaw him, he was troubled, andfearfelluponhim. Buttheangelsaiduntohim, Fearnot, Zacharias: forthyprayeris heard; andthywifeElisabethshall beartheea son, andthou shalt callhisnameJohn. Andthoushalt havejoyandgladness; andmanyshall rejoiceathisbirth. Forhe shall begreatin the sightof theLord, andshall drinkneitherwinenorstrong drink; andhe shall be filledwith the HolyGhost, evenfromhismother's womb. Andmanyof thechildrenof Israelshall he turntothe LordtheirGod. Andheshall gobeforehimin the spiritandpowerof Elijah, to turnthe heartsof the fatherstothe children, andthe disobedienttothe wisdomof the just; to make readya peoplepreparedfor the Lord. AndZachariassaiduntotheangel, Wherebyshall I knowthis? forIaman old manandmywifewell strickeninyears. Andtheangelansweringsaidunto him, IamGabriel, that standin the presenceof God; andam sentto speakuntothee, andto show thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt bedumb, andnotableto speak, untilthedaythat these thingsshall be performed, becausethoubelievestnotmywords, whichshall be fulfilledintheirseason. Andthepeoplewaited forZacharias, andmarveledthat hetarried so longinthetemple. Andwhen he came out, he couldnotspeakunto them: andthey perceivedthathe had seena visioninthetemple: forhebeckonedunto them, andremainedspeechless. Andit came to pass, that, as soon asthedaysof hisministrationwere accomplished, he departedtohis ownhouse. AndafterthosedayshiswifeElisabethconceived, andhidherselffivemonths, saying, Thushath theLorddealtwith meinthedayswhereinhe looked on me, to take awaymyreproachamongmen. AndinthesixthmonththeangelGabrielwas sentfromGoduntoa cityof Galilee, namedNazareth, Toa virginespousedto a manwhosenamewas Joseph, ofthe houseof David; andthevirgin's name was Mary. Andtheangelcame inuntoher, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, theLord is withthee: blessed art thouamongwomen. Andwhen shesaw him, she was troubledathissaying, andcast in her mindwhat mannerof salutationthisshould be. Andtheangelsaidunto her, Fearnot, Mary: forthou hast foundfavorwithGod. And, behold, thou shalt conceiveinthy womb, andbring fortha son, andshalt callhisnameJESUS. Heshall begreat, andshall be calledthe Sonof the Highest: andthe LordGodshall giveunto himthethroneof hisfatherDavid: Andhe shall reignoverthehouseof Jacobforever; andof hiskingdomthere shall benoend. ThensaidMaryuntotheangel, Howshall thisbe, seeingI knownota man? Andtheangelansweredand saidunto her, The HolyGhostshall comeuponthee, andthe powerof the Highestshall overshadowthee: thereforealsothat holy thingwhich shall be bornoftheeshall be calledthe Sonof God. And, behold, thycousinElisabeth, shehath alsoconceiveda soninherold age: andthisisthe sixthmonthwith her, who was calledbarren. ForwithGodnothingshall be impossible. AndMarysaid, Beholdthehandmaidof the Lord; beit unto meaccordingto thyword. Andtheangeldepartedfromher. AndMaryaroseinthosedays, and wentintothehill countrywithhaste, intoa cityof Judah; Andenteredintothehouseof Zacharias, andsalutedElisabeth. Andit came to pass, that, whenElisabethheardthesalutationof Mary, thebabeleapedinherwomb; andElisabethwas filledwith the HolyGhost: Andshe spake outwith a loudvoice, andsaid, Blessed art thouamongwomen, andblessed is thefruitof thywomb. Andwhence is thisto me, thatthemotherof myLordshould cometome? For, lo, as soon asthevoiceof thysalutationsoundedinmineears, thebabeleapedinmywombforjoy. Andblessed is she that believedforthere shall bea performanceof those things which were toldherfromthe Lord. AndMarysaid, Mysouldoth magnifytheLord, Andmyspirithath rejoicedinGodmySavior. Forhe hath regardedthelow estateof hishandmaiden: for, behold, fromhenceforthallgenerationsshall call me blessed. Forhe that is mightyhath doneto megreat things; andholy is hisname. Andhismercy is on them that fearhimfromgenerationto generation. He hath showedstrengthwithhisarm; he hath scatteredthe proudin the imaginationof theirhearts. He hath put downthe mightyfrom their seats, andexaltedthem of low degree. He hath filledthe hungrywith good things; andthe richhe hath sent empty away. He hath helpedhisservantIsrael, in remembranceof his mercy; Ashe spaketoourfathers, to Abraham, andto hisseedforever. AndMaryabodewithheraboutthreemonths, andreturnedtoher ownhouse. NowElisabeth's full timecamethat sheshould be delivered; andshe brought fortha son. Andherneighborsandher cousinsheardhowthe Lordhad showed great mercyuponher; andthey rejoiced withher. Andit came to pass, that ontheeighthdaythey cameto circumcisethechild; andthey calledhimZacharias, afterthenameof hisfather. Andhismotheransweredand said, Not so ; buthe shall be calledJohn. Andthey saiduntoher, There isnoneofthykindredthatis calledby thisname. Andthey made signsto hisfather, howhe would havehimcalled. Andhe askedfor a writing table, and wrote, saying, HisnameisJohn. Andthey marveledall. Andhismouthwas openedimmediately, andhistongue loosed, andhe spake, and praisedGod. Andfearcameonallthat dwelt round aboutthem: andallthesesayingswere noised abroadthroughoutallthehill countryof Judea. Andallthey that heard them laid them upintheirhearts, saying, What mannerofchildshall thisbe! Andthe handof the Lordwaswithhim. AndhisfatherZachariaswas filledwith the HolyGhost, andprophesied, saying, Blessed be the LordGodof Israel; forhe hath visitedandredeemedhispeople, Andhath raised upa hornof salvationfor usinthehouseof hisservantDavid; Ashe spakebythe mouthof hisholyprophets, whichhave been since the world began: That we should be savedfromourenemies, andfromthe handof allthat hateus; To performthe mercy promised toourfathers, andto rememberhisholycovenant; The oathwhichhe sworetoourfatherAbraham, That he would grantunto us, that we being deliveredout ofthe handof ourenemiesmight servehimwithout fear, Inholinessandrighteousnessbeforehim, allthedaysof ourlife. Andthou, child, shalt be calledthe prophetof the Highest: forthou shalt gobeforethe faceof the Lordto preparehisways; To giveknowledgeof salvationunto hispeoplebythe remissionof theirsins, Throughthe tender mercyof ourGod; wherebythe dayspringfromon highhath visitedus, To give lightto them that sitindarknessand in the shadowof death, to guideourfeetintothe wayof peace. Andthechildgrew, andwaxed strongin spirit, andwasinthedesertstillthe dayof hisshowinguntoIsrael.