Introduction

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the wonderful things accomplished among us—just as those events were handed down by those who from the very beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word—I, too, have carefully investigated all that has taken place from the start. I write this account in consecutive order for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the exact truth about all the things you have been taught.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, who belonged to the division of Abijah. He was married to Elizabeth, a woman descended from the daughters of Aaron. Both Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous in the sight of God; they walked blamelessly in all His commandments. Yet they were childless, for Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

One day, while Zacharias was performing his priestly service before God in the prescribed order, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense—an honor bestowed by the custom of the priestly office. Outside the temple, in the hour of the incense offering, the whole multitude of the people was gathered in prayer. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. Troubled and gripped by fear at this wondrous vision, Zacharias listened as the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even while in his mother’s womb. He will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. He will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children and the disobedient to the obedience of the righteous, so that a people prepared for the Lord will be ready.”

Overwhelmed, Zacharias asked, “How can I know this for certain? I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you with this good news. And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words; and they will be fulfilled in their proper time.” When Zacharias left the temple, the people, waiting for him, marveled at his delay. When he emerged, he could no longer speak, and he made signs to them, remaining mute until his priestly service was over. Then he returned home. After these days, Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months, declaring, “This is how the LORD has dealt with me in the days when He looked on me with favor, taking away my disgrace among men.”

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, where there lived a virgin named Mary, engaged to a man called Joseph, a descendant of David. Entering through her humble home, the angel greeted her with loving words, “Greetings, favored one! The LORD is with you.” Mary, deeply perplexed by this extraordinary salutation, pondered its meaning. Then the angel reassured her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. Behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; the LORD God will give Him the throne of David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will never end.” In astonishment, Mary asked, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy Child to be born will be called the Son of God. Moreover, your relative Elizabeth, who was once barren, has also conceived a son; now she is in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Mary, embracing the Lord’s will, replied with quiet surrender, “Behold, I am the bondslave of the LORD; let what You have said be done to me.” And then the angel departed.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Not long after receiving this divine revelation, Mary rose with haste and traveled into the hill country of Judah until she reached the house of Zacharias, where Elizabeth resided. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s unborn child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Overjoyed, she cried out with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my LORD would visit me? For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is the one who has believed that the promises spoken to her by the LORD would be fulfilled.”

The Magnificat

In response, Mary broke into a song of praise, declaring:

> “My soul exalts the LORD, > And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, > For He has regarded the lowliness of His bondslave. > From this time forward, all generations will call me blessed, > For the Mighty One has done great things for me, > And holy is His name. > His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. > He has performed mighty deeds with His arm, > And has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. > He has brought down rulers from their thrones > And has exalted those who were humble. > He has filled the hungry with good things > And sent the rich away empty. > He has helped His servant Israel, > In remembrance of His mercy, > As He spoke to our fathers, > To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months, then returned to her home, her heart ever full of the wonder of God’s grace.

John Is Born

When the time came for Elizabeth to deliver, she gave birth to a son. Neighbors and relatives soon heard that the LORD had shown great mercy to her, and all rejoiced with her over the child’s birth. On the eighth day, as the family prepared for the customary circumcision, they gathered to name the child. Naturally, they intended to name him Zacharias, after his father, but his mother interjected, “No, he shall be called John.” No one in their kin bore that name, and signs were given between them as to what the child should be called. Then Zacharias took a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” In that very moment, everyone was astonished. Instantly, his mouth was opened, his tongue loosened, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear and wonder came upon all those who lived around, and through all the hill country of Judea the news was shared. Everyone who heard the account wondered, “What, then, will this child become?” Truly, the hand of the LORD was with him.

Zacharias’s Prophecy

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Zacharias then prophesied:

> “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, > For He has visited us and brought redemption to His people, > And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David, His servant, > Just as He promised through His holy prophets of old— > Salvation from our enemies > And deliverance from those who hate us; > To show mercy toward our fathers, > And to remember His holy covenant, > The oath He swore to Abraham, our father, > That we, being rescued from the power of our enemies, > Might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all our days. > And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; > For you will go on before the LORD, preparing His ways, > To give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins— > Because of the tender mercy of our God, > With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us > To shine upon those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, > And to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

The child grew and became strong in spirit, living in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.