INTRODUCTION, AND THE TWO ANNUNCIATIONS.

1 [1:1]SINCE many have undertaken to arrange a complete digest of the things fully believed among us, [1:2]as they delivered them to us who, from the beginning, were eye witnesses and ministers of the word, [1:3]it seemed good to me also, having traced all things accurately from the first, to write in order to you, most excellent Theophilus, [1:4]that you may know the certainty of the words concerning which you have been taught.

2 [1:5]In the days of Herod the king of Judea, there was a certain priest by the name of Zachariah, of the cla.s.s of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. [1:6]And they were both righteous before G.o.d, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. [1:7] And they had no son, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

3 [1:8]And when he was performing the priest's office in the order of his cla.s.s before G.o.d, it fell to his lot, [1:9]according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord to burn incense; [1:10]and all the mult.i.tude of the people were praying without, at the hour of incense. [1:11]And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense; [1:12]and Zachariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

4 [1:13]And the angel said to him, Fear not, Zachariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son; and you shall call his name John. [1:14]And he shall be to you a joy and rejoicing; and many shall rejoice at his birth; [1:15]for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall not drink wine and strong drink, but shall be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his birth; [1:16]and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their G.o.d. [1:17]And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. [1:18] And Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife advanced in years. [1:19]And the angel answered and said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand before G.o.d; and I was sent to speak to you, and to tell you this good news. [1:20]And behold you shall be silent, and not able to speak, till the day these things are accomplished; because you have not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.

5 [1:21]And the people waited for Zachariah, and wondered that he staid so long in the temple. [1:22]And when he came out he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and continued dumb. [1:23]And when the days of his service were completed he departed to his house. [1:24]And after these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and hid herself five months, saying, [1:25]Thus has the Lord dealt with me, in the days in which he looked upon me to take away my reproach among men.

6 [1:26]And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by G.o.d to a city of Galilee, by the name of Nazareth, [1:27]to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. [1:28]And coming in to her, he said, Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you! [1:29]And she was troubled at his word, and doubted what this salutation meant. [1:30]And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with G.o.d. [1:31]And behold you shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall call his name Jesus.

[1:32]He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High.

And the Lord G.o.d shall give him the throne of David his father, [1:33]and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

7 [1:34]And Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man? [1:35]And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you; and on that account the holy child shall be called the Son of G.o.d.

[1:36]And behold Elizabeth, your relative, even she is pregnant with a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her called barren; [1:37]for nothing is impossible with G.o.d. [1:38] And Mary said, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.

And the angel departed from her.

CHAPTER II.

MARYS VISIT TO ELIZABETH, AND THE BIRTH OF JOHN.

1 [1:39]AND Mary arose in those days and went in haste to the mountainous country, to the city of Juda. [1:40]And she went unto the house of Zachariah and saluted Elizabeth. [1:41]And when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, [1:42]and cried with a loud voice, and said, Blessed are you among women! and blessed is the fruit of your womb! [1:43]And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord has come to me? [1:44]For, behold, when the voice of your salutation came to my ears, the babe leaped in my womb with exultation.

[1:45] And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be an accomplishment of the words spoken to her by the Lord.

2 [1:46]And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, [1:47]and my spirit exults in G.o.d my Saviour; [1:48]for he has looked on the low condition of his servant; for, behold, from this time all generations shall call me blessed, [1:49] because the mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name; [1:50]and his mercy is to generations and generations of them that fear him. [1:51]He has made strong his arm; he has scattered the proud with the thought of their hearts; [1:52]he has brought down the mighty from thrones, and exalted the humble; [1:53]he has filled the hungry with goods, and sent the rich away empty. [1:54]He has helped Israel his servant, and remembered his mercy, [1:55] as he said to our fathers, to Abraham and his posterity forever. [1:56]And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

3 [1:57]And when Elizabeth's time to bear had fully come, she bore a son; [1:58]and her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy to her, and congratulated her. [1:59]And they came on the eighth day to circ.u.mcise the little child, and called it by the name of its father, Zachariah. [1:60]And his mother answered and said, No; but he shall be called John. [1:61] And they said to her, There is no one of your relations who is called by this name; [1:62]and they made signs to his father, what he wished it to be called. [1:63]And asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote, saying, His name is John. And all wondered. [1:64]And his mouth was immediately opened, and his tongue [loosed], and he spoke and blessed G.o.d. [1:65]And fear came on all living around them. All these things were talked of in all the mountainous country of Judea. [1:66]And all who heard laid them to heart, saying, What then is this child to be? For the hand of the Lord was also with him.

4 [1:67]And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, [1:68]Blessed is the Lord, the G.o.d of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people, [1:69]and raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant; [1:70]as he said by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old; [1:71]A salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us, [1:72]to perform his mercy with our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, [1:73]the oath which he swore to Abraham our father, [1:74]to grant us without fear, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, to serve him [1:75]in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

[1:76]And you, little child, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, [1:77]to give a knowledge of salvation to his people, with a forgiveness of sins, [1:78]on account of the compa.s.sionate mercies of our G.o.d, by which a morning from on high has visited us, [1:79]to illuminate those sitting in darkness and the shade of death, to direct our feet in the way of peace. [1:80]And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, and was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

CHAPTER III.

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, HIS INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD.

1 [2:1]In those days there went out an ordinance from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of all the world. [2:2]This first census was taken when Cyrenius was proconsul of Syria. [2:3]And all went to be enrolled, each one to his own city. [2:4]And Joseph went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, [2:5]to be enrolled with Mary his espoused [wife,] who was with child. [2:6]And while they were there the days for her delivery were completed; [2:7]and she bore her first-born son, and wrapped him in bandages, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the khan.

2 [2:8]And there were shepherds in that country staying in the fields and watching their flock by night. [2:9]And behold, an angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. [2:10]And the angel said to them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good news of a great joy, which shall be for all people. [2:11]For to you was born to-day in the city of David, a Saviour who is the anointed Lord. [2:12]And this shall be a sign to you. You shall find the babe wrapped in bandages, lying in a manger.

[2:13]And suddenly there was with the angel a mult.i.tude of the heavenly host, praising G.o.d, and saying, [2:14]Glory to G.o.d in the highest [heavens], on earth peace, and among men good will!

3 [2:15]And when the angels had departed from them to heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go now to Bethlehem, and see this thing which has occurred, which the Lord has made known to us.

[2:16]And they came in haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. [2:17]And when they saw it they related the word spoken to them concerning this child; [2:18] and all who heard wondered at the things told them by the shepherds. [2:19]But Mary kept all these words, revolving them in her mind. [2:20]And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising G.o.d for all that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

4 [2:21]And when eight days were completed, [the time] to circ.u.mcise him, his name was called Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. [2:22]And when the days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses, they carried him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, [2:23]as it is written in the law of the Lord that every male which is a first born shall be called holy to the Lord, [2:24]and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.

5 [2:25]And behold, there was a man at Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was just and pious, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. [2:26]And he was informed by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death till he had seen the Lord's anointed. [2:27]And he came by the spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do according to the custom of the law concerning him, [2:28]he also took it in his arms, and blessed G.o.d, and said, [2:29]Now, Master, dismiss thy servant according to thy word, in peace; [2:30]for my eyes have seen thy salvation, [2:31]which thou hast prepared before all people; [2:32]a light for enlightening Gentiles, and a glory of thy people Israel. [2:33]And his father and mother wondered at the words spoken of him.

6 [2:34]And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against, [2:35]and a sword shall pierce your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

7 [2:36]And there was Anna, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was far advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; [2:37]and she had been a widow eighty-four years, and departed not from the temple, serving G.o.d night and day with fastings and prayers. [2:38]And she coming by at that time, praised G.o.d, and spoke of him [the child] to all who expected a redemption in Jerusalem. [2:39]And when they had finished all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city Nazareth. [2:40]And the little child grew, and became strong, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of G.o.d was upon it.

8 [2:41]And his parents went up yearly to Jerusalem to the feast of the pa.s.sover. [2:42]And when he was twelve years old they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast. [2:43]And having completed the days, on their return, the child Jesus remained behind at Jerusalem. And his parents knew it not. [2:44]But supposing that he was in the company went a day's journey and sought him among their relations and acquaintances. [2:45]And not finding him they returned to Jerusalem to seek him. [2:46]And after three days they found him sitting in the temple in the midst of the teachers, both hearing and questioning them. [2:47]And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers.

9 [2:48]And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, Son, why have you dealt thus with us? Behold, your father and I have sought you with sorrow. [2:49]And he said to them, Why did you seek me? did you not know that I must be in [the courts] of my father?

[2:50]And they understood not the word which he spoke to them.

[2:51]And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart. [2:52]And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with G.o.d and men.

CHAPTER IV.

THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, CHRIST'S BAPTISM AND GENEALOGY.

1 [3:1]AND in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being procurator of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Ituria and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias being tetrarch of Abilene, [3:2]under the chief priest Annas, and Caiaphas, the word of G.o.d came to John the son of Zachariah, in the wilderness. [3:3]And he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of a change of mind for the forgiveness of sins; [3:4]as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet; A voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. [3:5]Every ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth; [3:6]and all flesh shall see the salvation of G.o.d.

2 [3:7]Then John said to the mult.i.tudes who went out to be baptized by him, Offspring of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [3:8] Bear fruits, therefore, worthy of a change of mind. And say not within yourselves, We have Abraham for a father; for I tell you that G.o.d is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

[3:9]And already also the axe lies at the root of the trees; every tree therefore which bears not good fruit, is cut down and cast into the fire. [3:10]And the mult.i.tudes asked him, saying, What then shall we do? [3:11]And he answered and said to them, Let him that has two coats give to him that has none; and let him that has food do the same.

[3:12]And publicans, also, came to be baptized, and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do? [3:13]And he said to them, Do nothing more than is appointed for you. [3:14]And the soldiers asked him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said to them, Oppress, and falsely accuse, no one; and be contented with your wages.

3 [3:15]And the people being in expectation, and all doubting in their minds concerning John, whether he was the Christ, [3:16]John answered all, saying, I indeed baptize you with water, but a mightier than I is coming, the strings of whose shoes I am not fit to untie; he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [3:17]His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean his threshing floor, and gather the wheat into his storehouse; but the chaff he will burn with an inextinguishable fire.

4 [3:18]With many other exhortations, also, he preached the good news to the people. [3:19]But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him on account of Herodias his brother's wife and for all the evil deeds which Herod had done, [3:20]added also this to all, and shut up John in prison.

5 [3:21]And when all the people were baptized, Jesus also being baptized, and praying, heaven was opened, [3:22]and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove upon him; and there was a voice from heaven, saying, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.

6 [3:23]And Jesus was about thirty years old, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, [3:24]the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, [3:25]the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, [3:26] the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Shimei, the son of Josech, the son of Juda, [3:27]the son of Joannas, the son of Resa, the son of Zerubabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, [3:28]the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, [3:29]the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, [3:30]the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, [3:31]the son of Meleas, the son of Mennas, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, [3:32]the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Naason, [3:33]the son of Aminadab, the son of Admein, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Pharez, the son of Judah, [3:34]the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, [3:35]the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Selah, [3:36]the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, [3:37]the son of Methusaleh, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahaleel, the son of Cainan, [3:38]the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the Son of G.o.d.

CHAPTER V.

CHRIST'S FASTING, TEMPTATION, AND THE COMMENCEMENT OF HIS MINISTRY.

1 [4:1]AND Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, [4:2]being tempted by the devil forty days. And he eat nothing in those days; and when they were completed he was hungry. [4:3]And the devil said to him, If you are the Son of G.o.d, command this stone to become bread. [4:4]And Jesus answered him, It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone. [4:5]And taking him up he showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. [4:6]And the devil said to him, All this power will I give you, and the glory of these; for it is given to me, and I give it to whom I will. [4:7]If you, therefore, will worship me, it all shall be yours. [4:8]And Jesus answered and said to him, It is written, You shall worship the Lord your G.o.d, and him alone shall you serve.

[4:9]And he brought him to Jerusalem and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, If you are the Son of G.o.d, cast yourself down from here; [4:10]for it is written, He will charge his angels concerning you, to guard you, [4:11]and they shall bear you up on their hands, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone. [4:12]And Jesus answered and said to him, It is said, You shall not try the Lord your G.o.d. [4:13]And the devil having finished all the temptation, departed from him for a time.

2 [4:14]And Jesus returned with the power of the Spirit to Galilee; and his fame went out into all the region around. [4:15]And he taught in their synagogues, glorified by all.

3 [4:16]And he came to Nazareth, where he was brought up, and entered, according to his custom on the sabbath day, into the synagogue, and stood up to read. [4:17]And the book of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. And unrolling the book he found the place where it was written, [4:18]The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor; he has sent me to proclaim a release to the captives, and a recovery of sight to the blind, to send the oppressed away free, [4:19]to proclaim an acceptable year of the Lord.

[4:20]And folding up the book, he gave it to the minister, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were steadfastly fixed upon him.

4 [4:21]And he said to them, To-day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. [4:22]And they all bore him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded from his mouth, and said, Is not this the son of Joseph? [4:23]And he said to them, You will undoubtedly tell me this proverb; Physician, cure yourself; things which we heard were done in Capernaum, do also here in your own country. [4:24]And he said, I tell you truly, that no prophet is acceptable in his own country. [4:25]I also tell you of a truth, that there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven was shut up three years and six months, so that there was a great famine over all the land; [4:26]and to none of them was Elijah sent, but to Sarepta, of Sidon, to a widow woman.

[4:27]And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. [4:28]And all in the synagogue when they heard these things were filled with wrath; [4:29]and they arose and cast him out of the city, and led him even to the brow of the mountain on which the city was built, to precipitate him down. [4:30]But he pa.s.sed through the midst of them and went away.