1 As a number of attempts have been made to put together in order an account of those events which took place among us,

1 ἐπειδήπερ πολλοὶ ἐπεχείρησαν ἀνατάξασθαι διήγησιν περὶ τῶν πεπληροφορημένων ἐν ἡμῖν πραγμάτων,

2 As they were handed down to us by those who saw them from the first and were preachers of the word,

2 καθὼς παρέδοσαν ἡμῖν οἱ ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς αὐτόπται καὶ ὑπηρέται γενόμενοι τοῦ λόγου,

3 It seemed good to me, having made observation, with great care, of the direction of events in their order, to put the facts in writing for you, most noble Theophilus;

3 ἔδοξε κἀμοὶ παρηκολουθηκότι ἄνωθεν πᾶσιν ἀκριβῶς καθεξῆς σοι γράψαι, κράτιστε θεόφιλε,

4 So that you might have certain knowledge of those things about which you were given teaching.

4 ἵνα ἐπιγνῶς περὶ ὧν κατηχήθης λόγων τὴν ἀσφάλειαν.

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judaea, there was a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the order of Abijah; and he had a wife of the family of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

5 ἐγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἡρῴδου βασιλέως τῆς ἰουδαίας ἱερεύς τις ὀνόματι ζαχαρίας ἐξ ἐφημερίας ἀβιά, καὶ γυνὴ αὐτῶ ἐκ τῶν θυγατέρων ἀαρών, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς ἐλισάβετ.

6 They were upright in the eyes of God, keeping all the rules and orders of God, and doing no wrong.

6 ἦσαν δὲ δίκαιοι ἀμφότεροι ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ, πορευόμενοι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐντολαῖς καὶ δικαιώμασιν τοῦ κυρίου ἄμεμπτοι.

7 And they were without children, because Elisabeth had never given birth, and they were at that time very old.

7 καὶ οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τέκνον, καθότι ἦν ἡ ἐλισάβετ στεῖρα, καὶ ἀμφότεροι προβεβηκότες ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῶν ἦσαν.

8 Now it came about that in his turn he was acting as priest before God,

8 ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῶ ἱερατεύειν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ τάξει τῆς ἐφημερίας αὐτοῦ ἔναντι τοῦ θεοῦ,

9 And as was the way of the priests, he had to go into the Temple to see to the burning of perfumes.

9 κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς ἱερατείας ἔλαχε τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ κυρίου,

10 And all the people were offering prayers outside, at the time of the burning of perfumes.

10 καὶ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος ἦν τοῦ λαοῦ προσευχόμενον ἔξω τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ θυμιάματος·

11 And he saw an angel of the Lord in his place on the right side of the altar.

11 ὤφθη δὲ αὐτῶ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἑστὼς ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τοῦ θυμιάματος.

12 And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear came on him.

12 καὶ ἐταράχθη ζαχαρίας ἰδών, καὶ φόβος ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν.

13 But the angel said, Have no fear, Zacharias, for your prayer has come to the ears of God, and your wife Elisabeth will have a son, and his name will be John.

13 εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος, μὴ φοβοῦ, ζαχαρία, διότι εἰσηκούσθη ἡ δέησίς σου, καὶ ἡ γυνή σου ἐλισάβετ γεννήσει υἱόν σοι, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἰωάννην.

14 And you will be glad and have great delight; and numbers of people will have joy at his birth.

14 καὶ ἔσται χαρά σοι καὶ ἀγαλλίασις, καὶ πολλοὶ ἐπὶ τῇ γενέσει αὐτοῦ χαρήσονται·

15 For he will be great in the eyes of the Lord; he will not take wine or strong drink; and he will be full of the Spirit of God from his birth.

15 ἔσται γὰρ μέγας ἐνώπιον [τοῦ] κυρίου, καὶ οἶνον καὶ σίκερα οὐ μὴ πίῃ, καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου πλησθήσεται ἔτι ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς αὐτοῦ,

16 And through him great numbers of the children of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.

16 καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν υἱῶν ἰσραὴλ ἐπιστρέψει ἐπὶ κύριον τὸν θεὸν αὐτῶν.

17 And he will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning the hearts of fathers to their children, and wrongdoers to the way of righteousness; to make ready a people whose hearts have been turned to the Lord.

17 καὶ αὐτὸς προελεύσεται ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ δυνάμει ἠλίου, ἐπιστρέψαι καρδίας πατέρων ἐπὶ τέκνα καὶ ἀπειθεῖς ἐν φρονήσει δικαίων, ἑτοιμάσαι κυρίῳ λαὸν κατεσκευασμένον.

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, How may I be certain of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far on in years.

18 καὶ εἶπεν ζαχαρίας πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον, κατὰ τί γνώσομαι τοῦτο; ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι πρεσβύτης καὶ ἡ γυνή μου προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῆς.

19 And the angel, answering, said, I am Gabriel, whose place is before God; I have been sent to say these words to you and to give you this good news.

19 καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῶ, ἐγώ εἰμι γαβριὴλ ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἀπεστάλην λαλῆσαι πρὸς σὲ καὶ εὐαγγελίσασθαί σοι ταῦτα·

20 Now, see, you will be without voice or language till the day when these things come about, because you had not faith in my words, which will have effect at the right time.

20 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔσῃ σιωπῶν καὶ μὴ δυνάμενος λαλῆσαι ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας γένηται ταῦτα, ἀνθ᾽ ὧν οὐκ ἐπίστευσας τοῖς λόγοις μου, οἵτινες πληρωθήσονται εἰς τὸν καιρὸν αὐτῶν.

21 And the people were waiting for Zacharias and were surprised because he was in the Temple for such a long time.

21 καὶ ἦν ὁ λαὸς προσδοκῶν τὸν ζαχαρίαν, καὶ ἐθαύμαζον ἐν τῶ χρονίζειν ἐν τῶ ναῶ αὐτόν.

22 And when he came out he was not able to say anything, and they saw that he had seen a vision in the Temple; and he was making signs to them without words.

22 ἐξελθὼν δὲ οὐκ ἐδύνατο λαλῆσαι αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐπέγνωσαν ὅτι ὀπτασίαν ἑώρακεν ἐν τῶ ναῶ· καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν διανεύων αὐτοῖς, καὶ διέμενεν κωφός.

23 And when the days of his work in the Temple were ended, he went back to his house.

23 καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τῆς λειτουργίας αὐτοῦ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ.

24 After that time, Elisabeth, being certain that she was to become a mother, kept herself from men's eyes for five months, saying,

24 μετὰ δὲ ταύτας τὰς ἡμέρας συνέλαβεν ἐλισάβετ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ· καὶ περιέκρυβεν ἑαυτὴν μῆνας πέντε, λέγουσα

25 The Lord has done this to me, for his eyes were on me, to take away my shame in the eyes of men.

25 ὅτι οὕτως μοι πεποίηκεν κύριος ἐν ἡμέραις αἷς ἐπεῖδεν ἀφελεῖν ὄνειδός μου ἐν ἀνθρώποις.

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee, named Nazareth,

26 ἐν δὲ τῶ μηνὶ τῶ ἕκτῳ ἀπεστάλη ὁ ἄγγελος γαβριὴλ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς πόλιν τῆς γαλιλαίας ᾗ ὄνομα ναζαρὲθ

27 To a virgin who was to be married to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.

27 πρὸς παρθένον ἐμνηστευμένην ἀνδρὶ ᾧ ὄνομα ἰωσὴφ ἐξ οἴκου δαυίδ, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς παρθένου μαριάμ.

28 And the angel came in to her and said, Peace be with you, to whom special grace has been given; the Lord is with you.

28 καὶ εἰσελθὼν πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν, χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ.

29 But she was greatly troubled at his words, and said to herself, What may be the purpose of these words?

29 ἡ δὲ ἐπὶ τῶ λόγῳ διεταράχθη καὶ διελογίζετο ποταπὸς εἴη ὁ ἀσπασμὸς οὖτος.

30 And the angel said to her, Have no fear, Mary, for you have God's approval.

30 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτῇ, μὴ φοβοῦ, μαριάμ, εὖρες γὰρ χάριν παρὰ τῶ θεῶ·

31 And see, you will give birth to a son, and his name will be Jesus.

31 καὶ ἰδοὺ συλλήμψῃ ἐν γαστρὶ καὶ τέξῃ υἱόν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἰησοῦν.

32 He will be great, and will be named the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his father:

32 οὖτος ἔσται μέγας καὶ υἱὸς ὑψίστου κληθήσεται, καὶ δώσει αὐτῶ κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὸν θρόνον δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ,

33 He will have rule over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

33 καὶ βασιλεύσει ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον ἰακὼβ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, καὶ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔσται τέλος.

34 And Mary said to the angel, How may this be, because I have had no knowledge of a man?

34 εἶπεν δὲ μαριὰμ πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον, πῶς ἔσται τοῦτο, ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω;

35 And the angel in answer said to her, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will come to rest on you, and so that which will come to birth will be named holy, Son of God.

35 καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῇ, πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σέ, καὶ δύναμις ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι· διὸ καὶ τὸ γεννώμενον ἅγιον κληθήσεται, υἱὸς θεοῦ.

36 Even now Elisabeth, who is of your family, is to be a mother, though she is old: and this is the sixth month with her who was without children.

36 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐλισάβετ ἡ συγγενίς σου καὶ αὐτὴ συνείληφεν υἱὸν ἐν γήρει αὐτῆς, καὶ οὖτος μὴν ἕκτος ἐστὶν αὐτῇ τῇ καλουμένῃ στείρᾳ·

37 For there is nothing which God is not able to do.

37 ὅτι οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ πᾶν ῥῆμα.

38 And Mary said: I am the servant of the Lord; may it be to me as you say. And the angel went away.

38 εἶπεν δὲ μαριάμ, ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη κυρίου· γένοιτό μοι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου. καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἀπ᾽ αὐτῆς ὁ ἄγγελος.

39 Then Mary got up and went quickly into the high lands, to a town of Judah;

39 ἀναστᾶσα δὲ μαριὰμ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὴν ὀρεινὴν μετὰ σπουδῆς εἰς πόλιν ἰούδα,

40 And went into the house of Zacharias and took Elisabeth in her arms.

40 καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον ζαχαρίου καὶ ἠσπάσατο τὴν ἐλισάβετ.

41 And when the voice of Mary came to the ears of Elisabeth, the baby made a sudden move inside her; then Elisabeth was full of the Holy Spirit,

41 καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσεν τὸν ἀσπασμὸν τῆς μαρίας ἡ ἐλισάβετ, ἐσκίρτησεν τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐπλήσθη πνεύματος ἁγίου ἡ ἐλισάβετ,

42 And she said with a loud voice: May blessing be on you among women, and a blessing on the child of your body.

42 καὶ ἀνεφώνησεν κραυγῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εἶπεν, εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξίν, καὶ εὐλογημένος ὁ καρπὸς τῆς κοιλίας σου.

43 How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me?

43 καὶ πόθεν μοι τοῦτο ἵνα ἔλθῃ ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ κυρίου μου πρὸς ἐμέ;

44 For, truly, when the sound of your voice came to my ears, the baby in my body made a sudden move for joy.

44 ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ σου εἰς τὰ ὦτά μου, ἐσκίρτησεν ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου.

45 Happy will she be who had faith that the things which the Lord has said to her will be done.

45 καὶ μακαρία ἡ πιστεύσασα ὅτι ἔσται τελείωσις τοῖς λελαλημένοις αὐτῇ παρὰ κυρίου.

46 And Mary said: My soul gives glory to God;

46 καὶ εἶπεν μαριάμ,

47 My spirit is glad in God my Saviour.

47 μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν κύριον, καὶ ἠγαλλίασεν τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῶ θεῶ τῶ σωτῆρί μου,

48 For he has had pity on his servant, though she is poor and lowly placed: and from this hour will all generations give witness to the blessing which has come to me.

48 ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούλης αὐτοῦ. ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν μακαριοῦσίν με πᾶσαι αἱ γενεαί·

49 For he who is strong has done great things for me; and holy is his name.

49 ὅτι ἐποίησέν μοι μεγάλα ὁ δυνατός, καὶ ἅγιον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ,

50 His mercy is for all generations in whom is the fear of him.

50 καὶ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ εἰς γενεὰς καὶ γενεὰς τοῖς φοβουμένοις αὐτόν.

51 With his arm he has done acts of power; he has put to flight those who have pride in their hearts.

51 ἐποίησεν κράτος ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, διεσκόρπισεν ὑπερηφάνους διανοίᾳ καρδίας αὐτῶν·

52 He has put down kings from their seats, lifting up on high the men of low degree.

52 καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνων καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς,

53 Those who had no food he made full of good things; the men of wealth he sent away with nothing in their hands;

53 πεινῶντας ἐνέπλησεν ἀγαθῶν καὶ πλουτοῦντας ἐξαπέστειλεν κενούς.

54 His help he has given to Israel, his servant, so that he might keep in mind his mercy to Abraham and his seed for ever,

54 ἀντελάβετο ἰσραὴλ παιδὸς αὐτοῦ, μνησθῆναι ἐλέους,

55 As he gave his word to our fathers.

55 καθὼς ἐλάλησεν πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν, τῶ ἀβραὰμ καὶ τῶ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

56 And Mary was with her for about three months and then went back to her house.

56 ἔμεινεν δὲ μαριὰμ σὺν αὐτῇ ὡς μῆνας τρεῖς, καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς.

57 Now it was time for Elisabeth to give birth, and she had a son.

57 τῇ δὲ ἐλισάβετ ἐπλήσθη ὁ χρόνος τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν, καὶ ἐγέννησεν υἱόν.

58 And it came to the ears of her neighbours and relations that the Lord had been very good to her, and they took part in her joy.

58 καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ περίοικοι καὶ οἱ συγγενεῖς αὐτῆς ὅτι ἐμεγάλυνεν κύριος τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτῆς, καὶ συνέχαιρον αὐτῇ.

59 And on the eighth day they came to see to the circumcision of the child, and they would have given him the name of Zacharias, his father's name;

59 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ ἦλθον περιτεμεῖν τὸ παιδίον, καὶ ἐκάλουν αὐτὸ ἐπὶ τῶ ὀνόματι τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ζαχαρίαν.

60 But his mother made answer and said, No, his name is John.

60 καὶ ἀποκριθεῖσα ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ εἶπεν, οὐχί, ἀλλὰ κληθήσεται ἰωάννης.

61 And they said, Not one of your relations has that name.

61 καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτὴν ὅτι οὐδείς ἐστιν ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας σου ὃς καλεῖται τῶ ὀνόματι τούτῳ.

62 And they made signs to his father, to say what name was to be given to him.

62 ἐνένευον δὲ τῶ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ τί ἂν θέλοι καλεῖσθαι αὐτό.

63 And he sent for writing materials and put down: His name is John; and they were all surprised.

63 καὶ αἰτήσας πινακίδιον ἔγραψεν λέγων, ἰωάννης ἐστὶν ὄνομα αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐθαύμασαν πάντες.

64 And straight away his mouth was open and his tongue was free and he gave praise to God.

64 ἀνεῴχθη δὲ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ παραχρῆμα καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐλάλει εὐλογῶν τὸν θεόν.

65 And fear came on all those who were living round about them: and there was much talk about all these things in all the hill-country of Judaea.

65 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐπὶ πάντας φόβος τοὺς περιοικοῦντας αὐτούς, καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ὀρεινῇ τῆς ἰουδαίας διελαλεῖτο πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα,

66 And all who had word of them kept them in their minds and said, What will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

66 καὶ ἔθεντο πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν, λέγοντες, τί ἄρα τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο ἔσται; καὶ γὰρ χεὶρ κυρίου ἦν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ.

67 And his father, Zacharias, was full of the Holy Spirit, and with the voice of a prophet said these words:

67 καὶ ζαχαρίας ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ἐπλήσθη πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ ἐπροφήτευσεν λέγων,

68 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and made them free,

68 εὐλογητὸς κύριος ὁ θεὸς τοῦ ἰσραήλ, ὅτι ἐπεσκέψατο καὶ ἐποίησεν λύτρωσιν τῶ λαῶ αὐτοῦ,

69 Lifting up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

69 καὶ ἤγειρεν κέρας σωτηρίας ἡμῖν ἐν οἴκῳ δαυὶδ παιδὸς αὐτοῦ,

70 (As he said, by the mouth of his holy prophets, from the earliest times,)

70 καθὼς ἐλάλησεν διὰ στόματος τῶν ἁγίων ἀπ᾽ αἰῶνος προφητῶν αὐτοῦ,

71 Salvation from those who are against us, and from the hands of those who have hate for us;

71 σωτηρίαν ἐξ ἐχθρῶν ἡμῶν καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν μισούντων ἡμᾶς·

72 To do acts of mercy to our fathers and to keep in mind his holy word,

72 ποιῆσαι ἔλεος μετὰ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν καὶ μνησθῆναι διαθήκης ἁγίας αὐτοῦ,

73 The oath which he made to Abraham, our father,

73 ὅρκον ὃν ὤμοσεν πρὸς ἀβραὰμ τὸν πατέρα ἡμῶν, τοῦ δοῦναι ἡμῖν

74 That we, being made free from the fear of those who are against us, might give him worship,

74 ἀφόβως ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθρῶν ῥυσθέντας λατρεύειν αὐτῶ

75 In righteousness and holy living before him all our days.

75 ἐν ὁσιότητι καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ πάσαις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἡμῶν.

76 And you, child, will be named the prophet of the Most High: you will go before the face of the Lord, to make ready his ways;

76 καὶ σὺ δέ, παιδίον, προφήτης ὑψίστου κληθήσῃ, προπορεύσῃ γὰρ ἐνώπιον κυρίου ἑτοιμάσαι ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ,

77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people, through the forgiveness of sins,

77 τοῦ δοῦναι γνῶσιν σωτηρίας τῶ λαῶ αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀφέσει ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν,

78 Because of the loving mercies of our God, by which the dawn from heaven has come to us,

78 διὰ σπλάγχνα ἐλέους θεοῦ ἡμῶν, ἐν οἷς ἐπισκέψεται ἡμᾶς ἀνατολὴ ἐξ ὕψους,

79 To give light to those in dark places, and in the shade of death, so that our feet may be guided into the way of peace.

79 ἐπιφᾶναι τοῖς ἐν σκότει καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου καθημένοις, τοῦ κατευθῦναι τοὺς πόδας ἡμῶν εἰς ὁδὸν εἰρήνης.

80 And the child became tall, and strong in spirit; and he was living in the waste land till the day when he came before the eyes of Israel.

80 τὸ δὲ παιδίον ηὔξανεν καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο πνεύματι, καὶ ἦν ἐν ταῖς ἐρήμοις ἕως ἡμέρας ἀναδείξεως αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν ἰσραήλ.