Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2要让你知道所学的道都是确实的。Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
预言施洗约翰的出生
3在希律作犹太王的时候，亚比雅班里有一个祭司，名叫撒迦利亚；他妻子是亚伦的后代，名叫伊利莎白。It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4他们两人在神面前都是义人，遵行主的一切诫命和条例，没有可指责的。That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
5只是他们没有孩子，因为伊利莎白不生育，两个人又年纪老迈了。There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6撒迦利亚按班次在神面前执行祭司的职务，And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7照祭司的规矩抽签，进到主的殿里烧香。And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8烧香的时候，众百姓在外面祷告。And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
9有主的一个使者站在香坛的右边，向他显现。According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10撒迦利亚看见，就惊慌害怕。And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11天使对他说：“撒迦利亚，不要害怕，因为你的祈祷已经被听见了。你的妻子伊利莎白要给你生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫约翰。And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12你必欢喜快乐；有许多人因他出世也必喜乐。And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13他在主面前将要为大，淡酒烈酒都不喝，从母腹里就被圣灵充满。But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14他要使许多以色列人回转，归于主—他们的神。And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15他将有以利亚的精神和能力，走在主的前面，叫父亲的心转向儿女，叫悖逆的人转向义人的智慧，又为主预备迎接他的百姓。”For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16撒迦利亚对天使说：“我怎么能知道这事呢？我已经老了，我的妻子也年纪老迈了。”And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17天使回答他说：“我是站在神面前的加百列，奉差遣来对你说话，把这好信息报给你。And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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 the Lord.
18到了时候，这些话必然应验；只因你不信我的话，你会成为哑巴，不能说话，直到这些事实现的日子。”And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19百姓等候撒迦利亚，诧异他在圣所里迟延那么久。And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20到他出来，却不能和他们说话，他们就知道他在圣所里见了异象；他直向他们打手势，因为他成了哑巴。And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21他供职的日子一满，就回家去了。And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22这些日子以后，他的妻子伊利莎白就怀孕，隐藏了五个月；And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23她说：“主在眷顾我的日子，这样看顾我，要除掉我在人前的羞耻。”And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
预言耶稣的降生
24到了第六个月，天使加百列奉神的差遣往加利利的一座城去，这城名叫拿撒勒，And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25到一个童女那里，她已经许配大卫家的一个人，名叫约瑟；童女的名字叫马利亚。Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
26天使进去，对她说：“蒙大恩的女子，你好，主和你同在！”And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27马利亚因这话就很惊慌，又反覆思考这样问候是什么意思。To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28天使对她说：“马利亚，不要怕，你在神面前已经蒙恩了。
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29你要怀孕生子，要给他起名叫耶稣。And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30他将要为大，称为至高者的儿子； 主神要把他祖先大卫的王位给他。And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31他要作雅各家的王，直到永远； 他的国没有穷尽。”And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32马利亚对天使说：“我没有出嫁，怎么会有这事呢？”He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33天使回答她说： “圣灵要临到你身上； 至高者的能力要庇荫你， 因此，那要出生的圣者要称为神的儿子☛“那要出生的圣者要称为神的儿子”或译“那要出生的要称为圣，为神的儿子”。。And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34况且，你的亲戚伊利莎白，就是那素来称为不生育的，在年老的时候也怀了男胎，现在怀孕六个月了。Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35因为，出于神的话，没有一句不带能力的。”And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36马利亚说：“我是主的使女，愿意照你的话实现在我身上。”于是天使离开她去了。And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
马利亚看望伊利莎白
37在那些日子，马利亚起身，急忙前往山区，来到犹大的一座城，For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38进了撒迦利亚的家，向伊利莎白问安。And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
39伊利莎白一听到马利亚问安，所怀的胎就在腹里跳动。伊利莎白被圣灵充满，And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
40高声喊着说： “你在妇女中是有福的！ 你所怀的胎也是有福的！And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41我主的母亲到我这里来，为何这事临到我呢？And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42因为你问安的声音一入我耳，我腹里的胎就欢喜跳动。And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43这相信的女子是有福的！因为主对她所说的话都要应验。”马利亚的尊主颂
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44马利亚说： “我心尊主为大；For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45我灵以神我的救主为乐；And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46因为他顾念他使女的卑微； 从今以后，万代要称我有福。And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47因为那有权能的为我做了大事； 他的名是圣的。And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48他怜悯敬畏他的人， 直到世世代代。For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49他用膀臂施展大能； 他赶散心里妄想的狂傲人。For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50他叫有权柄的失位， 叫卑贱的升高。And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51他叫饥饿的饱餐美食， 叫富足的空手回去。He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52他扶助了他的仆人以色列，不忘记施怜悯，He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53正如他对我们的列祖说过， ‘怜悯亚伯拉罕和他的后裔，直到永远。’”He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54马利亚和伊利莎白同住，约有三个月，然后回家去了。He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
施洗约翰的出生
55伊利莎白的产期到了，生了一个儿子。As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
56邻里亲属听见主向她大施怜悯，就和她一同欢乐。And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57到了第八日，他们来给孩子行割礼，并要照他父亲的名字叫他撒迦利亚。Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58他母亲回应说：“不！要叫他约翰。”And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59他们对她说：“你亲族中没有叫这名字的。”And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60他们就向他父亲打手势，问他这孩子要叫什么名字。And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
61他要了一块写字的板，写上：“他的名字是约翰。”他们就都惊讶。And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62撒迦利亚的口立刻开了，舌头也松了，就开始说话称颂神。And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63周围居住的人都惧怕；这一切的事就传遍了犹太山区。And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
64凡听见的人都把这事放在心里，他们说：“这个孩子将来会怎么样呢？”因为有主的手与他同在。撒迦利亚颂
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
65他父亲撒迦利亚被圣灵充满，就预言说：And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
66“主—以色列的神是应当称颂的！ 因他眷顾他的百姓，为他们施行救赎，And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67在他仆人大卫家中， 为我们兴起了拯救的角，And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68正如主藉着古时候圣先知的口所说的，Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69‘他拯救我们脱离仇敌， 脱离一切恨我们之人的手。And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70他向我们列祖施怜悯， 记得他的圣约，As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71就是他对我们祖宗亚伯拉罕所起的誓，That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72叫我们既从仇敌手中被救出来， 就可以终身在他面前， 无所惧怕地用圣洁和公义事奉他。To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73孩子啊，你要称为至高者的先知； 因为你要走在主的前面，为他预备道路，The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74叫他的百姓因罪得赦， 认识救恩；That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75因我们神怜悯的心肠， 叫清晨的日光从高天临到我们，In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76要照亮坐在黑暗中死荫里的人， 把我们的脚引到和平的路上。’”And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77这孩子渐渐长大，心灵坚强，住在旷野，直到他在以色列人面前公开出现的日子。To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,