There was in the days of Herod, the King of Judaea, a certain priest
named Zacharias, of the course Arijah; and his wife was of the
daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless.
And they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren, and they both
were well stricken in years.
And it came to pass that, while he executed the priest's office before
God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's
office his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the
Lord.
Andthe whole multitude of the people were praying outside at time
of incense.
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing on the
right side of the altar of incense.
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon
him.
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.
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his
birth.
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 Spirit, even
from his mother's womb.
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord, their
God.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 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.
And Zacharias said unto the angel, How shall I know this? For I am
an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
And the Angel, answering, said unto him, I am Gabriel, who stands
in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show
thee these glad tidings.
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.
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so
long in the temple.
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 made signs
unto them, and remained speechless.
And it came to pass that, as soon as the days of his ministration were
accomplished, he departed to his own house.
And after those days his wife, Elisabeth, conceived, and hid herself
five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days in
which he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
And in the sixth month the angel, Gabriel, was sent from God unto a
city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house
of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou who art highly
favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and
considered in her mind what manner of greeting this should be.
And the angel came in unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found
favor with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luke 1:5 thru 31
Matthew 1:21(b) for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord
through the prophet, saying, Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall
bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which, being
interpreted, is God with us. Matthew 1:22 & 23 .
Luke 1:32 - 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.
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his
kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not
a man?
And the angel answered, and said unto her, The Holy Spirit 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.
And, behold, thy cousin, Elisabeth, hath also conceived a son in her
old age; and this is the sixth month with her, who was barren.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me
according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with
haste, into a city of Judah;
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elisabeth.
And it came to pass that, when Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary,
the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy
Spirit.
And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou
among women, and blessed is the fruit of the womb.
And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me?
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy greeting sounded in mine ears, the
babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And blessed is she that believed; for shall be a performance of those
things which were told her from the Lord.
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath
rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handsmaiden; for, behold,
from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her
own house.
Now Elisbeth's full time came she should be delivered; and she
brought forth a son.
And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had shown
great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
And it came to pass that, on the eight day, they came to circumcise
the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall he called
John.
And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called
by this name.
And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is
John. And they all marveled.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue was loosed,
and he spoke, and praised God.
And fear came on all that dwelt round about them; and all these
sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.
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.
Luke 2:1-8 And it came to pass, in those days, that there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be registered
and taxed.
(2) And this registration was first made when Quirinius was governor
of Syria.
All all went to be registered, everyone into his own city.
Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because
he was of he house and lineage of David),
To be registered with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished
that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luke 2:9-20 And, lo, an angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were very much
afraid.
(10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the
Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host, praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord
hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe
lying in the manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying
which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told
them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.