1Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us.G1895G4183G2021G392G1335G4012G4229G4135G1722G2254 2They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples.G2531G3860G2254G3588G575G746G1096G845G2532G5257G3056 3Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus,G1380G2504G199G3877G3956G509G1125G4671G2517G2903G2321 4so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.G2443G1921G803G4012G3056G3739G2727 5When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron.G1096G1722G2250G2264G935G2449G5100G2409G3686G2197G1537G2183G7G2532G846G1135G1537G2364G2G2532G846G3686G1665 6Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations.G1161G2258G297G1342G1799G2316G4198G1722G3956G1785G2532G1345G2962G273 7They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.G2532G846G2258G3756G5043G2530G1665G2258G4723G2532G846G297G2258G4260G1722G2250 8One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week.G1161G1096G1722G846G2407G1725G2316G1722G5010G846G2183 9As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.G2596G1485G2405G2975G2370G1525G1519G3485G2962 10While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.G2532G3956G4128G2992G2258G4336G1854G5610G2368 11While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar.G1161G3700G846G32G2962G2476G1537G1188G2379G2368 12Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him.G2532G2197G1492G5015G2532G5401G1968G1909G846 13But the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.G1161G32G2036G4314G846G5399G3361G2197G1360G4675G1162G1522G2532G4675G1135G1665G1080G4671G5207G2532G2564G846G3686G2491 14You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,G2532G4671G2071G5479G2532G20G2532G4183G5463G1909G846G1083 15for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.G1063G2071G3173G1799G2962G2532G4095G3364G3631G2532G4608G2532G4130G40G4151G2089G1537G846G3384G2836 16And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God.G2532G4183G5207G2474G1994G1909G2962G846G2316 17He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly."G2532G846G4281G1799G846G1722G4151G2532G1411G2243G1994G2588G3962G1909G5043G2532G545G1722G5428G1342G2090G2992G2680G2962 18Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure this will happen? I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years."G2532G2197G2036G4314G32G2596G5101G1097G5124G1063G1473G1510G4246G2532G3450G1135G4260G1722G2250G846 19Then the angel said, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!G2532G32G611G2036G846G1473G1510G1043G3936G1799G2316G2532G649G2980G4314G4571G2532G2097G4671G5023G2097 20But now, since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time."G2532G2400G2071G4623G2532G3361G1410G2980G891G2250G3739G5023G1096G473G3739G4100G3756G3450G3056G3748G4137G1519G846G2540 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long.G2532G2992G2258G4328G2197G2532G2296G1722G846G5549G1722G3485 22When he finally did come out, he couldn't speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.G1161G1831G1410G3756G2980G846G2532G1921G3754G3708G3701G1722G3485G2532G846G2258G1269G846G2532G1265G2974 23When Zechariah's week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home.G2532G1096G5613G2250G846G3009G4130G565G1519G846G3624 24Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months.G1161G3326G5025G2250G846G1135G1665G4815G2532G4032G1438G4002G3376G3004 25"How kind the Lord is!" she exclaimed. "He has taken away my disgrace of having no children."G3754G3779G4160G2962G4160G3427G1722G2250G3739G1896G851G3450G3681G1722G444 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,G1161G1722G1623G3376G32G1043G649G5259G2316G1519G4172G1056G3739G3686G3478 27to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.G4314G3933G3423G435G3739G3686G2501G1537G3624G1138G2532G3933G3686G3137 28Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!"G2532G32G1525G4314G846G2036G5463G5487G2962G3326G4675G2127G4771G1722G1135 29Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.G1161G1492G1298G1909G846G3056G2532G1260G4217G783G3778G1498 30"Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God!G2532G32G2036G846G5399G3361G3137G1063G2147G5485G3844G2316 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.G2532G2400G4815G1722G1064G2532G5088G5207G2532G2564G846G3686G2424 32He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.G3778G2071G3173G2532G2564G5207G5310G2532G2962G2316G1325G846G2362G846G3962G1138 33And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!"G2532G936G1909G3624G2384G1519G165G2532G846G932G2071G3756G5056 34Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin."G1161G2036G3137G4314G32G4459G2071G5124G2071G1893G1097G3756G435 35The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.G2532G32G611G2036G846G40G4151G1904G1909G4571G2532G1411G5310G1982G4671G1352G2532G40G1080G1537G4675G2564G5207G2316 36What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she's now in her sixth month.G2532G2400G4675G4773G1665G846G4815G2532G4815G5207G1722G846G1094G2532G3778G2076G1623G3376G846G3588G2564G4723 37For nothing is impossible with God."G3754G3844G2316G3756G3956G4487G101 38Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her.G1161G3137G2036G2400G1399G2962G1096G3427G2596G4675G4487G2532G32G565G575G846 39A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the townG1161G3137G450G1722G5025G2250G4198G1519G3714G3326G4710G1519G4172G2448 40where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth.G2532G1525G1519G3624G2197G2532G782G1665 41At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.G2532G1096G5613G1665G191G783G3137G1025G4640G1722G846G2836G2532G1665G4130G40G4151 42Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, "God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed.G2532G400G3173G5456G2532G2036G2127G4771G1722G1135G2532G2127G2590G4675G2836 43Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?G2532G4159G5124G3427G2443G3384G3450G2962G2064G4314G3165 44When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.G1063G2400G5613G5456G4675G783G1096G1519G3450G3775G1025G4640G1722G3450G2836G1722G20 45You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said."G2532G3107G4100G3754G2071G5050G2980G846G3844G2962 46Mary responded, "Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.G2532G3137G2036G3450G5590G3170G2962 47How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!G2532G3450G4151G21G1909G2316G3450G4990 48For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.G3754G1914G1909G5014G846G1399G1063G2400G575G3568G3956G1074G3106G3165G3106 49For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.G3754G1415G4160G3427G3167G2532G40G846G3686 50He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.G2532G846G1656G5399G846G1519G1074G1074 51His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.G4160G2904G1722G846G1023G1287G5244G1271G846G2588 52He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.G2507G1413G575G2362G2532G5312G5011 53He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.G1705G3983G18G2532G4147G1821G2756G1821 54He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.G482G846G3816G2474G3415G1656 55For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever."G2531G2980G4314G2257G3962G11G2532G846G4690G1519G165 56Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.G1161G3137G3306G4862G846G5616G5140G3376G2532G5290G1519G846G3624 57When it was time for Elizabeth's baby to be born, she gave birth to a son.G1161G1665G4130G5550G4130G846G5088G2532G1080G5207 58And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.G2532G4040G2532G846G4773G191G3754G2962G3170G1656G846G3326G846G2532G4796G846 59When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father.G2532G1096G1722G3590G2250G2064G4059G3813G2532G2564G846G2197G1909G3686G846G3962 60But Elizabeth said, "No! His name is John!"G2532G846G3384G611G2036G3780G235G2564G2491 61"What?" they exclaimed. "There is no one in all your family by that name."G2532G2036G4314G846G3754G2076G3762G1722G4675G4772G3739G2564G5129G3686 62So they used gestures to ask the baby's father what he wanted to name him.G1161G1770G846G3962G5101G302G2309G846G2564 63He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone's surprise he wrote, "His name is John."G2532G154G4093G1125G3004G846G3686G2076G2491G2532G2296G3956 64Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.G1161G846G4750G455G3916G2532G846G1100G2532G2980G2127G2316 65Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills.G2532G5401G1096G1909G3956G4039G846G2532G3956G5023G4487G1255G1722G3650G3714G2449 66Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, "What will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.G2532G3956G191G5087G1722G846G2588G3004G5101G686G3813G2071G5124G2071G2532G5495G2962G2258G3326G846 67Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy.G2532G846G3962G2197G4130G40G4151G2532G4395G3004 68"Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.G2128G2962G2316G2474G3754G1980G2532G3085G846G2992G4160 69He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David,G2532G1453G2768G4991G2254G1722G3624G846G3816G1138 70just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.G2531G2980G1223G4750G846G40G4396G3588G575G165 71Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.G4991G1537G2257G2190G2532G1537G5495G3956G3404G2248 72He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—G4160G1656G3326G2257G3962G2532G3415G846G40G1242 73the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.G3727G3739G3660G4314G2257G3962G11 74We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear,G1325G2254G4506G1537G5495G2257G2190G3000G846G870 75in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.G1722G3742G2532G1343G1799G846G3956G2250G2257G2222 76"And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.G2532G4771G3813G2564G4396G5310G1063G4313G4253G4383G2962G2090G846G3598 77You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.G1325G1108G4991G846G2992G1722G859G846G266 78Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,G1223G4698G1656G2257G2316G1722G3739G395G1537G5311G1980G2248 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."G2014G2521G1722G4655G2532G4639G2288G2720G2257G4228G1519G3598G1515 80John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.G1161G3813G837G2532G2901G4151G2532G2258G1722G2048G2193G2250G846G323G4314G2474
1In the beginning the Word already existed The Word was with God, and the Word was God.G1722G746G2258G3056G2532G3056G2258G4314G2316G2532G3056G2258G2316 2He existed in the beginning with God.G3778G2258G1722G746G4314G2316 3God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.G3956G1096G1223G846G2532G5565G846G1096G3761G1520G1096G3739G1096 4The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.G1722G846G2258G2222G2532G2222G2258G5457G444 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.G2532G5457G5316G1722G4653G2532G4653G2638G846G3756 6God sent a man, John the Baptist,G1096G444G649G3844G2316G846G3686G2491 7to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.G3778G2064G1519G3141G2443G3140G4012G5457G2443G3956G1223G846G4100 8John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.G2258G3756G1565G5457G235G2443G3140G4012G5457 9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.G2258G228G5457G3739G5461G3956G444G2064G1519G2889 10He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him.G2258G1722G2889G2532G2889G1096G1223G846G2532G2889G1097G846G3756 11He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.G2064G1519G2398G2532G2398G3880G846G3756 12But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.G1161G3745G2983G846G846G1325G1849G1096G5043G2316G4100G1519G846G3686 13They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.G3739G1080G3756G1537G129G3761G1537G2307G4561G3761G1537G2307G435G235G1537G2316 14So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.G2532G3056G1096G4561G2532G4637G1722G2254G2532G2300G846G1391G1391G5613G3439G3844G3962G4134G5485G2532G225 15John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'"G2491G3140G4012G846G2532G2896G3004G3778G2258G3739G2036G2064G3694G3450G1096G1715G3450G3754G2258G4413G3450 16From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.G2532G1537G846G4138G2983G3956G2249G2983G2532G5485G473G5485 17For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.G3754G3551G1325G1223G3475G5485G2532G225G1096G1223G2424G5547 18No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us.G3762G3708G2316G4455G3439G5207G3588G5607G1519G2859G3962G1565G1834 19This was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, "Who are you?"G2532G3778G2076G3141G2491G3753G2453G649G2409G2532G3019G1537G2414G2443G2065G846G5101G1488G4771 20He came right out and said, "I am not the Messiah."G2532G3670G2532G720G3756G2532G3670G3754G1473G1510G3756G5547 21"Well then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?" "No," he replied "Are you the Prophet we are expecting?" "No."G2532G2065G846G5101G3767G1488G4771G2243G2532G3004G1510G3756G1488G4771G4396G2532G611G3756 22"Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?"G3767G2036G846G5101G1488G2443G1325G612G3992G2248G5101G3004G4012G4572 23John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: "I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Clear the way for the LORD's coming!'"G5346G1473G5456G994G1722G2048G2116G3598G2962G2531G2036G4396G2268 24Then the Pharisees who had been sentG2532G3588G649G2258G1537G5330 25asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?"G2532G2065G846G2532G2036G846G5101G907G3767G1487G4771G1488G3756G5547G3777G2243G3777G4396 26John told them, "I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.G2491G611G846G3004G1473G907G1722G5204G1161G2476G3319G5216G3739G5210G1492G3756 27Though his ministry follows mine, I'm not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal."G846G2076G3739G2064G3694G3450G1096G1715G3450G3739G846G5266G2438G1473G1510G3756G514G2443G3089 28This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.G5023G1096G1722G962G4008G2446G3699G2491G2258G907 29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!G1887G2491G991G2424G2064G4314G846G2532G3004G2396G286G2316G3588G142G266G2889 30He is the one I was talking about when I said, 'A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'G3778G2076G4012G3739G1473G2036G3694G3450G2064G435G3739G1096G1715G3450G3754G2258G4413G3450 31I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel."G2504G1492G846G3756G235G2443G5319G2474G1223G5124G2064G1473G2064G907G1722G5204 32Then John testified, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.G2532G2491G3140G3004G3754G2300G4151G2597G1537G3772G5616G4058G2532G3306G1909G846 33I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'G2504G1492G846G3756G235G3992G3165G907G1722G5204G1565G2036G3427G1909G3739G302G1492G4151G2597G2532G3306G1909G846G3778G2076G907G1722G40G4151 34I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God."G2504G3708G2532G3140G3754G3778G2076G5207G2316 35The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples.G3825G1887G2491G2476G2532G1417G1537G846G3101 36As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!"G2532G1689G2424G4043G3004G2396G286G2316 37When John's two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.G2532G1417G3101G191G846G2980G2532G190G2424 38Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked them They replied, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?"G1161G2424G4762G2532G2300G846G190G3004G846G5101G2212G1161G2036G846G4461G3739G3004G2059G1320G4226G3306 39"Come and see," he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.G3004G846G2064G2532G1492G2064G2532G1492G4226G3306G2532G3306G3844G846G1565G2250G1161G2258G5613G1182G5610 40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus.G1520G1537G1417G3588G191G3844G2491G2532G190G846G2258G406G4613G4074G80 41Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means "Christ").G3778G4413G2147G2398G80G4613G2532G3004G846G2147G3323G3739G2076G3177G5547 42Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, "Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas" (which means "Peter").G2532G71G846G4314G2424G1161G2424G1689G846G2036G4771G1488G4613G5207G2495G4771G2564G2786G3739G2059G4074 43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Come, follow me."G1887G2424G2309G1831G1519G1056G2532G2147G5376G2532G3004G846G190G3427 44Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's hometown.G1161G5376G2258G575G966G4172G1537G406G2532G4074 45Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth."G5376G2147G3482G2532G3004G846G2147G3739G3475G1722G3551G2532G4396G1125G2424G575G3478G5207G2501 46"Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" "Come and see for yourself," Philip replied.G2532G3482G2036G846G1410G5100G18G1511G1537G3478G5376G3004G846G2064G2532G1492 47As they approached, Jesus said, "Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity."G2424G1492G3482G2064G4314G846G2532G3004G4012G846G2396G2475G230G1722G3739G2076G3756G1388 48"How do you know about me?" Nathanael asked Jesus replied, "I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you."G3482G3004G846G4159G1097G3165G2424G611G2532G2036G846G4253G5376G5455G4571G5607G5259G4808G1492G4571 49Then Nathanael exclaimed, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!"G3482G611G2532G3004G846G4461G4771G1488G5207G2316G4771G1488G935G2474 50Jesus asked him, "Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this."G2424G611G2532G2036G846G3754G2036G4671G1492G4571G5270G4808G4100G3700G3187G5130 51Then he said, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth."G2532G3004G846G281G281G3004G5213G737G575G3700G3772G455G2532G32G2316G305G2532G2597G1909G5207G444
Dublin, OH
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