Chapter 1

epeidhper polloi epeceirhsan anataxasqai dihghsin peri twn peplhroforhmenwn en hmin pragmatwn

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

kaqwV paredosan hmin oi ap archV autoptai kai uphretai genomenoi tou logou

Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

edoxen kamoi parhkolouqhkoti anwqen pasin akribwV kaqexhV soi grayai kratiste qeofile

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,

ina epignwV peri wn kathchqhV logwn thn asfaleian

That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed

egeneto en taiV hmeraiV hrwdou tou basilewV thV ioudaiaV iereuV tiV onomati zacariaV ex efhmeriaV abia kai h gunh autou ek twn qugaterwn aarwn kai to onoma authV elisabet

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.

hsan de dikaioi amfoteroi enwpion tou qeou poreuomenoi en pasaiV taiV entolaiV kai dikaiwmasin tou kuriou amemptoi

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

kai ouk hn autoiV teknon kaqoti h elisabet hn steira kai amfoteroi probebhkoteV en taiV hmeraiV autwn hsan

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

egeneto de en tw ierateuein auton en th taxei thV efhmeriaV autou enanti tou qeou

And it came to pass that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

kata to eqoV thV ierateiaV elacen tou qumiasai eiselqwn eiV ton naon tou kuriou

According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

kai pan to plhqoV tou laou hn proseucomenon exw th wra tou qumiamatoV

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

wfqh de autw aggeloV kuriou estwV ek dexiwn tou qusiasthriou tou qumiamatoV

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

kai etaracqh zacariaV idwn kai foboV epepesen ep auton

And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled and fear fell upon him.

eipen de proV auton o aggeloV mh fobou zacaria dioti eishkousqh h dehsiV sou kai h gunh sou elisabet gennhsei uion soi kai kaleseiV to onoma autou iwannhn

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.

kai estai cara soi kai agalliasiV kai polloi epi th gennhsei autou carhsontai

And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

estai gar megaV enwpion tou kuriou kai oinon kai sikera ou mh pih kai pneumatoV agiou plhsqhsetai eti ek koiliaV mhtroV autou

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.

kai pollouV twn uiwn israhl epistreyei epi kurion ton qeon autwn

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

kai autoV proeleusetai enwpion autou en pneumati kai dunamei hliou epistreyai kardiaV paterwn epi tekna kai apeiqeiV en fronhsei dikaiwn etoimasai kuriw laon kateskeuasmenon

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.

kai eipen zacariaV proV ton aggelon kata ti gnwsomai touto egw gar eimi presbuthV kai h gunh mou probebhkuia en taiV hmeraiV authV

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this ? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years .

kai apokriqeiV o aggeloV eipen autw egw eimi gabrihl o paresthkwV enwpion tou qeou kai apestalhn lalhsai proV se kai euaggelisasqai soi tauta

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

kai idou esh siwpwn kai mh dunamenoV lalhsai acri hV hmeraV genhtai tauta anq wn ouk episteusaV toiV logoiV mou oitineV plhrwqhsontai eiV ton kairon autwn

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.

kai hn o laoV prosdokwn ton zacarian kai eqaumazon en tw cronizein auton en tw naw

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

exelqwn de ouk hdunato lalhsai autoiV kai epegnwsan oti optasian ewraken en tw naw kai autoV hn dianeuwn autoiV kai diemenen kwfoV

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.

kai egeneto wV eplhsqhsan ai hmerai thV leitourgiaV autou aphlqen eiV ton oikon autou

And it came to pass that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished he departed to his own house.

meta de tautaV taV hmeraV sunelaben elisabet h gunh autou kai periekruben eauthn mhnaV pente legousa

And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived and hid herself five months, saying

oti outwV moi pepoihken o kurioV en hmeraiV aiV epeiden afelein to oneidoV mou en anqrwpoiV

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

en de tw mhni tw ektw apestalh o aggeloV gabrihl upo tou qeou eiV polin thV galilaiaV h onoma nazaret

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

proV parqenon memnhsteumenhn andri w onoma iwshf ex oikou dabid kai to onoma thV parqenou mariam

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

kai eiselqwn o aggeloV proV authn eipen caire kecaritwmenh o kurioV meta sou euloghmenh su en gunaixin

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.

h de idousa dietaracqh epi tw logw autou kai dielogizeto potapoV eih o aspasmoV outoV

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be

kai eipen o aggeloV auth mh fobou mariam eureV gar carin para tw qew

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

kai idou sullhyh en gastri kai texh uion kai kaleseiV to onoma autou ihsoun

And, behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

outoV estai megaV kai uioV uyistou klhqhsetai kai dwsei autw kurioV o qeoV ton qronon dabid tou patroV autou

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:

kai basileusei epi ton oikon iakwb eiV touV aiwnaV kai thV basileiaV autou ouk estai teloV

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

eipen de mariam proV ton aggelon pwV estai touto epei andra ou ginwskw

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be seeing I know not a man ?

kai apokriqeiV o aggeloV eipen auth pneuma agion epeleusetai epi se kai dunamiV uyistou episkiasei soi dio kai to gennwmenon agion klhqhsetai uioV qeou

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.

kai idou elisabet h suggenhV sou kai auth suneilhfuia uion en ghra authV kai outoV mhn ektoV estin auth th kaloumenh steira

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.

oti ouk adunathsei para tw qew pan rhma

For with God nothing shall be impossible

eipen de mariam idou h doulh kuriou genoito moi kata to rhma sou kai aphlqen ap authV o aggeloV

And Mary said Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

anastasa de mariam en taiV hmeraiV tautaiV eporeuqh eiV thn oreinhn meta spoudhV eiV polin iouda

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

kai eishlqen eiV ton oikon zacariou kai hspasato thn elisabet

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

kai egeneto wV hkousen h elisabet ton aspasmon thV mariaV eskirthsen to brefoV en th koilia authV kai eplhsqh pneumatoV agiou h elisabet

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:

kai anefwnhsen fwnh megalh kai eipen euloghmenh su en gunaixin kai euloghmenoV o karpoV thV koiliaV sou

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

kai poqen moi touto ina elqh h mhthr tou kuriou mou proV me

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me ?

idou gar wV egeneto h fwnh tou aspasmou sou eiV ta wta mou eskirthsen en agalliasei to brefoV en th koilia mou

For, lo as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

kai makaria h pisteusasa oti estai teleiwsiV toiV lelalhmenoiV auth para kuriou

And blessed is she that believed for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

kai eipen mariam megalunei h yuch mou ton kurion

And Mary said My soul doth magnify the Lord,

kai hgalliasen to pneuma mou epi tw qew tw swthri mou

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

oti epebleyen epi thn tapeinwsin thV doulhV autou idou gar apo tou nun makariousin me pasai ai geneai

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed

oti epoihsen moi megaleia o dunatoV kai agion to onoma autou

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

kai to eleoV autou eiV geneaV genewn toiV foboumenoiV auton

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

epoihsen kratoV en bracioni autou dieskorpisen uperhfanouV dianoia kardiaV autwn

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

kaqeilen dunastaV apo qronwn kai uywsen tapeinouV

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

peinwntaV eneplhsen agaqwn kai ploutountaV exapesteilen kenouV

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away

antelabeto israhl paidoV autou mnhsqhnai eleouV

He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

kaqwV elalhsen proV touV pateraV hmwn tw abraam kai tw spermati autou eiV ton aiwna

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

emeinen de mariam sun auth wsei mhnaV treiV kai upestreyen eiV ton oikon authV

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

th de elisabet eplhsqh o cronoV tou tekein authn kai egennhsen uion

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered and she brought forth a son.

kai hkousan oi perioikoi kai oi suggeneiV authV oti emegalunen kurioV to eleoV autou met authV kai sunecairon auth

And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

kai egeneto en th ogdoh hmera hlqon peritemein to paidion kai ekaloun auto epi tw onomati tou patroV autou zacarian

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.

kai apokriqeisa h mhthr autou eipen ouci alla klhqhsetai iwannhV

And his mother answered and said Not so; but he shall be called John.

kai eipon proV authn oti oudeiV estin en th suggeneia sou oV kaleitai tw onomati toutw

And they said unto her , There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

eneneuon de tw patri autou to ti an qeloi kaleisqai auton

And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called

kai aithsaV pinakidion egrayen legwn iwannhV estin to onoma autou kai eqaumasan panteV

And he asked for a writing table, and wrote saying His name is John. And they marvelled all.

anewcqh de to stoma autou paracrhma kai h glwssa autou kai elalei eulogwn ton qeon

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake and praised God.

kai egeneto epi pantaV foboV touV perioikountaV autouV kai en olh th oreinh thV ioudaiaV dielaleito panta ta rhmata tauta

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

kai eqento panteV oi akousanteV en th kardia autwn legonteV ti ara to paidion touto estai kai ceir kuriou hn met autou

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.

kai zacariaV o pathr autou eplhsqh pneumatoV agiou kai proefhteusen legwn

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied saying

euloghtoV kurioV o qeoV tou israhl oti epeskeyato kai epoihsen lutrwsin tw law autou

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people

kai hgeiren keraV swthriaV hmin en tw oikw dabid tou paidoV autou

And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

kaqwV elalhsen dia stomatoV twn agiwn twn ap aiwnoV profhtwn autou

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

swthrian ex ecqrwn hmwn kai ek ceiroV pantwn twn misountwn hmaV

That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

poihsai eleoV meta twn paterwn hmwn kai mnhsqhnai diaqhkhV agiaV autou

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

orkon on wmosen proV abraam ton patera hmwn tou dounai hmin

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

afobwV ek ceiroV twn ecqrwn hmwn rusqentaV latreuein autw

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

en osiothti kai dikaiosunh enwpion autou pasaV taV hmeraV thV zwhV hmwn

In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

kai su paidion profhthV uyistou klhqhsh proporeush gar pro proswpou kuriou etoimasai odouV autou

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;

tou dounai gnwsin swthriaV tw law autou en afesei amartiwn autwn

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

dia splagcna eleouV qeou hmwn en oiV epeskeyato hmaV anatolh ex uyouV

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

epifanai toiV en skotei kai skia qanatou kaqhmenoiV tou kateuqunai touV podaV hmwn eiV odon eirhnhV

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

to de paidion huxanen kai ekrataiouto pneumati kai hn en taiV erhmoiV ewV hmeraV anadeixewV autou proV ton israhl

And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.