Dear Theophilos: Concerning the matters that have taken place among us, many people have undertaken to draw up accounts

based on what was handed down to us by those who from the start were eyewitnesses and proclaimers of the message.

Therefore, Your Excellency, since I have carefully investigated all these things from the beginning, it seemed good to me that I too should write you an accurate and ordered narrative,

so that you might know how well-founded are the things about which you have been taught.

Both of them were righteous before God, observing all the mitzvot and ordinances of Adonai blamelessly.

He will be a joy and a delight to you, and many people will rejoice when he is born,

for he will be great in the sight of Adonai. He is never to drink wine or other liquor, and he will be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh even from his mother’s womb.

He will turn many of the people of Isra’el to Adonai their God.

He will go out ahead of Adonai in the spirit and power of Eliyahu to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for Adonai a people prepared.”

Z’kharyah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man; my wife too is well on in years.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Z’kharyah; they were surprised at his taking so long in the Temple.

Following this, Elisheva his wife conceived, and she remained five months in seclusion, saying,

“Adonai has done this for me; he has shown me favor at this time, so as to remove my public disgrace.”

In the sixth month, the angel Gavri’el was sent by God to a city in the Galil called Natzeret,

to a virgin engaged to a man named Yosef, of the house of David; the virgin’s name was Miryam.

She was deeply troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Miryam, for you have found favor with God.

“How can this be,” asked Miryam of the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

“You have a relative, Elisheva, who is an old woman; and everyone says she is barren. But she has conceived a son and is six months pregnant!

Miryam said, “I am the servant of Adonai; may it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Without delay, Miryam set out and hurried to the town in the hill country of Y’hudah

When Elisheva heard Miryam’s greeting, the baby in her womb stirred. Elisheva was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh

“But who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy!

Indeed you are blessed, because you have trusted that the promise Adonai has made to you will be fulfilled.”