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With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
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The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
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Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
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He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
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to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
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and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
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“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
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When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
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As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
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He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
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to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
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to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
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The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
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When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
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Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
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Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
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and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
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and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
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the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
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the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
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Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
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where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
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The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
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The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
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The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.
