THOUGH many have undertaken to compile a narrative about what took place among us

as the original eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word [the Self-existent, the Son of man] handed them down to us,

it seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, 

so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been informed.

In the days of King Herod of the region of Judah, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zachariah. His wife, Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.

As far as God [the Self-existent] is concerned, both of them were upright, living without blame, according to all the injunctions and requirements of the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit,

 but they were childless — Elizabeth could not conceive — and both of them were well advanced in age.

When it was his family’s turn to minister and he was serving as priest before God

(according to the custom of the priesthood, it was his duty to burn incense in the house of worship),

at the hour of incense, when the whole assembly was praying outside,

a celestial messenger of the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit, appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

When Zachariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear.

But the celestial messenger said to him: Do not be afraid, Zachariah, your prayer has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, you are to name him, John.

He will bring joy and gladness, not to you only, many will rejoice at his birth,

in that he will be great in the sight of the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] and will never drink wine or strong drink. He will be filled with the holy spirit [the breath of the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit] while still in his mother’s womb.

He will bring many of the sons of Israel back to the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit, their God,

and he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to the children and make the unpersuadable to see that there is wisdom in uprightness, to get ready for the Self-existent, the Son of man, a prepared people.

“How can I know this?” Zachariah asked the celestial messenger, “I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in age.”

The celestial messenger answered him, “I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit. I was sent from God [the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit] to deliver this good news to you.

Now, listen! You will become dumb and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my word, which will be fulfilled in its proper time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zachariah, wondering why he stayed so long in the house of worship. 

When he came out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the house of worship. He kept making signs to them; he remained speechless.

When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

After those days, his wife, Elizabeth, conceived and kept herself in seclusion  for five months. She said,

“This is what the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit, has done for me: He has had compassion on me to take reproach away from me.”

In the sixth month, the same celestial messenger, Gabriel, was sent by God [the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit] — the Commander of celestial messengers — to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 

to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

The celestial messenger came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Self-existent, the Holy Spirit, is with you.  You are most favored among women.”

She was deeply troubled by this greeting, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.

Then the celestial messenger told her: Do not panic, Mary; you have found favor with God [the Self-existent].

Now, listen! You will conceive and later give birth to a Son; call His name Jesus.

He will be great and will be called “the Son of the Highest [the Self-existent]. The Self-existent, the Holy Spirit, the Mighty, will hand over the throne of His father, David, to Him.

He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will have no end.”

Mary asked the celestial messenger, “How can this be, since I have not had intimate relations with a man?”

The celestial messenger replied her: “God [the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit] will come upon you — the Power [Spirit/Cloud] of the Highest [the Self-existent] will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God [the Self-existent].

Now, listen to this: A relative of yours, Elizabeth, has conceived a son in her old age and this is the sixth month for her who was called ‘childless’.

This is a clear proof that there is nothing that God cannot do.”

“I am the servant of the Self-existent,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the celestial messenger left her.

In those days, Mary set out, went to a town in the region of Judah, in haste,

entered Zachariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her and Elizabeth was filled with the holy spirit [hallowed breath] - the breath of the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit. 

Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: “You are the most favored of women and praise belong to the child in your womb.

How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Sovereign Master should come to me? 

As the sound of your greeting got to my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me!

You are favored in that you believed, because what was spoken to you from the Self-existent will be fulfilled!”

Mary said: “With my soul, I proclaim the greatness of the Self-existent

and with my spirit, I rejoice in God [the Self-existent], my Savior,

because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His maidservant. Surely, from now on, all generations will call me Favored,

because the One [the Self-existent] who can do all things has done great thing for me; His Name [Emissary] - the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit - is to be held in awe.

His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.

He has used His arm [power] to show His might — He has dispersed the proud in their thoughts.

He has dethroned the mighty and exalted the lowly.

He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

 He has helped His servant, Israel

as He spoke to our ancestor, Abraham, and his descendants, being always mindful of His mercy.”

Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

Now, the time came for Elizabeth to give birth and she gave birth to a son. 

Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Self-existent had shown her great mercy and they rejoiced with her.

When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they gave him the name Zachariah, after his father, 

but his mother responded, “No! He will be called John.”

Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 

So, they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called.

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: HIS NAME IS JOHN. They were all amazed. 

Immediately, his mouth was opened — his tongue loosed — and he began to speak, praising God.

Fear came on all those who lived around them and all these things were noised throughout the highlands of Judah.

All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become? Certainly, the Hand [Power/Spirit] of the Self-existent – the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit - is with him.”

Then his father, Zachariah, was filled with the holy spirit [hallowed breath] - the breath of the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit - and prophesied:

Praise the Self-existent, the God of Israel — the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit — because He has visited and provided redemption for His people.

He has raised up a powerful Rescuer from perdition for us from the family of His servant, David —

as He spoke by the mouth
of His holy prophets in ancient times —

to rescue us from our enemies and from those who hate us;

He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant —

the oath He swore to our father, Abraham,

that He would grant to us that after we must have been rescued from our enemies’ clutches, we would serve Him without fear,

in holiness and uprightness in His presence all our days.

Now, you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest [the Self-existent], for you will go before the Self-existent, the Son of man to prepare the ground for Him,

to grant His people knowledge of rescue from perdition by the remission of their sins.

Through the mercy of our God [the Self-existent], the Dawn [the Self-existent, the Son of man] from on high has visited us,

to shine on those who live in darkness and utter darkness — to show us the way to the place of rest.”

The child grew up and became spiritually strong. He lived in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.