1 Luke says, many people wrote the story of what God did. ✍️ 2 People saw it and told it. They told the truth. ️ 3 Luke says to Theophilus, “I will write it all in order for you.” ➡️ 4 “I want you to know what is true.” ✅❤️ 5 In King Herod’s time, a man named Zechariah was a priest. His wife was Elizabeth. 6 They did what God said. They tried to live right. ✅ 7 They had no baby. They were old. 8 Zechariah worked in God’s house, the temple. ⛪ 9 He was picked to burn sweet smoke to God. ️️ 10 All the people prayed outside. 11 An angel stood by him at the table. 12 Zechariah saw the angel and was afraid. 13 The angel said, “Do not fear, Zechariah. God heard you. Elizabeth will have a son. Name him John.” 14 “You will be happy. Many people will be glad.” 15 “He will be great for God. He will not drink wine. He will be filled with God’s Holy Spirit, even before birth.” ✨ 16 “He will help many people come back to God.” 17 “He will go first. He will help dads love kids. He will make people ready for the Lord.” ❤️️ 18 Zechariah said, “How can this be? We are old.” ♂️ 19 The angel said, “I am Gabriel. God sent me to tell you this good news.” 20 “You did not believe. You will not speak until it happens.” 21 The people waited for Zechariah. They wondered why he was late. ⏳ 22 He came out and could not talk. He made signs. They knew he saw a God sign. ✋ 23 He finished his work and went home. 24 After this, Elizabeth had a baby inside her. She stayed at home for five months. 25 She said, “God was kind to me. Now I am not sad.” 26 In month six, God sent Gabriel to a town named Nazareth. ️ 27 He came to Mary. She was not married yet. She was to marry Joseph, from King David’s family. 28 The angel said, “Hi Mary! God is with you!” ✨ 29 Mary was upset and thought, “What does this mean?” 30 The angel said, “Do not fear, Mary. God is pleased with you.” ❤️ 31 “You will have a baby boy. Name Him Jesus.” ✝️ 32 “He will be great. He will be God’s Son. God will make Him King like David.” ✨ 33 “He will be King for all time. His rule will not end.” ♾️ 34 Mary said, “How can this be? I am not with a man.” 35 The angel said, “God’s Holy Spirit will come to you. The baby will be holy. He will be God’s Son.” ✨ 36 “Your kin Elizabeth is with a baby too, even when she is old.” 37 “For God, nothing is too hard.” ✨ 38 Mary said, “I am God’s helper. Let it be as you say.” The angel left. ✅ 39 Mary got up fast and went to a hill town in Judea. ♀️⛰️ 40 She went to Zechariah’s house and said hi to Elizabeth. 41 Elizabeth heard Mary. The baby jumped in her! Elizabeth was filled with God’s Holy Spirit. ✨ 42 She cried out, “Mary, you are blessed! Your baby is blessed!” ️ 43 “Why am I so special? The mother of my Lord came to me!” ❤️ 44 “When I heard you, my baby jumped for happy.” 45 “You are blessed, Mary, for you believed what God said.” ✅ 46 Mary said, “I thank God so big.” 47 “I am so glad. God saves me.” 48 “God saw me, His helper. Now all will say I am glad.” 49 “God is strong. He did a big thing for me. God is holy.” ✨ 50 “God is kind to all who look to Him.” ❤️ 51 “God showed His power. He stopped the proud.” ✋ 52 “God took down big ones and lifted up small ones.” ⬇️⬆️ 53 “God gave food to the hungry. The rich went away with no gift.” ️ 54 “God helped Israel. He was kind to us.” 55 “He kept His word to Abraham and his kids for all time.” ✅ 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth three months. Then she went home. ️ 57 It was time. Elizabeth had a baby boy. 58 Friends and family heard God was kind. They were happy with her. 59 On day eight, they had a special God day for the baby. They wanted to name him Zechariah. ️ 60 His mom said, “No. His name is John.” 61 They said, “No one in your family has that name.” 62 They made signs to Zechariah to ask him. ✋❓ 63 He wrote, “His name is John.” ️ 64 Right then he could talk again. He praised God. ➡️️ 65 All the people near them were in awe. They told the news in all Judea. ️ 66 They said, “What will this boy be?” God’s hand was with him. ✋✨ 67 Zechariah was filled with God’s Holy Spirit and spoke a God word. ✨️ 68 “Thank You, God of Israel. You came to help and set us free.” 69 “You sent a strong Savior from David’s family.” 70 “You said this long ago by Your god men who spoke for You.” ️ 71 “You save us from bad ones who hate us.” ️ 72 “You were kind. You kept Your promise.” ❤️✅ 73 “You told Abraham You would do this.” 74 “You freed us so we can serve You with no fear.” 75 “We will be good and clean with You all our days.” ️ 76 “And you, child, you will be God’s helper. You will go first. You will get people ready for the Lord.” ️ 77 “You will tell people God saves. God will wash away sin.” ❤️ 78 “God is so kind. A new light comes to us from God.” ✨ 79 “This light will help people in dark and fear. It will guide us to peace.” ️️ 80 John grew up. He was strong. He lived in the wild land until his work time.