Good News Translation GNT
New International Version NIV
1 Dear Theophilus: Many people have done their best to write a report of the things that have taken place among us.
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Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 They wrote what we have been told by those who saw these things from the beginning and who proclaimed the message.
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just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 And so, Your Excellency, because I have carefully studied all these matters from their beginning, I thought it would be good to write an orderly account for you.
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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,
4 I do this so that you will know the full truth about everything which you have been taught.
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so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife's name was Elizabeth; she also belonged to a priestly family.
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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.
6 They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands.
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Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.