Luke 1
1 Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
Since many have undertaken to compile an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,
2 just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,
3 Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
it seemed good to me also, having carefully investigated all things from the beginning, to write an orderly account for yoʋ, most excellent Theophilus,
4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
so that yoʋ may know the certainty of the things about which yoʋ have been instructed.
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron.
In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in their days.
8 One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God when his division was on duty,
9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
At the hour of incense a great crowd was assembled outside, praying.
11 Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for yoʋr prayer has been heard. Yoʋr wife Elizabeth will bear yoʋ a son, and yoʋ shall name him John.
14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
Yoʋ will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
16 Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
And he will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her days.”
19 “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God and was sent to speak to yoʋ and bring yoʋ this good news.
20 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
But behold, yoʋ will be silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because yoʋ did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their appointed time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering about his delay in the temple.
22 When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless.
When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, because he kept making signs to them and remained unable to speak.
23 And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
And when the days of his service had come to an end, he returned to his home.
24 After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,
25 “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
“The Lord has done this for me. In these days he has looked upon me with favor and taken away my reproach among the people.”
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with yoʋ! Blessed are yoʋ among women!”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
But when Mary saw him, she was greatly perplexed by his statement and began wondering what sort of greeting this could be.
30 So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for yoʋ have found favor with God.
31 Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
And behold, yoʋ will conceive in yoʋr womb and give birth to a son, and yoʋ shall name him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon yoʋ, and the power of the Most High will overshadow yoʋ; therefore the holy child that is to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
And behold, yoʋr relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it happen to me according to yoʋr word.” And the angel left her.
39 In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
In those days Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country, to a town of Judah,
40 where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Then she exclaimed with a loud voice, “Blessed are yoʋ among women, and blessed is the fruit of yoʋr womb!
43 And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
How has this happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
For behold, when the sound of yoʋr greeting came into my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
Blessed is she who has believed, for what the Lord has spoken to her will be fulfilled.”
46 Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
Then Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
because he has looked favorably on the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
because the Mighty One has done great things for me; holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
From generation to generation his mercy is upon those who fear him.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
And Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned to her house.
57 When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
Now the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
Then her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.
60 But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
But the child's mother responded, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
But they said to her, “There is no one among yoʋr relatives who has that name.”
62 So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
Then they began making signs to the child's father to find out what he wanted to name him.
63 Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
So he asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
At once Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, blessing God.
65 All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
Then fear came upon all who dwelt around them, and in the entire hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed.
66 And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
All who heard about this laid it up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
Then Zechariah, the child's father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited his people and brought them redemption.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
He has raised up for us a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David
(just as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets long ago), (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
to deal mercifully with our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
the oath he swore to Abraham our father, to grant us
74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
that we, having been rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives.
76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
And yoʋ, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for yoʋ will go before the presence of the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
to give his people knowledge of salvation through the remission of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
through the tender mercy of our God, by which the sunrise has visited us from on high,
79 to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
