Luke 1
1 Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
As you know, many others have attempted to put down in writing the things that have been fulfilled that involve us.
2 just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
They based their accounts on evidence from the earliest eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word,
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,
and so I also decided that since I have followed these things very carefully from the beginning, it would be a good idea to write out an accurate account of all that happened.
4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
I have done this dear Theophilus so you can be certain that what you were taught is completely reliable.
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.
During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest called Zechariah, who came from the Abijah priestly division. He was married to Elizabeth, who was also descended from Aaron the priest.
6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
They both did what was right before God, being careful to follow all the Lord's commandments and regulations.
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
They had no children because Elizabeth wasn't able to have any, and they were both growing old.
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, on behalf of his priestly division,
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 priestly custom 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.
During the time of offering incense a large crowd of people were praying outside.
11 Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became terrified.
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 told him, “Don't be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call him John.
14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
He will bring you joy and gladness, and many will celebrate 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.
He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will refuse to drink wine or other alcoholic drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he's born.
16 Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
He will turn many Israelites back 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.”
He will go ahead of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the fathers back to thinking about their children, and to turn those who are rebellious back to a right understanding—to prepare a people ready 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.”
“How can I be sure about this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I'm an old man, and my wife is getting old too.”
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.
“I am Gabriel,” the angel replied. “I stand in God's presence, and I was sent to speak to you and give you 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 since you didn't believe what I told you, you'll become dumb, unable to speak, until the appointed time when my words come true.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
Outside the people were waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was taking so long 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 eventually he came out, he wasn't able to speak to them. They realized he'd seen a vision in the Temple, for though he could make gestures, he was completely dumb.
23 And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
After he'd finished his time of service, he went back home.
24 After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.
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,” she said, “now that he's taken away my disgrace in the eyes of others.”
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
In the sixth month of her pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a young girl called Mary who lived in the town of Nazareth in Galilee.
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.
She was engaged to a man named Joseph.
28 The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
The angel greeted her. “You are very privileged,” he told her. “The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
Mary was very puzzled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant.
30 So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
“Don't worry, Mary,” the angel went on, “for God has shown his graciousness to you.
31 Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call 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 very great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never come to an end.” (aiōn g165)
34 “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
“How is this possible?” Mary asked. “I'm still 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.
He replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. The baby who is to be born is holy, and 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 Elizabeth, your relative, even she is pregnant in her old age. The woman that people said couldn't have children is already six months pregnant.
37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
Nothing is impossible for God.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
“Here I am, ready to be the Lord's servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me just as you said.” Then the angel left her.
39 In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
A little while later, Mary got herself ready and hurried up into the hills of Judea, to the town where
40 where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
Zechariah's house was. She called out to Elizabeth as she went in.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby jumped for joy inside her. 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!
and cried out in a loud voice, “How blessed you are among women, and how blessed will be the child born to you!
43 And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me?
44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
As soon as I heard you call out in greeting, my baby jumped for joy inside me.
45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
How fortunate you are, because you are convinced that the Lord will do what he has promised you!”
46 Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
Mary replied, “How I praise the Lord!
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
I am so happy with 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 decided that I, his servant, was worthy of his consideration, despite my humble background. From now on every generation will say I was blessed.
49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
With his power he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they're so clever.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
He tears the powerful down from their thrones, and elevates those who are humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
He fills the hungry with good things to eat, and he sends the rich away empty-handed.
54 He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy,
just as he promised our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Mary stayed with her for three months and then returned home.
57 When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and she gave birth to a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
Her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had showed her great kindness, and they celebrated together with her.
59 On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father.
60 But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
“No,” Elizabeth said. “He shall be called John.”
61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
“But there's nobody among your relatives who has this name,” they told her.
62 So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
Through gestures they asked Zechariah, the boy's father, what he wanted to call his son.
63 Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
Zechariah motioned for something to write on. To everyone's surprise he wrote, “His name is John.”
64 Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
Immediately he could speak again, and he started praising God.
65 All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
All those living nearby were in awe at what had happened, and the news spread throughout the hill country of Judea.
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.
Everyone who heard the news wondered what it meant. “What will the little boy grow up to be?” they asked, for it was clear he was very special to God.
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
Zechariah, his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke this prophecy:
68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
“The Lord, the God of Israel, he is wonderful, for he has come to his people and set them free.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
He has given us a great Savior from the line of his servant David,
as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
He promised to save us from our enemies, from those who hate us.
72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
He was merciful to our fathers, remembering his holy agreement—
73 the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
the promise that he made to our father Abraham.
74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
He gives us freedom from fear and rescues us from our enemies,
75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
so we can serve him by doing what is good and right for our whole 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,
Even though you are only a small child, you will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way,
77 to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
providing knowledge of salvation to his people through the forgiveness of their sins.
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
Through God's caring kindness to us, heaven's dawn will break upon us
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 shine on those who live in darkness and under the shadow of death, and to guide us along the path 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.
The boy John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the time came for his public ministry to Israel.
