Luke 1
1 As you know, many others have attempted to put down in writing the things that have been fulfilled that involve us.
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
2 They based their accounts on evidence from the earliest eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word,
even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
3 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.
it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus [God friend];
4 I have done this dear Theophilus so you can be certain that what you were taught is completely reliable.
that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
5 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.
There was in the days of Herod [Heroic], the king of Judea [Praise], a certain priest named Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], of the priestly division of Abiyah [My father Yah]. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron [Light-bringer], and her name was Elizabeth [My God oath].
6 They both did what was right before God, being careful to follow all the Lord's commandments and regulations.
They were both upright before God, observing all the mitzvot ·instructions· and ordinances of Yahweh blamelessly.
7 They had no children because Elizabeth wasn't able to have any, and they were both growing old.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth [My God oath] was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
8 While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, on behalf of his priestly division,
Now while he served in the priest’s office before God in the order of his priestly division,
9 he was chosen by lot according to priestly custom to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.
according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of Yahweh and burn incense (as the Cohen Gadol ·High Priest· on Yom Kippur ·Day of Atonement·). On the seventh month Ethanim ·Ever-flowing durable stream (in Hebrew), 7· or Tishrei ·[Beginning (in Babylonian)]· on the 10th day).
10 During the time of offering incense a large crowd of people were praying outside.
All the people were outside, praying, at the time of the incense burning,
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
when there appeared to him an angel of MarYah [Master Yahweh], standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became terrified.
Zacharias [Remembered by Yah] was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
13 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.
But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth [My God oath], will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John [Yah is gracious].
14 He will bring you joy and gladness, and many will celebrate his birth.
You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 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.
For he will be great in the sight of MarYah [Master Yahweh], and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with Ruach haKodesh [Spirit, Breath of the Holiness], even from his mother’s womb.
16 He will turn many Israelites back to the Lord their God.
He will turn many of the children of to MarYah [Master Yahweh], their God.
17 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.”
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah [My God Yah], ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for Adonai.”
18 “How can I be sure about this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I'm an old man, and my wife is getting old too.”
Zacharias [Remembered by Yah] said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 “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.
The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel [Man of God], who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
20 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.”
Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t trust my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21 Outside the people were waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was taking so long in the Temple.
The people were waiting for Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.
22 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.
When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
23 After he'd finished his time of service, he went back home.
When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.
After these days Elizabeth [My God oath], his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “now that he's taken away my disgrace in the eyes of others.”
“Thus has MarYah [Master Yahweh] done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”
26 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.
Now in the sixth month Elul ·Search, 6·, the angel Gabriel [Man of God] was sent from God to a city of Galilee [District, Circuit], named Nazareth [Branch, Separated one],
27 She was engaged to a man named Joseph.
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph [May he add], of David [Beloved]’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary [Rebellion].
28 The angel greeted her. “You are very privileged,” he told her. “The Lord is with you.”
Having come in, the angel said to her, “Shalom ·Complete peace·, favored lady! Adonai is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
29 Mary was very puzzled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant.
But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
30 “Don't worry, Mary,” the angel went on, “for God has shown his graciousness to you.
The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary [Rebellion], for you have found favor with God.
31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call him Jesus.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Yeshua [Salvation].’
32 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,
He will be great, and will be called haBen haElohim Chayim [the Son of the God Living]. MarYah [Master Yahweh] God will give him the throne of his forefather, David [Beloved],
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never come to an end.” (aiōn g165)
and he will reign over the house of Jacob [Supplanter] forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” (aiōn g165)
34 “How is this possible?” Mary asked. “I'm still a virgin.”
Mary [Rebellion] said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”
35 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.
The angel answered her, “The Ruach Kodesh [Holy Spirit, Breath] will come on you, and the power of the Elyon [Most High] will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Ben-Elohim ·Son of Elohim God·.
36 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.
Behold, Elizabeth [My God oath], your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month Elul ·Search, 6· with her who was called barren.
37 Nothing is impossible for God.”
For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”
38 “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.
Mary [Rebellion] said, “Behold, the servant of MarYah [Master Yahweh]; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her.
39 A little while later, Mary got herself ready and hurried up into the hills of Judea, to the town where
Mary [Rebellion] arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah [Praised],
40 Zechariah's house was. She called out to Elizabeth as she went in.
and entered into the house of Zacharias [Remembered by Yah] and greeted Elizabeth [My God oath].
41 As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby jumped for joy inside her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
When Elizabeth [My God oath] heard Mary [Rebellion]’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth [My God oath] was filled with Ruach haKodesh [Spirit, Breath of the Holiness].
42 and cried out in a loud voice, “How blessed you are among women, and how blessed will be the child born to you!
She called out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me?
Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 As soon as I heard you call out in greeting, my baby jumped for joy inside me.
For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
45 How fortunate you are, because you are convinced that the Lord will do what he has promised you!”
Blessed is she who trusted, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from MarYah [Master Yahweh]!”
46 Mary replied, “How I praise the Lord!
Mary [Rebellion] said, “My soul magnifies Adonai.
47 I am so happy with God my Savior,
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
48 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.
for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
49 God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy set-apart is his name.
50 His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him.
And in every generation, he has eleos ·merciful compassion in action· on those who fear him.
51 With his power he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they're so clever.
He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He tears the powerful down from their thrones, and elevates those who are humble.
He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
53 He fills the hungry with good things to eat, and he sends the rich away empty-handed.
He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy,
He has given help to Israel [God prevails], his servant, that he might remember eleos ·merciful compassion in action·,
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham [Father of a multitude] and his offspring forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with her for three months and then returned home.
Mary [Rebellion] stayed with her about three months, and then teshuvah ·completely returned· to her house.
57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and she gave birth to a son.
Now the time that Elizabeth [My God oath] should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had showed her great kindness, and they celebrated together with her.
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that Adonai had magnified his eleos ·merciful compassion in action· towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father.
On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], after the name of his father.
60 “No,” Elizabeth said. “He shall be called John.”
His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John [Yah is gracious].”
61 “But there's nobody among your relatives who has this name,” they told her.
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 Through gestures they asked Zechariah, the boy's father, what he wanted to call his son.
They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
63 Zechariah motioned for something to write on. To everyone's surprise he wrote, “His name is John.”
He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John [Yah is gracious].” They all marveled.
64 Immediately he could speak again, and he started praising God.
His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 All those living nearby were in awe at what had happened, and the news spread throughout the hill country of Judea.
Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea [Praise].
66 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.
All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of MarYah [Master Yahweh] was with him.
67 Zechariah, his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke this prophecy:
His father, Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], was filled with Ruach haKodesh [Spirit, Breath of the Holiness], and prophesied, saying,
68 “The Lord, the God of Israel, he is wonderful, for he has come to his people and set them free.
“Blessed be MarYah [Master Yahweh], the God of Israel [God prevails], for he has visited and redeemed his people;
69 He has given us a great Savior from the line of his servant David,
and has raised up a horn of yishu'ah ·salvation· for us in the house of his servant David [Beloved]
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), (aiōn g165)
71 He promised to save us from our enemies, from those who hate us.
yishu'ah ·salvation· from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 He was merciful to our fathers, remembering his holy agreement—
to show eleos ·merciful compassion in action· towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties·,
73 the promise that he made to our father Abraham.
the covenant oath which he swore to Abraham [Father of a multitude], Avinu ·our Father·,
74 He gives us freedom from fear and rescues us from our enemies,
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
75 so we can serve him by doing what is good and right for our whole lives.
In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
76 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,
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Elyon [Most High], for you will go before the face of Yahweh to prepare his ways,
77 providing knowledge of salvation to his people through the forgiveness of their sins.
to give knowledge of yishu'ah ·salvation· to his people by the remission of their abstract sins ·miss the marks·,
78 Through God's caring kindness to us, heaven's dawn will break upon us
because of the tender eleos ·merciful compassion in action· of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
79 to shine on those who live in darkness and under the shadow of death, and to guide us along the path of peace.”
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 The boy John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the time came for his public ministry to Israel.
The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel [God prevails].
