Luke 1
1 As you know, many others have attempted to put down in writing the things that have been fulfilled that involve us.
To his Excellency, Theophilus. Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us,
2 They based their accounts on evidence from the earliest eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word,
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the message.
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.
And, therefore, I also, since I have investigated all these events with great care from their very beginning, have resolved to write a connected history of them for you,
4 I have done this dear Theophilus so you can be certain that what you were taught is completely reliable.
in order that you may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story which you have heard from the lips of others.
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.
In the reign of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division called after Abijah. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 They both did what was right before God, being careful to follow all the Lord's commandments and regulations.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 They had no children because Elizabeth wasn't able to have any, and they were both growing old.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, on behalf of his priestly division,
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
9 he was chosen by lot according to priestly custom to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.
it fell to him by lot, in accordance with the practice among the priests, to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense;
10 During the time of offering incense a large crowd of people were praying outside.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became terrified.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
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, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John.
14 He will bring you joy and gladness, and many will celebrate his birth.
He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over 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 the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
16 He will turn many Israelites back to the Lord their God.
and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord 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 with the power of Elijah, to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.’
18 “How can I be sure about this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I'm an old man, and my wife is getting old too.”
‘How can I be sure of this?’ Zechariah asked the angel. ‘For I am an old man and my wife is 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.
‘I am Gabriel,’ the angel answered, ‘who stand in the presence of God, and I have been 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.”
And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course.’
21 Outside the people were waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was taking so long in the Temple.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long 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 was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.
23 After he'd finished his time of service, he went back home.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.
After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.
25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “now that he's taken away my disgrace in the eyes of others.”
‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said, ‘he has shown me kindness and taken away the public disgrace of childlessness under which I have been living.’
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.
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 She was engaged to a man named Joseph.
to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 The angel greeted her. “You are very privileged,” he told her. “The Lord is with you.”
Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, ‘You have been shown great favour – the Lord is with you.’
29 Mary was very puzzled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 “Don't worry, Mary,” the angel went on, “for God has shown his graciousness to you.
when the angel spoke again, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call him Jesus.
And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.
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,
The child will be great and will be called “Son of the Most High,” and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
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 descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.’ (aiōn g165)
34 “How is this possible?” Mary asked. “I'm still a virgin.”
‘How can this be?’ Mary asked the angel. ‘For I have no husband.’
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 Holy Spirit will descend on you,’ answered the angel, ‘and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called “holy,” and “Son of 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.
And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren;
37 Nothing is impossible for God.”
for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.’
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.
‘I am the servant of the Lord,’ exclaimed Mary. ‘Let it be with me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.
39 A little while later, Mary got herself ready and hurried up into the hills of Judea, to the town where
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 Zechariah's house was. She called out to Elizabeth as she went in.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
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 heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 and cried out in a loud voice, “How blessed you are among women, and how blessed will be the child born to you!
and cried aloud, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me?
But how have I this honour, 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, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 How fortunate you are, because you are convinced that the Lord will do what he has promised you!”
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.’
46 Mary replied, “How I praise the Lord!
And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord,
47 I am so happy with God my Savior,
and my spirit delights in God my Saviour,
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 with favour on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
49 God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy.
‘For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him.
He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
51 With his power he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they're so clever.
‘Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
52 He tears the powerful down from their thrones, and elevates those who are humble.
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
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, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy,
‘He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,
as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.’ (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with her for three months and then returned home.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and she gave birth to a son.
When Elizabeth’s time came, 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.
and her neighbours and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father.
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 “No,” Elizabeth said. “He shall be called John.”
when his mother spoke up, ‘No, he is to be called John.’
61 “But there's nobody among your relatives who has this name,” they told her.
‘You have no relation of that name!’ they exclaimed;
62 Through gestures they asked Zechariah, the boy's father, what he wanted to call his son.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 Zechariah motioned for something to write on. To everyone's surprise he wrote, “His name is John.”
Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – “His name is John.” Everyone was surprised
64 Immediately he could speak again, and he started praising God.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 All those living nearby were in awe at what had happened, and the news spread throughout the hill country of Judea.
All their neighbours were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
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 it kept it in mind, asking one another – ‘What can this child be destined to become?’ For the Power of the Lord was with him.
67 Zechariah, his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke this prophecy:
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 “The Lord, the God of Israel, he is wonderful, for he has come to his people and set them free.
‘Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 He has given us a great Savior from the line of his servant David,
and has raised up for us the strength of our salvation in the house of his servant David –
as he promised by the lips of his holy prophets of old – (aiōn g165)
71 He promised to save us from our enemies, from those who hate us.
salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 He was merciful to our fathers, remembering his holy agreement—
showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
73 the promise that he made to our father Abraham.
This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
74 He gives us freedom from fear and rescues us from our enemies,
that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 so we can serve him by doing what is good and right for our whole lives.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days.
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 prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 providing knowledge of salvation to his people through the forgiveness of their sins.
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Through God's caring kindness to us, heaven's dawn will break upon us
through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
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 give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and 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 grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
