Luke 1
1 As you know, many others have attempted to put down in writing the things that have been fulfilled that involve us.
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 They based their accounts on evidence from the earliest eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word,
Even as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and ministers of the word;
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 had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 I have done this dear Theophilus so you can be certain that what you were taught is completely reliable.
That thou mayest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been 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 the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth.
6 They both did what was right before God, being careful to follow all the Lord's commandments and regulations.
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 They had no children because Elizabeth wasn't able to have any, and they were both growing old.
And they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren, and they both were far advanced in years.
8 While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, on behalf of his priestly division,
And it came to pass, that, while he executed the priests' office before God in the order of his course,
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 priests' office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 During the time of offering incense a large crowd of people were praying outside.
And the whole multitude of the people were praying without, at the time of incense.
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became terrified.
And when Zacharias saw [him], he was troubled, 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, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 He will bring you joy and gladness, and many will celebrate his birth.
And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall 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 shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
16 He will turn many Israelites back to the Lord their God.
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn 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.”
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 “How can I be sure about this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I'm an old man, and my wife is getting old too.”
And Zacharias said to the angel, By what shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife far 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.
And the angel answering, said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.
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 behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 Outside the people were waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was taking so long in the Temple.
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried 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.
And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he beckoned to them, and remained speechless.
23 After he'd finished his time of service, he went back home.
And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.
And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and secluded 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 hath the Lord dealt with me in the days in which he looked on [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.
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 She was engaged to a man named Joseph.
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name [was] Mary.
28 The angel greeted her. “You are very privileged,” he told her. “The Lord is with you.”
And the angel came to her, and said, Hail, [thou that art] highly favored, the Lord [is] with thee: blessed [art] thou among women.
29 Mary was very puzzled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant.
And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 “Don't worry, Mary,” the angel went on, “for God has shown his graciousness to you.
And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call him Jesus.
And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his 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,
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father 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 house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. (aiōn g165)
34 “How is this possible?” Mary asked. “I'm still a virgin.”
Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
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.
And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Highest will overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the 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 behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren:
37 Nothing is impossible for God.”
For with God nothing will be 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.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it to me according to thy word. And 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
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill-country with haste, into a city of Judah,
40 Zechariah's house was. She called out to Elizabeth as she went in.
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby jumped for joy inside her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb: and Elisabeth 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 she spoke with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb.
43 Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me?
And whence [is] this to me, 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 lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe 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!”
And blessed [is] she that believed that there will be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46 Mary replied, “How I praise the Lord!
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 I am so happy with God my Savior,
And my spirit hath 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 hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy [is] his name.
50 His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him.
And his mercy [is] on them that fear him, from generation to generation.
51 With his power he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they're so clever.
He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath 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 hath put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He fills the hungry with good things to eat, and he sends the rich away empty-handed.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy,
He hath sustained his servant Israel, in remembrance of [his] mercy;
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with her for three months and then returned home.
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and she gave birth to a son.
Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had showed her great kindness, and they celebrated together with her.
And her neighbors and her cousins heard that the Lord had shown great mercy upon 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.
And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60 “No,” Elizabeth said. “He shall be called John.”
And his mother answered and said, Not [so]; but he shall be called John.
61 “But there's nobody among your relatives who has this name,” they told her.
And they said to her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62 Through gestures they asked Zechariah, the boy's father, what he wanted to call his son.
And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 Zechariah motioned for something to write on. To everyone's surprise he wrote, “His name is John.”
And he asked for a writing-table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all wondered.
64 Immediately he could speak again, and he started praising God.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he spoke, and praised God.
65 All those living nearby were in awe at what had happened, and the news spread throughout the hill country of Judea.
And fear came on all that dwelt around them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill-country of Judea.
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.
And all they that had heard [them], laid [them] up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child will this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Zechariah, his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke this prophecy:
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, 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] the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people.
69 He has given us a great Savior from the line of his servant David,
And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of his servant David:
As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began: (aiōn g165)
71 He promised to save us from our enemies, from those who hate us.
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 He was merciful to our fathers, remembering his holy agreement—
To perform the mercy [promised] to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant:
73 the promise that he made to our father Abraham.
The oath which he swore to our father Abraham,
74 He gives us freedom from fear and rescues us from our enemies,
That he would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might 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 thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 providing knowledge of salvation to his people through the forgiveness of their sins.
To give knowledge of salvation to his people, by the remission 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; by which the day-spring from on high hath visited 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 give light to them that sit in darkness and [in] the shades 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.
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing to Israel.
