Luke 1
1 Forasmuch as many haue taken in hand to set foorth the storie of those things, whereof we are fully persuaded,
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 As they haue deliuered them vnto vs, which from the beginning saw them their selues, and were ministers of ye 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 It seemed good also to me (most noble Theophilus) assoone as I had searched out perfectly all things from the beginning, to write vnto thee thereof from point to point,
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 That thou mightest acknowledge the certaintie of those things, whereof thou hast bene instructed.
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 In the time of Herod King of Iudea, there was a certaine Priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabet.
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 Both were iust before God, and walked in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord, without reproofe.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 And they had no childe, because that Elisabet was barren: and both were well stricken in age.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 And it came to passe, as he executed the Priestes office before God, as his course came in order,
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
9 According to the custome of the Priests office, his lot was to burne incense, when he went into the Temple of the Lord.
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 And the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer, while the incense was burning.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 Then appeared vnto him an Angel of the Lord standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 And when Zacharias sawe him, he was troubled, and feare fell vpon him.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 But the Angel saide vnto him, Feare not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard, and thy wise Elisabet shall beare thee a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Iohn.
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 And thou shalt haue ioy and gladnes, and many shall reioyce at his birth.
He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 For he shalbe great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drinke wine, nor strong drinke: and he shalbe filled with the holy Ghost, euen from his mothers wombe.
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 And many of the children of Israel shall he turne to their Lord God.
and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 For he shall goe before him in the spirite and power of Elias, to turne the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisedome of the iust men, to make ready a people prepared 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 Then Zacharias said vnto ye Angel, Whereby shall I knowe this? for I am an olde man, and my wife is of a great age.
‘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 And the Angell answered, and sayde vnto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speake vnto thee, and to shew thee these good tidings.
‘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 And beholde, thou shalt be domme, and not be able to speake, vntill the day that these things be done, because thou beleeuedst not my words, which shalbe fulfilled in their season.
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 Now the people waited for Zacharias, and marueiled that he taried so long in the Temple.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 And when hee came out, hee coulde not speake vnto them: then they perceiued that hee had seene a vision in the Temple: For he made signes vnto them, and remained domme.
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 And it came to passe, when the daies of his office were fulfilled, that he departed to his owne house.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 And after those daies, his wife Elisabet conceiued, and hid her selfe fiue moneths, saying,
After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me, in the daies wherein he looked on me, to take from me my rebuke among men.
‘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 And in the sixth moneth, the Angell Gabriel was sent from God vnto a citie of Galile, named Nazareth,
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 To a virgin affianced to a man whose name was Ioseph, of the house of Dauid, and the virgins name was Marie.
to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 And the Angel went in vnto her, and said, Haile thou that art freely beloued: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, ‘You have been shown great favour – the Lord is with you.’
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and thought what maner of salutation that should be.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 Then the Angel saide vnto her, Feare not, Marie: for thou hast found fauour with God.
when the angel spoke again, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 For loe, thou shalt conceiue in thy wobe, and beare a sonne, and shalt call his name Iesus.
And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Sonne of the most High, and the Lord God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid.
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 hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer, and of his kingdome shall bee none ende. (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 Then sayde Marie vnto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I knowe not man?
‘How can this be?’ Mary asked the angel. ‘For I have no husband.’
35 And the Angel answered, and said vnto her, The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee, and the power of the most High shall ouershadowe thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall bee borne of thee, shall be called the Sonne 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 behold, thy cousin Elisabet, she hath also conceiued a sonne in her olde age: and this is her sixt moneth, which was called barren.
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 For with God shall nothing be vnpossible.
for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.’
38 Then Marie said, Behold the seruant of the Lord: be it vnto me according to thy woorde. So the Angel departed from 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 And Marie arose in those daies, and went into ye hil countrey with hast to a citie of Iuda,
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 And entred into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabet.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to passe, as Elisabet heard the salutation of Marie, the babe sprang in her bellie, and Elisabet was filled with the holy Ghost.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 And she cried with a loud voice, and saide, Blessed art thou among women, because the fruit of thy wombe is blessed.
and cried aloud, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 And whence commeth this to mee, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For loe, assoone as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eares, the babe sprang in my bellie for ioye,
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 And blessed is shee that beleeued: for those things shall be perfourmed, which were tolde her from the Lord.
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.’
46 Then Marie sayde, My soule magnifieth the Lord,
And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirite reioyceth in God my Sauiour.
and my spirit delights in God my Saviour,
48 For hee hath looked on the poore degree of his seruaunt: for beholde, from henceforth shall all ages call me blessed,
for he has looked with favour on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
49 Because hee that is mightie, hath done for me great things, and holy is his Name.
‘For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 And his mercie is from generation to generation on them that feare him.
He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
51 Hee hath shewed strength with his arme: hee hath scattered the proude in the imagination of their hearts.
‘Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
52 Hee hath put downe the mighty from their seates, and exalted them of lowe degree.
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
53 Hee hath filled the hungrie with good things, and sent away the rich emptie.
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 Hee hath vpholden Israel his seruaunt to be mindefull of his mercie
‘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 And Marie abode with her about three moneths: after, shee returned to her owne house.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 Nowe Elisabets time was fulfilled, that shee should be deliuered, and shee brought foorth a sonne.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 And her neighbours, and cousins heard tell howe the Lord had shewed his great mercie vpon her, and they reioyced with her.
and her neighbours and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 And it was so that on the eight day they came to circumcise the babe, and called him Zacharias after the name of his father.
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 But his mother answered, and saide, Not so, but he shalbe called Iohn.
when his mother spoke up, ‘No, he is to be called John.’
61 And they saide vnto her, There is none of thy kindred, that is named with this name.
‘You have no relation of that name!’ they exclaimed;
62 Then they made signes to his father, howe he would haue him called.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 So hee asked for writing tables, and wrote, saying, His name is Iohn, and they marueiled all.
Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – “His name is John.” Everyone was surprised
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he spake and praised God.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 Then feare came on all them that dwelt neere vnto them, and all these woordes were noised abroade throughout all the hill countrey of Iudea.
All their neighbours were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
66 And al they that heard them, laid them vp in their hearts, saying, What maner childe shall this be! and the hand of the Lord was with him.
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 Then his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath visited and redeemed his people,
‘Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 And hath raised vp the horne of saluation vnto vs, in the house of his seruant Dauid,
and has raised up for us the strength of our salvation in the house of his servant David –
70 As he spake by ye mouth of his holy Prophets, which were since the world began, saying, (aiōn g165)
as he promised by the lips of his holy prophets of old – (aiōn g165)
71 That he would sende vs deliuerance from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate vs,
salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 That he might shewe mercie towards our fathers, and remember his holy couenant,
showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
73 And the othe which he sware to our father Abraham.
This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
74 Which was, that he would graunt vnto vs, that we being deliuered out of the handes of our enemies, should serue him without feare,
that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 All the daies of our life, in holinesse and righteousnesse before him.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days.
76 And thou, babe, shalt be called the Prophet of the most High: for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord, to prepare his waies,
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 And to giue knowledge of saluation vnto his people, by the remission of their sinnes,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Through ye tender mercy of our God, wherby the day spring from an hie hath visited vs,
through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
79 To giue light to them that sit in darknes, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feete into the way 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 And the childe grewe, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the wildernesse, til the day came that he should shewe him selfe vnto Israel.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
