Luke 1
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among 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 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were 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 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
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 know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been 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 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth.
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 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
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 child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn 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 praying without at the time of incense.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on 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 saw [him], he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 But the angel said unto 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.
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 have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 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 Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
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 turn to the Lord their God.
and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.
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 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
‘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 angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad 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, 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.
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 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
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 pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, 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 days wherein he looked on [me], to take away my reproach 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 month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name [was] Mary.
to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, [thou that art] highly favoured, 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 cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
when the angel spoke again, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
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 Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
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 shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no 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 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
‘How can this be?’ Mary asked the angel. ‘For I have no husband.’
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall 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, 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.
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 nothing shall be impossible.
for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.’
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And 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 Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 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 Ghost:
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb.
and cried aloud, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 And whence [is] this to me, 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, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 And blessed [is] she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.’
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
and my spirit delights in God my Saviour,
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
for he has looked with favour on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
49 For he that is mighty hath done to 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 mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
‘Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
52 He hath put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree.
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of [his] 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 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced 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 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.
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 And his mother answered and said, Not [so]; but he shall be called John.
when his mother spoke up, ‘No, he is to be called John.’
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
‘You have no relation of that name!’ they exclaimed;
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled 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 [loosed], and he spake, and praised God.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.
All their neighbours were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
66 And all they that heard [them] laid [them] up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child 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 And 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; for 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 up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
and has raised up for us the strength of our salvation in the house of his servant David –
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: (aiōn g165)
as he promised by the lips of his holy prophets of old – (aiōn g165)
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 To perform the mercy [promised] to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days.
76 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;
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and [in] the shadow of death, to guide our feet 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 child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
