Luke 1
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to arrange a narrative of those things which are fully believed among us,
Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 even as they were delivered to us by those who were eye-witnesses from the beginning and became ministers of the word,
just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 it seemed good to me also, having accurately traced up all things from the first, to write to thee a connected account, most excellent Theophilus,
Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 that thou mightst know the exact truth with regard to those things in which thou wast instructed.
so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zachariah, of the course of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron.
6 And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years.
But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 And it came to pass, that, while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his course,
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 according to the custom of the priesthood the lot fell to him to go into the temple of the Lord and burn the incense.
he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying without at the time of the incense.
And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense.
Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And Zachariah was troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him.
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zachariah; for thy prayer was heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name John.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
14 And thou wilt have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice for his birth.
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and will drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his very birth.
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
16 And many of the sons of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God.
Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.
And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 And Zachariah said to the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years.
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
19 And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to thee, and to tell thee these glad tidings.
“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 And lo! thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, until the day when these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their season.
And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
21 And the people were looking for Zachariah, and wondering that he remained so long in the temple.
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 And on coming out, he was not able to speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he was beckoning to them, and remained speechless.
When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were completed, that he returned to his house.
And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
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. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
26 And in her sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in to her and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored! the Lord is with thee.
The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 And she was troubled at the words, and was considering what this salutation could mean.
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God.
So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And lo! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and hear a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of David his father;
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father 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 house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” (aiōn g165)
34 Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?
“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answering said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow thee; wherefore the holy one that is to be born will be called the Son of God.
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 And lo! Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who is called barren.
Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.
For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 And Mary said, Lo, the handmaid of the Lord! May it be to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
39 And Mary arose and went in those days into the hill-country with haste, into a city of Judah.
In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 And she entered the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth.
where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 and cried out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women; and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!
In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For lo! as soon as the voice of thy salutation came to my ears, the babe leaped in my womb in exultation.
For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed is she who hath believed that there will be an accomplishment of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
46 And Mary said, My soul magnifieth the Lord,
Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit hath exulted in God my Saviour;
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 for he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaiden. For lo! from this time all generations will call me blessed;
For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 for the Mighty One hath done great things for me; and holy is his name;
For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 and his mercy is from generation to generation on them that fear him.
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 He hath wrought mightily with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the device of their heart.
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He hath cast down princes from thrones, and exalted men of low degree.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 The hungry he hath filled with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He hath given help to Israel his servant, in remembrance of his mercy
He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 Now Elizabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had showed great mercy toward her; and they rejoiced with her.
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 And it came to pass that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they were about to call him Zachariah, after the name of his father.
On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 And his mother answering said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 And they said to her, There is no one of thy kindred that is called by this name.
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him named.
So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 And he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marveled.
Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue was loosed; and he spoke, blessing God.
Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt around them; and all these things were talked of throughout the whole of the hill-country of Judaea.
All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 And all that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What then will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
67 And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant, —
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us,
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 to accomplish his mercy toward our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,
to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 to grant to us, that being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we might worship him without fear,
deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him, all our days.
in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called a prophet of the Most High; for thou shalt go in advance before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins
to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us,
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 to give light to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit; and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.
