Luke 1
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to arrange a narrative of those things which are fully believed among us,
As you know, many others have attempted to put down in writing the things that have been fulfilled that involve us.
2 even as they were delivered to us by those who were eye-witnesses from the beginning and became ministers of the word,
They based their accounts on evidence from the earliest eyewitnesses and ministers 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,
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.
4 that thou mightst know the exact truth with regard to those things in which thou wast instructed.
I have done this Theophilus, Your Excellency, so you can be certain that what you were taught is completely reliable.
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.
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.
6 And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
They both did what was right before God, being careful to follow all the Lord's commandments and regulations.
7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years.
They had no children because Elizabeth wasn't able to have any, and they were both growing old.
8 And it came to pass, that, while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his course,
While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, on behalf of his priestly division,
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 priestly custom 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.
During the time of offering incense a large crowd of people were praying outside.
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
12 And Zachariah was troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him.
When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became terrified.
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 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.
14 And thou wilt have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice for his birth.
He will bring you joy and gladness, and many will celebrate 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.
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.
16 And many of the sons of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God.
He will turn many Israelites 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.
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.”
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 about this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I'm an old man, and my wife is getting old too.”
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,” the angel replied. “I stand in God's presence, and I was sent to speak to you and give 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.
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.”
21 And the people were looking for Zachariah, and wondering that he remained so long in the temple.
Outside the people were waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was taking 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 eventually he came out, he couldn't speak to them. They realized he'd seen a vision in the Temple, for though he could make gestures, he was completely unable to speak.
23 And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were completed, that he returned to his house.
After he'd finished his time of service, he went back home.
24 And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home 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, “now that he's taken away my disgrace in the eyes of others.”
26 And in her sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
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.
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
She was engaged to a man named Joseph.
28 And the angel came in to her and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored! the Lord is with thee.
The angel greeted her. “You are very privileged,” he told her. “The Lord is with you.”
29 And she was troubled at the words, and was considering what this salutation could mean.
Mary was very puzzled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant.
30 And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God.
“Don't worry, Mary,” the angel went on, “for God has shown his graciousness to you.
31 And lo! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and hear a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call him 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 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,
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 come to an end.” (aiōn g165)
34 Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?
“How is this possible?” Mary asked. “I'm still 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.
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.
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.
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.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.
Nothing is impossible for God.”
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.
“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.
39 And Mary arose and went in those days into the hill-country with haste, into a city of Judah.
A little while later, Mary got herself ready and hurried up into the hills of Judea, to the town where
40 And she entered the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth.
Zechariah's house was. She called out to Elizabeth as she went in.
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,
As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby jumped for joy inside her. 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!
and cried out in a loud voice: “How blessed you are among women, and how blessed will be the child born to you!
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me?
44 For lo! as soon as the voice of thy salutation came to my ears, the babe leaped in my womb in exultation.
As soon as I heard you call out in greeting, my baby jumped for joy inside me.
45 And blessed is she who hath believed that there will be an accomplishment of those things which were told her from the Lord.
How fortunate you are, because you are convinced that the Lord will do what he has promised you!”
46 And Mary said, My soul magnifieth the Lord,
Mary replied, “How I praise the Lord!
47 and my spirit hath exulted in God my Saviour;
I am so happy with 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;
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.
49 for the Mighty One hath done great things for me; and holy is his name;
God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy.
50 and his mercy is from generation to generation on them that fear him.
His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him.
51 He hath wrought mightily with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the device of their heart.
With his power he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they're so clever.
52 He hath cast down princes from thrones, and exalted men of low degree.
He tears the powerful down from their thrones, and elevates those who are humble.
53 The hungry he hath filled with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.
He fills the hungry with good things to eat, and he sends the rich away empty-handed.
54 He hath given help to Israel his servant, in remembrance of his mercy
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy,
just as he promised our fathers, 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 her for three months and then returned home.
57 Now Elizabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and 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 how the Lord had showed her great kindness, and they celebrated together 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.
Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father.
60 And his mother answering said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
“No,” Elizabeth said. “He shall be called John.”
61 And they said to her, There is no one of thy kindred that is called by this name.
“But there's nobody among your relatives who has this name,” they told her.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him named.
Through gestures they asked Zechariah, the boy's father, what he wanted to call his son.
63 And he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marveled.
Zechariah motioned for something to write on. To everyone's surprise he wrote, “His name is John.”
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue was loosed; and he spoke, blessing God.
Immediately he could speak again, and he started 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 those living nearby were in awe at what had happened, and the news spread throughout the hill country of Judea.
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.
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.
67 And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
Zechariah, his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke this prophecy:
68 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
“The Lord, the God of Israel, he is wonderful, for he has come to his people and set them free.
69 and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant, —
He has given us a great Savior from the line of his servant David,
as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us,
He promised to save us from our enemies, from those who hate us.
72 to accomplish his mercy toward our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,
He was merciful to our fathers, remembering his holy agreement—
73 the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
the promise that he made to our father Abraham.
74 to grant to us, that being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we might worship him without fear,
He gives us freedom from fear and rescues us from our enemies,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him, all our days.
so we can serve him by doing what is good and right for our whole 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,
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,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins
providing knowledge of salvation to his people through the forgiveness of their sins.
78 through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us,
Through God's caring kindness to us, heaven's dawn will break upon us
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 under the shadow of death, and to guide us along 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.
The boy John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the time came for his public ministry to Israel.
