Luke 1
1 My noble [friend] Theophilus, many people saw the things that [Jesus] did while he was with us, from the time when he started [MTY] [his ministry]. They served God [by teaching people] the message [about the Lord Jesus]. Many of those who heard what they taught wrote down for us accounts of the things that [Jesus did from the time when] he began [his ministry].
Seeing, indeed, that, many, had taken in hand to re-arrange for themselves a narrative, concerning the facts which have been fully confirmed amongst us, —
according as they who from the beginning became eye-witnesses and attendants of the Word delivered them unto us,
3 I myself have studied these accounts carefully. So I decided that it would be good for me also to write for you [(sg)] an accurate account of these matters.
it seemed good, even to me, having closely traced from the outset all things accurately, to write unto thee, in order, most excellent Theophilus:
4 I want you to know the truth about what you have been taught {what others have taught you}.
that, as touching the matters which thou hadst been taught by word of mouth, thou mightest obtain full knowledge, of the certainty.
5 When King Herod [the Great ruled] Judea [district], there was a [Jewish] priest named Zechariah. He belonged to the [group of priests called] the Abijah group. He and his wife Elizabeth were both descended from the [first priest of Israel], Aaron.
It came to pass, in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, that there was a certain priest, by name Zachariah, of the daily course of Abia; and that he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and, her name, was Elizabeth.
6 [God considered that] both of them were righteous, because they constantly completely obeyed everything that God had commanded.
Now they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and righteous appointments of the Lord, blameless;
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth had been unable to bear children. Furthermore, she and her husband were very old.
and they had no child, inasmuch as Elizabeth was barren, and, both, had become, advanced in their days.
8 One day [Zechariah’s] group was doing their work [in the Temple in Jerusalem], and he was serving as a priest in God’s presence.
But it came to pass, as he was doing priestly service in the order of his daily course, before God,
9 Following their custom, [the other priests] chose him by lot to enter the Lord’s temple and burn incense.
according to the custom of his priesthood, it fell to his lot to offer incense, entering into the Temple of the Lord;
10 While he was burning the incense, many people were outside [in the courtyard], praying.
and, all the throng of the people, was praying outside, at the hour of the incense offering.
11 Then an angel whom God had [sent] appeared to him. The angel was standing at the right side of the place [where the priests burned] incense.
And there appeared unto him a messenger of the Lord, standing on the right hand of the altar of incense;
12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became very afraid.
and Zachariah was troubled when he beheld, and, fear, fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, do not be afraid! When you [(sg)] prayed [asking God for a son] (OR, [that God would send the Messiah]), God heard what you prayed. [So] your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son. You must name him John.
But the messenger said unto him—Do not fear, Zachariah! Inasmuch as thy supplication hath been hearkened to, —and, thy wife Elizabeth, shall bring forth a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name, John;
14 He will cause you to be very happy, and many other people will also be happy because he is born.
And there shall be joy to thee and exulting, and, many, over his birth, shall rejoice;
15 God will consider him to be very important. He must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, [in order that he will be completely dedicated to God]. He will be controlled by the Holy Spirit {The Holy Spirit will control him} from before he is born.
For he shall be great before the Lord, and, wine and strong drink, in nowise may he drink, and, with Holy Spirit, shall he be filled, already, from his mother’s womb;
16 He will [persuade] many people in Israel to turn away [from their sins and please] the Lord their God.
And, many of the Sons of Israel, shall he turn towards the Lord their God;
17 As [God’s] Spirit enables him [to preach] powerfully as [the prophet] Elijah did, he will precede [the Messiah]. He will cause parents [SYN] to act [peacefully] toward their children [again]. He will cause [many] people who do not obey [God to hear and obey] the wise things that righteous people [tell them]. He will do this in order to help [many] people to be ready when the Lord [comes].”
And, he, shall go before him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, —To turn the hearts of fathers unto children, and the unyielding, into the prudence of the righteous, and to prepare, for the Lord, a people made ready.
18 Then Zechariah said to the angel, “I am very old, and my wife is also so old [that she cannot bear a child. So] (I cannot [believe] that what you [(sg)] said [will happen]!/how can I [believe] that what you [(sg)] said [will happen]?) [RHQ]”
And Zachariah said unto the messenger—Whereby, shall I know this? for, I, am, aged, and, my wife, advanced in her days.
19 Then the angel said to him, “I am [God’s chief angel], Gabriel! [I do what God tells me, because] I constantly am in God’s presence! I was sent {[He] sent me} to tell you [(sg)] something good [that is going to happen to you].
And the messenger, answering, said unto him—I, am Gabriel, —he that standeth near before God; and have been sent forth to speak unto thee, and to deliver the joyful message unto thee, as touching these things.
20 What I have told you will certainly happen at the time [God decides], but you did not believe what I told you. So now [God will make] you will be unable to talk until the day [your son is born]”!
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 in my words, —the which shall be fulfilled for their season.
21 While [Zechariah and the angel] were talking, the people [in the courtyard] were waiting for Zechariah [to come out]. They wondered, “Why is he staying in the Temple for such a long time?”
And the people were expecting Zachariah, and began to marvel that he should tarry in the Temple;
22 When Zechariah came out, he was not able to speak to the people. Because he could not talk, he made motions with his hands [to try to convey what had happened]. Then they realized that he had seen (a vision [from God]/something that [God] showed him) while he was in the Temple.
and when he came forth he was not able to speak unto them, and they perceived that, a vision, he had seen in the Temple, —and, he, continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.
23 When Zechariah’s time to work [as a priest in the Temple] was finished, he [left Jerusalem and] returned to his home.
And it came to pass, when the days of his public ministration were fulfilled, that he departed unto his house.
24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant [EUP]. She did not leave their house for five months, [because she knew that people would laugh at her if she told them that she was pregnant].
And, after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she disguised herself five months, saying—
25 But she thought, “God has enabled me to become pregnant. He has pitied me and I will no longer be ashamed [because I have no children]!”
Thus, for me, hath the Lord wrought, —in the days in which he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.
26 When Elizabeth had been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, the angel Gabriel was sent by God {God sent the angel Gabriel} [again].
Now, in the sixth month, was the messenger Gabriel sent forth from God, into a city of Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth, —
27 [This time] he went to Nazareth [town] in Galilee [district], to a virgin whose name was Mary. It had been {[Her parents] had} promised that she would marry a man named Joseph, who was descended from [King] David.
unto a virgin, betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and, the name of the virgin, was, Mary;
28 The angel greeted her and said, “(The Lord/God) is with you [(sg)] and you will be greatly blessed {[has decided to] greatly bless you}!”
and entering in unto her, he said—Joy to thee, favoured one! The Lord, be with thee!
29 But Mary was very confused [when she heard] that. She wondered what [the angel meant] by these words.
And, she, at the word, was greatly troubled, and began to deliberate, of what kind, this salutation, might be.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Mary, God is very pleased with you [(sg)], so do not be afraid.
And the messenger said unto her—Do not fear, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God, —
31 You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
And lo! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name, Jesus:
32 He will become great. He will be called {[People will] call him} (the Son of God/the man who is also God). God, the Lord, will make him a king [MTY] as his ancestor [King] David was.
the same, shall be great, and, Son of the Most High, shall be called, and the Lord God, will give unto him, the throne of David his father, —
33 He will be the King of [the] Jews, the descendants [MTY] of [your ancestor] Jacob, forever. He will rule as king forever!” (aiōn g165)
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob, unto the ages, and, of his kingdom, there shall be, no end. (aiōn g165)
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin, so how can I [have a baby]?”
But Mary said unto the messenger—How, shall this thing be, seeing that, a man, I know not?
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come to you; the power of God [MTY/EUP] will overshadow you [and enable you to become pregnant]. So the child [you will] bear will be completely set apart {give himself completely} to obey God, and he will be called {[people] will say that he is} (the Son of God/the man who is also God).
And answering, the messenger said unto her—The Holy Spirit, shall come upon thee, and, the power of the Most High, shall overshadow thee; wherefore, even that which is to be born, Holy, shall be called, Son of God.
36 [I also need to tell you something else]. Your cousin Elizabeth is very old, and it was thought {[people] said} that she could not bear any children. But she has been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, and will bear a son!
And lo! Elizabeth thy kinswoman, even she, hath conceived a son in, her old-age; —and, this month, is, the sixth, to her, the so-called barren one;
37 [You should not be surprised at that], because God can do everything!”
Because no declaration from God, shall be void of power.
38 Then Mary said, “All right, I want to serve (the Lord/God), so may what you [(sg)] have said about me come true!” Then the angel left her.
And Mary said—Lo! the handmaid of the Lord! Might it come to pass unto me, according to thy declaration. And the messenger departed from her.
39 Very soon after that, Mary got ready and went quickly to a town in the highlands of Judea [district] where Zechariah lived.
And Mary, arising, in these days, journeyed into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, —
40 She entered his house and greeted [his wife] Elizabeth.
and entered into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth.
41 As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary greet her, the baby moved inside [Elizabeth’s] womb. The Holy Spirit took complete control of Elizabeth,
And it came to pass that, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit, —
42 and she said loudly [to Mary], “[God] has blessed you [more than] he has blessed [any other] woman, and [he has] blessed the child you will bear!
and lifted up her voice with loud exclamation, and said—Blessed, art thou among women, and, blessed, is the fruit of thy womb;
43 (I am not worthy that [God would allow you] to visit me!/Why is [God allowing you] to visit me?) [RHQ] You will be the mother of my Lord!
And, whence, to me is, this, That the mother of my Lord should come, unto me?
44 [I realize this because] as soon as I heard you greet me, the baby inside my womb moved because he was so happy [that you had come].
For lo! as the sound of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe in my womb, leapt in exultation.
45 [God] is pleased with you [because] you believed that what (the Lord/God) told you would come true.”
And, happy, is she who hath believed, that there shall be a perfecting of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!
46 Then Mary [praised God by] saying/singing: “, how I [SYN] praise (the Lord/God)!
And Mary said—My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 I am happy because God is the one who saves me.
And my spirit hath exulted upon God my saviour;
48 I was only his lowly servant girl, but he did not forget me. So from now on, everyone will say that God was pleased with me,
Because he hath looked upon the humbling of his handmaid; for lo! from the present time, all the generations, will pronounce me happy.
49 because they will hear about the things that God [MTY], the mighty one, has done for me. He [MTY] is awesome!
Because he that is mighty hath done for me great things, and, holy, is his name;
50 He acts mercifully toward all those who respect him.
And his mercy is unto generations and generations, to them who revere him;
51 He shows people that he [MTY] is very powerful. He scatters those who think proudly.
He hath wrought strength with his arm, He hath scattered men arrogant in the intention of their heart;
52 He does not let mighty kings rule [MTY] any more, but he honors people who are oppressed (OR, humble).
He hath deposed potentates from thrones, and uplifted the lowly;
53 He gives good things to eat to those who are hungry, but he sends away the rich people without giving them anything.
The hungry, hath he filled with good things, and, the wealthy, hath he sent empty away;
54 And now he has remembered what he promised. So he has helped me and all the other people of [MTY] Israel who serve him.
He hath laid hold of Israel his servant, to be mindful of mercies:
55 He promised to Abraham and all our other ancestors who descended from him that he would act mercifully toward them forever.” (aiōn g165)
According as he spake unto our fathers, —To Abraham, and to his seed, —Unto times age-abiding. (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her child, she bore a son.
And, to Elizabeth, was the time fulfilled, that she should be bringing forth, —and she gave birth to a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how (the Lord/God) had greatly blessed her [by enabling her to bear a child], so they were happy along with [Elizabeth].
And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard, that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they were rejoicing with her.
59 Seven days later they gathered together for the [ceremony for] circumcising the baby [to show that he belonged to God]. They wanted to give the baby the same name as his father, Zechariah.
And it came to pass, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and were calling it, after the name of its father, Zachariah.
60 But his mother said, “No, [his name will not be Zechariah]. His name will be John!”
And his mother, answering, said—Nay! but he shall be called, John.
61 [So] they said to her, “[John] is not the name of any of your [(dl)] relatives, [so you(dl) should not give him that name]!”
And they said unto her—There is, no one from among thy kindred, who is called by this name!
62 Then they made motions with their hands to Zechariah, [for him] to indicate what name [he] wanted to be given {to give} to his son.
And they began making signs unto his father, as to what he might be wishing it to be called.
63 [So] he signaled that they [should give him] a tablet [to write on. When they gave him one], he wrote [on it], “His name is John.” All those [who were there] were surprised!
And, asking for a small tablet, he wrote, saying—John, is his name! and they marvelled all.
64 Immediately Zechariah was able to speak again [MTY], and he praised God.
And his mouth was opened instantly, and his tongue [loosed], and he began to speak, blessing, God.
65 All their neighbors were amazed/awestruck! They told other people who lived all over the highlands of Judea about what had happened.
And fear came upon all the neighbours themselves; and, throughout all the hill-country of Judaea, were all these matters being much talked of;
66 Everyone who heard about it kept thinking about it. They were saying, “We wonder what will this child do [for God when] he [grows up] [RHQ]!” They wondered that because [from what had happened they were sure that] God would be helping that child [SYN] [in a powerful way].
and all who heard laid [them] up in their hearts, saying—What then shall his child be? for, even the hand of the Lord, was with him.
67 [After] Zechariah’s [son was born], Zechariah was completely directed by the Holy Spirit {the Holy Spirit completely directed Zechariah} as he spoke these words that came from God:
And, Zachariah his father, was filled with Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: —
68 “Praise the Lord, the God whom we(inc) people of Israel worship, because he has come to set us, his people, free from our enemies.
Blessed, be the Lord, the God of Israel! Because he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
69 He is sending us someone who will powerfully [MTY] save us, someone who is descended from [MTY] King David, who served God well.
And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us, In the house of David his servant:
According as he hath spoken by mouth of his holy ancient prophets, — (aiōn g165)
71 He will rescue us from our enemies, and he will save us from the power of all those who hate us.
Of salvation from among our foes, and out of the hand of all them that hate us:
72 He will do this because he has not forgotten what he promised our ancestors; he made an agreement that he would act mercifully to us, their descendants.
To perform mercy with our fathers, and to be mindful of his holy covenant, —
73 That is what he strongly promised our ancestor Abraham that he would do.
The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, To grant us,
74 God told him that we would be rescued {he would rescue us} from the power of our enemies, that he would enable us to serve him without being afraid,
without fear, from the hand of enemies rescued, to be rendering divine service unto him,
75 that he would cause us to be completely dedicated to him, and enable us to live righteously all of our lives.”
in lovingkindness and righteousness before him, all our days.
76 [Then Zechariah said this to] his little son: “My child, you will be called {people will say that you are} a prophet whom God [MTY/EUP] has sent; you will begin your work before (the Lord/Messiah) comes; you will prepare people so that they will be ready for him. (OR, you will begin your work before the Messiah comes).
And, even thou, child, prophet of the Most High, shalt be called, —for thou shall march on before the Lord, to prepare his ways,
77 You will tell God’s people how he will forgive them and save them from being punished for their sins.
Giving a knowledge of salvation unto his people, by a remission of their sins.
78 Our God will do that because he is very kind to us. Just like a new day begins when the sun rises [MET], God will do that new thing for us when the Messiah comes to us from heaven.
Because of the yearning compassion of the mercy of our God, wherein shall visit us a day-dawn from on high, —
79 People who do not know God [MET] are like those who sit in the darkness. They are afraid [MTY] that they will soon die. But when the Messiah tells us God’s message, it will be like causing such people to see a bright light. He will guide us [SYN] so that we will be living peacefully.”
To shine on them who, in the darkness and shade of death, are sitting, to guide our feet into a way of peace.
80 [Later], Zechariah’s son grew up and became spiritually strong. Then he lived in a desolate region until he began to preach to the Israeli people.
And, the child, went on growing, and being strengthened in spirit, and was in the deserts, until the day he was pointed out unto Israel.
