Luke 1
1 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,
Since many have undertaken to compose a history of the things that are fully believed among us,
2 just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the Message.
even as they were delivered to us by those who were, from the beginning, eye-witnesses and ministers of the word;
3 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,
it seemed good to me also, having obtained exact information of all things from the very first, to write them in order for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 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.
that you might know the certainty of the things in which you have been instructed.
5 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.
There was, in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a certain priest, named Zachariah, of the class of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless.
7 But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.
8 One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,
It came to pass, while he was officiating as priest before God, in the order of his class, that,
9 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;
according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense, when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
And all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the time of incense.
11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
And Zachariah was troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, whom you shall call by the name John.
But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachariah; for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14 He shall be to you a joy and a delight; and many shall rejoice over his birth.
And you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord; he shall not drink any wine or strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
For he shall be great before the Lord; and he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
16 and shall reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
And many of the sons of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 He shall 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.”
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient, by the wisdom of the just, in order to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.
18 “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
And Zachariah said to the angel: By what sign shall I know this? for I am old, and my wife is advanced in years.
19 “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.
And the angel answered and said to him: I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I am sent to speak to you, and to announce to you this good news.
20 And now you shall 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.”
And behold, you shall be dumb and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their proper time.
21 Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
And the people were waiting for Zachariah, and they wondered that he stayed so long in the temple.
22 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.
But when he came out, he was not able to speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them, and remained speechless.
23 And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
And it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.
24 After this his wife, Elizabeth, expecting to become a mother, lived in seclusion for five months.
And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself retired for five months, saying:
25 “This is what the Lord has done for me,” she said, “now that he has deigned to take away the reproach under which I have been living.”
Thus has the Lord dealt with me in the days in which he has looked with regard upon me, to take away my reproach among men.
26 Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 to a maiden there who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
28 Gabriel came into her presence and said: “Hail, you who have been highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
And the angel came into her presence, and said: Hail, graciously accepted: the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.
29 Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
And she was perplexed at his words, and reasoned, what this salutation could mean.
30 when the angel spoke again: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31 And now, you shall be with child and give birth to a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus.
And behold, you shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 The child shall be great and shall be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
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;
33 and he shall reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there shall be no end.” (aiōn g165)
and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
34 “How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
But Mary said to the angel: How shall this be, since I know not a man?
35 “The Holy Spirit shall descend upon you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High shall overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘Son of God.’
And the angel answered and said to her: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for which reason, also, that which is begotten, being holy, shall be called the Son of God.
36 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;
And behold, Elizabeth your kinswoman, even she has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who is called barren;
37 for no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled.”
for nothing shall be impossible with God.
38 “I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary; “let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.
39 Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
And Mary arose in those days, and went with haste into the mountainous country, into a city of Judah;
40 and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
and she came into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe in her womb leaped for joy.
42 and cried aloud: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke with a loud voice, and said: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
For, behold, when the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
And blessed is she who believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of the things which were spoken to her from the Lord.
46 And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 my spirit delights in God my Saviour;
and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior;
48 for he has remembered his servant in her lowliness; And from this hour all ages will count me happy!
for he has looked upon the lowly condition of his handmaid. For, behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed;
49 Great things has the Almighty done for me; And holy is his name.
for He that is Mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name:
50 From age to age his mercy rests On those who reverence him.
and his mercy is from generation to generation upon those who fear him.
51 Mighty are the deeds of his arm; He scatters the proud with their own devices,
He has done mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in the understanding of their hearts.
52 he casts down princes from their thrones, and the lowly he uplifts,
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.
53 the hungry he loads with gifts, and the rich he sends empty away.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his mercy
He has helped Israel his servant, (as he spoke to our fathers, )
by remembering his mercy to Abraham and to his posterity forever. (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57 When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
Now the time for Elizabeth to be delivered had fully come; and she gave birth to a son.
58 and her neighbours and relations, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had showed great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him ‘Zechariah’ after his father,
And it came to pass, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they called him by the name of his father, Zachariah.
60 when his mother interposed: “No, he is to be called John.”
And his mother answered and said: Not so: but he shall be called John.
61 “You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
And they said to her: There is no one among your relatives that is called by this name.
62 and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
And they made signs to his father, to know what he wished him to be called.
63 Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words — ‘His name is John.’ Every one was surprised;
And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: His name is John. And they were all astonished.
64 and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue was loosed, and he spoke, and praised God.
65 All their neighbours were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;
And fear came on all that dwelt round about them; and all these things were talked of everywhere throughout the mountainous country of Judea.
66 and 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.
And all that heard them, laid them up in their hearts, and said: What, then, will this child be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
68 “Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he has visited and redeemed his people;
69 and has raised up for us the Strength of our Salvation In the House of his servant David —
and he has raised up for us, in the house of David his servant, a horn of salvation,
(as he spoke by the mouth of all his holy prophets of ancient times, ) (aiōn g165)
71 Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us,
salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us,
72 showing mercy to our forefathers, And mindful of his sacred Covenant.
in order to show the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,
73 This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham —
the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
74 That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
that he would grant to us, that being delivered from the hands of our enemies, we might serve him without fear,
75 and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days.
in holiness and righteousness before him, all our days.
76 And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way,
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the face of the Lord, to make ready his ways,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
by giving to his people the knowledge of salvation in the remission of their sins,
78 through the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven,
through the tender mercies of our God; by which the dawn from on high has visited us,
79 to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And guide our feet into the way of peace.”
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, by guiding our feet in the way of peace.
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before Israel.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
