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,
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely 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 delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses, 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 had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to thee in order, 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 thou mayest know the certainty of those things, in which thou hast 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 Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
And 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 Elisabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
8 One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
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 the whole multitude of the people were praying outside 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 on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, 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, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 He shall be to you a joy and a delight; and many shall rejoice over his birth.
And thou shalt 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 in the sight of the Lord, and 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 children 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 to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
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 Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well 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 answering said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.
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, 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.
21 Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried 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.
And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for 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, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, 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 Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself 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 hath the Lord dealt with me in the days when he looked on 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 to 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 espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name 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 to her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered in her mind what manner of greeting this should be.
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 thou hast found favour 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, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt 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 Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David:
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 for ever; 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.”
Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing 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 shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing who shall be born of thee 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, thy cousin Elisabeth, hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 for no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled.”
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
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; be it to me according to thy 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 into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;
40 and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elisabeth.
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, that, when Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit:
42 and cried aloud: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
And she spoke with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
And why is this granted 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, lo, as soon as the voice of thy greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb 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 that believed: that there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46 And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 my spirit delights in God my Saviour;
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 for he has remembered his servant in her lowliness; And from this hour all ages will count me happy!
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth 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 hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50 From age to age his mercy rests On those who reverence him.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 Mighty are the deeds of his arm; He scatters the proud with their own devices,
He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 he casts down princes from their thrones, and the lowly he uplifts,
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 the hungry he loads with gifts, and the rich he sends empty away.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent away empty.
54 He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his mercy
He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57 When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth 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 neighbours and her cousins heard that the Lord had shown great mercy upon 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, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
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 none of thy kindred 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, how he would have him called.
63 Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words — ‘His name is John.’ Every one was surprised;
And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marvelled.
64 and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue 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 around them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
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 they that had 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.
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
And his father Zacharias 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 hath 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 hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began: (aiōn g165)
71 Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us,
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 showing mercy to our forefathers, And mindful of his sacred Covenant.
To perform 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 our father Abraham,
74 That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
That he would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies 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 the days of our life.
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 thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
To give knowledge of salvation to his people by 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 mercy of our God; with which the dayspring from on high hath 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 them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into 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 was in the deserts till the day of his showing to Israel.
