Luke 1
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 Even as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and 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 had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to thee in order, 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 mayest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been instructed.
so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth.
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 before 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 Elisabeth was barren, and they both were 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 executed the priests' office 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 priests' office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
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 were praying without, at the time of 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 side 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 when Zacharias saw [him], he was troubled, 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, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth 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 shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 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.
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 children of Israel shall 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 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.
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 Zacharias said to the angel, By what shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife 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 am sent to speak to thee, and to show 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 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.
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 waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple.
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 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 beckoned 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, that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and secluded 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 in which 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 the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused 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 to her, and said, Hail, [thou that art] highly favored, the Lord [is] with thee: blessed [art] thou among women.
The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
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 behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth 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 will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.
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 will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will 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, seeing I know not a man?
“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Highest will overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall 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 behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was 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 with God nothing will be impossible.
For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it 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 in those days, and went 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 entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb: and Elisabeth 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 she spoke 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 sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
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 that believed that there will be a performance 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 doth magnify the Lord,
Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth 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 he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy [is] his name.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 And his mercy [is] on them that fear him, from generation to generation.
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 He hath filled the hungry 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 sustained his servant Israel, 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 Elisabeth'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 cousins heard that the Lord had shown great mercy upon 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 called him Zacharias, 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 answered and 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 none 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 called.
So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 And he asked for a writing-table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all wondered.
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 [loosed], and he spoke, and praised 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 sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill-country of Judea.
All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 And all they that had heard [them], laid [them] up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child will this be! And 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 his father Zacharias 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 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 his servant David:
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 That we should be saved 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 perform the mercy [promised] to 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 our father Abraham,
the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 That he would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 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;
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, by 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; by which 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 them that sit in darkness and [in] the shades 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 became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing 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.
