Luke 1
1 Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us
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].
2 on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,
3 it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,
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.
4 that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.
I want you to know the truth about what you have been taught {what others have taught you}.
5 There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
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.
6 They were both of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.
[God considered that] both of them were righteous, because they constantly completely obeyed everything that God had commanded.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.
But they had no children, because Elizabeth had been unable to bear children. Furthermore, she and her husband were very old.
8 Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,
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.
9 it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense;
Following their custom, [the other priests] chose him by lot to enter the Lord’s temple and burn incense.
10 and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.
While he was burning the incense, many people were outside [in the courtyard], praying.
11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense;
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.
12 and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.
When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became very afraid.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name John.
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.
14 Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over his birth.
He will cause you to be very happy, and many other people will also be happy because he is born.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth.
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.
16 Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;
He will [persuade] many people in Israel to turn away [from their sins and please] the Lord their God.
17 and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."
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].”
18 "By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years."
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]”
19 "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God," answered the angel, "and I have been sent to talk with you and tell you this good news.
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].
20 And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."
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]”!
21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.
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?”
22 When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued dumb.
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.
23 When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;
When Zechariah’s time to work [as a priest in the Temple] was finished, he [left Jerusalem and] returned to his home.
24 and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.
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].
25 "Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."
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]!”
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
When Elizabeth had been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, the angel Gabriel was sent by God {God sent the angel Gabriel} [again].
27 to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.
[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.
28 So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you."
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}!”
29 She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.
But Mary was very confused [when she heard] that. She wondered what [the angel meant] by these words.
30 But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
Then the angel said to her, “Mary, God is very pleased with you [(sg)], so do not be afraid.
31 You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS.
You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
32 He will be great and He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;
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.
33 and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, and of His Kingdom there will be no end." (aiōn g165)
He will be the King of [the] Jews, the descendants [MTY] of [your ancestor] Jacob, forever. He will rule as king forever!” (aiōn g165)
34 "How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"
Then Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin, so how can I [have a baby]?”
35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the Son of God.'
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).
36 And see, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
[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!
37 For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."
[You should not be surprised at that], because God can do everything!”
38 "I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And then the angel left her.
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.
39 Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.
Very soon after that, Mary got ready and went quickly to a town in the highlands of Judea [district] where Zechariah lived.
40 Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth;
She entered his house and greeted [his wife] Elizabeth.
41 and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary greet her, the baby moved inside [Elizabeth’s] womb. The Holy Spirit took complete control of Elizabeth,
42 and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!
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!
43 But why is this honour done me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
(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!
44 For, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt for joy.
[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].
45 And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."
[God] is pleased with you [because] you believed that what (the Lord/God) told you would come true.”
46 Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,
Then Mary [praised God by] saying/singing: “, how I [SYN] praise (the Lord/God)!
47 And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;
I am happy because God is the one who saves me.
48 Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,
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,
49 Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--
because they will hear about the things that God [MTY], the mighty one, has done for me. He [MTY] is awesome!
50 And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.
He acts mercifully toward all those who respect him.
51 He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.
He shows people that he [MTY] is very powerful. He scatters those who think proudly.
52 He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.
He does not let mighty kings rule [MTY] any more, but he honors people who are oppressed (OR, humble).
53 The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.
He gives good things to eat to those who are hungry, but he sends away the rich people without giving them anything.
54 His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--
And now he has remembered what he promised. So he has helped me and all the other people of [MTY] Israel who serve him.
55 In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever." (aiōn g165)
He promised to Abraham and all our other ancestors who descended from him that he would act mercifully toward them forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.
57 Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, she gave birth to a son;
When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her child, she bore a son.
58 and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her.
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].
59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to call him Zechariah, after his father.
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.
60 His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."
But his mother said, “No, [his name will not be Zechariah]. His name will be John!”
61 "There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."
[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]!”
62 They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.
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.
63 So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
[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!
64 Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless God.
Immediately Zechariah was able to speak again [MTY], and he praised God.
65 And all who lived round about them were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judaea reports of all these things were spread abroad.
All their neighbors were amazed/awestruck! They told other people who lived all over the highlands of Judea about what had happened.
66 All who heard the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the lord's hand was indeed with him.
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].
67 And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.
[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:
68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,
“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.
69 And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant--
He is sending us someone who will powerfully [MTY] save us, someone who is descended from [MTY] King David, who served God well.
Long ago God caused his prophets to say that he would do that. (aiōn g165)
71 To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.
He will rescue us from our enemies, and he will save us from the power of all those who hate us.
72 He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant,
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.
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather,
That is what he strongly promised our ancestor Abraham that he would do.
74 To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,
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,
75 In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.
that he would cause us to be completely dedicated to him, and enable us to live righteously all of our lives.”
76 And you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
[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).
77 To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
You will tell God’s people how he will forgive them and save them from being punished for their sins.
78 Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us,
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.
79 Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path of peace."
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.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.
[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.
