Luke 1
1 Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance 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 on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,
Even as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
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,
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 that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.
That thou mayest know the certainty of those things, in which thou hast been instructed.
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.
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 of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.
And they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
8 Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,
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 his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the 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 the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.
And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense.
11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side 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 and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.
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, 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, 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 Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over his birth.
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
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.
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 Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to 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."
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 "By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far 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, 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.
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 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."
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 waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
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.
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 When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;
And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.
And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 "Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
26 Now in the sixth month 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 betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's 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 So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! 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 She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered in her mind what manner of greeting this should be.
30 But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, 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 You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name 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 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 will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, and of His Kingdom there will 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 replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"
Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
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.'
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 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.
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 will be impossible of fulfilment."
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
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.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
39 Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste 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 Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth;
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elisabeth.
41 and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth 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 uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!
And she spoke with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 But why is this honour done me, 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, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt for joy.
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall 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 Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50 And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.
He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent away empty.
54 His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--
He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55 In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever." (aiōn g165)
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (aiōn g165)
56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57 Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, 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 relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her.
And her neighbours and her cousins heard that the Lord had shown great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going 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 His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."
And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
61 "There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."
And they said to her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62 They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.
And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marvelled.
64 Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless God.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and 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.
And fear came on all that dwelt around them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
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.
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 And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant--
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 To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant,
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather,
The oath which he swore to our father Abraham,
74 To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,
That he would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.
In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
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,
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 to His People a 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 compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us,
Through the tender mercy of our God; with which the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path 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 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.
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing to Israel.
