Luke 1
1 Since, indeed, many have attempted to set in order a narrative of the things that have been completed among us,
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,
2 just as they have been handed on to those of us who from the beginning saw the same and were ministers of the word,
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterward became bearers of the message.
3 so it seemed good to me also, having diligently followed everything from the beginning, to write to you, in an orderly manner, most excellent Theophilus,
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,
4 so that you might know the truthfulness of those words by which you have been instructed.
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.
5 There was, in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the section of Abijah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
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.
6 Now they were both just before God, progressing in all of the commandments and the justifications of the Lord without blame.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both had become advanced in years.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 Then it happened that, when he was exercising the priesthood before God, in the order of his section,
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
9 according to the custom of the priesthood, the lot fell so that he would offer incense, entering into the temple of the Lord.
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;
10 And the entire multitude of the people was praying outside, at the hour of incense.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 Then there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 And upon seeing him, Zechariah was disturbed, and fear fell over him.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 But the Angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son to you. And you shall call his name John.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John.
14 And there will be joy and exultation for you, and many will rejoice in his nativity.
He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
16 And he will convert many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before him with the spirit and power of Elijah, so that he may turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons, and the incredulous to the prudence of the just, so as to prepare for the Lord a completed people.”
He will 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.”
18 And Zechariah said to the Angel: “How may I know this? For I am elderly, and my wife is advanced in years.”
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 And in response, the Angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I have been sent to speak to you, and to proclaim these things to you.
“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.
20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak, until the day on which these things shall be, because you have not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
And now you will 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.”
21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah. And they wondered why he was being delayed in the temple.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 Then, when he came out, he was unable to speak to them. And they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, but he remained mute.
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.
23 And it happened that, after the days of his office were completed, he went away to his house.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 Then, after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she hid herself for five months, saying:
After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.
25 “For the Lord did this for me, at the time when he decided to take away my reproach among men.”
“The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “he has shown me kindness and taken away the public disgrace of childlessness under which I have been living.”
26 Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”
Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, “You have been shown great favor – the Lord is with you.”
29 And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God.
when the angel spoke again, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS.
And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.
32 He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father.
The child will be great and will be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
33 And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity. And his kingdom shall have no end.” (aiōn g165)
and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?”
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
35 And in response, the Angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
“The Holy Spirit will descend on you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘Son of God.’
36 And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren.
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;
37 For no word will be impossible with God.”
for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.”
38 Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the Angel departed from her.
“I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary. “Let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39 And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah.
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
and cried aloud, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
But how have I this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.”
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord.
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Savior.
and my spirit delights in God my Savior,
48 For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed.
for he has looked with favor on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
49 For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
“For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him.
He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
51 He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart.
“Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
52 He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble.
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy,
“He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,
as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her.
and her neighbors and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father’s name, Zechariah.
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 And in response, his mother said: “Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.”
when his mother spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.”
61 And they said to her, “But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: “His name is John.” And they all wondered.
Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was surprised
64 Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea.
All their neighbors were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
66 And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: “What do you think this boy will be?” And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
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.
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. And he prophesied, saying:
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel. For he has visited and has wrought the redemption of his people.
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of David his servant,
and has raised up for us the strength of our salvation in the house of his servant David –
as he promised by the lips of his holy prophets of old – (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us,
salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 to accomplish mercy with our fathers, and to call to mind his holy testament,
showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
73 the oath, which he swore to Abraham, our father, that he would grant to us,
This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
74 so that, having been freed from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 in holiness and in justice before him, throughout all our days.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days.
76 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the face of the Lord: to prepare his ways,
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people for the remission of their sins,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 through the heart of the mercy of our God, by which, descending from on high, he has visited us,
through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
79 to illuminate those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to direct our feet in the way of peace.”
to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew, and he was strengthened in spirit. And he was in the wilderness, until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
