Luke 1
1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled 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 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
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 might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
I want you to know the truth about what you have been taught {what others have taught you}.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters 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 righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
[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 they both were well advanced in years.
But they had no children, because Elizabeth had been unable to bear children. Furthermore, she and her husband were very old.
8 Now it happened, while he was performing the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
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 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
Following their custom, [the other priests] chose him by lot to enter the Lord’s temple and burn incense.
10 And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
While he was burning the incense, many people were outside [in the courtyard], praying.
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, 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 Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became very afraid.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you are to name him 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 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at 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, and he must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
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 He will turn many of the children of Israel 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 He will 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."
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 Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well 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 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring 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 look, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper 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 The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering why he was delayed in the temple.
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 he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
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 It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
When Zechariah’s time to work [as a priest in the Temple] was finished, he [left Jerusalem and] returned to his home.
24 After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
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 done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my disgrace among people."
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 city of Galilee, named 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 virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin'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 Having come in, the angel said to her, "Greetings, favored 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 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of greeting this might be.
But Mary was very confused [when she heard] that. She wondered what [the angel meant] by these words.
30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Then the angel said to her, “Mary, God is very pleased with you [(sg)], so do not be afraid.
31 And look, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'
You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
32 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,
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 reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom." (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 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
Then Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin, so how can I [have a baby]?”
35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born 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 look, Elizabeth, your relative, 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 with God nothing will be impossible."
[You should not be surprised at that], because God can do everything!”
38 And Mary said, "See, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from 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 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
Very soon after that, Mary got ready and went quickly to a town in the highlands of Judea [district] where Zechariah lived.
40 and entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
She entered his house and greeted [his wife] Elizabeth.
41 It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, 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 She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
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 Why am I so favored, 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 look, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb 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 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord."
[God] is pleased with you [because] you believed that what (the Lord/God) told you would come true.”
46 Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
Then Mary [praised God by] saying/singing: “, how I [SYN] praise (the Lord/God)!
47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
I am happy because God is the one who saves me.
48 for he has looked at the humble state of his servant girl. For look, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
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 For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and 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 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
He acts mercifully toward all those who respect him.
51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He shows people that he [MTY] is very powerful. He scatters those who think proudly.
52 He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
He does not let mighty kings rule [MTY] any more, but he honors people who are oppressed (OR, humble).
53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
He gives good things to eat to those who are hungry, but he sends away the rich people without giving them anything.
54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
And now he has remembered what he promised. So he has helped me and all the other people of [MTY] Israel who serve him.
He promised to Abraham and all our other ancestors who descended from him that he would act mercifully toward them forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.
57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.
When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her child, she bore a son.
58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards 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 It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zechariah, after the name of the 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 answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."
But his mother said, “No, [his name will not be Zechariah]. His name will be John!”
61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this 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 made signs to his father, what he would have him 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 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed.
[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 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
Immediately Zechariah was able to speak again [MTY], and he praised God.
65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
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 them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was 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 His father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
[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, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
“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 horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
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 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand 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 to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember 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 spoke to Abraham, our father,
That is what he strongly promised our ancestor Abraham that he would do.
74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without 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 holiness and righteousness 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, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his ways,
[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 knowledge of salvation to his people by 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 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit 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 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way 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 The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance 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.
