Luke 1
1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
Many have taken on the work of putting together an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
just as they were passed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
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;
So it seemed good to me also, because I have accurately investigated everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
so that you might 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 Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, from the division of Abijah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
They were both righteous before God, obeying all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old by this time.
8 Now it happened, while he was performing the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
Now it came about that Zechariah was in God's presence, carrying out the priestly duties in the order of his division.
9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
According to the customary way of choosing which priest would serve, he had been chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.
10 And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him and stood at the right side of the incense altar.
12 Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear fell on him.
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, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You will call his name John.
14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
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.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.
16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.
Many of the people of Israel will be turned to 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."
He will go before the face of the Lord 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 righteous—to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
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."
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is very old.”
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.
The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to bring you this good news.
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."
Behold! You will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place. This is because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the right time.”
21 The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering why he was delayed in the temple.
Now the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was spending so much time in the temple.
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.
But when he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision while he was in the temple. He kept on making signs to them and remained silent.
23 It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
It came about that when the days of his service were over, he went to his house.
24 After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept herself hidden. She said,
25 "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my disgrace among people."
“This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked at me with favor in order to take away my shame before people.”
26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth,
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.
to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. He belonged to the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 Having come in, the angel said to her, "Greetings, favored one. The Lord is with you."
He came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of greeting this might be.
But she was very confused by his words and she wondered what kind of greeting this could be.
30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And look, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'
See, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. You will call his name '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 be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom." (aiōn g165)
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” (aiōn g165)
34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen, since I have not slept with any man?”
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 answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will come over you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of 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.
See, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. This is the sixth month for her, she who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing will be impossible."
For nothing will be impossible for God.”
38 And Mary said, "See, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.
Mary said, “See, I am the female servant of the Lord. Let it be for me according to your message.” Then the angel left her.
39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
Then Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city in Judea.
40 and entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
She went into the house of Zechariah and greeted 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.
Now it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
She raised her voice and said loudly, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Why has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For look, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
For see, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.
45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord."
Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were told her from the Lord.”
46 Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord,
47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.
48 for he has looked at the humble state of his servant girl. For look, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For he has looked at the low condition of his female servant. For see, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and his name is holy.
50 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him.
51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has displayed strength with his arm; he has scattered those who were proud about the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
He has thrown down princes from their thrones and he has raised up those of low condition.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
He has given help to Israel his servant, so as to remember to show mercy
(as he said to our fathers) to Abraham and his descendants forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her house.
57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.
Now the time had come for Elizabeth to deliver her baby and she gave birth to 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 her relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
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.
Now it happened on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child. They would have called him “Zechariah,” after the name of his father.
60 His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."
But his mother answered and said, “No. He will be called John.”
61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
They made signs to his father as to how he wanted him to be named.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed.
His father asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” They all were astonished at this.
64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed. He spoke and 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.
Fear came on all who lived around them. All these matters were spread throughout all the hill country of Judea.
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.
All who heard them stored them in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 His father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
“Praised be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to help and he has accomplished redemption for his people.
69 and has 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 by the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago), (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
He will do this to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,
the oath that he spoke to Abraham our father.
74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
He swore to grant to us that we, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
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,
Yes, and you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his paths, to prepare people for his coming,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
This will happen because of the tender mercy of our God, because of which the sunrise from on high will come to help us,
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."
to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He will do this to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Now the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
