Luke 1
1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us
2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,
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;
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,
4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.
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.
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.
6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
They were both of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.
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 both of them were far advanced in life.
8 Now it happened, while he was performing the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,
9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense;
10 And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense;
12 Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.
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, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name John.
14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over 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; 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.
16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.
Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn 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."
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."
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."
"By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years."
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.
"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.
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."
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."
21 The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering why he was delayed in the temple.
Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.
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, 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.
23 It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;
24 After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.
25 "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my disgrace among people."
"Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."
26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called 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 maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.
28 Having come in, the angel said to her, "Greetings, favored one. The Lord is with you."
So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! 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.
She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.
30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 And look, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'
You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to 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 He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom." (aiōn g165)
and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, and of His Kingdom there will be no end." (aiōn g165)
34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
"How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"
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, "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.'
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.
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.
37 For with God nothing will be impossible."
For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."
38 And Mary said, "See, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.
"I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And then the angel left her.
39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.
40 and entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
Here she came to 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.
and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. 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.
and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!
43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
But why is this honour done 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, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt 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."
And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."
46 Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,
47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;
48 for he has looked at the humble state of his servant girl. For look, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,
49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--
50 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon 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 manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.
54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--
In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever." (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.
57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.
Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, 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.
and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on 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.
And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to call him Zechariah, after his father.
60 His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."
His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."
61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
"There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."
62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed.
So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless God.
65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
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.
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 the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the lord's hand was indeed with him.
67 His father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.
68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant--
As He has spoken from all time by the lips of His holy Prophets-- (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.
72 to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant,
73 the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,
The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather,
74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
In piety and uprightness 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,
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,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins,
To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us,
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct 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.
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.
