Luke 1
1 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,
Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us
2 just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the Message.
on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,
3 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,
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 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.
that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.
5 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.
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 people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by 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, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.
8 One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,
Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,
9 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;
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, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.
11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right 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 startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.
13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, whom you shall call by the name 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 He shall be to you a joy and a delight; and many shall rejoice over his birth.
Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord; he shall not drink any wine or strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
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 and shall reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;
17 He shall 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.”
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 “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is 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 “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.
"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 now you shall 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.”
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 Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long 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 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.
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 And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;
24 After this his wife, Elizabeth, expecting to become a mother, lived in seclusion for five months.
and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.
25 “This is what the Lord has done for me,” she said, “now that he has deigned to take away the reproach under which I have been living.”
"Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."
26 Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a maiden there who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her 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 Gabriel came into her presence and said: “Hail, you who have been highly favoured! 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 Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.
30 when the angel spoke again: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 And now, you shall be with child and give birth to a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus.
You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS.
32 The child shall be great and shall be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor 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 shall reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there shall be no end.” (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 “How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
"How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"
35 “The Holy Spirit shall descend upon you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High shall overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘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 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;
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 no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled.”
For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."
38 “I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary; “let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left 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 Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.
40 and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth;
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself 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 and cried aloud: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!
43 But how have I this honour, 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, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
For, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt for joy.
45 Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."
46 And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,
47 my spirit delights in God my Saviour;
And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;
48 for he has remembered his servant in her lowliness; And from this hour all ages will count me happy!
Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,
49 Great things has the Almighty done for me; And holy is his name.
Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--
50 From age to age his mercy rests On those who reverence him.
And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.
51 Mighty are the deeds of his arm; He scatters the proud with their own devices,
He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 he casts down princes from their thrones, and the lowly he uplifts,
He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.
53 the hungry he loads with gifts, and the rich he sends empty away.
The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.
54 He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his 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 Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.
57 When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, she gave birth to a son;
58 and her neighbours and relations, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her.
59 A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him ‘Zechariah’ after his father,
And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to call him Zechariah, after his father.
60 when his mother interposed: “No, he is to be called John.”
His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."
61 “You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
"There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."
62 and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.
63 Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words — ‘His name is John.’ Every one was surprised;
So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
64 and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless God.
65 All their neighbours were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;
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 and 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.
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 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.
68 “Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
"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 for us the Strength of our Salvation 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 hands of all that hate us,
To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.
72 showing mercy to our forefathers, And mindful of his sacred Covenant.
He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant,
73 This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham —
The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather,
74 That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,
75 and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days.
In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.
76 And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way,
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 his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
78 through the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven,
Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us,
79 to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And 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 grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before 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.
