Luke 1
1 Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that 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 just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
just as they were passed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, 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 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
so that you might know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron.
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 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
They were both righteous before God, obeying all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old by this time.
8 One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
Now it came about that Zechariah was in God's presence, carrying out the priestly duties in the order of his division.
9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter 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 at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.
11 Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at 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 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
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 prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name 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 He will be a joy and delight to you, 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. He shall never take 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 Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
Many of the people of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—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 “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along 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 “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been 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 now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at 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 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long 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 and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless.
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 And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
It came about that when the days of his service were over, he went to his house.
24 After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept herself hidden. She said,
25 “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the 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 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And 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 The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
He came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered 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 So the angel told 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 Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the 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.
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” (aiōn g165)
34 “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen, since I have not slept with any man?”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be 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 Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
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 no word from God will ever fail.”
For nothing will be impossible for God.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left 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 In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
Then Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city in Judea.
40 where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
She went into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, 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 In a loud voice she exclaimed, “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 And why am I so honored, 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 as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped 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 has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were told her from the Lord.”
46 Then 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 with favor on the humble state of His servant. 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 the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and his name is holy.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts 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 brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
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, but 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 helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
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 Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her house.
57 When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
Now the time had come for Elizabeth to deliver her baby and she gave birth to a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, 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 On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
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 But his mother replied, “No! He shall 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 bears this name.”
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
They made signs to his father as to how he wanted him to be named.
63 Zechariah asked for a 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 Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed. He spoke and praised God.
65 All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
Fear came on all who lived around them. All these matters were spread throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand 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 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed 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 He 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 to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
He will do this to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
the oath that he spoke to Abraham our father.
74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may 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 the days of our lives.
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 on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
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 to His people the knowledge of salvation through 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, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
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 live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path 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 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time 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.
