Luke 1
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us;
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,
2 According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the Message.
3 It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
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,
4 That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.
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.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.
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.
6 And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,
9 According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.
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;
10 And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:
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.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.
He shall be to you a joy and a delight; and many shall rejoice over his birth.
15 For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
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,
16 And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
and shall reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.
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.”
18 And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 And the angel answering, said to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.
“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.
20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.
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.”
21 And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb.
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.
23 And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying:
After this his wife, Elizabeth, expecting to become a mother, lived in seclusion for five months.
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.
“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.”
26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
to a maiden there who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Gabriel came into her presence and said: “Hail, you who have been highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
when the angel spoke again: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
And now, you shall be with child and give birth to a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father;
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,
33 and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
and he shall reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there shall be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
“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.’
36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
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;
37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.
for no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled.”
38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
“I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary; “let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39 And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
and cried aloud: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
my spirit delights in God my Saviour;
48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
for he has remembered his servant in her lowliness; And from this hour all ages will count me happy!
49 Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.
Great things has the Almighty done for me; And holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
From age to age his mercy rests On those who reverence him.
51 He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
Mighty are the deeds of his arm; He scatters the proud with their own devices,
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
he casts down princes from their thrones, and the lowly he uplifts,
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
the hungry he loads with gifts, and the rich he sends empty away.
54 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his mercy
(As he promised to our forefathers) For Abraham and his race for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 Now Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her.
and her neighbours and relations, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father’s name Zachary.
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him ‘Zechariah’ after his father,
60 And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.
when his mother interposed: “No, he is to be called John.”
61 And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.
Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words — ‘His name is John.’ Every one was surprised;
64 And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.
All their neighbours were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;
66 And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
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.
67 And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:
and has raised up for us the Strength of our Salvation In the House of his servant David —
As he promised by the lips of his Holy Prophets of old — (aiōn g165)
71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:
Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us,
72 To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,
showing mercy to our forefathers, And mindful of his sacred Covenant.
73 The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,
This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham —
74 That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 In holiness and justice before him, all our days.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:
And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:
to give his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:
through the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven,
79 To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.
to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
The child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before Israel.
