Luke 1
1 Given that many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those things that really did take place 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 just as those who became eyewitnesses, from the beginning, and ministers of the Word delivered them to us,
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterward became bearers of the message.
3 it seemed good to me also, most excellent Theophilus, having taken careful note of everything from Above, to write to you with precision and in sequence,
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 so that you may know the certainty of the things in which you were 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 In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was 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 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by 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, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 Now it happened, as he was officiating as priest before God in the order of his division,
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
9 according to the custom of the priesthood, that his lot was to burn incense, upon entering the sanctuary 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 the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense;
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 and upon seeing him Zacharias was shaken, and a fear fell upon him.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your prayer was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John.
14 And you will have joy and exultation, and many will rejoice over his birth.
He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must not drink either wine or strong drink; indeed, he will be filled with Holy Spirit already from his mother's womb.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God;
and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 in fact he himself will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of fathers to children’ and the disobedient to the mindset of the righteous, to prepare a people made ready for the Lord.”
He will 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 But Zacharias 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.”
“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 So in answer the angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news.
“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 Now look, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day in which these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
And now you will 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 Now the people were waiting for Zacharias and wondering at his delay in the sanctuary.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 But when he came out he was unable to speak to them, and they understood that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary—he kept gesturing to them while remaining mute.
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 so, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he took off for home.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 Well after those days his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and stayed in seclusion five months. She kept saying,
After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.
25 “So that's what the Lord has done for me in the days when He concerned Himself to take away my reproach among the people!”
“The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “he has shown me kindness and taken away the public disgrace of childlessness under which I have been living.”
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee named Natsareth,
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; the virgin's name was Mary.
to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 So upon entering where she was the angel said, “Rejoice, recipient of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, “You have been shown great favor – the Lord is with you.”
29 But upon seeing him she was perplexed at his word and was trying to figure out what sort of greeting it might be.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 The angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God.
when the angel spoke again, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Now then, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS.
And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called ‘Son of the Most High’; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
The child will be great and will be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob into the ages; indeed, of His kingdom there will be no end!” (aiōn g165)
and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 So Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I do not know a man?”
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
35 In answer the angel said to her: “Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will hover over you; precisely for this reason the holy One who is to be born will be called ‘Son of God’!
“The Holy Spirit will descend on you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘Son of God.’
36 Furthermore, your relative Elizabeth, she has actually conceived a son in her old age and this is now the sixth month for her who was 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 any word spoken by God will be possible.”
for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.”
38 So Mary said: “Yes, I am the Lord's slave! Let it happen to me according to your 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 Then Mary quickly got ready and went into the hill country in those days, to a town of Judah,
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 and entered the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 Well it happened that as Elizabeth heard Mary's salutation the babe bounced up and down in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit.
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 great voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb!
and cried aloud, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 Why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
But how have I this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Yes indeed, because as the sound of your salutation came into my ears the babe bounced up and down in my womb for joy.
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 Blessed is she who believed, because there will be a fulfillment of the things that have been spoken to her from the Lord.”
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 So Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 and my spirit has exulted over God my Savior,
and my spirit delights in God my Savior,
48 in that He paid attention to the humble station of His slave (f). Yes indeed, because from now on all generations will declare me to be highly favored,
for he has looked with favor on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
49 in that the Mighty One did sublime things for me, and Holy is His name.
“For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for generations of generations to those fearing Him.
He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
51 He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has dispersed the arrogant in the reasoning of their hearts.
“Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
52 He has dethroned rulers and exalted the lowly.
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has taken the part of His servant Israel, in remembrance of mercy,
“He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,
as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 So Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth was completed and she bore a son.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had used His great mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her.
and her neighbors and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they started calling him by the name of his father, Zacharias.
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 His mother reacted and said, “Absolutely not; he shall be called John!”
when his mother spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.”
61 So they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 So they started motioning to his father, as to what 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 Asking for a writing tablet he wrote this: “His name is to be John!” They all marveled.
Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was surprised
64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed and he started to speak, blessing God.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 (Well a fear came on all who lived around them; and all these sayings kept being talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
All their neighbors were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
66 All who heard kept them in their hearts saying, “What then will this child be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.)
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 Now his father Zacharias was filled with Holy Spirit and prophesied saying:
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people;
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 and has raised up a horn of deliverance for us in the house of His servant David
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 deliverance from our enemies and out of the hand of all who hate us;
salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 to use mercy with our fathers, even to remember His Holy covenant,
showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
73 the oath that He swore to our father Abraham;
This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
74 to grant to us (having been rescued from the hand of our enemies) to serve Him without fear,
that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called Prophet of the Most High, because you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 to give a knowledge of salvation to His people by the forgiveness of their sins,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 through the merciful compassions of our God, with which the divine Dawn has contemplated us,
through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
79 to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 So the child kept growing and being strengthened in spirit, and he stayed in uninhabited areas until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
