Luke 1
1 As you know, many others have attempted to put down in writing the things that have been fulfilled that involve us.
Many have taken on the work of putting together an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 They based their accounts on evidence from the earliest eyewitnesses and ministers 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 and so I also decided that since I have followed these things very carefully from the beginning, it would be a good idea to write out an accurate account of all that happened.
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 I have done this dear Theophilus so you can be certain that what you were taught is completely reliable.
so that you might know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest called Zechariah, who came from the Abijah priestly division. He was married to Elizabeth, who was also descended from Aaron the priest.
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 They both did what was right before God, being careful to follow all the Lord's commandments and regulations.
They were both righteous before God, obeying all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 They had no children because Elizabeth wasn't able to have any, and they were both growing old.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old by this time.
8 While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, on behalf of his priestly division,
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 priestly custom 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 During the time of offering incense a large crowd of people were praying outside.
The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing to the right 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 the angel, he was startled and became terrified.
When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear fell on him.
13 But the angel told him, “Don't be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call him 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 bring you joy and gladness, and many will celebrate his birth.
You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will refuse to drink wine or other alcoholic drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he's born.
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 He will turn many Israelites back to the Lord their God.
Many of the people of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.
17 He will go ahead of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the fathers back to thinking about their children, and to turn those who are rebellious back to a right understanding—to prepare a people ready 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 about this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I'm an old man, and my wife is getting old too.”
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,” the angel replied. “I stand in God's presence, and I was sent to speak to you and give 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 But since you didn't believe what I told you, you'll become dumb, unable to speak, until the appointed time when my words come true.”
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 Outside the people were waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was taking 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 eventually he came out, he wasn't able to speak to them. They realized he'd seen a vision in the Temple, for though he could make gestures, he was completely dumb.
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 After he'd finished his time of service, he went back home.
It came about that when the days of his service were over, he went to his house.
24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.
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,” she said, “now that he's taken away my disgrace in the eyes of others.”
“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 of her pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a young girl called Mary who lived in the town of Nazareth in Galilee.
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth,
27 She was engaged to a man named Joseph.
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 greeted her. “You are very privileged,” he told her. “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 very puzzled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant.
But she was very confused by his words and she wondered what kind of greeting this could be.
30 “Don't worry, Mary,” the angel went on, “for God has shown his graciousness to you.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call him Jesus.
See, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. You will call his name 'Jesus.'
32 He will be very great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
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.
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never come to an end.” (aiōn g165)
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” (aiōn g165)
34 “How is this possible?” Mary asked. “I'm still a virgin.”
Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen, since I have not slept with any man?”
35 He replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. The baby who is to be born is holy, and 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 And Elizabeth, your relative, even she is pregnant in her old age. The woman that people said couldn't have children is already six months pregnant.
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 Nothing is impossible for God.”
For nothing will be impossible for God.”
38 “Here I am, ready to be the Lord's servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me just as you said.” 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 A little while later, Mary got herself ready and hurried up into the hills of Judea, to the town where
Then Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city in Judea.
40 Zechariah's house was. She called out to Elizabeth as she went in.
She went into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby jumped for joy inside her. 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 and cried out in a loud voice, “How blessed you are among women, and how blessed will be the child born to you!
She raised her voice and said loudly, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me?
Why has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 As soon as I heard you call out in greeting, my baby jumped for joy inside me.
For see, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.
45 How fortunate you are, because you are convinced that the Lord will do what he has promised you!”
Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were told her from the Lord.”
46 Mary replied, “How I praise the Lord!
Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord,
47 I am so happy with God my Savior,
and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.
48 because he decided that I, his servant, was worthy of his consideration, despite my humble background. From now on every generation will say I was 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 God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and his name is holy.
50 His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him.
His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him.
51 With his power he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they're so clever.
He has displayed strength with his arm; he has scattered those who were proud about the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He tears the powerful down from their thrones, and elevates those who are humble.
He has thrown down princes from their thrones and he has raised up those of low condition.
53 He fills the hungry with good things to eat, and he sends the rich away empty-handed.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy,
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 her for three months and then returned home.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her house.
57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and 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 how the Lord had showed her great kindness, and they celebrated together with her.
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father.
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 “No,” Elizabeth said. “He shall be called John.”
But his mother answered and said, “No. He will be called John.”
61 “But there's nobody among your relatives who has this name,” they told her.
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 Through gestures they asked Zechariah, the boy's father, what he wanted to call his son.
They made signs to his father as to how he wanted him to be named.
63 Zechariah motioned for something to write on. To everyone's surprise he wrote, “His name is John.”
His father asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” They all were astonished at this.
64 Immediately he could speak again, and he started praising God.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed. He spoke and praised God.
65 All those living nearby were in awe at what had happened, and the news spread throughout the hill country of Judea.
Fear came on all who lived around them. All these matters were spread throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 Everyone who heard the news wondered what it meant. “What will the little boy grow up to be?” they asked, for it was clear he was very special to God.
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 Zechariah, his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke this prophecy:
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “The Lord, the God of Israel, he is wonderful, for he has come to his people and set them free.
“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 given us a great Savior from the line 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 He promised to save us from our enemies, from those who hate us.
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 He was merciful to our fathers, remembering his holy agreement—
He will do this to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the promise that he made to our father Abraham.
the oath that he spoke to Abraham our father.
74 He gives us freedom from fear and rescues us from our enemies,
He swore to grant to us that we, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear,
75 so we can serve him by doing what is good and right for our whole lives.
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 Even though you are only a small child, you will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way,
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 providing knowledge of salvation to his people through the forgiveness of their sins.
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 Through God's caring kindness to us, heaven's dawn will break upon us
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 under the shadow of death, and to guide us along 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 The boy John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the time came for his public ministry 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.
