Luke 1
1 My noble [friend] Theophilus, many people saw the things that [Jesus] did while he was with us, from the time when he started [MTY] [his ministry]. They served God [by teaching people] the message [about the Lord Jesus]. Many of those who heard what they taught wrote down for us accounts of the things that [Jesus did from the time when] he began [his ministry].
Since, indeed, many have attempted to set in order a narrative of the things that have been completed among us,
just as they have been handed on to those of us who from the beginning saw the same and were ministers of the word,
3 I myself have studied these accounts carefully. So I decided that it would be good for me also to write for you [(sg)] an accurate account of these matters.
so it seemed good to me also, having diligently followed everything from the beginning, to write to you, in an orderly manner, most excellent Theophilus,
4 I want you to know the truth about what you have been taught {what others have taught you}.
so that you might know the truthfulness of those words by which you have been instructed.
5 When King Herod [the Great ruled] Judea [district], there was a [Jewish] priest named Zechariah. He belonged to the [group of priests called] the Abijah group. He and his wife Elizabeth were both descended from the [first priest of Israel], Aaron.
There was, in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the section of Abijah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 [God considered that] both of them were righteous, because they constantly completely obeyed everything that God had commanded.
Now they were both just before God, progressing in all of the commandments and the justifications of the Lord without blame.
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth had been unable to bear children. Furthermore, she and her husband were very old.
And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both had become advanced in years.
8 One day [Zechariah’s] group was doing their work [in the Temple in Jerusalem], and he was serving as a priest in God’s presence.
Then it happened that, when he was exercising the priesthood before God, in the order of his section,
9 Following their custom, [the other priests] chose him by lot to enter the Lord’s temple and burn incense.
according to the custom of the priesthood, the lot fell so that he would offer incense, entering into the temple of the Lord.
10 While he was burning the incense, many people were outside [in the courtyard], praying.
And the entire multitude of the people was praying outside, at the hour of incense.
11 Then an angel whom God had [sent] appeared to him. The angel was standing at the right side of the place [where the priests burned] incense.
Then there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became very afraid.
And upon seeing him, Zechariah was disturbed, and fear fell over him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, do not be afraid! When you [(sg)] prayed [asking God for a son] (OR, [that God would send the Messiah]), God heard what you prayed. [So] your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son. You must name him John.
But the Angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son to you. And you shall call his name John.
14 He will cause you to be very happy, and many other people will also be happy because he is born.
And there will be joy and exultation for you, and many will rejoice in his nativity.
15 God will consider him to be very important. He must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, [in order that he will be completely dedicated to God]. He will be controlled by the Holy Spirit {The Holy Spirit will control him} from before he is born.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16 He will [persuade] many people in Israel to turn away [from their sins and please] the Lord their God.
And he will convert many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 As [God’s] Spirit enables him [to preach] powerfully as [the prophet] Elijah did, he will precede [the Messiah]. He will cause parents [SYN] to act [peacefully] toward their children [again]. He will cause [many] people who do not obey [God to hear and obey] the wise things that righteous people [tell them]. He will do this in order to help [many] people to be ready when the Lord [comes].”
And he will go before him with the spirit and power of Elijah, so that he may turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons, and the incredulous to the prudence of the just, so as to prepare for the Lord a completed people.”
18 Then Zechariah said to the angel, “I am very old, and my wife is also so old [that she cannot bear a child. So] (I cannot [believe] that what you [(sg)] said [will happen]!/how can I [believe] that what you [(sg)] said [will happen]?) [RHQ]”
And Zechariah said to the Angel: “How may I know this? For I am elderly, and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 Then the angel said to him, “I am [God’s chief angel], Gabriel! [I do what God tells me, because] I constantly am in God’s presence! I was sent {[He] sent me} to tell you [(sg)] something good [that is going to happen to you].
And in response, the Angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I have been sent to speak to you, and to proclaim these things to you.
20 What I have told you will certainly happen at the time [God decides], but you did not believe what I told you. So now [God will make] you will be unable to talk until the day [your son is born]”!
And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak, until the day on which these things shall be, because you have not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
21 While [Zechariah and the angel] were talking, the people [in the courtyard] were waiting for Zechariah [to come out]. They wondered, “Why is he staying in the Temple for such a long time?”
And the people were waiting for Zechariah. And they wondered why he was being delayed in the temple.
22 When Zechariah came out, he was not able to speak to the people. Because he could not talk, he made motions with his hands [to try to convey what had happened]. Then they realized that he had seen (a vision [from God]/something that [God] showed him) while he was in the Temple.
Then, when he came out, he was unable to speak to them. And they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, but he remained mute.
23 When Zechariah’s time to work [as a priest in the Temple] was finished, he [left Jerusalem and] returned to his home.
And it happened that, after the days of his office were completed, he went away to his house.
24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant [EUP]. She did not leave their house for five months, [because she knew that people would laugh at her if she told them that she was pregnant].
Then, after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she hid herself for five months, saying:
25 But she thought, “God has enabled me to become pregnant. He has pitied me and I will no longer be ashamed [because I have no children]!”
“For the Lord did this for me, at the time when he decided to take away my reproach among men.”
26 When Elizabeth had been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, the angel Gabriel was sent by God {God sent the angel Gabriel} [again].
Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 [This time] he went to Nazareth [town] in Galilee [district], to a virgin whose name was Mary. It had been {[Her parents] had} promised that she would marry a man named Joseph, who was descended from [King] David.
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
28 The angel greeted her and said, “(The Lord/God) is with you [(sg)] and you will be greatly blessed {[has decided to] greatly bless you}!”
And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”
29 But Mary was very confused [when she heard] that. She wondered what [the angel meant] by these words.
And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Mary, God is very pleased with you [(sg)], so do not be afraid.
And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God.
31 You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS.
32 He will become great. He will be called {[People will] call him} (the Son of God/the man who is also God). God, the Lord, will make him a king [MTY] as his ancestor [King] David was.
He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father.
33 He will be the King of [the] Jews, the descendants [MTY] of [your ancestor] Jacob, forever. He will rule as king forever!” (aiōn g165)
And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity. And his kingdom shall have no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin, so how can I [have a baby]?”
Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come to you; the power of God [MTY/EUP] will overshadow you [and enable you to become pregnant]. So the child [you will] bear will be completely set apart {give himself completely} to obey God, and he will be called {[people] will say that he is} (the Son of God/the man who is also God).
And in response, the Angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
36 [I also need to tell you something else]. Your cousin Elizabeth is very old, and it was thought {[people] said} that she could not bear any children. But she has been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, and will bear a son!
And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren.
37 [You should not be surprised at that], because God can do everything!”
For no word will be impossible with God.”
38 Then Mary said, “All right, I want to serve (the Lord/God), so may what you [(sg)] have said about me come true!” Then the angel left her.
Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the Angel departed from her.
39 Very soon after that, Mary got ready and went quickly to a town in the highlands of Judea [district] where Zechariah lived.
And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah.
40 She entered his house and greeted [his wife] Elizabeth.
And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth.
41 As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary greet her, the baby moved inside [Elizabeth’s] womb. The Holy Spirit took complete control of Elizabeth,
And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 and she said loudly [to Mary], “[God] has blessed you [more than] he has blessed [any other] woman, and [he has] blessed the child you will bear!
And she cried out with a loud voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 (I am not worthy that [God would allow you] to visit me!/Why is [God allowing you] to visit me?) [RHQ] You will be the mother of my Lord!
And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
44 [I realize this because] as soon as I heard you greet me, the baby inside my womb moved because he was so happy [that you had come].
For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 [God] is pleased with you [because] you believed that what (the Lord/God) told you would come true.”
And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.”
46 Then Mary [praised God by] saying/singing: “, how I [SYN] praise (the Lord/God)!
And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord.
47 I am happy because God is the one who saves me.
And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Savior.
48 I was only his lowly servant girl, but he did not forget me. So from now on, everyone will say that God was pleased with me,
For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed.
49 because they will hear about the things that God [MTY], the mighty one, has done for me. He [MTY] is awesome!
For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 He acts mercifully toward all those who respect him.
And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him.
51 He shows people that he [MTY] is very powerful. He scatters those who think proudly.
He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart.
52 He does not let mighty kings rule [MTY] any more, but he honors people who are oppressed (OR, humble).
He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble.
53 He gives good things to eat to those who are hungry, but he sends away the rich people without giving them anything.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 And now he has remembered what he promised. So he has helped me and all the other people of [MTY] Israel who serve him.
He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy,
55 He promised to Abraham and all our other ancestors who descended from him that he would act mercifully toward them forever.” (aiōn g165)
just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.
Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house.
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her child, she bore a son.
Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how (the Lord/God) had greatly blessed her [by enabling her to bear a child], so they were happy along with [Elizabeth].
And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her.
59 Seven days later they gathered together for the [ceremony for] circumcising the baby [to show that he belonged to God]. They wanted to give the baby the same name as his father, Zechariah.
And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father’s name, Zechariah.
60 But his mother said, “No, [his name will not be Zechariah]. His name will be John!”
And in response, his mother said: “Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.”
61 [So] they said to her, “[John] is not the name of any of your [(dl)] relatives, [so you(dl) should not give him that name]!”
And they said to her, “But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”
62 Then they made motions with their hands to Zechariah, [for him] to indicate what name [he] wanted to be given {to give} to his son.
Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called.
63 [So] he signaled that they [should give him] a tablet [to write on. When they gave him one], he wrote [on it], “His name is John.” All those [who were there] were surprised!
And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: “His name is John.” And they all wondered.
64 Immediately Zechariah was able to speak again [MTY], and he praised God.
Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 All their neighbors were amazed/awestruck! They told other people who lived all over the highlands of Judea about what had happened.
And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 Everyone who heard about it kept thinking about it. They were saying, “We wonder what will this child do [for God when] he [grows up] [RHQ]!” They wondered that because [from what had happened they were sure that] God would be helping that child [SYN] [in a powerful way].
And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: “What do you think this boy will be?” And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 [After] Zechariah’s [son was born], Zechariah was completely directed by the Holy Spirit {the Holy Spirit completely directed Zechariah} as he spoke these words that came from God:
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. And he prophesied, saying:
68 “Praise the Lord, the God whom we(inc) people of Israel worship, because he has come to set us, his people, free from our enemies.
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel. For he has visited and has wrought the redemption of his people.
69 He is sending us someone who will powerfully [MTY] save us, someone who is descended from [MTY] King David, who served God well.
And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of David his servant,
just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy Prophets, who are from ages past: (aiōn g165)
71 He will rescue us from our enemies, and he will save us from the power of all those who hate us.
salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us,
72 He will do this because he has not forgotten what he promised our ancestors; he made an agreement that he would act mercifully to us, their descendants.
to accomplish mercy with our fathers, and to call to mind his holy testament,
73 That is what he strongly promised our ancestor Abraham that he would do.
the oath, which he swore to Abraham, our father, that he would grant to us,
74 God told him that we would be rescued {he would rescue us} from the power of our enemies, that he would enable us to serve him without being afraid,
so that, having been freed from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
75 that he would cause us to be completely dedicated to him, and enable us to live righteously all of our lives.”
in holiness and in justice before him, throughout all our days.
76 [Then Zechariah said this to] his little son: “My child, you will be called {people will say that you are} a prophet whom God [MTY/EUP] has sent; you will begin your work before (the Lord/Messiah) comes; you will prepare people so that they will be ready for him. (OR, you will begin your work before the Messiah comes).
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the face of the Lord: to prepare his ways,
77 You will tell God’s people how he will forgive them and save them from being punished for their sins.
to give knowledge of salvation to his people for the remission of their sins,
78 Our God will do that because he is very kind to us. Just like a new day begins when the sun rises [MET], God will do that new thing for us when the Messiah comes to us from heaven.
through the heart of the mercy of our God, by which, descending from on high, he has visited us,
79 People who do not know God [MET] are like those who sit in the darkness. They are afraid [MTY] that they will soon die. But when the Messiah tells us God’s message, it will be like causing such people to see a bright light. He will guide us [SYN] so that we will be living peacefully.”
to illuminate those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to direct our feet in the way of peace.”
80 [Later], Zechariah’s son grew up and became spiritually strong. Then he lived in a desolate region until he began to preach to the Israeli people.
And the child grew, and he was strengthened in spirit. And he was in the wilderness, until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
