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].
Many have taken on the work of putting together an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
just as they were passed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants 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, because I have accurately investigated everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, 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 certainty of the things you have been taught.
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.
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 [God considered that] both of them were righteous, because they constantly completely obeyed everything that God had commanded.
They were both righteous before God, obeying all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth had been unable to bear children. Furthermore, she and her husband were very old.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old by this time.
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.
Now it came about that Zechariah was in God's presence, carrying out the priestly duties in the order of his division.
9 Following their custom, [the other priests] chose him by lot to enter the Lord’s temple 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 While he was burning the incense, many people were outside [in the courtyard], praying.
The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.
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.
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 very afraid.
When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear fell on 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, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You will 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.
You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
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. 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 [persuade] many people in Israel to turn away [from their sins and please] the Lord their God.
Many of the people of Israel will be turned 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].”
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 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]”
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is very old.”
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].
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 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]”!
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 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?”
Now the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was spending so much time 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.
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 When Zechariah’s time to work [as a priest in the Temple] was finished, he [left Jerusalem and] returned to his 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 [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].
After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept herself hidden. She said,
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]!”
“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 When Elizabeth had been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, the angel Gabriel was sent by God {God sent the angel Gabriel} [again].
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in 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 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 and said, “(The Lord/God) is with you [(sg)] and you will be greatly blessed {[has decided to] greatly bless you}!”
He came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 But Mary was very confused [when she heard] that. She wondered what [the angel meant] by these words.
But she was very confused by his words and she wondered what kind of greeting this could be.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Mary, God is very pleased with you [(sg)], so do not be afraid.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
See, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. You will 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 will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
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)
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” (aiōn g165)
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin, so how can I [have a baby]?”
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 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).
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 [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!
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 [You should not be surprised at that], because God can do everything!”
For nothing will be impossible for 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.
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 Very soon after that, Mary got ready and went quickly to a town in the highlands of Judea [district] where Zechariah lived.
Then Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city in Judea.
40 She entered his house and greeted [his wife] Elizabeth.
She went into the house of Zechariah and 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,
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 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!
She raised her voice and said loudly, “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!
Why has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should 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 see, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.
45 [God] is pleased with you [because] you believed that what (the Lord/God) told you would come true.”
Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were told her from the Lord.”
46 Then Mary [praised God by] saying/singing: “, how I [SYN] praise (the Lord/God)!
Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord,
47 I am happy because God is the one who saves me.
and my spirit has rejoiced 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 at the low condition of his female servant. For see, from now on all generations will 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 mighty has done great things for me, and his name is holy.
50 He acts mercifully toward all those who respect him.
His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him.
51 He shows people that he [MTY] is very powerful. He scatters those who think proudly.
He has displayed strength with his arm; he has scattered those who were proud about the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He does not let mighty kings rule [MTY] any more, but he honors people who are oppressed (OR, humble).
He has thrown down princes from their thrones and he has raised up those of low condition.
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, but 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 given help to Israel his servant, so as to remember to show 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)
(as he said to our fathers) to Abraham and his descendants forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her house.
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her child, she bore 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/God) had greatly blessed her [by enabling her to bear a child], so they were happy along with [Elizabeth].
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with 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.
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 said, “No, [his name will not be Zechariah]. His name will be John!”
But his mother answered and said, “No. He will 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]!”
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this 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.
They made signs to his father as to how he wanted him to be named.
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!
His father asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” They all were astonished at this.
64 Immediately Zechariah was able to speak again [MTY], and he praised God.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed. He spoke and praised God.
65 All their neighbors were amazed/awestruck! They told other people who lived all over the highlands of Judea about what had happened.
Fear came on all who lived around them. All these matters were spread 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].
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 [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:
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and 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.
“Praised be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to help and he has accomplished redemption for 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.
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 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 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.
He will do this to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 That is what he strongly promised our ancestor Abraham that he would do.
the oath that he spoke to Abraham our father.
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,
He swore to grant to us that we, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, would 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 righteousness before him 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).
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 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 by the forgiveness 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.
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 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 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 [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.
Now the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
