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