Luke 1
1 For as moche as many have take in hand to compyle a treates of thoo thinges which are surely knowen amonge vs
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 even as they declared them vnto vs which from the beginnynge sawe them their selves and were ministers at the doyng:
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the Message.
3 I determined also assone as I had searched out diligently all thinges from the beginnynge that then I wolde wryte vnto the good Theophilus:
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 that thou myghtest knowe the certente of thoo thinges wher of thou arte informed.
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 There was in the dayes of Herode kynge of Iurie a certayne prest named Zacharias of ye course of Abia. And his wyfe was of ye doughters 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 Booth were perfect before God and walked in all the lawes and ordinaces of the Lorde that no man coulde fynde fawte with them.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 And they had no chylde because that Elizabeth was barre and booth were well stricken in age.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 And it cam to passe as he executed the prestes office before god as his course came
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,
9 (accordinge to the custome of the prestes office) his lot was to bourne incece.
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 wet into ye teple of ye Lorde and the whoale multitude of ye people were with out in prayer whill the incense was aburnynge.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 And ther appered vnto him an angell of the lorde stondinge on the ryght syde of the altare of incense.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 And when Zacharias sawe him he was abasshed and feare came on him.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 And the angell sayde vnto him: feare not Zachary for thy prayer is hearde: And thy wyfe Elizabeth shall beare ye a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iohn
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.
14 and thou shalt have ioye and gladnes and many shall reioyce at his birth.
He shall be to you a joy and a delight; and many shall rejoice over his birth.
15 For he shalbe greate in the sight of the lorde and shall nether drinke wyne ner stronge drinke. And he shalbe filled with the holy goost even in his mothers wombe:
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,
16 and many of the chyldren of Israel shall he tourne to their Lorde God.
and shall reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall goo before him in the sprete and power of Helyas to tourne the hertes of the fathers to the chyldren and the vnbelevers to the wysdom of the iuste men: to make the people redy for the Lorde.
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.”
18 And Zacharias sayde vnto ye angell: Wher by shall I knowe this? seinge that I am olde and my wyfe well stricken in yeares.
“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 And the angell answered and sayde vnto him: I am Gabriell that stonde in the presens of God and am sent to speake vnto the: and to shewe the these glad tydinges.
“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 And beholde thou shalt be domme and not able to speake vntyll the tyme that these thinges be performed because thou belevedst not my wordes which shalbe fulfilled in their season.
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.”
21 And the people wayted for Zacharias and mervelled that he taryed in the temple.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 And whe he cam oute he could not speake vnto them. Wherby they perceaved that he had sene some vision in the temple. And he beckened vnto them and remayned speachlesse.
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 it fortuned assone as ye tyme of his office was oute he departed home into his awne housse.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 And after thoose dayes his wyfe Elizabeth coceaved and hyd her sylfe. v. monethes sayinge:
After this his wife, Elizabeth, expecting to become a mother, lived in seclusion for five months.
25 This wyse hath God dealte wt me in ye dayes when he loked on me to take from me the rebuke yt I suffred amonge men.
“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.”
26 And in ye. vi. moneth ye angell Gabriel was sent fro god vnto a cite of Galile named Nazareth
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin spoused to a man whose name was Ioseph of ye housse of David and ye virgins name was Mary.
to a maiden there who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 And ye angell went in vnto her and sayde: Hayle full of grace ye Lorde is with ye: blessed arte thou amonge wemen.
Gabriel came into her presence and said: “Hail, you who have been highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
29 When she sawe him she was abasshed at his sayinge: and cast in her mynde what maner of salutacion yt shuld be.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 And ye angell sayde vnto her: feare not Mary: for thou hast founde grace wt god.
when the angel spoke again: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 Loo: thou shalt coceave in thy wombe and shalt beare a sonne and shalt call his name Iesus.
And now, you shall be with child and give birth to a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus.
32 He shalbe greate and shalbe called the sonne of the hyest. And ye lorde God shall geve vnto him the seate of his father David
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,
33 and he shall raygne over ye housse of Iacob forever and of his kyngdome shalbe none ende. (aiōn g165)
and he shall reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there shall be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 Then sayd Mary vnto ye angell: How shall this be seinge I knowe not a man?
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
35 And ye angell answered and sayd vnto her: The holy goost shall come apon the and ye power of ye hyest shall over shaddowe ye. Therfore also yt holy thinge which shalbe borne shalbe called ye sonne of god.
“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.’
36 And beholde thy cosen Elizabeth she hath also conceaved a sonne in her age. And this is hyr sixte moneth though she be 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 for wt god can nothinge be vnpossible.
for no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled.”
38 And Mary sayd: beholde ye honde mayden of ye lorde be it vnto me even as thou hast sayde. And the angell 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 And Mary arose in thoose dayes and went into ye mountayns wt hast into a cite of Iurie
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 and entred into the housse of zachary and saluted Elizabeth.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it fortuned as Elizabeth hearde ye salutacion of Mary the babe spronge in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled with the holy goost
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 and cryed with a loude voyce and sayde: Blessed arte thou amonge wemen and blessed is the frute of thy wombe.
and cried aloud: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 And whence hapeneth this to me that the mother of my Lorde shuld come to me?
But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For loo assone as the voyce of thy salutacion sownded in myne eares the babe sprange in my belly for ioye.
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 And blessed arte thou that belevedst: for thoose thinges shalbe performed wich were tolde ye from the lorde.
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 And Mary sayde. My soule magnifieth the Lorde.
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my sprete reioyseth in god my savioure
my spirit delights in God my Saviour;
48 For he hath loked on the povre degre of his honde mayde. Beholde now from hence forth shall all generacions call me blessed.
for he has remembered his servant in her lowliness; And from this hour all ages will count me happy!
49 For he that is myghty hath done to me greate thinges and holye is his name.
Great things has the Almighty done for me; And holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that feare him thorow oute all generacions.
From age to age his mercy rests On those who reverence him.
51 He sheweth strength with his arme he scattereth them that are proude in the ymaginacion of their hertes.
Mighty are the deeds of his arm; He scatters the proud with their own devices,
52 He putteth doune the myghty from their seates and exalteth them of lowe degre.
he casts down princes from their thrones, and the lowly he uplifts,
53 He filleth the hongry with good thinges: and sendeth awaye the ryche emptye.
the hungry he loads with gifts, and the rich he sends empty away.
54 He remenbreth mercy: and helpeth his servaunt Israel.
He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his mercy
(As he promised to our forefathers) For Abraham and his race for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 And mary aboode with hyr aboute a. iii. monethes and retourned agayne to hyr awne housse.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 Elizabethes tyme was come that she shuld be delyvered and she brought forth a sonne.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 And her neghboures and her cosins hearde tell how the lorde had shewed great mercy vpon her and they reioysed with her.
and her neighbours and relations, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 And it fortuned ye eyght daye: they cam to circumcise the chylde: and called his name zacharias after the name of his father.
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him ‘Zechariah’ after his father,
60 How be it his mother answered and sayd: not so but he shalbe called Ihon.
when his mother interposed: “No, he is to be called John.”
61 And they sayd vnto hyr: Ther is none of thy kynne that is named wt this name.
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 And they made signes to his father how he wolde have him called.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 And he axed for wrytynge tables and wroote saying: his name is Iohn. And they marvelled all.
Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words — ‘His name is John.’ Every one was surprised;
64 And his mouthe was opened immediatly and his tonge also and he spake lawdynge God.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 And feare came on all the that dwelt nye vnto them. And all these sayinges were noysed abroade throughout all ye hyll coutre of Iurie
All their neighbours were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;
66 and all they yt herde the layde them vp in their hertes saying: What maner chylde shall this be? And the honde of ye lorde was with him.
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.
67 And his father zacharias was filled with the holy goost and prophisyed sayinge:
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel for he hath visited and redemed his people.
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 And hath reysed vp an horne of salvacion vnto vs in the housse of his servaunt David.
and has raised up for us the Strength of our Salvation In the House of his servant David —
70 Even as he promised by ye mouth of his holy prophetes which were sens ye worlde began (aiōn g165)
As he promised by the lips of his Holy Prophets of old — (aiōn g165)
71 That we shuld be saved from oure enemies and from the hondis of all that hate vs:
Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us,
72 To fulfill the mercy promised to oure fathers and to remember his holy covenaunt.
showing mercy to our forefathers, And mindful of his sacred Covenant.
73 And to performe the oothe which he sware to oure father Adraham
This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham —
74 for to geve vs. That we delyvered oute of ye hondes of oure enemyes myght serve him with oute feare
That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 all the dayes of oure lyfe in suche holynes and ryghtewesnes that are accept before him.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days.
76 And thou chylde shalt be called the Prophet of the hyest: for thou shalt goo before the face of the lorde to prepare his wayes:
And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 And to geve knowlege of salvacion vnto his people for the remission of synnes:
to give his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of oure God wherby the daye springe from an hye hath visited vs.
through the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven,
79 To geve light to the that sate in darcknes and in shadowe of deth and to gyde oure fete into the waye of peace.
to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the chylde grew and wexed stronge in sprete and was in wyldernes tyll the daye cam when he shuld shewe him sylfe vnto the Israhelites.
The child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before Israel.
