Luke 1
1 Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us
Since, indeed, many have attempted to set in order a narrative of the things that have been completed among us,
2 on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,
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 it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,
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 that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.
so that you might know the truthfulness of those words by which you have been instructed.
5 There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
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 They were both of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.
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 child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.
And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both had become advanced in years.
8 Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,
Then it happened that, when he was exercising the priesthood before God, in the order of his section,
9 it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the 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 and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.
And the entire multitude of the people was praying outside, at the hour of incense.
11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense;
Then there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
12 and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.
And upon seeing him, Zechariah was disturbed, and fear fell over him.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name 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 Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over his birth.
And there will be joy and exultation for you, and many will rejoice in his nativity.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth.
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 Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;
And he will convert many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."
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 "By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years."
And Zechariah said to the Angel: “How may I know this? For I am elderly, and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God," answered the angel, "and I have been sent to talk with you and tell you this good news.
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 And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."
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 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.
And the people were waiting for Zechariah. And they wondered why he was being delayed in the temple.
22 When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued dumb.
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 his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;
And it happened that, after the days of his office were completed, he went away to his house.
24 and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.
Then, after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she hid herself for five months, saying:
25 "Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."
“For the Lord did this for me, at the time when he decided to take away my reproach among men.”
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.
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 So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you."
And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”
29 She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.
And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God.
31 You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS.
Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS.
32 He will be great and He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;
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 and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, and of His Kingdom there will be no end." (aiōn g165)
And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity. And his kingdom shall have no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 "How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"
Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?”
35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the Son of 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 And see, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
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 For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."
For no word will be impossible with God.”
38 "I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And 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 Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.
And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah.
40 Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth;
And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth.
41 and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
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 uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!
And she cried out with a loud voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 But why is this honour done me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
44 For, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt for joy.
For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."
And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.”
46 Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,
And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord.
47 And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;
And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Savior.
48 Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,
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 the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--
For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.
And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him.
51 He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart.
52 He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.
He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble.
53 The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--
He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy,
55 In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever." (aiōn g165)
just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.
Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house.
57 Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, she gave birth to a son;
Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son.
58 and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her.
And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her.
59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to call him Zechariah, after his father.
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 His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."
And in response, his mother said: “Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.”
61 "There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."
And they said to her, “But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”
62 They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.
Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called.
63 So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: “His name is John.” And they all wondered.
64 Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless God.
Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 And all who lived round about them were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judaea reports of all these things were spread abroad.
And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 All who heard the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the lord's hand was indeed with him.
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 And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. And he prophesied, saying:
68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel. For he has visited and has wrought the redemption of his people.
69 And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant--
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 To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.
salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us,
72 He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant,
to accomplish mercy with our fathers, and to call to mind his holy testament,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather,
the oath, which he swore to Abraham, our father, that he would grant to us,
74 To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,
so that, having been freed from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
75 In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.
in holiness and in justice before him, throughout all our days.
76 And you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
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 To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people for the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us,
through the heart of the mercy of our God, by which, descending from on high, he has visited us,
79 Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path of peace."
to illuminate those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to direct our feet in the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.
And the child grew, and he was strengthened in spirit. And he was in the wilderness, until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
