Luke 1
1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
As you know, many others have attempted to put down in writing the things that have been fulfilled that involve us.
2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
They based their accounts on evidence from the earliest eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word,
3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
and so I also decided that since I have followed these things very carefully from the beginning, it would be a good idea to write out an accurate account of all that happened.
4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
I have done this dear Theophilus so you can be certain that what you were taught is completely reliable.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisheva.
During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest called Zechariah, who came from the Abijah priestly division. He was married to Elizabeth, who was also descended from Aaron the priest.
6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
They both did what was right before God, being careful to follow all the Lord's commandments and regulations.
7 But they had no child, because Elisheva was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
They had no children because Elizabeth wasn't able to have any, and they were both growing old.
8 Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division
While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, on behalf of his priestly division,
9 according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
he was chosen by lot according to priestly custom to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
During the time of offering incense a large crowd of people were praying outside.
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
12 Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became terrified.
13 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elisheva, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yochanan.
But the angel told him, “Don't be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call him John.
14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
He will bring you joy and gladness, and many will celebrate his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will refuse to drink wine or other alcoholic drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he's born.
16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
He will turn many Israelites back to the Lord their God.
17 He will go before him 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 just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”
He will go ahead of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the fathers back to thinking about their children, and to turn those who are rebellious back to a right understanding—to prepare a people ready for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
“How can I be sure about this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I'm an old man, and my wife is getting old too.”
19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
“I am Gabriel,” the angel replied. “I stand in God's presence, and I was sent to speak to you and give you this good news.
20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
But since you didn't believe what I told you, you'll become dumb, unable to speak, until the appointed time when my words come true.”
21 The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.
Outside the people were waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was taking so long in the Temple.
22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
When eventually he came out, he wasn't able to speak to them. They realized he'd seen a vision in the Temple, for though he could make gestures, he was completely dumb.
23 When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
After he'd finished his time of service, he went back home.
24 After these days Elisheva his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.
25 “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”
“The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “now that he's taken away my disgrace in the eyes of others.”
26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
In the sixth month of her pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a young girl called Mary who lived in the town of Nazareth in Galilee.
27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Miriam.
She was engaged to a man named Joseph.
28 Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
The angel greeted her. “You are very privileged,” he told her. “The Lord is with you.”
29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
Mary was very puzzled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant.
30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God.
“Don't worry, Mary,” the angel went on, “for God has shown his graciousness to you.
31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Yeshua.’
You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
He will be very great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” (aiōn g165)
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never come to an end.” (aiōn g165)
34 Miriam said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”
“How is this possible?” Mary asked. “I'm still a virgin.”
35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
He replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. The baby who is to be born is holy, and will be called the Son of God.
36 Behold, Elisheva your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
And Elizabeth, your relative, even she is pregnant in her old age. The woman that people said couldn't have children is already six months pregnant.
37 For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”
Nothing is impossible for God.”
38 Miriam said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
“Here I am, ready to be the Lord's servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me just as you said.” Then the angel left her.
39 Miriam arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
A little while later, Mary got herself ready and hurried up into the hills of Judea, to the town where
40 and entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elisheva.
Zechariah's house was. She called out to Elizabeth as she went in.
41 When Elisheva heard Miriam’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elisheva was filled with the Holy Spirit.
As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby jumped for joy inside her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
and cried out in a loud voice, “How blessed you are among women, and how blessed will be the child born to you!
43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me?
44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
As soon as I heard you call out in greeting, my baby jumped for joy inside me.
45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”
How fortunate you are, because you are convinced that the Lord will do what he has promised you!”
46 Miriam said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.
Mary replied, “How I praise the Lord!
47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
I am so happy with God my Savior,
48 for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
because he decided that I, his servant, was worthy of his consideration, despite my humble background. From now on every generation will say I was blessed.
49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy.
50 His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.
His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him.
51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
With his power he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they're so clever.
52 He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.
He tears the powerful down from their thrones, and elevates those who are humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
He fills the hungry with good things to eat, and he sends the rich away empty-handed.
54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy,
just as he promised our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Miriam stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
Mary stayed with her for three months and then returned home.
57 Now the time that Elisheva should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.
The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and she gave birth to a son.
58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.
Her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had showed her great kindness, and they celebrated together with her.
59 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zechariah, after the name of his father.
Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father.
60 His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called Yochanan.”
“No,” Elizabeth said. “He shall be called John.”
61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
“But there's nobody among your relatives who has this name,” they told her.
62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
Through gestures they asked Zechariah, the boy's father, what he wanted to call his son.
63 He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is Yochanan.” They all marveled.
Zechariah motioned for something to write on. To everyone's surprise he wrote, “His name is John.”
64 His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
Immediately he could speak again, and he started praising God.
65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
All those living nearby were in awe at what had happened, and the news spread throughout the hill country of Judea.
66 All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.
Everyone who heard the news wondered what it meant. “What will the little boy grow up to be?” they asked, for it was clear he was very special to God.
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
Zechariah, his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke this prophecy:
68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people;
“The Lord, the God of Israel, he is wonderful, for he has come to his people and set them free.
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
He has given us a great Savior from the line of his servant David,
as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
He promised to save us from our enemies, from those who hate us.
72 to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
He was merciful to our fathers, remembering his holy agreement—
73 the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
the promise that he made to our father Abraham.
74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
He gives us freedom from fear and rescues us from our enemies,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
so we can serve him by doing what is good and right for our whole lives.
76 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 ways,
Even though you are only a small child, you will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,
providing knowledge of salvation to his people through the forgiveness of their sins.
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us,
Through God's caring kindness to us, heaven's dawn will break upon us
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
to shine on those who live in darkness and under the shadow of death, and to guide us along the path of peace.”
80 The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
The boy John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the time came for his public ministry to Israel.
