Luke 1
1
Introduction
1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled#1:1 Or been surely believed among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He 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, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called#1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.”
38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Mary’s Song
46And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s Song
67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69He has raised up a horn#1:69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king. of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
72to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
73the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80And the child grew and became strong in spirit#1:80 Or in the Spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
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Luke 1: NIV
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Luqas (Luke) 1
1
1Since many have indeed taken in hand to set in order an account of the matters completely confirmed among us,
2as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
3it seemed good to me as well, having followed up all these matters exactly from the beginning, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilos,
4that you might know the certainty of the words which you were taught.
5There was in the days of Herodes, the sovereign of Yehuḏah, a certain priest named Zeḵaryah, of the division of Aḇiyah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aharon, and her name was Elisheḇa.
6And they were both righteous before Elohim, blamelessly walking in all the commands and righteousnesses of יהוה.
7And they had no child, because Elisheḇa was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8And it came to be, that while he was serving as priest before Elohim in the order of his division,
9according to the institute of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to burn incense when he went into the Dwelling Place of יהוה.
10And the entire crowd of people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11And a messenger of יהוה appeared to him, standing on the right side of the slaughter-place of incense.
12And when Zeḵaryah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13But the messenger said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zeḵaryah, for your prayer is heard. And your wife Elisheḇa shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yoḥanan.
14“And you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15“For he shall be great before יהוה, and shall drink no wine and strong drink at all. And he shall be filled with the Set-apart Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16“And he shall turn many of the children of Yisra’ĕl to יהוה their Elohim.
17“And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Ěliyahu, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’# Mal. 4:6 and the disobedient to the insight of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for יהוה.”
18And Zeḵaryah said to the messenger, “By what shall I know this? For I am old, and my wife advanced in years.”
19And the messenger answering, said to him, “I am Gaḇri’ĕl, who stands in the presence of Elohim, and was sent to speak to you and announce to you this good news.
20But see, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day this takes place, because you did not believe my words which shall be filled in their appointed time.
21And the people waited for Zeḵaryah, and marvelled at his delay in the Dwelling Place.
22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them. And they recognised that he had seen a vision in the Dwelling Place, for he was beckoning to them and remained dumb.
23And it came to be, as soon as the days of his service were completed, he went away to his house.
24And after those days his wife Elisheḇa conceived. And she hid herself five months, saying,
25יהוה has done this for me, in the days when He looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.
26And in the sixth month the messenger Gaḇri’ĕl was sent by Elohim to a city of Galil named Natsareth,
27to a maiden engaged to a man whose name was Yosĕph, of the house of Dawiḏ. And the maiden’s name was Miryam.
28And the messenger, coming to her, said, “Greetings, favoured one, the Master is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
29But she was greatly disturbed at his word, and wondered what kind of greeting this was.
30And the messenger said to her, “Do not be afraid, Miryam, for you have found favour with Elohim.
31And see, you shall conceive in your womb, and shall give birth to a Son, and call His Name יהושע.#See Mat. 1:21
32“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And יהוה Elohim shall give Him the throne of His father Dawiḏ.
33“And He shall reign over the house of Ya‛aqoḇ forever, and there shall be no end to His reign.”#See Psa. 2; Psa. 89:14-34; Isa. 9:7; Isa. 16:5; Jer. 23:3-6; Jer. 30:9; Eze. 37:24; Dan. 2:44; Dan. 7:18-27; Mic. 5:2-4; Acts 1:6, 7; Rev. 11:15
34And Miryam said to the messenger, “How shall this be, since I do not know a man?”
35And the messenger answering, said to her, “The Set-apart Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you. And for that reason the Set-apart One born of you shall be called: Son of Elohim.
36“And see, Elisheḇa your relative, she has also conceived a son in her old age. And this is now the sixth month to her who was called barren,
37“because with Elohim no matter shall be impossible.
38And Miryam said, “See the female servant of יהוה! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the messenger went away from her.
39And Miryam arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Yehuḏah,
40and entered into the house of Zeḵaryah and greeted Elisheḇa.
41And it came to be, when Elisheḇa heard the greeting of Miryam, that the baby leaped in her womb. And Elisheḇa was filled with the Set-apart Spirit,
42and called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43“And who am I, that the mother of my Master should come to me?
44“For look, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45Blessed is she who believed, for that which יהוה has said to her shall be accomplished!
46And Miryam said, “My being makes יהוה great,
47and my spirit has rejoiced in Elohim my Saviour.
48Because He looked on the humiliation of His female servant. For look, from now on all generations shall call me blessed.#See also 1Sam. 1:11; 1Sam. 2:1
49“For He who is mighty has done wonders for me, and set-apart is His Name.#See also Psa. 111:9
50“And His compassion is from generation to generation, to those who fear Him.# Psa. 103:17
51“He did mightily with His arm; He scattered the proud in the thought of their hearts.
52“He brought down rulers from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.
53“He has filled the hungry with good items,# Psa. 107:9 and the rich He has sent away empty.
54“He sustained Yisra’ĕl, His servant, in remembrance of His compassion,
55“as He spoke to our fathers, to Aḇraham and to his seed, forever.
56And Miryam stayed with her about three months, and returned to her home.
57And the time was filled for Elisheḇa to give birth, and she bore a son.
58And her neighbours and relatives heard how יהוה had shown great compassion to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59And it came to be, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child. And they were calling him by the name of his father, Zeḵaryah.
60And his mother answering, said, “Not so, but he shall be called Yoḥanan.”
61And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62Then they motioned to his father, what he would like him to be called.
63And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying, “Yoḥanan is his name.” And they all marvelled.
64And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he was speaking, praising Elohim.
65And fear came on all those dwelling around them, and all these matters were spoken of in all the hill country of Yehuḏah.
66And all who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What then shall this child be?” And the hand of יהוה was with him.
67And Zeḵaryah, his father, was filled with the Set-apart Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
68“Blessed be יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl,# Psa. 41:13#See also Psa. 72:18; Psa. 106:48 for He did look upon and worked redemption for His people,
69and has raised up a horn of deliverance for us in the house of His servant Dawiḏ,
70as He spoke by the mouth of His set-apart prophets, from of old –
71deliverance from our enemies and from the hand of all those hating us,# Psa. 106:10
72to show compassion toward our fathers and to remember His set-apart covenant,
73an oath which He swore to our father Aḇraham:
74to give to us, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, to serve Him without fear,
75in set-apartness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
76And you, child, shall be called prophet of the Most High, for you shall go before the face of יהוה to prepare His ways,# Mal. 3:1#See also Isa. 40:3; John 1:23
77to give knowledge of deliverance to His people, by the forgiveness of their sins,
78through the tender compassion of our Elohim, with which the daybreak from on high has looked upon us,
79to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,# Isa. 9:1 to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of showing himself openly to Yisra’ĕl.
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