Luke 1
1
The Dedication to Theophilus
1Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled#1:1 Or events that have been accomplished, or events most surely believed among us,#Rm 4:21; 14:5; Col 2:2; 4:12; 1Th 1:5; 2Tm 4:17; Heb 6:11; 10:22 2just as the original eyewitnesses#Jn 15:27; Ac 1:21; 2Pt 1:16; 1Jn 1:1 and servants of the word#Ac 26:16; 1Co 4:1; Heb 2:3 handed them down to us. 3So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable#Ac 23:26; 24:3; 26:25 Theophilus,#Ac 1:1 4so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.#1:4 Or informed#Ac 18:25; Rm 2:18; 1Co 14:19; Gl 6:6
Gabriel Predicts John’s Birth
5In the days of King Herod#Mt 2:1 of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division#1Ch 24:10 named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6Both were righteous in God’s sight,#Gn 7:1; Ac 2:25; 8:21 living without blame#Php 2:15; 3:6; 1Th 3:13 according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. 7But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.#Gn 4:1; 18:11; Jdg 13:2–3; 1Sm 1:2; 2:20; Ps 113:9; 127:3–5; Heb 11:11–12
8When his division was on duty#1Ch 24:19; 2Ch 8:14; 31:2 and he was serving as priest before God, 9it happened that he was chosen by lot,#Jos 18:6,8,10; 1Ch 24:31; 25:8; 26:13–14; Neh 10:34; 11:1; Ac 1:26 according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.#Ex 30:7–8 10At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11An angel of the Lord#Mt 2:13–14; 28:2; Lk 2:9; Ac 5:19; 8:26; 12:7 appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.#Mk 16:5; Ac 2:33 12When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear.#Gn 21:17; Jdg 6:22–23; 2Kg 1:15; Mt 1:20; 28:5; Lk 2:10; Ac 10:3–4; 27:23–24 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid,#Gn 15:1; Mt 14:27; Lk 1:30 Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard.#Gn 25:21; 1Kg 8:45,49; 2Kg 20:5; Ps 6:9; Is 38:5 Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.#Gn 16:11; 17:15,19; Is 8:3; Hs 1:4,9; Mt 1:20,23; Lk 1:60,63 14There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer.#Nm 6:3; Jdg 13:3–5; Mt 11:18; Lk 7:33 He will be filled with the Holy Spirit#Ex 28:3; 31:3; 35:31; Dt 34:9; Mc 3:8; Lk 1:41,67; Ac 2:4; 4:8,31; 7:55; 9:17; 13:9; 13:52; Eph 5:18 while still in his mother’s womb.#Is 44:2; Lk 1:41,44 16He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.#Ps 22:27; Lm 3:40 17And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children,#Mal 4:5–6; Mt 11:14; 17:10–12 and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”#Is 40:3; Lk 1:76; 3:4
18“How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
19The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel,#Dn 8:16; 9:21; Lk 1:26 who stands in the presence of God,#Mt 18:10 and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them#Lk 1:62 and remained speechless. 23When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.
24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25“The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace#Gn 30:23; Is 4:1; 25:8 among the people.”
Gabriel Predicts Jesus’s Birth
26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel#Lk 1:19 was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,#Mt 2:23 27to a virgin engaged#1:27 Lit betrothed#Dt 21:23; Is 7:14; Mt 1:18,23 to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.#Mt 1:20; Lk 2:4 The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”#1:28 Other mss add Blessed are you among women. 29But she was deeply troubled#Lk 1:12 by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,#Mt 14:27; Lk 1:13 for you have found favor with God.#Gn 6:8; Ex 33:12–17; Jr 31:2 31Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.#Is 7:14; Mt 1:21,25; Lk 2:21 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High,#Lk 1:35,76; 3:38; 6:35; 8:28; 9:35; Jn 1:34,49; 11:27; Ac 7:48 and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.#2Sm 7:12–13; 1Kg 2:12; Ps 132:11; Is 9:7; Jr 33:17; Mk 11:10 33He will reign over the house of Jacob#Ex 19:3; Ps 114:1; Is 14:1; 29:22; 46:3 forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” #Is 9:6 LXX; Dn 7:14
34Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” #1:34 Lit since I do not know a man
35The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,#Mt 1:18 and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.#Mt 14:33; Lk 4:3,9,41; 22:70 36And consider your relative Elizabeth — even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.”#Gn 18:14; Lk 18:27
38“See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth
39In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.#Lk 1:67; Ac 2:4; 4:8; 9:17; 13:9 42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!#1:42 Lit and the fruit of your abdomen (or womb) is blessed 43How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”
Mary’s Praise
46And Mary said:
My soul magnifies the Lord,#1Sm 2:1–10
47and my spirit rejoices#Ps 35:9; Hab 3:18 in God my Savior,#1Tm 1:1; 2:3; Ti 1:3; 2:10; 3:4; Jd 25
48because he has looked with favor
on the humble condition of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations
will call me blessed,#Lk 11:27
49because the Mighty One#Ps 89:8; Zph 3:17
has done great things for me,#Ps 71:19; 126:2–3
and his name#Lv 20:3; 22:2,32; 1Ch 16:10,35; 29:16; Ps 30:4; 99:3; 103:1; 111:9; Is 57:15 is holy.
50His mercy is from generation to generation#Ps 100:5; 103:11,17
on those who fear him.
51He has done a mighty deed with his arm;#Ps 89:10; 98:1; 118:15
he has scattered the proud
because of the thoughts of their hearts;#Lk 2:35; 9:47
52he has toppled the mighty from their thrones
and exalted the lowly.#1Sm 2:7–8
53He has satisfied the hungry with good things#Ps 34:10; 107:9; Lk 6:21,24–25
and sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy
55to Abraham and his descendants#1:55 Or offspring; lit seed forever,#Gn 17:9,15; 21:12
just as he spoke to our ancestors.
56And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.
The Birth and Naming of John
57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy,#Gn 19:19 and they rejoiced with her.
59When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day,#Gn 17:12; Lv 12:3; Lk 2:21; Php 3:5 they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.”#Lk 1:13,63
61Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 62So they motioned to his father#Lk 1:22 to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was opened#Lk 1:20 and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66All who heard about him#Ac 11:21 took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s Prophecy
67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit#Lk 1:41 and prophesied:#Jl 2:28
68Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,#Ps 41:13
because he has visited
and provided redemption for his people.#Lk 1:71; 2:38; Heb 9:12
69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us#1Sm 2:1,10; Ps 18:2; 89:17; 132:17; Ezk 29:21
in the house of his servant David,#2Sm 7:26; Ps 89:3,20; Ezk 34:23–24; 37:24–25
70just as he spoke by the mouth
of his holy prophets in ancient times;#2Kg 21:10; Hs 12:10; Ac 3:21; Rm 1:2; Heb 1:1
71salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of those who hate us.
72He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors#Mc 7:20
and remembered his holy covenant#Ps 105:8–9,42; 106:45 —
73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,#Gn 22:16–17; Heb 6:13
to grant that we,
74having been rescued
from the hand of our enemies,
would serve him without fear
75in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
76And you, child, will be called
a prophet of the Most High,#Mt 11:9
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare his ways,#Lk 1:17; Is 40:3; Mal 3:1
77to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.#Jr 31:34; Mk 1:4
78Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high#Is 58:8; Jr 23:5; Zch 3:8; 6:12 LXX; Mal 4:2; Lk 24:49; Eph 4:8; 2Pt 1:19 will visit us
79to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,#Is 9:2; 60:2–3
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80The child grew up and became strong in spirit,#1:80 Or strong in the Spirit#Lk 2:40 and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
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Luke 1: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Luke 1
1
A Doctor Charts the Facts
1Now many have undertaken to organize an account of the events fulfilled among us,
2just as they were handed down to us from the start by the eyewitnesses and reporters of the word.
3Therefore it seemed best to me also, because I have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, to write for you an orderly record, most excellent Theophilus,
4so you may know for sure the truth of the words you have been taught.
Prophecy of Birth to the Barren
5In the days of Herod, King of Judah, there was a kohen named Zechariah from the priestly division of Abijah. Elizabeth, his wife, was from the daughters of Aaron.
6Together they were righteous before Adonai, walking without fault in all His commandments and instructions.
7But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren and both of them were elderly.
8Now it happened to be Zechariah’s time to serve as kohen before Adonai in the order of his division.
9According to the custom of the priestly office, it became his lot to enter the Holy Place of Adonai to burn incense.
10And the whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour of incense burning.
11An angel of Adonai appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12Zechariah was in turmoil when he saw the angel, and fear fell upon him.
13But the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to your son, and you will name him John.
14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15He will be great before Adonai; and he should not drink wine and intoxicating beverage, but he will be filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh just out of his mother’s womb.
16Many of Bnei-Yisrael will turn to Adonai their God.
17And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to the children and the disobedient ones to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for Adonai a prepared people.
18Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? I’m an old man, and my wife is well-advanced in age.”
19And speaking to him, the angel declared, “I am Gabriel, the one standing in God’s presence. I was commissioned to tell you and proclaim to you this good news.
20So look, you will be silent and powerless to speak until the day these things happen, since you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their time.”
21The people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering about his long delay in the Holy Place.
22But when he came out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the Holy Place. He was making signs to them but remained mute.
23When the days of his priestly service had been completed, he went home.
24After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and hid herself for five months, saying,
25“Adonai has done this for me! In these days He looked upon me, to take away my disgrace among the people.”
Prophecy of Birth to the Virgin
26Then in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by Adonai into a town in the Galilee named Natzeret
27and to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam.
28And coming to her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored one! Adonai is with you.”
29But at the message, she was perplexed and kept wondering what kind of greeting this might be.
30The angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God.
31Behold, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name Yeshua.
32He will be great and will be called Ben-Elyon. Adonai Elohim will give Him the throne of David, His father.
33He shall reign over the house of Jacob for all eternity, and His kingdom will be without end.”
34Miriam said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am not intimate with a man?”
35And responding, the angel said to her, “The Ruach ha-Kodesh will come upon you, and the power of Elyon will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One being born will be called Ben-Elohim.
36Behold, even your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son in her old age; and the one who was called barren is six months pregnant.
37For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38So Miriam said, “Behold, the servant of Adonai. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.
Elizabeth Greets Miriam with Joy
39Now in those days, Miriam got up and quickly traveled into the hill country, to a town in Judah.
40She entered Zechariah’s home and happily greeted Elizabeth.
41When Elizabeth heard Miriam’s greeting, the unborn child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was completely filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
42She then cried out with a great shout, saying, “You are blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43Who am I, that the mother of my Master should come to me?
44For even when I just heard the sound of your greeting in my ear, the unborn child leaped with joy in my womb.
45Blessed is she who trusted that there would be a fulfillment of those things spoken to her by Adonai.”
46Then Miriam said, “My soul magnifies Adonai,
47and my spirit greatly rejoices in God, my Savior.
48For He has looked with care upon the humble state of His maidservant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49For the Mighty One has done a great thing for me, and holy is His name.
50And His mercy is from generation to generation to the ones who fear Him.
51He has displayed power with His arm. He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52He has brought down rulers from thrones and exalted humble ones.
53He has filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich empty-handed.
54He has helped His servant Israel, remembering His mercy,
55just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.”
Zechariah Breaks His Silence
56Miriam stayed with her for three months and then returned to her home.
57Upon Elizabeth’s full term to deliver, she gave birth to a son.
58Her neighbors and relatives heard how Adonai had shown her His great mercy, and they began to rejoice with her.
59Now on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they kept trying to call him by his father’s name, Zechariah.
60But his mother declared, “No, he will be called John.”
61But they said to her, “No one among your relatives is called by this name.”
62So they began making signs to his father, as to what he wanted him named.
63Asking for a small tablet, he wrote, “John is his name.” They were all astonished!
64And his mouth was immediately unlocked as well as his tongue, and he began to speak, praising God.
65Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these matters were talked about throughout the hill country of Judah.
66Everyone who heard pondered these things in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” For the hand of Adonai was on him.
The Kohen’s Song of Prophecy
67His father Zechariah was filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and prophesied, saying,
68“Blessed be Adonai, God of Israel, for He has looked after His people and brought them redemption.
69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ages past,
71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us!
72So He shows mercy to our fathers and remembers His holy covenant,
73the vow which He swore to Abraham our father, to grant us—
74rescued fearlessly from the hand of our enemies—to serve Him,
75in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
76And you, child, will be called a prophet of Elyon. For you will go before Adonai to prepare His ways,
77to give knowledge of salvation to His people through removal of their sins.
78Through our God’s heart of mercy, the Sunrise from on high will come upon us,
79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of shalom.”
80And the child kept growing and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
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