Luke 1
1
1As you know, many others have attempted to put down in writing the things that have been fulfilled#1:1. Or “achieved,” “accomplished.” that involve us. 2They based their accounts on evidence from the earliest eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, 3and 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. 4I have done this Theophilus,#1:4. “Theophilus” means “one who loves God.” Also in Acts 1:1. Your Excellency, so you can be certain that what you were taught is completely reliable.
5During 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. 6They both did what was right before God, being careful to follow all the Lord's commandments and regulations.
7They had no children because Elizabeth wasn't able to have any, and they were both growing old. 8While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, on behalf of his priestly division, 9he was chosen by lot#1:9. A system of random choice like “choosing straws” was used because more wanted to serve than there were places available. according to priestly custom to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10During the time of offering incense a large crowd of people were praying outside. 11An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became terrified.
13But 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. 14He will bring you joy and gladness, and many will celebrate his birth. 15He 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. 16He will turn many Israelites back to the Lord their God. 17He 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.”#1:17. Quoting Malachi 4:5-6.
18“How can I be sure about this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I'm an old man, and my wife is getting old too.”
19“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. 20But 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.”
21Outside the people were waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was taking so long in the Temple. 22When eventually he came out, he couldn't speak to them. They realized he'd seen a vision in the Temple, for though he could make gestures, he was completely unable to speak.
23After he'd finished his time of service, he went back home. 24Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.
25“The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “now that he's taken away my disgrace in the eyes of others.”
26In 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. 27She was engaged to a man named Joseph.
28The angel greeted her.#1:28. In fact the angel uses the common form of greeting of the time that literally meant “Rejoice” but was actually equivalent to saying “Hello.” Even modern translations have trouble here, with the angel saying “Hail, favored woman” or “Greetings, O favored one,” neither of which seem particularly suitable. On the other hand an angel arriving and saying “Hi” hardly fits either… “You are very privileged,” he told her. “The Lord is with you.” 29Mary was very puzzled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant.
30“Don't worry, Mary,” the angel went on, “for God has shown his graciousness to you. 31You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call him Jesus. 32He 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, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never come to an end.”
34“How is this possible?” Mary asked. “I'm still a virgin.”
35He 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. 36And 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. 37Nothing is impossible for God.”
38“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.
39A little while later, Mary got herself ready and hurried up into the hills of Judea, to the town where 40Zechariah's house was. She called out to Elizabeth as she went in. 41As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby jumped for joy inside her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42and cried out in a loud voice:
“How blessed you are among women, and how blessed will be the child born to you! 43Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44As soon as I heard you call out in greeting, my baby jumped for joy inside me. 45How fortunate you are, because you are convinced that the Lord will do what he has promised you!”
46Mary replied, “How I praise the Lord! 47I am so happy with God my Savior, 48because 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. 49God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy. 50His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him.#1:50. Literally, “fear,” but in modern use this can have the idea of abject terror. 51With his power#1:51. Literally, “strong arm.” he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they're so clever. 52He tears the powerful down from their thrones, and elevates those who are humble. 53He fills the hungry with good things to eat, and he sends the rich away empty-handed. 54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy, 55just as he promised our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” 56Mary stayed with her for three months and then returned home.
57The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had showed her great kindness, and they celebrated together with her. 59Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father.
60“No,” Elizabeth said. “He shall be called John.”
61“But there's nobody among your relatives who has this name,” they told her. 62Through gestures they asked Zechariah, the boy's father, what he wanted to call his son. 63Zechariah motioned for something to write on. To everyone's surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” 64Immediately he could speak again, and he started praising God.
65All those living nearby were in awe at what had happened, and the news spread throughout the hill country of Judea. 66Everyone 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.#1:66. Literally, “for the hand of the Lord was with him.”
67Zechariah, his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke this prophecy:
68“The Lord, the God of Israel, he is wonderful, for he has come to his people and set them free. 69He has given us a great Savior from the line of his servant David, 70as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. 71He promised to save us from our enemies, from those who hate us. 72He was merciful to our fathers, remembering his holy agreement— 73the promise that he made to our father Abraham. 74He gives us freedom from fear and rescues us from our enemies, 75so we can serve him by doing what is good and right for our whole lives. 76Even 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, 77providing knowledge of salvation to his people through the forgiveness of their sins. 78Through God's caring kindness to us, heaven's dawn will break upon us 79to shine on those who live in darkness and under the shadow of death, and to guide us along the path of peace.”
80The boy John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the time came for his public ministry to Israel.
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Luke 1: FBV
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
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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