Luke 1
1
Luke Writes an Orderly Report
1Just as many others have already written about the things that have taken place among us, 2based on reports passed down from eyewitnesses, I also have looked into everything very carefully myself, going right back to the beginning. 3I’ve decided to write down an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4because I want you to know that what you’ve been taught is true.
The Coming Birth of John the Baptist
5During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah. He belonged to the group of priests named after Abijah. His wife was named Elizabeth, and she also came from the line of priests descended from Aaron. 6Both of them did what was right in God’s sight; they obeyed all of the Lord’s commands and instructions faithfully. 7But they didn’t have children, because Elizabeth was infertile, and by that point they were both very old.
8One day Zechariah’s group was on duty, and he was serving as a priest in God’s temple. 9He had been chosen by lot (which was how the priests were assigned duties) to go into the temple of the Lord, where he was supposed to burn incense. 10When the time came for him to do this, all the people who had gathered to worship were praying outside.
11Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah. The angel came and stood at the right side of the incense altar. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was amazed and terrified. 13But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, your prayer has been heard—your wife Elizabeth is going to have a baby boy! You must name him John. 14He will be a joy and a delight to you, and his birth will also make many other people glad, 15because he will become such a great man in Lord’s sight. He must never drink wine or other alcohol. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit before he is even born. 16He will bring many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God. Having the same spirit and power as Elijah, he will go ahead of the Lord, creating peace between parents and their children and teaching people who are disobeying to be wise and do what is right. 17In this way, he will make sure that the people are ready for the Lord.”
18Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I know that this will happen? I’m an old man, and my wife is old too.”
19The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel! I’m the angel who stands right next to God! I’ve been sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20But now you won’t be able to speak; you’ll have to be silent until after John is born, because you didn’t believe my words. They will come true at the time God has chosen.”
21While all this was happening, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the temple. They were wondering why he was staying in there for so long. 22When he did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. But eventually they understood that he’d seen a vision in the temple because he explained this to them in gestures, even though he didn’t get his voice back.
23When his time of service was over, he returned home. 24After that, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, but she stayed out of sight for five months. 25“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days, he has been good to me and taken away my shame among the people.”
The Coming Birth of Jesus
26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. 27He was sent to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, who came from the family line of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
29Mary was troubled by these words; she wondered why the angel had greeted her that way. 30But he said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God has chosen to do something wonderful through you. 31You’re going to become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus. 32He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his ancestor David, 33and he will rule over his people, the descendants of Jacob, forever—his kingdom will never end.”
34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I’m a virgin?”
35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High God will overshadow you, so that the holy one who is born will be called the Son of God. 36Your relative Elizabeth is about to have a child even though she is old. People thought she couldn’t have children, but she has been pregnant now for six months. 37What God says always comes true.”
38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39Right away Mary packed up and hurried to the town in Judea’s hill country where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived. 40When she got to their house, she went inside and greeted Elizabeth. 41As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby jumped inside her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and called out in a loud voice, “Blessed are you among all women, and blessed is the child in your womb! 43But why has God shown me so much favor that the mother of my Lord has come to see me? 44As soon as I heard the sound of your voice, the baby inside me jumped for joy. 45Blessed are you, because you believed the Lord would keep his promises to you!”
Mary’s Song
46Mary said,
“My soul cries out that the Lord is great,
47and my spirit delights in God my Savior.
48He has taken note of me,
even though I am only his humble servant.
From now on all people will call me blessed,
49because the Mighty One has done great things for me—
his name is holy.
50He shows mercy to all those who respect him,
from parent to child down through the generations.
51He has done mighty things with his powerful arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their deepest thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
but he has lifted up people who weren’t considered important.
53He has filled with good things those who were hungry,
but he has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant, the people of Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55as he promised our fathers,
to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then she returned home.
John the Baptist Is Born
57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard how good the Lord had been to her and they shared her joy.
59On the eighth day, they came to have the child circumcised. They were going to name him Zechariah, like his father, 60but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He has to be called John.”
61“None of your relatives has that name,” they protested.
62Then they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child. 63He asked for something to write on, and everyone was amazed when he wrote, “His name is John.” 64All of a sudden Zechariah could speak again, and right away he started praising God. 65All of his neighbors were filled with fear and wonder. Throughout Judea’s hill country, people began talking about all these things. 66Everyone who heard what had happened wondered about it. Because the Lord was with John, they asked, “What is this child going to become?”
Zechariah’s Song
67John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. He prophesied,
68“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has visited his people and paid to set them free.
69He has acted with great power and saved us
through the family line of his servant David,
70as the holy prophets long ago said he would.
71He has saved us from our enemies
and rescued us from all who hate us.
72He has been merciful to our ancestors
and remembered his holy covenant,
73the promise he made to our father Abraham.
74He promised he would save us from our enemies,
so we could serve him without fear
75in holiness and justice, in his presence, as long as we live.
76“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God,
because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.
78All this will happen because our God is tender and merciful;
his kindness will make the sun rise for us in the sky.
79It will shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
and it will guide our feet onto the path of peace.”
80The child grew up and his spirit became strong. He stayed in the desert until it was time for him to appear publicly to Israel.
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Luke 1
1
1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, 2#1 Jn 1.1; Acts 1.21; Heb 2.3. just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 3#Acts 1.1. it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely#1.3 Or accurately for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent The-ophilus, 4#Jn 20.31. that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed.
5 #
Mt 2.1; 1 Chron 24.10; 2 Chron 31.2. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,#1.5 Greek Zacharias of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9#Ex 30.7. according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11#Lk 2.9; Acts 5.19. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13#Lk 1.30,60. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth;
15 #
Num 6.3; Lk 7.33. for he will be great before the Lord,
and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink,
and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
16And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,
17 #
Mt 11.14; 17.13; Mal 4.5. and 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 make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 #
Lk 1.34. And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19#Dan 8.16; 9.21; Mt 18.10. And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. 20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. 22And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. 23And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, 25#Gen 30.23; Is 4.1. “Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”#1.28 Other ancient authorities add “Blessed are you among women!” 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30#Lk 1.13. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31#Lk 2.21; Mt 1.21. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33 #
Mt 28.18; Dan 2.44. and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 #
Lk 1.18. And Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I have no husband?” 35#Mt 1.20. And the angel said to her,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born#1.35 Other ancient authorities add of you will be called holy,
the Son of God.
36And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37#Gen 18.14. For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42#Lk 11.27-28. and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be#1.45 Or believed, for there will be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” 46#1 Sam 2.1-10. And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 #
1 Tim 2.3; Tit 2.10; Jude 25. and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
53he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 #
Mic 7.20; Gen 17.7; 18.18; 22.17. as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”
56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
57Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. 58And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59#Lev 12.3; Gen 17.12. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, 60but his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” 61And they said to her, “None of your kindred is called by this name.” 62And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. 63#Lk 1.13. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all marveled. 64And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; 66and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people,
69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71that we should be saved from our enemies,
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72to perform the mercy promised to our fathers,
and to remember his holy covenant,
73the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, 74to grant us
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
76 #
Lk 7.26; Mal 4.5. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 #
Mk 1.4. to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 #
Mal 4.2; Eph 5.14. through the tender mercy of our God,
when the day shall dawn upon#1.78 Or whereby the dayspring will visit. Other ancient authorities read since the dayspring has visited us from on high
79 #
Is 9.2; Mt 4.16. to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 #
Lk 2.40; 2.52. And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
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