Luke 1
1
1Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. 2They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened. 3So I made a careful study#1.3 a careful study: Or “a study from the beginning.” of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus, 4I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard.
An Angel Tells about the Birth of John
5 #
1 Ch 24.7-18. When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest by the name of Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron.#1.5 Aaron: The brother of Moses and the first priest. 6Both of them were good people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that he had commanded. 7But they did not have children. Elizabeth could not have any, and both Zechariah and Elizabeth were already old.
8One day Zechariah's group of priests were on duty, and he was serving God as a priest. 9According to the custom of the priests, he had been chosen to go into the Lord's temple that day and to burn incense,#1.9 burn incense: This was done twice a day, once in the morning and again in the late afternoon. 10while the people stood outside praying.
11All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar. 12Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel. 13But the angel told him:
Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John. 14His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad. 15#Nu 6.3. Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.
16John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God. 17#Ml 4.5,6; Si 48.10,11. He will go ahead of the Lord with the same power and spirit that Elijah#1.17 Elijah: The prophet Elijah was known for his power to work miracles. had. And because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. And people who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. This is how John will get people ready for the Lord.
18Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.”
19 #
Dn 8.16; 9.21; Tb 12.15. The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, God's servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news. 20You have not believed what I have said. So you will not be able to say a thing until all this happens. But everything will take place when it is supposed to.”
21The crowd was waiting for Zechariah and kept wondering why he was staying in the temple so long. 22When he did come out, he could not speak, and they knew he had seen a vision. He motioned to them with his hands, but did not say a thing.
23When Zechariah's time of service in the temple was over, he went home. 24Soon after this, his wife was expecting a baby, and for five months she did not leave the house. She said to herself, 25“What the Lord has done for me will keep people from looking down on me.”#1.25 keep people from looking down on me: When a married woman could not have children, it was thought that the Lord was punishing her.
An Angel Tells about the Birth of Jesus
26One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee 27#Mt 1.18. with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. 28The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”
29Mary was confused by the angel's words and wondered what they meant. 30Then the angel told Mary, “Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31#Mt 1.21. and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32#2 S 7.12,13,16; Is 9.7. He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”
34Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not even married!”
35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God's power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37#Gn 18.14. Nothing is impossible for God!”
38Mary said, “I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. 40She went into Zechariah's home, where she greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby moved within her.
The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. 42#Jdt 13.18. Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:
God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. 43Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? 44As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. 45The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.
Mary's Song of Praise
46 #
1 S 2.1-10. Mary said:
With all my heart
I praise the Lord,
47and I am glad
because of God my Savior.
48God cares for me,
his humble servant.
From now on,
all people will say
God has blessed me.
49God All-Powerful has done
great things for me,
and his name is holy.
50He always shows mercy
to everyone
who worships him.
51The Lord has used
his powerful arm
to scatter those
who are proud.
52 #
Job 5.11; 12.19; Si 10.14. God drags strong rulers
from their thrones
and puts humble people
in places of power.
53God gives the hungry
good things to eat,
and sends the rich away
with nothing.
54God helps his servant Israel
and is always merciful
to his people.
55 #
Gn 17.7. The Lord made this promise
to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his family
forever!
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57When Elizabeth's son was born, 58her neighbors and relatives heard how kind the Lord had been to her, and they too were glad.
59 #
Lv 12.3. Eight days later they did for the child what the Law of Moses commands.#1.59 what the Law of Moses commands: This refers to circumcision. It is the cutting off of skin from the private part of Jewish boys eight days after birth to show that they belong to the Lord. They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John.”
61The people argued, “No one in your family has ever been named John.” 62So they motioned to Zechariah to find out what he wanted to name his son.
63Zechariah asked for a writing tablet. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed. 64At once, Zechariah started speaking and praising God.
65All the neighbors were frightened because of what had happened, and everywhere in the hill country people kept talking about these things. 66Everyone who heard about this wondered what this child would grow up to be. They knew the Lord was with him.
Zechariah Praises the Lord
67The Holy Spirit came upon Zechariah, and he began to speak:
68Praise the Lord,
the God of Israel!
He has come
to save his people.
69Our God has given us
a mighty Savior#1.69 a mighty Savior: The Greek text has “a horn of salvation.” In the Scriptures animal horns are often a symbol of great strength.
from the family
of David his servant.
70Long ago the Lord promised
by the words
of his holy prophets
71to save us from our enemies
and from everyone
who hates us.
72God said he would be kind
to our people and keep
his sacred promise.
73He told our ancestor Abraham
74that he would rescue us
from our enemies.
Then we could serve him
without fear,
75by being holy and good
as long as we live.
76 #
Ml 3.1. You, my son, will be called
the prophet of God Most High.
You will go ahead of the Lord
to get everything ready
for him.
77You will tell his people
that they can be saved
when their sins
are forgiven.
78God's love and kindness
will shine upon us
like the sun that rises
in the sky.#1.78 like the sun that rises in the sky: Or “like the Messiah coming from heaven.”
79 #
Is 9.2. On us who live
in the dark shadow
of death
this light will shine
to guide us
into a life of peace.
80As John grew up, God's Spirit gave him great power. John lived in the desert until the time he was sent to the people of Israel.
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Luke 1: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
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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