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: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Lukas 1
1
1Vibahlt (since) many Messianic Sofrim have attempted to compile a sefer, a historical narrative, about the momentous events that have been fulfilled among us,
2Just as these#1:2 massoret haShluchim have been handed down to us by those who from HaReshit#1:2 of the Besuras HaGeulah were edei reiyah (eyewitnesses) and mesharetim (ministers) of the Dvar Hashem,
3I thought it expedient also, having done an iyun (investigative research), accurately and carefully being meayen (engaged in research) in every source and making a medakdeke (pain-stakingly thorough) investigation of every aspect from HaReshit (the Beginning), to write for you and to mesader (arrange, place in succession) an orderly account, most noble Theophilus,
4That you may have daas of HaEmes regarding the Divrei Moshiach about which you took shiurim (lessons).
5At the time of Herod king of Yehudah, there was a certain kohen by the name Zecharyah, who belonged to the Aviyah division. His isha was of the banot Aharon, name of Elisheva.#1:5 1Chr 24:10
6And they were both tzaddikim before Hashem, walking a derech tamim in all the mitzvos and chukkim of the Torah of Adoneinu.#1:6 Gn 6:9; Dt 5:33; 1Kgs 9:4
7But they had no ben, because Elisheva was barren, and they were both advanced in their yamim.
8And it came to pass in the performance of his avodas kodesh sherut as a kohen before Hashem in the appointed order of his division,#1:8 1Chr 24:19; 2Chr 8:14
9According to the minhag (custom) of the kehunah, Zecharyah was chosen by lot to enter the Beis Hamikdash and to offer ketoret (incense).#1:9 Ex 30:7,8; 1Chr 23:13; 2Chr 29:11; Ps 141:2
10And when the hour of the offering of the ketoret came, all the multitude were davening outside.#1:10 Lv 16:17
11And there appeared to Zecharyah a malach Hashem, standing on the right side of the Mizbeach of ketoret.#1:11 Ex 30:1-10
12And, seeing the malach, Zecharyah was terrified, and pachad (fear) fell on him.#1:12 Judg 6:22,23; 13:22
13But the malach said to him, Do not have pachad (fear), Zecharyah. Your tefillah (prayer) was heard and your isha, Elisheva, will bear a ben to you and you will call his shem Yochanan.
14And he will be a simcha to you and sasson (joy), and there will be sasson rav (great joy) at his huledet (birth).
15And he will be gadol before Hashem, and he will not drink yayin or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Ruach Hakodesh from the womb of his Em (mother),#1:15 Num 6:3; Lv 10:9; Judg 13:4; Jer 1:5
16And many of the Bnei Yisroel he will turn back in teshuva to Hashem Eloheihem.
17And he will go forth before Adonoi in the ruach (spirit) and koach (power) of Eliyahu HaNavi, VEHESHIV LEV AVOT AL BANIM (And he will turn the heart of the fathers to the children)#1:17 Mal 4:6 [Mal 3:24] and those without mishmaat (obedience) he will turn to the chochmah of the tzaddikim to prepare for Adonoi an Am (People) having been made ready.#1:17 Mal 4:5,6
18And Zecharyah said to the malach, Just how will I have daas that this is so? For I am old and my isha is advanced in her yamim (days).#1:18 Gn 15:8; 17:17
19And in reply, the malach said to Zecharyah, I am Gavriel, I stand before Hashem. And I was sent to speak to you and to announce these things to you.#1:19 Dan 8:16; 9:21
20And hinei! You will be illem (mute) and not be able to speak, until the yom (day) when these things come to pass, because you did not have emunah in my devarim (words), which will be fulfilled in their time.#1:20 Ex 4:11; Ezek 3:26
21And the people were expecting Zecharyah and they were bewildered at his delay in the Beis HaMikdash.
22And when he came out, he was illem (mute) and not able to speak to them, and they had daas that he had seen a chazon in the Heikhal. He kept motioning to them and he remained illem.
23And it came about as the yamim of his sherut (service in the Beis HaMikdash) as a kohen were fulfilled, he went to his bais (house).
24And after these yamim, Elisheva, his isha, became with child, and she kept herself in hitbodedut for chamesh chodashim, saying,
25 Hashem has done this for me. In these yamim he looked with Chen vChesed (favor and mercy, loving kindness) on me to take away my reproach among Bnei Adam.#1:25 Gn 30:23; Isa 4:1
26Now in the chodesh shishi the malach Gavriel was sent from Hashem to a shtetl in the Galil called Natzeret,
27To a betulah (virgin) given in erusin (betrothal, engagement) to an ish from the Beis Dovid named Yosef,#1:27 ben Dovid and the shem of the almah was Miryam.
28And when the malach approached her, he said, Shalom, favored one! Hashem is with you!
29But she was greatly perplexed at the message, and kept pondering what sort of Shalom greeting this might be.
30And the malach said to her, Do not have pachad (fear), Miryam, for you have found chen before Hashem.
31And in your womb you will conceive and bear BEN#1:31 Isa 7:14 and you will call SHMO YEHOSHUA.#1:31 Zech 6:11-12
32He will be gadol (great) and will be called Ben HaElyon (Son of the Most High). Adonoi Elohim will give him the kisse Dovid Aviv,
33And he will rule over the Beis Ya'akov Olam vaed, and his Malchut will never come to an end.#1:33 2Sm 7:16; Ps 89:3,4; Isa 9:7; Jer 33:17; Dan 2:44; 7:14,27; Mic 4:7
34But Miryam said to the malach, How will this be, vi-bahlt (since) I do not have daas of an ish?
35And in reply, the malach said to her, The Ruach Hakodesh will come upon you and the gevurah of HaElyon will overshadow you. Therefore, also, the one being born will be called HaKadosh (The Holy One), Ben HaElohim.
36And Elisheva your krovah also has conceived a ben in her old age, and this chodesh is hashishi (the sixth) for her who is called barren.
37For nothing will be impossible with Hashem.
38And Miryam said, Hinei! I am the shifcha of Hashem. May it be done to me according to your dvar. And the malach departed from her.
39And in those yamim, Miryam got up and traveled into the hill country with haste to a shtetl of Yehudah.
40And she entered into the bais of Zecharyah and gave Birkat Shalom greetings to Elisheva.
41And it came about, when Elisheva heard the Birkat Shalom of Miryam, the yeled leaped in Elishevaʼs womb, and she was filled with the Ruach Hakodesh.
42And Elisheva cried out with a kol gadol (loud voice) and said, Brucha at miNashim (Blessed art thou among women), and baruch (blessed is) the pri (fruit) of your womb!#1:42 Judg 5:24
43And why has this happened to me that the Em Adoni should come to me?
44For hinei! When the sound of your Birkat Shalom came into my ears, the yeled leaped with simcha in my womb.
45And ashrey is the one having had emunah that there will be a fulfillment to the things having been spoken to Miryam by Hashem.
46And Miryam said, My soul doth magnify Hashem.#1:46 Ps 34:2,3
47ALATZ LIBI BA'HASHEM#1:47 1Sm 2:1 (My heart rejoices in Hashem) and my neshamah exalts in Hashem Yishi#1:47 Hab 3:18 (G-d my Savior, Moshi'a),#1:47 Ps 18:46; Isa 17:10; 61:10
48For HASHEM VISHAFAL YIREH#1:48 Ps 138:6 looked upon the humble state of His shifcha (bond maid), for from now on kol hadorot ishruni#1:48 Gn 30:13 (all generations will call me happy),
49For Shaddai (the Almighty) did gedolot for me and Kadosh is Shmo,#1:49 Ps 111:9
50And the chesed of Hashem is DOR VDOR#1:50 Ps 100:5 to those with yirat Shomayim.#1:50 Ex 20:6; Ps 103:17
51 Hashem has done niflaot (wonders) with his zeroa (arm).#1:51 Isa 53:1 He scattered those who in the machshavot (thoughts) of their levavot are the Gaayonim (the Haughty ones).
52He brought down shalitim (rulers) from their kisot (thrones) and lifted up the Anavim (Humble),
53The ones hungering, Hashem made full of tov, and the ashirim he sent away empty.#1:53 Ps 107:9
54 Hashem helped his servant Yisroel, in remembrance of his rachamim (mercy),
55Just as Hashem spoke to Avoteinu, to Avraham Avinu and his Zera ad Olam.
56And Miryam remained with Elisheva about shlosha chodashim, and then Miryam returned to her bais.
57Now when the time of Elisheva to give birth was fulfilled, she bore a ben.
58And Elishevaʼs shchenim (neighbors) and krovim (relatives) heard that Adoneinu greatly demonstrated his rachamim to her, and they had much simcha with her.
59And it came about on the yom hashemini (the eighth day) they came for the bris milah of the yeled, and they were calling him by the name of his abba, Zecharyah.
60And in reply, his Em said: Lo, but he will be called Yochanan.
61And they said to her, There is no one from your krovim who is called by this shem.
62And they began motioning to the yeledʼs abba to find out what shem he wanted to give him.
63And having asked for a luach (tablet), Zecharyah wrote, saying, Yochanan shmo. And everyone was amazed.
64And Zecharyahʼs mouth was loosed at once and the lashon of him, and he began speaking, saying Baruch Hashem!
65And upon all their shchenim (neighbors) came much yirat Shomayim, and in the entire hill country of Yehudah everyone was shmoozing about these matters.
66All who heard these things pondered them in their levavot, saying, What then will this yeled become? For, indeed, the yad Hashem was on him.#1:66 Gn 39:2
67And Zecharyah, his abba, was filled with the Ruach Hakodesh and brought forth a dvar nevuah, saying,
68BARUCH HASHEM ELOHEI YISROEL, for Adonoi has visited his Am Berit and accomplished a pedut kofer ransom for the Geulah of his people.
69And Hashem raised up a Keren Yeshu'ah (Horn of Salvation), a mighty Moshia, for us in the Beis Dovid, His eved,
70Just as Hashem spoke through the mouth of His neviim hakedoshim meOlam (holy prophets from long ago),#1:70 Jer 23:5
71That we should have Yeshu'at Eloheinu from our oyvim (enemies) and from the hand of all the ones who regard us with sinas chinom (baseless hatred).
72Thus Hashem has demonstrated his rachamim (mercy) to Avoteinu (our Fathers) and has remembered his Brit HaKodesh (Holy Covenant),#1:72 Mic 7:20; Ps 105:8,9; 106:45; Ezek 16:60
73The Brit HaShevu'ah (the Covenant of the oath) which He swore to Avraham Avinu to grant us,#1:73 Gn 22:16-18
74Having been delivered from the yad haoyvim (hand of enemies) of us to serve Hashem fearlessly,
75In kedushah (holiness) and tzedek (righteousness) before Him all our yamim (days).
76And you also, yeled (child), will be called Navi HaElyon (Prophet of the Most High); for you will go LIFNEI HAADON (before the L-rd) to prepare the DERECH HASHEM (The Way of the L-rd),#1:76 Mal 3:1; Isa 40:3
77To give daas (knowledge) of Yeshu'at Eloheinu (the Salvation of our G-d) to Hashemʼs Am Berit (People of the Covenant) by the selichat (forgiveness) of their avon (sin),#1:77 Jer 31:34
78Through the rav rachamim of Eloheinu (through the great mercy of our G-d), by which has visited us the rising SHEMESH (Sun)#1:78 Moshiach from Shomayim,#1:78 Mal 4:2 [ 3:20]
79To appear to the ones in CHOSHECH (darkness) and YOSHVEI BERETZ TZALMAVET (sitting in the land of the shadow of death), to direct our feet into the Derech Shalom.#1:79 Ps 107:14; Isa 9:1-2; 59:9
80And the yeled was growing and was being given chizzuk (strengthening) in the Ruach Hakodesh, and Yochanan was in the desolate places until the day of his hisgalus (revelation, manifestation) to Yisroel.
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THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE
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