Luke 1
1
1 Since, indeed, many have attempted to set in order a narrative of the things that have been completed among us,
2 just as they have been handed on to those of us who from the beginning saw the same and were ministers of the word,
3 so it seemed good to me also, having diligently followed everything from the beginning, to write to you, in an orderly manner, most excellent Theophilus,
4 so that you might know the truthfulness of those words by which you have been instructed.
5 There was, in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the section of Abijah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Now they were both just before God, progressing in all of the commandments and the justifications of the Lord without blame.
7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both had become advanced in years.
8 Then it happened that, when he was exercising the priesthood before God, in the order of his section,
9 according to the custom of the priesthood, the lot fell so that he would offer incense, entering into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the entire multitude of the people was praying outside, at the hour of incense.
11 Then there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
12 And upon seeing him, Zechariah was disturbed, and fear fell over him.
13 But the Angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son to you. And you shall call his name John.
14 And there will be joy and exultation for you, and many will rejoice in his nativity.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
16 And he will convert many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before him with the spirit and power of Elijah, so that he may turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons, and the incredulous to the prudence of the just, so as to prepare for the Lord a completed people."
18 And Zechariah said to the Angel: "How may I know this? For I am elderly, and my wife is advanced in years."
19 And in response, the Angel said to him: "I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I have been sent to speak to you, and to proclaim these things to you.
20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak, until the day on which these things shall be, because you have not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."
21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah. And they wondered why he was being delayed in the temple.
22 Then, when he came out, he was unable to speak to them. And they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, but he remained mute.
23 And it happened that, after the days of his office were completed, he went away to his house.
24 Then, after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she hid herself for five months, saying:
25 "For the Lord did this for me, at the time when he decided to take away my reproach among men."
26 Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
28 And upon entering, the Angel said to her: "Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women."
29 And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 And the Angel said to her: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God.
31 Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS.
32 He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity.
33 And his kingdom shall have no end."
34 Then Mary said to the Angel, "How shall this be done, since I do not know man?"
35 And in response, the Angel said to her: "The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
36 And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren.
37 For no word will be impossible with God."
38 Then Mary said: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word." And the Angel departed from her.
39 And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah.
40 And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
44 For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished."
46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord.
47 And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Saviour.
48 For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him.
51 He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart.
52 He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy,
55 just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever."
56 Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house.
57 Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her.
59 And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father's name, Zechariah.
60 And in response, his mother said: "Not so. Instead, he shall be called John."
61 And they said to her, "But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name."
62 Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called.
63 And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: "His name is John." And they all wondered.
64 Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: "What do you think this boy will be?" And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. And he prophesied, saying:
68 "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel. For he has visited and has wrought the redemption of his people.
69 And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of David his servant,
70 just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy Prophets, who are from ages past:
71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us,
72 to accomplish mercy with our fathers, and to call to mind his holy testament,
73 the oath, which he swore to Abraham, our father, that he would grant to us,
74 so that, having been freed from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and in justice before him, throughout all our days.
76 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the face of the Lord: to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people for the remission of their sins,
78 through the heart of the mercy of our God, by which, descending from on high, he has visited us,
79 to illuminate those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to direct our feet in the way of peace."
80 And the child grew, and he was strengthened in spirit. And he was in the wilderness, until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
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Luke 1
1
Dedication to Theophilus
1Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those #John 20:31things which have been fulfilled among us, 2just as those who #Mark 1:1; John 15:27; Acts 1:21, 22from the beginning were #Acts 1:2eyewitnesses and ministers of the word #Acts 1:3; 10:39; Heb. 2:3; 1 Pet. 5:1; 2 Pet. 1:16; 1 John 1:1delivered them to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, #Acts 1:1most excellent Theophilus, 4#(John 20:31)that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias
5There was #Matt. 2:1in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, #1 Chr. 24:1, 10of the division of #Neh. 12:4Abijah. His #Lev. 21:13, 14wife was 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 they were both well advanced in years.
8So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell #Ex. 30:7, 8; 1 Chr. 23:13; 2 Chr. 29:11to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10#Lev. 16:17And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of #Ex. 30:1the altar of incense. 12And when Zacharias saw him, #Judg. 6:22; Dan. 10:8; Luke 2:9; Acts 10:4; Rev. 1:17he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and #Luke 1:57, 60, 63you shall call his name John. 14And you will have joy and gladness, and #Luke 1:58many will rejoice at his birth. 15For he will be #(Luke 7:24–28)great in the sight of the Lord, and #Num. 6:3; Judg. 13:4; Matt. 11:18shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, #Jer. 1:5; Gal. 1:15even from his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17#Mal. 4:5, 6; Matt. 3:2; 11:14; Mark 1:4; 9:12He will also 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 a people prepared for the Lord.”
18And Zacharias said to the angel, #Gen. 17:17“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19And the angel answered and said to him, “I am #Dan. 8:16; (Matt. 18:10); Heb. 1:4Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad #Luke 2:10tidings. 20But behold, #Ezek. 3:26; 24:27you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
23So it was, as soon as #2 Kin. 11:5; 1 Chr. 9:25the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25“Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to #Gen. 30:23; Is. 4:1; 54:1, 4take away my reproach among people.”
Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary
26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin #Matt. 1:18; Luke 2:4, 5betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And having come in, the angel said to her, #Dan. 9:23“Rejoice, highly favored one, #Judg. 6:12the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29But when she saw him, #Luke 1:12she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found #Luke 2:52favor with God. 31#Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:21, 25; Gal. 4:4And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and #Luke 2:21; (Phil. 2:9–11)shall call His name Jesus. 32He will be great, #Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 5:7; Luke 1:35, 76; 6:35; Acts 7:48and will be called the Son of the Highest; and #2 Sam. 7:12, 13, 16; Ps. 132:11; (Is. 9:6, 7; 16:5; Jer. 23:5)the Lord God will give Him the #2 Sam. 7:14–17; Acts 2:33; 7:55throne of His #Matt. 1:1father David. 33#(Dan. 2:44; Obad. 21; Mic. 4:7); John 12:34; (Heb. 1:8); 2 Pet. 1:11And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35And the angel answered and said to her, #Matt. 1:20“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called #Ps. 2:7; Matt. 3:17; 14:33; 17:5; Mark 1:1; John 1:34; 20:31; Acts 8:37; (Rom. 1:1–4; Heb. 1:2, 8)the Son of God. 36Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37For #Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:17; Matt. 19:26; Mark 10:27; Rom. 4:21with God nothing will be impossible.”
38Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, #Josh. 21:9to a city of Judah, 40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was #Acts 6:3filled with the Holy Spirit. 42Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, #Judg. 5:24“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45#John 20:29Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
The Song of Mary
46And Mary said:
#1 Sam. 2:1–10; Ps. 34:2, 3; Hab. 3:18“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47And my spirit has #Ps. 35:9; Hab. 3:18rejoiced in #1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4; Jude 25God my Savior.
48For #1 Sam. 1:11; Ps. 138:6He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth #Luke 11:27all generations will call me blessed.
49For He who is mighty #Ps. 71:19; 126:2, 3has done great things for me,
And #Ps. 111:9; Rev. 4:8holy is His name.
50And #Gen. 17:7; Ex. 20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 103:17His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
51#Ps. 98:1; 118:15; Is. 40:10He has shown strength with His arm;
#Ps. 33:10; (1 Pet. 5:5)He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52#1 Sam. 2:7, 8He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53He has #(Matt. 5:6)filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54He has helped His #Is. 41:8servant Israel,
#Ps. 98:3; (Jer. 31:3)In remembrance of His mercy,
55#Gen. 17:19; Ps. 132:11; (Gal. 3:16)As He spoke to our #(Rom. 11:28)fathers,
To Abraham and to his #Gen. 17:7seed forever.”
56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Birth of John the Baptist
57Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they #(Rom. 12:15)rejoiced with her.
Circumcision of John the Baptist
59So it was, #Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3; Luke 2:21; Phil. 3:5on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60His mother answered and said, #Luke 1:13, 63“No; he shall be called John.”
61But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.
63And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66And all those who heard them #Luke 2:19kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And #Gen. 39:2; Acts 11:21the hand of the Lord was with him.
Zacharias’ Prophecy
67Now his father Zacharias #Joel 2:28was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
68“Blessed#1 Kin. 1:48; Ps. 106:48 is the Lord God of Israel,
For #Ex. 3:16He has visited and redeemed His people,
69#2 Sam. 22:3; Ps. 132:17; Ezek. 29:21And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,
70#Jer. 23:5; Rom. 1:2As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been #Acts 3:21since the world began,
71That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
72#Lev. 26:42To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
73#Gen. 12:3; 22:16–18; (Heb. 6:13)The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
74To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might #(Rom. 6:18; Heb. 9:14)serve Him without fear,
75#Jer. 32:39; (Eph. 4:24; 2 Thess. 2:13)In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
76“And you, child, will be called the #Matt. 3:3; 11:9; Mark 3:2, 3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23prophet of the Highest;
For #Is. 40:3; Mal. 3:1; Matt. 11:10you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77To give #(Jer. 31:34; Mark 1:4); Luke 3:3knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
78Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
79#Is. 9:2; Matt. 4:16; (Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 5:14)To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To #(John 10:4; 14:27; 16:33)guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80So #Luke 2:40the child grew and became strong in spirit, and #Matt. 3:1was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.