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
The Prologue
1Whereas many have undertaken to write a narrative of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2#Jn 15:27; Heb 2:3just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 3#Ac 1:1; 11:4it seemed good to me also, having accurately investigated all things from the very beginning, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4#Jn 20:31that you might know the certainty of the things which you have been told.
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5#1Ch 24:10; Mt 2:1There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6#Ge 7:1; Php 2:15They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. 7#Ge 18:11; 1Sa 1:2But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well advanced in years.
8#1Ch 24:19; 2Ch 8:14Now while he served as priest before God, when his division was on duty, 9#Ex 30:7–8; 1Ch 23:13according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10#Lev 16:17; Rev 8:3And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11#Ex 40:26–27Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12#Jdg 6:22; 13:22When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13#Ac 10:31But the angel said to him, “Do not fear, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14#Lk 1:58You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15#Lk 7:33; Jer 1:5For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. 17#Mt 11:14; Lk 1:76And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children#Ps 118:22. and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18#Ge 17:17; 15:8Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife well advanced in years.”
19#Mt 18:10; Lk 1:26; Da 8:16The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. And I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20#Eze 3:26; 24:27And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their season.”
21The people waited for Zechariah, and wondered why he waited so long in the temple. 22#Lk 1:62When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he made signs to them and remained speechless.
23#1Ch 9:25As soon as the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his own home. 24After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, 25#Isa 4:1; 1Sa 1:6“Thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26#Mt 2:23; Lk 1:19In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27#Mt 1:18; Ge 3:15to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28#Jdg 6:12The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”
29#Lk 1:12; Ac 10:4When she saw him, she was troubled by his words, and considered in her mind what kind of greeting this might be. 30#Lk 1:13; Isa 41:14But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31#Isa 7:14; Mt 1:21; 1:25Listen, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son and shall call His name JESUS. 32#Mk 5:7; Lk 1:35He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 33#Da 2:44; 7:27; Heb 1:8and 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?”
35#Mt 1:18; Ps 2:7The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you. Therefore the Holy One who will be born will be called theSon of God. 36Listen, your cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. And this is the sixth month with her who was declared barren. 37#Mt 19:26; Ge 18:14; Jer 32:17For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be unto me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39#Lk 1:65In those days Mary arose and quickly went into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40and entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41#Lk 1:67; 1:15When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42#Jdg 5:24She spoke out with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43#Jn 20:28But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44Indeed, as soon as the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45#Lk 1:20; Jn 20:29Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a completion to those things which were told her by the Lord.”
The Song of Mary
46#Ps 34:2–3; 1Sa 2:1–10And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47#1Ti 1:1; Titus 2:10 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
48#Ps 138:6; Lk 11:27 For He has regarded
the low estate of His servant;
surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49#Ps 111:9; 99:3 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name.
50#Ex 20:6 His mercy is on those who fear Him
from generation to generation.
51#Ps 98:1; 89:10 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52#Ps 107:40–41; Jas 4:10 He has pulled down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of low degree.
53#Ps 34:10; Lk 6:21 He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
54#Ps 98:3; Isa 44:21 He has helped His servant Israel,
in remembrance of His mercy,
55#Ge 17:19 as He spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
56Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her own house.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57Now Elizabeth’s time had come to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and cousins heard how the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59#Ge 17:12; Lev 12:3On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they were calling him Zechariah, after the name of his father. 60#Lk 1:13But his mother answered, “Not so! He shall be called John.”
61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62#Lk 1:22They made signs to his father, asking what he would have him called. 63#Lk 1:60; 1:13He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all were amazed. 64#Lk 1:20Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he spoke and praised God. 65#Lk 1:39; 7:16Fear came on all who lived around them. And all these facts were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66#Ac 11:21; Ge 39:2All those who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will he be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
The Prophecy of Zechariah
67#Joel 2:28; Lk 1:41His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68#1Ki 1:48; Ps 41:13 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for He has visited and redeemed His people,
69#1Sa 2:10; Ps 18:2 and 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 of long ago,
71#Ps 106:10 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us,
72#Ps 106:45; Lev 26:42 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember His holy covenant,
73#Ge 22:16–18; 26:3 the oath which He swore to our father Abraham,
74#Heb 9:14 to grant us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies,
might serve Him without fear,
75#Eph 4:24 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76#Mal 3:1; Lk 1:32 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77to give knowledge of salvation to His people
by the remission of their sins,
78#Mal 4:2; Nu 24:17 through the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise from on high has visited us;
79#Isa 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; Mt 3:1And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he remained in the wilderness until the day of his appearance to Israel.
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