LUK 1

Introduction

1 Since many others have already undertaken the task of compiling an orderly narrative account concerning the events that have been accomplished among us by God's sovereign plan,

2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the very beginning and who became servants of the word have handed down these accounts to us through careful testimony,

3 it seemed good and appropriate to me also, having carefully investigated and traced all these things accurately from the very beginning, to write them down for you in an orderly and sequential manner, most excellent Theophilus.

4 I write so that you may know with certainty and have full assurance concerning the matters about which you have been instructed.

Prophecy Regarding the Birth of John

5 During the reign of Herod, who was king of Judea, there lived a certain priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, the first high priest, and her name was Elizabeth.

6 Both of them were righteous in God's sight, walking blamelessly and faithfully in all the commandments and ordinances that the Lord had given.

7 However, they had no child because Elizabeth was barren. Moreover, both of them were now advanced in years, well past the normal age for childbearing.

8 One day, while Zechariah was serving as priest before God during his division's appointed turn of service in the temple,

9 he was chosen by lot according to the established custom of the priesthood to enter the temple sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense offering.

10 At that sacred hour when the incense was being burned, the whole assembled crowd of people was praying outside in the courtyard.

11 Then an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was troubled, and fear overwhelmed him.

13 But the angel spoke reassuringly to him, saying, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard and answered by God. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John.

14 He will bring you great joy and gladness, and many people will rejoice at his birth.

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or any strong drink, maintaining a Nazirite-like consecration. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even while still in his mother's womb.

16 He will turn many of the children of Israel back to the Lord their God in repentance.

17 He will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah the prophet, turning the hearts of fathers back to their children and turning the disobedient to embrace the wisdom of the righteous. In this way, he will make ready for the Lord a people who are fully prepared for His coming."

18 Zechariah responded to the angel with doubt, saying, "How can I be certain that this will happen? By what means will I know this is true? I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."

19 The angel answered him, saying, "I am Gabriel, who stands continually in the very presence of God. I have been sent specifically to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.

20 Listen carefully: You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things actually take place, because you did not believe my words, which will certainly be fulfilled at their appointed time."

21 Meanwhile, the people outside were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder at his unusual delay in the temple.

22 When he finally came out, he was unable to speak to them. They quickly realised that he must have seen a vision while in the temple. He kept making signs to them, but remained unable to speak.

23 When the days of his appointed priestly service came to an end, he departed from the temple and returned to his home.

24 After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived a child. She secluded herself in private for five months, saying with thanksgiving,

25 "This is what the Lord has done for me in these days when He looked upon me with favour, removing my disgrace and reproach among people."

Prophecy Regarding the Birth of Jesus

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in the region of Galilee named Nazareth,

27 to a virgin who was legally pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

28 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who have been highly favoured by God! The Lord is with you in a special way."

29 But Mary was deeply troubled at this greeting, and she kept pondering in her mind what kind of greeting this might be.

30 The angel said to her reassuringly, "Do not be afraid, Mary. You have found favour with God.

31 Listen: You will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus.

32 This Child will be great and magnificent. He will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will give to Him the throne of His ancestor David,

33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and ever. His kingdom will have no end—it will be eternal."

34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be? How will this happen, since I am a virgin?"

35 The angel answered her, saying, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you in power, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you like a cloud of glory. Therefore, the Holy One who will be born will be called the Son of God.

36 Moreover, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age. This is now the sixth month of pregnancy for her who was called barren.

37 For nothing will be impossible with God. No word from God will ever fail to be fulfilled."

38 Mary responded in faith and submission, "Behold, I am the maidservant of the Lord, fully surrendered to His will. May it happen to me exactly according to your word." Then the angel departed from her presence.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 In those days, Mary arose and travelled with eagerness into the hill country, to a town belonging to the tribe of Judah.

40 She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped for joy. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and given supernatural insight.

42 She cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Blessed are you among all women, and blessed is the Child you carry in your womb!

43 Why has this gracious thing happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to visit me?

44 For the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy and excitement.

45 Blessed is she who believed that there would be a complete fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

The Magnificat

46 Mary responded with a song of praise, saying,

"My soul magnifies and exalts the Lord,

47 and my spirit has rejoiced greatly in God my Saviour,

48 for He has looked with favour upon the humble and lowly state of His maidservant.

For look, from this moment forward, all generations throughout history will count me blessed and favoured,

49 because the Mighty One has done great and magnificent things for me,

and holy is His name.

50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him with reverence,

from generation to generation throughout all time.

51 He has demonstrated mighty power with His arm.

He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts and intentions of their hearts.

52 He has brought down rulers and the powerful from their thrones,

and He has exalted and lifted up those who are lowly and humble.

53 He has filled those who are hungry with good things,

and those who are rich He has sent away empty-handed.

54 He has helped Israel His servant,

remembering and fulfilling His mercy,

55 just as He spoke and promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

56 Mary remained with Elizabeth for approximately three months, then returned to her own home.

The Birth of John

57 The time was fulfilled for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

58 Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had greatly demonstrated His mercy to her, and they began to rejoice together with her.

59 On the eighth day, according to Jewish custom, they came to circumcise the child. They wanted to name him after his father, calling him Zechariah.

60 But his mother spoke up and said, "No, he will not be named after his father. He will be called John."

61 They protested to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."

62 So they made signs to his father Zechariah, inquiring what he would like the child to be called.

63 Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "John is his name." Everyone present marvelled at this.

64 Immediately Zechariah's mouth and tongue were opened and freed. He began to speak, blessing and praising God.

65 Fear and awe came upon all those who lived in the surrounding area, and all these remarkable events were being talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea.

66 All those who heard about these things kept them in their hearts, pondering them and saying, "What then will this child become? What is his destiny?" For it was evident that the hand of the Lord was powerfully with him.

Zechariah's Prophecy

67 Zechariah, the child's father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying:

68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

because He has visited His people and accomplished redemption for them.

69 He has raised up a horn of salvation—a mighty Saviour—for us in the house of David, His servant,

70 just as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient times,

71 promising salvation and deliverance from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.

72 He has acted to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

73 the oath which He swore to Abraham our father. He promised to grant us

74 that we, having been delivered from the hand of our enemies,

might serve Him without fear,

75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.

76 And you, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,

77 giving to His people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins.

78 This will happen because of the tender mercy and compassion of our God,

by which the Sunrise from on high—the Messiah—will visit us.

79 He will shine as light on those who sit in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

and He will guide our feet into the way of peace."

80 The child John continued to grow physically and to become strong in spirit. He lived in the desert places until the day of his public appearance and ministry to Israel.

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