Luke 1
1
Introduction
1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled#1:1 Or been surely believed among us2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3With this in mindsince I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginningI too decided to write an orderly account for youmost excellent Theophilus4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariahwho belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of Godobserving all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceiveand they were both very old.
8Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God9he was chosen by lotaccording to the custom of the priesthoodto go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense cameall the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to himstanding at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw himhe was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraidZechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a sonand you are to call him John. 14He will be a joy and delight to youand many will rejoice because of his birth15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drinkand he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lordin the spirit and power of Elijahto turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18Zechariah asked the angel“How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19The angel said to him“I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of Godand I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happensbecause you did not believe my wordswhich will come true at their appointed time.”
21Meanwhilethe people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22When he came outhe could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the templefor he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23When his time of service was completedhe returned home. 24After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancyGod sent the angel Gabriel to Nazaretha town in Galilee27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Josepha descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said“Greetingsyou who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her“Do not be afraidMary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a sonand you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel“since I am a virgin?”
35The angel answered“The Holy Spirit will come on youand the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called#1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old ageand she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.”
38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greetingthe baby leaped in her womband Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among womenand blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favoredthat the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my earsthe baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Mary’s Song
46And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57When it was time for Elizabeth to have her babyshe gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercyand they shared her joy.
59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the childand they were going to name him after his father Zechariah60but his mother spoke up and said“No! He is to be called John.”
61They said to her“There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62Then they made signs to his fatherto find out what he would like to name the child. 63He asked for a writing tabletand to everyone’s astonishment he wrote“His name is John.” 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set freeand he began to speakpraising God. 65All the neighbors were filled with aweand throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66Everyone who heard this wondered about itasking“What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s Song
67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68“Praise be to the Lordthe God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69He has raised up a horn#1:69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king. of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
72to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
73the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76And youmy childwill be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80And the child grew and became strong in spirit#1:80 Or in the Spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
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Luke 1: NIV
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