Luke 1
Luke’s Account of Things Fulfilled
1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that 1,ahave been fulfilled among us, 2just as those, who afrom the beginning 1were beyewitnesses and 2,cservants of dthe 3word, handed them down to us, 3it seemed fitting for me as well, ahaving 1investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you bin orderly sequence, cmost excellent dTheophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty about the things you have been 1,ataught.
John the Baptist’s Birth Foretold
5aIn the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the bdivision of 1Abijah, and he had a wife 2from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6And they were both arighteous in the sight of God, walking bblamelessly in all the commandments and righteous requirements of the 1Lord. 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in 1years.
8Now it happened that while ahe was performing his priestly service before God in the order of his division, 9according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot ato enter the 1sanctuary of the 2Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying aoutside at the hour of the incense offering. 11And aan angel of the 1Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and afear fell upon him. 13But the angel said to him, “aDo not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will 1bear you a son, and byou will call his name 2John. 14“And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15“For he will be great in the sight of the 1Lord; and ahe will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit 2while yet in his mother’s womb. 16“And he will aturn many of the sons of Israel back to the 1Lord their God. 17“And he will ago before Him in the spirit and power of bElijah, cto turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to dmake ready a people prepared for the 1Lord.”
18And Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For aI am an old man and my wife is advanced in 1years.” 19And the angel answered and said to him, “I am aGabriel, who bstands before God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20“And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were wondering at his delay in the sanctuary. 22But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. And he akept 1making signs to them, and remained mute. 23And it happened that when the days of his priestly service were fulfilled, he went back home.
24After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she 1kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25“This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked upon me to atake away my disgrace among men.”
Jesus’ Birth Foretold
26Now in the sixth month the angel aGabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called bNazareth, 27to aa virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, bof the 1house of David, and the virgin’s name was 2Mary. 28And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, 1favored one! The Lord 2is with you.” 29But she awas very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. 30And the angel said to her, “aDo not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you ashall name Him Jesus. 32“1He will be great and will be called the Son of athe Most High, and the 2Lord God will give Him bthe throne of His father David, 33aand He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, band there will be no end of His kingdom.” 34But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I 1am a virgin?” 35The angel answered and said to her, “aThe Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of bthe Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason 1,cthe holy Child shall be called dthe Son of God. 36“And behold, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37“For 1,anothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, the slave of the 1Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39Now 1at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to athe hill country, to a city of Judah, 40and entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was afilled with the Holy Spirit. 42And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43“And 1how has it happened to me, that the mother of amy Lord would come to me? 44“For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45“And ablessed is she who believed 1that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her 2by the 3Lord.”
Mary Magnifies the Lord
47And amy spirit has rejoiced in bGod my Savior.48“For aHe has looked upon the humble state of His slave,For behold, from this time on, all generations will count me bblessed.49“For the Mighty One has done great things for me,And holy is His name.50“aAnd His mercy is 1upon generation after generationToward those who fear Him.51“aHe has done a mighty deed with His arm;He has scattered those who were proud in the 1thoughts of their heart.52“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,And has aexalted those who were humble.53“aHe has filled the hungry with good things,And sent away the rich empty-handed.54“He has given help to Israel His servant,1In remembrance of His mercy,55aAs He spoke to our fathers,bTo Abraham and his seed forever.”56And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.
John the Baptist Is Born
57Now the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth to 1give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58And her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had amagnified His great mercy toward her, and they were rejoicing with her.
59And it happened that on athe eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zechariah, after the name of his father. 60But his mother answered and said, “No, but ahe shall be called John.” 61And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62And they awere making signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “aHis name is John.” And they all marveled. 64aAnd at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing God. 65And fear came on all those living around them, and all these matters were being talked about in all athe hill country of Judea. 66And all who heard these things put them in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” For athe hand of the 1Lord was indeed with him.
Zechariah’s Prophecy
68“aBlessed be the 1Lord God of Israel,For He visited and accomplished bredemption for His people,69And raised up a ahorn of salvation for usIn the house of David bHis servant—70aAs He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets bfrom of old—711,aSalvation bfrom our enemies,And from the hand of all who hate us,72aTo show mercy toward our fathers,bAnd to remember His holy covenant,73aThe oath which He swore to Abraham our father,74To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,Might serve Him without fear,75aIn holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.76“And you, child, will be called the aprophet of bthe Most High,For you will go on cbefore the 1Lord to dmake ready His ways,77To give to His people the knowledge of salvation1By athe forgiveness of their sins,78Because of the tender mercy of our God,With which athe Sunrise from on high will visit us,79aTo shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,To direct our feet into the bway of peace.”80aAnd the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the desolate regions until the day of his public appearance to Israel.