Luke 1

Luke Writes About Jesus’ Life

1 Many have tried to report on the things that happened among us.2 They have written the same things that we learned from others—the people who saw those things from the beginning and served God by telling people his message.3 Since I myself have studied everything carefully from the beginning, most excellent 

4 to help you know that what you have been taught is true.

Zechariah and Elizabeth

5 During the time Herod ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to Abijah’s group. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth truly did what God said was good. They did everything the Lord commanded and were without fault in keeping his law.

7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth could not have a baby, and both of them were very old.
8 One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, because his group was on duty.9 According to the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.10 There were a great many people outside praying at the time the incense was offered.11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing on the right side of the incense table.12 When he saw the angel, Zechariah was startled and frightened.13 But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son, and you will name him John.14 He will bring you joy and gladness, and many people will be happy because of his birth.15 John will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer, and even from birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.16 He will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God.

17 He will go before the Lord in spirit and power like Elijah. He will make peace between parents and their children and will bring those who are not obeying God back to the right way of thinking, to make a people ready for the coming of the Lord.”

18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that what you say is true? I am an old man, and my wife is old, too.”
19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand before God, who sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news.

20 Now, listen! You will not be able to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe what I told you. But they will really happen.”
21 Outside, the people were still waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he was staying so long in the Temple.22 When Zechariah came outside, he could not speak to them, and they knew he had seen a vision in the Temple. He could only make signs to them and remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service at the Temple was finished, he went home.
24 Later, Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and did not go out of her house for five months. Elizabeth said,25 “Look what the Lord has done for me! My people were ashamed 

An Angel Appears to Mary

26 During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,27 to a virgin. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary.

28 The angel came to her and said, “Greetings! The Lord has blessed you and is with you.”

29 But Mary was very startled by what the angel said and wondered what this greeting might mean.
30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace.31 Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of King David, his ancestor.

33 He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God.36 Now Elizabeth, your relative, is also pregnant with a son though she is very old. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant for six months.

37 God can do anything!”

38 Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!” Then the angel went away.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the hills of Judea.40 She came to Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby inside her jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.42 She cried out in a loud voice, “God has blessed you more than any other woman, and he has blessed the baby to which you will give birth.43 Why has this good thing happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?44 When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy.

45 You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen.”

Mary Praises God

46 Then Mary said,
“My soul praises the Lord;

47 my heart rejoices in God my Savior,

48 because he has shown his concern for his humble servant girl.
From now on, all people will say that I am blessed,

49 because the Powerful One has done great things for me. His name is holy.

50 God will show his mercy forever and ever to those who worship and serve him.

51 He has done mighty deeds by his power. He has scattered the people who are proud and think great things about themselves.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones and raised up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with nothing.

54 He has helped his servant, the people of Israel, remembering to show them mercy

55 as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his children forever.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

The Birth of John

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a boy.

58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how good the Lord was to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him. They wanted to name him Zechariah because this was his father’s name,

60 but his mother said, “No! He will be named John.”
61 The people said to Elizabeth, “But no one in your family has this name.”

62 Then they made signs to his father to find out what he would like to name him.
63 Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John,” and everyone was surprised.64 Immediately Zechariah could talk again, and he began praising God.65 All their neighbors became alarmed, and in all the mountains of Judea people continued talking about all these things.

66 The people who heard about them wondered, saying, “What will this child be?” because the Lord was with him.

Zechariah Praises God

67 Then Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68 “Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom.

69 He has given us a powerful Savior from the family of God’s servant David.

70 He said that he would do this through his holy prophets who lived long ago:

71 He promised he would save us from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us.

72 He said he would give mercy to our ancestors and that he would remember his holy promise.

73 God promised Abraham, our father,

74 that he would save us from the power of our enemies so we could serve him without fear,

75 being holy and good before God as long as we live.

76 “Now you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go before the Lord to prepare his way.

77 You will make his people know that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven.

78 With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will dawn upon us.

79 It will shine on those who live in darkness, in the shadow of death.
It will guide us into the path of peace.”
80 And so the child grew up and became strong in spirit. John lived in the desert until the time when he came out to preach to Israel.

Luke 1

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,2 even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;4 that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.5 There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.8 Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,9 according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense.12 And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God.17 And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.20 And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.21 And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.23 And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.24 And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,25 Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto 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 virgin’s name was Mary.28 And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.31 And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.34 And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.36 And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.37 For no word from God shall be void of power.38 And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.39 And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.41 And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;42 and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?44 For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.45 And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

51 He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

52 He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

53 The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

55 (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.57 Now Elisabeth’s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.58 And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.59 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.62 And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God.65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.66 And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

68 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,

69 And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David

70 (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),

71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72 To show mercy towards, our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

73 The oath which he spake unto Abraham our father,

74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76 Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins,

78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,

79 To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.