Luke 1

The Dedication to Theophilus

1 Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. 3 It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus,

4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

Gabriel Predicts John's Birth

5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.

7 But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.
8 When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear.

13 But the angel said to him:
Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you will name him John.

14 There will be joy and delight for you,
and many will rejoice at his birth.

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord
and will never drink wine or beer.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit
while still in his mother's womb.

16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel
to the Lord their God.

17 And he will go before Him
in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of fathers
to their children,
and the disobedient
to the understanding of the righteous,
to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.

18 "How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years."
19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.

20 Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless.

23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said,

25 "The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people."

Gabriel Predicts Jesus' Birth

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And [the angel] came to her and said, "Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you." 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.

30 Then the angel told her:
Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.

31 Now listen:
You will conceive and give birth to a son,
and you will call His name Jesus.

32 He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David.

33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and His kingdom will have no end.

34 Mary asked the angel, "How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?"

35 The angel replied to her:
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy One to be born
will be called the Son of God.
36 And consider your relative Elizabeth-even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless.

37 For nothing will be impossible with God."

38 "I am the Lord's slave," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her.

Mary's Visit to Elizabeth

39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:
"You are the most blessed of women,
and your child will be blessed!
43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me!

45 She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!"

Mary's Praise

46 And Mary said:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

48 because He has looked with favor
on the humble condition of His slave.
Surely, from now on all generations
will call me blessed,

49 because the Mighty One
has done great things for me,
and His name is holy.

50 His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear Him.

51 He has done a mighty deed with His arm;
He has scattered the proud
because of the thoughts of their hearts;

52 He has toppled the mighty from their thrones
and exalted the lowly.

53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped His servant Israel,
mindful of His mercy,

55 just as He spoke to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his descendants forever.

56 And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

The Birth and Naming of John

57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son.

58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.

60 But his mother responded, "No! He will be called John."
61 Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." 62 So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called.

63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote:
HIS NAME IS JOHN.
And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue [set free], and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea.

66 All who heard about [him] took [it] to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him.

Zechariah's Prophecy

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
because He has visited
and provided redemption for His people.

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

70 just as He spoke by the mouth
of His holy prophets in ancient times;

71 salvation from our enemies
and from the clutches of those who hate us.

72 He has dealt mercifully with our fathers
and remembered His holy covenant-

73 the oath that He swore to our father Abraham.
He has given us the privilege,

74 since we have been rescued
from our enemies' clutches,
to serve Him without fear

75 in holiness and righteousness
in His presence all our days.

76 And child, you will be called
a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare His ways,

77 to give His people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.

78 Because of our God's merciful compassion,
the Dawn from on high will visit us

79 to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance 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.