Luke 1

1-4 So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story's beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.

A Childless Couple Conceives

5-7 During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.

8-12 It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

13-15 But the angel reassured him, "Don't fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You're going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He'll achieve great stature with God.

16-17 "He'll drink neither wine nor beer. He'll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother's womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he'll get the people ready for God."

18 Zachariah said to the angel, "Do you expect me to believe this? I'm an old man and my wife is an old woman."

19-20 But the angel said, "I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won't believe me, you'll be unable to say a word until the day of your son's birth. Every word I've spoken to you will come true on time—God's time."

21-22 Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn't speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

23-25 When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn't long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. "So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!" she said.

A Virgin Conceives

26-28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:
Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.

29-33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.
He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.' The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob's house forever— no end, ever, to his kingdom."

34 Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man."

35 The angel answered,
The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.

36-38 "And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."
And Mary said,
Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.
Then the angel left her.

Blessed Among Women

39-45 Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,
You're so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, The babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true!

46-55 And Mary said,
I'm bursting with God-news; I'm dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened— I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. It's exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.

The Birth of John

57-58 When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her.

59-60 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father. But his mother intervened: "No. He is to be called John."

61-62 "But," they said, "no one in your family is named that." They used sign language to ask Zachariah what he wanted him named.

63-64 Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, "His name is to be John." That took everyone by surprise. Surprise followed surprise—Zachariah's mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God!

65-66 A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else. Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, "What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this."

67-79 Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he came and set his people free. He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives, and in the very house of David his servant, Just as he promised long ago through the preaching of his holy prophets: Deliverance from our enemies and every hateful hand; Mercy to our fathers, as he remembers to do what he said he'd do, What he swore to our father Abraham— a clean rescue from the enemy camp, So we can worship him without a care in the world, made holy before him as long as we live.
And you, my child, "Prophet of the Highest," will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways, Present the offer of salvation to his people, the forgiveness of their sins. Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God's Sunrise will break in upon us, Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace.

80 The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.

Luke 1

Explanatory Preface

1 Nowt many have undertaken to compile an accountt of the thingst that have been fulfilledt among us,2 like the accountst passed ont to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the words from the beginning.t3 Sot it seemed good to me as well,s because I have followedt all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly accounts for you, most excellent Theophilus,

4 so that you may know for certaint the things you were taught.t

Birth Announcement of John the Baptist

5 During the reignt of Herods king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged tot the priestly division of Abijah,s and he had a wife named Elizabeth,t who was a descendant of Aaron.ts6 Theyt were both righteous in the sight of God, followingts all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.t

7 But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren,s and they were both very old.t
8 Nowt while Zechariaht was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,ts9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood,t to entert the holy placet of the Lord and burn incense.10 Nowt the whole crowdt of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.t11 Ant angel of the Lord,t standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeareds to him.12 And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel,t was seized with fear.t13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard,ts and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; yout will name him John.ts14 Joy and gladness will comet to you, and many will rejoice att his birth,t15 for he will be great in the sight oft the Lord. Het must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.ts16 Het will turns many of the peoplet of Israel to the Lord their God.

17 And he will go as forerunner before the Lordt in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,s to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
18 Zechariaht said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this?t For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.”t19 Thet angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who standst in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bringt you this good news.

20 And now,t because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time,s you will be silent, unable to speak,s until the day these things take place.”
21 Nowt the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wondert why he was delayed in the holy place.t22 Whent he came out, he was not able to speak to them. Theyt realized that he had seen a visiont in the holy place,t becauset he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak.t

23 When his time of service was over,t he went to his home.
24 After some timet his wife Elizabeth became pregnant,t and for five months she kept herself in seclusion.s She said,t

25 “This is whatt the Lord has done for me at the timet when he has been gracious to me,t to take away my disgraces among people.”t

Birth Announcement of Jesus the Messiah

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy,t the angel Gabriels was sent byt God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,ss27 to a virgin engagedt to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David,ts and the virgin’s name was Mary.28 Thet angelt camet to her and said, “Greetings, favored one,t the Lord is with you!”s29 Buts she was greatly troubleds by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.t30 Sot the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,s Mary, for you have found favorts with God!31 Listen:t You will become pregnantt and give birth tot a son, and you will name himt Jesus.ts32 Het will be great,s and will be called the Son of the Most High,s and the Lord God will give him the throne of his fathert David.33 Het will reign over the house of Jacobts forever, and his kingdom will never end.”34 Maryt said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations witht a man?”

35 The angel replied,t “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadows you. Therefore the childt to be borns will be holy;t he will be called the Son of God.
36 “And look,t your relativet Elizabeth has also become pregnant witht a son in her old age – although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month!t37 For nothingt will be impossible with God.”

38 Sot Mary said, “Yes,t I am a servantt of the Lord; let this happen to met according to your word.”s Thent the angel departed from her.

Mary and Elizabeth

39 In those dayss Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah,s40 and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.41 Whent Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapeds in hert womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.s42 Shet exclaimed with a loud voice,t “Blessed are you among women,s and blessed is the childt in your womb!43 And who am It that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me?44 For the instantt the sound of your greeting reached my ears,t the baby in my womb leaped for joy.s

45 And blesseds is she who believed thatt what was spoken to her byt the Lord would be fulfilled.”ts

Mary’s Hymn of Praise

46 And Marys said,s
“My soul exaltst the Lord,s

47 and my spirit has begun to rejoicet in God my Savior,

48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.t
Fort from now ons all generations will call me blessed,s

49 because he who is mightyt has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

50 fromt generation to generation he is mercifuls to those who feart him.

51 He has demonstrated powert with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogancet of their hearts.

52 He has brought down the mightyt from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;ts

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,s and has sent the rich away empty.s

54 He has helped his servant Israel, rememberingt his mercy,t

55 as he promisedt to our ancestors,t to Abraham and to his descendantst forever.”

56 Sot Mary stayed with Elizabetht about three monthss and then returned to her home.

The Birth of John

57 Now the time camet for Elizabeth to have her baby,t and she gave birth to a son.

58 Hert neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shownt great mercy to her, and they rejoicedt with her.
59 Ont the eighth days they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to namet him Zechariah after his father.60 Butt his mother replied,t “No! He must be namedt John.”s61 Theyt said to her, “Butt none of your relatives bears this name.”t62 Sot they made signs to the baby’st father,s inquiring what he wanted to name his son.t63 Het asked for a writing tablets and wrote,t “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.s64 Immediatelyt Zechariah’st mouth was opened and his tongues released,t and he spoke, blessing God.65 Allts their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about.

66 Allt who heard these thingst kept them in their hearts,t saying, “What then will this child be?”t For the Lord’s hands was indeed with him.

Zechariah’s Praise and Prediction

67 Thent his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,ts

68 “Blesseds be the Lord God of Israel,
because he has come to helps and has redeemedts his people.

69 Fort he has raised ups a horn of salvations for us in the house of his servant David,s

70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,t

71 that we should be savedt from our enemies,s
and from the hand of all who hate us.

72 He has done thist to show mercys to our ancestors,t
and to remember his holy covenants –

73 the oatht that he swore to our ancestort Abraham.
This oath grantst

74 that we, being rescued from the hand of ours enemies,
may serve him without fear,t

75 in holiness and righteousnesss before him for as long as we live.t

76 And you, child,s will be called the prophett of the Most High.s
For you will go befores the Lord to prepare his ways,ts

77 to give his people knowledge of salvations through the forgivenesss of their sins.

78 Because oft our God’s tender mercys
the dawns will breakt upon us from on high

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,s
to guide our feet into the wayt of peace.”

80 And the child kept growingt and becoming strongt in spirit, and he was in the wildernesst until the day he was revealedt to Israel.