Luke 1

The Purpose and Method of Lukes Gospel

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

Zacharias Ministers in the Temple

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

An Angel Announces the Birth of John the Baptist

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.13 But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.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 Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mothers womb.16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Zacharias is Unable to Speak

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.19 And the angel answered and said to him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,25 Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.

Gabriel Announces Christs Birth

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgins name was Mary.28 And having come in, the angel said to her, Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.30 Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

Mary Miraculously Conceives

34 Then Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I do not know a man?35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.37 For with God nothing will be impossible.38 Then Mary said, Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.46 And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord,47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

Elizabeth Gives Birth to John

57 Now Elizabeths full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.60 His mother answered and said, No; he shall be called John.61 But they said to her, There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.62 So they made signs to his fatherwhat he would have him called.63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. So they all marveled.64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, What kind of child will this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zacharias Prophesies of Johns Ministry

67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:68 Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David,70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began,71 That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us,72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant,73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:74 To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins,78 Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to 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.