Luke 1
Luke 1
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, Verse 2. even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, Verse 3. it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; Verse 4. that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
Verse 5. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Verse 6. They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. Verse 7. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
Verse 8. Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division Verse 9. according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. Verse 10. The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
Verse 11. An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Verse 12. Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. Verse 13. But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. Verse 14. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. Verse 15. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. Verse 16. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. Verse 17. He will 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 prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”
Verse 18. Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
Verse 19. The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. Verse 20. Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
Verse 21. The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple. Verse 22. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute. Verse 23. When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. Verse 24. After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying, Verse 25. “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”
Verse 26. Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, Verse 27. to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. Verse 28. Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
Verse 29. But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. Verse 30. The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Verse 31. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ Verse 32. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, Verse 33. and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”
Verse 34. Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”
Verse 35. The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. Verse 36. Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. Verse 37. For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”
Verse 38. Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Verse 39. Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, Verse 40. and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. Verse 41. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Verse 42. She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Verse 43. Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Verse 44. For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! Verse 45. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”
Verse 46. Mary said,
Verse 56. Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
Verse 57. Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son. Verse 58. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. Verse 59. On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. Verse 60. His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”
Verse 61. They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” Verse 62. They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
Verse 63. He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.”
They all marveled. Verse 64. His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God. Verse 65. Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea. Verse 66. All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.
Verse 67. His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
Verse 80. The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.