1Luke 1

1Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among usSelect Luke 1:1

2on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,Select Luke 1:2

3it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,Select Luke 1:3

4that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.Select Luke 1:4

5There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.Select Luke 1:5

6They were both of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.Select Luke 1:6

7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.Select Luke 1:7

8Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,Select Luke 1:8

9it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense;Select Luke 1:9

10and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.Select Luke 1:10

11Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense;Select Luke 1:11

12and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.Select Luke 1:12

13But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name John.Select Luke 1:13

14Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over his birth.Select Luke 1:14

15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth.Select Luke 1:15

16Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;Select Luke 1:16

17and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."Select Luke 1:17

18"By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years."Select Luke 1:18

19"I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God," answered the angel, "and I have been sent to talk with you and tell you this good news.Select Luke 1:19

20And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."Select Luke 1:20

21Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.Select Luke 1:21

22When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued dumb.Select Luke 1:22

23When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;Select Luke 1:23

24and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.Select Luke 1:24

25"Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."Select Luke 1:25

26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,Select Luke 1:26

27to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.Select Luke 1:27

28So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you."Select Luke 1:28

29She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.Select Luke 1:29

30But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.Select Luke 1:30

31You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS.Select Luke 1:31

32He will be great and He will be called `Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;Select Luke 1:32

33and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, and of His Kingdom there will be no end."Select Luke 1:33

34"How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"Select Luke 1:34

35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called `the Son of God.'Select Luke 1:35

36And see, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.Select Luke 1:36

37For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."Select Luke 1:37

38"I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And then the angel left her.Select Luke 1:38

39Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.Select Luke 1:39

40Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth;Select Luke 1:40

41and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,Select Luke 1:41

42and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!Select Luke 1:42

43But why is this honour done me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?Select Luke 1:43

44For, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt for joy.Select Luke 1:44

45And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."Select Luke 1:45

46Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,Select Luke 1:46

47And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;Select Luke 1:47

48Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,Select Luke 1:48

49Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--Select Luke 1:49

50And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.Select Luke 1:50

51He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.Select Luke 1:51

52He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.Select Luke 1:52

53The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.Select Luke 1:53

54His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--Select Luke 1:54

55In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever."Select Luke 1:55

56So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.Select Luke 1:56

57Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, she gave birth to a son;Select Luke 1:57

58and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her.Select Luke 1:58

59And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to call him Zechariah, after his father.Select Luke 1:59

60His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."Select Luke 1:60

61"There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."Select Luke 1:61

62They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.Select Luke 1:62

63So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.Select Luke 1:63

64Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless God.Select Luke 1:64

65And all who lived round about them were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judaea reports of all these things were spread abroad.Select Luke 1:65

66All who heard the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the Lord's hand was indeed with him.Select Luke 1:66

67And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.Select Luke 1:67

68"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,Select Luke 1:68

69And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant--Select Luke 1:69

70As He has spoken from all time by the lips of His holy Prophets--Select Luke 1:70

71To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.Select Luke 1:71

72He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant,Select Luke 1:72

73The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather,Select Luke 1:73

74To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,Select Luke 1:74

75In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.Select Luke 1:75

76And you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,Select Luke 1:76

77To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,Select Luke 1:77

78Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us,Select Luke 1:78

79Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path of peace."Select Luke 1:79

80And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.Select Luke 1:80