Luke 1

1 Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2 just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

3 Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8 One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10 And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11 Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.

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, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,

14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

16 Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.

16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

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

17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.

18 “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

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 “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

20 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

22 When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

23 And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.

23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

24 After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,

24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

25 “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27 to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

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

30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31 Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

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,

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34 “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36 Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.

36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

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 In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,

39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

40 where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42 In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43 And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”

45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

46 Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,

46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.

48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.

49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.

50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.

53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,

54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55 as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

57 When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.

57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

59 On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.

59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60 But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”

60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”

61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62 So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.

62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

63 Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

64 Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.

64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

65 All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.

65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.

66 And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.

68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

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

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70 as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,

70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,

71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73 the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,

74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.

75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,

76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

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

77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,

78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

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

79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.