Luke 1

Dedication to Theophilus

1 Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants 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, 4 so that you may know the certainty of [the] things you have been taught.

Gabriel Foretells John's Birth

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 daughter of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both {of them} were well along in years. 8 One day while [Zechariah’s] division was on duty [and] he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord [and] burn incense. 10 And at the hour of the incense offering, the entire congregation was praying outside. 11 Just then, an angel of [the] Lord appeared to [Zechariah] , standing at [the] right side of the altar of the incense. 12 When Zechariah saw [him] , he was startled and overcome with fear. 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. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will 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. 16 Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back 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.” 18 “vvv How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “ - I am an old man, and my wife is well along 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. 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.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took 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 speechless. 23 And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home. 24 After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared, 25 “The Lord has done [this] for me. In [these] days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Gabriel Foretells Jesus' Birth

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called 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. 28 [The angel] appeared to her [and] said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord [is] with you.” ▼

▼BYZ and TR include Blessed are you among women!

29 [Mary] was greatly troubled at [his] words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 So the angel told her, “ {Do} not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the 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, 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” 34 “ - How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 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 ▼

▼TR born of you

will 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. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 “ [I am] the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 In those days Mary got ready [and] hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, 40 [where] she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with [the] Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why am I so [honored] , 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. 45 Blessed [is] she who has believed that [the] Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”

Mary's Song

46 Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 48 For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy [is] His name. 50 His mercy [extends] to those who 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. 52 He has brought down rulers from [their] thrones, [but] has exalted [the] humble. 53 He has filled [the] hungry with good things, [but] has sent [the] rich {away} empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, 55 as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” 56 Mary stayed with [Elizabeth] for about three months and then returned home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that [the] Lord had shown her great mercy, 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. 60 But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.” 62 [So] they made signs to his father [to inquire] what he wanted to name [the child] . 63 [Zechariah] asked for a tablet [and] wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately [Zechariah’s] mouth was opened and his tongue [was released] , and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All their neighbors were filled with awe, and [people] throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events. 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.

Zechariah's Song

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with [the] Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68 “Blessed be [the] Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in [the] house of His servant David, 70 as He spoke through His holy prophets, [those] of ages past, 71 salvation from our enemies and from [the] hand of all who hate us, 72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, 73 [the] oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives. 76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of [the] Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 to give to His people knowledge of salvation through [the] forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of [the] tender mercy of our God, by which [the] Dawn will visit us from on high, 79 to shine on those who live in darkness and in [the] shadow of death, to guide our feet into [the] path of peace.” 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; ▼

▼Or in the Spirit

and he lived in the wilderness until [the] time of his public appearance to Israel.