Luk 1 | HCSB | STEP | Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us ,

Luke 1

Luke

The Dedication to Theophilus

1 Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled ^{▼▼Or events that have been accomplished, or events most surely believed} among us, ^b 2 just as the original eyewitnesses ^c and servants of the word ^d handed them down to us. 3 It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable ^e Theophilus, ^f 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. ^{▼▼Or informed
,} ^h

Gabriel Predicts John’s Birth

5 In the days of King ^{▼▼Herod/Herodians: The name of the Idumean family ruling Palestine from 37 b.c. to a.d. 95; the main rulers from this family mentioned in the NT are: Herod Antipas(4 b.c.-a.d. 39) son of Herod the Great; ruled one-fourth of his father's kingdom (Galilee and Perea); killed John the Baptist and mocked Jesus; Herod I (37 b.c.-4 b.c.) also known as Herod the Great; built the great temple in Jerusalem and massacred the male babies in Bethlehem; Herod Agrippa I (A.D. 3744) The grandson of Herod the Great; he beheaded James the apostle and imprisoned Peter; Herod Agrippa II (A.D. 52ca 95) The great-grandson of Herod the Great; he heard Paul's defense. Herodians were political supporters of Herod the Great and his family}Herod ^j of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division ^{▼▼One of the 24 divisions of priests appointed by David for temple service; 1Ch 24:10
,} ^l named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in God’s sight, ^m living without blame ⁿ according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no children ^{▼▼Lit child} because Elizabeth could not conceive, ^{▼▼Lit Elizabeth was sterile or barren} and both of them were well along in years. ^{▼▼Lit in their days}

8 When his division was on duty ^r and he was serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. ^s 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lord ^t appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. ^{▼▼Lit and fear fell on him} 13 But the angel said to him:

Do not be afraid, ^v Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you will name him John. ^w
14 There will be joy and delight for you,
and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord
and will never drink wine or beer. ^x
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit
while still in his mother’s womb. ^y
16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel
to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before Him
in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of fathers
to their children, ^z
and the disobedient
to the understanding of the righteous,
to make ready for the Lord a prepared people. ^aa

18 “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” ^{▼▼Lit in her days}

19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, ^ac who stands in the presence of God, ^ad and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them ^ae and remained speechless. 23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace ^af among the people.”

Gabriel Predicts Jesus’ Birth

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel ^ag was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ^ah 27 to a virgin ^{▼▼engaged: Jewish engagement was a binding agreement that could only be broken by divorce.}engaged ^aj to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. ^ak The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” ^{▼▼Other mss add blessed are you among women} 29 But she was deeply troubled ^am by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her:

Do not be afraid, Mary, ^an
for you have found favor with God.
31 Now listen:
You will conceive and give birth to a son,
and you will call His name Jesus. ^ao
32 He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High, ^ap
and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David. ^aq
33 He will reign over the house of Jacob ^ar forever,
and His kingdom will have no end. ^as

34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?” ^{▼▼Lit since I do not know a man}

35 The angel replied to her:

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, ^au
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy One to be born
will be called the Son of God. ^av

36 And consider your relative Elizabeth – even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” ^aw

38 “I am the Lord’s ^{▼▼slave: The strong Greek word doulos cannot be accurately translated in English by "servant" or "bond servant"; the HCSB translates this word as "slave," not out of insensitivity to the legitimate concerns of modern English speakers, but out of a commitment to accurately convey the brutal reality of the Roman empire's inhumane institution as well as the ownership called for by Christ.}slave,” ^{▼▼Lit Look, the Lord’s slave} said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth

39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, ^{▼▼Lit leaped in her abdomen or womb} and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ^ba 42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:

“You are the most blessed of women,
and your child will be blessed! ^{▼▼Lit and the fruit of your abdomen (or womb) is blessed}

43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! ^{▼▼Lit in my abdomen or womb} 45 She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!”

Mary’s Praise

46 And Mary said:

My soul proclaims the greatness of ^{▼▼Or soul magnifies} the Lord, ^be
47 and my spirit has rejoiced ^bf in God my Savior, ^bg
48 because He has looked with favor
on the humble condition of His slave.
Surely, from now on all generations
will call me blessed, ^bh
49 because the Mighty One ^bi
has done great things for me, ^bj
and His name ^bk is holy.
50 His mercy is from generation to generation ^bl
on those who fear Him.
51 He has done a mighty deed with His arm; ^bm
He has scattered the proud
because of the thoughts of their hearts;
52 He has toppled the mighty from their thrones
and exalted the lowly.
53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things ^bn
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
mindful of His mercy, ^{▼▼Because He remembered His mercy; Ps 98:3}
55 just as He spoke to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his descendants ^{▼▼Or offspring; lit seed} forever.

56 And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

The Birth and Naming of John

57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, ^{▼▼Lit the Lord magnified His mercy with her
,} ^br and they rejoiced with her.

59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, ^bs they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother responded, “No! He will be called John.” ^bt

61 Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 62 So they motioned to his father ^bu to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: HIS NAME IS JOHN. And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened ^bv and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard about him ^bw took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

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

68 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, ^bz
because He has visited
and provided ^{▼▼redemption/redeemed: The deliverance from bondage by a payment or ransom (Mk 10:45; 1Pe 1:18-19)}redemption for His people. ^cb
69 He has raised up a ^{▼▼horn: A symbol of power based on the strength of animal horns}horn of salvation ^{▼▼= a strong Savior} for us ^ce
in the house of His servant David, ^cf
70 just as He spoke by the mouth
of His holy prophets in ancient times; ^cg
71 salvation from our enemies
and from the clutches ^{▼▼Lit the hand} of those who hate us.
72 He has dealt mercifully with our fathers ^ci
and remembered His holy covenant ^cj –
73 the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. ^ck
He has given us the privilege,
74 since we have been rescued
from our enemies’ clutches, ^{▼▼Lit from the hand of enemies}
to serve Him without fear
75 in holiness and righteousness
in His presence all our days.
76 And child, you will be called
a prophet of the Most High, ^cm
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare His ways, ^cn
77 to give His people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins. ^co
78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the Dawn from on high ^cp will visit us
79 to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death, ^cq
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 The child grew up and became spiritually strong, ^cr and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.