Luke 1
1
Luke’s purpose
1Many people have already applied themselves to the task of compiling an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2They used what the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed down to us. 3Now, after having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, I have also decided to write a carefully ordered account for you, most honorable Theophilus. 4I want you to have confidence in the soundness of the instruction you have received.
John the Baptist’s birth foretold
5During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. 6They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old. 8One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God because his priestly division was on duty. 9Following the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense. 10All the people who gathered to worship were praying outside during this hour of incense offering. 11An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear.
13The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth, 15for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. 16He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God. 17He will go forth before the Lord, equipped with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers#1.17 Or parents back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old.”
19The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring this good news to you. 20Know this: What I have spoken will come true at the proper time. But because you didn’t believe, you will remain silent, unable to speak until the day when these things happen.”
21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered why he was in the sanctuary for such a long time. 22When he came out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he gestured to them and couldn’t speak. 23When he completed the days of his priestly service, he returned home. 24Afterward, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She kept to herself for five months, saying, 25“This is the Lord’s doing. He has shown his favor to me by removing my disgrace among other people.”
Jesus’ birth foretold
26When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, 27to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” 29She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. 31Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. 33He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”
34Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?”
35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. 36Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. 37Nothing is impossible for God.”
38Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Mary visits Elizabeth
39Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. 40She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42With a loud voice she blurted out, “God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry. 43Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.”
Mary praises God
46Mary said,
“With all my heart I glorify the Lord!
47In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.
48He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.
Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored
49because the mighty one has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.
50He shows mercy to everyone,
from one generation to the next,
who honors him as God.
51He has shown strength with his arm.
He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.
52He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty-handed.
54He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy,
55just as he promised to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a boy. 58Her neighbors and relatives celebrated with her because they had heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy. 59On the eighth day, it came time to circumcise the child. They wanted to name him Zechariah because that was his father’s name. 60But his mother replied, “No, his name will be John.”
61They said to her, “None of your relatives have that name.” 62Then they began gesturing to his father to see what he wanted to call him.
63After asking for a tablet, he surprised everyone by writing, “His name is John.” 64At that moment, Zechariah was able to speak again, and he began praising God.
65All their neighbors were filled with awe, and everyone throughout the Judean highlands talked about what had happened. 66All who heard about this considered it carefully. They said, “What then will this child be?” Indeed, the Lord’s power was with him.
Zechariah’s prophecy
67John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
68“Bless the Lord God of Israel
because he has come to help and has delivered his people.
69He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house,
70just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago.
71He has brought salvation from our enemies
and from the power of all those who hate us.
72He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and remembered his holy covenant,
73the solemn pledge he made to our ancestor Abraham.
He has granted 74that we would be rescued
from the power of our enemies
so that we could serve him without fear,
75in holiness and righteousness in God’s eyes,
for as long as we live.
76You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
77You will tell his people how to be saved
through the forgiveness of their sins.
78Because of our God’s deep compassion,
the dawn from heaven will break upon us,
79to give light to those who are sitting in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide us on the path of peace.”
80The child grew up, becoming strong in character. He was in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
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Luke 1: CEB
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