Luke Chapter 1

Introduction

1SinceG1895 manyG4183 have undertakenG2021 to compileG392 an accountG1335 of the thingsG4229 12accomplishedG4135 amongG1722 us, 2justG2531 asG2531 they were handedG3860 downG3860 to us by thoseG3588 who 3from the beginningG746 4were 5eyewitnessesG845 and 67servantsG5257 of 8the 9wordG3056, 3it seemedG1380 fittingG1380 to me asG2532 wellG2532, 10having 11investigatedG3877 everythingG3956 carefullyG199 from the beginningG509, to writeG1125 it out for you 12inG2517 an orderlyG2517 sequenceG2517, 13mostG2903 excellentG2903 14TheophilusG2321; 4soG2443 thatG2443 you may knowG1921 the exactG803 truthG803 aboutG4012 the 15thingsG3056 you have been 1617taughtG2727.

John the Baptist’s Birth Foretold

518In the daysG2250 of HerodG2264, kingG935 of JudeaG2449, there was a priestG2409 namedG3686 ZechariahG2197, of the 19divisionG2183 of 20AbijahG7; and he had a wifeG1135 21from the daughtersG2364 of AaronG2, and her nameG3686 was ElizabethG1665. 6They were bothG297 22righteousG1342 inG1726 theG1726 sightG1726 of GodG2316, walkingG4198 23blamelesslyG273 in allG3956 the commandmentsG1785 and requirementsG1345 of the LordG2962. 7And yet they hadG1510 noG3756 childG5043, becauseG2530 ElizabethG1665 was infertileG4723, and they were bothG297 advancedG4260 in 24yearsG2250.

8NowG1161 it happenedG1096 that whileG1722 25he was performingG2407 his priestlyG2407 serviceG2407 beforeG1725 GodG2316 in the appointedG5010 orderG5010 of his divisionG2183, 9accordingG2596 to the customG1485 of the priestlyG2405 officeG2405, he was chosenG2975 byG2975 lotG2975 26to enterG1525 the templeG3485 of the LordG2962 and burnG2370 incenseG2370. 10And the wholeG3956 multitudeG4128 of the peopleG2992 were inG4336 prayerG4336 27outsideG1854 at the hourG5610 of the incenseG2368 offering. 11NowG1161 28an angelG32 of the LordG2962 appearedG3708 to him, standingG2476 to the rightG1188 of the altarG2379 of incenseG2368. 12ZechariahG2197 was troubledG5015 when he sawG3708 the angel, and 29fearG5401 30grippedG1968 him. 13But the angelG32 saidG3004 to him, “31Do not beG5399 afraidG5399, ZechariahG2197, for your prayerG1162 has been heardG1522, and your wifeG1135 ElizabethG1665 will bearG1080 you a sonG5207, and 32you shall 33nameG2564G3686 him JohnG2491. 14You will have joyG5479 and gladnessG20, and manyG4183 will rejoiceG5463 overG1909 his birthG1078. 15For he will be greatG3173 inG1799 theG1799 sightG1799 ofG1799 the LordG2962; and he will 34drinkG4095 noG3756G3361 wineG3631 orG2532 liquorG4608, and he will be filledG4092 with the HolyG40 SpiritG4151 35while stillG2089 in his mother’sG3384 wombG2836. 16And he will 36turnG1994 manyG4183 of the sonsG5207 of IsraelG2474 backG1994 to the LordG2962 their GodG2316. 17And it is he who will 37goG4281 as a forerunner beforeG1799 Him in the spiritG4151 and powerG1411 of 38ElijahG2243, 39to turnG1994 the heartsG2588 of fathersG3962 backG1994 to their childrenG5043, and the disobedientG545 to the attitudeG5428 of the righteousG1342, to 40makeG2090 readyG2090 a peopleG2992 preparedG2680 for the LordG2962.”

18ZechariahG2197 saidG3004 to the angelG32, “HowG2596G5101 will I knowG1097 thisG3778? For 41I amG1510 an oldG4246 manG4246, and my wifeG1135 is advancedG4260 in her 42yearsG2250.” 19The angelG32 answeredG611 and saidG3004 to him, “I amG1510 43GabrielG1043, who 4445standsG3936 inG1799 theG1799 presenceG1799 ofG1799 GodG2316, and I was sentG649 to speakG2980 to you and to bringG2097 you thisG3778 goodG2097 newsG2097. 20And beholdG2400, you will be silentG4623 and unableG3361G1410 to speakG2980 untilG891 the dayG2250 whenG3739 theseG3778 thingsG3778 takeG1096 placeG1096, becauseG473G3739 you did not believeG4100 my wordsG3056, whichG3748 will be fulfilledG4137 at their properG2540 timeG2540.”

21And meanwhile the peopleG2992 were waitingG4328 forG4328 ZechariahG2197, and wereG2296 wonderingG2296 at his delayG5549 in the templeG3485. 22But when he cameG1831 outG1831, he was unableG3756G1410 to speakG2980 to them; and they realizedG1921 that he had seenG3708 a visionG3701 in the templeG3485, and he repeatedly 4647madeG1269 signsG1269 to them, and remainedG1265 speechlessG2974. 23WhenG5613 the daysG2250 of his priestlyG3009 serviceG3009 were concludedG4092, he wentG565 backG565 homeG3624.

24NowG1161 afterG3326 theseG3778 daysG2250 his wifeG1135 ElizabethG1665 becameG4815 pregnantG4815, and she keptG4032 herselfG1438 48inG4032 seclusionG4032 for fiveG4002 monthsG3376, sayingG3004, 25“ThisG3779 isG3779 theG3779 wayG3779 the LordG2962 has dealtG4160 with me in the daysG2250 whenG3739 He lookedG1896 with favor uponG1896 me, to 49takeG851 awayG851 my disgraceG3681 amongG1722 peopleG444.”

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

26NowG1161 in the sixthG1623 monthG3376 the angelG32 50GabrielG1043 was sentG649 from GodG2316 to a cityG4172 inG649 GalileeG1056 namedG3686 51NazarethG3478, 27to 52a virginG3933 53betrothedG3423 to a manG435 whoseG3739 nameG3686 was JosephG2501, 54of the 55descendantsG3624 of DavidG1160; and the virgin’sG3933 nameG3686 was 56MaryG3137. 28And comingG1525 inG1525, he saidG3004 to her, “GreetingsG5463, favoredG5487 one! The LordG2962 57is with you.” 29But she 58was veryG1298 perplexedG1298 at this statementG3056, and was ponderingG1260 whatG4217 kindG4217 of greetingG783 thisG3778 was. 30And the angelG32 saidG3004 to her, “59Do not beG5399 afraidG5399, MaryG3137, for you have foundG2147 favorG5485 with GodG2316. 31And beholdG2400, you will conceiveG4815 in your wombG1064 and giveG5088 birthG5088 to a sonG5207, and you 60shall nameG2564G3686 Him JesusG2424. 32He will be greatG3173 and will be calledG2564 the SonG5207 of 61the MostG5310 HighG5310; and the LordG2962 GodG2316 will giveG1325 Him 62the throneG2362 of His fatherG3962 DavidG1160; 3363and He will reignG936 overG1909 the houseG3624 of JacobG2384 foreverG165, 64and His kingdomG932 will have noG3756 endG5056.” 34But MaryG3137 saidG3004 to the angelG32, “HowG4459 will thisG3778 be, sinceG1893 I 65am a virginG435G3756G1097?” 35The angelG32 answeredG611 and saidG3004 to her, “66The HolyG40 SpiritG4151 will comeG1904 upon you, and the powerG1411 of 67the MostG5310 HighG5310 will overshadowG1982 you; for that reasonG1352 alsoG2532 68the 69holyG40 ChildG1080 will be calledG2564 70the SonG5207 of GodG2316. 36And beholdG2400, evenG2532 your relativeG4773 ElizabethG1665 herselfG846 has conceivedG4815 a sonG5207 in her oldG1094 ageG1094, and 71she who was calledG2564 infertileG4723 is nowG3778 in her sixthG1623 monthG3376. 37For 72nothingG3756G3956G4487 will be impossibleG101 with GodG2316.” 38And MaryG3137 saidG3004, “BeholdG2400, the Lord’sG2962 bond-servantG1401; may it be doneG1096 to me accordingG2596 to your wordG4487.” And the angelG32 departedG565 from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39NowG1161 73at thisG3778 timeG2250 MaryG3137 setG450 outG450 and wentG4198 in a hurryG4710 to 74the hillG3714 countryG3714, to a cityG4172 of JudahG2455, 40and she enteredG1525 the houseG3624 of ZechariahG2197 and greetedG782 ElizabethG1665. 41WhenG5613 ElizabethG1665 heardG191 Mary’sG3137 greetingG783, the babyG1025 leapedG4640 in her wombG2836, and ElizabethG1665 was 75filledG4092 with the HolyG40 SpiritG4151. 42And she criedG400 outG400 with a loudG3173 voiceG2906 and saidG3004, “BlessedG2127 are you amongG1722 womenG1135, and blessedG2127 is the fruitG2590 of your wombG2836! 43And 76howG4159 has it happened to me that the motherG3384 of 77my LordG2962 would comeG2064 to me? 44For beholdG2400, whenG5613 the soundG5456 of your greetingG783 reachedG1096 my earsG3775, the babyG1025 leapedG4640 in my wombG2836 for joyG20. 45And 78blessedG3107 is she who 79believedG4100 that there would be a fulfillmentG5050 of what had been spokenG2980 to her 80by the LordG2962.”

Mary’s Song: The Magnificat

46And MaryG3137 saidG3004: “81My soulG5590 8283exaltsG3170 the LordG2962,47And 84my spiritG4151 has rejoicedG21 in 85GodG2316 my SaviorG4990.48For 86He has hadG1914 regardG1914 for the humbleG5014 stateG5014 of His bond-servantG1401; For beholdG2400, from nowG3568 on allG3956 generationsG1074 will 87callG3106 me 88blessedG3106.49For the MightyG1415 OneG1415 has doneG4160 greatG3173 thingsG3173 for me; And holyG40 is His nameG3686.5089And His mercyG1656 is to generationG1074 90afterG2532 generationG1074 Toward thoseG3588 who fearG5399 Him.5191He has doneG4160 92mightyG2904 deedsG2904 with His armG1023; He has scatteredG1287 those who were proudG5244 in the 93thoughtsG1271 of their heartsG2588.52He has broughtG2507 downG2507 rulersG1413 from their thronesG2362, And has 94exaltedG5312 those who were humbleG5011.5395He has filledG1705 the hungryG3983 with goodG18 thingsG18, And sentG1821 the richG4147 awayG1821 empty-handedG2756.54He has givenG482 helpG482 to His servantG3816 IsraelG2474, 96In remembranceG3403 of His mercyG1656,5597JustG2531 as He spokeG2980 to our fathersG3962, 98To AbrahamG11 and his 99descendantsG4690 foreverG165.”

56MaryG3137 stayedG3306 with her aboutG5613 threeG5140 monthsG3376, and then returnedG5290 to her homeG3624.

John the Baptist Is Born

57NowG1161 the timeG5550 100had comeG4092 for ElizabethG1665 to giveG5088 birthG5088, and she gaveG1080 birthG5088 to a sonG5207. 58Her neighborsG4040 and her relativesG4773 heardG191 that the LordG2962 had 101102displayedG3170 His greatG3170 mercyG1656 towardG3326 her; and they were rejoicingG4796 withG4796 her.

59And it happenedG1096 that on 103the eighthG3590 dayG2250 they cameG2064 to circumciseG4059 the childG3813, and they were going to callG2564 him ZechariahG2197, 104afterG1909 his fatherG3962. 60And yet his motherG3384 respondedG611 and saidG3004, “NoG3780 indeedG3780; but 105he shall be calledG2564 JohnG2491.” 61And they saidG3004 to her, “There is noG3762 oneG3762 amongG1537 your relativesG4772 whoG3739 is calledG2564 by this nameG3686.” 62And they 106107madeG1770 signsG1770 to his fatherG3962, as to whatG5101G302 he wantedG2309 him calledG2564. 63And he askedG154 for a tabletG4093 and wroteG1125 108as followsG3004, “109His nameG3686 is JohnG2491.” And they wereG2296 allG3956 amazedG2296. 64110And at onceG3916 his mouthG4750 was openedG455 and his tongueG1100 freed, and he began speakingG2980 in praiseG2127 of GodG2316. 65And fearG5401 cameG1096 on allG3956 thoseG3588 who livedG4039 aroundG4039 them; and allG3956 theseG3778 mattersG4487 were being talkedG1255 aboutG1255 in 111the entireG3650 hillG3714 countryG3714 of JudeaG2449. 66AllG3956 who heardG191 them keptG5087 them inG2588 mindG2588, sayingG3004, “WhatG5101 thenG686 will thisG3778 childG3813 turn out to be?” For indeedG2532 112the handG5495 of the LordG2962 was with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

67And his fatherG3962 ZechariahG2197 113was filledG4092 with the HolyG40 SpiritG4151 and 114prophesiedG4395, sayingG3004:68“115BlessedG2128 be the LordG2962 GodG2316 of IsraelG2474, For He has visitedG1980 us and accomplishedG4160 116redemptionG3085 for His peopleG2992,69And has raisedG1453 upG1453 a 117hornG2768 of salvationG4991 for us In the houseG3624 of 118His servantG3816 DavidG1160--70119JustG2531 as He spokeG2980 by the mouthG4750 of His holyG40 prophetsG4396 120from ancientG165 timesG165--71121122SalvationG4991 123from our enemiesG2190, And from the handG5495 of allG3956 who hateG3404 us;72124To showG4160 mercyG1656 to our fathersG3962, 125And to rememberG3403 His holyG40 covenantG1242,73126The oathG3727 whichG3739 He sworeG3660 to our fatherG3962 AbrahamG11,74To grantG1325 us that we, being rescuedG4506 from the handG5495 of our enemiesG2190, Would serveG3000 Him withoutG870 fearG870,75127In holinessG3742 and righteousnessG1343 beforeG1799 Him allG3956 our daysG2250.76And you, childG3813, alsoG2532 will be calledG2564 the 128prophetG4396 of 129the MostG5310 HighG5310; For you will goG4313 on 130beforeG1799 the LordG2962 to 131prepareG2090 His waysG3598;77To giveG1325 His peopleG2992 the knowledgeG1108 of salvationG4991 132By 133the forgivenessG859 of their sinsG266,78BecauseG1223 of the tenderG4698 mercyG1656 of our GodG2316, With whichG3739 134the SunriseG395 from on highG5311 will visitG1980 us,79135To shineG2014 on thoseG3588 who sitG2521 in darknessG4655 and the shadowG4639 of deathG2288, To guideG2720 our feetG4228 into the 136wayG3598 of peaceG1515.”

80137NowG1161 the childG3813 grewG837 and was becomingG2901 strongG2901 in spiritG4151, and he livedG1510 in the desertsG2048 untilG2193 the dayG2250 of his publicG323 appearanceG323 to IsraelG2474.