Luke 1

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1. 1Many people have already attempted to write an orderly account of the events that are most surely believed among us.
2. 2They based their accounts on what was handed down to us by those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and who became servants of the word.
3. 3It seemed good to me also, having thoroughly understood all things from the very first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4. 4so that you can be completely confident about the things you've been taught.
5. 5During the reign of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elisabeth was a descendant of Aaron.
6. 6Both of them were righteous before God, carefully following all the LORD's commandments and regulations without fault.
7. 7But they had no children because Elisabeth couldn't conceive, and by now they were both very old.
8. 8One day, when Zacharias's division was on duty, he was serving as priest before God.
9. 9Following the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10. 10A large crowd of worshipers was praying outside during the time the incense was being offered.
11. 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar.
12. 12When Zacharias saw the angel, he was shaken, and fear gripped him.
13. 13But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elisabeth will give birth to a son, and you are to name him John."
14. 14"He will bring you great joy and gladness, and many people will celebrate his birth."
15. 15"He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born."
16. 16"He will bring many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God."
17. 17"He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children and to lead the disobedient toward the wisdom of the righteous — preparing a people who are ready for the Lord."
18. 18Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I'm an old man, and my wife is well along in years."
19. 19The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news."
20. 20"But now, because you didn't believe my words — which will come true at the right time — you will be unable to speak. You'll remain silent until the day these things happen."
21. 21Meanwhile, the people outside were waiting for Zacharias and wondering why he was taking so long in the temple.
22. 22When he finally came out, he couldn't speak to them. They realized he must have seen a vision inside the temple, because he kept trying to communicate with gestures but remained unable to say a word.
23. 23When his time of service at the temple was finished, he went back home.
24. 24Soon after, his wife Elisabeth became pregnant. She stayed in seclusion for 5 months, saying,
25. 25"The Lord has done this for me! He has looked on me with favor and taken away the disgrace I carried among people."
26. 26In the 6th month of Elisabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27. 27to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28. 28The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"
29. 29Mary was deeply troubled by his words and tried to figure out what kind of greeting this could be.
30. 30The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God."
31. 31"You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus."
32. 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 ancestor David."
33. 33"He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end."
34. 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this be, since I have not been with a man?"
35. 35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also that holy one that will be born from you will be called the Son of God.”
36. 36"And listen — your relative Elisabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. She who was called barren is now in her 6th month."
37. 37"For nothing is impossible with God."
38. 38Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant. Let it happen to me just as you've said." Then the angel left her.
39. 39In those days, Mary got up and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah.
40. 40She entered Zacharias's house and greeted Elisabeth.
41. 41The moment Elisabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her womb, and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42. 42She cried out in a loud voice, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"
43. 43"Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord would come to visit me?"
44. 44"The instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy!"
45. 45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of what was told her from the Lord.
46. 46Then Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47. 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48. 48because he has noticed the humble state of his servant. From now on, every generation will call me blessed,
49. 49because the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
50. 50His mercy extends from generation to generation to those who fear him.
51. 51He has shown the strength of his arm. He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52. 52He has pulled the mighty down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.
53. 53He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with nothing.
54. 54He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
55. 55just as he promised our ancestors — to Abraham and his descendants forever."
56. 56Mary stayed with Elisabeth for about 3 months and then returned home.
57. 57When the time came for Elisabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
58. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they celebrated with her.
59. 59On the 8th day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zacharias after his father.
60. 60But his mother spoke up: "No! He is to be called John."
61. 61They said to her, "But no one in your family has that name."
62. 62So they made signs to his father, asking what he wanted the child to be named.
63. 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." Everyone was amazed.
64. 64Instantly, his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed, and he began to speak, praising God.
65. 65Fear came over everyone living in the area, and people talked about all these events throughout the entire hill country of Judea.
66. 66Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, asking, "What is this child going to become?" For the hand of the Lord was clearly with him.
67. 67Then his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68. 68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.
69. 69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
70. 70just as he spoke through his holy prophets, who have existed since the world began,
71. 71He promised salvation from our enemies and from the power of all who hate us.
72. 72He has shown mercy to our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant —
73. 73the oath he swore to our father Abraham —
74. 74to rescue us from the grip of our enemies so we could serve him without fear,
75. 75living in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives.
76. 76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77. 77giving his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78. 78through the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high has visited us,
79. 79shining light on those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guiding our feet onto the path of peace."
80. 80The child grew up and became strong in spirit. He lived out in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.