Luke 1
1Since many have undertaken to organize an account of the events that have reached their fulfillment among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and became attendants of the Word, 3it seemed right to me also, having investigated everything accurately from the start, to write an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the matters in which you have been instructed.
5There happened to be, in the days of Herod, King of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6Both were just in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their years.
8It happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God during the turn of his division, 9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. 10The entire multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your petition has been heard; your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14He will be a joy and an exultation to you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must not drink wine or sikera, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. 16He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. 17And he will go forth before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the rebellious to the practical wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people."
18Zechariah said to the angel, "By what will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her years." 19The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to announce this good news to you. 20And look—you will be 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."
21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the sanctuary. 22When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary; he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23And it happened that when the days of his service were completed, he went away to his own home. 24After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived; she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25"The Lord has done this for me in the days when he looked upon me to take away my disgrace among people."
26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; the virgin’s name was Mary. 28Entering her presence, he said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29But she was deeply troubled by the word and was debating what kind of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And look—you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not known a man?" 35The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the holy child being born will be called the Son of God. 36And look—Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37For no spoken word from God will be without power." 38Mary said, "Behold, I am the Lord’s slave. Let it happen to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
39In those days, Mary got up and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah. 40She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42She cried out with a great shout and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For look—as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for exultation. 45Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things spoken to her from the Lord."
46And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit has exulted in God my Savior; 48for he has looked upon the lowly state of his slave. For look—from now on, all generations will call me blessed. 49For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50His mercy is for generations and generations to those who fear him. 51He has performed a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered those who are arrogant in the secret thoughts of their hearts. 52He has pulled down dynasts from their thrones and exalted the lowly. 53He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the wealthy away empty. 54He has come to the aid of Israel, his child, remembering mercy, 55just as he spoke to our fathers—to Abraham and to his seed forever."
56Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned to her home. 57Now the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they were rejoicing with her.
59On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zechariah, after the name of his father. 60But his mother answered and said, "No! Rather, he shall be called John." 61They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name." 62They made signs to his father to see what he wanted him to be called. 63Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote: "John is his name." And they were all amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he began to speak, blessing God. 65Fear came upon all those living around them, and throughout all the hill country of Judea all these matters were being discussed. 66All who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
67Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying: 68"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and accomplished redemption for his people. 69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his child, 70just as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old— 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73the oath that he swore to Abraham our father: to grant us 74that we, rescued from the hand of enemies, might worship him without fear 75in holiness and justice before him all our days. 76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go forth before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78through the deepest mercies of our God, by which the Dawn from on high will visit us, 79to shine upon those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
80The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.