Luke

The Gospel according to Saint Luke, chapter 1, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 1 New English Translation

Explanatory Preface

   1 Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning. 3 So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know for certain the things you were taught.

Birth Announcement of John the Baptist

   5 During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the LORD blamelessly. 7 But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.
   8 Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the holy place of the LORD and burn incense. 10 Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11 An angel of the LORD, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him. 12 And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John. 14 Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the LORD. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the LORD their God. 17 And he will go as forerunner before the LORD in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the LORD a people prepared for him."
   18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well." 19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place."
   21 Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place. 22 When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was over, he went to his home.
   24 After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said, 25 "This is what the LORD has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people."

Birth Announcement of Jesus the Messiah

   26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one, the LORD is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. 30 So the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! 31 Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the LORD God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." 34 Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?" 35 The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.
   36 "And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age - although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 So Mary said, "Yes, I am a servant of the LORD; let this happen to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Mary and Elizabeth

   39 In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, 40 and entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 She exclaimed with a loud voice, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! 43 And who am I that the mother of my LORD should come and visit me? 44 For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the LORD would be fulfilled."

Mary's Hymn of Praise

   46 And Mary said, "My soul exalts the LORD,
   47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,
   48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed,
   49 because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;
   50 from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.
   51 He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.
   52 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;
   53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.
   54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
   55 as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
   56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

The Birth of John

   57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the LORD had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
   59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. 60 But his mother replied, "No! He must be named John." 61 They said to her, "But none of your relatives bears this name." 62 So they made signs to the baby's father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about. 66 All who heard these things kept them in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the LORD's hand was indeed with him.

Zechariah's Praise and Prediction

   67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
   68 "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.
   69 For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
   70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,
   71 that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us.
   72 He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant -
   73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants
   74 that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear,
   75 in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live.
   76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the LORD to prepare his ways,
   77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.
   78 Because of our God's tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high
   79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
   80 And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel.

King James Version

   1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
   2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
   3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
   4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
   5 ¶ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
   6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
   7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
   8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
   9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
   10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
   11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
   12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
   13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
   14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
   15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
   16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
   17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
   18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
   19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
   20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
   21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
   22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
   23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
   24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
   25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
   26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
   27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
   28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
   29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
   30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
   31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
   32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
   33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
   34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
   35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
   36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
   37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
   38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
   39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
   40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
   41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
   42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
   43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
   44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
   45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
   46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
   47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
   48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
   49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
   50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
   51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
   52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
   53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
   54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
   55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
   56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
   57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
   58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
   59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
   60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
   61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
   62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
   63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
   64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
   65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
   66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
   67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
   68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
   69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
   70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
   71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
   72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
   73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
   74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
   75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
   76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
   77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
   78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
   79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
   80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.