Luke 1:1
set forth in order—more simply, to draw up a narrative.
Dedication to Theophilus
1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those athings which have been fulfilled among us,
2 just as those who afrom the beginning were beyewitnesses and ministers of the word cdelivered them to us,
3 it seemed good to me also, having1 had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, amost excellent Theophilus,
4 athat you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias
5 There was ain the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, bof the division of cAbijah. His dwife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,
9 according to the custom of the priesthood,1 his lot fell ato burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 aAnd the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of athe altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, ahe was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and ayou shall call his name John.
14 And you will have joy and gladness, and amany will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be agreat in the sight of the Lord, and bshall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, ceven from his mother’s womb.
16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 aHe will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘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 to the angel, a“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am aGabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you1 these glad btidings.
20 But behold, ayou will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.
22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
23 So it was, as soon as athe days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.
24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,
25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to atake away my reproach among people.”
Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin abetrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And having come in, the angel said to her, a“Rejoice, highly favored one, bthe Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But1 when she saw him, ashe was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found afavor with God.
31 aAnd behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and bshall call His name Jesus.
32 He will be great, aand will be called the Son of the Highest; and bthe Lord God will give Him the cthrone of His dfather David.
33 aAnd He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I1 do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, a“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called bthe Son of God.
36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37 For awith God nothing will be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, ato a city of Judah,
40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was afilled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, a“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 aBlessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
The Song of Mary
47 And my spirit has arejoiced in bGod my Savior.
48 For aHe has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth ball generations will call me blessed.
For behold, henceforth ball generations will call me blessed.
51 aHe has shown strength with His arm;
bHe has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
bHe has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
55 aAs He spoke to our bfathers,
To Abraham and to his cseed forever.”
To Abraham and to his cseed forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.
58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they arejoiced with her.
Circumcision of John the Baptist
59 So it was, aon the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.
60 His mother answered and said, a“No; he shall be called John.”
61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.
64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.
65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 And all those who heard them akept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And bthe hand of the Lord was with him.
Zacharias’ Prophecy
67 Now his father Zacharias awas filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
73 aThe oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
75 aIn holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
76 “And you, child, will be called the aprophet of the Highest;
For byou will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
For byou will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
79 aTo give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To bguide our feet into the way of peace.”
To bguide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 So athe child grew and became strong in spirit, and bwas in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
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