Luke - Chapter 1

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1 Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us.

2 They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened.

3 So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus,

4 I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard.

5 In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

6 Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.

7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.

8 Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God,

9 according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.

10 Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering,

11 the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense.

12 Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.

14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,

15 for he will be great in the sight of [the] Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,

16 and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

26 One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee

27 with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David.

28 The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was confused by the angel’s words and wondered what they meant.

30 Then the angel told Mary, “Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you,

31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus.

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was.

33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not married!”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God.

36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son.

37 Nothing is impossible for God!”

38 Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.

39 A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea.

40 She went into Zechariah’s home, where she greeted Elizabeth.

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby moved within her. The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth.

42 Then in a loud voice she said to Mary: God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have.

43 Why should the mother of my Lord come to me?

44 As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me.

45 The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.

46 Mary said: With all my heart I praise the Lord,

47 and I am glad because of God my Savior.

48 He cares for me, his humble servant. From now on, all people will say God has blessed me.

49 God All-Powerful has done great things for me, and his name is holy.

50 He always shows mercy to everyone who worships him.

51 The Lord has used his powerful arm to scatter those who are proud.

52 He drags strong rulers from their thrones and puts humble people in places of power.

53 God gives the hungry good things to eat, and sends the rich away with nothing.

54 He helps his servant Israel and is always merciful to his people.

55 The Lord made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his family forever!

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home.

Footnotes

Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

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