Luke 1 — FBV
1Verse 1As you know, many others have attempted to put down in writing the things that have been fulfilled+that involve us.Verse 2They based their accounts on evidence from the earliest eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word,Verse 3and so I also decided that since I have followed these things very carefully from the beginning, it would be a good idea to write out an accurate account of all that happened.Verse 4I have done this Theophilus,+Your Excellency, so you can be certain that what you were taught is completely reliable.Verse 5During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest called Zechariah, who came from the Abijah priestly division. He was married to Elizabeth, who was also descended from Aaron the priest.Verse 6They both did what was right before God, being careful to follow all the Lord's commandments and regulations.Verse 7They had no children because Elizabeth wasn't able to have any, and they were both growing old.Verse 8While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, on behalf of his priestly division,Verse 9he was chosen by lot+according to priestly custom to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.Verse 10During the time of offering incense a large crowd of people were praying outside.Verse 11An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing to the right of the altar of incense.Verse 12When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became terrified.Verse 13But the angel told him, “Don't be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call him John.Verse 14He will bring you joy and gladness, and many will celebrate his birth.Verse 15He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will refuse to drink wine or other alcoholic drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he's born.Verse 16He will turn many Israelites back to the Lord their God.Verse 17He will go ahead of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the fathers back to thinking about their children, and to turn those who are rebellious back to a right understanding—to prepare a people ready for the Lord.”+Verse 18“How can I be sure about this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I'm an old man, and my wife is getting old too.”Verse 19“I am Gabriel,” the angel replied. “I stand in God's presence, and I was sent to speak to you and give you this good news.Verse 20But since you didn't believe what I told you, you'll become dumb, unable to speak, until the appointed time when my words come true.”Verse 21Outside the people were waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was taking so long in the Temple.Verse 22When eventually he came out, he couldn't speak to them. They realized he'd seen a vision in the Temple, for though he could make gestures, he was completely unable to speak.Verse 23After he'd finished his time of service, he went back home.Verse 24Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.Verse 25“The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “now that he's taken away my disgrace in the eyes of others.”Verse 26In the sixth month of her pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to a young girl called Mary who lived in the town of Nazareth in Galilee.Verse 27She was engaged to a man named Joseph.Verse 28The angel greeted her.+“You are very privileged,” he told her. “The Lord is with you.”Verse 29Mary was very puzzled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant.Verse 30“Don't worry, Mary,” the angel went on, “for God has shown his graciousness to you.Verse 31You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call him Jesus.Verse 32He will be very great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,Verse 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never come to an end.”Verse 34“How is this possible?” Mary asked. “I'm still a virgin.”Verse 35He replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. The baby who is to be born is holy, and will be called the Son of God.Verse 36And Elizabeth, your relative, even she is pregnant in her old age. The woman that people said couldn't have children is already six months pregnant.Verse 37Nothing is impossible for God.”Verse 38“Here I am, ready to be the Lord's servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me just as you said.” Then the angel left her.Verse 39A little while later, Mary got herself ready and hurried up into the hills of Judea, to the town whereVerse 40Zechariah's house was. She called out to Elizabeth as she went in.Verse 41As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby jumped for joy inside her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,Verse 42and cried out in a loud voice: “How blessed you are among women, and how blessed will be the child born to you!Verse 43Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me?Verse 44As soon as I heard you call out in greeting, my baby jumped for joy inside me.Verse 45How fortunate you are, because you are convinced that the Lord will do what he has promised you!”Verse 46Mary replied, “How I praise the Lord!Verse 47I am so happy with God my Savior,Verse 48because he decided that I, his servant, was worthy of his consideration, despite my humble background. From now on every generation will say I was blessed.Verse 49God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy.Verse 50His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him.+Verse 51With his power+he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they're so clever.Verse 52He tears the powerful down from their thrones, and elevates those who are humble.Verse 53He fills the hungry with good things to eat, and he sends the rich away empty-handed.Verse 54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy,Verse 55just as he promised our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.”Verse 56Mary stayed with her for three months and then returned home.Verse 57The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and she gave birth to a son.Verse 58Her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had showed her great kindness, and they celebrated together with her.Verse 59Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father.Verse 60“No,” Elizabeth said. “He shall be called John.”Verse 61“But there's nobody among your relatives who has this name,” they told her.Verse 62Through gestures they asked Zechariah, the boy's father, what he wanted to call his son.Verse 63Zechariah motioned for something to write on. To everyone's surprise he wrote, “His name is John.”Verse 64Immediately he could speak again, and he started praising God.Verse 65All those living nearby were in awe at what had happened, and the news spread throughout the hill country of Judea.Verse 66Everyone who heard the news wondered what it meant. “What will the little boy grow up to be?” they asked, for it was clear he was very special to God.+Verse 67Zechariah, his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke this prophecy:Verse 68“The Lord, the God of Israel, he is wonderful, for he has come to his people and set them free.Verse 69He has given us a great Savior from the line of his servant David,Verse 70as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.Verse 71He promised to save us from our enemies, from those who hate us.Verse 72He was merciful to our fathers, remembering his holy agreement—Verse 73the promise that he made to our father Abraham.Verse 74He gives us freedom from fear and rescues us from our enemies,Verse 75so we can serve him by doing what is good and right for our whole lives.Verse 76Even though you are only a small child, you will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way,Verse 77providing knowledge of salvation to his people through the forgiveness of their sins.Verse 78Through God's caring kindness to us, heaven's dawn will break upon usVerse 79to shine on those who live in darkness and under the shadow of death, and to guide us along the path of peace.”Verse 80The boy John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the time came for his public ministry to Israel.