Luke 1:1–38

THE DEDICATION TO THEOPHILUS

1Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled^A among us,^{a 2}just as the original eyewitnesses^b and servants of the word^c handed them down to us. ³So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable^d Theophilus,^{e 4}so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.^Bf

GABRIEL PREDICTS JOHN’S BIRTH

⁵In the days of King Herod^g of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division^h named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶Both were righteous in God’s sight,ⁱ living without blame^j according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. ⁷But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.^k

⁸When his division was on duty^l and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹it happened that he was chosen by lot,^m according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.^{n 10}At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. ¹¹An angel of the Lord^o appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.^{p 12}When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear.^{q 13}But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid,^r Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard.^s Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.^{t 14}There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer.^u He will be filled with the Holy Spirit^v while still in his mother’s womb.^{w 16}He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.^{x 17}And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children,^y and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”^z

¹⁸“How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

¹⁹The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel,^aa who stands in the presence of God,^ab and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. ²⁰Now listen. You will become 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, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. ²²When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them^ac and remained speechless. ²³When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

²⁴After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, ²⁵“The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace^ad among the people.”

GABRIEL PREDICTS JESUS’S BIRTH

²⁶In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel^ae was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,^{af 27}to a virgin engaged^Aag to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.^ah The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”^{B 29}But she was deeply troubled^ai by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. ³⁰Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,^aj for you have found favor with God.^{ak 31}Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.^{al 32}He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High,^a and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.^{b 33}He will reign over the house of Jacob^c forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”^d

³⁴Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”^C

³⁵The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,^e and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.^{f 36}And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.”^g

³⁸“See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.