Luke 1:1–38

Luke Writes to Theophilus

¹Many have attempted to write about what had taken place among us. ²They received their information from those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of God’s word from the beginning, and they passed it on to us. ³I, too, have followed everything closely from the beginning. So I thought it would be a good idea to write an orderly account for Your Excellency, Theophilus. ⁴In this way you will know that what you’ve been told is true. 

The Angel Gabriel Appears to Zechariah

⁵When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division of priests named after Abijah. Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. ⁶Zechariah and Elizabeth had God’s approval. They followed all the Lord’s commands and regulations perfectly. ⁷Yet, they never had any children because Elizabeth couldn’t become pregnant. Both of them were too old to have children. 

⁸Zechariah was on duty with his division of priests. As he served in God’s presence, ⁹he was chosen by priestly custom to go into the Lord’s temple to burn incense. ¹⁰All the people were praying outside while he was burning incense. 

¹¹Then, to the right of the incense altar, an angel of the Lord appeared to him. ¹²Zechariah was troubled and overcome with fear. 

¹³The angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John. ¹⁴He will be your pride and joy, and many people will be glad that he was born. ¹⁵As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶He will bring many people in Israel back to the Lord their God. ¹⁷He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents’ attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God’s approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord.” 

¹⁸Zechariah said to the angel, “What proof is there for this? I’m an old man, and my wife is beyond her childbearing years.” 

¹⁹The angel answered him, “I’m Gabriel! I stand in God’s presence. God sent me to tell you this good news. ²⁰But because you didn’t believe what I said, you will be unable to talk until the day this happens. Everything will come true at the right time.” 

²¹Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were amazed that he was staying in the temple so long. ²²When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. So they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. He motioned to them but remained unable to talk. 

²³When the days of his service were over, he went home. ²⁴Later, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and didn’t go out in public for five months. She said, ²⁵“The Lord has done this for me now. He has removed my public disgrace.” 

The Angel Gabriel Comes to Mary

²⁶Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. ²⁷The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary. 

²⁸When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.” 

²⁹She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant. 

³⁰The angel told her, 

“Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor^awith God. 

³¹You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, 

and name him Jesus. 

³²He will be a great man 

and will be called the Son of the Most High. 

The Lord God will give him 

the throne of his ancestor David. 

³³Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever, 

and his kingdom will never end.” 

³⁴Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? I’m a virgin.” 

³⁵The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God. 

³⁶“Elizabeth, your relative, is six months pregnant with a son in her old age. People said she couldn’t have a child. ³⁷But nothing is impossible for God.” 

³⁸Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.” 

Then the angel left her.