Luke 1:26–56

Gabriel Predicts Jesus’ Birth

²⁶In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel ^mwas sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ⁿ²⁷to a virgin engaged ^oto a man named Joseph, of the house of David. ^pThe virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” ^q29But she was deeply troubled ^rby this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. ³⁰Then the angel told her:

Do not be afraid, Mary, ^s

for you have found favor with God. ^t

³¹Now listen:

You will conceive and give birth to a son,

and you will call His name Jesus. ^u

³²He will be great

and will be called the Son of the Most High, ^v

and the Lord God will give Him

the throne of His father David. ^w

³³He will reign over the house of Jacob ^xforever,

and His kingdom will have no end. ^y

³⁴Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?” ^z

³⁵The angel replied to her:

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, ^a

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

Therefore, the holy One to be born

will be called the Son of God. ^b

³⁶And 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.” ^c

³⁸“I am the Lord’s slave,” ^dsaid Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth

³⁹In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah ⁴⁰where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, ^eand Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ^f42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:

“You are the most blessed of women,

and your child will be blessed! ^g

⁴³How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! ^h45She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!”

Mary’s Praise

⁴⁶And Mary said:

My soul proclaims the greatness of ⁱthe Lord, ^j

⁴⁷and my spirit has rejoiced ^kin God my Savior, ^l

⁴⁸because He has looked with favor

on the humble condition of His slave.

Surely, from now on all generations

will call me blessed, ^m

⁴⁹because the Mighty One ⁿ

has done great things for me, ^o

and His name ^pis holy.

⁵⁰His mercy is from generation to generation ^q

on those who fear Him.

⁵¹He has done a mighty deed with His arm; ^r

He has scattered the proud

because of the thoughts of their hearts; ^s

⁵²He has toppled the mighty from their thrones

and exalted the lowly. ^t

⁵³He has satisfied the hungry with good things ^u

and sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴He has helped His servant Israel,

mindful of His mercy, ^v

⁵⁵just as He spoke to our ancestors,

to Abraham and his descendants ^wforever. ^x

⁵⁶And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.