Luke Chapter 1 (Index)

001  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

002  Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

003  It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

004  That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

005  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

006  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

007  And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

008  And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

009  According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

010  And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

011  And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

012  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

013  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

014  And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

015  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

016  And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

017  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

018  And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

019  And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.

020  And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

021  And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

022  And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

023  And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

024  And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

025  Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

026  And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

027  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

028  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

029  And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

030  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

031  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

032  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

033  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

034  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

035  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

036  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

037  For with God nothing shall be impossible.

038  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

039  And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

040  And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

041  And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

042  And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

043  And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

044  For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

045  And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

046  And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

047  And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

048  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

049  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

050  And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

051  He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

052  He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

053  He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

054  He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

055  As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

056  And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

057  Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

058  And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

059  And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

060  And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

061  And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

062  And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

063  And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

064  And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

065  And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

066  And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

067  And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

068  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

069  And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

070  As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

071  That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

072  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

073  The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

074  That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

075  In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

076  And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

077  To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

078  Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

079  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

080  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.