Luke 1

Explanatory Preface

1 Since many have set their hand to compile [a] narrative concerning all the deeds having been accomplished among us, 2 like the accounts passed on to us from the beginning by the eyewitnesses and those having become ministers of the word, 3 it seemed good for me also, having carefully investigated everything anew1 , in order to write to you, noblest Theophilos, 4 that you may know the certainty of the words with which you have been taught.

Birth Announcement of John the Baptist

5 It came to pass in the days of Herod king of the Jews [that] there was [a] certain priest Zacharias by name of the division Abia, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elizabeth. 6 Now they were both just before God, walking blameless in all the commandments and just-acts of the Lord. 7 And there was not to them [a] child, as Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their days.

8 Now it came to pass in the performing of his priestly duties in the fixed succession of his division before God, 9 according to the custom of the priestly service he was appointed to burn incense have entered into the temple of the Lord, 10 and all the multitude of the people was praying outside in the hour of the incense. 11 Now there appeared to him [an] angel of the Lord standing to the right of the altar of the incense. 12 And when Zacharia saw, he was unsettled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him: Be not fearing, Zacharia, because your entreaty has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear [a] son to you, and you will call his name John. 14 And joy and gladness will be to you, and many will be glad upon his birth. 15 For he will be great before the Lord, and wine and strong drink he will not drink, and he shall be filled of the Holy Spirit while in his mother's belly, 16 and many of the sons of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God, 17 and he himself will go forth before him in [the] spirit and power of Elijah, to turn [the] hearts of fathers to children and [the] disobedient [to turn] to the mind of just [ones] to prepare for the Lord [a] people made ready.

18 And Zacharia said to the angel: How will I know this? For I am old and my wife is advanced in her days. 19 And answering the angel said to him: I am Gabriel, the [one] having stood before God, and sent to speak to you and proclaim to you these [things]. 20 And behold you shall be silent and not able to speak until that day these [things] come to pass, because2 you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their opportune-time3 .

21 And the people were waiting for Zacharia, and were marveling on his lingering in the temple, 22 and when he came out he was not able to speak to them, and they knew that he had seen [a] vision in the temple; and he was beckoning to them, and he remained mute. 23 And it came to pass as the days of his ministry were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

24 So after those days Elizabeth conceived, and concealed herself five months, saying 25 that: Thus the Lord has done for me for [the] days that he considered to take away my reproach among men.

Birth Announcement of Jesus the Messiah

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to [a] city of Galilee that [is] Nazareth by name 27 to [a] virgin betrothed to [a] man by name Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin [is] Mariam. 28 And having entered in to her he said: Greetings, highly favored [one], the Lord [is] with you. Blessed [are] you among women4. 29 But upon [this] word she was [greatly] perplexed, and was considering what kind of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her: Be not fearing, Mariam, for you have found grace with God. 31 And behold you will conceive in your womb and will bear [a] son, and you will call his name Jesus. 32 This [one] will be great and will be called son of the most high, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of David his father. 33 And he will be king over the house of Jacob to eternity, and of his kingdom there will not be end. 34 But Mariam said to the angel: How will this be, since I do not know [a] man? 35 And answering the angel said to her: [the] Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most high will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy [one] having been born will be called holy, [who is the] son of God. 36 And behold Elizabeth your kinswoman has conceived [a] son in her old age, and this the sixth month for her [who was] called barren; 37 for every word is not impossible with God. 38 So Mariam said: Behold the slave of the Lord. May it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.

Mary and Elizabeth

39 Now when Mariam arose in those days she proceeded to the hill country with haste to the city [of] Judah, 40 and entered into the house of Zacharia and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it came to pass as Elizabeth heard Mariam's greeting, the child leapt in her belly, and Elizabeth was filled of the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with [a] great shout and said: Blessed [are] you among women, and blessed [is] the fruit [of your] belly. 43 And how is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold as the sound [of your] greeting came to pass to my ears, the baby in gladness leapt in my belly. 45 And blessed [is] she who has believed that there will be completion to the [things] spoken to her by [the] Lord.

Mary's Hymn of Praise

46 And Mariam said:
My psyche-life5 magnifies the Lord
47 And my spirit gladdens upon God my savior
48 Because he has looked upon the humility of his slave
For behold from now [on]
will all generations call me blessed
49 Because the mighty [one] has done great [things] to6 me
And holy [is] his name.
50 And his mercy [is] to generation and generation
To [those] fearing him.
51 [the] strength in his arm has done [it]:
He has scattered [the] conspicuous
in the mind7 of their hearts
52 He has thrown down the powerful from their thrones
And has exalted the humble.
53 [the] hungering he has filled with good [things
]And the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped Israel his child
To recall his mercy
55 Just as he spoke to our fathers
To Abraham and to his seed to eternity.
56 And Mariam remained with her [about] three months, and returned to her house.

The Birth of John

57 Now to Elizabeth was fulfilled the time of her bearing, and she gave birth to [a] son. 58 And her neighbors and kin heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and rejoiced with her.

59 And it came [about] on the eighth day they came to be circumcising the child, and they were calling it upon the name of his father Zacharia. 60 And answering, his mother said: No, rather he will be called John. 61 And they said to her that: There are none [of your] kinsmen who are called by that name. 62 But they were beckoning to his father what he might wish it to be called. 63 And having requested8 [a] little tablet he wrote, saying: John is his name. And all marveled. 64 But his mouth was opened immediately and [also] his tongue, and he was speaking praising God. 65 And fear came upon all those who were dwelling around, and in the whole hill country of Judea they were discussing all these words. 66 And all who heard decided in their hearts, saying: What therefore will this child be? And, For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zachariah's Praise and Prediction

67 And Zacharia his father was filled of the Holy Spirit and prophesied saying:
68 Blessed [is the] Lord God of Israel
Because he has cared for and made ransom for his people.
69 And he raised the horn of salvation to us
In the house of David his child.
70 Just as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets
from [the] eons,
71 Salvation from our enemies
And from the hand of all hating us
72 To do mercy with our fathers
And to remind [them] of his holy contract,
73 The oath that he swore to Abraham our father,
74 To give to us fearless rescue from the hand of enemies,
75 To be serving him in piety and justice
Before him all our days.
76 And you, child, you will be called [a] prophet
of the most high,
For you will proceed before the Lord
to prepare his way,
77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people
In forgiveness of their sins.
78 Through the merciful guts of our God
By which [this] sunrise from on high cares for us,
79 To shine to those dwelling in [the] darkness
and [the] shadow of death,
To direct their feet to the way of peace.

80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the wilderness until the day of his installation9 before Israel.

1The word ANOTHEN (ανωθεν) has multiple meanings: `again' or `from above' John.3:3. Can also mean `from the beginning`-e.g. Luke.1:3 (or `again' here?).

2or "in return for which"

3KAIROS (καιρoς ) `opportune time', `proper time', `season'

4"Blessed are you among women" D K vg; omit: ℵBW

5from PSYCHE (ψυχη): an individual manifestation of life/consciousness. Animals have PSYCHEs as well as humans. Contrast ZOE (ζωη)—Life 'collectively', interdependent, interconnected.

6or "for", "with"

7or "intellect"

8AITEO "ay-TEH-oh" (αιτεω) "request", "demand", "beg" something for oneself. Far from humbly requesting—it's more like 'demanding'. Jesus uses AITEO only of the prayer of others, not of His own (cf. John.16:26)—and not requesting things for Himself, only for others. AITEO seems to suppose a lesser degree of intimacy than EROTAO (ερωταω), hence AITEO is used of the requests of the disciples to God, but EROTAO of the requests of the disciples to Jesus, and of those of Jesus to the Father ( John.14:16). AITEO is demanding/begging/pleading, EROTAO is polite and friendlier. Both AITEO and EROTAO occur in John.16:26.

9or "commissioning" version 3.85.
On 08 Sep 2009, 19:29.