Luke 1
1Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us.G1895G4183G2021G392G1335G4012G4229G4135G1722G22542They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples.G2531G3860G2254G3588G575G746G1096G845G2532G5257G30563Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus,G1380G2504G199G3877G3956G509G1125G4671G2517G2903G23214so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.G2443G1921G803G4012G3056G3739G27275When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron.G1096G1722G2250G2264G935G2449G5100G2409G3686G2197G1537G2183G7G2532G846G1135G1537G2364G2G2532G846G3686G16656Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations.G1161G2258G297G1342G1799G2316G4198G1722G3956G1785G2532G1345G2962G2737They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.G2532G846G2258G3756G5043G2530G1665G2258G4723G2532G846G297G2258G4260G1722G22508One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week.G1161G1096G1722G846G2407G1725G2316G1722G5010G846G21839As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.G2596G1485G2405G2975G2370G1525G1519G3485G296210While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.G2532G3956G4128G2992G2258G4336G1854G5610G236811While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar.G1161G3700G846G32G2962G2476G1537G1188G2379G236812Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him.G2532G2197G1492G5015G2532G5401G1968G1909G84613But the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.G1161G32G2036G4314G846G5399G3361G2197G1360G4675G1162G1522G2532G4675G1135G1665G1080G4671G5207G2532G2564G846G3686G249114You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,G2532G4671G2071G5479G2532G20G2532G4183G5463G1909G846G108315for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.G1063G2071G3173G1799G2962G2532G4095G3364G3631G2532G4608G2532G4130G40G4151G2089G1537G846G3384G283616And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God.G2532G4183G5207G2474G1994G1909G2962G846G231617He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly."G2532G846G4281G1799G846G1722G4151G2532G1411G2243G1994G2588G3962G1909G5043G2532G545G1722G5428G1342G2090G2992G2680G296218Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure this will happen? I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years."G2532G2197G2036G4314G32G2596G5101G1097G5124G1063G1473G1510G4246G2532G3450G1135G4260G1722G2250G84619Then the angel said, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!G2532G32G611G2036G846G1473G1510G1043G3936G1799G2316G2532G649G2980G4314G4571G2532G2097G4671G5023G209720But now, since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time."G2532G2400G2071G4623G2532G3361G1410G2980G891G2250G3739G5023G1096G473G3739G4100G3756G3450G3056G3748G4137G1519G846G254021Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long.G2532G2992G2258G4328G2197G2532G2296G1722G846G5549G1722G348522When he finally did come out, he couldn't speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.G1161G1831G1410G3756G2980G846G2532G1921G3754G3708G3701G1722G3485G2532G846G2258G1269G846G2532G1265G297423When Zechariah's week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home.G2532G1096G5613G2250G846G3009G4130G565G1519G846G362424Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months.G1161G3326G5025G2250G846G1135G1665G4815G2532G4032G1438G4002G3376G300425"How kind the Lord is!" she exclaimed. "He has taken away my disgrace of having no children."G3754G3779G4160G2962G4160G3427G1722G2250G3739G1896G851G3450G3681G1722G44426In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,G1161G1722G1623G3376G32G1043G649G5259G2316G1519G4172G1056G3739G3686G347827to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.G4314G3933G3423G435G3739G3686G2501G1537G3624G1138G2532G3933G3686G313728Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!"G2532G32G1525G4314G846G2036G5463G5487G2962G3326G4675G2127G4771G1722G113529Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.G1161G1492G1298G1909G846G3056G2532G1260G4217G783G3778G149830"Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God!G2532G32G2036G846G5399G3361G3137G1063G2147G5485G3844G231631You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.G2532G2400G4815G1722G1064G2532G5088G5207G2532G2564G846G3686G242432He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.G3778G2071G3173G2532G2564G5207G5310G2532G2962G2316G1325G846G2362G846G3962G113833And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!"G2532G936G1909G3624G2384G1519G165G2532G846G932G2071G3756G505634Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin."G1161G2036G3137G4314G32G4459G2071G5124G2071G1893G1097G3756G43535The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.G2532G32G611G2036G846G40G4151G1904G1909G4571G2532G1411G5310G1982G4671G1352G2532G40G1080G1537G4675G2564G5207G231636What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she's now in her sixth month.G2532G2400G4675G4773G1665G846G4815G2532G4815G5207G1722G846G1094G2532G3778G2076G1623G3376G846G3588G2564G472337For nothing is impossible with God."G3754G3844G2316G3756G3956G4487G10138Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her.G1161G3137G2036G2400G1399G2962G1096G3427G2596G4675G4487G2532G32G565G575G84639A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the townG1161G3137G450G1722G5025G2250G4198G1519G3714G3326G4710G1519G4172G244840where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth.G2532G1525G1519G3624G2197G2532G782G166541At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.G2532G1096G5613G1665G191G783G3137G1025G4640G1722G846G2836G2532G1665G4130G40G415142Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, "God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed.G2532G400G3173G5456G2532G2036G2127G4771G1722G1135G2532G2127G2590G4675G283643Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?G2532G4159G5124G3427G2443G3384G3450G2962G2064G4314G316544When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.G1063G2400G5613G5456G4675G783G1096G1519G3450G3775G1025G4640G1722G3450G2836G1722G2045You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said."G2532G3107G4100G3754G2071G5050G2980G846G3844G296246Mary responded, "Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.G2532G3137G2036G3450G5590G3170G296247How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!G2532G3450G4151G21G1909G2316G3450G499048For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.G3754G1914G1909G5014G846G1399G1063G2400G575G3568G3956G1074G3106G3165G310649For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.G3754G1415G4160G3427G3167G2532G40G846G368650He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.G2532G846G1656G5399G846G1519G1074G107451His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.G4160G2904G1722G846G1023G1287G5244G1271G846G258852He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.G2507G1413G575G2362G2532G5312G501153He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.G1705G3983G18G2532G4147G1821G2756G182154He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.G482G846G3816G2474G3415G165655For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever."G2531G2980G4314G2257G3962G11G2532G846G4690G1519G16556Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.G1161G3137G3306G4862G846G5616G5140G3376G2532G5290G1519G846G362457When it was time for Elizabeth's baby to be born, she gave birth to a son.G1161G1665G4130G5550G4130G846G5088G2532G1080G520758And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.G2532G4040G2532G846G4773G191G3754G2962G3170G1656G846G3326G846G2532G4796G84659When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father.G2532G1096G1722G3590G2250G2064G4059G3813G2532G2564G846G2197G1909G3686G846G396260But Elizabeth said, "No! His name is John!"G2532G846G3384G611G2036G3780G235G2564G249161"What?" they exclaimed. "There is no one in all your family by that name."G2532G2036G4314G846G3754G2076G3762G1722G4675G4772G3739G2564G5129G368662So they used gestures to ask the baby's father what he wanted to name him.G1161G1770G846G3962G5101G302G2309G846G256463He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone's surprise he wrote, "His name is John."G2532G154G4093G1125G3004G846G3686G2076G2491G2532G2296G395664Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.G1161G846G4750G455G3916G2532G846G1100G2532G2980G2127G231665Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills.G2532G5401G1096G1909G3956G4039G846G2532G3956G5023G4487G1255G1722G3650G3714G244966Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, "What will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.G2532G3956G191G5087G1722G846G2588G3004G5101G686G3813G2071G5124G2071G2532G5495G2962G2258G3326G84667Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy.G2532G846G3962G2197G4130G40G4151G2532G4395G300468"Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.G2128G2962G2316G2474G3754G1980G2532G3085G846G2992G416069He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David,G2532G1453G2768G4991G2254G1722G3624G846G3816G113870just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.G2531G2980G1223G4750G846G40G4396G3588G575G16571Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.G4991G1537G2257G2190G2532G1537G5495G3956G3404G224872He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—G4160G1656G3326G2257G3962G2532G3415G846G40G124273the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.G3727G3739G3660G4314G2257G3962G1174We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear,G1325G2254G4506G1537G5495G2257G2190G3000G846G87075in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.G1722G3742G2532G1343G1799G846G3956G2250G2257G222276"And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.G2532G4771G3813G2564G4396G5310G1063G4313G4253G4383G2962G2090G846G359877You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.G1325G1108G4991G846G2992G1722G859G846G26678Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,G1223G4698G1656G2257G2316G1722G3739G395G1537G5311G1980G224879to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."G2014G2521G1722G4655G2532G4639G2288G2720G2257G4228G1519G3598G151580John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.G1161G3813G837G2532G2901G4151G2532G2258G1722G2048G2193G2250G846G323G4314G2474
Luke 2
2At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.G1161G1096G1722G1565G2250G1831G1378G3844G2541G828G3956G3625G5832(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria)G3778G582G1096G4413G1096G2958G2230G49473All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.G2532G3956G4198G583G1538G1519G2398G41724And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.G1161G2501G2532G305G575G1056G1537G4172G3478G1519G2449G1519G4172G1138G3748G2564G965G1223G846G1511G1537G3624G2532G3965G11385He took with him Mary, his fiancee, who was now obviously pregnant.G583G4862G3137G846G3423G1135G5607G14716And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.G1161G1096G1722G846G1511G1563G2250G4130G846G50887She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.G2532G5088G846G4416G5207G2532G4683G846G4683G2532G347G846G1722G5336G1360G2258G3756G5117G846G1722G26468That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.G2532G2258G1722G846G5561G4166G63G2532G5442G5438G1909G846G4167G35719Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified,G2532G2400G32G2962G2186G846G2532G1391G2962G4034G846G2532G3173G5399G540110but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.G2532G32G2036G846G5399G3361G1063G2400G2097G5213G2097G3173G5479G3748G2071G3956G299211The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!G3754G5213G5088G4594G1722G4172G1138G4990G3739G2076G5547G296212And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."G2532G5124G4592G5213G2147G1025G4683G2749G1722G533613Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,G2532G1810G1096G4862G32G4128G3770G4756G134G2316G2532G300414"Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."G1391G2316G1722G5310G2532G1909G1093G1515G2107G1722G44415When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."G2532G1096G5613G32G565G575G846G1519G3772G2532G444G4166G2036G240G4314G240G1330G1211G1330G2193G965G2532G1492G5124G4487G1096G3739G3588G2962G1107G225416They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.G2532G2064G4692G2532G5037G429G3137G2532G2501G2532G1025G2749G1722G533617After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.G1161G1492G1232G4012G4487G3588G2980G846G4012G5127G381318All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished,G2532G3956G191G2296G4012G3588G2980G4314G846G5259G416619but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.G1161G3137G4933G3956G4487G5023G4820G1722G846G258820The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.G2532G4166G1994G1392G2532G134G2316G1909G3956G3739G191G2532G1492G2531G2980G4314G84621Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.G2532G3753G3638G2250G4130G4059G3813G2532G846G3686G2564G2424G3588G2564G5259G32G4253G846G4815G1722G283622Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.G2532G3753G2250G846G2512G2596G3551G3475G4130G321G846G1519G2414G3936G296223The law of the Lord says, "If a woman's first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the LORD."G2531G1125G1722G3551G2962G3754G3956G730G1272G3388G2564G40G296224So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—"either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."G2532G1325G2378G2596G2046G1722G3551G2962G2201G5167G2228G1417G3502G405825At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon himG2532G2400G2258G444G1722G2419G3739G3686G4826G2532G3778G444G1342G2532G2126G4327G3874G2474G2532G40G4151G2258G1909G84626and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah.G2532G2258G5537G846G5259G40G4151G1492G3361G1492G2288G4250G2228G1492G2962G554727That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required,G2532G2064G1722G4151G1519G2411G2532G1118G1521G1722G3813G2424G4160G846G4012G846G2596G1480G355128Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,G2532G1209G846G846G1209G1519G846G43G2532G2127G2316G2532G203629"Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.G1203G3568G630G4675G1401G630G1722G1515G2596G4675G448730I have seen your salvation,G3754G3450G3788G1492G4675G499231which you have prepared for all people.G3739G2090G2596G4383G3956G299232He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!"G5457G1519G602G1484G2532G1391G4675G2992G247433Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him.G2532G2501G2532G846G3384G2258G2296G1909G2980G4012G84634Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby's mother, "This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.G2532G4826G2127G846G2532G2036G4314G3137G846G3384G2400G3778G2749G1519G4431G2532G386G4183G1722G2474G2532G1519G4592G48335As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul."G1161G4501G1330G4675G846G5590G2532G3704G1261G1537G4183G2588G302G60136Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years.G2532G2258G451G4398G2364G5323G1537G5443G768G3778G846G4183G1722G2250G4260G2198G3326G435G2033G2094G575G846G393237Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.G2532G3778G5503G5613G3589G5064G2094G3739G868G3756G575G2411G3000G3521G2532G1162G3571G2532G225038She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.G2532G3778G846G2186G846G5610G437G2962G2532G2980G4012G846G3956G4327G3085G1722G241939When Jesus' parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.G2532G5613G5055G537G2596G3551G2962G5290G1519G1056G1519G846G4172G347840There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor was on him.G1161G3813G837G2532G2901G4151G4137G4678G2532G5485G2316G2258G1909G84641Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.G2532G846G1118G4198G1519G2419G2596G2094G1859G395742When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual.G2532G3753G1096G1427G2094G846G305G1519G2414G2596G1485G185943After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't miss him at first,G2532G5048G2250G1722G846G5290G3816G2424G5278G1722G2419G2532G2501G2532G846G3384G1097G375644because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn't show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.G1161G3543G846G1511G1722G4923G2064G2250G3598G2532G327G846G1722G4773G2532G1722G111045When they couldn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.G2532G2147G846G3361G5290G1519G2419G2212G84646Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.G2532G1096G3326G5140G2250G2147G846G1722G2411G2516G1722G3319G1320G2532G191G846G2532G1905G846G190547All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.G1161G3956G191G846G1839G1909G846G4907G2532G61248His parents didn't know what to think. "Son," his mother said to him, "why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere."G2532G1492G846G1605G2532G846G3384G2036G4314G846G5043G5101G4160G3779G4160G2254G2400G4675G3962G2504G2212G4571G360049"But why did you need to search?" he asked. "Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?"G2532G2036G4314G846G5101G3754G2212G3165G1492G3756G3754G3165G1163G1511G1722G3450G396250But they didn't understand what he meant.G2532G846G4920G3756G4487G3739G2980G84651Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.G2532G2597G3326G846G2532G2064G1519G3478G2532G2258G5293G846G2532G846G3384G1301G3956G5023G4487G1722G846G258852Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.G2532G2424G4298G4678G2532G2244G2532G5485G3844G2316G2532G444
Dublin, OH
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