Luke 1:1-38
King James Version
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 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,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
5 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.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 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.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 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.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 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.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 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 shew thee these glad tidings.
20 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.
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 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.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 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.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
32 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:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 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.
36 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.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
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Luke 1:1-38
1599 Geneva Bible
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, According to Luke
1 Luke: Preface 5 Zacharias and Elizabeth. 15 What an one John should be. 20 Zacharias stricken dumb, for his incredulity. 26 The Angel saluteth Mary, and foretelleth Christ’s nativity. 39 Mary visited Elizabeth. 46 Mary’s song. 68 The song of Zacharias, showing that the promised Christ is come. 76 The office of John.
1 Forasmuch as [a]many have [b]taken in hand to set forth the story of those things, whereof we are fully persuaded,
2 [c]As they have delivered them unto us, which from the beginning saw them themselves, and were ministers of the word,
3 It seemed good also to me ([d]most noble Theophilus) as soon as I had searched out perfectly all things [e]from the beginning, to write unto thee thereof from point to point,
4 That thou mightest [f]acknowledge the certainty of those things whereof thou hast been instructed.
5 In [g]the [h]time of [i]Herod King of Judea, there was a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the (A)[j]course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Both were [k]just before God, and [l]walked in all the [m]commandments and ordinances of the Lord, [n]without reproof.
7 And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren: and both were well stricken in age.
8 And it came to pass, as he executed the Priest’s office before God, as his course came in order,
9 (B)According to the custom of the Priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense, when he went into the [o]Temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer, (C)while the incense was burning.
11 Then appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the Altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the Angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the [p]sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine, nor [q]strong drink: and he shall be filled with the holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 (D)And many of the children of Israel shall he [r]turn to their Lord God.
17 (E)For he shall go [s]before him [t]in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the [u]hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the [v]wisdom of the just men, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 Then Zacharias said unto the Angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is of a great age.
19 And the Angel answered, and said unto him, I am Gabriel [w]that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these good tidings.
20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not be able to speak, until the day that these things be done, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 Now the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the Temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: then they perceived that he had seen a vision in the Temple: for he made signs unto them, and remained dumb.
23 And it came to pass, when the days of his office were fulfilled, that he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me, in the days wherein he looked on me, to take from me my rebuke among men.
26 ¶ [x]And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 (F)To a virgin affianced to a man whose name was Joseph, of the [y]house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the Angel went in unto her, and said, Hail thou that art [z]freely beloved: the Lord is with thee: [aa]blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was [ab]troubled at his saying, and thought what manner of salutation that should be.
30 Then the Angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast [ac]found favor with God.
31 (G)For lo thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bear a son, (H)and shalt call his Name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be [ad]called the Son of the most High, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.
33 (I)And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom shall be none end.
34 Then said Mary unto the Angel, [ae]How shall this be, seeing [af]I know not man?
35 And the Angel answered, and said unto her, The holy Ghost [ag]shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee: therefore also that [ah]Holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be [ai]called the Son of God.
36 And behold, thy [aj]cousin, Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is her [ak]sixth month, which was called barren.
37 For with God shall nothing be impossible.
38 Then Mary said, Behold the servant of the Lord: be it unto me according to thy word. So the Angel departed from her.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 1:1 Luke commendeth the witnesses that saw this history.
- Luke 1:1 Many took it in hand, but did not perform: Luke wrote his Gospel before Matthew and Mark.
- Luke 1:2 Luke was not an eyewitness, and therefore it was not he to whom the Lord appeared when Cleopas saw him: and he was taught not only by Paul, but by others of the Apostles also.
- Luke 1:3 It is most mighty, and therefore Theophilus was a very honorable man, and in place of great dignity.
- Luke 1:3 Luke began his Gospel a great deal farther off, than the others did.
- Luke 1:4 Have fuller knowledge of those things, which before thou knewest but meanly.
- Luke 1:5 John who was another Elijah, and appointed to be herald of Christ, coming of the stock of Aaron, and of two famous and blameless parents, hath showed in his conception, which was against the course of nature, a double miracle, to the end that men should be more readily stirred up to the hearing of his preaching, according to the forewarning of the Prophets.
- Luke 1:5 Word for word, in the days: so speak the Hebrews, giving us to understand, how short and frail a thing the power of princes is.
- Luke 1:5 Herod the great.
- Luke 1:5 For the posterity of Aaron was divided into courses.
- Luke 1:6 The true mark of righteousness is, to be liked and allowed of in the judgment of God.
- Luke 1:6 Lived, so speak the Hebrews, for our life is as a way, wherein we must walk, until we come to the mark.
- Luke 1:6 In all the moral and ceremonial law.
- Luke 1:6 Whom no man could justly reprove: now so it is, that the fruits of justification are set forth here, and not the cause, which is faith only, and nothing else.
- Luke 1:9 The Temple was one, and the Court another, for Zacharias went out of the Court or outward room, where all the people were, and therefore are said to be without, into the temple.
- Luke 1:15 So speak the Hebrews when it signified a rare kind of excellency: so is it said of Nimrod, Gen. 10:9. He was a valiant hunter before God.
- Luke 1:15 Any drink that may make drunken.
- Luke 1:16 Shall be a means to bring many to repentance, and turn themselves to the Lord from whom they fell.
- Luke 1:17 As they used to go before kings, and when you see them, you know the king is not far off.
- Luke 1:17 This is spoken by the figure Metonymy, taking the spirit, for the gift of the spirit, as you would say, the cause, for that that cometh of the cause.
- Luke 1:17 By this figure Synecdoche, he showeth that he shall take away all kinds of enmities, which used to breed great troubles and turmoils amongst men.
- Luke 1:17 Wisdom and goodness are two of the chiefest causes which make men to reverence and honor their fathers.
- Luke 1:19 That appears, for so the Hebrews use this word (to stand) meaning that they are ready to do his commandment.
- Luke 1:26 The Angel serving the Lord which should be born, is sent to the virgin Mary, in whom the Son of the most high promised to David, is conceived by the virtue of the holy Ghost.
- Luke 1:27 As much is to be said of Mary, otherwise Christ had not been of the stock, not the son of David.
- Luke 1:28 It might be rendered word for word, full of favor and grace, and he showeth straight after, laying out plainly unto us, what that favor is, in that he saith, the Lord is with thee.
- Luke 1:28 Of God.
- Luke 1:29 Moved at the strangeness of the matter.
- Luke 1:30 So speak the Hebrews, saying, that men have found favor, which are in favor.
- Luke 1:32 He shall be declared so to be, for he was the Son of God from everlasting, but was made manifest in the flesh in his time.
- Luke 1:34 The greatness of the matter causeth the Virgin to ask this question, not that she distrusteth any whit at all, for she asketh only of the manner of the conceiving, so that it is plain she believed all the rest.
- Luke 1:34 So speak the Hebrews, signifying by this modest kind of speech the company of man and wife together, and this is the meaning of it: how shall this be, forseeing, I shall be Christ his mother, I am very sure. I shall not know any man: for the godly virgin had learned by the Prophets, that the Messiah should be born of a Virgin.
- Luke 1:35 That is, the holy Ghost shall cause thee to conceive by his mighty power.
- Luke 1:35 That pure thing and void of all spot of uncleanness: for he that was to take away sin, must needs be void of sin.
- Luke 1:35 Declared and showed to the world, to be the Son of God.
- Luke 1:36 Though Elizabeth were of the tribe of Levi, yet she might be Mary’s cousin: for whereas it was forbidden by the Law, for maidens to be married to men of other tribes, this could not let, but that the Levites might take them wives out of any tribe: for the Levites had no portion allotted them, when the land was divided among the people.
- Luke 1:36 This is now the sixth month from the time when she conceived.
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