Luke:1

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* Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us , * just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us , * it seemed good to me also , having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first , to write to you an orderly account , most excellent Theophilus , * that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed . * There was in the days of Herod , the king of Judea , a certain priest named Zacharias , of the division of Abijah . His wife was of the daughters of Aaron , and her name was Elizabeth . * And they were both righteous before God , walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless . * But they had no child , because Elizabeth was barren , and they were both well advanced in years . * So it was , that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division , * according to the custom of the priesthood , his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord . * And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense . * Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him , standing on the right side of the altar of incense . * And when Zacharias saw him , he was troubled , and fear fell upon him . * But the angel said to him , "Do not be afraid , Zacharias , for your prayer is heard ; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son , and you shall call his name John . * And you will have joy and gladness , and many will rejoice at his birth . * For he will be great in the sight of the Lord , and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink . He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit , even from his mother 's womb . * And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God . * He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah , "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 ." * And Zacharias said to the angel , "How shall I know this ? For I am an old man , and my wife is well advanced in years ." * And the angel answered and said to him , "I am Gabriel , who stands in the presence of God , and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings . * But behold , you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place , because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time ." * And the people waited for Zacharias , and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple . * But when he came out , he could not speak to them ; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple , for he beckoned to them and remained speechless . * So it was , as soon as the days of his service were completed , that he departed to his own house . * Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived ; and she hid herself five months , saying , * "Thus the Lord has dealt with me , in the days when He looked on me , to take away my reproach among people ." * Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth , * to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph , of the house of David . The virgin 's name was Mary . * And having come in , the angel said to her , "Rejoice , highly favored one , the Lord is with you ; blessed are you among women !" * But when she saw him , she was troubled at his saying , and considered what manner of greeting this was . * Then the angel said to her , "Do not be afraid , Mary , for you have found favor with God . * And behold , you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son , and shall call His name JESUS . * He will be great , and will be called the Son of the Highest ; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David . * And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever , and of His kingdom there will be no end ." * Then Mary said to the angel , "How can this be , since I do not know a man ?" * And the angel answered and said to her , "The Holy Spirit will come upon you , and the power of the Highest will overshadow you ; therefore , also , that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God . * Now indeed , Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age ; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren . * For with God nothing will be impossible ." * Then Mary said , "Behold the maidservant of the Lord ! Let it be to me according to your word ." And the angel departed from her . * Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste , to a city of Judah , * and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth . * And it happened , when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary , that the babe leaped in her womb ; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit . * Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said , "Blessed are you among women , and blessed is the fruit of your womb ! * But why is this granted to me , that the mother of my Lord should come to me ? * For indeed , as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears , the babe leaped in my womb for joy . * Blessed is she who believed , for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord ." * And Mary said : "My soul magnifies the Lord , * And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior . * For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant ; For behold , henceforth all generations will call me blessed . * For He who is mighty has done great things for me , And holy is His name . * And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation . * He has shown strength with His arm ; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts . * He has put down the mighty from their thrones , And exalted the lowly . * He has filled the hungry with good things , And the rich He has sent away empty . * He has helped His servant Israel , In remembrance of His mercy , * As He spoke to our fathers , To Abraham and to his seed forever ." * And Mary remained with her about three months , and returned to her house . * Now Elizabeth 's full time came for her to be delivered , and she brought forth a son . * When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her , they rejoiced with her . * So it was , on the eighth day , that they came to circumcise the child ; and they would have called him by the name of his father , Zacharias . * His mother answered and said , "No ; he shall be called John ." * But they said to her , "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name ." * So they made signs to his father--what he would have him called . * And he asked for a writing tablet , and wrote , saying , "His name is John ." So they all marveled . * Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed , and he spoke , praising God . * Then fear came on all who dwelt around them ; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea . * And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts , saying , "What kind of child will this be ?" And the hand of the Lord was with him . * Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit , and prophesied , saying : * "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel , For He has visited and redeemed His people , * And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David , * As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets , Who have been since the world began , * That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us , * To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant , * The oath which He swore to our father Abraham : * To grant us that we , Being delivered from the hand of our enemies , Might serve Him without fear , * In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life . * "And you , child , will be called the prophet of the Highest ; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways , * To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins , * Through the tender mercy of our God , With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us ; * To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death , To guide our feet into the way of peace ." * So the child grew and became strong in spirit , and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel .

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