Bible, King James Version
Luke
Luke.1
[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.
[39] And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill
country with haste, into a city of Juda;
[40] And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted
Elisabeth.
[41] 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:
[42] And she spake out with a loud voice, and said,
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb.
[43] And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord
should come to me?
[44] For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation
sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
[45] And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be
a performance of those things which were told her from the
Lord.
[46] And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
[47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
[48] For he hath regarded the low estate of his
handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall
call me blessed.
[49] For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
and holy is his name.
[50] And his mercy is on them that fear him from
generation to generation.
[51] He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath
scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
[52] He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and
exalted them of low degree.
[53] He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the
rich he hath sent empty away.
[54] He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of
his mercy;
[55] As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his
seed for ever.
[56] And Mary abode with her about three months, and
returned to her own house.
[57] Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be
delivered; and she brought forth a son.
[58] And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord
had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
[59] 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.
[60] And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he
shall be called John.
[61] And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred
that is called by this name.
[62] And they made signs to his father, how he would have
him called.
[63] And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying,
His name is John. And they marvelled all.
[64] And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue
loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
[65] And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and
all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill
country of Judaea.
[66] 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.
[67] And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy
Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
[68] Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath
visited and redeemed his people,
[69] And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the
house of his servant David;
[70] As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which
have been since the world began:
[71] That we should be saved from our enemies, and from
the hand of all that hate us;
[72] To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to
remember his holy covenant;
[73] The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
[74] That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered
out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
[75] In holiness and righteousness before him, all the
days of our life.
[76] 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;
[77] To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the
remission of their sins,
[78] Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the
dayspring from on high hath visited us,
[79] To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
[80] And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and
was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
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