Luke

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

1Many people have tried to write down the story of what happened among us.

2Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

2They wrote what was passed down to them. People who saw it from the start told the story. Those same people taught God's message.

3It 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,

3So I looked into everything carefully from the beginning. I decided to write it down in order for you, most excellent Theophilus.

4That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

4I want you to know for sure that the things you were taught are true.

5There 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.

5When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias. Priests helped people worship God. He belonged to the priest group called Abia. His wife Elisabeth came from Aaron's family.

6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

6Both of them did what was right before God. They obeyed all God's rules, and no one could blame them.

7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

7They had no children, because Elisabeth could not have a baby. They were both very old.

8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

8One day it was his group's turn to serve. Zacharias was doing his priest's work before God.

9According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

9The priests picked jobs by drawing lots. Zacharias was picked to go into the temple and burn incense.

NoteIncense is a sweet-smelling powder that made fragrant smoke when burned. "Drawing lots" was a way of picking, a bit like drawing straws.

10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

10Outside, a big crowd of people was praying while the incense was burned.

11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him. The angel stood at the right side of the incense altar.

12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

12When Zacharias saw the angel, he was shaken. He was very afraid.

13But 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.

13But the angel said, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias. God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elisabeth will have a son. You will name him John."

14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

14"You will be full of joy and gladness. Many people will be glad when he is born."

15For 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.

15"He will be great in the Lord's sight. He will never drink wine or any strong drink. He will be full of the Holy Spirit even before he is born."

16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

16"He will bring many people of Israel back to the Lord their God."

17And 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.

17"He will go ahead of the Lord with the same spirit and power as Elias. He will turn fathers' hearts back to their children. He will turn people who will not obey toward the wisdom of those who do right. He will get people ready for the Lord."

18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

18Zacharias asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am old, and my wife is old too."

19And 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.

19The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand before God. He sent me to speak to you and bring you this good news."

20And, 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.

20"Now you will not be able to speak until this happens. You did not believe my words. They will come true at the right time."

21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

21The people outside kept waiting for Zacharias. They wondered why he stayed so long in the temple.

22And 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.

22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They understood that God had shown him something in the temple. He kept making signs with his hands, and he still could not speak.

23And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

23When his days of temple work were finished, he went home.

24And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

24After that, Elisabeth learned she was going to have a baby. She stayed at home away from people for five months. She said,

25Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

25"The Lord has done this for me. He looked at me and was kind. He has taken away my shame in front of other people."

26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

26When Elisabeth had been pregnant six months, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee.

27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

27God sent him to a young woman named Mary. She had never been with a man. She had promised to marry Joseph, who came from King David's family.

28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

28The angel came to her and said, "Hello! God has been very kind to you. The Lord is with you. God has blessed you more than other women."

29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

29When Mary saw him, his words troubled her. She wondered what this greeting could mean.

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary. God is pleased with you."

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

31"Listen. You are going to have a baby boy. You will name him Jesus."

32He 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:

32"He will be great. People will call him the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him king, as his father David was king."

33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

33"He will rule over Jacob's family forever. His kingdom will never end."

34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

34Then Mary asked the angel, "How can this happen? I have never been with a man."

35And 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.

35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So the holy child born to you will be called the Son of God."

36And, 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.

36"Look at your relative Elisabeth. She is going to have a son, even though she is old. People said she could not have a baby. She is now six months along."

37For with God nothing shall be impossible.

37"Nothing is too hard for God."

38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

38Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant. Let it happen to me just as you said." Then the angel left her.

39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

39Soon after, Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hills of Judah.

40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

40She went into the house of Zacharias and said hello to Elisabeth.

41And 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:

41When Elisabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby jumped inside her. Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

42She called out in a loud voice, "God has blessed you more than other women! And God has blessed the baby you will have!"

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

43"Why is this happening to me? The mother of my Lord has come to visit me!"

44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

44"As soon as I heard you say hello, the baby inside me jumped for joy."

45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

45"God has blessed you because you believed. What the Lord told you will really happen."

46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

46Then Mary said, "My whole heart tells how great the Lord is."

47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

47"My spirit is full of joy, because God is my Savior. He is the one who saves me."

48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

48"He noticed me, his lowly servant. From now on, people in every time will call me blessed."

49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

49"God is strong, and he has done great things for me. His name is holy."

50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

50"He is kind to those who honor him. He is kind to them in every time, always."

51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

51"He has shown how strong his arm is. He has scattered proud people who think only of themselves."

52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

52"He has pulled powerful rulers down from their thrones. He has lifted up humble people."

53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

53"He has given hungry people plenty of good food. He has sent rich people away with nothing."

54He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

54"He has helped Israel, his servant. He remembered to be kind."

55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

55"He promised this long ago to our fathers, to Abraham and his family forever."

56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

56Mary stayed with Elisabeth about three months. Then she went back home.

57Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

57The time came for Elisabeth to have her baby. She gave birth to a son.

58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

58Her neighbors and relatives heard how kind the Lord had been to her. They were happy along with her.

59And 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.

59When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him. They planned to name him Zacharias, after his father.

NoteTo circumcise a boy was to cut off a little skin. It was a sign that he belonged to God's people, and it was done when he was eight days old.

60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

60But his mother said, "No. He will be called John."

61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

61They said to her, "No one in your family has that name."

62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

62So they made signs with their hands to his father. They asked what he wanted to name the boy.

63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

63He asked for a writing tablet. He wrote, "His name is John." Everyone was surprised.

64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

64Right away he could speak again. His tongue was free. He began to talk and to praise God.

65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

65All the neighbors felt a deep, quiet fear. People all over the hills of Judea talked about these things.

66And 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.

66Everyone who heard kept it in their hearts. They asked, "What will this child grow up to be?" The Lord's hand was with him.

67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

67His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit. He spoke this message from God:

68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

68"Praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to help his people and set them free."

69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

69"He has sent us a strong Savior from the family of his servant David."

NoteThe King James Bible says "horn of salvation." In the Bible a horn stands for strength, so this means a strong rescuer.

70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

70"He promised this long ago through his holy prophets. Prophets told people what God said."

71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

71"He promised to save us from our enemies, and from all who hate us."

72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

72"He promised to be kind to our fathers. He promised to remember his holy agreement."

73The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

73"This is the promise he made to our father Abraham."

74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

74"He would save us from our enemies. Then we could serve him without being afraid."

75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

75"We can live holy lives and do what is right before him, every day we live."

76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

76"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord and get the way ready for him."

77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

77"You will tell his people how to be saved. God will forgive the wrong things they have done."

78Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

78"Our God is very kind and gentle. His light from heaven is coming to us, like a new morning."

79To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

79"That light will shine on people who sit in the dark, where death casts its shadow. It will lead our feet onto the path of peace."

80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

80The child grew up and became strong in spirit. He lived out in the empty desert until he began his work for Israel.