Jesus’ Birth Foretold

26 Now in the sixth month the angel (A)Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named (B)Nazareth, 27 to (C)a virgin [a]betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, (D)of the [b]descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was [c]Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord [d]is with you.” 29 But she (E)was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. 30 And the angel said to her, “(F)Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you (G)shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of (H)the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him (I)the throne of His father David; 33 (J)and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, (K)and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I [e]am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “(L)The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of (M)the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also (N)the [f]holy Child will be called (O)the Son of God. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth herself has conceived a son in her old age, and [g]she who was called infertile is now in her sixth month. 37 For (P)nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Now [h]at this time Mary set out and went in a hurry to (Q)the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was (R)filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And [i]how has it happened to me that the mother of (S)my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And (T)blessed is she who [j]believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her [k]by the Lord.”

Mary’s Song: The Magnificat

46 And Mary said:

(U)My soul [l](V)exalts the Lord,
47 And (W)my spirit has rejoiced in (X)God my Savior.
48 For (Y)He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant;
For behold, from now on all generations will [m]call me (Z)blessed.
49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
50 (AA)And His mercy is to generation [n]after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
51 (AB)He has done [o]mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the [p]thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has (AC)exalted those who were humble.
53 (AD)He has filled the hungry with good things,
And sent the rich away empty-handed.
54 He has given help to His servant Israel,
[q]In remembrance of His mercy,
55 (AE)Just as He spoke to our fathers,
(AF)To Abraham and his [r]descendants forever.”

56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:27 Unlike engagement, a betrothed couple was considered married, but did not yet live together
  2. Luke 1:27 Lit house
  3. Luke 1:27 Gr Mariam, Heb Miriam; so throughout Luke
  4. Luke 1:28 Or be
  5. Luke 1:34 Lit do not know a man
  6. Luke 1:35 Lit the holy one fathered
  7. Luke 1:36 Lit this is the sixth month for her who
  8. Luke 1:39 Lit in these days
  9. Luke 1:43 Lit from where this to me
  10. Luke 1:45 Or believed, because there will be
  11. Luke 1:45 Lit from
  12. Luke 1:46 Lit makes great
  13. Luke 1:48 Or consider
  14. Luke 1:50 Lit and
  15. Luke 1:51 Lit might
  16. Luke 1:51 Lit thought, attitude
  17. Luke 1:54 Lit So as to remember
  18. Luke 1:55 Lit seed

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