The Preface to Luke’s Gospel

Since many have attempted to compile an account concerning the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning passed on to us, it seemed best to me also—because I[a] have followed all things carefully from the beginning—to write them[b] down in orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty concerning the things about which you were taught.

The Prediction of John the Baptist’s Birth

It happened that in the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest, Zechariah by name, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife[c] from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous in the sight of God, living blamelessly in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. And they did not have[d] a child, because Elizabeth was barren. And they were both advanced in years.[e]

And it happened that while[f] he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood he was chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense. 10 And the whole crowd of the people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was terrified when he[g] saw the angel,[h] and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him,

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard,
and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you will call his name John.
14 And you will experience joy and exultation,[i]
and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord,
and he must never drink wine or beer,
and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit
    while he is[j] still in his mother’s womb.
16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel
    to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go on 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 righteous,
    to prepare for the Lord a people made ready.”

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “By what will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years!”[k] 19 And the angel answered and[l] said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because[m] you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and began to wonder[n] when[o] he was delayed in the temple. 22 And when he[p] came out he was not able to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them, and remained unable to speak. 23 And it happened that when the days of his service came to an end, he went away to his home.

24 Now after these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days in which he has concerned himself with me,[q] to take away my disgrace among people.”

The Prediction of Jesus’ Birth

26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named[r] Nazareth, 27 to a virgin legally promised in marriage to a man named[s] Joseph of the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Mary. 28 And he came to her and[t] said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly perplexed at the statement, and was pondering what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her,

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in the womb and will give birth to a son,
    and you will call his name Jesus.
32 This one will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High,
    and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
33 And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever,[u]
    and of his kingdom there will be no end.

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 And the angel answered and[v] said to her,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
    and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore also the one to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.

36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth—she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”[w]

38 So Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s female slave! May it happen to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Now in those days Mary set out and[x] traveled with haste into the hill country, to a town of Judah, 40 and entered into the house of Zechariah, and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened that when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby in her womb leaped and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud shout and said,

“Blessed are you among women,
    and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43 And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! 45 And blessed is she who believed that there will be a fulfillment to what was spoken to her from the Lord!”

Mary’s Hymn of Praise to God

46 And Mary said,

“My soul exalts the Lord,
47     and my spirit has rejoiced greatly in God my Savior,
48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his female slave,
    for behold, from now on all generations will consider me blessed,
49 because the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for generation after generation
    to those who fear him.
51 He has done a mighty deed with his arm;
    he has dispersed the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
    and has exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled those who are hungry with good things,
    and those who are rich he has sent away empty-handed.
54 He has helped Israel his servant,
    remembering his mercy,
55 just as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”[y]

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

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth that she should give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her,[z] and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were wanting to name him after[aa] his father Zechariah. 60 And his mother answered and[ab] said, “No, but he will be named John.” 61 And they said to her, “There is no one of your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father asking what he wanted him to be named, 63 and he asked for a writing tablet and[ac] wrote, saying, “John is his name.” And they were all astonished. 64 And his mouth and his tongue were opened immediately, and he began to speak,[ad] praising God. 65 And fear came on all those who lived near them, and in all the hill country of Judea all these events were discussed. 66 And all those who heard kept these things[ae] in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be? For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him!”

The Praise and Prophecy of Zechariah

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has visited to help and has redeemed[af] his people,
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David,
70 just as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from earliest times—
71     salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all those who hate us,
72 to show mercy to our fathers
    and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to Abraham our father,
    to grant us 74 that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
could serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness
    before him all our days.
76 And so you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
    by the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the merciful compassion[ag] of our God
    by which the dawn will visit to help us from on high,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    to direct our feet into the way of peace.”

80 And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:3 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have followed”) which is understood as causal
  2. Luke 1:3 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  3. Luke 1:5 Literally “a wife to him”
  4. Luke 1:7 Literally “there was not to them”
  5. Luke 1:7 Literally “in their days”
  6. Luke 1:8 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal infinitive (“was serving as priest”)
  7. Luke 1:12 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  8. Luke 1:12 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  9. Luke 1:14 Literally “joy and exultation will be to you”
  10. Luke 1:15 Here the phrase “while he is,” including the verb, is understood in Greek and is supplied in the translation
  11. Luke 1:18 Literally “in her days”
  12. Luke 1:19 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  13. Luke 1:20 Literally “in return for which”
  14. Luke 1:21 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to wonder”)
  15. Luke 1:21 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal infinitive (“was delayed”)
  16. Luke 1:22 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came out”) which is understood as temporal
  17. Luke 1:25 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  18. Luke 1:26 Literally “to which the name”
  19. Luke 1:27 Literally “to whom the name”
  20. Luke 1:28 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came”) has been translated as a finite verb
  21. Luke 1:33 Literally “for the ages”
  22. Luke 1:35 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  23. Luke 1:37 Literally “every thing will not be impossible with God”
  24. Luke 1:39 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“set out”) has been translated as a finite verb
  25. Luke 1:55 Literally “for the age”
  26. Luke 1:58 Literally “the Lord had made great his mercy with her”
  27. Luke 1:59 Literally “in the name of”
  28. Luke 1:60 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  29. Luke 1:63 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“asked for”) has been translated as a finite verb
  30. Luke 1:64 *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to speak”)
  31. Luke 1:66 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  32. Luke 1:68 Literally “has done redemption for”
  33. Luke 1:78 Or “heart”

路加记述耶稣的生平

尊敬的提阿非罗大人,在我之前,曾有很多人尝试过要报道发生在我们中间的事。 这些事与人们告诉我们的情形是一致的,告诉我们这些事的人们,从一开始就亲眼目睹了这些事,他们也曾做过向人们传播上帝信息的工作。 我也认为这个意图很好,所以我对每件事都从头进行了仔细的调查,然后按次序写成了报告,呈献给您。 我这么做是为了让您知道报告给您的事情都是真实的。

天使宣告约翰的出生

在希律统治犹太的时候,亚比雅分支 [a]有个祭司,名字叫撒迦利亚。撒迦利亚的妻子,叫伊利莎白,是亚伦家族的后代。 他们俩人在上帝的眼里都是正直的人,他们总是全心全意地执行着主的一切诫命和指示,从无过失。 但是他们没有孩子,因为伊利莎白不能生育,并且他们已经很老了。

当轮到撒迦利亚分支在主的殿堂里供职时,撒迦利亚在上帝面前担任祭司的职务, 按照祭司们遵循的规矩,以抽签的方式,他被选中去主的大殿烧香。 10 当撒迦利亚烧香的时候,所有的人都聚集在外面祈祷着。 11 这时,主的一个天使出现在撒迦利亚面前,伫立在香坛的右侧。 12 当撒迦利亚看见这个天使时,非常不安,恐惧极了, 13 天使却对他说∶“撒迦利亚,不要害怕,主听到了你的祈祷,所以你的妻子伊利莎白将给你生一个儿子,你要给他起名叫约翰, 14 他将给你们带来幸福和快乐。他出生时,将会有很多人欢喜, 15 因为他在主的眼里将是伟大的。他必须滴酒不沾,从他一出生,就充满了圣灵。

16 约翰将使众多的以色列人重归主—他们的上帝。 17 他将具有以利亚一样的灵和力量,他将走在主的面前,使父子和平相处,使叛逆者回到被人们认为是正确的道路上来,使人们为主的到来做好准备。”

18 撒迦利亚对天使说∶“我怎么知道你所说的话是真的呢?我和我的妻子都是上年纪的人了。” 19 天使回答说∶“我是侍立在上帝面前的天使加百列,受上帝的派遣来告诉你这个喜讯的, 20 但是,你要记住,因为你不相信我的话,你将变成哑巴,直到这一切发生的那天,你才能重新讲话。”

21 此时,人们都在外面等待着撒迦利亚,他们都不明白为什么撒迦利亚在大殿里面呆了这么久。 22 当撒迦利亚出来时,竟不能对人们讲话了,人们意识到他在大殿里看到了异象,既然撒迦利亚说不出话来,他只好向大家打手势示意。 23 等到在大殿里供职的日期一到,他便回家去了。

24 过了一段时间,他的妻子伊利莎白怀孕了。她隐居在家,五个月没出门,她说: 25 “主终于在这方面帮助了我,他对我的垂爱洗刷了我在众人面前的耻辱 [b]。”

天使宣告耶稣的降生

在伊利莎白怀孕的第六个月,上帝派天使加百列到加利利的一个叫拿撒勒的城镇去见一位处女。这个处女名叫马利亚,她与大卫家族的一个叫约瑟的男子订了婚。 28 加百列来到马利亚面前,向她问候说∶“祝贺你,蒙主恩宠的姑娘,主与你同在。”

29 但是,马利亚因为天使的话而感到惶恐不安,不明白这问候到底意味着什么。

30 天使又对他说∶“别害怕,马利亚,你受到了上帝的恩宠。 31 听着,你就要怀孕生子,你要给他取名叫耶稣。 32 他将是个伟大的人,他将被称为至高无上的上帝之子。主上帝将把他的祖先-大卫 [c]的宝座赐给他, 33 他将永远统治雅各的臣民,他的王国将永不终止。”

34 马利亚对天使说,“可是,怎么可能发生这样的事情呢?我还是个处女呢!”

35 天使回答道∶“圣灵就要降临到你的身上,至高无上的上帝的力量将庇荫着你,因此,那降生的圣婴将被称为上帝之子。 36 听着,你的亲戚伊利莎白虽然已到高龄,而且人们又都说她不能生育,可是,现在她已经怀孕六个月了。 37 上帝是无所不能的。”

38 马利亚说∶“我是主的仆人,愿你的话在我身上应验。”然后天使便离开了。

马利亚看望撒迦利亚和伊利莎白

39 马利亚起身,急匆匆去了山区,到了犹太地区的一座小镇。 40 她走进撒迦利亚的家,问候伊利莎白。 41 当伊利莎白听到马利亚的问候时,腹中的胎儿便动了起来,此时伊利莎白充满了圣灵。

42 她高声说道∶“你是所有女人中最受恩赐的人,那将要出生的孩子也是有福的。 43 可是,为什么我主的母亲前来探望我呢?为什么这样伟大的事情会发生在我的身上呢? 44 我刚才一听到你的问候,我腹中的胎儿就动了起来。 45 你是有福的,因为你相信主对你说的事情会发生。”

马利亚赞美上帝

46 这时,马利亚说:

47 “我的灵赞美我主,
我的心因为上帝—我的救世主而喜悦,
48 因为他对他卑微的仆人表示了关怀,
从今以后,所有的人都将说我受到了祝福,
49 因为强大的主成全了我的大事。
他的名字是神圣的。
50 他将赐怜悯给世世代代敬畏他的人们,
51 他显示了他臂膀的力量,
他驱逐了自以为了不起的骄傲之人;
52 他把君王们拉下了宝座,
他扶起了卑微的人;
53 他让挨饿的人饱餐美食,
他使富足的人们两手空空地离去。
54 他来扶助他的仆人以色列,
55 他信守对我们的祖先许下的诺言,
不忘施怜悯于亚伯拉罕和他的子孙,直到永远。”

56 马利亚在伊利莎白那里住了三个月左右,然后回家去了。

约翰的出生

57 伊利莎白的产期到了,她生下一个男孩。 58 当她的亲友和邻居们听说主赐给了她这么大的怜悯时,都来分享她的欢乐。

59 孩子出生的第八天,他们就给婴儿行了割礼,并要随他父亲的名字给他取名叫撒迦利亚, 60 但是,他的母亲却说∶“不,要叫他约翰。”

61 亲友们对她说∶“你的亲戚里面没有一个人叫这个名字的。” 62 然后,他们又向孩子的父亲打手势,问他想给孩子取个什么名字。

63 撒迦利亚要来一块写字板,在上面写道∶“他的名字叫约翰。”人们看后十分惊讶, 64 就在这时,撒迦利亚的嘴张开了,舌头也舒展了,他开口讲话,并开始赞美上帝。 65 邻居们却充满敬畏,整个犹太地区的人们都对此事议论纷纷。 66 所有听到这件事情的人都禁不住猜想∶“这个孩子将来会成为什么样的人呢?”因为,显然主的力量与他同在。

撒迦利亚赞美上帝

67 此时,孩子的父亲撒迦利亚被圣灵充满,他预言说:

68 “赞美归于主,以色列的上帝!
因为他来帮助他的子民,赐给他们自由;
69 主从他的仆人大卫家里,为我们选派了强有力的拯救者。
70 按照他借生活在很久以前神圣的先知之口做出的许诺,
71 把我们从敌人和仇视我们的人的手中拯救出来,
72 并对我们的祖先施以怜悯,牢记他的圣约,
73 那是他对我们的祖先,亚伯拉罕发的誓言:
74 让我们脱离敌人之手,使我们坦然无惧地侍奉他;
75 并使我们在他面前终身神圣和正义。
76 那么,你,我的孩子,将被称为至尊上帝的先知,
因为你将走在主的前面,
为他准备道路;
77 让他们知道他们通过宽恕而得救,
他们将因此得救,
78 由于我们的上帝的仁慈,
79 新的一天将从天堂降临到我们身上,
普照生活在死亡的阴影里的人们;
并引导我们的步伐走向和平的道路。”

80 就这样,孩子渐渐地成长着,身体和心灵越来越强壮。在向以色列人公开传道前,他一直居住在人烟稀少的地方。

Footnotes

  1. 路 加 福 音 1:5 阿比雅分支: 犹太祭司分为40个分支。见《历代志上》24。
  2. 路 加 福 音 1:25 耻辱: 犹太人当时认为女人不生育是一件可耻的事情。
  3. 路 加 福 音 1:32 大卫: 在耶稣之前一千年的以色列王。

Introduction(A)

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first(B) were eyewitnesses(C) and servants of the word.(D) With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account(E) for you, most excellent(F) Theophilus,(G) so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.(H)

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

In the time of Herod king of Judea(I) there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah;(J) his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.(K) But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,(L) he was chosen by lot,(M) according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.(N) 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.(O)

11 Then an angel(P) of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.(Q) 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.(R) 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid,(S) Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.(T) 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,(U) 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,(V) and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit(W) even before he is born.(X) 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord,(Y) in the spirit and power of Elijah,(Z) to turn the hearts of the parents to their children(AA) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”(AB)

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this?(AC) I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”(AD)

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel.(AE) I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak(AF) until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs(AG) to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace(AH) among the people.”

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel(AI) to Nazareth,(AJ) a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph,(AK) a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,(AL) Mary; you have found favor with God.(AM) 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.(AN) 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.(AO) The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,(AP) 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom(AQ) will never end.”(AR)

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you,(AS) and the power of the Most High(AT) will overshadow you. So the holy one(AU) to be born will be called[b] the Son of God.(AV) 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child(AW) in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”(AX)

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,(AY) 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.(AZ) 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women,(BA) and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord(BB) should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song(BC)

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord(BD)
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,(BE)
48 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.(BF)
From now on all generations will call me blessed,(BG)
49     for the Mighty One has done great things(BH) for me—
    holy is his name.(BI)
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.(BJ)
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;(BK)
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.(BL)
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.(BM)
53 He has filled the hungry with good things(BN)
    but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful(BO)
55 to Abraham and his descendants(BP) forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise(BQ) the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”(BR)

61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

62 Then they made signs(BS) to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”(BT) 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak,(BU) praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea(BV) people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.(BW)

Zechariah’s Song

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit(BX) and prophesied:(BY)

68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(BZ)
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.(CA)
69 He has raised up a horn[c](CB) of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David(CC)
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),(CD)
71 salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our ancestors(CE)
    and to remember his holy covenant,(CF)
73     the oath he swore to our father Abraham:(CG)
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him(CH) without fear(CI)
75     in holiness and righteousness(CJ) before him all our days.

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet(CK) of the Most High;(CL)
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,(CM)
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,(CN)
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun(CO) will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,(CP)
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”(CQ)

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit[d];(CR) and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:1 Or been surely believed
  2. Luke 1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy,
  3. Luke 1:69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king.
  4. Luke 1:80 Or in the Spirit