1-2 提阿非罗大人,已经有很多人根据最初的目击者和传道者给我们的口述,把我们中间发生的事记载下来。 我把一切事情从头至尾仔细查考之后,决定按次序写出来, 使你知道自己所学的道都是有真凭实据的。

天使预告施洗者约翰出生

犹太王希律执政期间,亚比雅的班里有位祭司名叫撒迦利亚,他妻子伊丽莎白是亚伦的后裔。 夫妻二人遵行主的一切诫命和条例,无可指责,在上帝眼中是义人。 但他们没有孩子,因为伊丽莎白不能生育,二人又年纪老迈。

有一天,轮到撒迦利亚他们那一班祭司当值, 他们按照祭司的规矩抽签,抽中撒迦利亚到主的殿里去烧香。 10 众百姓都在外面祷告。 11 那时,主的天使在香坛的右边向撒迦利亚显现, 12 撒迦利亚见了,惊慌害怕起来。

13 天使对他说:“撒迦利亚,不要害怕,你的祷告已蒙垂听。你的妻子伊丽莎白要为你生一个儿子,你要给他取名叫约翰。 14 你必欢喜快乐,许多人也会因为他的诞生而欣喜雀跃, 15 因为他将成为主伟大的仆人。他必滴酒不沾,并且在母腹里就被圣灵充满。 16 他将劝导许多以色列人回心转意,归顺主——他们的上帝。 17 他将以先知以利亚的心志和能力做主的先锋,使父亲的心转向儿女,使叛逆的人回转、顺从义人的智慧,为主预备合用的子民。”

18 撒迦利亚对天使说:“我已经老了,我的妻子也上了年纪,我如何知道这是真的呢?” 19 天使回答说:“我是侍立在上帝面前的加百列,奉命来向你报这喜讯。 20 我说的这些话到时候必定应验。但因为你不肯相信我的话,所以这事成就以前,你将变成哑巴,不能说话。”

21 人们在等候撒迦利亚,见他在圣殿里迟迟不出来,都感到奇怪。 22 后来他出来了,却成了哑巴,不能说话,只能打手势,大家意识到他在圣殿里看见了异象。 23 撒迦利亚供职期满,就回家去了。 24 不久,伊丽莎白果然怀了孕,她有五个月闭门不出。 25 她说:“主真是眷顾我,除掉了我不生育的羞耻。”

天使预告耶稣降生

26 伊丽莎白怀孕六个月的时候,天使加百列又奉上帝的命令到加利利的拿撒勒, 27 去见一位童贞女,她叫玛丽亚。玛丽亚已经和大卫的后裔约瑟订了婚。

28 天使到了玛丽亚那里,说:“恭喜你,蒙大恩的女子,主与你同在!”

29 玛丽亚听了觉得十分困惑,反复思想这话的意思。

30 天使对她说:“玛丽亚,不要害怕,你在上帝面前已经蒙恩了。 31 你要怀孕生子,并给祂取名叫耶稣。 32 祂伟大无比,将被称为至高者的儿子,主上帝要把祂祖先大卫的王位赐给祂。 33 祂要永远统治以色列[a],祂的国度永无穷尽。”

34 玛丽亚对天使说:“这怎么可能呢?我还是童贞女。”

35 天使回答说:“圣灵要临到你身上,至高者的能力要荫庇你,所以你要生的那圣婴必称为上帝的儿子。 36 看啊,你的亲戚伊丽莎白年纪老迈,一向不能生育,现在已经怀男胎六个月了。 37 因为上帝无所不能。”

38 玛丽亚说:“我是主的婢女,愿你所说的话在我身上成就。”于是天使离开了她。

玛丽亚看望伊丽莎白

39 不久,玛丽亚便动身赶到犹太山区的一座城, 40 进了撒迦利亚的家,向伊丽莎白请安。 41 伊丽莎白一听见玛丽亚的问安,腹中的胎儿便跳动起来,伊丽莎白被圣灵充满, 42 高声喊着说:“在妇女中你是最蒙福的!你腹中的孩子也是蒙福的! 43 我主的母亲来探望我,我怎么敢当呢? 44 我一听到你问安的声音,腹中的孩子就欢喜跳动。 45 相信主所说的话必实现的女子有福了!”

46 玛丽亚说:
“我的心尊主为大,
47 我的灵因我的救主上帝而欢喜,
48 因祂眷顾我这卑微的婢女,
从今以后,
世世代代都要称我是有福的。
49 全能者在我身上行了奇事,
祂的名是神圣的。
50 祂怜悯敬畏祂的人,
直到世世代代。
51 祂伸出臂膀,施展大能,
驱散心骄气傲的人。
52 祂使当权者失势,
叫谦卑的人升高。
53 祂使饥饿的得饱足,
叫富足的空手而去。
54 祂扶助了自己的仆人以色列,
55 祂要施怜悯给亚伯拉罕和他的子孙,
直到永远,
正如祂对我们祖先的应许。”

56 玛丽亚和伊丽莎白同住了约三个月,便回家去了。

施洗者约翰出生

57 伊丽莎白的产期到了,生下一个儿子。 58 亲戚和邻居听见主向她大施怜悯,都和她一同欢乐。 59 到了第八天,他们来给孩子行割礼,想照他父亲的名字给他取名叫撒迦利亚。

60 但伊丽莎白说:“不!要叫他约翰。”

61 他们说:“你们家族中没有人用这个名字啊!” 62 他们便向他父亲打手势,问他要给孩子起什么名字。 63 撒迦利亚就要了一块写字板,写上:“他的名字叫约翰。”大家看了都很惊奇。 64 就在那时,撒迦利亚恢复了说话的能力,便开口赞美上帝。 65 住在周围的人都很惧怕,这消息很快就传遍了整个犹太山区。 66 听见的人都在想:“这孩子将来会怎样呢?因为主与他同在。”

撒迦利亚的预言

67 孩子的父亲撒迦利亚被圣灵充满,便预言说:

68 “主——以色列的上帝当受称颂,
因祂眷顾、救赎了自己的子民,
69 在祂仆人大卫的家族中为我们兴起了一位大能的拯救者[b]
70 正如祂从亘古借着祂圣先知们的口所说的。
71 祂要从仇敌和一切恨我们之人手中拯救我们。
72 祂怜悯我们的祖先,
持守自己的圣约,
73 就是祂对我们的先祖亚伯拉罕所起的誓,
74 要把我们从仇敌手中拯救出来,
75 使我们一生一世在圣洁和公义中坦然无惧地事奉祂。
76 至于你,我的儿子啊!
你将要被称为至高者的先知,
因为你要走在主的前面,
为祂预备道路,
77 使百姓因罪得赦免而明白救恩的真谛。
78 由于上帝的怜悯,
清晨的曙光必从高天普照我们,
79 照亮那些生活在黑暗中和死亡阴影下的人,
带领我们走平安的道路。”

80 那孩子渐渐长大,心灵强健,在向以色列人公开露面之前,一直住在旷野。

Footnotes

  1. 1:33 以色列”希腊文是“雅各的家”。
  2. 1:69 拯救者”希腊文是“拯救的角”。

序言(参(A)

尊敬的提阿非罗先生,因为有许多人,已经把在我们中间成就了的事, 按照起初亲眼看见的传道人所传给我们的,编着成书; 我已经把这些事从头考查过,认为也应该按着次序写给你, 让你晓得所学到的道理,都是确实的。

天使预言施洗约翰出生

犹太王希律在位的日子,亚比雅班里有一个祭司,名叫撒迦利亚,他妻子是亚伦的后代,名叫以利沙伯。 他们在 神面前都是义人,遵行主的一切诫命规条,无可指摘, 只是没有孩子,因为以利沙伯不生育,二人又都上了年纪。

有一次,撒迦利亚在 神面前按着班次执行祭司的职务, 照祭司的惯例抽中了签,进入主的圣殿烧香。 10 烧香的时候,众人都在外面祈祷。 11 有主的使者站在香坛右边,向他显现。 12 撒迦利亚一见就惊慌起来,十分害怕。 13 天使说:“撒迦利亚,不要怕,因为你的祈求已蒙垂听,你妻子以利沙伯要给你生一个儿子,你要给他起名叫约翰。 14 你必欢喜快乐,许多人因他出生,也必喜乐。 15 他在主面前要被尊为大,淡酒浓酒都不喝,未出母腹就被圣灵充满。 16 他要使许多以色列人转向主他们的 神。 17 他必有以利亚的灵和能力,行在主的前面,叫父亲的心转向儿女,叫悖逆的转向义人的意念,为主安排那预备好了的人民。” 18 撒迦利亚对天使说:“我怎么能知道这事呢?我已经老了,我妻子也上了年纪。” 19 天使回答:“我是站在 神面前的加百列,奉差遣向你说话,报给你这好消息。 20 看吧!到了时候我的话必要应验;因为你不信我的话,你必成为哑巴,直到这些事成就的那一天,才能说话。”

21 众人等候撒迦利亚;因他在圣殿里迟迟不出来,觉得奇怪。 22 等到他出来,却不能讲话,竟成了哑巴,不断地向他们打手式,他们就知道他在圣殿里见了异象。 23 供职的日子满了,他就回家去。 24 过了几天,他妻子以利沙伯怀了孕,隐藏了五个月,说: 25 “主在眷顾的日子,这样看待我,要把我在人间的羞耻除掉。”

天使预言耶稣降生

26 到了第六个月,天使加百列奉 神差遣,往加利利的拿撒勒城去, 27 到了一个童贞女那里,她已经和大卫家一个名叫约瑟的人订了婚,童贞女的名字是马利亚。 28 天使进去,对她说:“恭喜!蒙大恩的女子,主与你同在!” 29 她却因这话惊慌起来,反复思想这样祝贺是甚么意思。 30 天使说:“马利亚,不要怕!因你已从 神那里蒙了恩。 31 你将怀孕生子,要给他起名叫耶稣。 32 他将要被尊为大,称为至高者的儿子,主 神要把他祖大卫的王位赐给他, 33 他要作王统治雅各家,直到永远,他的国没有穷尽。” 34 马利亚对天使说:“我还没有出嫁(“我还没有出嫁”原文作“我不认识男人”),怎能有这事呢?” 35 天使回答:“圣灵要临到你,至高者的能力要覆庇你,因此那将要出生的圣者,必称为 神的儿子。 36 你看,你亲戚以利沙伯,被称为不生育的,在老年也怀了男胎,现在已是第六个月了, 37 因为在 神没有一件事是不可能的。” 38 马利亚说:“我是主的婢女,愿照你的话成就在我身上!”天使就离开她去了。

马利亚往见以利沙伯

39 后来,马利亚就起身,急忙向山地去,来到犹大的一座城, 40 进了撒迦利亚的家,向以利沙伯问安。 41 以利沙伯一听见马利亚的问安,腹中的胎儿就跳动,以利沙伯也被圣灵充满, 42 就高声说:“你在女子中是有福的!你腹中的胎儿也是有福的! 43 我主的母亲竟然到我这里来。这事怎会临到我呢? 44 你看,你问安的声音一进我的耳朵,我腹中的胎儿就欢喜跳跃。 45 这相信主传给她的话必要成就的女子是有福的。”

马利亚尊主为大(参(B)

46 马利亚说:

“我心尊主为大,

47 我灵以 神我的救主为乐,

48 因为他垂顾他婢女的卑微,

看哪!今后万代都要称我为有福。

49 全能者为我行了大事,他的名为圣;

50 他的怜悯世世代代归与敬畏他的人。

51 他用膀臂施展大能,

驱散心里妄想的狂傲人。

52 他使有权能的失位,

叫卑微的升高,

53 让饥饿的得饱美食,

使富足的空手回去。

54 他扶助了他的仆人以色列,

为要记念他的怜悯,

55 正如他向我们列祖所说的,

恩待亚伯拉罕和他的后裔,直到永远。”

56 马利亚和以利沙伯同住约有三个月,就回家去了。

施洗约翰出生

57 以利沙伯的产期到了,生了一个儿子。 58 邻里亲戚,听见主向她大施怜悯,都和她一同欢乐。 59 到了第八天,他们来给孩子行割礼,要照他父亲的名字,叫他撒迦利亚。 60 但他母亲说:“不可,要叫他约翰。” 61 他们说:“你亲族里没有叫这名字的。” 62 他们就向孩子的父亲打手式,看他要叫他甚么。 63 他要了一块写字版,写上说:“他的名字是约翰。”众人都希奇。 64 撒迦利亚的口舌立刻开了,就出声称颂 神。 65 住在周围的人都害怕,这一切事传遍了整个犹太山地, 66 凡听见的就把这些事放在心里,说:“这孩子将会成为怎样的人呢?因为主的手与他同在。”

撒迦利亚的预言

67 他的父亲撒迦利亚被圣灵充满,预言说:

68 “主,以色列的 神,是应当称颂的,

因他眷顾自己的子民,施行救赎,

69 在他仆人大卫家中,

为我们兴起救恩的角,

70 正如主自古以来藉圣先知口中所说的,

71 救我们脱离仇敌,和恨我们的人的手;

72 向我们列祖施怜悯,记念他的圣约,

73 就是他对我们祖先亚伯拉罕所起的誓,

74 把我们从仇敌手中救拔出来,

叫我们可以坦然无惧,用圣洁公义,

75 在他面前一生一世敬拜他。

76 孩子啊,你要称为至高者的先知,

因为你要行在主的面前,预备他的路,

77 使他的子民,因罪得赦,就知道救恩。

78 因我们 神的怜悯,

使清晨的阳光从高天临到我们,

79 光照那坐在黑暗中死荫里的人,

引导我们的脚,走上平安的路。”

80 这孩子渐渐长大,心灵健壮,住在旷野,直到他在以色列人中公开露面的日子。

Luke’s Dedication to Theophilus

Since many people have attempted to write an orderly account of the events that have transpired among us, just as they were passed down to us by those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning, I, too, have carefully investigated everything from the beginning and have decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

The Birth of John the Baptist is Foretold

During the reign[a] of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord. They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and because both of them were getting old.[b]

When Zechariah[c] was serving with his division of priests in God’s presence, he was chosen by lot to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense, according to the custom of the priests. 10 And the entire congregation of people was praying outside at the time when the incense was burned.

11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel told him, “Stop being afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy,[d] and many people will rejoice at his birth, 15 because he will be great in the Lord’s presence. He will never drink wine or any strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring many of Israel’s descendants back to the Lord their God. 17 He is the one who will go before the Lord[e] with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and to prepare the people to be ready for the Lord.”

18 Then Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man, and my wife is getting older?”[f]

19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to announce this good news to you. 20 But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time,[g] you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens.”

21 Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long. 22 But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them but remained unable to speak. 23 When the days of his service were over, he went home.

24 After this,[h] his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 “This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace.”

The Birth of Jesus is Foretold

26 Now in the sixth month of her pregnancy,[i] the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant[j] of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel[k] came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!”[l] 29 Startled by his statement, she tried to figure out what his greeting meant.

30 Then the angel told her, “Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. 31 Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen, since I have not had relations with[m] a man?”

35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God. 36 And listen! Elizabeth, your relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age, this woman who was rumored to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God’s promises.”

38 Then Mary said, “Truly I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you have said happen to me.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Later on,[n] Mary set out for a Judean city in the hill country. 40 She went into Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she loudly exclaimed, “How blessed are you among women, and how blessed is the infant in[o] your womb! 43 Why should this happen to me, to have the mother of my Lord visit me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 How blessed is this woman who believed that what the Lord told her would be fulfilled!”

Mary’s Song of Praise

46 Then Mary said,

“My soul praises the greatness of the Lord!
47 My spirit exults in God, my Savior,
48 because he has looked favorably on his humble servant.

From now on, all generations will call me blessed,
49 because the Almighty has done great things for me.
        His name is holy.
50 His mercy lasts from generation to generation
    for those who fear him.
51 He displayed his mighty power with his arm.
    He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart.[p]
52 He pulled powerful rulers from their thrones
    and lifted up humble people.
53 He filled hungry people with good things
    and sent rich people away with nothing.
54 He helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful,
55 according to the promise he made[q] to our ancestors—
    to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

56 Now Mary stayed with Elizabeth[r] about three months and then went back home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

59 On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said, “Absolutely not! He must be named John.”

61 Their friends[s] told her, “None of your relatives has that name.”

62 So they motioned to the baby’s[t] father to see what he wanted to name him. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And everyone was amazed.

64 Suddenly, Zechariah could open his mouth,[u] his tongue was set free, and he began to speak and to praise God. 65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. 66 Everyone who heard about it kept thinking what had happened and asked, “What will this child become?” because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him.

The Prophecy of Zechariah

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel!
    He has taken care of his people and has set them free.

69 He has raised up a mighty Savior[v] for us
    from the family of his servant David,
70 just as he promised long ago
through the mouth of his holy prophets
71 that he would save us from our enemies
    and from the grip of all who hate us.

72 He has shown mercy to our ancestors
    and remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham.

He granted us 74 deliverance from our enemies’ grip
    so that we could serve him without fear
75 and be holy and righteous before him all of our days.

76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
    because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way
77 and to give his people knowledge of salvation
    through forgiveness of their sins.

78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
    his light[w] from on high has visited us,
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death’s shadow,
    and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 Now the child continued to grow and to become spiritually strong.[x] He lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared in Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:5 Lit. In the days
  2. Luke 1:7 Lit. were advancing in their days
  3. Luke 1:8 Lit. he
  4. Luke 1:14 Lit. have joy and gladness
  5. Luke 1:17 Lit. before him
  6. Luke 1:18 Lit. is advancing in her days
  7. Luke 1:20 Lit. in their times
  8. Luke 1:24 Lit. After those days
  9. Luke 1:26 The Gk. lacks of her pregnancy
  10. Luke 1:27 Lit. of the house
  11. Luke 1:28 Lit. He
  12. Luke 1:28 Other mss. read is with you! How blessed are you among women!
  13. Luke 1:34 Lit. I have not known
  14. Luke 1:39 Lit. In those days
  15. Luke 1:42 Lit. the fruit of
  16. Luke 1:51 Lit. in the mind of their heart
  17. Luke 1:55 Lit. just as he spoke
  18. Luke 1:56 Lit. with her
  19. Luke 1:61 Lit. They
  20. Luke 1:62 Lit. to his
  21. Luke 1:64 Lit. his mouth was opened
  22. Luke 1:69 Lit. a horn of salvation
  23. Luke 1:78 Or dawn
  24. Luke 1:80 Or become strong in the Spirit