Lucas 1
Ang Biblia, 2001
Layunin ng Aklat
1 Yamang marami ang nagsikap mag-ayos ng isang kasaysayan tungkol sa mga bagay na naganap sa gitna natin,
2 ayon sa ipinaalam sa atin ng mga taong buhat sa pasimula ay mga saksing nakakita at mga tagapangaral[a] ng salita,
3 ay minabuti ko naman, pagkatapos na siyasating mabuti ang lahat ng mga pangyayari buhat sa pasimula, na sumulat ng isang maayos na salaysay para sa iyo, kagalang-galang na Teofilo,
4 upang malaman mo ang katiyakan ng mga bagay na itinuro sa iyo.
Ipinahayag ang Kapanganakan ni Juan na Tagapagbautismo
5 Nang(A) panahon ni Haring Herodes ng Judea,[b] may isang paring ang pangalan ay Zacarias, mula sa pangkat ni Abias. Ang naging asawa niya ay isa sa mga anak na babae ni Aaron na ang pangalan ay Elizabeth.
6 Sila'y kapwa matuwid sa harapan ng Diyos, at nabubuhay na walang kapintasan ayon sa lahat ng mga utos at alituntunin ng Panginoon.
7 Subalit wala silang anak, sapagkat baog si Elizabeth at sila'y kapwa matanda na.
8 Samantalang naglilingkod siya sa Diyos bilang pari at ang kanyang pangkat ang nanunungkulan,
9 ayon sa kaugalian ng mga pari, napili siya sa pamamagitan ng palabunutan na pumasok sa templo ng Panginoon at magsunog ng insenso.
10 At sa oras ng paghahandog ng insenso, ang napakaraming tao ay nananalangin sa labas.
11 Nagpakita sa kanya ang isang anghel ng Panginoon na nakatayo sa gawing kanan ng dambana ng insenso.
12 Nang makita niya ang anghel, nasindak at natakot si Zacarias.
13 Subalit sinabi sa kanya ng anghel, “Huwag kang matakot, Zacarias, sapagkat pinakinggan ang panalangin mo at ang asawa mong si Elizabeth ay magsisilang sa iyo ng isang anak na lalaki at tatawagin mo siya sa pangalang Juan.
14 Ikaw ay magkakaroon ng kaligayahan at kagalakan at marami ang matutuwa sa kanyang pagsilang.
15 Sapagkat(B) siya'y magiging dakila sa harapan ng Panginoon, at hindi siya iinom ng alak o matapang na inumin. Siya'y mapupuno ng Espiritu Santo mula pa sa sinapupunan ng kanyang ina.
16 Marami sa mga anak ni Israel ang panunumbalikin niya sa Panginoon nilang Diyos.
17 Siya'y(C) lalakad sa unahan niya sa espiritu at kapangyarihan ni Elias, upang papanumbalikin ang mga puso ng mga magulang[c] sa kanilang mga anak, at ang mga suwail sa karunungan ng mga matuwid, upang ihanda ang isang bayang nakalaan sa Panginoon.”
18 Sinabi ni Zacarias sa anghel, “Paano ko malalamang gayon nga? Sapagkat ako ay matanda na at ang aking asawa ay puspos na ng mga araw.”
19 At(D) sinagot siya ng anghel, “Ako si Gabriel na tumatayo sa harapan ng Diyos. Ako'y sinugo upang makipag-usap at ipahayag sa iyo itong magandang balita.
20 Subalit ngayon, sapagkat hindi ka naniwala sa aking mga salita na magaganap sa kanilang kapanahunan, ikaw ay magiging pipi at di makapagsasalita, hanggang sa araw na mangyari ang mga bagay na ito.”
21 Samantala, hinihintay ng mga tao si Zacarias at nagtaka sila sa kanyang pagtatagal sa loob ng templo.
22 Nang lumabas siya, hindi siya makapagsalita sa kanila. Inakala nila na siya'y nakakita ng isang pangitain sa templo. Siya'y nakipag-usap sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mga hudyat, at siya'y nanatiling pipi.
23 Nang matapos na ang mga araw ng kanyang paglilingkod, siya'y umuwi sa kanyang bahay.
24 Pagkalipas ng mga araw na ito ay naglihi ang kanyang asawang si Elizabeth. Siya ay nagtago nang limang buwan, na nagsasabi,
25 “Ganito ang ginawa ng Panginoon sa akin nang mga araw na ako'y kanyang bigyang-pansin upang alisin ang aking kahihiyan sa gitna ng mga tao.”
Ipinahayag ang Kapanganakan ni Jesus
26 Nang ikaanim na buwan,[d] sinugo ng Diyos ang anghel na si Gabriel sa isang bayan ng Galilea, na tinatawag na Nazaret,
27 sa(E) isang birheng nakatakdang ikasal sa isang lalaki, na ang pangalan ay Jose, mula sa sambahayan ni David. Ang pangalan ng birhen ay Maria.
28 Lumapit ang anghel sa kanya, at sinabi, “Magalak ka, ikaw na pinagpala! Ang Panginoon ay sumasaiyo.”[e]
29 Subalit siya'y lubhang naguluhan sa sinabing iyon at inisip niya sa kanyang sarili kung anong uri ng pagbati kaya ito.
30 Sinabi sa kanya ng anghel, “Huwag kang matakot, Maria, sapagkat nakatagpo ka ng paglingap sa Diyos.
31 At ngayon,(F) maglilihi ka sa iyong sinapupunan at magsisilang ka ng isang anak na lalaki, at tatawagin mo siya sa pangalang Jesus.
32 Siya'y(G) magiging dakila at tatawaging Anak ng Kataas-taasan at ibibigay sa kanya ng Panginoong Diyos ang trono ng kanyang amang si David.
33 Siya'y maghahari sa sambahayan ni Jacob magpakailanman at hindi magwawakas ang kanyang kaharian.”
34 Sinabi ni Maria sa anghel, “Paanong mangyayari ito, samantalang ako'y wala pang nakikilalang[f] lalaki.”
35 At sumagot ang anghel sa kanya, “Bababa sa iyo ang Espiritu Santo at lililiman ka ng kapangyarihan ng Kataas-taasan. Kaya't ang batang banal ay tatawaging Anak ng Diyos.
36 Si Elizabeth na iyong kamag-anak ay naglihi rin ng isang anak na lalaki, bagama't siya'y matanda na. Ito ang ikaanim na buwan niya, na dati'y tinatawag na baog.
37 Sapagkat(H) sa Diyos ay walang salitang hindi mangyayari.”
38 At sinabi ni Maria, “Narito ako na alipin ng Panginoon; mangyari sa akin ang ayon sa iyong salita.” Pagkatapos, iniwan siya ng anghel.
Dinalaw ni Maria si Elizabeth
39 Nang mga araw na iyon ay tumindig si Maria at nagmadaling pumunta sa isang bayan ng Judea, sa lupaing maburol.
40 Pumasok siya sa bahay ni Zacarias at bumati kay Elizabeth.
41 Nang marinig ni Elizabeth ang bati ni Maria, gumalaw ang sanggol sa kanyang sinapupunan at napuno si Elizabeth ng Espiritu Santo.
42 Sumigaw siya nang malakas at sinabi, “Pinagpala ka sa mga babae, at pinagpala ang bunga ng iyong sinapupunan!
43 Bakit nangyari ito sa akin, na ako ay dapat dalawin ng ina ng aking Panginoon?
44 Sapagkat nang ang tinig ng iyong pagbati ay aking nadinig, gumalaw sa tuwa ang sanggol sa aking sinapupunan.
45 Mapalad ang babaing sumampalataya na matutupad ang mga bagay na sinabi sa kanya ng Panginoon.”
Umawit ng Papuri si Maria
46 Sinabi(I) ni Maria,
47 “Dinadakila ng aking kaluluwa ang Panginoon,
at nagagalak ang aking espiritu sa Diyos na aking Tagapagligtas.
48 Sapagkat(J) nilingap niya ang abang kalagayan ng kanyang alipin.
Sapagkat tiyak na mula ngayon ay tatawagin akong mapalad ng lahat ng salinlahi.
49 Sapagkat siya na makapangyarihan ay gumawa para sa akin ng mga dakilang bagay
at banal ang kanyang pangalan.
50 Ang kanyang awa ay sa mga natatakot sa kanya
sa lahat ng sali't-saling lahi.
51 Siya'y nagpakita ng lakas sa pamamagitan ng kanyang bisig;
pinagwatak-watak niya ang mga palalo sa mga haka ng kanilang puso.
52 Ibinaba(K) niya ang mga makapangyarihan sa kanilang mga trono,
at itinaas ang mga may abang kalagayan.
53 Ang mga gutom ay binusog niya ng mabubuting bagay,
at ang mayayaman ay pinaalis niya na walang dalang anuman.
54 Tinulungan niya ang Israel na kanyang alipin,
bilang pag-alaala sa kanyang kahabagan.
55 Tulad(L) nang sinabi niya sa ating mga magulang,
kay Abraham at sa kanyang binhi magpakailanman.”
56 Si Maria ay nanatiling kasama niya nang may tatlong buwan, at umuwi siya sa kanyang bahay.
Isinilang si Juan na Tagapagbautismo
57 Dumating na kay Elizabeth ang panahon ng panganganak at siya'y nagsilang ng isang anak na lalaki.
58 Nabalitaan ng kanyang mga kapitbahay at mga kamag-anak na nagpakita ang Panginoon ng dakilang awa sa kanya at sila'y nakigalak sa kanya.
59 Nang(M) ikawalong araw ay dumating sila upang tuliin ang sanggol. Siya'y tatawagin sana nila na Zacarias, ayon sa pangalan ng kanyang ama,
60 ngunit sumagot ang kanyang ina at nagsabi, “Hindi. Ang itatawag sa kanya ay Juan.”
61 At sinabi nila sa kanya, “Wala kang kamag-anak na may ganitong pangalan.”
62 Sinenyasan nila ang kanyang ama, kung ano ang ibig niyang itawag sa sanggol.[g]
63 Humingi siya ng isang sulatan at kanyang isinulat, “Ang kanyang pangalan ay Juan.” At namangha silang lahat.
64 Biglang nabuksan ang kanyang bibig, nakalaya ang kanyang dila, at siya'y nagsalita na pinupuri ang Diyos.
65 Nagkaroon ng takot ang lahat ng nakatira sa palibot nila, at ang lahat ng mga bagay na ito ay pinag-usapan sa buong lupaing maburol ng Judea.
66 Lahat ng mga nakarinig ay inilagay ang mga ito sa kanilang puso, na sinasabi, “Magiging ano nga kaya ang batang ito?” Sapagkat ang kamay ng Panginoon ay sumasakanya.
Ang Propesiya ni Zacarias
67 Si Zacarias na kanyang ama ay napuno ng Espiritu Santo at sinabi ang propesiyang ito,
68 “Purihin ang Panginoon, ang Diyos ng Israel,
sapagkat kanyang dinalaw at tinubos ang kanyang bayan,
69 at nagtaas ng isang sungay ng kaligtasan para sa atin
sa sambahayan ni David na kanyang lingkod,
70 gaya nang sinabi niya sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga banal na propeta mula noong unang panahon,
71 upang tayo ay maligtas mula sa ating mga kaaway, at mula sa kamay ng lahat ng napopoot sa atin,
72 upang ipakita ang habag sa ating mga magulang,[h]
at alalahanin ang kanyang banal na tipan,
73 ang pangakong sinumpaan niya sa ating amang si Abraham,
74 na ipagkaloob sa atin, na tayong iniligtas mula sa kamay ng ating mga kaaway,
ay maglingkod sa kanya nang walang takot,
75 sa kabanalan at katuwiran
sa harapan niya sa lahat ng ating mga araw.
76 At(N) ikaw, anak, ay tatawaging propeta ng Kataas-taasan,
sapagkat mauuna ka sa Panginoon upang ihanda ang kanyang mga daan;
77 upang magbigay ng kaalaman ng kaligtasan sa kanyang bayan,
sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatawad sa kanilang mga kasalanan,
78 sa pamamagitan ng magiliw na habag ng ating Diyos,
kapag ang pagbubukang-liwayway buhat sa itaas ay sumilay[i] sa atin,
79 upang(O) bigyang-liwanag ang mga nakaupo sa kadiliman at sa lilim ng kamatayan,
upang patnubayan ang ating mga paa sa daan ng kapayapaan.”
80 Lumaki ang sanggol at lumakas sa espiritu. At siya ay nasa mga ilang hanggang sa araw ng kanyang pagpapakita sa Israel.
Footnotes
- Lucas 1:2 o lingkod .
- Lucas 1:5 JUDEA: Tumutukoy ito sa buong lupain ng Palestina.
- Lucas 1:17 Sa Griyego ay mga ama .
- Lucas 1:26 IKAANIM NA BUWAN: Tingnan ang talata 36.
- Lucas 1:28 Sa ibang mga kasulatan ay idinagdag ang Pinagpala ka sa lahat ng mga babae .
- Lucas 1:34 Wala pang karanasan sa pakikipagtalik .
- Lucas 1:62 Sa Griyego ay kanya .
- Lucas 1:72 o ninuno .
- Lucas 1:78 Sa ibang mga kasulatan ay dumalaw .
Luke 1
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
I. The Prologue[a]
Chapter 1
1 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us,(A) 2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,(B) 3 I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.
II. The Infancy Narrative[b]
Announcement of the Birth of John. 5 In the days of Herod, King of Judea,[c] there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.(C) 6 Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. 7 But they had no child,[d] because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.(D) 8 Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, 9 according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.(E) 10 Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, 11 the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid,[e] Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.(F) 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of [the] Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.[f] He will be filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,(G) 16 and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah[g] to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”(H) 18 Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel,[h] who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.(I) 20 But now you will be speechless and unable to talk[i] until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”(J)
21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. 23 Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. 24 After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”(K)
Announcement of the Birth of Jesus.[j] 26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.(L) 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”(M) 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 (N)Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 (O)He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,[k] and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”(P) 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”[l] 35 And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.(Q) 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived[m] a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God.”(R) 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth. 39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,(S) 42 cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.(T) 43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord[n] should come to me? 44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed are you who believed[o] that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”(U)
The Canticle of Mary. 46 (V)And Mary said:[p]
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;(W)
47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.(X)
48 For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.(Y)
49 The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.(Z)
50 His mercy is from age to age
to those who fear him.(AA)
51 He has shown might with his arm,
dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.(AB)
52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the lowly.(AC)
53 The hungry he has filled with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.(AD)
54 He has helped Israel his servant,
remembering his mercy,(AE)
55 according to his promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”(AF)
56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
The Birth of John.[q] 57 When the time arrived 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 toward her, and they rejoiced with her.(AG) 59 [r]When they came on the eighth day to circumcise(AH) the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.”(AI) 61 But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.(AJ) 65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The Canticle of Zechariah. 67 Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:
68 [s]“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.(AK)
69 [t]He has raised up a horn for our salvation
within the house of David his servant,(AL)
70 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old:
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,(AM)
72 to show mercy to our fathers(AN)
and to be mindful of his holy covenant(AO)
73 and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father,(AP)
and to grant us that, 74 rescued from the hand of enemies,
without fear we might worship him 75 in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.(AQ)
76 And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord[u] to prepare his ways,(AR)
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God(AS)
by which the daybreak from on high[v] will visit us(AT)
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.(AU)
Footnotes
- 1:1–4 The Gospel according to Luke is the only one of the synoptic gospels to begin with a literary prologue. Making use of a formal, literary construction and vocabulary, the author writes the prologue in imitation of Hellenistic Greek writers and, in so doing, relates his story about Jesus to contemporaneous Greek and Roman literature. Luke is not only interested in the words and deeds of Jesus, but also in the larger context of the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises of God in the Old Testament. As a second- or third-generation Christian, Luke acknowledges his debt to earlier eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, but claims that his contribution to this developing tradition is a complete and accurate account, told in an orderly manner, and intended to provide Theophilus (“friend of God,” literally) and other readers with certainty about earlier teachings they have received.
- 1:5–2:52 Like the Gospel according to Matthew, this gospel opens with an infancy narrative, a collection of stories about the birth and childhood of Jesus. The narrative uses early Christian traditions about the birth of Jesus, traditions about the birth and circumcision of John the Baptist, and canticles such as the Magnificat (Lk 1:46–55) and Benedictus (Lk 1:67–79), composed of phrases drawn from the Greek Old Testament. It is largely, however, the composition of Luke who writes in imitation of Old Testament birth stories, combining historical and legendary details, literary ornamentation and interpretation of scripture, to answer in advance the question, “Who is Jesus Christ?” The focus of the narrative, therefore, is primarily christological. In this section Luke announces many of the themes that will become prominent in the rest of the gospel: the centrality of Jerusalem and the temple, the journey motif, the universality of salvation, joy and peace, concern for the lowly, the importance of women, the presentation of Jesus as savior, Spirit-guided revelation and prophecy, and the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. The account presents parallel scenes (diptychs) of angelic announcements of the birth of John the Baptist and of Jesus, and of the birth, circumcision, and presentation of John and Jesus. In this parallelism, the ascendency of Jesus over John is stressed: John is prophet of the Most High (Lk 1:76); Jesus is Son of the Most High (Lk 1:32). John is great in the sight of the Lord (Lk 1:15); Jesus will be Great (a LXX attribute, used absolutely, of God) (Lk 1:32). John will go before the Lord (Lk 1:16–17); Jesus will be Lord (Lk 1:43; 2:11).
- 1:5 In the days of Herod, King of Judea: Luke relates the story of salvation history to events in contemporary world history. Here and in Lk 3:1–2 he connects his narrative with events in Palestinian history; in Lk 2:1–2 and Lk 3:1 he casts the Jesus story in the light of events of Roman history. Herod the Great, the son of the Idumean Antipater, was declared “King of Judea” by the Roman Senate in 40 B.C., but became the undisputed ruler of Palestine only in 37 B.C. He continued as king until his death in 4 B.C. Priestly division of Abijah: a reference to the eighth of the twenty-four divisions of priests who, for a week at a time, twice a year, served in the Jerusalem temple.
- 1:7 They had no child: though childlessness was looked upon in contemporaneous Judaism as a curse or punishment for sin, it is intended here to present Elizabeth in a situation similar to that of some of the great mothers of important Old Testament figures: Sarah (Gn 15:3; 16:1); Rebekah (Gn 25:21); Rachel (Gn 29:31; 30:1); the mother of Samson and wife of Manoah (Jgs 13:2–3); Hannah (1 Sm 1:2).
- 1:13 Do not be afraid: a stereotyped Old Testament phrase spoken to reassure the recipient of a heavenly vision (Gn 15:1; Jos 1:9; Dn 10:12, 19 and elsewhere in Lk 1:30; 2:10). You shall name him John: the name means “Yahweh has shown favor,” an indication of John’s role in salvation history.
- 1:15 He will drink neither wine nor strong drink: like Samson (Jgs 13:4–5) and Samuel (1 Sm 1:11 LXX and 4QSama), John is to be consecrated by Nazirite vow and set apart for the Lord’s service.
- 1:17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah: John is to be the messenger sent before Yahweh, as described in Mal 3:1–2. He is cast, moreover, in the role of the Old Testament fiery reformer, the prophet Elijah, who according to Mal 3:23 (Mal 4:5) is sent before “the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.”
- 1:19 I am Gabriel: “the angel of the Lord” is identified as Gabriel, the angel who in Dn 9:20–25 announces the seventy weeks of years and the coming of an anointed one, a prince. By alluding to Old Testament themes in Lk 1:17, 19 such as the coming of the day of the Lord and the dawning of the messianic era, Luke is presenting his interpretation of the significance of the births of John and Jesus.
- 1:20 You will be speechless and unable to talk: Zechariah’s becoming mute is the sign given in response to his question in v 18. When Mary asks a similar question in Lk 1:34, unlike Zechariah who was punished for his doubt, she, in spite of her doubt, is praised and reassured (Lk 1:35–37).
- 1:26–38 The announcement to Mary of the birth of Jesus is parallel to the announcement to Zechariah of the birth of John. In both the angel Gabriel appears to the parent who is troubled by the vision (Lk 1:11–12, 26–29) and then told by the angel not to fear (Lk 1:13, 30). After the announcement is made (Lk 1:14–17, 31–33) the parent objects (Lk 1:18, 34) and a sign is given to confirm the announcement (Lk 1:20, 36). The particular focus of the announcement of the birth of Jesus is on his identity as Son of David (Lk 1:32–33) and Son of God (Lk 1:32, 35).
- 1:32 Son of the Most High: cf. Lk 1:76 where John is described as “prophet of the Most High.” “Most High” is a title for God commonly used by Luke (Lk 1:35, 76; 6:35; 8:28; Acts 7:48; 16:17).
- 1:34 Mary’s questioning response is a denial of sexual relations and is used by Luke to lead to the angel’s declaration about the Spirit’s role in the conception of this child (Lk 1:35). According to Luke, the virginal conception of Jesus takes place through the holy Spirit, the power of God, and therefore Jesus has a unique relationship to Yahweh: he is Son of God.
- 1:36–37 The sign given to Mary in confirmation of the angel’s announcement to her is the pregnancy of her aged relative Elizabeth. If a woman past the childbearing age could become pregnant, why, the angel implies, should there be doubt about Mary’s pregnancy, for nothing will be impossible for God.
- 1:43 Even before his birth, Jesus is identified in Luke as the Lord.
- 1:45 Blessed are you who believed: Luke portrays Mary as a believer whose faith stands in contrast to the disbelief of Zechariah (Lk 1:20). Mary’s role as believer in the infancy narrative should be seen in connection with the explicit mention of her presence among “those who believed” after the resurrection at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:14).
- 1:46–55 Although Mary is praised for being the mother of the Lord and because of her belief, she reacts as the servant in a psalm of praise, the Magnificat. Because there is no specific connection of the canticle to the context of Mary’s pregnancy and her visit to Elizabeth, the Magnificat (with the possible exception of v 48) may have been a Jewish Christian hymn that Luke found appropriate at this point in his story. Even if not composed by Luke, it fits in well with themes found elsewhere in Luke: joy and exultation in the Lord; the lowly being singled out for God’s favor; the reversal of human fortunes; the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. The loose connection between the hymn and the context is further seen in the fact that a few Old Latin manuscripts identify the speaker of the hymn as Elizabeth, even though the overwhelming textual evidence makes Mary the speaker.
- 1:57–66 The birth and circumcision of John above all emphasize John’s incorporation into the people of Israel by the sign of the covenant (Gn 17:1–12). The narrative of John’s circumcision also prepares the way for the subsequent description of the circumcision of Jesus in Lk 2:21. At the beginning of his two-volume work Luke shows those who play crucial roles in the inauguration of Christianity to be wholly a part of the people of Israel. At the end of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 21:20; 22:3; 23:6–9; 24:14–16; 26:2–8, 22–23) he will argue that Christianity is the direct descendant of Pharisaic Judaism.
- 1:59 The practice of Palestinian Judaism at this time was to name the child at birth; moreover, though naming a male child after the father is not completely unknown, the usual practice was to name the child after the grandfather (see Lk 1:61). The naming of the child John and Zechariah’s recovery from his loss of speech should be understood as fulfilling the angel’s announcement to Zechariah in Lk 1:13, 20.
- 1:68–79 Like the canticle of Mary (Lk 1:46–55) the canticle of Zechariah is only loosely connected with its context. Apart from Lk 1:76–77, the hymn in speaking of a horn for our salvation (Lk 1:69) and the daybreak from on high (Lk 1:78) applies more closely to Jesus and his work than to John. Again like Mary’s canticle, it is largely composed of phrases taken from the Greek Old Testament and may have been a Jewish Christian hymn of praise that Luke adapted to fit the present context by inserting Lk 1:76–77 to give Zechariah’s reply to the question asked in Lk 1:66.
- 1:69 A horn for our salvation: the horn is a common Old Testament figure for strength (Ps 18:3; 75:5–6; 89:18; 112:9; 148:14). This description is applied to God in Ps 18:3 and is here transferred to Jesus. The connection of the phrase with the house of David gives the title messianic overtones and may indicate an allusion to a phrase in Hannah’s song of praise (1 Sm 2:10), “the horn of his anointed.”
- 1:76 You will go before the Lord: here the Lord is most likely a reference to Jesus (contrast Lk 1:15–17 where Yahweh is meant) and John is presented as the precursor of Jesus.
- 1:78 The daybreak from on high: three times in the LXX (Jer 23:5; Zec 3:8; 6:12), the Greek word used here for daybreak translates the Hebrew word for “scion, branch,” an Old Testament messianic title.
路加福音 1
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
1 1-2 提阿非羅大人，已經有很多人根據最初的目擊者和傳道者給我們的口述，把我們中間發生的事記載下來。 3 我把一切事情從頭至尾仔細查考之後，決定按次序寫出來， 4 使你知道自己所學的道都是有真憑實據的。
天使預告施洗者約翰出生
5 猶太王希律執政期間，亞比雅的班裡有位祭司名叫撒迦利亞，他妻子伊莉莎白是亞倫的後裔。 6 夫妻二人遵行主的一切誡命和條例，無可指責，在上帝眼中是義人。 7 但他們沒有孩子，因為伊莉莎白不能生育，二人又年紀老邁。
8 有一天，輪到撒迦利亞他們那一班祭司當值， 9 他們按照祭司的規矩抽籤，抽中撒迦利亞到主的殿裡去燒香。 10 眾百姓都在外面禱告。 11 那時，主的天使在香壇的右邊向撒迦利亞顯現， 12 撒迦利亞見了，驚慌害怕起來。
13 天使對他說：「撒迦利亞，不要害怕，你的禱告已蒙垂聽。你的妻子伊莉莎白要為你生一個兒子，你要給他取名叫約翰。 14 你必歡喜快樂，許多人也會因為他的誕生而欣喜雀躍， 15 因為他將成為主偉大的僕人。他必滴酒不沾，並且在母腹裡就被聖靈充滿。 16 他將勸導許多以色列人回心轉意，歸順主——他們的上帝。 17 他將以先知以利亞的心志和能力作主的先鋒，使父親的心轉向兒女，使叛逆的人回轉、順從義人的智慧，為主預備合用的子民。」
18 撒迦利亞對天使說：「我已經老了，我的妻子也上了年紀，我如何知道這是真的呢？」 19 天使回答說：「我是侍立在上帝面前的加百列，奉命來向你報這喜訊。 20 我說的這些話到時候必定應驗。但因為你不肯相信我的話，所以這事成就以前，你將變成啞巴，不能說話。」
21 人們在等候撒加利亞，見他在聖殿裡遲遲不出來，都感到奇怪。 22 後來他出來了，卻成了啞巴，不能說話，只能打手勢，大家意識到他在聖殿裡看見了異象。 23 撒迦利亞供職期滿，就回家去了。 24 不久，伊莉莎白果然懷了孕，她有五個月閉門不出。 25 她說：「主真是眷顧我，除掉了我不生育的羞恥。」
天使預告耶穌降生
26 伊莉莎白懷孕六個月的時候，天使加百列又奉上帝的命令到加利利的拿撒勒， 27 去見一位童貞女，她叫瑪麗亞。瑪麗亞已經和大衛的後裔約瑟訂了婚。
28 天使到了瑪麗亞那裡，說：「恭喜你！蒙大恩的女子，主與你同在！」
29 瑪麗亞聽了覺得十分困惑，反覆思想這話的意思。
30 天使對她說：「瑪麗亞，不要害怕，你在上帝面前已經蒙恩了。 31 你要懷孕生子，並給祂取名叫耶穌。 32 祂偉大無比，將被稱為至高者的兒子，主上帝要把祂祖先大衛的王位賜給祂。 33 祂要永遠統治以色列[a]，祂的國度永無窮盡。」
34 瑪麗亞對天使說：「這怎麼可能呢？我還是童貞女。」
35 天使回答說：「聖靈要臨到你身上，至高者的能力要蔭庇你，所以你要生的那聖嬰必稱為上帝的兒子。 36 看啊，你的親戚伊莉莎白年紀老邁，一向不能生育，現在已經懷男胎六個月了。 37 因為上帝無所不能。」
38 瑪麗亞說：「我是主的婢女，願你所說的話在我身上成就。」於是天使離開了她。
瑪麗亞看望伊莉莎白
39 不久，瑪麗亞便動身趕到猶太山區的一座城， 40 進了撒迦利亞的家，向伊莉莎白請安。 41 伊莉莎白一聽見瑪麗亞的問安，腹中的胎兒便跳動起來，伊莉莎白被聖靈充滿， 42 高聲喊著說：「在婦女中你是最蒙福的！你腹中的孩子也是蒙福的！ 43 我主的母親來探望我，我怎麼敢當呢？ 44 我一聽到你問安的聲音，腹中的孩子就歡喜跳動。 45 相信主所說的話必實現的女子有福了！」
46 瑪麗亞說：
「我的心尊主為大，
47 我的靈因我的救主上帝而歡喜，
48 因祂眷顧我這卑微的婢女，
從今以後，
世世代代都要稱我是有福的。
49 全能者在我身上行了奇事，
祂的名是神聖的。
50 祂憐憫敬畏祂的人，
直到世世代代。
51 祂伸出臂膀，施展大能，
驅散心驕氣傲的人。
52 祂使當權者失勢，
叫謙卑的人升高。
53 祂使饑餓的得飽足，
叫富足的空手而去。
54 祂扶助了自己的僕人以色列，
55 祂要施憐憫給亞伯拉罕和他的子孫，
直到永遠，
正如祂對我們祖先的應許。」
56 瑪麗亞和伊莉莎白同住了約三個月，便回家去了。
施洗者約翰出生
57 伊莉莎白的產期到了，生下一個兒子。 58 親戚和鄰居聽見主向她大施憐憫，都和她一同歡樂。 59 到了第八天，他們來給孩子行割禮，想照他父親的名字給他取名叫撒迦利亞。
60 但伊莉莎白說：「不！要叫他約翰。」
61 他們說：「你們家族中沒有人用這個名字啊！」 62 他們便向他父親打手勢，問他要給孩子起什麼名字。 63 撒迦利亞就要了一塊寫字板，寫上：「他的名字叫約翰。」大家看了都很驚奇。 64 就在那時，撒迦利亞恢複了說話的能力，便開口讚美上帝。 65 住在周圍的人都很懼怕，這消息很快就傳遍了整個猶太山區。 66 聽見的人都在想：「這孩子將來會怎樣呢？因為主與他同在。」
撒迦利亞的預言
67 孩子的父親撒迦利亞被聖靈充滿，便預言說：
68 「主——以色列的上帝當受稱頌，
因祂眷顧、救贖了自己的子民，
69 在祂僕人大衛的家族中為我們興起了一位大能的拯救者[b]，
70 正如祂從亙古藉著祂聖先知們的口所說的。
71 祂要從仇敵和一切恨我們之人手中拯救我們。
72 祂憐憫我們的祖先，
持守自己的聖約，
73 就是祂對我們的先祖亞伯拉罕所起的誓，
74 要把我們從仇敵手中拯救出來，
75 使我們一生一世在聖潔和公義中坦然無懼地事奉祂。
76 至於你，我的兒子啊！
你將要被稱為至高者的先知，
因為你要走在主的前面，
為祂預備道路，
77 使百姓因罪得赦免而明白救恩的真諦。
78 由於上帝的憐憫，
清晨的曙光必從高天普照我們，
79 照亮那些生活在黑暗中和死亡陰影下的人，
帶領我們走平安的道路。」
80 那孩子漸漸長大，心靈強健，在向以色列人公開露面之前，一直住在曠野。
Luke 1
Good News Translation
Introduction
1 Dear Theophilus:
Many people have done their best to write a report of the things that have taken place among us. 2 They wrote what we have been told by those who saw these things from the beginning and who proclaimed the message. 3 And so, Your Excellency, because I have carefully studied all these matters from their beginning, I thought it would be good to write an orderly account for you. 4 I do this so that you will know the full truth about everything which you have been taught.
The Birth of John the Baptist Is Announced
5 (A)During the time when Herod was king of Judea,[a] there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife's name was Elizabeth; she also belonged to a priestly family. 6 They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth could not have any, and she and Zechariah were both very old.
8 One day Zechariah was doing his work as a priest in the Temple, taking his turn in the daily service. 9 According to the custom followed by the priests, he was chosen by lot to burn incense on the altar. So he went into the Temple of the Lord, 10 while the crowd of people outside prayed during the hour when the incense was burned. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar where the incense was burned. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was alarmed and felt afraid. 13 But the angel said to him, “Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You are to name him John. 14 How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born! 15 (B)John will be great in the Lord's sight. He must not drink any wine or strong drink. From his very birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, 16 and he will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 (C)He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah. He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord's people ready for him.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know if this is so? I am an old man, and my wife is old also.”
19 (D)“I am Gabriel,” the angel answered. “I stand in the presence of God, who sent me to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 But you have not believed my message, which will come true at the right time. Because you have not believed, you will be unable to speak; you will remain silent until the day my promise to you comes true.”
21 In the meantime the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he was spending such a long time in the Temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and so they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. Unable to say a word, he made signs to them with his hands.
23 When his period of service in the Temple was over, Zechariah went back home. 24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and did not leave the house for five months. 25 “Now at last the Lord has helped me,” she said. “He has taken away my public disgrace!”
The Birth of Jesus Is Announced
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. 27 (E)He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. 28 The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”
29 Mary was deeply troubled by the angel's message, and she wondered what his words meant. 30 The angel said to her, “Don't be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. 31 (F)You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 (G)He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, 33 and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God. 36 Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old. 37 (H)For there is nothing that God cannot do.”
38 “I am the Lord's servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 Soon afterward Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea. 40 She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 (I)and said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord's mother comes to visit me? 44 For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness. 45 How happy you are to believe that the Lord's message to you will come true!”
Mary's Song of Praise
46 Mary said,
“My heart praises the Lord;
47 my soul is glad because of God my Savior,
48 (J)for he has remembered me, his lowly servant!
From now on all people will call me happy,
49 because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me.
His name is holy;
50 from one generation to another
he shows mercy to those who honor him.
51 He has stretched out his mighty arm
and scattered the proud with all their plans.
52 (K)He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors,
and has come to the help of his servant Israel.
55 (L)He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham
and to all his descendants forever!”
56 Mary stayed about three months with Elizabeth and then went back home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how wonderfully good the Lord had been to her, and they all rejoiced with her.
59 (M)When the baby was a week old, they came to circumcise him, and they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother said, “No! His name is to be John.”
61 They said to her, “But you don't have any relative with that name!” 62 Then they made signs to his father, asking him what name he would like the boy to have.
63 Zechariah asked for a writing pad and wrote, “His name is John.” How surprised they all were! 64 At that moment Zechariah was able to speak again, and he started praising God. 65 The neighbors were all filled with fear, and the news about these things spread through all the hill country of Judea. 66 Everyone who heard of it thought about it and asked, “What is this child going to be?” For it was plain that the Lord's power was upon him.
Zechariah's Prophecy
67 John's father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he spoke God's message:
68 “Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has come to the help of his people and has set them free.
69 He has provided for us a mighty Savior,
a descendant of his servant David.
70 He promised through his holy prophets long ago
71 that he would save us from our enemies,
from the power of all those who hate us.
72 He said he would show mercy to our ancestors
and remember his sacred covenant.
73-74 With a solemn oath to our ancestor Abraham
he promised to rescue us from our enemies
and allow us to serve him without fear,
75 so that we might be holy and righteous before him
all the days of our life.
76 (N)“You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.
You will go ahead of the Lord
to prepare his road for him,
77 to tell his people that they will be saved
by having their sins forgiven.
78 Our God is merciful and tender.
He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us
79 (O)and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death,
to guide our steps into the path of peace.”
80 The child grew and developed in body and spirit. He lived in the desert until the day when he appeared publicly to the people of Israel.
Footnotes
- Luke 1:5 The term here refers to the whole land of Palestine.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
