Gabriel Predicts Jesus’ Birth

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel(A) was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,(B) 27 to a virgin engaged(C) to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.(D) The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”[a] 29 But she was deeply troubled(E) by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her:

Do not be afraid, Mary,(F)
for you have found favor with God.
31 Now listen:
You will conceive and give birth to a son,
and you will call His name Jesus.(G)
32 He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High,(H)
and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David.(I)
33 He will reign over the house of Jacob(J) forever,
and His kingdom will have no end.(K)

34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?”[b]

35 The angel replied to her:

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,(L)
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy One to be born
will be called the Son of God.(M)

36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”(N)

38 “I am the Lord’s slave,”[c] said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth

39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her,[d] and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.(O) 42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:

“You are the most blessed of women,
and your child will be blessed![e]

43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me![f] 45 She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!”

Mary’s Praise

46 And Mary said:

My soul proclaims the greatness of[g] the Lord,(P)
47 and my spirit has rejoiced(Q) in God my Savior,(R)
48 because He has looked with favor
on the humble condition of His slave.
Surely, from now on all generations
will call me blessed,(S)
49 because the Mighty One(T)
has done great things for me,(U)
and His name(V) is holy.
50 His mercy is from generation to generation(W)
on those who fear Him.
51 He has done a mighty deed with His arm;(X)
He has scattered the proud
because of the thoughts of their hearts;
52 He has toppled the mighty from their thrones
and exalted the lowly.
53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things(Y)
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
mindful of His mercy,[h]
55 just as He spoke to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his descendants[i] forever.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:28 Other mss add blessed are you among women
  2. Luke 1:34 Lit since I do not know a man
  3. Luke 1:38 Lit Look, the Lord’s slave
  4. Luke 1:41 Lit leaped in her abdomen or womb
  5. Luke 1:42 Lit and the fruit of your abdomen (or womb) is blessed
  6. Luke 1:44 Lit in my abdomen or womb
  7. Luke 1:46 Or soul magnifies
  8. Luke 1:54 Because He remembered His mercy; Ps 98:3
  9. Luke 1:55 Or offspring; lit seed

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel(A) to Nazareth,(B) a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph,(C) 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,(D) Mary; you have found favor with God.(E) 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.(F) 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.(G) The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,(H) 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom(I) will never end.”(J)

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,(K) and the power of the Most High(L) will overshadow you. So the holy one(M) to be born will be called[a] the Son of God.(N) 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child(O) 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.”(P)

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,(Q) 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.(R) 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women,(S) and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord(T) 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(U)

46 And Mary said:

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy,