Dedication to Theophilus

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those (A)things which [a]have been fulfilled among us, just as those who (B)from the beginning were (C)eyewitnesses and ministers of the word (D)delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having [b]had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, (E)most excellent Theophilus, (F)that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias

There was (G)in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, (H)of the division of (I)Abijah. His (J)wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, [c]his lot fell (K)to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 (L)And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of (M)the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, (N)he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and (O)you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and (P)many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be (Q)great in the sight of the Lord, and (R)shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, (S)even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 (T)He will also go 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 just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, (U)“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am (V)Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you [d]these glad (W)tidings. 20 But behold, (X)you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

23 So it was, as soon as (Y)the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to (Z)take away my reproach among people.”

Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin (AA)betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, (AB)“Rejoice, highly favored one, (AC)the Lord is with you; [e]blessed are you among women!”

29 But [f]when she saw him, (AD)she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found (AE)favor with God. 31 (AF)And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and (AG)shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, (AH)and will be called the Son of the Highest; and (AI)the Lord God will give Him the (AJ)throne of His (AK)father David. 33 (AL)And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I [g]do not know a man?”

35 And the angel answered and said to her, (AM)The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called (AN)the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For (AO)with God nothing will be impossible.”

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, (AP)to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was (AQ)filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, (AR)“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 (AS)Blessed is she who [h]believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

The Song of Mary

46 And Mary said:

(AT)“My soul [i]magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has (AU)rejoiced in (AV)God my Savior.
48 For (AW)He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth (AX)all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty (AY)has done great things for me,
And (AZ)holy is His name.
50 And (BA)His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
51 (BB)He has shown strength with His arm;
(BC)He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 (BD)He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has (BE)filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His (BF)servant Israel,
(BG)In remembrance of His mercy,
55 (BH)As He spoke to our (BI)fathers,
To Abraham and to his (BJ)seed forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

Birth of John the Baptist

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they (BK)rejoiced with her.

Circumcision of John the Baptist

59 So it was, (BL)on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, (BM)“No; he shall be called John.”

61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them (BN)kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And (BO)the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zacharias’ Prophecy

67 Now his father Zacharias (BP)was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68 “Blessed(BQ) is the Lord God of Israel,
For (BR)He has visited and redeemed His people,
69 (BS)And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,
70 (BT)As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been (BU)since the world began,
71 That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
72 (BV)To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 (BW)The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
74 To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might (BX)serve Him without fear,
75 (BY)In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

76 “And you, child, will be called the (BZ)prophet of the Highest;
For (CA)you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 To give (CB)knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the [j]Dayspring from on high [k]has visited us;
79 (CC)To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To (CD)guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 So (CE)the child grew and became strong in spirit, and (CF)was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:1 Or are most surely believed
  2. Luke 1:3 Lit. accurately followed
  3. Luke 1:9 he was chosen by lot
  4. Luke 1:19 this good news
  5. Luke 1:28 NU omits blessed are you among women
  6. Luke 1:29 NU omits when she saw him
  7. Luke 1:34 Am a virgin
  8. Luke 1:45 Or believed that there
  9. Luke 1:46 Declares the greatness of
  10. Luke 1:78 Lit. Dawn; the Messiah
  11. Luke 1:78 NU shall visit

路加自序

提阿非羅大人哪,有好些人提筆作書,述說在我們中間所成就的事,是照傳道的人從起初親眼看見又傳給我們的。 這些事我既從起頭都詳細考察了,就定意要按著次序寫給你, 使你知道所學之道都是確實的。

猶太希律的時候,亞比雅班裡有一個祭司,名叫撒迦利亞。他妻子是亞倫的後人,名叫伊利莎白 他們二人在神面前都是義人,遵行主的一切誡命禮儀,沒有可指摘的。 只是沒有孩子,因為伊利莎白不生育,兩個人又年紀老邁了。

預言施洗約翰的生

撒迦利亞按班次在神面前供祭司的職分, 照祭司的規矩掣籤,得進主殿燒香。 10 燒香的時候,眾百姓在外面禱告。 11 有主的使者站在香壇的右邊向他顯現。 12 撒迦利亞看見,就驚慌害怕。 13 天使對他說:「撒迦利亞,不要害怕,因為你的祈禱已經被聽見了。你的妻子伊利莎白要給你生一個兒子,你要給他起名叫約翰 14 你必歡喜快樂,有許多人因他出世也必喜樂。 15 他在主面前將要為大,淡酒濃酒都不喝,從母腹裡就被聖靈充滿了。 16 他要使許多以色列人回轉,歸於主他們的神。 17 他必有以利亞的心志能力,行在主的前面,叫為父的心轉向兒女,叫悖逆的人轉從義人的智慧,又為主預備合用的百姓。」 18 撒迦利亞對天使說:「我憑著什麼可知道這事呢?我已經老了,我的妻子也年紀老邁了。」 19 天使回答說:「我是站在神面前的加百列,奉差而來對你說話,將這好信息報給你。 20 到了時候,這話必然應驗。只因你不信,你必啞巴,不能說話,直到這事成就的日子。」 21 百姓等候撒迦利亞,詫異他許久在殿裡。 22 及至他出來,不能和他們說話,他們就知道他在殿裡見了異象,因為他直向他們打手勢,竟成了啞巴。 23 他供職的日子已滿,就回家去了。

24 這些日子以後,他的妻子伊利莎白懷了孕,就隱藏了五個月, 25 說:「主在眷顧我的日子這樣看待我,要把我在人間的羞恥除掉。」

加百列預言耶穌的生

26 到了第六個月,天使加百列奉神的差遣往加利利的一座城去,這城名叫拿撒勒 27 到一個童女那裡,是已經許配大衛家的一個人,名叫約瑟,童女的名字叫馬利亞 28 天使進去,對她說:「蒙大恩的女子,我問你安,主和你同在了!」 29 馬利亞因這話就很驚慌,又反覆思想這樣問安是什麼意思。 30 天使對她說:「馬利亞,不要怕,你在神面前已經蒙恩了。 31 你要懷孕生子,可以給他起名叫耶穌。 32 他要為大,稱為至高者的兒子;主神要把他祖大衛的位給他, 33 他要做雅各家的王,直到永遠;他的國也沒有窮盡。」 34 馬利亞對天使說:「我沒有出嫁,怎麼有這事呢?」 35 天使回答說:「聖靈要臨到你身上,至高者的能力要蔭庇你。因此,所要生的聖者必稱為神的兒子[a] 36 況且你的親戚伊利莎白,在年老的時候也懷了男胎,就是那素來稱為不生育的,現在有孕六個月了。 37 因為出於神的話,沒有一句不帶能力的。」 38 馬利亞說:「我是主的使女,情願照你的話成就在我身上!」天使就離開她去了。

馬利亞往看伊利莎白

39 那時候,馬利亞起身急忙往山地裡去,來到猶大的一座城, 40 進了撒迦利亞的家,問伊利莎白安。 41 伊利莎白一聽馬利亞問安,所懷的胎就在腹裡跳動,伊利莎白且被聖靈充滿, 42 高聲喊著說:「你在婦女中是有福的!你所懷的胎也是有福的! 43 我主的母到我這裡來,這是從哪裡得的呢? 44 因為你問安的聲音一入我耳,我腹裡的胎就歡喜跳動。 45 這相信的女子是有福的!因為主對她所說的話都要應驗。」

馬利亞尊主為大

46 馬利亞說:「我心尊主為大, 47 我靈以神我的救主為樂, 48 因為他顧念他使女的卑微。從今以後,萬代要稱我有福, 49 那有權能的為我成就了大事,他的名為聖! 50 他憐憫敬畏他的人,直到世世代代。 51 他用膀臂施展大能,那狂傲的人正心裡妄想就被他趕散了。 52 他叫有權柄的失位,叫卑賤的升高; 53 叫飢餓的得飽美食,叫富足的空手回去。 54 他扶助了他的僕人以色列 55 為要記念亞伯拉罕和他的後裔,施憐憫直到永遠,正如從前對我們列祖所說的話。」

56 馬利亞伊利莎白同住約有三個月,就回家去了。

給施洗約翰起名

57 伊利莎白的產期到了,就生了一個兒子。 58 鄰里親族聽見主向她大施憐憫,就和她一同歡樂。 59 到了第八日,他們來要給孩子行割禮,並要照他父親的名字叫他撒迦利亞 60 他母親說:「不可,要叫他約翰。」 61 他們說:「你親族中沒有叫這名字的。」 62 他們就向他父親打手勢,問他要叫這孩子什麼名字。 63 他要了一塊寫字的板,就寫上說:「他的名字是約翰。」他們便都稀奇。 64 撒迦利亞的口立時開了,舌頭也舒展了,就說出話來,稱頌神。 65 周圍居住的人都懼怕。這一切的事就傳遍了猶太的山地。 66 凡聽見的人都將這事放在心裡,說:「這個孩子將來怎麼樣呢?」因為有主與他同在。

預言救恩臨到以色列人

67 他父親撒迦利亞被聖靈充滿了,就預言說: 68 「主以色列的神是應當稱頌的!因他眷顧他的百姓,為他們施行救贖, 69 在他僕人大衛家中,為我們興起了拯救的角, 70 正如主藉著從創世以來聖先知的口所說的話, 71 拯救我們脫離仇敵和一切恨我們之人的手; 72 向我們列祖施憐憫、記念他的聖約, 73 就是他對我們祖宗亞伯拉罕所起的誓, 74 叫我們既從仇敵手中被救出來, 75 就可以終身在他面前,坦然無懼地用聖潔、公義侍奉他。 76 孩子啊,你要稱為至高者的先知,因為你要行在主的前面,預備他的道路, 77 叫他的百姓因罪得赦就知道救恩。 78 因我們神憐憫的心腸,叫清晨的日光從高天臨到我們, 79 要照亮坐在黑暗中死蔭裡的人,把我們的腳引到平安的路上。」

80 那孩子漸漸長大,心靈強健,住在曠野,直到他顯明在以色列人面前的日子。

Footnotes

  1. 路加福音 1:35 或作:所要生的必稱為聖,稱為神的兒子。

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