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Jesus’ Birth Foretold

26 Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin [a]betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, the angel said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and eminent and 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 (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”(A) 34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?” 35 Then the angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a cloud]; for that reason the holy (pure, sinless) Child shall be called the Son of God.(B) 36 And listen, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “[b]Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:27 The first stage of marriage (called shiddukin in Hebrew) in Jewish tradition and law, usually lasting for a year before the wedding night; unlike an engagement, it was legally binding and required a divorce to nullify it. The woman remained with her parents during the betrothal year and was referred to as a “wife” even though the marriage was not consummated during this period of time.
  2. Luke 1:38 Mary’s response was significantly different from Zacharias’ (v 18). Zacharias would not take Gabriel’s word, and instead wanted some kind of miraculous sign as proof.

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

26 Now in the sixth month the angel (A)Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named (B)Nazareth, 27 to (C)a virgin [a]betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, (D)of the [b]descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was [c]Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord [d]is with you.” 29 But she (E)was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. 30 And the angel said to her, “(F)Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you (G)shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of (H)the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him (I)the throne of His father David; 33 (J)and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, (K)and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I [e]am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “(L)The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of (M)the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also (N)the [f]holy Child will be called (O)the Son of God. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth herself has conceived a son in her old age, and [g]she who was called infertile is now in her sixth month. 37 For (P)nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:27 Unlike engagement, a betrothed couple was considered married, but did not yet live together
  2. Luke 1:27 Lit house
  3. Luke 1:27 Gr Mariam, Heb Miriam; so throughout Luke
  4. Luke 1:28 Or be
  5. Luke 1:34 Lit do not know a man
  6. Luke 1:35 Lit the holy one fathered
  7. Luke 1:36 Lit this is the sixth month for her who