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Lukas 1-2
Hoffnung für Alle
Lukas 1-2
Hoffnung für Alle
Geburt von Johannes dem Täufer und von Jesus (Kapitel 1–2)
1 Verehrter Theophilus! Schon viele haben versucht, all das aufzuschreiben, was Gott unter uns getan hat, 2 so wie es uns die Augenzeugen berichtet haben, die von Anfang an dabei waren. Ihnen hat Gott den Auftrag gegeben, die rettende Botschaft weiterzusagen. 3 Auch ich habe mich entschlossen, allem von Anfang an sorgfältig nachzugehen und es für dich, verehrter Theophilus, der Reihe nach aufzuschreiben. 4 So wirst du feststellen, dass alles, was man dich gelehrt hat, zuverlässig und wahr ist.
Johannes soll das Kommen des Retters vorbereiten
5 Als Herodes[a] König von Judäa war, lebte dort ein Priester namens Zacharias. Er gehörte zur Dienstgruppe Abija[b]. Wie Zacharias stammte auch seine Frau Elisabeth aus der Familie von Aaron. 6 Beide lebten nach Gottes Willen und hielten sich in allem genau an seine Gebote und Ordnungen. 7 Sie hatten keine Kinder, denn Elisabeth konnte keine bekommen, und beide waren inzwischen alt geworden.
8 Wieder einmal tat Zacharias seinen Dienst als Priester vor Gott, weil die Gruppe Abija an der Reihe war. 9 Wie üblich wurde ausgelost, wer zur Ehre Gottes im Tempel den Weihrauch anzünden sollte. Das Los fiel auf Zacharias.
10 Er betrat den Tempel, während die Volksmenge draußen betete. 11 Plötzlich sah er auf der rechten Seite des Räucheropferaltars einen Engel des Herrn stehen. 12 Sein Anblick flößte Zacharias Angst und Schrecken ein.
13 Doch der Engel sagte zu ihm: »Fürchte dich nicht, Zacharias! Gott hat dein Gebet erhört. Deine Frau Elisabeth wird bald einen Sohn bekommen, den sollst du Johannes nennen! 14 Du wirst über dieses Kind froh und glücklich sein, und auch viele andere werden sich über seine Geburt freuen. 15 Gott wird ihm eine große Aufgabe übertragen.[c] Er wird weder Wein noch andere berauschende Getränke zu sich nehmen. Schon vor seiner Geburt wird er mit dem Heiligen Geist erfüllt sein, 16 und er wird viele in Israel zum Herrn, ihrem Gott, zurückbringen. 17 Erfüllt mit dem Geist und der Kraft des Propheten Elia[d] wird er das Kommen Gottes vorbereiten: Er wird dafür sorgen, dass die Eltern sich wieder mit den Kindern versöhnen, und die Ungehorsamen werden wieder danach fragen, wie sie Gottes Willen erfüllen können. So wird er das ganze Volk darauf vorbereiten, den Herrn zu empfangen.«
18 »Woran kann ich erkennen, dass deine Worte wahr sind?«, fragte Zacharias erstaunt den Engel. »Ich bin ein alter Mann, und auch meine Frau ist schon alt!« 19 Der Engel antwortete: »Ich bin Gabriel und stehe unmittelbar vor Gott als sein Diener. Er gab mir den Auftrag, dir diese gute Nachricht zu überbringen. 20 Was ich gesagt habe, wird sich erfüllen, wenn die Zeit dafür gekommen ist. Aber weil du meinen Worten keinen Glauben geschenkt hast, wirst du so lange stumm sein und nicht mehr sprechen können, bis es eintrifft.«
21 Inzwischen wartete die Menschenmenge draußen auf Zacharias. Alle wunderten sich, dass er so lange im Tempel blieb. 22 Als er endlich herauskam, konnte er nicht zu ihnen sprechen. Daran erkannten sie, dass er im Tempel eine göttliche Erscheinung gehabt haben musste. Zacharias verständigte sich durch Handzeichen mit ihnen und blieb stumm. 23 Als die Zeit seines Tempeldienstes vorüber war, kehrte er nach Hause zurück.
24 Nur wenig später wurde seine Frau Elisabeth schwanger. In den ersten fünf Monaten lebte sie völlig zurückgezogen und verließ das Haus nicht. 25 »Der Herr hat an mich gedacht und mir geholfen«, sagte sie. »Nun kann mich niemand mehr verachten, weil ich keine Kinder habe.«
Ein Engel kündigt Maria die Geburt von Jesus an
26 Elisabeth war im sechsten Monat schwanger, als Gott den Engel Gabriel nach Nazareth schickte, einer Stadt in Galiläa. 27 Dort sollte er eine junge Frau namens Maria aufsuchen. Sie war noch unberührt und mit Josef, einem Nachkommen von König David, verlobt.
28 Der Engel kam zu ihr und sagte: »Sei gegrüßt, Maria! Der Herr ist mit dir! Er hat dich unter allen Frauen auserwählt.« 29 Maria erschrak über die Worte des Engels und fragte sich, was dieser Gruß bedeuten könnte. 30 »Hab keine Angst, Maria«, redete der Engel weiter. »Gott hat dich zu etwas Besonderem auserwählt.[e] 31 Du wirst schwanger werden und einen Sohn zur Welt bringen. Jesus soll er heißen. 32 Er wird mächtig sein, und man wird ihn Sohn des Höchsten nennen. Gott, der Herr, wird ihm die Königsherrschaft seines Stammvaters David übergeben, 33 und er wird die Nachkommen von Jakob für immer regieren. Seine Herrschaft wird niemals enden.«
34 »Wie soll das geschehen?«, fragte Maria den Engel. »Ich habe ja noch nie mit einem Mann geschlafen.« 35 Der Engel antwortete ihr: »Der Heilige Geist wird über dich kommen, und die Kraft des Höchsten wird sich an dir zeigen. Darum wird dieses Kind auch heilig sein und Sohn Gottes genannt werden. 36 Selbst Elisabeth, deine Verwandte, von der man sagte, dass sie keine Kinder bekommen kann, ist jetzt im sechsten Monat schwanger. Sie wird in ihrem hohen Alter einen Sohn zur Welt bringen. 37 Gott hat es ihr zugesagt, und was Gott sagt, das geschieht[f]!«
38 »Ich will mich dem Herrn ganz zur Verfügung stellen«, antwortete Maria. »Alles soll so geschehen, wie du es mir gesagt hast.« Darauf verließ sie der Engel.
Maria bei Elisabeth
39 Bald danach machte sich Maria auf den Weg ins Bergland von Judäa und eilte so schnell wie möglich in die Stadt, in der Elisabeth und ihr Mann Zacharias wohnten. 40 Sie betrat das Haus und begrüßte Elisabeth. 41 Als Elisabeth Marias Stimme hörte, bewegte sich das Kind lebhaft in ihr. Da wurde sie mit dem Heiligen Geist erfüllt 42 und rief laut: »Dich hat Gott gesegnet, mehr als alle anderen Frauen, und gesegnet ist das Kind, das in dir heranwächst! 43 Womit habe ich verdient, dass die Mutter meines Herrn zu mir kommt? 44 Denn kaum hörte ich deine Stimme, da hüpfte das Kind in mir vor Freude. 45 Wie glücklich kannst du dich schätzen, weil du geglaubt hast! Was der Herr dir angekündigt hat, wird geschehen.«
Maria lobt und dankt Gott
46 Da begann Maria, Gott zu loben:
»Von ganzem Herzen preise ich den Herrn.
47 Ich freue mich über Gott, meinen Retter.
48 Mir, seiner Dienerin, hat er Beachtung geschenkt,
und das, obwohl ich gering und unbedeutend bin.
Von jetzt an und zu allen Zeiten wird man mich glücklich preisen,
49 denn Gott hat große Dinge an mir getan,
er, der mächtig und heilig ist!
50 Seine Barmherzigkeit bleibt für immer und ewig,
sie gilt allen Menschen, die in Ehrfurcht vor ihm leben.
51 Er streckt seinen starken Arm aus
und fegt die Hochmütigen mit ihren stolzen Plänen hinweg.
52 Er stürzt Herrscher von ihrem Thron,
Unterdrückte aber richtet er auf.
53 Die Hungrigen beschenkt er mit Gütern,
und die Reichen schickt er mit leeren Händen weg.
54 Seine Barmherzigkeit hat er uns, seinen Dienern, zugesagt,
ja, er wird seinem Volk Israel helfen.
55 Er hat es unseren Vorfahren versprochen,
Abraham und seinen Nachkommen hat er es für immer zugesagt.«
56 Maria blieb etwa drei Monate bei Elisabeth und kehrte dann nach Hause zurück.
Johannes wird geboren
57 Für Elisabeth kam die Stunde der Geburt, und sie brachte einen Sohn zur Welt. 58 Als Nachbarn und Verwandte hörten, dass Gott so barmherzig mit ihr gewesen war, freuten sie sich mit ihr.
59 Am achten Tag nach der Geburt kamen sie zur Beschneidung des Kindes zusammen. Sie wollten es Zacharias nennen – so wie sein Vater. 60 Doch Elisabeth widersprach: »Nein, er soll Johannes heißen!« 61 »Aber keiner in deiner Verwandtschaft trägt diesen Namen!«, wandten die anderen ein. 62 Sie fragten den Vater durch Handzeichen: »Wie soll dein Sohn heißen?« 63 Zacharias ließ sich eine Tafel geben und schrieb darauf: »Sein Name ist Johannes.« Darüber wunderten sich alle. 64 Im selben Augenblick konnte Zacharias wieder sprechen, und er fing an, Gott zu loben.
65 Ehrfürchtiges Staunen ergriff alle, die in dieser Gegend wohnten, und im ganzen Bergland von Judäa sprachen die Leute über das, was geschehen war. 66 Nachdenklich fragten sie sich: »Was wird aus diesem Kind noch werden?« Denn es war offensichtlich, dass Gott etwas Besonderes mit ihm vorhatte.
Zacharias sieht den Auftrag von Johannes voraus
67 Zacharias, der Vater von Johannes, wurde mit dem Heiligen Geist erfüllt und verkündete, was Gott ihm eingegeben hatte:
68 »Gelobt sei der Herr, der Gott Israels!
Er ist zu unserem Volk gekommen und hat es befreit.
69 Er hat uns einen starken Retter geschickt,
einen Nachkommen seines Dieners David.
70 So hatte er es durch seine heiligen Propheten
schon vor langer Zeit verkündet:
71 Er wird uns vor unseren Feinden retten
und aus der Hand aller Menschen, die uns hassen.
72 Damit erweist er sich unseren Vorfahren gegenüber barmherzig
und zeigt, dass er seinen heiligen Bund nicht vergessen hat,
73 den Eid, den er unserem Vater Abraham geschworen hat.
74 Darin sagt er ihm zu, dass er uns, seine Nachkommen,
aus der Hand unserer Feinde befreit.
75 Dann können wir ohne Furcht in seiner Gegenwart leben
und ihm unser Leben lang dienen
als Menschen, die ihm gehören und seinen Willen tun.
76 Und dich, mein Sohn, wird man einen Propheten des Höchsten nennen.
Du wirst vor dem Herrn hergehen und ihm den Weg bahnen.
77 Seinem Volk wirst du zeigen,
dass es durch die Vergebung seiner Sünden gerettet wird.
78 Gott vergibt uns, weil seine Barmherzigkeit so groß ist.
Aus der Höhe kommt das helle Morgenlicht zu uns, der verheißene Retter.
79 Dieses Licht wird allen Menschen leuchten,
die in Finsternis und Todesfurcht leben;
es wird uns auf den Weg des Friedens führen.«
80 Johannes wuchs heran und wurde zu einem verständigen und klugen Mann. Er zog sich in die Einsamkeit der Wüste zurück bis zu dem Tag, an dem er öffentlich vor dem Volk Israel auftrat.
Jesus wird geboren
2 In dieser Zeit befahl Kaiser Augustus, alle Bewohner des Römischen Reiches in Steuerlisten einzutragen.
2 Eine solche Volkszählung hatte es noch nie gegeben. Sie wurde durchgeführt, als Quirinius Statthalter in Syrien war. 3 Jeder musste in seine Heimatstadt gehen, um sich dort eintragen zu lassen.
4 So reiste Josef von Nazareth in Galiläa nach Bethlehem in Judäa, der Geburtsstadt von König David. Denn er war ein Nachkomme von David und stammte aus Bethlehem. 5 Josef musste sich dort einschreiben lassen, zusammen mit seiner Verlobten Maria, die ein Kind erwartete.
6 In Bethlehem kam für Maria die Stunde der Geburt. 7 Sie brachte ihr erstes Kind, einen Sohn, zur Welt. Sie wickelte ihn in Windeln und legte ihn in eine Futterkrippe im Stall, denn im Gasthaus hatten sie keinen Platz bekommen.
Die Hirten auf dem Feld
8 In dieser Nacht bewachten draußen auf den Feldern vor Bethlehem einige Hirten ihre Herden. 9 Plötzlich trat ein Engel des Herrn zu ihnen, und die Herrlichkeit des Herrn umstrahlte sie. Die Hirten erschraken sehr, 10 aber der Engel sagte: »Fürchtet euch nicht! Ich verkünde euch eine Botschaft, die das ganze Volk mit großer Freude erfüllen wird: 11 Heute ist für euch in der Stadt, in der schon David geboren wurde, der versprochene Retter zur Welt gekommen. Es ist Christus, der Herr. 12 Und daran werdet ihr ihn erkennen: Das Kind liegt, in Windeln gewickelt, in einer Futterkrippe!«
13 Auf einmal waren sie von unzähligen Engeln umgeben, die Gott lobten:
14 »Ehre sei Gott im Himmel!
Denn er bringt der Welt Frieden und wendet sich den Menschen in Liebe zu[g].«
15 Nachdem die Engel in den Himmel zurückgekehrt waren, beschlossen die Hirten: »Kommt, wir gehen nach Bethlehem. Wir wollen sehen, was dort geschehen ist und was der Herr uns verkünden ließ.«
16 Sie machten sich sofort auf den Weg und fanden Maria und Josef und das Kind, das in der Futterkrippe lag. 17 Als sie es sahen, erzählten die Hirten, was ihnen der Engel über das Kind gesagt hatte. 18 Und alle, die ihren Bericht hörten, waren darüber sehr erstaunt.
19 Maria aber merkte sich jedes Wort und dachte immer wieder darüber nach.
20 Schließlich kehrten die Hirten zu ihren Herden zurück. Sie lobten Gott und dankten ihm für das, was sie gehört und gesehen hatten. Es war alles so gewesen, wie der Engel es ihnen gesagt hatte.
Jesus wird als Retter erkannt
21 Am achten Tag nach der Geburt wurde das Kind beschnitten, wie es üblich war. Es erhielt den Namen Jesus; den hatte der Engel genannt, noch ehe Maria das Kind empfangen hatte.
22 Als die Zeit vorüber war, in der laut dem Gesetz von Mose eine Frau nach der Geburt als unrein gilt,[h] brachten Josef und Maria das Kind nach Jerusalem, um es dem Herrn zu weihen. 23 Denn im Gesetz des Herrn heißt es: »Jeder älteste Sohn und jedes erstgeborene männliche Tier sollen dem Herrn gehören.«[i] 24 Gleichzeitig brachten sie auch das vorgeschriebene Reinigungsopfer für Maria dar: Man musste zwei Turteltauben oder zwei junge Tauben opfern.[j]
25 Damals wohnte in Jerusalem ein Mann namens Simeon. Er lebte nach Gottes Willen, hatte Ehrfurcht vor ihm und wartete voller Sehnsucht auf den Retter Israels[k]. Der Heilige Geist ruhte auf Simeon, 26 und durch ihn wusste er, dass er nicht sterben würde, bevor er den Christus, den vom Herrn gesandten Retter, gesehen hätte. 27 Vom Heiligen Geist geführt, war er an diesem Tag in den Tempel gegangen. Als Maria und Josef ihr Kind hereinbrachten, um es – wie im Gesetz vorgeschrieben – Gott zu weihen, 28 nahm Simeon Jesus in seine Arme und lobte Gott:
29 »Herr, du hast dein Wort gehalten,
jetzt kann ich, dein Diener, in Frieden sterben.
30 Ich habe es mit eigenen Augen gesehen:
Du hast uns Rettung gebracht,
31 die ganze Welt wird es erfahren.
32 Dein Licht erleuchtet alle Völker,
und deinem Volk Israel bringt es Größe und Herrlichkeit.«
33 Maria und Josef wunderten sich über seine Worte. 34 Simeon segnete sie und sagte dann zu Maria: »Gott hat dieses Kind dazu bestimmt, die Israeliten vor die Entscheidung zu stellen: ob sie zu Fall kommen oder gerettet werden. Durch ihn setzt Gott ein Zeichen, gegen das sich viele auflehnen werden. 35 So zeigt er, was in ihrem Innern vor sich geht. Der Schmerz darüber wird dir wie ein Schwert durchs Herz dringen.«
36 An diesem Tag hielt sich auch die alte Prophetin Hanna im Tempel auf, eine Tochter von Phanuël aus dem Stamm Asser. Sie war nur sieben Jahre verheiratet gewesen, 37 seit langer Zeit Witwe und nun eine alte Frau von 84 Jahren. Hanna brachte ihre ganze Zeit im Tempel zu. Um Gott zu dienen, betete und fastete sie Tag und Nacht.
38 Während Simeon noch mit Maria und Josef sprach, trat sie hinzu und begann ebenfalls, Gott zu loben. Allen, die auf die Rettung Jerusalems warteten, erzählte sie von diesem Kind.
39 Nachdem Josef und Maria alle Vorschriften erfüllt hatten, die das Gesetz des Herrn fordert, kehrten sie nach Nazareth in Galiläa zurück. 40 Das Kind wuchs gesund heran, erfüllt mit göttlicher Weisheit, und Gottes Segen ruhte sichtbar auf ihm.
Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel
41 Jahr für Jahr besuchten Josef und Maria das Passahfest in Jerusalem. 42 Als Jesus zwölf Jahre alt war, gingen sie wie gewohnt dorthin und nahmen ihn mit. 43 Nach den Festtagen machten sich die Eltern wieder auf den Heimweg. Jesus aber blieb in Jerusalem, ohne dass sie es bemerkten. 44 Denn sie dachten, er sei mit anderen Reisenden unterwegs. Nachdem sie einen Tagesmarsch weit gekommen waren, begannen sie, bei ihren Verwandten und Freunden nach ihm zu suchen. 45 Als sie ihn aber dort nicht fanden, kehrten sie besorgt um und suchten ihn überall in Jerusalem.
46 Endlich, nach drei Tagen, entdeckten sie Jesus im Tempel. Er saß mitten unter den Gesetzeslehrern, hörte ihnen aufmerksam zu und stellte Fragen.
47 Alle wunderten sich über sein Verständnis und seine Antworten.
48 Die Eltern waren fassungslos, als sie ihn dort fanden. »Kind«, fragte ihn Maria, »wie konntest du uns nur so etwas antun? Dein Vater und ich haben dich überall verzweifelt gesucht!«
49 »Warum habt ihr mich gesucht?«, erwiderte Jesus. »Habt ihr denn nicht gewusst, dass ich im Haus meines Vaters sein muss[l]?« 50 Doch sie begriffen nicht, was er damit meinte.
51 Dann kehrte Jesus mit seinen Eltern nach Nazareth zurück, und er war ihnen gehorsam. Seine Mutter aber dachte immer wieder über das nach, was geschehen war.
52 So wuchs Jesus heran, und seine Weisheit nahm zu. Je älter er wurde, desto mehr Ansehen fand er bei Gott und bei den Menschen.
Footnotes
- 1,5 Es handelt sich um Herodes den Großen. Vgl. »Herodes« im Biblischen Personen- und Ortsverzeichnis.
- 1,5 Eine von 24 Priestergruppen, die immer abwechselnd den Tempeldienst versahen.
- 1,15 Wörtlich: Denn er wird groß sein vor dem Herrn.
- 1,17 Oder: Entschlossen und stark wie der Prophet Elia.
- 1,30 Wörtlich: Du hast Gnade bei Gott gefunden.
- 1,37 Oder: und für Gott ist nichts unmöglich!
- 2,14 Oder: und wendet sich den(jenigen) Menschen zu, über die er sich freut.
- 2,22 Vgl. 3. Mose 12,4.6.
- 2,23 2. Mose 13,2.12
- 2,24 Vgl. 3. Mose 12,8.
- 2,25 Wörtlich: auf den Trost Israels.
- 2,49 Wörtlich: in den Dingen meines Vaters sein muss.
Luke 1-2
New International Version
Luke 1-2
New International Version
Introduction(A)
1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first(B) were eyewitnesses(C) and servants of the word.(D) 3 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) 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.(H)
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5 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. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.(K) 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,(L) 9 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.
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus(CS) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(CT) 2 (This was the first census that took place while[e] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)(CU) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem(CV) the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him(CW) and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel(CX) of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.(CY) I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior(CZ) has been born to you; he is the Messiah,(DA) the Lord.(DB) 12 This will be a sign(DC) to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace(DD) to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.(DE) 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.(DF) 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God(DG) for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child,(DH) he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.(DI)
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses,(DJ) Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[f]),(DK) 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[g](DL)
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.(DM) He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,(DN) and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,(DO) 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,(DP)
you may now dismiss[h] your servant in peace.(DQ)
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,(DR)
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”(DS)
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:(DT) “This child is destined to cause the falling(DU) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet,(DV) Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[i](DW) She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.(DX) 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.(DY)
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.(DZ) 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.(EA)
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.(EB) 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed(EC) at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother(ED) said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father(EE) and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[j](EF) 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.(EG)
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them(EH) and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.(EI) 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.(EJ)
Footnotes
- Luke 1:1 Or been surely believed
- Luke 1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy,
- Luke 1:69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king.
- Luke 1:80 Or in the Spirit
- Luke 2:2 Or This census took place before
- Luke 2:23 Exodus 13:2,12
- Luke 2:24 Lev. 12:8
- Luke 2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss
- Luke 2:37 Or then had been a widow for eighty-four years.
- Luke 2:49 Or be about my Father’s business
Luke 1-2
King James Version
Luke 1-2
King James Version
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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 unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
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