Read the Gospels in 40 Days
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, According to Luke
1 Luke: Preface 5 Zacharias and Elizabeth. 15 What an one John should be. 20 Zacharias stricken dumb, for his incredulity. 26 The Angel saluteth Mary, and foretelleth Christ’s nativity. 39 Mary visited Elizabeth. 46 Mary’s song. 68 The song of Zacharias, showing that the promised Christ is come. 76 The office of John.
1 Forasmuch as [a]many have [b]taken in hand to set forth the story of those things, whereof we are fully persuaded,
2 [c]As they have delivered them unto us, which from the beginning saw them themselves, and were ministers of the word,
3 It seemed good also to me ([d]most noble Theophilus) as soon as I had searched out perfectly all things [e]from the beginning, to write unto thee thereof from point to point,
4 That thou mightest [f]acknowledge the certainty of those things whereof thou hast been instructed.
5 In [g]the [h]time of [i]Herod King of Judea, there was a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the (A)[j]course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Both were [k]just before God, and [l]walked in all the [m]commandments and ordinances of the Lord, [n]without reproof.
7 And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren: and both were well stricken in age.
8 And it came to pass, as he executed the Priest’s office before God, as his course came in order,
9 (B)According to the custom of the Priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense, when he went into the [o]Temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer, (C)while the incense was burning.
11 Then appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord, standing at 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 Elizabeth 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 [p]sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine, nor [q]strong drink: and he shall be filled with the holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 (D)And many of the children of Israel shall he [r]turn to their Lord God.
17 (E)For he shall go [s]before him [t]in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the [u]hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the [v]wisdom of the just men, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 Then Zacharias said unto the Angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is of a great age.
19 And the Angel answered, and said unto him, I am Gabriel [w]that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these good tidings.
20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not be able to speak, until the day that these things be done, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 Now the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the Temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: then they perceived that he had seen a vision in the Temple: for he made signs unto them, and remained dumb.
23 And it came to pass, when the days of his office were fulfilled, that he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days, his wife Elizabeth 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 from me my rebuke among men.
26 ¶ [x]And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 (F)To a virgin affianced to a man whose name was Joseph, of the [y]house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the Angel went in unto her, and said, Hail thou that art [z]freely beloved: the Lord is with thee: [aa]blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was [ab]troubled at his saying, and thought what manner of salutation that should be.
30 Then the Angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast [ac]found favor with God.
31 (G)For lo thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bear a son, (H)and shalt call his Name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be [ad]called the Son of the most High, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.
33 (I)And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom shall be none end.
34 Then said Mary unto the Angel, [ae]How shall this be, seeing [af]I know not man?
35 And the Angel answered, and said unto her, The holy Ghost [ag]shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee: therefore also that [ah]Holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be [ai]called the Son of God.
36 And behold, thy [aj]cousin, Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is her [ak]sixth month, which was called barren.
37 For with God shall nothing be impossible.
38 Then Mary said, Behold the servant of the Lord: be it unto me according to thy word. So the Angel departed from her.
39 ¶ [al]And Mary arose in those days, and went into the [am]hill country with haste to a [an]city of Judah,
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe [ao]sprang in her belly, and Elizabeth was filled with the holy Ghost.
42 And she cried with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, because [ap]the fruit of thy womb is blessed.
43 And whence cometh 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 sprang in my belly for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for those things shall be performed, which were told her from the Lord.
46 [aq]Then Mary said, My soul magnifieth the Lord,
47 And my spirit rejoiceth in God my Savior.
48 For he hath [ar]looked on the [as]poor degree of his servant: for behold, from henceforth shall all ages call me blessed,
49 Because he that is mighty hath done for me great things, and holy is his Name.
50 And his mercy is from generation to generation on them [at]that fear him.
51 (J)He that showed strength with his [au]arm: (K)he hath [av]scattered the proud in the [aw]imagination of their hearts.
52 (L)He hath [ax]put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of [ay]low degree.
53 (M)He hath filled the [az]hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty.
54 [ba](N)He hath upholden Israel his servant to be mindful of his mercy,
55 ((O)As he hath [bb]spoken to our fathers, to wit, to Abraham and his seed) forever.
56 ¶ And Mary abode with her about three months: after, she returned to her own house.
57 ¶ [bc]Now Elizabeth’s time was fulfilled, that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbors and cousins heard tell how the Lord had showed his great mercy upon her, and they (P)rejoiced with her.
59 And it was so that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the babe, and called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60 But 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 named with this name.
62 Then they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 So he asked for writing tablets, and wrote, saying, His name is John, and they marveled all.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, [bd]and he spake and praised God.
65 Then fear came on all them that dwelt near unto them, and all [be]these words were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 And all they that heard them, [bf]laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner child shall this be! and the [bg]hand of the Lord was with him.
67 [bh]Then his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath [bi]visited (Q)and [bj]redeemed his people,
69 (R)And hath raised up the [bk]horn of salvation unto us, in the house of his servant David,
70 (S)As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which were since the world began, saying,
71 That he would send us deliverance from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us,
72 That he might show mercy towards our fathers: and [bl]remember his holy covenant,
73 (T)And the oath, which he sware to our father Abraham.
74 Which was, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
75 All the days of our life, in (U)holiness and righteousness [bm]before him.
76 And thou, [bn]babe, shalt be called the Prophet of the most High: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 And to [bo]give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the [bp]remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby (V)the [bq]dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of [br]peace.
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the wilderness, till the day came that he should show himself unto Israel.
2 Augustus Caesar taxeth all the world. 7 Christ is born. 13 The Angels’ Song. 21 Christ is circumcised. 22 Mary purified. 28 Simeon taketh Christ in his arms. 29 His Song. 36 Anna the Prophetess. 40 The child Christ. 46 Jesus disputeth with the doctors.
1 And [bs]it came to pass in those days, that there came a decree from Augustus Caesar, that all the [bt]world should be [bu]taxed.
2 (This first taxing was made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 Therefore went all to be taxed, every man to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of a city called Nazareth, into Judea, unto the [bv]city of (W)David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David,)
5 To be taxed with Mary that was given him to wife, which was 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 first begotten son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a cratch, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 ¶ [bw]And there were in the same country shepherds, [bx]abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9 And lo, the Angel of the Lord [by]came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone about them, and they were sore afraid.
10 Then the Angel said unto them, Be not afraid: for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people,
11 That is, that unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign to you, Ye shall find the babe swaddled, and laid in a cratch.
13 And straightway there was with the Angel [bz]a multitude of heavenly soldiers, praising God, and saying,
14 Glory be to God in the high heavens, and peace in earth, and toward men [ca]good will.
15 And it came to pass when the Angels were gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said one to another, Let us go then unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed unto us.
16 So they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph and the babe laid in the cratch.
17 And when they had seen it, they published abroad the thing that was told them of that child.
18 And all that heard it, wondered at the things which were told them of the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all those sayings, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God, for all that they had heard and seen, as it was spoken unto them.
21 ¶ (X)[cb]And when the eight days were accomplished, that they should circumcise the child, his name was then called (Y)Jesus, which was named of the Angel, before he was conceived in the womb.
22 (Z)[cc]And when the days of [cd]her purification, after 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, (AA)Every man child that first openeth the womb, shall be called holy to the Lord,)
24 And to give an oblation, (AB)as it is commanded in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
25 [ce]And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon: this man was just, and feared God, and waited for the consolation of Israel, and the [cf]holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was declared to him from God by the holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen that Anointed of the Lord.
27 And he came by the motion of the spirit into the Temple, and when the [cg]parents brought in the babe Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the Law.
28 Then he took him in his arms, and praised God, and said,
29 Lord, now [ch]lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy [ci]word,
30 For [cj]mine eyes have seen thy [ck]salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared [cl]before the face of all people,
32 A light to be revealed to the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things, which were spoken touching him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is [cm]appointed for the (AC)[cn]fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a [co]sign which shall be spoken against,
35 (Yea and a sword shall [cp]pierce through thy soul) that the thoughts of many hearts may be opened.
36 [cq]And there was a Prophetess, one Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, which was of a great age, after she had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity:
37 And she was widow about fourscore, and four years, and went not out of the Temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 She then coming at the same instant upon them, confessed likewise the Lord, and spake of him to all 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, [cr]and was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was with him.
41 ¶ [cs]Now his parents went to Jerusalem, every year, (AD)at the feast of the Passover.
42 And when he was twelve years old, and they were come up to Jerusalem, after the custom of the feast,
43 And had finished the days thereof, as they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and Joseph knew not, nor his mother,
44 But they supposing that he had been in the company, went a day’s journey, and sought him among their kinsfolk, and acquaintances.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back to Jerusalem, and sought him.
46 And it came to pass three days after, that 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 astonied at his understanding and answers.
48 [ct]So 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 with very heavy hearts.
49 Then said he unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must go about my Father’s business?
50 But they understood not the word that he spake to them.
51 [cu]Then he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom, and stature, and in favor with God and men.
3 3 John exhorteth to repentance. 15 His testimony of Christ. 20 Herod putteth him in prison. 21 Christ is baptized. 23 His pedigree.
1 Now [cv]in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip Tetrarch of Iturea, and of the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the Tetrarch of Abilene,
2 ((AE)When [cw]Annas and Caiaphas were the high Priests) the word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 (AF)And he came into all the coasts about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,
4 As it is written in the book of the sayings of Isaiah the Prophet, which saith, (AG)The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness is, Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and crooked things shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth.
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
7 Then said he to the people that were come out to be baptized of him, (AH)O generations of vipers, who hath forewarned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy amendment of life, and begin not to say with yourselves, We have Abraham to our Father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 Now also is the axe laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire.
10 ¶ Then the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
11 And he answered, and said unto them, (AI)He that hath two coats, let him part with him that hath none: and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
12 Then came there Publicans also to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13 And he said unto them, Require no more than that which is [cx]appointed unto you.
14 The soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your [cy]wages.
15 [cz]As the people waited, and all men mused in their hearts of John, if he were not that Christ.
16 John answered, and said to them all, (AJ)Indeed I baptize you with water, but one stronger than I, cometh, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose: he will baptize you with the holy Ghost, and with fire.
17 [da]Whose fan is in his hand, and he will make clean his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaff will he burn up with fire that never shall be quenched.
18 Thus then exhorting with many other things, he preached unto the people.
19 (AK)[db]But when Herod the Tetrarch was rebuked of him, for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
20 He added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
21 (AL)[dc]Now it came to pass, as all the people were baptized, and that Jesus was baptized and did pray, that the heaven was opened:
22 And the holy Ghost came down in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and there was a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son: in thee I am well pleased.
23 ¶ [dd]And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being as men supposed the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
24 The son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph,
25 The son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26 The son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,
27 The son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28 The son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,
29 ¶ The son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30 The son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,
31 The son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32 The son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33 The son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34 The son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35 The son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36 The son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37 The son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,
38 The son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.