Luke's Gospel (eBook)

Luke 1

Introduction

<1>Many people have already tried to draw up an accurate, carefully organised report of the significant events that have been going on among us as the fulfilment of God’s promises. These events concern Jesus. You can be sure that he really existed because <2>those earlier reports were based directly on reliable eyewitness accounts from the start of Jesus’ ministry. These eyewitnesses were also servants of the word, ministers who declared the good news of Jesus. <3>Since this is so, it seemed good to me also to delve carefully and thoroughly into everything that has happened right from the beginning of Jesus’ family background. As a result, honourable Theophilus, I have written a well-ordered report for you. <4>My aim throughout is that you may be persuaded of the truth of what you have already been taught. I want you to be strengthened in your faith and certain about the reliability of the good news of Jesus.

The birth of John the Baptist foretold

<5>In the days of King Herod of Judea (Herod the Great), there lived a priest called Zechariah. He belonged to Abijah’s group of priests. His wife, Elizabeth, was a descendant of Aaron. <6>Both of their lives were marked by a devout integrity in God’s sight: they followed all the Lord’s commands and laws consistently. <7>But sadly, Zechariah and Elizabeth didn’t have any children, because Elizabeth could not conceive. Both of them were old, past the usual child-bearing years. Nevertheless they remained faithful to God.

<8>One day it was the turn of Zechariah’s group of priests to be on duty to serve God. <9>Zechariah himself was chosen by lot, as was the custom of the priests. God chose him to go into the Holy Place in the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem and burn incense at one of the two daily sacrifices in the sanctuary. This incredible privilege came only once in a priest’s life. <10>When the time came for the incense to be burnt, all the people were gathered outside in the court praying.

<11>Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah. The angel stood at the right-hand side of the altar where the incense was burnt. <12>When Zechariah saw the angel, he was scared and was overcome with awe and terror. <13>But the angel said to him, ‘Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. God will answer your prayers. You and your wife Elizabeth are going to have a son. You will give him the name “John”. <14>He will be a joy and delight to you. Many other people will also be thrilled at his birth, <15>because he will be great and important in the Lord’s sight. He will lead a disciplined life that is wholly dedicated to special service for the Lord. He will never drink any kind of wine or alcohol. In contrast, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even while he is still in his mother’s womb. <16>He will have an effective ministry as a prophet. He will declare God’s message powerfully and turn many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God. <17>His ministry will herald a new era of God’s activity. He will go before the Lord in the spirit, power and authority of the prophet Elijah. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children. He will restore relationships in families. He will also cause disobedient people to make wise decisions and do what is right. In short, he will prepare a people who are fully geared up for the coming of the Lord.’

<18>But Zechariah had his doubts and asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? Give me a sign to confirm what you’re saying. I’m asking this because I’m old and my wife is too old to have children.’

<19>The angel answered him, ‘I am the angel Gabriel. I have the privilege of standing in God’s presence. I was sent as God’s messenger to speak to you and to declare this good news to you. <20>Look, here is a sign for you. [The angel gently rebuked Zechariah for his unbelief.] You will be silent and unable to speak until the day this happens, because you haven’t believed my words, which will surely be fulfilled at the proper time.’

<21>Meanwhile the people outside kept waiting … and waiting for Zechariah. They wondered why he was such a long time in the temple. <22>When he eventually came out of the sanctuary, he could not speak to them. They realised he had seen a vision in the temple, because he kept making signs to them and he remained unable to speak.

<23>When his term of service as a priest came to an end, Zechariah went home. <24>A while later, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and she stayed by herself at home for five months. She praised God saying, <25>‘The Lord has been good to me in these days. He has looked on me with favour. He has taken away the shame I felt among people that I couldn’t have any children.’

The birth of Jesus foretold

<26>When Elizabeth was six months’ pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. <27>Gabriel appeared to a virgin, a young unmarried woman, who was legally promised in marriage to a man called Joseph, who was descended from King David. The young woman’s name was Mary. <28>The angel went to her and said, ‘Hello, Mary! You have found favour with God!’ He has lavished his love on you. The Lord is with you!’

<29>Mary was puzzled and upset by what the angel said. She wondered and tried to work out the meaning of the angel’s greeting. <30>But the angel said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid, Mary, because you have found favour with God! You are privileged to receive God’s love. <31>You will become pregnant. You will give birth to a son, whom you will call Jesus. <32>He will be great and important. He will be called the unique Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his ancestor David. He is the long-awaited Messiah. <33>He will reign over Jacob’s descendants for ever. He will be the King of Israel, and his sovereign reign will never end but will last for ever.’

<34>Mary was startled and asked the angel, ‘Will you explain how this will happen since I am a virgin? I’ve never had sexual relations with a man.’

<35>The angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you and the power of the Most High God will settle on you and cover you. Your conceiving Jesus will take place miraculously in you by the power of the Holy Spirit. So the child that you will give birth to will be called holy, the Son of God. God himself is going to step into the world. <36>Look! Here is a sign that confirms what I’m saying is true. Even your aunt Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age. She who was considered childless is in fact six months’ pregnant. <37>I assure you of this, because nothing is impossible with God’s power. God is surely able to fulfil all that he has promised.’

<38>Mary responded, ‘I am here, the servant of the Lord. May your word to me be fulfilled. My response is that I humbly submit to your message.’ Then the angel left her.

Mary visits her aunt Elizabeth

<39>In those days, Mary set out and went quickly to a town about 100 miles away in the hill country of Judea, <40>where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted her aunt Elizabeth. <41>When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby responded by leaping in her (Elizabeth’s) womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. <42>She shouted out words of prophecy, ‘You are most privileged and blessed among women, and blessed is the child you will give birth to! <43>But how come I’m honoured in this way? Why am I so favoured that the mother of my Lord, the baby inside you, should come to me? <44>As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. <45>Happy and fortunate is she who has trusted that the promises the Lord spoke to her will be fulfilled!’

Mary: ‘My soul celebrates the Lord!’

<46>And Mary spoke out loud,

‘My soul celebrates the goodness of the Lord in my life.

<47>I am thankful and take delight in God my Saviour,

<48>because he has looked with tenderness on his servant’s humble status.

Surely from now on all generations will call me...