The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 1 -

(Acts 1:1–3)

Forasmuch as many haue taken in hand to set foorth the storie of those things, whereof we are fully persuaded,

As they haue deliuered them vnto vs, which from the beginning saw them their selues, and were ministers of ye word,

It seemed good also to me (most noble Theophilus) assoone as I had searched out perfectly all things from the beginning, to write vnto thee thereof from point to point,

That thou mightest acknowledge the certaintie of those things, whereof thou hast bene instructed.

Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth

In the time of Herod King of Iudea, there was a certaine Priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabet.

Both were iust before God, and walked in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord, without reproofe.

And they had no childe, because that Elisabet was barren: and both were well stricken in age.

And it came to passe, as he executed the Priestes office before God, as his course came in order,

According to the custome of the Priests office, his lot was to burne incense, when he went into the Temple of the Lord.

And the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer, while the incense was burning.

Then appeared vnto him an Angel of the Lord standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

And when Zacharias sawe him, he was troubled, and feare fell vpon him.

But the Angel saide vnto him, Feare not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard, and thy wise Elisabet shall beare thee a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Iohn.

And thou shalt haue ioy and gladnes, and many shall reioyce at his birth.

For he shalbe great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drinke wine, nor strong drinke: and he shalbe filled with the holy Ghost, euen from his mothers wombe.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turne to their Lord God.

For he shall goe before him in the spirite and power of Elias, to turne the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisedome of the iust men, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Then Zacharias said vnto ye Angel, Whereby shall I knowe this? for I am an olde man, and my wife is of a great age.

And the Angell answered, and sayde vnto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speake vnto thee, and to shew thee these good tidings.

And beholde, thou shalt be domme, and not be able to speake, vntill the day that these things be done, because thou beleeuedst not my words, which shalbe fulfilled in their season.

Now the people waited for Zacharias, and marueiled that he taried so long in the Temple.

And when hee came out, hee coulde not speake vnto them: then they perceiued that hee had seene a vision in the Temple: For he made signes vnto them, and remained domme.

And it came to passe, when the daies of his office were fulfilled, that he departed to his owne house.

And after those daies, his wife Elisabet conceiued, and hid her selfe fiue moneths, saying,

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me, in the daies wherein he looked on me, to take from me my rebuke among men.

Gabriel Foretells Jesus’ Birth

And in the sixth moneth, the Angell Gabriel was sent from God vnto a citie of Galile, named Nazareth,

To a virgin affianced to a man whose name was Ioseph, of the house of Dauid, and the virgins name was Marie.

And the Angel went in vnto her, and said, Haile thou that art freely beloued: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and thought what maner of salutation that should be.

Then the Angel saide vnto her, Feare not, Marie: for thou hast found fauour with God.

For loe, thou shalt conceiue in thy wobe, and beare a sonne, and shalt call his name Iesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Sonne of the most High, and the Lord God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid.

And hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer, and of his kingdome shall bee none ende.

Then sayde Marie vnto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I knowe not man?

And the Angel answered, and said vnto her, The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee, and the power of the most High shall ouershadowe thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall bee borne of thee, shall be called the Sonne of God.

And behold, thy cousin Elisabet, she hath also conceiued a sonne in her olde age: and this is her sixt moneth, which was called barren.

For with God shall nothing be vnpossible.

Then Marie said, Behold the seruant of the Lord: be it vnto me according to thy woorde. So the Angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

And Marie arose in those daies, and went into ye hil countrey with hast to a citie of Iuda,

And entred into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabet.

And it came to passe, as Elisabet heard the salutation of Marie, the babe sprang in her bellie, and Elisabet was filled with the holy Ghost.

And she cried with a loud voice, and saide, Blessed art thou among women, because the fruit of thy wombe is blessed.

And whence commeth this to mee, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For loe, assoone as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eares, the babe sprang in my bellie for ioye,

And blessed is shee that beleeued: for those things shall be perfourmed, which were tolde her from the Lord.

Mary’s Song

(1 Samuel 2:1–11)

Then Marie sayde, My soule magnifieth the Lord,

And my spirite reioyceth in God my Sauiour.

For hee hath looked on the poore degree of his seruaunt: for beholde, from henceforth shall all ages call me blessed,

Because hee that is mightie, hath done for me great things, and holy is his Name.

And his mercie is from generation to generation on them that feare him.

Hee hath shewed strength with his arme: hee hath scattered the proude in the imagination of their hearts.

Hee hath put downe the mighty from their seates, and exalted them of lowe degree.

Hee hath filled the hungrie with good things, and sent away the rich emptie.

Hee hath vpholden Israel his seruaunt to be mindefull of his mercie

(As hee hath spoken to our fathers, to wit, to Abraham, and his seede) for euer.

And Marie abode with her about three moneths: after, shee returned to her owne house.

The Birth of John the Baptist

Nowe Elisabets time was fulfilled, that shee should be deliuered, and shee brought foorth a sonne.

And her neighbours, and cousins heard tell howe the Lord had shewed his great mercie vpon her, and they reioyced with her.

And it was so that on the eight day they came to circumcise the babe, and called him Zacharias after the name of his father.

But his mother answered, and saide, Not so, but he shalbe called Iohn.

And they saide vnto her, There is none of thy kindred, that is named with this name.

Then they made signes to his father, howe he would haue him called.

So hee asked for writing tables, and wrote, saying, His name is Iohn, and they marueiled all.

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he spake and praised God.

Then feare came on all them that dwelt neere vnto them, and all these woordes were noised abroade throughout all the hill countrey of Iudea.

And al they that heard them, laid them vp in their hearts, saying, What maner childe shall this be! and the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

Then his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath visited and redeemed his people,

And hath raised vp the horne of saluation vnto vs, in the house of his seruant Dauid,

As he spake by ye mouth of his holy Prophets, which were since the world began, saying,

That he would sende vs deliuerance from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate vs,

That he might shewe mercie towards our fathers, and remember his holy couenant,

And the othe which he sware to our father Abraham.

Which was, that he would graunt vnto vs, that we being deliuered out of the handes of our enemies, should serue him without feare,

All the daies of our life, in holinesse and righteousnesse before him.

And thou, babe, shalt be called the Prophet of the most High: for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord, to prepare his waies,

And to giue knowledge of saluation vnto his people, by the remission of their sinnes,

Through ye tender mercy of our God, wherby the day spring from an hie hath visited vs,

To giue light to them that sit in darknes, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feete into the way of peace.

And the childe grewe, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the wildernesse, til the day came that he should shewe him selfe vnto Israel.

(Acts 1:1–3)

Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,

it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;

that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division

according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’(a) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

Behold,(b) you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

“Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

Gabriel Foretells Jesus’ Birth

Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.

Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”

But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”(c)

Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

Mary’s Song

(1 Samuel 2:1–11)

Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.

He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring(d) forever.”

Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

The Birth of John the Baptist

Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” They all marveled.

His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.

Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.

All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people;

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;

to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,

the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,

to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us,

to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Footnotes

(a)1:17 ℘ Malachi 4:6

(b)1:20 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

(d)1:55 or, seed