Luke 1 - American Standard Version (ASV)

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been [a]fulfilled among us, 2 even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the [b]things [c]wherein thou wast instructed.

5 There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife 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 [d]well stricken in years.

8 Now it came to pass, 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 enter into the [e]temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour 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 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication 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 he shall drink no wine nor [f]strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God. 17 And he shall [g]go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife [h]well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. 20 And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21 And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled [i]while he tarried in the [j]temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the [k]temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb. 23 And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

24 And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art [l]highly favored, the Lord is with thee[m]. 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found [n]favor 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 Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob [o]for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also [p]the holy thing which is begotten [q]shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that [r]was called barren. 37 For no word from God shall be void of power. 38 And Mary said, Behold, the [s]handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

39 And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; 40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; 42 and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, 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 unto me? 44 For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that [t]believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to 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 looked upon the low estate of his [u]handmaid:
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 unto generations and generations
On them that fear him.
51 He hath showed strength with his arm;
He hath scattered the proud [v]in the imagination of their heart.
52 He hath put down princes from their thrones,
And hath exalted them of low degree.
53 The hungry he hath filled with good things;
And the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath given help to Israel his servant,
That he might remember mercy
55 (As he spake unto our fathers)
Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

57 Now Elisabeth’s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have 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, what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, 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, blessing 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 that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

68 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
69 And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of his servant David
70 (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),
71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To show mercy towards our fathers,
And to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father,
74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies
Should serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High:
For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people
In the remission of their sins,
78 Because of the [w]tender mercy of our God,
[x]Whereby the dayspring from on high [y]shall visit us,
79 To shine upon them that sit in darkness and 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 showing unto Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:1 Or, fully established
  2. Luke 1:4 Greek words.
  3. Luke 1:4 Or, which thou wast taught by word of mouth
  4. Luke 1:7 Greek advanced in their days.
  5. Luke 1:9 Or, sanctuary
  6. Luke 1:15 Greek sikera.
  7. Luke 1:17 Some ancient authorities read come nigh before his face.
  8. Luke 1:18 Greek advanced in her days.
  9. Luke 1:21 Or, at his tarrying
  10. Luke 1:21 Or, sanctuary
  11. Luke 1:22 Or, sanctuary
  12. Luke 1:28 Or, endued with grace
  13. Luke 1:28 Many ancient authorities add blessed art thou among women. See verse 42.
  14. Luke 1:30 Or, grace
  15. Luke 1:33 Greek unto the ages.
  16. Luke 1:35 Or, that which is to be born shall be called holy, the Son of God
  17. Luke 1:35 Some ancient authorities insert of thee.
  18. Luke 1:36 Or, is
  19. Luke 1:38 Greek bondmaid.
  20. Luke 1:45 Or, believed that there shall be
  21. Luke 1:48 Greek bondmaid.
  22. Luke 1:51 Or, by
  23. Luke 1:78 Or, heart of mercy
  24. Luke 1:78 Or, Wherein
  25. Luke 1:78 Many ancient authorities read hath visited us.

You Might Also Like:

Luke 1 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Seeing that many did take in hand to set in order a narration of the matters that have been fully assured among us, 2 as they did deliver to us, who from the beginning became eye-witnesses, and officers of the Word, -- 3 it seemed good also to me, having followed from the first after all things ex...
Read More

Luke 1 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

[1 Forsooth for many men endeavoured to ordain the telling of things, which be filled in us, 2 as they that saw at the beginning, and were ministers of the word, betaken, 3 it is seen also to me, having from the beginning all things diligently by order, to write to thee, thou best Theophilus, 4 t...
Read More

Luke 1 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

1 Many people have tried already to write down the things that have happened among us. 2 These things were told us by men who saw them happen from the time they began to happen. And these men helped tell the good news. 3 I have tried to find out all that has happened from the beginning. And so, Theo...
Read More

Luke 1 - World English Bible (WEB)

1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurate...
Read More

Luke 1 - The Voice (VOICE)

In the time of Jesus, Jewish life is centered in the temple in Jerusalem. Priests are responsible for the temple’s activities—which include receiving religious pilgrims and their sacrifices (cattle, sheep, goats, and doves). Animal sacrifices may sound strange to a modern society, but in the ancient...
Read More

Luke 1 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

A Doctor Charts the Facts1 Now many have undertaken to organize an account of the events fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us from the start by the eyewitnesses and reporters of the word. 3 Therefore it seemed best to me also, because I have carefully investigated everything f...
Read More

Luke 1 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Dedication to Theophilus1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, 2 just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all t...
Read More

Luke 1 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Dedication to Theophilus1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, 2 just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all t...
Read More

Luke 1 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

1 Since many have attempted to set forth the story of those things of which we are fully persuaded 2 (exactly as they were delivered to us by those ministers of the word who saw them themselves from the beginning), 3 it seemed good to me also - once I had carefully investigated all things from the b...
Read More

Luke 1 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Prologue1 Many people have undertaken to draw up an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled in our midst. 2 It has been handed down to us by the original eyewitnesses and stewards of the word. 3 So, most excellent Theophilus, since I had traced the course of all of it scrupulously f...
Read More

Luke 1 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Dedication to Theophilus1 Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 I too decided, after investigating everything caref...
Read More

Luke 1 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Dedication to Theophilus1 Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 I too decided, after investigating everything caref...
Read More

Luke 1 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Dedication to Theophilus1 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,(A)3 I, too, decided, as one having a grasp of everything fro...
Read More

Luke 1 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

The conception and birth of John the Baptist. The conception of Christ. The thankful songs of Mary and Zacharias.1 Since many have taken in hand to compile an account of those things that are known for certain among us, 2 as told to us by those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning, and minister...
Read More

Luke 1 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Introduction1 Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples.[a] 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate ac...
Read More

Luke 1 - New Life Version (NLV)

Luke Writes to Theophilus1 Many people have written about the things that have happened among us. 2 Those who saw everything from the first and helped teach the Good News have passed these things on to us. 3 Dear Theophilus, I have looked with care into these things from the beginning. I have deci...
Read More

Luke 1 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Dedication to Theophilus1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those (A)things which [a]have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who (B)from the beginning were (C)eyewitnesses and ministers of the word (D)delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having ...
Read More