October 31

Luke 1:1 — 2:52

Luke

1 Whereas many have undertaken to compile a statement of the facts that are given full credence among us, 2 just as those who from [the] beginning became eyewitnesses and attendants of the message delivered these to us, 3 I resolved also, because I have traced all things from the start with accuracy, to write them in logical order to you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know fully the certainty of the things that you have been taught orally.

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there happened to be a certain priest named Zechariah of the division of Abijah, and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 They both were righteous before God because of walking blamelessly in accord with all the commandments and legal requirements of Jehovah. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well along in years.

8 Now as he was acting as priest in the assignment of his division before God, 9 according to the solemn practice of the priestly office it became his turn to offer incense when he entered into the sanctuary of Jehovah; 10 and all the multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of offering incense. 11 To him Jehovah’s angel appeared, standing at the right side of the incense altar. 12 But Zechariah became troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him. 13 However, the angel said to him: “Have no fear, Zechariah, because your supplication has been favorably heard, and your wife Elizabeth will become mother to a son to you, and you are to call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and great gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth; 15 for he will be great before Jehovah. But he must drink no wine and strong drink at all, and he will be filled with holy spirit right from his mother’s womb; 16 and many of the sons of Israel will he turn back to Jehovah their God. 17 Also, he will go before him with Elijah’s spirit and power, to turn back the hearts of fathers to children and the disobedient ones to the practical wisdom of righteous ones, to get ready for Jehovah a prepared people.”

18 And Zechariah said to the angel: “How am I to be sure of this? For I am aged and my wife is well along in years.” 19 In reply the angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands near before God, and I was sent forth to speak with you and declare the good news of these things to you. 20 But, look! you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their appointed time.” 21 Meanwhile the people continued waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder at his delaying in the sanctuary. 22 But when he came out he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that he had just seen a supernatural sight in the sanctuary; and he kept making signs to them, but remained dumb. 23 When, now, the days of his public service were fulfilled, he went off to his home.

24 But after these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant; and she kept herself secluded for five months, saying: 25 “This is the way Jehovah has dealt with me in these days when he has given me his attention to take away my reproach among men.”

26 In her sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent forth from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin promised in marriage to a man named Joseph of David’s house; and the name of the virgin was Mary. 28 And when he went in before her he said: “Good day, highly favored one, Jehovah is with you.” 29 But she was deeply disturbed at the saying and began to reason out what sort of greeting this might be. 30 So the angel said to her: “Have no fear, Mary, for you have found favor with God; 31 and, look! you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you are to call his name Jesus. 32 This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule as king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom.”

34 But Mary said to the angel: “How is this to be, since I am having no intercourse with a man?” 35 In answer the angel said to her: “Holy spirit will come upon you, and power of the Most High will overshadow you. For that reason also what is born will be called holy, God’s Son. 36 And, look! Elizabeth your relative has also herself conceived a son, in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her, the so-called barren woman; 37 because with God no declaration will be an impossibility.” 38 Then Mary said: “Look! Jehovah’s slave girl! May it take place with me according to your declaration.” At that the angel departed from her.

39 So Mary rose in these days and went into the mountainous country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered into the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 Well, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant in her womb leaped; and Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, 42 and she called out with a loud cry and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 So how is it that this [privilege] is mine, to have the mother of my Lord come to me? 44 For, look! as the sound of your greeting fell upon my ears, the infant in my womb leaped with great gladness. 45 Happy too is she that believed, because there will be a complete performance of those things spoken to her from Jehovah.”

46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies Jehovah, 47 and my spirit cannot keep from being overjoyed at God my Savior; 48 because he has looked upon the low position of his slave girl. For, look! from now on all generations will pronounce me happy; 49 because the powerful One has done great deeds for me, and holy is his name; 50 and for generations after generations his mercy is upon those who fear him. 51 He has performed mightily with his arm, he has scattered abroad those who are haughty in the intention of their hearts. 52 He has brought down men of power from thrones and exalted lowly ones; 53 he has fully satisfied hungry ones with good things and he has sent away empty those who had wealth. 54 He has come to the aid of Israel his servant, to call to mind mercy, 55 just as he told to our forefathers, to Abraham and to his seed, forever.” 56 Then Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her own home.

57 The time now became due for Elizabeth to give birth, and she became mother to a son. 58 And the neighbors and her relatives heard that Jehovah had magnified his mercy to her, and they began to rejoice with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the young child, and they were going to call it by the name of its father, Zechariah. 60 But its mother answered and said: “No, indeed! but he shall be called John.” 61 At this they said to her: “There is no one among your relatives that is called by this name.” 62 Then they went asking its father by signs what he wanted it to be called. 63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote: “John is its name.” At this they all marveled. 64 Instantly his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he began to speak, blessing God. 65 And fear fell upon all those living in their neighborhood; and in the whole mountainous country of Judea all these things began to be talked around, 66 and all that heard made note of it in their hearts, saying: “What really will this young child be?” For the hand of Jehovah was indeed with it.

67 And Zechariah its father was filled with holy spirit, and he prophesied, saying: 68 “Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel, because he has turned his attention and performed deliverance toward his people. 69 And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant, 70 just as he, through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, has spoken 71 of a salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all those hating us; 72 to perform the mercy in connection with our forefathers and to call to mind his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to Abraham our forefather, 74 to grant us, after we have been rescued from the hands of enemies, the privilege of fearlessly rendering sacred service to him 75 with loyalty and righteousness before him all our days. 76 But as for you, young child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go in advance before Jehovah to make his ways ready, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender compassion of our God. With this [compassion] a daybreak will visit us from on high, 79 to give light to those sitting in darkness and death’s shadow, to direct our feet prosperously in the way of peace.”

80 And the young child went on growing and getting strong in spirit, and he continued in the deserts until the day of showing himself openly to Israel.

2 Now in those days a decree went forth from Caesar Augustus for all the inhabited earth to be registered; 2 (this first registration took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria;) 3 and all people went traveling to be registered, each one to his own city. 4 Of course, Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because of his being a member of the house and family of David, 5 to get registered with Mary, who had been given him in marriage as promised, at present heavy with child. 6 While they were there, the days came to the full for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her son, the firstborn, and she bound him with cloth bands and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the lodging room.

8 There were also in that same country shepherds living out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks. 9 And suddenly Jehovah’s angel stood by them, and Jehovah’s glory gleamed around them, and they became very fearful. 10 But the angel said to them: “Have no fear, for, look! I am declaring to YOU good news of a great joy that all the people will have, 11 because there was born to YOU today a Savior, who is Christ [the] Lord, in David’s city. 12 And this is a sign for YOU: YOU will find an infant bound in cloth bands and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there came to be with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: 14 “Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of goodwill.”

15 So when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another: “Let us by all means go clear to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which Jehovah has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary as well as Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17 When they saw it, they made known the saying that had been spoken to them concerning this young child. 18 And all that heard marveled over the things told them by the shepherds, 19 but Mary began to preserve all these sayings, drawing conclusions in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all the things they heard and saw, just as these had been told them.

21 Now when eight days came to the full for circumcising him, his name was also called Jesus, the name called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 Also, when the days for purifying them according to the law of Moses came to the full, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to Jehovah, 23 just as it is written in Jehovah’s law: “Every male opening a womb must be called holy to Jehovah,” 24 and to offer sacrifice according to what is said in the law of Jehovah: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25 And, look! there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was righteous and reverent, waiting for Israel’s consolation, and holy spirit was upon him. 26 Furthermore, it had been divinely revealed to him by the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of Jehovah. 27 Under the power of the spirit he now came into the temple; and as the parents brought the young child Jesus in to do for it according to the customary practice of the law, 28 he himself received it into his arms and blessed God and said: 29 “Now, Sovereign Lord, you are letting your slave go free in peace according to your declaration; 30 because my eyes have seen your means of saving 31 that you have made ready in the sight of all the peoples, 32 a light for removing the veil from the nations and a glory of your people Israel.” 33 And its father and mother continued wondering at the things being spoken about it. 34 Also, Simeon blessed them, but said to Mary its mother: “Look! This one is laid for the fall and the rising again of many in Israel and for a sign to be talked against 35 (yes, a long sword will be run through the soul of you yourself), in order that the reasonings of many hearts may be uncovered.”

36 Now there was Anna a prophetess, Phanuel’s daughter, of Asher’s tribe (this woman was well along in years, and had lived with a husband for seven years from her virginity, 37 and she was a widow now eighty-four years old), who was never missing from the temple, rendering sacred service night and day with fastings and supplications. 38 And in that very hour she came near and began returning thanks to God and speaking about [the child] to all those waiting for Jerusalem’s deliverance.

39 So when they had carried out all the things according to the law of Jehovah, they went back into Galilee to their own city Nazareth. 40 And the young child continued growing and getting strong, being filled with wisdom, and God’s favor continued upon him.

41 Now his parents were accustomed to go from year to year to Jerusalem for the festival of the passover. 42 And when he became twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival 43 and completed the days. But when they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and his parents did not notice it. 44 Assuming that he was in the company traveling together, they covered a day’s distance and then began to hunt him up among the relatives and acquaintances. 45 But, not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, making a diligent search for him. 46 Well, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and questioning them. 47 But all those listening to him were in constant amazement at his understanding and his answers. 48 Now when they saw him they were astounded, and his mother said to him: “Child, why did you treat us this way? Here your father and I in mental distress have been looking for you.” 49 But he said to them: “Why did YOU have to go looking for me? Did YOU not know that I must be in the [house] of my Father?” 50 However, they did not grasp the saying that he spoke to them.

51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he continued subject to them. Also, his mother carefully kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus went on progressing in wisdom and in physical growth and in favor with God and men.

End of October