Luke 1 | OET-RV

1:1 Introduction

1 Several people attempted to write an account about the events that we’re personally certain of 2 as the ones who were eyewitnesses and hearers of these accounts from the beginning handed them over to us. 3 So since we had followed all these events so carefully, it seemed like a good idea to write this account for you, honoured Theofilos, 4 so that you could know the definite background behind what you were taught.

1:5 The messenger foretells the birth of Yohan-the-immerser

5 It started with the priest Zekaryah (Zechariah; Grk. Zakarias) and his wife Elisheva (Elizabeth; Grk. Elisabet) at the time when Herodes (Herod) was the king of Yehudah (Judea). (Zekaryah was in the priestly division of Aviyah,[ref] and Elisheva was also a descendant of Aharon (Aaron).) 6 God considered them both good and blameless as they followed his instructions and obeyed his rules. 7 Elisheva had never been able to have a child, so there was just the two of them as they were now getting older.

8 One time as he was taking his rostered turn to serve God along with his division, 9 he was chosen by lot (this was how the priests assigned tasks) to light the incense in the temple, and so he proceeded inside. 10 A lot of people would be praying outside the temple at the time when the incense was burnt. 11 At that moment, a messenger from God appeared to Zekaryah, standing right there at the right of the incense altar. 12 Zekaryah got a big fright at seeing him there and started to tremble. 13 But the messenger spoke, “Don’t be scared Zekaryah, because your request has been listened to, and your wife Elisheva will give birth to a son and you’ll name him Yohan (John; Grk. Yoannes). 14 He’ll bring a lot of happiness to you and you’ll be proud of him—in fact many people will be glad. 15 He’ll be considered special in God’s eyes, but he won’t be allowed to drink wine or spirits.[ref] Even while he’s still in his mother’s womb, he’ll be filled with God’s spirit. 16 He will turn many Israeli people back to Yahweh, their God. 17 And he will go on ahead of God with the spirit and the power of Eliyah (Elijah), to turn fathers back to loving their children and to turn career criminals towards the wisdom of godly people, to get the people ready for Yahweh.”[ref]

18 Zekaryah asked the messenger, “How will I know if you’re telling the truth, because I’m an older man and my wife is also getting old?”

19 Now the messenger rebuked him, “I am Gavriel (Gabriel)[ref] who stood right in front of God and was commanded to come here and talk to you, and to tell all of this to you, 20 ⇔so listen to this: Because you didn’t believe my message, you’ll be made silent and unable to speak until the day that all of these things happen, and they certainly will happen at the proper times.”

21 Meanwhile, the people outside were expecting Zekaryah to come back out, and were wondering what could be holding him up there inside the temple. 22 But when he did emerge, he wasn’t able to speak to them. They wondering if maybe he’d seen a vision in the temple, and he nodded to confirm this although he remained mute, 23 and after he’d finished his rostered days in the temple, he returned home.

24 As time went on, Elisheva (Elizabeth; Grk. Elisabet) became pregnant and secluded herself away for five months, saying, 25 “Yahweh has done this for me. At this time he’s looked down at me and taken away the public shame of my being childless.”

1:26 God’s messenger comes to Maria

26 When Elisheva (Elizabeth; Grk. Elisabet) was six months pregnant, God sent his messenger Gavriel (Gabriel) to Nazaret (Nazareth), a city in the Galil region. 27 Gavriel went to a young woman named Maria (Mary; Heb. Miryam; Grk. Maria /Mariam) who was engaged to be married to Yosef (Joseph), a descendant of King David,[ref] 28 and entering the room, spoke to her, “Hello there. Yahweh is with you and he’s chosen you to be honoured.” 29 Maria was very puzzled by the statement and wondered what kind of greeting it could be 30 as the messenger continued, “Don’t be scared, Maria, because God is showing his favour on you, 31 and listen, you’ll conceive a baby and go on to give birth to a son, and you must name him Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus).[ref] 32 He’ll be very special and will be called ‘the son of the highest one’, and Yahweh God will give him the throne of David, his ancestor.[ref] 33 He’ll reign over Ya’akov’s (Jacob’s) descendants throughout the ages, and his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How would this work,” Maria asked the messenger, “because I’ve never slept with a guy?”

35 “The holy spirit will come over you,” answered the messenger, “and the power of the highest one will overshadow you, and so the holy child that’ll be born will be called God’s son. 36 Also, your relative Elisheva (Elizabeth; Grk. Elisabet) has also conceived a son in her old age—the one who was called barren is now six months pregnant 37 because with God, his statements always come to pass.”[ref]

38 “Listen,” said Maria, “I’m Yahweh’s servant girl. May everything you said come true.” Then the messenger left her.

1:39 Maria’s visit to Elisheva

39 Several days later, Maria (Mary; Heb. Miryam; Grk. Maria /Mariam) determined that she’d go to the town in the hills of Yehudah (Judea) 40 where Zekaryah (Grk. Zakarias) and Elisheva (Elizabeth; Grk. Elisabet) lived. She entered the house and greeted Elisheva, 41 and as soon as Elisheva heard the greeting, her baby in her womb kicked, and she was filled with the holy spirit 42 and she called out loudly, “Out of all women, you have been blessed and the baby in your womb has been blessed. 43 How could this happen to me—that the mother of my master would come and visit me! 44 You see, as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb kicked with excitement, 45 and the woman who believed that everything Yahweh told her will happen, she will be blessed.”

1:46 Maria’s song of praise

46 Maria (Mary; Heb. Miryam; Grk. Maria /Mariam) said,

“My soul praises Yahweh,

47 and my spirit is so happy about God, my saviour,

48 because he noticed his humble servant girl.[ref]

Look now, all the future generations will consider that I was blessed

49 because the powerful one treated me incredibly,

and his name is holy.

50 He shows his mercy to multiple generations;

to those who honour him.

51 His arm is powerful;

he scatters those who are proud in their hearts.

52 He knocks kings off their thrones,

and praises those who are humble.[ref]

53 Those who are hungry, he fills with good things,

but those who are rich, he sends away empty handed.

54 He took good care of his servant, Yisrael (Israel),

to be reminded of mercy

55 as he spoke to our ancestors,

to Avraham and his descendants,[ref]

at the right time.”

56 So Maria (Mary; Heb. Miryam; Grk. Maria /Mariam) stayed with Elisheva (Elizabeth; Grk. Elisabet) for about three months before returning back to her own home.

1:57 The birth of Yohan-the-immerser

57 When Elisheva’s (Elizabeth’s; Grk. Elisabet’s) nine months were up, she gave birth and produced a son 58 and her neighbours and relatives heard that Yahweh had shown great mercy to her, and so they celebrated along with her.

59 When the baby boy was eight days old, it was the time to circumcise him,[ref] and the relatives at the ceremony started calling him Zekaryah (Grk. Zakarias) after the name of his father, 60 but the baby’s mother spoke up and said, “No, he’s going to be named Yohan (John; Grk. Yoannes).”

61 ⇔“None of your relatives have that name,” they said 62 and they signalled to the father to tell them what name he wanted for the baby.

63 So Zekaryah requested a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is Yohan.” Everyone was amazed 64 and then suddenly his mouth and tongue were freed and he was able to speak again and started praising God. 65 Everyone who lived nearby was a bit unnerved by all this, and the story about what happened was discussed in all the homes around the hills 66 and those who heard about it were thinking to themselves, “Who’s this young child going to turn out to be?”