OET-RV LUKE Chapter 1

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 Theophilus, 4 so that you could know the definite background behind what you were taught.

5 [ref]It started with the priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth at the time when Herod was the king of Yudea. (Zechariah was in the priestly division of Abijah, and Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.) 6 God considered them both good and blameless as they obeyed his commandments and regulations. 7 Elizabeth 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 Zechariah, standing right there at the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah got a big fright at seeing him there and started to tremble. 13 But the messenger spoke, “Don’t be scared Zechariah, because your request has been listened to, and your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son and you’ll name him Yohan. 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 [ref]He’ll be considered special in God’s eyes, but he won’t be allowed to drink wine or spirits. Even while he’s still in his mother’s womb, he’ll be filled with God’s spirit. 16 He will turn many children of Israel back to Yahweh, their God. 17 [ref]And he will go on ahead of God with the spirit and the power of Eliyyah, 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 the master.”

18 Zechariah asked the messenger, “How will I know if this is true. Because I’m an older man and my wife is also getting old.”

19 [ref]Now the messenger rebuked him, “I am Gabriel 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 hear this: Because you didn’t believe my message, you will 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 Zechariah 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, Elizabeth became pregnant and secluded herself away for five months, saying, 25 “The master[fn] has done this for me. At this time he’s looked down at me and taken away the public shame of my being childless.”

26 When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent his messenger Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in the Galilee region. 27 [ref]Gabriel went to a young woman named Maria who was engaged to be married to Yosef, a descendant of King David, 28 and entering the room, spoke to her, “Hello there. The master 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 you have found God’s favour 31 [ref]and listen, you will conceive a baby and go on to give birth to a son, and you should name him Yeshua. 32 [ref]He will be very special and will be called the son of the highest one, and God the master will give him the throne of David, his ancestor. 33 He will reign over Yacob’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 will be born will be called God’s son. 36 Also, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age—the one who was called barren is now six months pregnant 37 [ref]because with God, his statements always come to pass.”

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

39 Several days later, Maria determined that she’d go to the town in the hills of Yudea 40 where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth, 41 and as soon as Elizabeth 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 the master told her will happen, she will be blessed.”

46 Maria said,

“My soul praises the master,

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

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

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 [ref]He knocks kings off their thrones,

and praises those who’re humble.

53 Those who’re hungry, he fills with good things,

but those who’re rich, he sends away empty handed.

54 He took good care of his servant, Israel,

to be reminded of mercy

55 [ref]as he spoke to our ancestors,

to Abraham and his descendants,

at the right time.”

56 So Maria stayed with Elizabeth for about three months before returning back to her own home.

57 When Elizabeth’s nine months were up, she gave birth and produced a son 58 and her neighbours and relatives heard that the master had shown great mercy to her, and so they celebrated along with her.

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

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 Zacharias 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?”

67 Then the boy’s father, Zacharias, became filled with the holy spirit and prophesied,

68 “Blessed is the master, the god of Israel,

because he visited us and made a way for his people to be freed from slavery.

69 He brought us a voice that would lead to our salvation,

us citizens of the nation of King David, his servant

70 (as he spoke via the mouths of his holy prophets through the ages).

71 He saved us from our enemies,

and from the power of all the ones hating us,

72 to show mercy to our ancestors

and to remind them of his holy agreement,

73 that he had promised Abraham, our ancestor, that he would give us.

74 He rescued us from the power of our enemies,

so we could serve him without fear,

75 committed to obeying him

for the rest of our lives.

76 [ref]And you too my little child, will be called a prophet of the highest one—

going before the master to prepare his paths,

77 to give knowledge about salvation to his people

so their sins can be forgiven

78 because God has compassion on us and mercy.

Thus the light from heaven will visit us

79 [ref]to shine on those in darkness and sitting in the shadow of death;

to guide us onto the road of peace.”

80 The young boy grew and his spirit was also strengthened, and he lived in the wilderness until he started his ministry to the people of Israel.