Luke 1:1
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
Luke 1:2
even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
Luke 1:3
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;
Luke 1:4
that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
Luke 1:5
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisheva.
Luke 1:6
They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
Luke 1:7
But they had no child, because Elisheva was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
Luke 1:8
Now it happened, while he executed the priests office before God in the order of his division,
Luke 1:9
according to the custom of the priests office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
Luke 1:10
The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
Luke 1:11
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Luke 1:12
Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
Luke 1:13
But the angel said to him, Dont be afraid, Zechariah, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elisheva, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yochanan.
Luke 1:14
You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
Luke 1:15
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.
Luke 1:16
He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.
Luke 1:17
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.
Luke 1:18
Zechariah 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.
Luke 1:19
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.
Luke 1:20
Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didnt believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.
Luke 1:21
The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.
Luke 1:22
When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
Luke 1:23
It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
Luke 1:24
After these days Elisheva, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
Luke 1:25
Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.
Luke 1:26
Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Luke 1:27
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam.
Luke 1:28
Having come in, the angel said to her, Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. [[Blessed are you among women!]]
Textual Variant: The phrase: “Blessed are you among women” does not appear in Alexandrian-type texts. It might very well be an interpolation.