Luke’s Dedication to Theophilus1 Since many people have attempted to write an orderly account of the events that have transpired among us, 2 just as they were passed down to us by those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning, 3 I, too, have carefully investigated everything from the beginning and have decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. The Birth of John the Baptist is Foretold5 During the reign of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and because both of them were getting old. 8When Zechariah was serving with his division of priests in God’s presence, 9he was chosen by lot to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense, according to the custom of the priests. 10And the entire congregation of people was praying outside at the time when the incense was burned. 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear overwhelmed him. 13But the angel told him, “Stop being afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John. 14You will have great joy, and many people will rejoice at his birth, 15because he will be great in the Lord’s presence. He will never drink wine or any strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring many of Israel’s descendants back to the Lord their God. 17He is the one who will go before the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and to prepare the people to be ready for the Lord.” 18Then Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man, and my wife is getting older?” 19The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to announce this good news to you. 20But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time, you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens.” 21Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long. 22But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them but remained unable to speak. 23When the days of his service were over, he went home. 24After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, 25“This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace.” The Birth of Jesus is Foretold26 Now in the sixth month of her pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!” 29 Startled by his statement, she tried to figure out what his greeting meant. 30 Then the angel told her, “Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. 31 Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” 34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen, since I have not had relations with a man?” 35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God. 36 And listen! Elizabeth, your relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age, this woman who was rumored to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God’s promises.” 38 Then Mary said, “Truly I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you have said happen to me.” Then the angel left her. Elizabeth gets a visit from Mary39Later on, Mary set out for a Judean city in the hill country. 40She went into Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and she loudly exclaimed, “How blessed are you among women, and how blessed is the infant in your womb! 43Why should this happen to me, to have the mother of my Lord visit me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!” Mary’s Song of Praise to God46Then Mary said, “My soul praises the greatness of the Lord! 47My spirit exults in God, my Savior, 48because he has looked favorably on his humble servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed, 49because the Almighty has done great things for me. His name is holy. 50His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him. 51He displayed his mighty power with his arm. He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart. 52He pulled powerful rulers from their thrones and lifted up humble people. 53He filled hungry people with good things and sent rich people away with nothing. 54He helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors— to Abraham and his descendants forever.” 56Now Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home. The Birth of John the Baptist57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father, 60but his mother said, “Absolutely not! He must be named John.” 61Their friends told her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 62So they motioned to the baby’s father to see what he wanted to name him. 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And everyone was amazed. 64Suddenly, Zechariah could open his mouth, his tongue was set free, and he began to speak and to praise God. 65Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. 66Everyone who heard about it kept thinking what had happened and asked, “What will this child become?” because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him. The Prophecy of Zechariah67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel! He has taken care of his people and has set them free. 69He has raised up a mighty Savior for us from the family of his servant David, 70just as he promised long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets 71that he would save us from our enemies and from the grip of all who hate us. 72He has shown mercy to our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant, 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. He granted us 74deliverance from our enemies’ grip so that we could serve him without fear 75and be holy and righteous before him all of our days. 76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way 77and to give his people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins. 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, his light from on high has visited us, 79to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death’s shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80Now the child continued to grow and to become spiritually strong. He lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared in Israel. The Birth of Jesus, in the town of Bethlehem1 Now in those days an order was published by Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 So all the people went to their hometowns to be registered. 4 Joseph, too, went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the City of David (called Bethlehem), because he was a descendant of the household and family of David. 5 He went there to be registered with Mary, who had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby, 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the guest quarters. The Shepherds Visit Jesus8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, watching their flock during the night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 Then the angel told them, “Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. 11 Today your Savior, the Lord Messiah, was born in the City of David. 12 And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, a multitude of the Heavenly Army appeared with the angel, praising God by saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor!” 15 When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds told one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what has taken place that the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw this, they repeated what they had been told about this child. 18 All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 However, Mary continued to treasure all these things in her heart and to ponder them. 20 Then the shepherds returned to their flock, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. Jesus is Circumcised21 After eight days had passed, the infant was circumcised and named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Jesus is Presented in the Temple22When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn son is to be designated as holy to the Lord.” 24They also offered a sacrifice according to what is specified in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25Now a man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Led by the Spirit, he went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the Law, 28Simeon took the infant in his arms and praised God, saying, 29“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace according to your promise, 30because my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you prepared for all people to see— 32a light that will reveal salvation to unbelievers and bring glory to your people Israel.” 33Jesus’ father and mother kept wondering at the things being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and told Mary, his mother, “This infant is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise. Also, he will be a sign that will be opposed. 35Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed.” 36Now Anna, a prophetess, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37and then as a widow for 84 years. She never left the Temple, but continued to worship there night and day with times of fasting and prayer. 38Just then she came forward and began to thank God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. The Return to Nazareth39After doing everything required by the Law of the Lord, Joseph and Mary returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. 40Meanwhile, the child continued to grow and to become strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor rested upon him. Jesus Visits the Temple41Every year Jesus’ parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to the festival as usual. 43When the days of the festival were over, they left for home. The young man Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44They thought that he was in their group of travelers. After traveling for a day, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching desperately for him. 46Three days later, they found him in the Temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and posing questions to them. 47All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers. 48When Jesus’ parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!” 49He asked them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50But they did not understand what he told them. 51Then he went back with them, returning to Nazareth and remaining in submission to them. His mother continued to treasure all these things in her heart. 52Meanwhile, Jesus kept on growing wiser and more mature, and in favor with God and his fellow man. Jesus is Baptized21When all the people had been baptized, Jesus, too, was baptized. While he was praying, heaven opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him, appearing in the form of a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you!” The Ancestry of Jesus – Genealogy of Jesus traced through Mary23Jesus himself was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. He was (as legally calculated) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. |
1:1 提阿非罗大人哪、有好些人提笔作书、述说在我们中间所成就的事、是照传道的人、从起初亲眼看见、又传给我们的. 1:5 当犹太王希律的时候、亚比雅班里有一个祭司、名叫撒迦利亚.他妻子是亚伦的后人、名叫以利沙伯。 1:8 撒迦利亚按班次、在 神面前供祭司的职分、 1:11 有主的使者站在香坛的右边、向他显现。 1:18 撒迦利亚对天使说、我凭着甚么可知道这事呢、我已经老了、我的妻子也年纪老迈了。 1:19 天使回答说、我是站在 神面前的加百列、奉差而来、对你说话、将这好信息报给你。 1:21 百姓等候撒迦利亚、诧异他许久在殿里。 1:24 这些日子以后、他的妻子以利沙伯怀了孕、就隐藏了五个月、 耶稣诞生的预言1:26 到了第六个月、天使加百列奉 神的差遣、往加利利的一座城去、这城名叫拿撒勒. 1:30 天使对他说、马利亚、不要怕.你在 神面前已经蒙恩了。 马利亚拜访以利沙白1:39 那时候马利亚起身、急忙往山地里去、来到犹大的一座城. 马利亚唱诗赞美神1:46 马利亚说、我心尊主为大、 2:1 当那些日子、该撒亚古士督有旨意下来、叫天下人民都报名上册。 3:21 众百姓都受了洗、耶稣也受了洗、正祷告的时候、天就开了、 |