Self-interpreting Bible

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Luke 1

1Luke's preface. 5An angel appeareth to Zacharias, and promiseth him a son in his old age: 18Zacharias doubting is struck dumb for a sign: 24his wife Elisabeth conceiveth. 26The angel's visit to Mary. 39Elisabeth saluted by Mary prophesieth. 46Mary's song of thanksgiving. 57The birth and circumcision of John the Baptist: 64Zacharias' mouth is opened: 67his prophecy.

1 *FORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of athose things which are most surely believed among us,

2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were beyewitnesses, and cministers of the word;

3 dIt seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in eorder, fmost excellent Theophilus,

4 gThat thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

5 ¶There was hin the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, iof the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6 jAnd they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 kAnd they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well *stricken in years.

8 And it came to pass, that while lhe executed the priest's office before God min the order of his course,

9 nAccording to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was oto burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10 pAnd the whole multitude of the people were qpraying *without at the time of incense.

11 rAnd there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of sthe altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, the was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said unto him, uFear not, Zacharias: vfor thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 And wthou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 For he shall be xgreat in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy *Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

16 yAnd many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17 zAnd he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to aturn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient 1to the bwisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for cthe Lord.

18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, dWhereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well *stricken in years.

19 And the angel answering said unto him, eI am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

20 And, behold, fthou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, gbecause thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

    22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for hhe beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

    23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the idays of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

    24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth jconceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

    25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein khe looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

    26 And in the lsixth month the angel mGabriel was sent from God unto na city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

    27 oTo a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, pof the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

    28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, qHail, thou that art 2highly favoured, rthe Lord is with thee: sblessed art thou among women.

    29 And when she saw him, tshe was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what *manner of salutation this should be.

    30 And the angel said unto her, uFear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

    31 vAnd, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

    32 wHe shall be great, and shall be called the Son of xthe Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him ythe throne of his father David:

    33 zAnd he shall reign over the house of aJacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

    34 Then said Mary unto the angel, bHow shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

    35 And the angel answered and said unto her, cThe Holy *Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of dthe Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called ethe Son of God.

    36 fAnd, behold, thy *cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

    37 For gwith God nothing shall be impossible.

    38 And Mary said, hBehold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

    39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the ihill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

    40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

      41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the jbabe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was kfilled with the Holy *Ghost:

      42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, lBlessed art thou among women, and mblessed is the fruit of thy womb.

      43 nAnd whence is this to me, that the mother of omy Lord should come to me?

      44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

        45 pAnd blessed is she 3that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

        46 And Mary said, qMy soul doth magnify the Lord,

        47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in rGod my Saviour.

        48 sFor he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations tshall call me blessed.

        49 uFor he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

        50 vAnd his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

        51 wHe hath shewed strength with his arm; xhe hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

        52 yHe hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

        53 zHe hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

        54 aHe hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

        55 bAs he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

        56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

          57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and cshe brought forth a son.

          58 And her neighbours and her d*cousins heard how the Lord had shewed egreat mercy upon her; and fthey rejoiced with her.

          59 And it came to pass, that gon the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

          60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; hbut he shall be called John.

          61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

            62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

              63 And he asked for a *writing table, and wrote, saying, His name iis John. And they marvelled all.

              • *: writing table-writing tablet.
              • i: Lu. 1:13

              64 jAnd his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

              65 kAnd fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these 4sayings were *noised abroad throughout all lthe hill country of Judaea.

              66 And all they that heard them mlaid them up in their hearts, saying, nWhat *manner of child shall this be! oAnd the hand of the Lord was with him.

              67 And his father Zacharias was pfilled with the Holy *Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

              68 qBlessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath rvisited and sredeemed his people,

              69 tAnd hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

              70 uAs he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been vsince the world began:

              71 wThat we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

              72 xTo perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and yto remember his holy covenant;

              73 zThe oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

              74 That he would grant unto us, athat we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

              75 bIn holiness and righteousness before him, call the days of our life.

              76 And thou, child, shalt dbe called the prophet of ethe Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

              77 fTo give knowledge of salvation unto his people g5by the *remission of their sins,

              78 Through the 6tender mercy of our God; whereby the 7dayspring from on high hath visited us,

              79 hTo give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of ipeace.

              80 jAnd the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was kin the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.