GOOD-TIDINGS

ACCORDING TO

LUKE

W

HEREAS many have undertaken to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fully established among us, even as they were delivered to us by those who were eyewitnesses from the first and became servants of the Word, it hath seemed good to me also, after carefully investigating all things from the first, to write them to thee in detail, most excellent Theophilus, in order that thou mightst know the exact truth in regard to the things which thou hast been taught.

a

THERE was, in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachariah, of the course of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, whose name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both advanced in age.

b

Now it came to pass, in the performance of his priestly duties before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, that it was his turn to go into the sanctuary of the Lord to burn the incense. And the whole multitude of the peo(i. 2-10.)

ple were praying outside at the hour of the incense.

And there ap

peared to him an angel of the Lord standing at the right side of the altar of incense. And Zachariah was agitated on seeing him; and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Fear not, Zachariah; because thy prayer hath been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John; and joy and exultation shall be to thee; and many shall rejoice because of his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will never drink wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his very birth; and many of the sons of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go forward before his face, with the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to children, also those who are without faith in© the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare for the Lord a people thoroughly furnished." d

a

And Zachariah said to the angel, "Whereby shall I know this? for I myself am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in age." And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who standeth in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to thee, and to bring these good-tidings; and take notice, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall have come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season." And the people were waiting for Zachariah, and wondering at his remaining so long in the sanctuary. And on coming out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. And he kept making signs to them, but continued speechless.

AND it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were completed, he returned to his own home. And after those days Elizabeth his wife conceived; and she secluded herself five months,

grape.

(i. 11-24.)

Or, cider: Gr., sikera: a fermented drink made from other fruits than the
Or, with holy spirit.
Or, disobedient to.
Gr., adjusted, or, put in order.

e

Gr., silent.

saying, "Because the Lord hath done thus with me in the days in which he looked upon me to take away my reproach among men."

Now in her sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a maiden betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the maiden's name was Mary." And he came in, and said to her, "Joy to thee, favored one! the Lord be b with thee!" But she was greatly agitated at this speech, and was considering what this salutation could mean. And the angel said to her: "Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and give birth to a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and Son of the Highest shall he be called; and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob unto the ages; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I have not a husband?" And the angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Highest will overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy one that is to be born shall be called, Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth thy kinswoman—she hath also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who hath been called barren. For not any word from God shall be powerless." And Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord: let it be to me according to thy word." And the angel departed from her.

с

And Mary arose in those days, and went to the hill country in haste to a city of Judah, and came into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe bounded in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,' and called out with a loud voice, and said: "Blessed! thou, among women; and blessed! the fruit of thy womb.

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Master should come to me? For, see! as soon as the voice of thy salutation came into my ears, the babe in my womb bounded with exultation. And blessed! she that believed; because there shall be a fulfilment of the things told to her from the Lord."

Then Mary said: "My soul doth extol the Lord, and my spirit hath exulted in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his bondmaiden; for from this time all the generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One hath done great things for me; and holy is his name; and his mercy is unto generations and generations toward those who fear him. He hath put forth strength with his arm: he hath scattered those who are haughty in the thought of their heart: he hath put down rulers from thrones, and hath exalted the lowly. The hungry he hath filled with good things; and the rich he hath sent away empty. He hath given help to Israel his child, in remembrance of his mercy (as he spoke to our fathers) toward Abraham and his posterity forever." And Mary continued with her about three months, and returned to her own home.

AND Elizabeth's full time came that she should bring forth; and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and her kindred heard that the Lord had shown great mercy toward her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they were about to call him by the name of his father, Zachariah. But his mother said, "Not so, but he shall be called John." And they said to her, "There is no one of thy kindred that is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, what he wished him to be named. And having asked for a writing-tablet, he wrote, saying, "John is his name." And they all wondered. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came upon all that dwelt around them; and in the entire hill country of Judea all these things were much talked of. And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" for the hand of the Lord was with him.

(i. 43-66.)